Militants attack Manipur minister's house

Imphal: Unidentified militants attacked the private house of Manipur's Health Minister L Jayenta Kumar in Imphal West district by exploding a grenade which injured a passer-by, official sources said.

The militants lobbed the grenade at around 7 pm last night when the minister was outside the house campaigning for the forthcoming assembly elections on January 28.

A woman identified as Memcha Devi who was standing around Kumar's house was injured besides and two vehicles parked in nearby were damaged, sources said. Kumar said no militant organisation had demanded money from him and it was not known who lobbed the grenades.

97 DHD-Jewel cadres join police force

SILCHAR: The rehabilitation process of surrendered militants in Assam's once-troubled Dima Hasao district took off on Friday as 97 surrendered Dima Halam Daoga-Jewel cadres left Haflong for Guwahati to join the Assam police service.

"The Assam government in accordance with their eligibility appointed 108 cadres of the DHD-Jewel in police service. 97 of them left Haflong in the noon train amid much fanfare while the rest will join them soon," an official said.

Sources said DHD-Jewel leaders on Friday organized a farewell ceremony at the outfit's liaison office in Haflong on this occasion. Addressing the cadres, the outfit's chairman Jewel Garlossa expressed his hope that government will fulfill all the other promises made during the surrender ceremony two years ago.

382 cadres of DHD-Jewel laid down arms before senior officials of the state and Central government including Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on the day of Gandhi Jayanti in 2009 at a function in Haflong. Later, the number of surrendered cadres rose to 416. They have been living in four designated camps including two situated at Haflong, one in Maibang and another in Harangajao of the district.

Chief Minister Gogoi had announced a rehabilitation package of Rs 50 crore for the district and said a police battalion would be raised to accommodate eligible DHD-Jewel cadres.

With its surrender, the outfit had placed a charter of demands, which include a change of name for the district, an autonomous state within the state under article 244 (A) of the Constitution and induction of the cadres in government forces and amnesty for all.

The government meanwhile changed the nomenclature of the erstwhile North Cachar Hill district to Dima Hasao.

The outfit has been on a killing spree for the last few years and had killed 51 policemen in 2008 alone besides stalling work for two national projects including Lumding-Silchar broad gauge conversion and Silchar-Saurastra East-West Corridor.

Sources said none of the surrendered cadres is a graduate. Only four per cent have completed matriculation, 78 per cent have not even studied up to Class X and 18 per cent have not been to school altogether.

5 houses of militants pulled down by mob

IMPHAL, Dec 30 – In all, five houses belonging to militants of the banned KCP of Kesho group were pulled down by an irate mob in Chanam Santrok village of Imphal East district today for their alleged involvement in the abduction of a chowkidar and his son, who were subsequently shot dead over a ransom.

The families of the five accused have also been forced out from their localities forever as a severe treatment awarded for their act of brutality against the chowkidar of Irilbung Water Supply Scheme and his son.

The kidnapping drama of the duo occurred on December 7 and they kept them in their custody for 10 days before the militants killed them on December 16 apparently for not receiving the ransom amount on time.

This morning around 7: 30, the villagers, including members from the local club, Lai Committee and Meira Paibis of Santrok village suddenly stood up against the five accused showing extreme anger and broke down their houses out of which one belonging to T Rome alias Romeo, who is still at large, was set ablaze.

They also said the village will assist the police to trace Romeo and warned that no one should provide shelter to the accused involved in the killing of the father and son.

Out of the five militants of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) of Kesho group who were involved in the brutal double murder case, police have already arrested four accused.

NSCN-IM under NIA scanner

Guwahati, Dec. 24 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has zeroed in on two NSCN (I-M) members who had allegedly led the failed attempt to assassinate Manipur MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing in April this year.

The investigating agency, however, has not been able to collect enough material evidence to nail any of the accused.

“The NIA investigators have recorded the statements of the Manipur Rifles troopers who were injured in the ambush besides a couple of civilian witnesses in the case, and the needle of suspicion is being pointed at NSCN (I-M),” an official source said.

“Two NSCN (I-M) members — one of the rank of self-styled major and another of the rank of self-styled lieutenant — have been identified as the prime suspects who had led the ambush. The only problem is that the NIA has not been able to collect enough evidence to nail the accused in court,” he said.

The NIA investigation into the case suffered a setback when Keishing — an independent MLA from Phungyar Assembly constituency in Ukhrul district of Manipur — passed away in Imphal on October 8 following a cardiac arrest.

He said the investigation so far had ascertained that Keishing was targeted by the NSCN (I-M) for seeking upgrade of the Phungyar sub-division into a full-fledged district.

The MLA was the convener of Phungyar district demand committee.

“Keishing drew flak from the United Naga Council (UNC) and NSCN (I-M) for supporting creation of a separate Phungyar district out of Ukhrul, because they felt bifurcation of Ukhrul would deal a major blow to the ongoing efforts for the integration of contiguous Naga-inhabited areas. It seems to be the motive behind the bid on the Manipur MLA’s life,” the source said.

Even though Keishing had a providential escape, eight persons, including six Manipur Rifles personnel and two civilians, were killed in the attack that took place while the legislator was returning to Imphal after attending an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign at Riha village, around 40km from the Manipur capital, on April 15.

The Guwahati branch of the NIA registered a case (number 02/11) and took over the investigation. Manipur Police has initially registered the case at Litan police station in Ukhrul district in July this year in accordance with a Union home ministry directive.

Willing to go the extra mile for peace

By Syed Nazakat

R K Singh, Union Home Secretary./ Photo Sanjay Ahlawat
Amid all the political melee in Parliament, a landmark peace accord went unnoticed. The militant United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), formed 18 years ago in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, decided to lay down arms and contest elections, due in January, thanks to an agreement signed with the Union government in November. The UPDS has given up its demand for a separate state and has, instead, settled for more powers to the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). In his first exclusive interview to the media since he took over from G.K. Pillai, Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh told THE WEEK that the peace accord would pave the way for ending other insurgencies. Excerpts:
You have ended one of the most violent conflicts in the country. The peace accord with the UPDS is a major step forward in the northeast. In the past two to three years, we have managed to bring to the talks table a large number of people who have been underground. In Manipur, we have a tripartite agreement with Kangleipak Communist Party (Lalumba faction). Our interlocutor, [P.C.] Haldar, has successfully concluded talks with the ANVC [Achik National Volunteer Council] in Meghalaya and two insurgents groups in Assam. Talks with Ulfa [United Liberation Front of Assam] are also progressing well.
What was the key to ending the Karbi Anglong insurgency?
Our view is that we are ready to listen. We are willing to go the extra mile in our endeavour for peace. We are willing to think of different ways to give people their say.
What are the terms of the deal signed with the UPDS?
I'll not call it a deal. It was a peace agreement. The new name of the KAAC will be Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council. The number of its elected members will be increased to 44 from 26, and nominated members to six from four. We have given to the council 39 subjects related to development, and have promised to help in socio-economic development.
What about your talks with Ulfa?
We have had a couple of rounds of talks. We are making good progress.
Any chance of Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah joining talks?He is not willing. He is camping in Myanmar and China. That shows where he is getting inspiration from.
Many companies in the northeast and Naxal-affected areas are allegedly paying armed groups to avoid trouble.
Yes, we are aware of it.
Is this widespread?
The people who are doing construction work in the insurgency-hit areas pay what is called ‘protection money'. Naxalites threaten local businessmen. If they don't pay, Naxals attack them.
But this is not limited to local businessmen. Employees of Essar Steel were caught after allegedly paying Maoists in Dantewada.
That was wrong. It amounts to funding terrorism.
You are to meet the Pakistan home secretary for talks.
We've given Pakistan some dates. But Pakistan, which will host the meeting, has not yet responded. We expect that the talks will be held soon.
What are your expectations?
We would not approach the talks with any preconceived notion. I'll say what are the facts and share the evidence we have. I do expect my Pakistani counterpart to respond to our concerns, just as he would expect that we would respond to his concerns.
Your concern, as you recently said, is that the terrorist camps are still active in Pakistan.
Yes. We have specific reports, detailed photographs. We have the whole list and we have the numbers.
How many terrorist camps are there?
Some 40 camps.
You believe Pakistan is deliberately protecting them?
I can't answer on behalf of Pakistan.
Is there any way you can achieve peace with Pakistan?
That is why we are talking. We want one thing from Pakistan—stop providing its soil for harbouring terrorists, training terrorists and launching terrorist attacks.

Abducted GMs killed, bodies found

In what has created sensation in the industrial sector of Assam, the police on Friday recovered bullet-ridden bodies of two senior executives working in private sector and public sector who were suspected to have been abducted by Karbi rebels for ransom.

Southern range DIG Binod Kumar told this newspaper that bodies of retired colonel Jatindar Singh Sandhu, who was working as general manager of JP Cement and Ramen Sharma, deputy general manager of Assam Mineral Development Corporation, were recovered from Haskuri village near Umrangshu in Dima Hasao district.
The Umrangshu-based senior officials were abducted by suspected Karbi militants on November 25 from their offices situated near the industrial town of Umrangshu, 120 km from Haflong. The police said that the mutilated bodies of the two executives were recovered on Thursday night from a jungle. Security sources said that Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KPLT), a militant outfit active in central Assam, was responsible for the kidnapping. The abductors had demanded `2 crores as ransom for the release of the officials. While Col. Sandhu hailed from Rajasthan, Sharma was a resident of Sivasagar in Assam.
Meanwhile, the police brought bodies of two executives to Haflong civil hospital on Friday for autopsy. Mr Kumar who rushed to the area with additional reinforcement claimed that district police has got some lead and was hopeful of nabbing the culprits soon. So far four people have been arrested, he added. He said that police has launched massive combing operations to arrest the culprits. Security sources said that incident has created panic among the senior executives of industrial units in the area as most of the industrial units are facing threat from Karbi and other rebel groups active in the state.

