Insurgent groups in the Northeast are procuring arms in China and some other South East Asian countries before smuggling them into India through Myanmar and Bangladesh, Government said on Wednesday.

"There are reports that insurgent outfits operating in the Northeastern states of India have been procuring arms through arms smugglers based in Yunnan province of China, Myanmar and South East Asian countries," minister of state for home Mullappally Ramachandran said in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.

Weapons in small consignments are then transported either via Myanmar or Bangladesh to India, he said.

The minister said India has raised its concern with China, Myanmar and Bangladesh from time to time through diplomatic channels on the issue of reported smuggling of arms through their territories.

To check smuggling across the Indo-Myanmar border, a memorandum of understanding was signed between India and Myanmar in January 1994 for maintenance of peace and tranquillity in border areas.

"Central government has stepped up vigilance and surveillance along the border. The security forces along the border have been suitably sensitised regarding arms smuggling by insurgents and regular patrolling along the border areas is being carried out," he said.