Ethno-nationalism and the politics of terror in India's northeast

India's north-eastern frontier is an ethnic minefield. Today, the region is witnessing an ethno-national push by various ethnic groups to further their sub-national aspirations. Recent events in the region show that rebel groups have often succeeded in neutralizing reverses suffered by them by entering into deals with other insurgent groups that act as force multipliers. The Union government on the other hand tended to reward the more violent separatist outfits, while closing its eyes to the more subtle clamorings of groups pushing for autonomy within the country's legal framework. For instance, the more violent of the two Naga outfits, the NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagaland) , has been preferred over the less militant NSCN-K during peace negotiations. Likewise, the hard-line Bodo outfit, the Bodo Liberation Tigers, has been rewarded with a territorial council. As a result, ethic organizations demanding autonomy and willing to take militant tactics to achieve it has risen significantly. Against this background, it is recommended that a change of policy should be made if the nationalist aspirations of north-eastern India's diverse ethnic groups are to be diverted from the path of armed struggle into domestic and peaceful channels.