NDFB urges Delhi to free its leaders

Age of hope
Kokrajhar, Dec 17 : The National Democratic Front of Boroland has urged the Centre to release its jailed leaders, but not before profusely thanking Delhi for appointing an interlocutor and taking the peace process forward.
In a press release today, the outfit’s information and publicity wing assistant secretary B. Samijing said: “The NDFB welcomes the appointment of an interlocutor by the government of India to carry forward the peace process for durable and sustainable political solution to the conflict. We are grateful and thankful to the government for this initiative. We also extend our gratitude to the Bodo National Conference for their relentless pursuit of peace process.”
The NDFB statement came after P.C. Haldar, the government’s peace interlocutor, held talks with the outfit’s president, Ranjan Daimary, in Central Jail, Guwahati, last Tuesday.
Welcoming the beginning of parleys between the outfit’s leaders and the government interlocutor, the release said: “We are optimistic that the talks will proceed in the right direction towards a logical conclusion. The NDFB rallies around its leaders to carry forward the peace process and appeals to the all section of people to support it for a permanent solution.”
Calling on the Centre to release all its leaders and cadres from jail, the NDFB leader said: “We believe mutual respect and understanding will help find an amicable solution. In order to carry forward the political dialogue formally with dignity and honour we call on the government of India to free our leaders and cadres from jail. The talks held in captivity would tantamount to imposition, devoid of free and fair environment. Therefore, it is imperative to give a fair deal to the talks. The ball is now in the government’s court. We hope that the government will show sincerity in resolving the conflict and fulfilling the aspirations of the Bodo and other indigenous people,” it said.
The outfit also thanked the Bodo National Conference, a conglomeration of various organisations, for their relentless efforts to initiate the peace process.

57 militants surrender before Manipur CM

Imphal, Dec 16 : 57 militants of different outfits surrendered in the presence of Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today, official sources said. Sources said that cadre of 10 main militant outfits gave themselves up before Singh at the Mantripukhri Inspector General AR South complex this afternoon. They operated for PLA, UNLF, Prepak, KYKL, PULF, KNLF, NSCN (K), UKLF, PRA and KCP. DGP of Manipur Police Y Joykumar Singh and IG Assam Rifles South Maj General Gurung were present. A Shillong report earlier said, quoting an AR release that, the surrendered ultras laid down arms and ammunition. The surrendered ultras also included some factional groups. The Shillong report also gave the break-up number of surrendered cadre - UNLF- 5, PULF (AZAD) - 15, PULF (UF) - 2, PULF (MI KHAN) - 1, KCP (MTF) - 1, PREPAK (VC) - 2, PREPAK - 6, KCP (CITY MEITEI) - 1, KCP- 2, KCP (TABONGIA) - 1, PREPAK (PRO) - 1, PRA - 1, PLA - 6, KNLF- 6, KYKL - 4, UTLA- 2, NSCN(K)- 1. The surrendered ultras and their family members thanked the Assam Rifles for giving them the opportunity to join the mainstream, the release said. Congratulating the surrendered ultras for taking the decision to come overground for peace, the CM applauded the role of the Assam Rifles in facilitating the surrender and helping the misguided youth of Manipur through various rehabilitation programmes.

568 UPDS cadres lay down arms

DIPHU (KARBI ANGLONG), Dec 14 - Marking an end to its arms movement, the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) today laid down arms, vowing to contribute towards the development and peace of Karbi Anglong through political activism.

Having already made its political pursuits clear, a total of 568 members of the outfit, including 14 from the central executive committee, took part in the arms laying ceremony organised at the KASA Stadium here in the presence of Assam DGP Sankar Barua, General Officer Commanding, 4 Corps, Shakti Gurung, ADGP Khagen Sarma and Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong Rakesh Kumar, among others.

The ceremony was also attended by a cross-section of people from the hill district, which turned up at the venue in large numbers.

The militant outfit, which inked the ceasefire pact with the Government of India in August 2002, declared itself disbanded taking off the camouflage fatigues later in the day to be replaced by a civil outfit.

The cache of arms and ammunition that was laid down included 85 rifles of AK series, 40 MM UBGL and five M 16 rifles, beside others.

Addressing the people of Karbi Anglong after formally pledging to abjure violence, Longsodar Senar, chairperson, UPDS, said, “It is a beginning of a new era for the people of Karbi Anglong. We are now part of a process that seeks peace and social harmony. We had our share of achievements and disappointments during our armed struggle and there is no denying that people had suffered directly or indirectly during the course of our movement. I, on behalf of the outfit, apologise for that.”

“I also want to say that the supreme sacrifice made by our cadres will not go in vain. Let us also vow that we will never allow petty ambitions and vested interests to be a stumbling block in the process of peace and development. Let us all make Karbi Anglong and our movement a success story,” Senar said.

Earlier, general secretary, of UPDS, Haren Singh Bey, while talking to reporters, said that if things went as planned, Karbi Anglong would stand at par with other districts of the State in terms of development.

“Early implementation of the clauses of the Memorandum of Settlement by the Centre and the State will be a key," Bey asserted, adding the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council election scheduled for January next year would mark the beginning of their entry in the political arena.

Shakti Gurung, GOC, 4 Corps, terming the day as historic, expressed his gratitude to the UPDS for joining the mainstream.

He also renewed his appeal to the KLNLF and the KPLT to abjure violence and contribute towards restoration of peace and development in the hill district.

Assam DGP Sankar Barua, too, reiterated the appeal and urged the other active militant outfits of the State to come to the negotiation table.

"Mizoram could be an example to follow. Come to the mainstream and be a part of the social, political and economic leadership," said Barua.

ADGP (Special Branch) Khagen Sarma also addressed the gathering.

A safe haven and much more next door

On Monday, the Gauhati High Court in Assam extended the interim bail of Jewel Garlossa and Niranjan Hojai—chairperson and self-styled commander-in-chief of Dima Halam Daoga (Jewel)—one of the prominent insurgent outfits of the north-eastern India fighting for a separate Dimasaland.

The two months extension of bail was granted following expiry of their earlier bail of four months. Both Assam government and National Investigation Agency told the court they had no objection to the extension considering progress in peace talks with the outfit.

But besides taking the peace process forward, Hojai, who was arrested by Nepal Police in July last year from the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu and handed over immediately to Indian authorities, has been indulging in other activities as well.

Earlier this month following an alert by Indian intelligence agencies, Nepal Police laid hands on US $ 200,000 which Hojai is believed to have transferred from a Citibank account in Singapore to an account in the New Baneshwor branch of Everest Bank in Kathmandu.

The amount remitted to the account of Hojai’s wife Sarita Giri reveals how insurgent outfits from the north-east have been using Nepal as a safe haven to conduct their operations with relative ease due to lax security and an open border between both countries.

Investigations conducted by the police in Kathmandu and interrogation of his wife expose how Hojai, who had escaped from Assam in 2009 following his surrender, had managed to procure a Nepali identity, a Nepali wife and an alternative lifestyle.

Hojai got a Nepali passport in the name of Nirmal Rai, married Sarita allegedly posing as a businessman, fathered a child with her, bought a palatial home and several luxury cars in Kathmandu and went on family vacations to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

The fresh revelations confirm what Indian authorities have been telling their Nepali counterparts for many years now—that the Himalayan nation is being used by terror elements from India as a transit point or safe shelter from where they can continue their operations unhindered.

“In bilateral security meetings every time Indian counterparts raised the issue of ultras from that country using Nepali soil we used to tell them that it’s not true. But the recent incident has proved their claims,” a senior police official was quoted by the ‘Kantipur’ daily.

Hojai is accused by NIA of diverting public funds for insurgent actitivties and waging a war against the Indian government. Now Nepal Police wants to charge him for procuring Nepali citizenship and passport using fake papers.

Significantly, Hojai is not the first ultra from north-east India with Nepal connections. His boss Jewel Garlossa who was arrested in Bengaluru in June last year has admitted to being based in Nepal before shifting base and had travelled to Bangkok in 2007 using Nepali passports.

In October last year, Anthony Shing aka Ningkhan Shimray, the foreign affairs chief of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) was arrested at the Tribhuwan International Airport here while he was apparently on his way from Bangkok to New Delhi to take part in peace talks.

A month later, Rajkumar Meghen, chairman of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur, was arrested by a team of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Bihar police when he was about to board a Nepal-bound bus from Motihari in Bihar.

Meghen, one of north-east India’s most wanted militant leaders, known as Sana Yaima by his supporters, had a Nepali name as well. Police say he used to call himself Raju Shreshtha.

The recent revelations about Hojai has just given credence to what was suspected all along—that Nepal is indeed a safe haven for ultras from India and efforts need to be intensified to deny them the facilities they enjoy in this neighbouring nation.

Kishenji’s N-E Nexus Exposed

Secret exchanges between the Maoists and a Manipuri rebel outfit show that the slain Naxal leader was seeking an access to China. Ratnadip Choudhury reports

Common cause PLA guerillas trained Maoist cadres
ON 1 OCTOBER, Delhi Police nabbed a priceless catch when a raid at a hotel in Paharganj led to the arrest of N Dilip Singh alias N Wangba, the external affairs chief of the banned People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur. Along with Dilip, 51, his deputy, Arun Kumar Singh Salam, 36, was also arrested. Their interrogation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed startling information about how the nexus between the CPI(Maoist) and the PLA had blossomed ever since the two outfits signed a joint declaration on 22 October 2008 against the Indian government.

