Khaplang out of peace talks

H. CHISHI

Kohima, Aug 30 : The Khaplang group of the NSCN today decided to pull out of the Naga reconciliation process after its rivals decided not to harbour any rebel group of the region averse to the Naga political cause.

Admitting that the Khaplang group has ties with Ulfa, the Manipur-based UNLF, PLA and Prepak, Kughalu Mulatonu, envoy to the collective leadership of NSCN (K), said from Longwa in Mon district of Nagaland that the Isak-Muivah group, which had harboured many northeastern insurgent groups, today wanted to crush groups opposed to oppression by the Centre to resolve an issue which was “below sovereignty”.

NSCN (K) criticised Khole Konyak, Kitovi Zhimomi and S. Singnya of falling into the trap of the Isak-Muivah group, which, it alleged, was trying to solve the Naga problem with New Delhi by compromising on Naga sovereignty.

The Isak-Muivah and Khole-Kitovi factions of the NSCN and the Singnya faction of the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) have decided to form a “Naga national government”, to disengage from all forms of actions detrimental to the political cause of the Nagas and to work for the territorial integrity of the Nagas.

Mulatonu also criticised the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), which had initiated the peace process, for creating the Khole-Kitovi faction out of NSCN (K) in the name of Naga reconciliation although Khaplang, Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah were the first persons to sign the “covenant of reconciliation”.

On the three Naga groups’ decision to form the Naga national government, Mulatonu said it would be next to impossible, as everybody wanted to lord over the other groups.

Asked whether the Khaplang group anticipated joint operations by the security forces of India and Myanmar and other Naga groups if it continued to harbour other militant groups, Mulatonu was optimistic that the “Centre would never indulge in such tactics” as the other Naga outfits had climbed down from their demand of sovereignty to the settlement of more then 60-year-old Naga political issue within the ambit of the Constitution.

“They will never carry out joint operations against us,” he said, adding that the Centre would try to work out some formula with NSCN (K) to solve the Naga political issue.

However, sources at the Delhi-based Burma Centre, who are against the ruling junta in Myanmar, said the Centre had recently supplied sophisticated guns to the junta which usually carries out operations against the Khaplang group in winter.

Ulfa reach worries security forces

Power of influence

Guwahati, Aug 30 : Assam’s security managers are grappling with the challenges that suspension of operations against Ulfa would throw up, given the outfit’s pan-Assam presence.
A source said the suspension of operations with Ulfa, to be signed on September 3 barring last-minute changes, was going to be a different ball game in the sense that it will affect most parts of the state, which is not the case involving pacts with either the Dima Halam Daogah factions or the United People’s Democratic Solidarity or the National Democratic Front of Boroland (P).
Since the earlier suspension of operations were confined to one particular region or district, it was easier for security personnel to keep a close watch and take prompt action.
The Ulfa’s spread and reach in the state was one of the issues that figured prominently at today’s meeting of the strategy group of the chief secretary-headed Unified Command here.
The Unified Command plans and executes counter-insurgency operations in the state.
Besides, GOC 3 Corps and 4 Corps, senior officials from the CRPF, the Railways, Special Branch, BSF, Assam police and home department were part of the meeting.
“Today’s meeting discussed how to function post-suspension of operations, given Ulfa’s pan-Assam presence. As on day, we plan to have around nine designated camps touching six to seven districts such as Nalbari, Bongaigaon, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Dhubri. If there is violation in one district, it can have a ripple effect on the other districts if not nipped in the bud. This was not the case with suspension of operations with the other groups because their reach was limited. It is an area of concern. It will be relatively difficult for security personnel but we are getting ready for the challenge,” an official said.
What is also troubling the security managers is the rise in extortion cases in Upper Assam, mostly by criminals posing as members of Ulfa.
“All groups, including the NDFB and Ulfa, are facing a funds crunch. Our past experiences suggest that extortion/intimidation is the only way to raise money. We are trying to curb this,” a source said.
Another issue which came up for discussion was the recent blast on railway tracks and ways to check these.
All forces agreed on the idea that there will be no lowering of guard against any outfit and law and order issues have to be dealt with firmly.
Sources said any hurdles in the path of signing of the suspension of operations between the Centre, state and the outfit have been resolved, with the Centre not insisting on deposition of arms.
Like the earlier suspension of operation pact, Ulfa cadres will keep their arms inside the designated camps under double-lock.
One key will be with the administration and the other with the outfit.

Five militants arrested in Manipur

Imphal: Five Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL) militants were arrested during counter-insurgency operations by police and Assam Rifles personnel in Manipur, official sources said on Sunday.

Two KYKL militants identified as Amom Sanjoy (25) and Takhellambam Ibouchouba (27) were arrested, while they were trying to board a bus at Wangu bus parking in interior Thoubal district last evening.

The two were involved in supply of arms to their cadre and 'tax' collection for the outfit, the sources said. They were nabbed by the personnel of 33rd Assam Rifles based in Thoubal district.

A KYKL militant identified as K. Meitei was arrested by 10th Assam Rifles personnel from Khurai area in Imphal East district yesterday and handed over to nearby Porompat police station, the sources said.

In yet another operation, police commandos attached to Imphal west district police station arrested a KYKL militant identified as Kh. Netra(28) from an interior area of Imphal west district yesterday, the sources said.

A militant of Kangleipak Communist Party-Moramba Faction identified as K Gouramani (22) was arrested by police from B T Road area in crowded Imphal market complex yesterday in Imphal west district, the sources said.

Netra and Gouramani were handed over to Imphal police station for further interrogation.

Grenade recovered from Manipur hospital

Police recovered a powerful China-make grenade from the outpatient department of the Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital in Imphal west district of Manipur, police said on Sunday.
The hospital authorities informed police after getting an anonymous caller told them that
the grenade was placed there late last night, police said.

