The BBC's Subir Bhaumik on the border of the Indian state of Manipur and Burma

India has deployed thousands of border guards and federal paramilitary troops along a hilly border that separates the country's north-eastern state of Manipur and Burma.

Elections to 20 seats of the Manipur state assembly will take place on Thursday amid threats of large-scale violence by the state's many separatist groups.

Some of the groups have strong bases on this remote border.

Elections to the remaining 40 seats of the state assembly were completed last week - there was some violence in which two border guards were killed.

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'No chances'

I flew in on a helicopter carrying the Manipur area commander of the Border Security Force, PK Mishra.

As we approached Sajik Tampak outpost, the border guards on the ground were not taking any chances.

Scores of them cordoned off the makeshift helipad, weapons at the ready.

People may get caught up in fresh ethnic crossfire when the security forces leave

This is the first time Indian security forces have moved into this area, which has long been dominated by nearly 200 rebels belonging to three of Manipur's leading separatist groups.

They were reportedly running a massive training camp here before the border guards moved in.

Constant fire

Mr Mishra told me his troops, who were preparing to provide security to the polling parties, have been under constant fire since they set up the outpost last week.

This is the first time the army has been in the area

"This is the training camp of all the militant groups and it is a very big training camp.

The story was no different in Zopui, where border guards are holding on tenuously to ensure security during the elections.

Fifteen years ago Zopui witnessed the worst ethnic violence Manipur has ever seen.

Naga militants stormed into the village, lined up 87 Kuki tribesmen and beheaded them one by one.

The Naga-Kuki conflict, which cost nearly 1,000 lives in the last decade, is now dormant.

No compromise

But tension is building up between the Naga tribes people and the majority Meitei plains dwellers.

The Meiteis want no compromise with the territorial boundaries of Manipur but the Nagas want Naga-dominated areas of the state to be attached with the neighbouring state of Nagaland to create a Greater Naga state.

As the 20 constituencies, all in the state's hill districts, go to polls on Thursday, guerrillas of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland are reportedly trying to ensure the victory of candidates seen to be favourably disposed to their political goals.

Meitei militants are reportedly trying to ensure their defeat.

So the security forces are not taking any chances.

But when they move out from these remote areas after the elections, the people may get caught up in fresh ethnic crossfire.

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