Dilip Singh

Common cause The secret letters were routed through PLA’s Dilip Singh


Common cause A file photo of Kishenji
Photo: Pintu Pradhan
There have been reports that Dilip was helping the Maoists reach out to rebel groups in the Northeast, and that Maoists were trying to spread the idea of a Strategic United Front of all rebel outfits operating in the restive region. All these reports were source-based inputs. Now, TEHELKA has accessed secret letters between the Maoists and the PLA leadership, all routed through Dilip, which reveal how the nexus was formed and how this scheme was the brainchild of slain Maoist leader Kishenji himself. TEHELKA has not independently verified the authenticity of these letters, which were provided by reliable police sources.
On 24 January 2010, CPI(Maoist) General Secretary Ganapathy wrote to Irengbam Chaoren, president of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) of Manipur (PLA is the armed wing of the RPF). In the letter, Ganapathy informed the PLA that the Maoists have to call off the planned military training because of Operation Green Hunt. He also proposed a meeting for which he would send two Maoist Central Committee (MCC) members and said that the main agenda of the talks should be the formation of a Strategic United Front. The meeting took place on 18-20 March 2010, in which Kishenji was also present. TEHELKA has a copy of the minutes of that meeting.
On 22 March 2010, Kishenji sent a letter to the PLA in which he floated the idea of forming a grand alliance to unite all rebel groups in which the Maoists would take the lead role. “We put one proposal regarding building a united front that will be strategic in nature comprising all the revolutionary, democratic and progressive forces of the Northeast. We also put the proposal of helping us by sending instructors for military and communication training and also sending 3-5 men for military and other training,” wrote Kishenji.
In the first bilateral meeting, it was decided that the PLA would start a 12-14 month training camp for Maoists from September 2010. The PLA agreed to send two trainers each for military and communication training. The PLA also agreed to provide arms and communication devices to Maoists; all these were noted in the meeting’s minutes, in which Kishenji has been referred to as Kishan Da.
Further meetings were held in Kolkata, Guwahati and Rourkela. According to NIA sources, a meeting for finalising the training schedule was held in Champai, Mizoram, which was attended by Kishenji. The sources confirmed that Dilip confessed that arms training did take place in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand on 11-20 November 2010, but it was cut short.
TEHELKA has in its possession another secret letter that clarifies why the training was cut short. On 30 December 2010, Sagar, a top commander of the Maoist armed unit, sent a secret missive to the RPF general secretary. The letter reveals that while the Maoists could not start the training on time owing to massive operations against them by the Joint Forces, the PLA failed to send the high-frequency wireless communication devices on time.
The letter is interesting if one reads between the lines. Sagar airs his disappointment over the fact that the PLA trainers left early, although the training was supposed to last three months. It becomes clear that the two outfits could not take the bonhomie further due to serious “hiccups” during the first phase of training.
China reportedly sent an ‘assurance’ through the PLA leaders that they are willing to help the Maoists
The PLA was given a contract of procuring Chinese-made rocket-propelled grenades, automatic rifles and high-end wireless sets. “We have found out that the PLAwas supposed to hand over high-frequency wireless sets before the training started, but they were able to send it only at a later date,” an NIA source said.
Kishenji was trying to develop secret links with other rebel groups in the Northeast, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) or NSCN(IM). The latter’s chief arms procurer Anthony Shimray, who is in NIA custody, confessed that a huge cache of arms for the Maoists was purchased from a Chinese company. The consignment included automatic rifles, rocket launchers and grenades. TEHELKAwas informed by an insider from the anti-talk faction of ULFA that Kishenji was in touch with ULFA army chief Paresh Barua, who led him to Shimray.
IN 2008, when the PLA and the Maoists signed the joint declaration, another development was taking place that eventually was seen as ‘beneficial’ by Kishenji. According to intelligence sources, Paresh Barua and Chaoren flew to Kunming in China’s Yunan province from Dhaka and had two meetings with Chinese military intelligence brass in February. In May, they flew again to Beijing and an understanding was reached on arms dealing. At that time, the PLA had urged the Chinese to help the Maoists and an “assurance” from the Chinese was sent through the PLA.
In the sensational letter from Kishenji available with TEHELKA, the Maoists had stressed on forming a Strategic United Front as a means to “counter the physiological war” of New Delhi. The minutes of the meeting between the PLA and the Maoists where Kishenji was present clearly states: “The Maoists have agreed to the RPF/PLA proposal of maintaining contact and collaborating with foreign countries.”
The Maoist-PLA nexus might have taken several blows due to the arrest of various PLA cadre and Kishenji’s death but the worry for New Delhi is perhaps the fact that the Maoists have access not only to Northeast rebel outfits but through them to the Chinese as well.
Ratnadip Choudhury is a Principal Correspondent with Tehelka. ratnadip@tehelka.com

Bangladesh assures firm action against Indian insurgents

Bangladesh's border guards Monday assured firm action against insurgents from India's northeastern states taking shelter in that country, an Indian officer said.

The commitment was made at the four-day inspector general-level Border Coordination Conference between India's Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh, which began here at the BSF frontier headquarters.

"They have assured us that they would take firm action against the Indian insurgents if they take shelter in Bangladesh," BSF spokesman Ravi Gandhi told IANS after the first day's meeting.

Though Gandhi refused divulge further details, but a BSF official said that the BSF has prepared a list of 46 camps belonging to several insurgents groups operating from Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet and Mymensingh districts besides other regions.

BSF Inspector General (Headquarters) S.K. Mishra, who led the Indian side, appreciated the commitment made by the Bangladesh government not to allow its territory for any activity inimical to India.

Mishra, however, expressed concern on the frequent crimes committed by Bangladeshi nationals inside Indian territory - poaching, illegal migration and smuggling of fake Indian currency notes and cattle.

The BSF troopers have seized 333,520 bottles of cough syrup Phensidyl and a large quantity of ganja (marijuana) during the past 22 months being smuggled to Bangladesh through the India-Bangladesh border with Tripura alone, the paramilitary official said.

India-made Phensidyl is banned in Bangladesh as many people, specially youths, taking it as a recreational narcotic.

Four northeastern Indian states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam - share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh. The dense forests, mountainous terrain, unfenced and other hitches make the borders porous and vulnerable.

Bangladesh Guards Deputy Director General (DDG) Brig. Gen. Abu Sayeed Khan, Khan, who was leading a 13-member delegation, also raised the issues like killing, kidnapping and injuring of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals by BSF and Indian nationals in bordering areas, illegal trespassing of Indian nationals and pushing in of Bengali-speaking Indian citizens to Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, both the forces agreed to strengthen joint efforts to prevent trans-border crimes and maintain closer cooperation and better understanding between the two forces with constructive engagement at all levels besides,agreeing to strengthen confidence building measures and institutional linkages between the two forces. Meanwhile, India has speed up efforts to complete construction of fencing along the frontier with Bangladesh by 2013, and 500 new border outposts would be set up.

Currently, over 70 BSF battalions are deployed for security along the India-Bangladesh border as well as for counter-insurgency operations in the northeast.

To maintain effective vigil along the frontier with Bangladesh, the distance between two border outposts is likely to be reduced from the present 4.5 km to 2.8 km.

Tura-bound dealers held with weapons meant for militants

Dhubri, Dec. 12 : The arrests of three arms dealers have proved that militant groups in the Garo hills districts of Meghalaya bordering Goalpara and Kamrup are fortifying themselves with arms and ammunition supplied from the neighbouring states.

Mozammel Haque, 38, Rahim Ali, 25 and Ranjan Biswas, 42 of Jalpaiguri (in West Bengal) were yesterday apprehended by the 13th Sikh Regiment and police with arms and ammunition while they were travelling to Tura in Meghalaya in a car near Lakhipur under Goalpara district.

The army seized a 7.65 pistol of Italian make, two 9mm pistols and a magazine loaded with five rounds of ammunition.

In another joint operation by the army and the police, Nur Hussain, 35, a cadre of the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (Multa), was apprehended from Phulgasa village under Lakhipur police station of Goalpara with a 9mm pistol and ammunition today.

All four were handed over to Lakhipur police station, an army source said.

The source said the three had contacts with some individuals in Tura and they were going to supply arms and ammunition to them.

The consignment could be for some militant groups active in Garo hills districts, the source

“The police are interrogating them and after a thorough interrogation, it could be known to which group the consignment was meant for. But we are keeping a close watch on the findings of interrogation which will help us in our next operation,” the army source said.

Goalpara additional superintendent of police Sushanta Biswa Sarma said security forces and the police were leaving no stone unturned to break the networks of all militants groups and for that they were operating fast as soon as any information reached.

On the GNLA, Sarma said that according to the police, this militant group was not operating in Goalpara district. An intelligence source working in lower Assam said after the ethnic clash between the Rabhas and the Garos in January this year, militants of the Rabha Viper Army (RVA) and the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) have become more active.

Cache of Explosives found in a box in Jowai town

Shillong, Dec 11 (PTI) A huge cache of explosives was today found in a box near a temple in Meghalaya's Jowai town, 62 km east from here,police said. About three kg of IEDs, three detonators, fuse wires and gelatine sticks were found by a shopkeeper, who informed the police at around 9 am, they said. The explosive was found in a box kept at a fish stall opposite to the temple created panic in the sleepy town, police said. The district administration which does not have its own bomb disposal squad had to wait for three hours for a special bomb squad team from Shillong, they said. The shopowner was detained for questioning, but police said they suspect the hands of underground rebels who could have brought the explosives.

UPDS peace accord signed

NEW DELHI, Nov 25 – Karbi militant outfit United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) on Friday sealed an accord with the Centre and Assam Government, paving the way for restoration of peace in the troubled hill district.

The Centre declared a package worth over Rs 2000 crore, while the new set-up would be rechristened as ‘Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council’.

Celebrations marked the signing of the accord, with the UPDS leaders hailing the deal as “historic”. The outfit had flown in representatives of at least 50 organisations from Karbi Anglong. The tripartite Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) was signed in presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Both the leaders were presented with traditional shawls and Karbi jackets.