The grenade was wrapped in paper on which the name of an extremist organisation 'Kangleipak Communist Party' was written.

The grenade was defused by experts. Failure to extort money from the hospital authorities could be the reason for placing the explosive there, police said.

Man held with gelatin sticks, detonators

GUWAHATI: City police on Sunday arrested Abdul Savor, 38, a resident of Dhubri, with 480 gelatin sticks and 402 detonators from the Shantipur area.

Though police could not confirm if Abdul had links with any militant groups of the state, they suspected that he was brining the explosives for an illegal trade in stone quarries of neighbouring Meghalaya

Locals had a suspicion when Abdul was collecting some bags from under a culvert in the area and they alerted police who succeeded in nabbing him along with the explosives.

"Abdul purchased the explosives illegally and had planed to sell them to a few stone quarries in Meghalaya," said a senior police official.

Abdul said he was asked to deliver the explosives to stone quarries in Meghalaya for Rs 40,000.

Attack blame on NSCN-IM

Ibobi points finger at Naga outfit

File picture of the August 1 blast site in Imphal
Imphal, Aug 26 : Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh told the Assembly today that the NSCN (I-M) was planning to attack elected members of the Autonomous District Councils and urged the Centre to employ the National Investigation Agency to probe the recent “terrorist” activities of the Naga militant group in the state.
The chief minister blamed the rebel outfit for the blast at Sangakpham bazar of Imphal East on August 1, in which five persons, including two schoolgirls, were killed and eight more were injured.
One of the five killed was a rebel of the NSCN (I-M), identified as Anthony Kamei, from Churachandpur district.
He apparently died while planning an attack on the chairman of Senapati district council, R.S. Henry, whose convoy was to pass the site of the blast that day, he said.
The rebel was waiting for the convoy with a scooter fitted with the powerful IED but the bomb exploded because of some technical failure, he said.
Police arrested a rifleman of the 4th IRB, J. Kamei, who was also involved in the blast plan.
“Kamei, a member of the security escort party provided to the ADC chairman, had passed on information about his movement to Anthony. He is now in judicial custody,” the chief minister said during a discussion on the Sangakpam bomb blast initiated by two Opposition members.
Though the NSCN (I-M) had denied any hand in the Sangakpham blast, Ibobi Singh claimed that Anthony’s parents had confirmed that he was a member of the NSCN (I-M).
The Naga outfit has never voiced it opposition to the councils, but Naga organisations are against constitution of the district councils in Manipur.
Official sources said because of such threats, elected members, particularly of councils in Naga-dominated districts mostly stayed and functioned from Imphal.
Ibobi Singh said investigations and inquiries have now revealed the NSCN (I-M)’s plans to attack elected members of the autonomous district councils.
The chief minister also blamed the NSCN (I-M) for the recent attack on the convoy of Wungnaoshang Keishing, an Independent MLA from Ukhrul district, in which eight persons, including six Manipur Rifles escorts, were killed in April this year.
“During my last trip to Delhi I raised the issue of terrorist activities of the NSCN (I-M) before the Prime Minister and the home minister. I urged both the leaders to let the NIA investigate the NSCN (I-M) activities,” Ibobi Singh said.
He said the Centre took a serious note of the issue and assured him to consider engaging the NIA to probe the events.
“If such terrorist acts are to be carried out by the outfit, the ongoing peace talks have no meaning,” the chief minister said.
Raising the matter in the Assembly, Opposition members O. Joy Singh and R.K. Anand accused the Centre of “creating a terrorist haven” of the NSCN (I-M) in the garb of peace talks.
“The state government should declare the NSCN (I-M) a terrorist organisation and take action against those involved in terrorist activities. The outfit has even killed a couple recently,” Joy Singh said.

Naga militants kidnap 12-yr-old boy in Golaghat, seek ransom

JORHAT: Suspected Naga militants have kidnapped a 12-year-old boy from Borpathar area of Assam's Golaghat district and demanded Rs 8 lakh from his family to free him. Ankur Hazarika, a Class VI student from Jorhatiagaon under Borpathar police station went missing on Monday evening. Some Naga militants called up his family at around 10am on Tuesday from an undisclosed location and sought a ransom of Rs 8 lakh. "Ankur went out at around 6pm on yesterday evening and never returned home. We have filed a missing complaint at Borpathar police station. We have told the police about the ransom demand of the kidnappers. They spoke in Nagamese," a member of Ankur's family said. The officer in-charge of Borpathar police station said, "A case has been registered and we are investigating the matter. However, the militants who were behind the abduction are yet to be identified. We have also picked up one person from Baromukhiagaon, located near the residence of the kidnapped boy, in connection with the case and are interrogating him," he said, adding the kidnapped boy lost his father a few years ago and now the family is living below the poverty line. Of late, Naga militants have stepped up their antisocial activities in Golaghat district. On August 14, an Assamese businessman of Merapani area in Golaghat district was hacked to death by some Naga miscreants in Bhandari area of Nagaland; the incident triggered tension in the border areas of both the states. A group of suspected Naga militants attacked15 families and damaged properties in Upper Merapani area the following day. A house was also burnt down in the area subsequent to the incident and villagers took shelter at Merapani police station to save themselves from Nagas attacks. In July, Naga militants kidnapped an Assamese businessman from Merapani and sought a ransom of Rs 5 lakh. Another youth who was pursuing his MCA at a Guwahati-based IT College was also arrested by rebels on June 18 and demanded Rs 20 lakh from his family.

Suspected Dimasa rebels held in Aizawl

Aizawl, Aug 24 : A joint team of Mizoram police (DSB) and Border Security Force arrested two suspected Dimasa rebels along with arms and ammunition from a rented flat at Chawnpui locality here today. An AK-56 assault rifle and 71 rounds of its ammunition (7.62 mm) and eleven rounds of 9 mm ammunition from the duo, police said. While one had been identified as Bim Chakma of Silsuri village in Mizoram, the other had been identified as Snak Dimasa, a resident of Haflong, Assam, and claimed himself to be a sniper. Both were remanded in police custody.

