Indian army seizes key rebel base in Manipur

The base, believed to be the headquarters of the outlawed People's Liberation Army (PLA), was captured Monday inside a densely forested region in the Churachandpur district that borders Myanmar.

"The fall of the PLA headquarters is a major success," army spokesman Major Santanu Dev Goswami told AFP from the state capital Imphal.

There was no comment available from militants in Manipur, one of seven states in India's remote northeast which is a hotbed of ethnic and tribal groups fighting for autonomy or independence.

The rebels say they are trying to protect their ethnic identities and accuse New Delhi of plundering resources from the region which is rich in minerals, tea, timber and oil.

The PLA is among the most influential of the 19 rebel groups active in Manipur. The army says they are equipped with anti-aircraft guns, rocket launchers and other weapons.

"We seized computers, communication gadgets, weapons and explosives, besides large stocks of food grains from the PLA base," Goswami said. He said the militants fled the camp before the troops arrived.

At least 20 rebels have been killed and 59 captured during the action that began last month by about 7,500 troops, the army official said.

The army said it had the "rebels on the run" and they were unable to sneak into Myanmar because the military regime has sealed the border with India.

Last month New Delhi and Yangon agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorism. Myanmar military leader Senior Gen Than Shwe pledged not to allow his country to be used for anti-India activities.