UPDS chairman Longsodar Senar, general secretary Haren Singh Bey and two joint secretaries, Kanjan Terang and Surya Rongphar, and self-styled C-in-C Anil Teron signed the accord, while State Home Secretary Jishnu Barua and Joint Secretary (NE) Shambhu Singh signed it on behalf of the State Government and the Centre respectively.

The chairman of the UPDS told newsmen that he was happy at the signing of the accord. “Our long-drawn struggle has come to an end today,” he said.

“We will continue our movement politically and we want a speedy development of Karbi Anglong,” he added.

The new territorial council would be reorganised and four new districts are proposed to be created.

For fulfilment of the main political demand, the UPDS has to wait till 2016-2017 though, when the strength of the proposed territorial council is proposed to go up to 50. The ensuing election, however, would be held according to the existing arrangement of 30 seats. The proposed increase in seats from existing 26 to 44 elected seats and also nominated seats shall be applicable till the subsequent election to the Council due in 2016-17 or mid-term poll, if any, whichever is earlier, said Home Ministry sources.

The State Government has also put its foot down and refused to dissolve the existing Congress-led council, which is on its last leg.

Officials explained that the increasing strength of the Council would call for delimitation of existing constituencies bringing amendment to the Assam Election Commission rules among others. The Tarun Gogoi Government favours an early election sometime in January-February.

The UPDS has been asked to surrender their weapons and disband the militant outfit within a month in view of the approaching elections to the council. The accord, however, has proposed that rehabilitation of UPDS cadres, withdrawal of cases relating to heinous crimes shall be reviewed case by case according to existing policy for withdrawal of such cases.

The new territorial council has been given 39 government departments barring some vital departments such as home, relief and rehabilitation, judiciary and sales taxes among others. The council currently has about 15 government departments.

On the economic front the Council would be entitled to Rs 350 crore including Rs 70 crore per annum over and above the plan allocation.

According to Home Ministry sources, the accord proposes setting up of a committee under Assam Legislative Assembly as envisaged under Article 371B of the Constitution of India, renaming of existing council as Karbi Anglong Autonomous Territorial Council (KAATC); increasing seats in the council up to 50 members of which six will be nominated by Governor for more representation.

The accord proposes setting up of village councils for boosting democratic process at the grassroot level, transfer of additional subjects by Assam to the council along with legislation and executive powers.

A State Finance Commission (SFC) has been proposed for consideration of higher fund allocation to the council to undertake viable activity. The Centre has inserted a clause proposing strict adherence to established norms of financial management and proper audit of the accounts.

Special measures for socio-economic, education, health and cultural development have been promised by the Centre.

Improvement of road connectivity, water supply and supply of power in Karbi Anglong district under existing schemes, besides providing one-time grant for capacity building in KAATC for preparation of DPR.

Assuring that implementation of MoS would be reviewed periodically, the Home Ministry has proposed to bring amendments in the relevant paragraphs of the Sixth Schedule. Executive orders will be issued to implement the other provisions of MoS, said official sources.

Champion Sangma's 'arrest' shrouded in mystery

SHILLONG: A day after reports of the detention of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chief Champion Sangma by security forces in Bangladesh, state police were yet to come out with any official reaction on the matter, even as Intelligence sources iterated the former cop-turned-rogue was indeed in the dragnet of authorities in the neighbouring country.

"There are indications that he was detained by the Rapid Action Battalion of Bangladesh in Mynmensing district," a source said.

Champion, a former DSP in the Meghalaya Police, was widely believed to have been hiding in Bangladesh, due to proximity of the neighbouring country to Garo Hills.

The GNLA had let loose a reign of terror in Garo Hills, indulging in killings and kidnapping of government officials and businessmen. Recently, the outfit had abducted the BDO of Dadenggre block, P K Boro, whose whereabouts are yet to be traced.

The state police had formed a team of Special Weapons and Tactics ( SWAT), consisting of highly trained commandos, to neutralize the GNLA rebels.

Meanwhile, leader of opposition in the Meghalaya assembly, Conrad K Sangma, met governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary here this evening and expressed his concern over the prevailing law and order situation in Garo Hills.

Welcoming reports of the detention of the GNLA chief, Conrad, while stating that he too was not absolutely sure about the development, said this would be a step forward in dealing with the outfit.

Meanwhile, interrogation of the six GNLA 'linkmen', nabbed by the state police on Wednesday in connection with an arms deal in the city, was on, police sources said. The city police apprehended an aide of the GNLA, Jackiush A Sangma, based on whose interrogation five others involved in the arms deal were also nabbed.

"Jackiush was in Shillong to make an arms deal with some persons, but a police team apprehended him along with two others, namely Bappun A Sangma and Harding M Marak," East Khasi Hills SP, A R Mawthoh, had said. Cash amounting to Rs 11,49,500 was seized from Jackiush's possession.

"On interrogation, he revealed that he was an aide of Sohan D Shira, 'C-in-C' of the GNLA, and was sent by him for procuring arms and ammunition from one Pungam Hangal alias Angam of Dimapur, who had come to Shillong for the deal," the SP had informed.

Sources said the rebel leader may be handed over to Indian authorities in Meghalaya.

Meghalaya rebel chief nabbed in Bangladesh: Police

Shillong, November 25 : In a major setback to the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), its top leader Champion R Sangma has been detained in Bangladesh and is likely to be handed over to India soon, a police official on Thursday.

Champion, who claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland, has been
camping in Bangladesh for several months in search of support.

"We have confirmed from the central intelligence agencies that Champion has been arrested from Mymensingh district (Bangladesh) by Royal Action Bangladesh (RAB) commandos," a top Meghalaya police official, who did not wish to be named, told IANS.

He said the rebel leader will be handed over to India soon.

However, an Indian home ministry official said that New Delhi does not have any official confirmation of Champion's detention.

"We are yet to get any official confirmation," Shambhu Singh, joint secretary (Northeast) in the union home ministry, told IANS.

Champion, a former deputy superintendent of police, deserted the Meghalaya Police and floated the GNLA due to alleged harassment by his seniors.

The outfit which has also forged an alliance with the Bangladesh-based rebel group, A'chik Special Dragon Party has unleashed a reign of terror in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in the western part of Meghalaya.

Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced and prone to frequent infiltration.

It has forged an operational alliance with the United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

Both the Assam-based rebel groups have transformed the GNLA into a violent group with access to sophisticated arms and ammunitions.

Over 20 people, including security personnel, have been killed in the Garo Hills in the last one year by GNLA rebels.

On Monday evening, four police personnel and a civilian were killed and two policemen were critically injured by the rebels at Nengpatchi in East Garo Hills district.

On Monday, heavily armed GNLA rebels abducted Block Development Officer (BDO) PK Boro and two traders Dulal Modak and Rokybul Haque from two areas of Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district. The whereabouts are still unknown.

Boro was abducted at gunpoint from his official chamber in Dadenggre while the traders were kidnapped from Kalchengpara weekly market.

The GNLA has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operating in the three impoverished districts. The outfit has procured a cache of HK53 rifles and explosives to add to their arsenal.

Ulfa steps up ‘revival’ activities

Barua names new panel

Guwahati, Nov 24 : The Paresh Barua-led group of Ulfa today named a 16-member central committee, as it had announced earlier, but left all positions occupied by pro-talks leaders free except that of the deputy commander-in-chief.
Barua made himself the acting vice-chairman and remained the military chief, while promoting himself to the rank of “major general” from “colonel”.
Reacting swiftly to the move, the pro-talks group of the outfit led by Arabinda Rajkhowa described the move as unconstitutional, as it went against the outfit’s basic tenets.
The new committee also has an acting chairman — Abhijit Barman, a name unknown to the Rajkhowa group, with some saying it was probably just a name.
An email statement issued by the Barua-led group’s spokesperson, Arunodoi Dohotia, said its mobile military headquarters had unanimously approved the names of the 16-member central committee and appealed to people of the state for their “continued cooperation, blessings and inspiration”.
The new names of the committee include acting chairman Abhijit Barman, acting vice-chairman and military chief “major general” Paresh Barua, assistant general secretary and acting finance secretary “lieutenant colonel” Jiban Moran, deputy military chief “major” Drishti Rajkhowa and “major” Bijoy Chinese, assistant finance secretary “major” Michal Dekaphukan and “captain” Partho Gogoi, assistant organising secretaries “captain” Montu Saikia, “captain” Nayan Medhi, “lieutenant” Selim and “lieutenant” Azhar Ali, assistant cultural secretaries “lieutenant” Samiran Bhuyan, “lieutenant” Sagar Topno and “lieutenant” Jyotimoy Bharali, assistant information and publicity secretary “lieutenant” Arunodoi Dohotia and assistant foreign secretary Pranomoy Asom.
The group, which had earlier said doors were open for chairman Rajkhowa and other senior leaders and that it would welcome them if they decided to return, did not no-minate a permanent committee, barring the post of deputy military chief in which Dris-hti Rajkhowa and Partho Go-goi have been nominated in pl-ace of Raju Baruah, who, too, is with the pro-talks group.
The Paresh Barua group is against talks with the government without discussions on the subject of sovereignty.
The spokesperson of Rajkhowa group, Mrinal Hazarika, told The Telegraph that the new committee announced by Barua was not acceptable according to the constitution of Ulfa. “He (Barua) cannot nominate a new committee without approval by Ulfa’s general council and nor can he effect any changes in the ranks of the organisation. He created a rank of ‘major general’ and promoted himself, though there is no such rank in Ulfa,” Hazarika said.
On being asked why a permanent committee had not been named, Hazarika said, “Maybe Barua is waiting for Anup Chetia’s return, since he himself cannot nominate a permanent committee. Chetia’s stand will determine the balance of power in the outfit. But we can only say that Chetia is in favour of talks.”
According to a senior leader of the Rajkhowa group, Barua was forced to constitute a committee because without that, he would have found it difficult to liase with any other group or agency. “They will want to know about the organisational structure before getting into any deal, so he had to form a committee,” he said.
Stating that Abhijit Barman and Pranomoy Asom were, in all probability, fake names, he said, “We would otherwise have known them because these are senior posts and given to senior leaders.”
Hazarika, however, said the announcement of new central committee would have no impact on the ongoing peace process with New Delhi.
“In case of NSCN, NDFB and some other groups, we have seen that there are factions outside the purview of talks process. So we do not believe that the new development will have any impact on the talks process,” he said.