Rebels killed in Lalgenai belonged to ULAB: Army

SILCHAR: The seven rebels gunned down in an Army operation at Lalgenai Gutguti village in Karimganj district on Friday belonged to the United Liberation Army of Bruland (ULAB), a senior Army official said on Sunday. An Army naik was wounded in the gunbattle, while the Army had apprehended a cadre of the outfit, who was identified as Madai Reang. ULAB is a Tripura-based militant outfit, the official added. ULAB is aBru outfit and is active in Tripura. The officer said the 33 Field Regiment of 57 Mountain Artillery Brigade, under the aegis of Red Shield Division, in its effort to restore normalcy in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts launched an operation and busted the rebel hideout by killing seven militants. "This is by far the most successful operation by Army in south Assam in the recent times," he added. Based on specific intelligence inputs received regarding presence of cadres of ULAB in a hideout at Lalgenai Gutguti, an operation was launched on Thursday night. After a long march through hazardous jungle terrain, the security team reached the suspected hideout in the early morning hours and was suddenly fired upon by the militants. However, the Army personnel retaliated and killed secen militants.

China in touch with north east ultras

New Delhi : The government on Tuesday, for the first time perhaps, admitted that China and Myanmar are maintaining liaison with top leaders of North-east rebel groups.

Though the government let open secret out in its tacit admission in reply to a question by Lok Sabha MPs Murli Manohar Joshi and Thangso Baite, it failed to mention that it were the Chinese Army’s intelligence agency which is maintaining regular contact with north-eastern rebel groups and even helping them get lethal armaments.

In fact, the top leadership of insurgent outfits like United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur are in regular touch with Chinese intelligence officers and often discusses their strategy with them.

The government, however, said it has raised its concerns with China from time to time on this issue through diplomatic channels.

Sources in security agencies said they have definite inputs that the top leadership of China has directed senior intelligence officers of People’s Liberation Army to maintain regular contact with top leaders of the rebel outfits and even supply armaments to them.

“The NSCN-IM maintains close links with the Chinese intelligence agencies, the PLA of Manipur maintains a permanent presence in Ruili in Yunnan province with the support of Chinese intelligence agencies,” sources said.

Shocking details of China using northeastern rebel groups, especially NSCN-IM to destablise the region were revealed last year during the interrogation of its top leader Anthony Shimray.

The interrogation of top rebel leader Shimray had revealed that China was not helping NSCN-IM stealthily buy lethal arms from it but had also asked the rebel leader to smuggle maps of India’s top secret army installations in the Northeast.

Shimray and his group’s lead arms procurer had also traded of deployment positions of Agni-II missiles, ultra-modern fighter jets Sukhoi and radars with the Chinese, the sources added.

The security agencies had also found that about $ 7 lakh (about Rs31 crore) payment was made by the NSCN-IM to a Chinese arms factory for procuring arms.

Sulfa panel seeks Assam autonomy

Guwahati, Aug. 24 : Former Ulfa rebels, who came overground in the early nineties, have demanded “autonomous state” status for Assam while rejecting the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led group’s recent charter of demands. The All Assam Surrendered Ulfa Samittee has moved governor J.B. Patnaik and the Centre demanding that Assam should be given the status of an autonomous state. “About 3,000 of us had come overground in 1992 for solving the problems through talks but we don’t accept the recent demands made by the Ulfa group led by our chairman Rajkhowa. We believe that there was no need for three decades of armed fight for the kind of demands they have made before the government. We have always demanded autonomous state status for Assam to protect the identity and interests of the indigenous people of our state,” president of the Sammittee, Raj Kumar Duarah, said here today. The samittee on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the governor demanding autonomy for Assam, rehabilitation of the surrendered cadres of the outfit, withdrawal of court cases of the surrendered militants, deportation of foreigners, among others. He said the samittee was formed in 1992 for solving the Ulfa issue through dialogue with the government but the Rajkhowa group did not hold any discussion with them while preparing the charter of demands, which it presented to the Centre. “We believe that the demands made by the group have nothing to fulfil the aspirations of the people. If they are not demanding sovereignty for Assam, at least autonomous state status should be given. Autonomous state status will ensure political and land rights of the indigenous people and fulfil their economic, social and cultural demands,” he said. The organisation at present has 9,672 surrendered cadres and leaders of Ulfa. Sunil Nath, Kalpajyoti Neog, Munin Nabis are among the prominent leaders of the outfit who had surrendered to begin talks with the government. The Ulfa group led by its commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, too, had rejected the Rajkhowa group’s decision to begin talks with the government and the charter they presented before the Centre, which would be the basis for dialogue. Duarah said the samittee supported Barua’s stand and said they would back him if there was no killing of innocent people or destruction of property in the name of movement. “Since we came overground, we supported dialogue and gave up violence. We will soon launch a peaceful movement in support of the demands we made before the government,” Duarah said. He said many of the surrendered Ulfa cadres who had given up the path of violence were yet to be rehabilitated by the government.

Garo Rebels Fire at Meghalaya Police Commandos

Shillong, Aug 23 : Garo militants fired at a team of Meghalaya Police commandos leading to a gunbattle in East Garo Hills district last night, but there was no casualty.

It was a chance encounter that took place at Baija, about 4 km from East Garo Hills district headquarter Williamnagar, when the Garo National Liberation Army militants were crossing the road, DIG G H P Raju said.

As the commandos of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team bumped into them, the panicky militants fired, to which the commandos also retaliated.

The encounter took place at about 9 PM and there were some six militants who were engaged in the gunbattle, Raju said.

