Arunachal Pradesh continues to experience a fragile security environment, particularly in the Tirap–Changlang–Longding (TCL) region along the Indo-Myanmar border.
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Arunachal Pradesh continues to experience a fragile security environment, particularly in the Tirap–Changlang–Longding (TCL) region along the Indo-Myanmar border. Although overall levels of violence have declined over the years, persistent militant activity, extortion networks, and cross-border dynamics sustain instability in the State.
The vulnerability of the region was underscored on March 26, 2026, when three Assam Rifles personnel were killed in an attack by militants of the NSCN-K-YA faction near the Namgoi–Pangsau Road in Changlang district. The attack targeted personnel engaged in constructing border fencing, which the militant group later termed “illegal,” warning of further resistance. This incident highlights the sensitivity of infrastructure projects in insurgency-affected border areas and the continuing ability of militant groups to mount lethal strikes.
Earlier, on January 26, 2026, militants suspected to be linked to the same group attacked an Assam Rifles camp near Changlang headquarters. Although security forces retaliated effectively and launched search operations, no casualties were reported. Similar patterns were visible in 2025, when coordinated attacks by NSCN-K-YA and ULFA-I targeted security installations in Changlang and Tirap districts. While some incidents resulted in injuries, others ended without casualties, reflecting sporadic but persistent militant engagement.
Security forces have also achieved tactical successes. In 2025, encounters in Namsai and Longding districts resulted in the killing of militants and recovery of arms and supplies. These operations demonstrate sustained pressure on insurgent groups, though not sufficient to eliminate their presence.
Data indicates that violence in the State remains relatively low. Three fatalities (all security personnel) have been recorded in 2026 so far, compared to seven in 2025 and one in 2024. Since 2000, Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed 255 insurgency-related deaths. While this suggests a long-term decline in large-scale violence, it also reflects the persistence of low-intensity conflict concentrated in specific pockets.
Surrenders of militants remain a significant aspect of counter-insurgency efforts. In 2026, several cadres from groups such as ULFA-I and different NSCN factions have surrendered across the TCL region. Over the past five years, 165 militants have laid down arms, with many undergoing rehabilitation and vocational training. This indicates gradual progress in reintegration policies, though militancy continues to attract recruits.
Arrests also form a key component of the State’s response. Hundreds of militants have been apprehended since 2000, reflecting sustained enforcement efforts. However, structural challenges—particularly financing of insurgency—remain unresolved.
Extortion continues to be a major source of funding for militant groups. Demands for “taxes” from government departments, contractors, and civilians are frequent. For example, in February 2026, NSCN-K-YA demanded a 20 percent levy from the Public Works Department in Longding district. Such practices sustain insurgent networks and reinforce their influence over local populations.
The security landscape has also been complicated by espionage-related activities. In December 2025, multiple individuals were arrested for allegedly transmitting sensitive information regarding military deployments to Pakistan-based handlers. Investigations suggested the existence of a broader intelligence network attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in the border State, adding a new dimension to existing security challenges.
Abductions remain another tactic used by insurgent groups. In 2025, incidents in Tirap District involved the kidnapping of a businessman, a local elected representative, and labourers linked to extortion demands. Some victims were taken across the Indo-Myanmar border, highlighting the advantages insurgents derive from cross-border mobility.
The TCL region continues to function as the epicentre of insurgent activity in Arunachal Pradesh. Its proximity to Myanmar, particularly the Sagaing Region where militant camps are reportedly located, enables insurgents to exploit porous borders and evade security forces. The region also serves as a corridor for multiple insurgent groups operating across Northeast India.
This strategic importance is reflected in data: approximately 77 percent of all insurgency-related fatalities in the State since 2000 have occurred in the TCL districts. These figures underline the region’s central role in the broader insurgency landscape.
Ideologically, militancy in Arunachal Pradesh is linked to the Naga nationalist movement, especially the demand for a sovereign “Nagalim” that seeks to integrate Naga-inhabited areas across multiple states and parts of Myanmar. Groups such as NSCN-IM and NSCN-K factions continue to pursue this objective, though with fluctuating intensity.
Given these conditions, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) remains in force in key areas, including the TCL districts. Its continued extension reflects the government’s assessment that the security situation requires sustained military presence and operational flexibility.
In conclusion, while Arunachal Pradesh has seen a reduction in large-scale violence, the persistence of sporadic attacks, extortion networks, cross-border safe havens, and emerging threats such as espionage underscores a fragile security environment. The TCL region remains a critical hotspot, and long-term stability will depend on sustained counter-insurgency operations, improved border management, and effective rehabilitation of former militants.
Afsara Shaheen
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management