Meghalaya rebels set conditions for releasing official

Shillong: The outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) Wednesday demanded withdrawal of central forces from Meghalaya in return for setting free a government official abducted two days back.

Heavily armed GNLA rebels abducted Block Development Officer (BDO) P.K. Boro and two traders Dulal Modak and Rokybul Haque from two areas of Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district Monday.

Boro was abducted at gunpoint from his official chamber in Dadenggre while the traders were kidnapped from Kalchengpara weekly market.

"Ten days' time will be given to the Meghalaya government to withdraw the CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) commandos, and if the government doesn't respond, we will send the dead body of Boro," GNLA chairman Champion R. Sangma told IANS on phone.

Champion, who is hiding in Bangladesh, however, promised to release abducted traders soon.

The GNLA has been demanding for withdrawal of central forces - two units of Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) commandos and five companies of Border Security Force (BSF) troopers - ever since the troops were deployed in Garo Hills area in July.

Meanwhile, security forces intensified their operation in the region to rescue the abducted trio.

"The search operation is on," Inspector General of Police (Western Range) G.H.P. Raju told IANS.

CoBRA and Meghalaya's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been pressed into service to trace the hostages.

The GNLA earlier had sent extortion demands of Rs.50 lakh to Boro through mobile text messages.

Over 20 people, including security personnel, have been killed while more than 10 people were abducted for ransom in the area in the last one year by GNLA rebels.

Champion, who claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland, has been camping in Bangladesh for several months in search of support.

The outfit has also forged an alliance with the Bangladesh-based rebel group, A'chik Special Dragon Party.

The GNLA has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operating in three impoverished districts of western Meghalaya.

No quick-fix solution to militancy

SHILLONG, Nov 24  – With the Garo Hills situation fast deteriorating due to heightened militancy, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma yesterday said militancy is due to certain problems inherent to Meghalaya and there was no quick-fix solution” to it.

“Militancy is due to certain problems inherent to Meghalaya. We earlier had the Achik Liberation Matgrik Army, Achik National Volunteers Council and now the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). There are also many mushrooming groups. There is no quick-fix solution to militancy,” Sangma said on the sidelines of a workshop.

On Monday, the BDO of Dadenggre, PK Boro was abducted from his office chamber by suspected GNLA militants. The militants then fired three rounds in the air to scare off onlookers. On the same day, two businessmen – Dulal Modak and Rokybul Haque – from Singimari town were also suspected of being kidnapped by the GNLA.

Asked about the State Government’s position on banning the GNLA, a visibly annoyed Chief Minister refused to comment on the issue.

The Central Government had earlier sought the State Government’s view whether the GNLA should be banned. The State Government has said it would take a decision on the issue soon.

Sangma said that the State Government was looking into a multi-faceted approach to root out militancy from the State. He attributed militancy due to youths being deprived of a decent livelihood and having a perception of lack of opportunities.

“Many in the State have this perception that there is lack of opportunities in the State,” he said. He said his government was identifying ways of addressing the issue of militancy by trying to create opportunities to the people in the State.

Two ULFA ultras killed in explosion on railway lines in Assam

SIBSAGAR: Two militants belonging to the anti-talk faction of ULFA were killed when a powerful bomb they were planting on railway tracks to target long-distance trains exploded in Assam's Sibsagar district early on Monday, officials said.

Ahead of the arrival of Dibrugarh-Kolkata Kamrup Express, the Delhi-bound Brahmaputra Mail and North East Express, the two militants were fixing the bomb on the tracks between Bojo and Langpotia under Charaido subdivision around 1:45am when they were blown to smithereens in the blast, they said.

The militants were identified as Romen Dhadumia alias Jitu Bora of Barhat and Hiren Gogoi of Golaghat.

The explosion damaged the tracks which were being repaired, they said.

The explosion comes in the run up to 'Protest Day' on November 28 by the anti-talk faction of ULFA headed by Paresh Baruah.

Paresh forms new panel

Guwahati, Nov. 21 : The Ulfa group led by its “commander-in-chief” Paresh Barua today announced that its new central committee would comprise 16 members and a three-member group of advisers would steer its new political wing to carry forward its fight for “sovereignty” of Assam.

The group, which is against negotiations without a dialogue on sovereignty, yesterday said it was revamping its political wing to fill up the void created after the departure of chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and other senior leaders of the outfit. Today, the group, however, said that doors were open for any leader who decides to leave the peace process and return to the outfit.

An email statement issued by the group’s central publicity wing leader, Arunodoi Dohotia, said it had decided not to have an executive committee like earlier and instead they decided for a three-member permanent committee as advisers.

“A unanimous decision has been taken to nominate three respected persons who completely support the cause of sovereign Assam and will steer our political wing to take forward our movement. There will be scope to widen the three-member permanent committee in the future,” the statement said.

The group, however, did not disclose the names of the committee members and said doors would remain open for Rajkhowa and other senior leaders who are currently into political negotiations with New Delhi.

“The new central committee has been constituted not to exclude our chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and other central committee leaders who are engaged in the so-called political negotiations. The doors of the organisation are open for all who understand the futility of the so-called talks process and return to the organisation to strengthen our fight for a sovereign Assam. We have decided to welcome them back into the fold with respect,” the statement said.

Rajkhowa, when asked by The Telegraph, however, said the decision to hold talks with the government was taken by the organisation after discussions in the general council and central executive committee.

Without naming anyone, Rajkhowa said, “I do not want to make any comment on an individual’s statement but initiating dialogue with the government was an organisational decision and we will move forward accordingly. It is up to the people of Assam to decide who is right to resolve the long conflict keeping in mind the experiences of the last 31 years.”

Sources in the Rajkhowa group said Barua wanted himself expelled so he could take over as the chairman.

“He is trying to provoke us into doing just that but we are not ready to oblige,” a source said.

Ultras in Assam release abducted railway driver

A railway engine driver abducted by a little-known tribal outfit called United Democratic Liberation Army, from a remote area in Hailakandi district in southern Assam last month, was released unharmed by the abductors on Friday much to the relief of the Railway authorities and his family members.

A senior police officials of Hailakandi district said the railway driver, Tarun Kumar Bhattacharjee, was rescued by a police team from a forest on the Assam-Mizoram border early on Friday morning. The police, in fact, rescued him after he had been apparently set free by his captors somewhere inside the jungle close to the Mizoram border.

A small group of militants had whisked away the railway driver and his assistant at gun point by waylaying a passenger train they were driving from Ramnathpur in South Assam to Bairabi in Mizoram on October 20 evening.

"The two were abducted by the armed militants by stopping the train when it had slowed on the tracks that were under maintenance," a police official said.
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The ultras had released the assistant driver within a few days but continued to keep driver Bhattacharjee captive after demanding a ransom of Rs 1 crore. The UDLA is a small group comprising about fifty militants.

The police claimed to have no information about whether his family had made any payment to secure the release of Bhattacharjee.

Ulfa's Anup Chetia reapplies for asylum in Bangladesh

SHILLONG: United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) general secretary Anup Chetia, presently in a Bangladeshi jail, has once again applied to a court there for political asylum, a union home ministry official said Sunday.

"We have been informed that Chetia has once again applied for political asylum at a Bangladesh court," Shambhu Singh, joint secretary (Northeast) in the union home ministry, told IANS.

Chetia is wanted in India for the various crimes, including murder, kidnapping and extortion. He was arrested in Assam in 1991, but was freed by the state government.

In 1997, the Ulfa general secretary was arrested in Dhaka for illegally entering Bangladesh and for illegally carrying foreign currencies and satellite phone. He is under detention on completion of his jail term.

After the completion of his jail term, Chetia applied in 2008 to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees seeking political asylum in Bangladesh, contending he had been fighting for sovereign Assam.

"He is still in a Bangladesh jail and we will never let him (Chetia) flee to any other country, but bring him back to India. I don't think any country would allow a person with such criminal background shelter on its soil," Singh said.

Although Bangladesh never officially acknowledged handing over of the several top Indian rebels leaders to India, it is now an open secret that Dhaka facilitated their arrests by capturing them and later handing them over to Indian authorities.

Those handed over include Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah, self-styled foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury, finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika and other leaders of the outfit, as well as National Democratic Front of Bodoland chief Ranjan Daimary.

With India and Bangladesh agreeing to move faster on the proposed extradition treaty, Singh exuded confidence that Chetia and other Indian fugitives will be handed over to India.

"Bangladesh has expressed their inability to deport Chetia to India at this juncture due to legal hurdles, but nonetheless assured that he would be handed over to India once the extradition treaty is signed," he said.

Four injured in Manipur bomb blasts

Imphal, Nov 18 (PTI) Four persons, including three non-Manipuri labourers, were injured when two bombs exploded in separate areas in the state today, official sources said. Two non-Manipuri labourers were injured at Ukhrul town bordering Myanmar in Ukhrul district when a powerful bomb exploded this afternoon, the sources said. The bomb, planted by suspected militants in a shop exploded around 2.30 pm, destroying a Maruti van parked nearby. In another incident, a powerful bomb set off by suspected militants injured another two, including a non-Manipuri labourer, they said. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the blasts. Unidentified militants have been targeting non-Manipuri labourers for some years to drive them away from the state as their numbers are rapidly increasing, sources said. So far around 58 non-Manipuri labourers have been killed in the state in the past two years by unidentified militants.

