While the crackdown in Manipur lasted one and a half months and led to the collapse of the headquarters of the outlawed People's Liberation Army (PLA), the fighting in Myanmar is directed at a faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) led by S.S. Khaplang.

The developments in Myanmar come a year after Bhutan cracked down similarly on anti-India militants in its territory and follow the visit to New Delhi in October by Myanmar's military strongman General Than Shwe.

The NSCN-Khaplang claimed it was resisting Myanmarese forces in the thick jungles bordering India, where it has some 5,000 fighters, and threatened to call off its ceasefire with New Delhi if the offensive continued.

Indian officials could not provide details but said they were aware "something serious" was going on in Myanmar. A high alert has been sounded along the India-Myanmar border.

Kughalo Mulatonu, a leader of the NSCN-Khaplang, said heavy fighting was going on between entrenched Naga guerrillas and some three Myanmar Army brigades or about 10,000 personnel.

"We have lost at least five to six mobile camps since the offensive began. In many places the two sides are engaged in one-to-one fights," Mulatonu told IANS in this Nagaland capital.

"It is a warlike situation with weapons like sub-machineguns, AK-47s, carbines and light machineguns used by us and the enemy."

The NSCN-Khaplang leader said the group had at least 50 camps in Sagaing division of Myanmar. 

At least four other militant groups from India's northeast have training camps in northern Myanmar -- all sheltered by NSCN-Khaplang, whose leader is a Hemi Naga tribal belonging to Myanmar.

"So far we have not suffered any casualties and our top leaders, including chairman Khaplang, are safe and sound," Mulatonu said.

"We are not going to leave Myanmar and we shall fight and repulse the Myanmarese forces. In many places, we have planted landmines and time bombs to prevent the army from advancing.

"New Delhi is privy to the operation in Myanmar and the Indian government will be responsible if we have to pull out of the truce because of this offensive."

In Manipur, the Indian Army Friday said it had killed 29 militants and captured 67 during the 90-day-long offensive against insurgent groups.

"The militants have suffered heavy losses," army spokesman Maj. Santanu Dev Goswami said in Imphal, the state capital. 

"The rebels are on the run and some of them have relocated their traditional bases and are moving across the border (to Myanmar)."

The rebels denied the charges and said their fighters had repulsed advancing army columns and inflicted heavy casualties.

"We have lost only two soldiers in counter-attacks by the insurgents and one of our officers was injured in a landmine blast," Goswami said.

The army strike carried out by some 7,000 personnel is aimed at the United National Liberation Front, PLA and Kuki Revolutionary Army, which are among 19 rebel groups active in Manipur.

The army says the militants are equipped with anti-aircraft guns, rocket launchers and other weapons.

"A large number of weapons and other warlike stores have been recovered, including Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, radio sets, explosives and ammunition.

"More than 15 improvised explosive devices were detected and neutralised. We also seized a large consignment of heroin and extortion notes," Goswami said. 

An estimated 1,500 rebels are believed to be operating in Manipur, located in about 50-70 well-entrenched camps.

"Many forward areas in Chandel and Churachandpur districts are now under effective domination of the security forces and the civil administration has commenced functioning from these locations," Goswami said.

--Indo-Asian News Service