As the major player in South Asia, India always sought to promote democracy and install friendly governments in the region.
To these ends, India's external intelligence agency, R&AW, cultivated Burmese rebel groups and pro-democracy coalitions, especially the Kachin Independence Army (KIA).
India allowed the KIA to carry a limited trade in jade and precious stones using Indian territory and even supplied them with weapons.
However, with increasing bonhomie between the Indian government and the Burmese junta, KIA became the main source of training and weapons for all northeastern rebel groups in India.
Sources say that the Arakan Army was being aided by India, and the principal contact with them was Colonel VS ‘Gary' Grewal.
However, sources in intelligence also confirmed that Grewal may have double-crossed India and worked at the behest of Burmese military junta to carry out ‘Operation Leech'.
Grewal was the leader of the military group, including naval and coast guard ships and helicopters, that carried out the operation.
According to intelligence inputs, Grewal is presently trading in Burmese precious stones in the neighbouring country and also thoroughly enjoying the Burmese military junta's hospitality.