India to raise Paresh’s presence in China

NEW DELHI, Nov 17 – India is again likely to lodge its protest against the free run enjoyed by ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah in China, besides the flow of weapons into the North Eastern region from that country.

The prickly issues are likely to figure in the discussions when Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh meets Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia Summit at Bali in Indonesia later this week.

The presence of Indian insurgent groups in the ‘region’ and availability of arms have figured in discussions with Chinese leaders in the past, said Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, Vishnu Prakash while replying to questions.

Prakash was responding to questions over the presence of the elusive ULFA commander in-chief in China. Baruah reportedly shuttles between China and Myanmar frequently.

Incidentally, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also called on the Prime Minister this evening though it was not clear whether he raised the issue of Paresh Baruah’s activities in the neighbouring country.

In the past, too, contentious issues like China’s bid to divert the Brahmaputra river, construction of big dams on the river and incursions into Arunachal Pradesh by Chinese troops have overshadowed the Prime Minister’s meetings with his Chinese counterpart.

During his visit, the other significant meeting Dr Singh is scheduled to have is with the US President, Barack Obama on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. Obama is attending the summit for the first time.

The Prime Minister, who is leaving for Bali on Thursday, is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with member countries of ASEAN during his visit to Indonesia.

A slew of proposals have been lined up to boost ties between India and ASEAN countries. A car rally, dedicated regional air services, promotion of tourism, enhanced cooperation, collaboration and business summits are planned, said Secretary (East) Sanjay Singh.

India is a dialogue partner with the association of 10 South East Asian nations, ASEAN.

The leaders from 10 ASEAN member countries will begin their deliberations tomorrow.

The dialogue partners are India, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. The United States and Russia have also been invited to participate in the summit this year.

The India-ASEAN Summit will consider 40 proposals worth USD 50 million submitted by India to enhance multilateral ties with South East Asian countries.

Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN countries has touched USD 58 billion and will reach USD 70 billion by next year.

Militants release SBI manager unharmed

A bank manager held captive by suspected Kuki militants in Manipur’s Senapati district on six days back has been released, a police source said Wednesday.

Branch manager of the State Bank of India, Leimakhong branch in Imphal West district Seikhohao Silthou was kidnapped on Nov 10 last on his way back from his office by militants, reportedly in connection with monetary demand from the manager.

Police has registered a case with regard to the kidnapping of the bank officer after his wife Thingneithang Silthou lodged a complaint at the Sapermaina police station of Senapati district who transferred the case to Sekmai police station of Imphal West as the place of occurrence lies within the jurisdiction of the later.

Reports said that he was released late last night, around 9 pm at AK Pao village near Motbung in Senapati district. Police quoting the family said that he was released as his health became deteriorated.

China hosting Indian separatist leader

The Government of India has “concrete evidence” that Paresh Baruah, the commander in chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), has been living in Yunnan Province of China over the last two and half months, along with a few of his close aides, reported assamtribune.com Nov 12. The report noted that China has been denying over the years that the ULFA leader was frequently visiting that country. However, India now has concrete evidence of the presence of Baruah in Yunnan province.

The report said Baruah has been involved in gun-running from his base in China, although it was stated to be not known whether he was receiving any direct help from the Chinese authorities.

The report cited sources as saying weapons discarded by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army as a part of the country’s modernization drive were being collected by clandestine weapon dealers and that almost all the major insurgent groups of North East India were buying those weapons.

The report also said the government of India had conclusive evidence that Baruah had been calling up from China a few prominent businessmen in Assam, mostly those based in Guwahati city, demanding substantial amounts of protection money from them.

The report also cited India’s Home Ministry as saying NSCN (I-M), an underground group from Nagaland state which has been under a cease-fire agreement with the Government since 1997, was also running a small set up in Yunnan province. Its senior leader Anthony Shimrey was arrested in India when he was returning from China. The NSCN is believed to be maintaining a base in China for the purpose of engaging in gun-running business.

Paresh Baruah is in China: Centre

R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, Nov 13 – After months of search for his location, the Government of India has finally received “concrete evidence” of presence of Paresh Baruah, the commander in chief of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in the Yunan Province of China.

Highly-placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that Baruah has been staying in China for the last two and half months along with a few of his close aides. Sources said that the total number of cadres with the ULFA leader in China would not be more than five to seven.

Sources pointed out that over the years, China has been denying the fact that the ULFA leader used to visit that country often. But this time, the Government of India has concrete evidence of the presence of Baruah in the Yunan province.

According to information available with the security agencies, Baruah has been running gun running from his base in China, but it is still not known whether he is receiving any direct help from the Chinese authorities. Baruah has very good contacts with those involved in clandestine gun running and he can easily get involved in gun running. Moreover, the weapons discarded by the Chinese Army as a part of the modernization drive are collected by the clandestine weapon dealers and almost all the major insurgent groups of North East are buying those weapons, sources added.

The Government of India now has conclusive evidence of Baruah calling up a few prominent businessmen in Assam, mostly those based in Guwahati city asking substantial amounts of money. But the fact remains that none of the businessmen who received such calls formally approached the police.

It may be mentioned here that Paresh Baruah is still adopting a hard line on the issue of talks with the Government of India and according to information available with the security agencies, he has around 150 to 200 cadres with him. Most of the members of the hard line faction of the ULFA are in the bases in Myanmar and senior member of the ULFA, Jiban Moran, is in charge of the camps.

Meanwhile, MHA sources said that in addition to the ULFA, the NSCN (I-M), which is under cease-fire with the Government since 1997, is also running a small set up in the Yunan province. Senior leader of the outfit, Anthony Shimrey was arrested by the NIA when he was coming back from China. The reasons for the NSCN maintaining a base in China are yet to be ascertained, but it is believed that the base is being maintained for gun running, sources added.

Talk to both Dilip, Jewel, says adviser

Guwahati, Nov. 11 : Joint parleys with the two Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) factions have been put forward as the best way to resolve the problems plaguing the Dimasa community.

Adviser to the influential All Dimasa Students’ Union Dilip Diphusa today said instead of talking separately with the two groups, the government should sit with both together on the negotiating table to find a solution acceptable to all.

Addressing a round-table discussion on the Dimasa issue, organised by a non-governmental organisation at the Indian Institute of Bank Management here today, Diphusa said signing of separate agreements with the two factions on the same issue might further complicate the problem.

At present, the government is holding separate negotiations with the Jewel Gorlosa and Dilip Nunisa factions of the DHD. Reports that the government is preparing to sign peace accords with the two Dimasa militant groups have been doing the rounds.

In Diphusa’s view, for reaching a final settlement to usher in lasting peace, all major contentious issues needed to be sorted out on a common platform with both the factions.

He advocated creation of an autonomous territorial council, which could fulfil the aspirations of the people, by including the contiguous Dimasa-inhabited areas outside Dima Hasao district, besides creating some sort of development councils for far-off areas where Dimasas were living.

Diphusa said the demand for carving out Dimasa-inhabited areas from districts such as Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Cachar was important since Dimasas, who had a separate kingdom, had a unique historical background and social set-up, which is critical to their existence.

“There should also be constitutional safeguards for the non-Dimasas in the proposed territorial council,” he said.

He urged the government to expedite the peace process with the DHD factions to ensure that it reached a logical conclusion through a negotiated political settlement at the earliest.

Assistant director of the Indian Council for Historical Research (Northeast regional centre) Uttam Bathari said there were certain inadequacies and disparities in the Sixth Schedule.

He said a separate parliamentary constituency should be created through delimitation exercise for the Dimasa-inhabited areas to ensure political representation of the community.

Representatives of different organisations such as Dimasa Sahitya Sabha, Dimasa People’s Council, Joint Action Committee of Dimaraji Movement, Indigenous Confederation of Indian Tribal People, All Dimasa Women Forum, Kuki Political Affairs for Dimaraji Movement and Jayantia Youth Federation attended the discussion.

Appeal for talks with both DHD factions

GUWAHATI, Nov 11 – A round-table discussion on the Dimasa problem, organized by the Guwahati-based Centre for Development and Peace Studies (CPDS) today, called upon the government and civil society to initiate steps to hold peace talks jointly with both the DHD factions to usher in lasting peace in the Dima Hasao area.

The round-table also demanded that the government facilitate proper political representation of the people by granting a separate Lok Sabha seat, besides increasing the number of Assembly constituencies through further delimitation.

The meet was attended by leading organizations representing Dimasa and non-Dimasa groups in Dima Hasao district as well as in the neighbouring districts of Karbi Anglong, Cachar and Nagaon. Some of the groups that attended the meeting included All Dimasa Students' Union, Dimasa Sahitya Sabha, Dimasa People's Council, Joint Action Committee of Dimaraji Movement, Indigenous Confederation of Indian Tribal People, All Dimasa Women Forum, Kuki Political Affairs for Dimaraji Movement, and Jayantia Youth Federation.

Leading journalists and thinkers, including Samudra Gupta Kashyap of The Indian Express, Prasanta Rajguru, executive editor of Amar Asom, Prashanta J Baruah, executive editor of The Assam Tribune, Col Manoranjan Goswami, former DGP GM Srivastava, former Chief Secretary HN Das, and Shrutimala Duara of Handique Girls' College also attended the conference.

Speaking on the occasion, Dilip Diphusa, advisor, All Dimasa Students' Union, advocated creation of a territorial council by including the contiguous Dimasa areas outside Dima Hasao district and creating some sort of 'satellite development councils' for Dimasas in other Dimasa-inhabited areas. He also said that there should be adequate constitutional safeguards for the non-Dimasa groups in the council.

Samudra Gupta Kashyap stressed the need for special provisions for financial accountability in the new arrangement that would come up after the peace agreement.

