Forced recovery, armed violence and drugs – it is a deadly trio used by China to tease its unconventional war against India, which uses armed rebel groups, which it has funded for decades.
In some states of the northeastern region, families live in weak fear – their children either have a constant risk of getting admitted to an armed rebel group or becoming drug addiction.
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Up to 22 per cent of the salary of state government employees is cut in the Discarsal offices – this is an informal “sovereignty” by armed rebellious groups by the National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Muki (NSCN -IM) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (JEDRA). The administration has tilted to maintain peace in the form of these groups, equipped with sophisticated Chinese-made weapons such as AK 47S and rocket launchers, dominated in most northeastern parts of the country.
“Even the state government is paying taxes to some large groups,” KK SEMA said, a retired IAS officer who led a movement against Nagaland’s “sovereignty tax”.
“The development fund comes in the department. The department is asked to pay 5-6 percent to the groups from the headquarters. At this time the money is given in the area, the field officials and contractors are also taxed. The state government has paid 22 percent to pay 22 percent. 10-12 percent and the remaining amount will be paid to the government employee,” he said.
Everyone and everything is “tax” by these armed groups. From vegetables and small businesses, trucks and farm yield, groups such as NSCN-E and ZRA get cut from all trades and objects.
“Budget” of NSCN-Em
NDTV The financial year 2025-26 had a special access to the “budget” of NSCN-EIM. If there is a record of extortion of the people of Nagaland, the quantity is shocking.
This armed rebel group plans to raise more than Rs 158 crore to “sovereignty tax”, which is a fancy term for forced recovery. Everything from foods to fuel is “tax”.
Owners of small shops will also have to pay NSCN-Im Cadre. They cough, staring at a gun barrel.
Smuggling of cheap betel nut from Myanmar in India is also prevalent and provides a huge amount for the funding of these armed rebel groups. In this financial year, NSCN-Im has planned to raise Rs 2 crore from Betonte alone. According to highly placed sources, for the factories of most gutkha makers from Myanmar. This fuel is still another illegal economy.
As a result of this forced recovery, the prices of goods and food in Nagaland can grow rapidly without any warning.
“Due to the rebellion, there were many groups that were going out and taxing people. There is no reason for the increase in prices. In the morning, one kilogram of tomato will cost 30 rupees and in the evening, it would cost 60 rupees without any real reason,” Mr. Sema explained.
“Civil society started questioning why this price was increasing. Some of us got together and sent a group of youth to find out what is happening in the markets. They found that every item was being taxed in the market. They called it ‘sovereignty. It is called’ sovereignty. It is called tax. But it is no, but forcibly recovery,” they said.
Top sources told NDTV In the belief that a section of local police and administration also actively aid these armed rebel groups.
For example, the current chairman of the ZOMI Council, ZRA – Mother’s Organization of Vumsuan Naulak. A retired intelligence bureau officer, in this picture, can be seen providing a child soldier at an unknown place in Chin State Myanmar.
A section of Assam Rifles and State Police is trying to control the influence of these violent groups. On 16 May, Assam Rifles neutralized 10 cadres of an anonymous group and recovered seven AK-47 rifles, an RPG launcher, an M4 rifle and four solo-marble breech-loading rifles. He also found stores like ammunition and war in Jhuman district of Manipur along the Indo-Myanmar border.
When 58 cases were registered by Dimapur police between January 2024 and April 2025, 58 cases were registered. 81 arrests were made and 78 weapons – from Chinese to AK 47 to Israeli Uzis – were seized. Special operation teams have also been established to provide rapid action in forcible recovery cases.
Police sources also told NDTV This is the son of one of the late founders of Ekatato Chishi Swu, NSCN-IM and Chishi Swu, currently in China. He issued a letter in April stating that he was leaving the NSCN-IM and Myanmar would have to “continue the struggle” as NSCN-IM became a “corrupt” organization.
But flush with Chinese funding and sophisticated weapons, these groups recruit more youth and the deadly cycle of violence continues without stopping.
In the third part of this series, we will see how China drugs in India as part of its non-traditional war strategy.