No one from either side suffered any injury, Raju said adding that militants managed to flee in the dark.

The two vehicles carrying SWAT commandos were moving to Williamnagar after undergoing training in Shillong. Reinforcements arrived from Williamnagar town to secure the area, he added.

Rebels killed in Lalgenai belonged to ULAB: Army

SILCHAR: The seven rebels gunned down in an Army operation at Lalgenai Gutguti village in Karimganj district on Friday belonged to the United Liberation Army of Bruland (ULAB), a senior Army official said on Sunday. An Army naik was wounded in the gunbattle, while the Army had apprehended a cadre of the outfit, who was identified as Madai Reang. ULAB is a Tripura-based militant outfit, the official added. ULAB is aBru outfit and is active in Tripura. The officer said the 33 Field Regiment of 57 Mountain Artillery Brigade, under the aegis of Red Shield Division, in its effort to restore normalcy in Karimganj and Hailakandi districts launched an operation and busted the rebel hideout by killing seven militants. "This is by far the most successful operation by Army in south Assam in the recent times," he added. Based on specific intelligence inputs received regarding presence of cadres of ULAB in a hideout at Lalgenai Gutguti, an operation was launched on Thursday night. After a long march through hazardous jungle terrain, the security team reached the suspected hideout in the early morning hours and was suddenly fired upon by the militants. However, the Army personnel retaliated and killed secen militants. During the operation, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was found on the terrorists which included an Italy-made 7.65mm pistol, one 9 mm carbine machine, one Chinese G-2 Rifle, one England-made 12 bore rifle, one 315 bore rifle, 149 rounds and three grenades. "The operation displayed the sheer courage of troops and their daredevilry to undertake operations in the dense jungles of Chatcherra ridge. Such continued active operations by Army in the area are acting as a great deterrence to anti-national and anti-social activities in the region. The Lalgenai operation deserves special commendation as this has caused a severe blow to the outfit and other anti national elements and would play a pivotal role in restoring normalcy in the region," the Army officer added. The Army had handed over Madai Reang, the apprehended militant, to police. Madai, during interrogation, reportedly told police that he and his comrades had received training in Myanmar. Circle officer of police (Ramkrishnanagar) Kanti Bhushan Dev said the militants had recently entered this part of Assam from neighbouring Tripura and were engaged in kidnapping and extortion activities.

Outfits split, Delhi gets a headache

NISHIT DHOLABHAI New Delhi, Aug. 23 : Factionalism is the bane of rebel politics in the Northeast, the government is rediscovering, with proliferating militant groups constantly putting a spanner in its efforts to bring peace to the region. A “revised estimate” of militant groups in the Northeast has revealed that Manipur alone has more than 50 outfits with groups like Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) splitting a dozen times. Extortion, the government’s policy of pumping money and decades-long unresolved political problems have led to constantly proliferating rebel groups in this strategically important region. Ranjan Daimary of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) was in Bangladesh before being handed over last year. No sooner was he arrested than his subordinate Songbijit took over and he is not ready for talks. As the government begins talks with one faction, another aspirant takes over and escapes to either Bhutan or Bangladesh or Myanmar. While talks have been initiated with many groups like the Arabinda Rajkhowa faction of Ulfa, the Govinda Basumatary-led Progressive faction of the NDFB and the Dilip Nunisa faction of the DHD in Assam, the ANVC in Meghalaya and Kuki outfits in Manipur, and many are coming forward like NDFB’s Daimary faction and DHD’s Jewel Gorlosa faction, more outfits, many even without a name, are posing fresh challenges. Sources said while Gorlosa was ready to talk, his subordinate hiding in a neighbouring country was not. Others like the Paresh Barua-led Ulfa are sitting pretty in Myanmar and have allied with the Khaplang faction of the NSCN and the Manipur-based People’s Liberation Army and United National Liberation Front. The NSCN that was divided into two factions in 1988 (Isak-Muivah and Khaplang) further split this year into the Myanmar-based Khaplang faction and Khole Konyak-Kitovi Zhimomi faction in Nagaland. The Khole-Kitovi faction, which fired “chairman” S.S. Khaplang, has become an asset for peacemakers on the Indian side but Zhimomi’s brother-in-law and his junior Kughalu Mulatonu has defected to Khaplang’s side. The Federal Government of Nagaland or NNC has three factions. The People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, one of the oldest outfits of Manipur, has three factions followed by four factions of the Kuki National Front and two of the Kuki National Army. The KCP, formed in April 1980, has split again and again like other outfits in Imphal valley. The government’s predicament is finding a way to talk to all the leaders of these groups. Government officials feel this is not happening because the financial stakes from extortion are too high. The Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions have fought pitched battles leading to bloodshed. Even when there is an absence of inter-factional fighting, there are still several “revolutionary governments” collecting “taxes” from the population. “All these factions collect taxes. We have four governments in Nagaland,” said a Nagaland official. This is confirmed by Manipur government employees, who get threat calls from Manipuri outfits from the extortion capital of Dimapur. Shillong may conjure images of the old British charm of a hill capital with its churches and educational institutions, but Meghalaya still boasts of nine militant outfits. That includes little known groups like Retrieval Indigenous Unified Front and the Garo National Front. Meghalaya has more than Assam’s five major outfits, according to the government’s conservative estimates. The ministry of home affairs, however, has not included groups like the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front. P.C. Haldar, the interlocutor for talks with Ulfa, feels there are many reasons for the splits like financial stake, especially when one leader gets a lion’s share and makes investments, and personality clashes. In order to achieve peace, he said, there should be reconciliation among warring groups. But this is not always possible, he added. “Mobilise a sizeable number (of leaders/factions) for a dialogue,” the former director of Intelligence Bureau told The Telegraph. This is perhaps what is happening across the spectrum in the region as leaders of Ulfa, NDFB, DHD and NSCN factions come together for a dialogue. In Nagaland, the NSCN and the FGN factions are being brought together by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation. Top