Uttam Bathari, Assistant Director, Indian Council for Historical Research-NE region said the Government should provide a politico-administrative platform for participatory governance by all groups in the area.

Kashyap said that the majority Dimasas should have no problem if the non-Dimasas were given safeguards in the new agreement.

CDPS director Wasbir Hussain welcomed the guest and presented an overview of the Dimasa problem and the road ahead.

The round table adopted four resolutions. The first one called upon the Government at the Centre and the State to ensure a "time-bound, acceptable, honourable solution" for fulfilling the hopes of the Dimasas as well as other ethnic groups who had been living in peace and harmony for decades.

The second resolution urged the Government and its peace negotiators to take into account the views and opinions of all dominant democratic groups and organizations, which have been pushing for the interest of the people of one of the most underdeveloped areas in the country, before signing a peace agreement.

The third resolution appealed to the Government and civil society to bring both the DHD factions together so that they could sit jointly in peace talks with the Government in a bid to bring lasting peace in the area.

By the fourth resolution, the round table called upon the Government to ensure that the interests of the Dimasa people living in areas outside the jurisdiction of Dima Hasao district as also of the non-Dimasas inside Dima Hasao be considered while reaching a peace agreement.

3 IEDs found on railway track in Dima Hasao, Agartala Exp targetted

Silchar, Nov 9 : Three IED bombs were found on the railway track between Mahur and Faiding stations on Lumding-Silchar section of the North-East Frontier Railway in the wee hours today leading to suspension of train services on the section for eight hours during the day.

A senior police officer in Haflong, the headquarters of Assam’s Dima Hasao district said a gang-man while checking the tracks noticed the explosives chained by electric wires on railway bridge No 212 at o4oo hrs.

The place is four km from Mahur station and 40 km from Haflong, he said. Soon after, the gang-man brought this to the notice of the senior railway officials in Lower Haflong station.

The officer said the recovery of the Improvised Explosive Device helped save the Agartala Express train which was on its way from Lumding to Agartala and was to pass the area soon.

The train was stopped near Diyung bridge, four km away from the place, as soon as the explosives were recovered. ''It’s suspected that the train was targetted by the suspected militants,'' the officer added.

Services of all trains on the section were cancelled for more than eight hours and it resumed at 1300 hrs today, NFR sources said.

The officer said a team of Army bomb disposal squad from Haflong rushed to the place and defused the bombs.

Police, CRPF and Army have launched operation in the area to nab the miscreants behind the incident. The ASP said it’s yet to identify the group behind the planting of the IEDs.

ULFA mourns Hazarika's death

Guwahati: ULFA has mourned the death of Assam's cultural icon Bhupen Hazarika and its anti-talk faction will ask all cadres to abjure violence as a mark of respect.

"We are holding a special meeting to mourn the death of our Dada (elder brother)," ULFA anti-talk faction chief and commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah said in an e-mail here.

"Bhupen Da made immense contribution to our cultural heritage and so we mourn his death," he said.

Without mentioning the venue of the condolence meeting, Baruah said ULFA cadres observed a minute's silence in the memory of the departed soul.

KLA declares unilateral ceasefire

Haflong (Assam), Nov 6 (PTI) The underground Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) in Assam has declared unilateral ceasefire with the government. The outfit from now onwards will not involve itself in any kind of violence, extortion and unlawful activities, said top KLA leaders at a press conference last night. The outfit was formed way back in 1993 as a breakaway faction of the mother KLA organisation in Manipur mainly to protect the right of Kuki tribals in the Dimasa dominated district of Dima Hasao in Assam. A couple of days back, two of its cadres were arrested and arms and ammunition recovered from them. The KLA recently had voiced its desire for formal negotiation with the government.

Paresh 'sacks' Rajkhowa, seizes Ulfa

GUWAHATI: Ulfa military chief Paresh Baruah has taken absolute control of the outfit by sacking all his comrades currently holding peace talks with the Centre.

Many likened Baruah's action to the way his idol, Velupillai Prabhakaran, ran the LTTE as its supreme leader for decades. The Ulfa hardliner, who is holed up in Myanmar, has disbanded the outfit's political wing led by his longtime friend, Arabinda Rajkhowa. After they were caught and deported from Bangladesh about two years ago, Rajkhowa, who is the chairman of Ulfa, and other top leaders began peace negotiations with the Centre.

A top lieutenant of Baruah told TOI, "From now on, there'll be no political wing. Ulfa will be a purely military- controlled outfit under the leadership of Paresh Baruah." He added, "A central command headquarters under Paresh Baruah has been set up."

This comes days after Paresh declared that he would disqualify all members, including Rajkhowa, who have given up the outfit's primary demand for a sovereign nation of Assam. In September, the pro-talks leaders had dropped the demand for a sovereign country while submitting a charter of demands to the Centre.

Paresh's lieutenant claimed that his leader had planned organizational restructuring while he was hiding in Bangladesh, much before Rajkhowa and four other senior leaders were caught there in 2009. In the new set-up, Jibon Moran, who is in-charge of Ulfa's base in Myanmar, will be Paresh's No 2. He replaces Raju Baruah, a key member of the Rajkhowa group, as the outfit's deputy commander.

Paresh has designated Bijoy "Chinese" Das, commander of Ulfa's 28th battalion, as "army commander." Nayan Medhi, commander of the 27th battalion, will work as Bejoy's deputy. Physicist Pranmoy Asom, a new recruit, will be the outifit's "foreign secretary" in place of Sasadhar Choudhury, who is now with Rajkhowa.

Drishti Rajkhowa, commandant of the 109th battalion, will take charge as "finance secretary" replacing Chitrabon Hazarika, now a key pro-talks leader. Arunadoy Dohotiya has replaced Mithinga Daimary, as "central publicity secretary," while Partha Gogoi will be "cultural secretary" in place of Pranati Deka. Michale Dekaphukan, a Myanmar-based leader, has been appointed "organization secretary", which is a new post.

Earlier, Paresh restructured his battalions as 1st battalion in Bangladesh, 2nd battalion in Myanmar and 3rd battalion in Majuli They were named Lakhimi, Rongili and Kopili.

Since its inception, Ulfa has been divided into political and military wings headed by Rajkhowa and Paresh respectively. The political section has the maximum representation in the central executive committee that controls the organization's policies. Paresh reported to the chairman.

NDFB call for Daimari’s release for peace talks

TEZPUR, Nov 5 – Without release of NDFB supremo Ranjan Daimari, the peace-talk between the NDFB and the government cannot be accelerated. It was said today by the NDFB’s education secretary B. Naijab while interacting with the media persons at a remote area of Assam-Arunachal border in Sonitpur district.

Replying to query how many basic points of talks are supposed to be, if talk begins with the Government of India the self styled education secretary of the Ranjan Daimari faction NDFB, said that they are stressing three basic points, that the Bodos have to be allowed to survive with dignity and honour, the lost lands falling under the 45 tribal belts and blocks are to be returned and the chairman of the organization Ranjan Daimari to be released from the jail.

Saying the NDFB’s struggle is a legitimate struggle the hard-core NDFB leader further stated that until they get back their rights to land and resources their movement will be continued. Moreover, stressing the long pending separate state or the Bodoland issue B Naijab further added that they are not against the peace-talks, rather they urged the agencies concerned including the Central Government to come forward to accelerate the peace talk for the interest of establishment of permanent peace in the region. “NDFB’s acts are not part of criminal violence but a political conflict which should be solved politically,” he said, adding that a section of the society and even government-motivated people are always trying to defame the NDFB’s image by untoward incidents like extortion, kidnapping and threatening in the name of NDFB.

“We urge those who involved in such acts to be away from doing so,” he said.

Talks on, ULFA says sovereignty a ‘birthright’

Even as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is engaged in peace talks with the government of India for the past several months, the outfit on Wednesday claimed that sovereignty was a ‘birthright’ of the Assamese people.
It, however, also claimed that the people of Assam would no longer stand under the flag of Paresh Barua, who now leads another faction of the ULFA.
The ULFA — which is still a banned outfit despite the fact that its leaders are freely moving around after being released on bail — in a statement said, “The ULFA strongly believes even today that sovereignty is a birthright of the Assamese people. The question of the Assamese people giving up this right does not arise. That exactly is why we have considered it (the sovereignty issue) as the basis of our talks with the Government of India.”
The pro-talk ULFA faction, as the major portion of the outfit which is led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa has come to be known, however dismissed rival faction leader Paresh Barua’s method of struggle. “We consider Paresh Barua’s method of indulging in senseless violence as an imaginary path towards achieving our goal,” the statement issued by publicity wing member Kamal Kachari said.

Raids on ULFA hideouts in Bangla

GUWAHATI, Nov 4 – The security forces of Bangladesh have started raiding the places used as hideouts by the leaders and cadres of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) looking for weapons. Meanwhile, the ULFA and other militant outfits taking shelter in Myanmar have been forced to shift their bases in that country following pressure from the authorities.

Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that in recent days, the security forces of Bangladesh have raided a number of places used as hideouts by the ULFA leaders in that country. Sources pointed out that when the leaders of the ULFA were apprehended and handed over to India by the Government of Bangladesh, they came empty handed, while, the anti-talk group members also fled the country without taking their belongings.

Under the circumstances, the possibility of the ULFA members leaving their weapons and other belongings behind cannot be rule out and that is why the security forces of Bangladesh started carrying out raids in the hideouts. The communications intercepted by the security forces in recent times indicated that the ULFA members were very much worried about the raids, which also indicate that they must have left behind something which they needed to hide, sources added.

It may be mentioned here that prominent leaders of the ULFA including Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa were apprehended by the security forces of Bangladesh and were handed over to India, while, others including Paresh Baruah escaped from Bangladesh after the Sheikh Hasina led Government came to power.

