Myanmar military commanders, posted along the borders of Northeast India, are using separatist rebels from the region to attack refugees fleeing the Pagoda Nation after the February 1 coup.

Senior Indian intelligence officials said  the local Tatmadaw (military) commanders have struck a deal with Manipuri rebel groups, UNLF and PLA, to carry out such attacks. “This may not be national policy but a tactical move by local commanders desperate to stop refugee flow into India. The deal is the UNLF and PLA factions with bases in Myanmar’s Sagaing province will attack the refugee stragglers walking towards the Indian border and force them to return to their villages,” a senior official said, on the condition of anonymity. “In turn, the Tatmadaw has assured the rebels they will not attack the PLA-UNLF bases inside Sagaing.”