Northeast Indian Secessionist Militant Groups Warn Each Other

By Shib Shankar Chatterjee The Political Dialogue of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive), NDFB(P) with the Government of India on the issue of 'Separate Boroland' within the framework of the Indian Constitution is sailing in the right direction. To garner supportive advocacy for the creation of the Boroland, the leaders of the NDFB(P) met several Indian political leaders, including Indian Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, Kishore Ch. Deo, Indian Union Tribal Affairs Minister. Also included were several Members of Parliament from the North East Indian region, including the opposition leader, Srimati Sushma Swaraj, Bharatiya Janata Party, in Delhi during this on-going monsoon session of the Indian Parliament. The NDFB(P), at the behest of the peace loving people, is trying its level best to bring about an amicable solution to the long-standing problem of the Boro tribe and other indigenous tribal people once and for all. The NDFB(P) thanked the MPs, who raised the Boroland issue on the floor of the parliament, as well as various political parties that supported the Boroland issue and launched an agitation program for an early solution to the Boroland issue. "Meanwhile of carrying this lobby and advocacy program, the National Democratic Front of Boroland (Ranjan Daimary), NDFB(R) faction, who are fighting for the 'Liberation and Sovereignty of Boroland' (whose leader once declared himself not to deviate and surrender from the principle and ideology of their party) is meting a frequent threat with dire consequence to the leaders of the NDFB(P), who are talking within the constitution of India through phone calls and from various corners of the nation," stated Information & Publicity Secretary S. Sanjarang of NDFB(P) in their press release. However, the press release (which was sent by mail), also said, "Our organization strongly condemns the severe threat meted out by the NDFB(R) faction and would reciprocate positively if it is continued. In this connection, the NDFB(P) calls upon the chairman of the Joint Monitoring Group, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India & the Indian Assam State Law Enforcing Authority to look into the matter seriously and provide supportive security arrangement to the leaders and the senior officers of the NDFB(P)."

GNLA dangles salary bait for Meghalaya cops

Outfit declares pay of Rs 20000 for constables & Rs 50000 for sub-inspectors with monthly increments
ANDREW W. LYNGDOH

Andreas Ch. Momin surrenders before East Garo Hills superintendent of police Jerry F.K. Marak on Saturday. Telegraph picture
Shillong, Aug. 21: Guns are passé. A Meghalaya outfit has decided to take on the police force not with weapons but with baits of hefty salary for those willing to give up their khaki uniforms and join the guerrilla force.
“We will offer Rs 20,000 per month to constables willing to join us. The monthly remuneration for sub-inspectors will be Rs 50,000. Moreover, there will be monthly increments,” said Kakam D. Shira, a representative of the Garo National Liberation Army and aide of commander-in-chief Sohan D. Shira.
Kakam was responding to a police statement that the outfit was paying Rs 10,000-15,000 to its cadres.
This open challenge to the police is interesting since the outfit was formed by former deputy superintendent of police, Champion R. Sangma.
The bait also seems to be carefully timed — the outfit has been facing the heat of ongoing combing operations launched by commandos of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) of the state police in collaboration with commandos of the elite Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and BSF personnel.
On August 9, a SWAT team gunned down four GNLA militants near Williamnagar in East Garo Hills. Among the dead were the outfit’s deputy commander-in-chief and area commander of the central command, Roster Marak.
Roster was also a former policeman of the 1st Meghalaya Police Battalion, Mawlai Mawiong.
The GNLA has also reacted strongly to the “quit” notice issued by the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), currently under ceasefire, to Ulfa and NDFB.
The ANVC, through its spokesperson, Torik Jangning Marak, has given 20 days to these rebel outfits to quit Garo hills.
“We (Ulfa, NDFB, ANVC, and GNLA) are all organisations with the same goal; fighting for the cause of the people and indeed we help each other,” Kakam said.
“For many years, Ulfa members walked around the soil of Garo hills but have never used the laws of their land here,” he said.
“Who is Torik Jangning Marak to give such quit notices? He cannot even chase away the non-Garos coming from Bangladesh and illegally living in Garo hills.”
“According to the Constitution, Ulfa and NDFB can stay anywhere within the Indian territory. Till now, their citizenship has not been disowned by the government of India,” Kakam said.
He also alleged that ANVC chairman Dilash Marak has Bangladeshi citizenship under the name of Stephen. “Dilash Marak has a Bangladeshi passport under the name of Stephen, and in India, his name is Benjamin,” Kakam added.
The GNLA representative said Torik’s irresponsible statement could lead to a communal clash.

Anna Hazare Gets Support From Extremist Group For His Noble Cause

By Shib Shankar Chatterjee

Northeast Indian Militant Group Supported Anti-Corruption Movement

We are at a time in history where the whole world is infected by corruption, blackmail and corrupt politicians. The people of India have decided to fight against these (so-called anti-social and anti-national) odds and for this reason, the protests, fasts, and the mass rallies have been organized by various organisations across the nation to root out corruption.
In India, this movement started under the leadership of social activist, Anna Hazare, who started his latest fast 9 August, 2011 to fight against corruption and human rights violations and to eradicate them from society. Hazare wants to implement the anti-corruption bill, 'Jan Lokpal Bill', as soon as possible.