Meanwhile, life has become tough for the ULFA in Myanmar as the outfit has been forced to shift bases constantly. Though the Government of Myanmar is yet to launch a full scale operation against the ultras, it is evident that some pressure has been put on the militants and that is why they are shifting their bases, sources pointed out.

Sources said that according to inputs available with the security forces, the total strength of the ULFA in Myanmar should be around 150 to 200 cadres and Paresh Baruah has been able to survive in that country because of the cordial relations that he maintained with outfits like the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) for years.

NIA attaches property of terrorists

Amitava Banerjee

Darjeeling, Nov 4 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) for the first time has attached property of alleged terrorists. The attachment of properties were in connection to the banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) terrorist outfit of Manipur. An NIA team led by chief investigating officer Lhary
Lhatoo Dorjee conducted the attachments. The properties attached include a three storied building along with 27 Poles of land in Sumaram Bustee in Kurseong, West Bengal, in the name of one Neera Tamang which was attached on November 2; 17 kathas of land located at Dabgram mouza under the Bhaktinagar Police Station, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, estimated at Rs 1 Crore approximately in the name of one Kangujam Rabi Kumar Singh of Manipur. A Scorpio SUV belonging to one Saraswati Rai (who is presently out on bail) under the Matigarah Police Station will shortly be attached also.

Prior to this on August 18, the NIA had attached a flat in the name of one Tambi wife of self styled KYKL commander Ningthoujam Tomba located at Punija Enclave, RGB Road, Guwahati (estimated cost Rs. 65 lakh) along with another three bed room flat in the name of one Ashalata wife of CH Robert (estimated cost Rs. 70 lakhs) located at Pink Arcade, KC Sen Road, Guwahat, Assami.  13 different bak acounts operational in different names have already been frozen.

Self styled KYKL commander 57 year old Ningthoujam Tomba along with two 18 year old Manipuri girls Sorokkhaibam Memcha Devi and N Rama Chanu and a local woman 28 year old Saraswati Rai had been arrested from Khaprail More under the Matigarah police station in the Darjeeling district bordering the Siliguri town, in a joint operation conducted by the Darjeeling police and a Manipur police commando team on March 15, 2010.

1 satellite phone, 6 cell phones, 1 laptop, multiple external hard disk drives and compact disks along with indiscriminating documents had been recovered from their possession. On April 24, 2010 the case had been handed over to the NIA.

Tomba’s associate Sorokybam Menjor Singh and his wife Neera Tamang had been arrested from Kurseong on August 16. Menjor Singh and his wife have been charged for allegedly raising funds through extortion for terrorist activities in the name of KYKL and used to transfer the extorted funds in Tomba’s account.

Along with this they had allegedly provided a safe haven for Tomba and his associates to operate by allowing them to reside in a three storied house belonging to Neera Tamang in Upper Dumaram Bustee in Kurseong town in the Darjeeling Hills. The Kurseong house was allegedly being used as a base camp for the KYKL leaders and cadres to carry out clandestine operations in Nepal, India and elsewhere. Even ailing cadres used to put up in this house for treatment.

The NIA claims that the extorted funds had been used to buy the plot of land and build the three storied house in Kurseong. Interestingly Tomba allegedly had bought 17 kathas of land in Dabgram  in the name of Kangujam Rabi Kumar Singh. Along with these there were multiple bank accounts in which the extorted amounts running into Crores of Ruppes had been transferred.

On September 8, 2010, the NIA had  filed chargesheet against 7 alleged KYKL terrorists at the District and Sessions Court in Darjeeling for waging war against the state. Only Rabi Kumar Singh was absconding but was later arrested. All are wanted in multiple cases in Manipur also.

The Manipur government had earlier announced a cash award of Rs 5 Lakh on Tomba stated Binod Agarwal, public prosecutor, Darjeeling Court.

Sources state that the NIA has adopted a strategy of hitting the economics of the terrorist outfit. The investigating agency is working on cutting off the supply of funds, the extortion rackets and even the large investments in various companied by the leaders of this banned outfit. The attachment of properties is part of this strategy.

10 NLFT insurgents surrender

Agartala, Nov 3 (PTI) Ten insurgents of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), including a woman cadre, surrendered before the Assam Rifles in North Tripura district, police said today. The ultras surrendered to the Assam Rifles at their camp at Anandabazar yesterday and deposited two grenades and two detonators and some documents, they said. During interrogation, they stated that factionalism in the insurgent outfit, non-payment and scarcity of food led them to take the step.

Paresh warns of strikes

Rajkhowa firm on dialogue decision



Paresh Barua, Arabinda Rajkhowa
Guwahati, Nov. 1: The Paresh Barua faction of Ulfa today warned the indigenous people of Assam to stay away from those associated with “occupational forces” to evade getting harmed in case of a strike by the outfit.
A statement emailed by the group, which is against dialogue without discussions on sovereignty, today said the warning was necessary given the situation in Assam and Ulfa’s commitment not to intentionally hurt the indigenous people in its fight against the “occupational forces”.
“We want to appeal to all indigenous people of the state to stay away from vehicles used by occupational forces, people associated with the forces and their residences, vehicles of leaders of political parties, outside companies and businessmen who are busy exploiting local resources and the corrupt like those who take bribes and blackmarketeers,” the email sent by leader of the group’s publicity cell, Arunodoy Dohotia, said. The group hoped the local people would maintain the distance so as not to face “unwanted situations”.
The warning comes a day after Barua said a solution to the India-Assam conflict was not possible without discussions on sovereignty, the main objective behind Ulfa’s formation. Hours after Dohotia’s email, the group led by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said Ulfa as an organisation had taken the decision to reach a political solution through dialogue and would not allow the ongoing process of political negotiation to be hampered because of opposition by one person (Paresh Barua).
“As an organisation, Ulfa has nothing to say about the personal statement of Paresh Barua which was made without the slightest knowledge of the present situation of Assam. It is always easy to issue warnings from a distance in the name of a so-called movement. In today’s scenario, the people of Assam are in favour of a political solution of the Ulfa-government problem,” the email sent by Kamal Kochari, a member of Rakjhowa group’s publicity cell, added.
“In today’s scenario, the demand to establish sovereign Assam is nothing but an imagination. There is no real value in the demand,” it said.
In another development, former Ulfa militants, under the banner of Prakton Ulfa Samanyarakhi Samiti, have called a 24-hour bandh in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts from 5am on Thursday in protest against the killing of Tileswar Lahon, a surrendered Ulfa.
Lahon was shot dead by unidentified assailants near his Moran residence on October 28. The Barua faction claimed to have killed him in retaliation to the killing of a farmer, Dulen Baruah, in 2008.
A large number of villagers, mostly from Balijan Kutoha, today blocked National Highway 37 at Kutuha Tinali under Barbaruah police station for over three hours in protest against the arrest of Tulen Handique of the village on Sunday in connection with Lahon’s killing.

Paresh demands talks on 'sovereignty'

GUWAHATI: Terming the pro-talks militant leaders as "abulia", Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah has once again demanded talks on Assam's "sovereignty" on Monday. He said peace will elude the state without discussions on the topic.

Baruah said Ulfa would never give up the issue of "sovereignty" and would continue to fight for it. "Without it, the political conflict between Assam and India is never going to come to an end. The bailed leaders have failed to understand the diplomacy of Indian politics and the charter of demand can't fulfill the state's demands," Baruah said in a email statement.

The militant head said from NSCN's talks to Assam Accord, no close-door room treaties had ever brought solution to a community. "Muivah has been in dialogue with the Centre for the last 14 years but no solution has been reached. Similarly, Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa is also involved in such meetings. Even the state doesn't know about the exact details of Assam Accord signed by Prafulla Mahanta," said the email.

NSCN ultras open fire along Nagaland border

SIVASAGAR, Nov 1 – Tension prevailed along the Assam-Nagaland border area at Sonari in Sivasagar district following opening of fire by Naga miscreants on Friday night. According to sources, a group of around 30-40 suspected NSCN cadres opened fire at around 9,45 pm that night towards Janaki Pathar area from Nagaland side and later escaped. Receiving the information, a team of high officials, including security personnel, of the subdivision reached the spot.

Sources said that after the firing, at least 15-20 families of the village of the border area fled from the area.

Sources also said that the NSCN opened fire with a view to threatening the villagers so that they could carry out their extortion drive in the border areas.

Several organisations of Sonari have slammed the Congress-led Government in Assam for its alleged failure to protect villagers living close to Nagaland border from persecution by the people of the neighbouring State.

Five killed in Meghalaya ambush

Shillong, Nov 1 : Four police personnel and a civilian were killed and two policemen critically injured Monday in a militant ambush in insurgency-ravaged western Meghalaya, police said.

A group of 10 heavily armed militants hiding on a hilltop attacked a highway patrol police team at Nengpatchi area of East Garo Hills district, J.F.K. Marak, the police chief of East Garo Hills, told IANS.

The militants also snatched away five weapons, including two AK-47 rifles, two SLRs and one Carbine.

The policemen killed were identified as N.R. Marak, Probinson Sangma, Victor Marak and E. Sangma belonging to the Meghalaya Police 5th battalion, while the identity of the civilian driver is yet to be identified, Marak said.

Peter Sangma and D. Sangma, the injured policemen were rushed to Tura Civil Hospital in West Garo Hills district, he said.

Though no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, police suspect the involvement of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels.

“The GNLA is active in the area and we suspect it received support from some other militant group from outside the state,” a police officer said on condition of anonymity.

The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign Garoland. It is headed by police officer-turned-outlaw Champion R. Sangma.

The outfit is believed to have links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

Condemning the attack, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said: “The government will not rest until the perpetrators of this heartless act are apprehended and dealt with a firm hand in accordance with the law.”

Sangma also announced ex-gratia relief of Rs.7.5 lakh for next of kin of each of the policemen killed.