View of a press release of Northeast Indian extremist group-NDFB(P), where the group mentioned extensive support to Anna Hazare for his anti-corruption movement.
Photo: Shib Shankar Chatterjee
A Ramon Magsaysay award winner, Anna Hazare, a former Indian Army man, began his social activism from Ralegan Siddhi village in the Ahmednagar district of Indian State, Maharashtra. There, he successfully led a movement against alcoholism and turned Ralegan Siddhi into a 'model village'. It is a fact that Hazare's campaign was instrumental in the implementation of the Right to Information Act (RTI) in Maharashtra, which is considered to be one of the best RTI Acts in India.
Hazare and his associates Dr. Kiran Bedi, Justice N. Santosh Hegde (Indian State, Karnataka Lokayuktan Justice), Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan and Shanti Bhushan warned the Congress (Indira) led Government of India,

"Common men are frustrated and their backbones have been broken due to extreme poverty, wastage of foods and scarcity of jobs along side of rampant corruption. The social structures have been destroyed or shattered totally. We must stop this nonstop endemic corruption in our country, immediately. It is also a fact that our movement has reached across borders, but if our government is not ready to stop these illegal activities and to clean the entire 'system' in a proper way, then it will become a worse situation where anything can happen at any moment and the government will be fully to blame."

Furthermore, it is a fact that ultimately, corruption will hit the doors of the Northeast Indian militancy as well. This is the first time that any militant group raised their voices against corruption and gave support to Hazare for his noble causes. In this context, S. Sanjarang, the Information & Publicity Secretary of National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive), NDFB(P) said with extensive support, "Our organization, which is on peace process with the Government of India warmly welcomes the clarion call and extends its moral support and solidarity to Gandhian Anna Hazare to the Nation-wide anti-Corruption Movement. In a word, our organization wants a 'corruption free' society."
It should be remembered that the fight against corruption in India was started from the Northeast Indian State of Assam, in a massive way, under the leadership of RTI activist, Akhil Gogoi in March, 2006, in the Golaghat district. Akhil Gogoi won the RTI Public Cause Research Foundation (PCRF) award in 2010 and over the past six days, he has joined with Hazare support the movement.
Akhil Gogoi formed his Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) - Krishak Mukti Shongram Samiti, which is not only to fight against 'corruption' but also to fight for Farmer Rights, Forest Rights, Corruption and Environmental Implications of modernization for a long time in the state, Assam as well as the entire nation.

Ulfa supports Anna's August Kranti

GUWAHATI: Support for Anna Hazare is pouring in from every nook and cranny of the northeast. And the latest addition in the Gandhian's support base in Assam is Ulfa. Barely a few hours after Hazare walked free from Tihar Jail on Friday, Ulfa vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi came out in support for the veteran Gandhian's campaign for a strong Jan Lokpal Bill to fight corruption in the country. Though the outfit has not scheduled any specific programme to show their support to Hazare officially, Pradip urged every individual to back the anti-corruption campaign. "Ulfa has not taken any official step to extend its support to Anna Hazare's movement. But it appreciates that the people has stood for Hazare and against corruption. Ulfa, too, has always fought against corruption as the menace has ruined the state. Every individual and organisation should support anna's cause," said Pradip. In the meantime, Ulfa took a dig at the state government for he latter's alleged inefficiency. The outfit said when the state government was celebrating the Independence Day, the people of Dhemaji district were struggling for existence. "It's an irony for the people of the state that when ministers and government officials were busy celebrating Independence Day, there were people who were washed away by floodwaters. Despite repeated demands, the state government and the Centre have done nothing for the flood-hit people of Assam. August 15, 2011 will remain as a sad day for the state of Assam," he added. In an e-mail to the media, Ulfa central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimari also to Assam's people state to donate food and essential commodities to the flood victims of Dhemaji district. Oil India has already donated Rs 50 lakh to the chief minister's relief fund to help alleviate the suffering of the flood victims. Over 260 villages in Dhemaji have been marooned for the past few days. Officials said over 1.5 lakh people have been affected, 7,200 people shifted to 12 relief camps since Monday and over 21,000 hectares of standing crops totally submerged. The administration has not yet managed to reach out to the distressed as some 50 metres of NH-62 have been breached and about 20 metres of railway tracks washed away.

Assam forces continue search post-encounter

Silchar: Security forces on Saturday continued their combing operation in Assam following a fierce encounter in which seven tribal militants were killed, police said. The Indian Army soldiers, central paramilitary troopers and Assam Police personnel were involved in the operation even as the bodies of the militants were brought to Karimganj district headquarters Saturday afternoon. The encounter happened on Friday in Gutguti tribal-dominated village along the Assam-Mizoram border in Karimganj district. A helicopter was being used to ascertain if there were more bodies in the forest area. Naik Shankar Tarafdar of the Indian Army was wounded in the gun battle. Seven sophisticated rifles, a grenade and two pistols besides a huge quantity of ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. Acting on a tip-off, soldiers of the Indian Army along with the local police Friday morning launched a manhunt in the village, about 150 km from here. "The rebels started firing. In the retaliatory attack, the Army jawans gunned down seven militants on the spot," Superintendent of Police Diganta Bora told reporters. Militant outfits United Democratic Liberation Army and Bru Liberation Army are active in southern Assam, northern Tripura and western Mizoram.

7 tribal militants killed in encounter with Army in Karimganj

Silchar, August 19, 2011 Seven tribal militants were gunned down in an encounter with Army personnel in the remote Lalgenai hamlet under Ratabari block in Assam’s Karimganj district this morning. A senior police officer in Karimganj said Anipur-based Army personnel belonging to 33 Mountain Regiment launched an operation against Bru and Tipra rebels in this remote part of Karimganj district, nearly 150 km from here, bordering Mizoram and Tripura. At about 8.30 am the rebels started firing at the security personnel. When the Army retaliated seven militants were killed on the spot. One Army personnel has been wounded in the encounter and flown to a Kolkata hospital by a helicopter for treatment. He has been identified as Naik Shankar Tarafdar. Seven sophisticated rifles and one hand grenade belonging to the rebels have been recovered from the place of encounter. Sources said the Army has pressed a helicopter into service for conducting further search in the jungle for more bodies. A contingent of police and the Central Resserve Police Force (CRPF), led by Superintendent of Police (Karimganj) Diganta Bora has rushed to the spot. The policemen were yet to come back to Karimganj with the bodies of the rebels. They will reach late in the night because of the distance involved and the inhospitable terrain, which does not have any motorable road, the sources said. A police official said some days back a group of about 30 militants had entered the area from neghbouring Mizoram and Tripura. They were engaged in kidnapping and extortion activities. Sources said Bru Liberation Army (BLA) and United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA) militant outfits were active in the area.

Court rejects Daimary discharge plea

Guwahati, Aug. 17 : A local court today rejected the discharge petitions filed by NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary and two other accused in the October 30, 2008 serial blasts. Besides Daimary, additional district and sessions judge, Kamrup, Ikramul Hussain, rejected the petitions of NDFB cadres Mridul Goyari and Nilim Daimary. The judge directed all the 14 arrested in the case so far, including the trio, to appear before the court on August 29 when charges would be framed against them. The date for framing charges, scheduled for today, was deferred, as Goyari couldn’t appear in the court because of illness. Nearly 100 persons had died in the nine blasts spread across Guwahati, Barpeta Road, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon on October 30, 2008 while 540 were seriously injured. The CBI had chargesheeted 22 persons in the case but only 14 of them have been arrested. The others are absconding. All the arrested, except Ranjan Daimary who is in Nagaon Central Jail, are lodged in Central Jail, Guwahati. The charges will be framed against the accused under Sections 121, 120 (B) of the IPC, Sections 10, 13, 20 and 27 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Sections 25 and 27 (A) of Explosives Substances Act, among others. The CBI had filed the chargesheet in the case on May 25, 2009. The 35-page chargesheet had named 828 witnesses and listed 762 documents, including post-mortem reports, confessional statements of those apprehended and details of calls made by some of the accused. Though confessions made by some of those arrested indicted Ranjan Daimary as the kingpin of the entire plot, his lawyer Manas Sarania submitted before the court that the NDFB chairman had no knowledge of the plot as he was in Bangladesh when the blasts took place. On his group’s declaration of an indefinite unilateral ceasefire with effect from August 1, Ranjan Daimary told reporters while coming out of the court, “Right now I can only say that the ceasefire is on the right track. Hopefully, it will move in the right direction.” He claimed that they did not have any difference with the NDFB (Progressive). “We are ready to talk with anybody and any organisation in order to realise our goals,” he said before being whisked away by security personnel from the court.

Gogoi urges Paresh to join mainstream

GUWAHATI, Aug 16 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday appealed to the Paresh Baruah faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to come out of the shadows of anti-national forces and join the mainstream. “We urge the group led by Paresh Baruah to come from the shadows of anti-national forces and be a part of the peace process in Assam,” Gogoi said in his address at the Independence Day function at the Latasil playground. Referring to the pro-talk ULFA group led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB which had recently declared ceasefire, Gogoi said, “The people of Assam want permanent peace and all-round development, which is not possible through violence, and it has also been recognised by those who had laid down their arms.” Gogoi, however, warned that government operations against those extremist outfits indulging in violence would continue for the security and safety of the people. Reiterating that violence can never bring solution to any problem, Gogoi said, “It is only through discussions and the democratic process that issues can be settled, and we want all the groups to abjure violence.” “Violence has resulted in deaths of many. The cadres of these outfits are also members of our society...our brothers and sisters. We don’t want loss of any human life. In the interest of Assam’s development and progress all must give up the path of violence”, Gogoi said. Gogoi also revealed the State would soon adopt the concept of Gross National Happiness introduced to the world by neighbouring Bhutan, as per which the well-being of the citizens would be measured in terms of happiness and not just gross income. On the Look East Policy, special effort is being made to enhance trade ties between the State and neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. In his speech, the Chief Minister also maintained that the Government was committed to implementing the Assam Accord and measures were being initiated to streamline the NRC update process. “We will not allow any foreigner to stay illegally in the State and at the same time will ensure that no Indian citizen is harassed in the name of detection and deportation of illegal immigrants,” Gogoi said, adding that the issue of ‘D’ voters was also of prime importance for the Government. Gogoi maintained that as the population growth rate of the State had decreased compared to the national average, it indicated that influx had more or less been curtailed. Asserting that the Government was laying special stress on rural development, the Chief Minister said that various schemes and policies were chalked out to facilitate holistic development of the rural areas. Gogoi also laid special emphasis on issues and developments taking place in sectors like health, education, power, flood and erosion, unemployment and transport, among others.

GNLA Bandh: Two Shot, Grenade Blast at BDO Office

Garo militants shot dead two persons and exploded a grenade at BDO office during a bandh which affected normal life in the three districts of Garo hills today, the police said.

Militants of the Garo National Liberation Army fired at at least three trucks carrying coal from Meghalaya to Assam at Thapa Darenchi in East Garo Hills district bordering Assam this morning.

A driver and a handyman, believed to be from Goalpara in Assam, were killed in the attack by the ultras who apparently wanted to enforce the bandh, the sources said.

In another attack, the Garo rebels barged into the office of BDO at Chokpot in South Garo Hills district and manhandled the staff. Later, the militants told the staff to move out and exploded a grenade at the office. No one was injured in the blast, the sources said.

The GNLA has called for the bandh to protest against the killing of its four cadres in an encounter with Meghalaya Police commandos last week.

Shops and markets were closed while traffic on roads was negligible in the three Garo hills districts. Government offices also reported thin attendance, officials said.

Four cadres of the GNLA, including a self-styled deputy commander-in-chief were killed in an encounter with the commandos inside a jungle close to East Garo Hills district headquarters Williamnagar in the wee hours of August 9.

Gogoi urges ULFA leader Paresh Barua to join peace process

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi [ Images ] on Monday called upon Paresh Barua, the fugitive commander-in-chief of the anti-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom, to join the ongoing peace process with his colleagues in the militant outfit, led by 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa. Addressing the people of Assam on Independence Day in Guwahati, Gogoi said though his government was sympathetic towards the misguided youth of the state in the ranks of various insurgent groups, the operation against those outfits would continue in the greater interest of the security of the people of Assam. "Conflicts can't be the solution to any problem while negotiations in a democratic environment can find the solution to any problem. So all the insurgent outfits still at large in the state should respond to the wishes of the masses and come forward for a dialogue to find a solution to their problem," Gogoi said. In his speech, Gogoi highlighted his government's priority towards developing international and inter-state border areas in the state and announced that resources made available by the 13th Finance Commission would be utilised in developing the 269-kilometer India-Bhutan border in Assam and 263-km Indian-Bangladesh border in the state. The state government will focus on the improvement of road communication, setting up of health and education infrastructure, drinking water facility, electrification and setting up of more border posts to improve vigil, he said. The under-developed border areas of the state have remained the breeding ground for militancy that targets unemployed youths in those areas. The Assam government is also going to explore the trade potential with neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand. To boost bilateral trade, Gogoi said the administration would focus on setting up rail links and road links with Bangladesh. Meanwhile, barring a blast on a railway track at Darrangiri in Goalpara district at around 2.30 am, Independence Day celebrations went on peacefully throughout Assam despite the boycott call given by several insurgent groups.

Garo outfit's quit notice to ULFA, NDFB

Shillong: The Achik National Volunteer Council, a Garo militant group under ceasefire, today issued a 'quit notice' to cadres of the ULFA and NDFB who were operating in Meghalaya's Garo hills region. "The NDFB and ULFA cadres operating in Garo hills should quit the area immediately. They are anti talk factions who are under direct influence of ISI of Pakistan and are involved in various attacks in Garo hills in the last couple of months," the ANVC said in a statement. Setting a deadline of 20 days for the groups to quit, the ANVC charged the two Assam outfits of being involved in the killing of three policemen and five labourers in Garo hills and shooting at a traditional head in connivance with another militant group, the Garo National Liberation Army. "Even now they are holed up at various places planning attacks. This will possibly turn Garo Hills into another Assam, therefore they should immediately leave," the statement said. The ANVC has around 175 cadres, now living in three designated camps. Meghalaya Police say they have not deposited their entire armoury. The ban on the outfit, which had entered into a tripartite cease-fire agreement with the Centre and the State in 2004, was lifted in November 2008. The truce has been extended every three months since then. Representatives of the ANVC had had few rounds of meetings with former IB chief PC Haldar, Centre’s interlocutor for the talks. The Garo hills region has been used by ULFA and NDFB cadres as a transit for moving to Assam from their camps in Bangladesh. Before coming overground, the ANVC also had links with the ULFA.

Manipur insurgents’ activities outweigh their surrenders

For decades in Ma-nipur, operations under the command of either the Army or the Assam Rifles against the insurgent groups, most of which resorted to insurgency since the 1990s, have been interspersed by surrenders. Except for a few groups, which actually surrendered voluntarily after realising the futility of their activities, most collective surrenders came about following the capture of key leaders, who were convinced or coerced by the Army or the Assam Rifles to do so. But even when such surrenders involved handing over of sophisticated arms, neither strategy has led to ending insurgency/terrorism in Manipur, nor did such surrenders ever lead to permanent disbanding of any group for various reasons. But that is not to say that security forces should not try to effect these surrenders. Continuing a series of successful efforts to convince insurgents to come back to normal way of life and join the mainstream, 16 hardcore cadres of various banned outfits laid down arms before Manipur DGP Y. Joy Kumar in the presence of Maj. Gen. C.A. Krishnan, AVSM, inspector-general, Assam Rifles (IGAR) (south), in a simple surrender ceremony held at the HQ IGAR (S) at Mantripukhri, Imphal, on August 9, 2011. The homecoming of these youth is a result of persistent efforts by the units of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (south), which has been motivating their families to encourage these youth to give up weapons and join the mainstream. The 16 former insurgents include three members from the United National Liberation Front, two from the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, one from the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, one from the Kangleipak Communist Party, four from the People’s Revolutionary Army, two from the United Tribal Liberation Army and three from the People’s United Liberation Front. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Kumar appreciated peaceful surrender by these cadres with their weapons and felt that it would definitely be a guiding beacon for other misled youth to follow suit, paving way for peace and harmony in the state. The DGP also assured all help and facilities by the state government under the state’s existing surrender policy to former insurgents. Maj. Gen. C.A. Krishnan mentioned that more and more misled youth are being encouraged to abjure violence, lay down arms and join the mainstream. He also said that those who show courage and lay down arms require support from all sections of the society to reintegrate with the mainstream. He also highlighted the need for all sections to extend support to them. It may be recalled that since April 2010, a total of 182 insurgents surrendered themselves with arms to the Assam Rifles at Imphal. Apart from these 182 cadres, the Assam Rifles in Manipur also succeeded in facilitating signing of the tripartite agreement by the first Valley-based insurgent group, the KCP (MC) Lallumba group in July 2010, which resulted in 122 cadres of the group laying down weapons. While there is no doubt that such a large number of surrenders come about because of the relentless efforts by the Assam Rifles, it certainly does not mean the end of these movements. Statements issued by all the insurgent outfits deny that any of their cadres surrendered, only indicating that they have no intention of letting up on terrorist violence and extortion. The Assam Rifles has also been making efforts to organise rehabilitation programmes through vocational training for the surrendered cadres in Manipur and also outside the state. Over 127 such cadres who were rehabilitated through an intensive spiritual and vocational training programme conducted with the help of the Art of Living Foundation. Apart from spiritual motivation, these ex-insurgents were given training in computers, electricity, fridge and air-conditioner repair, auto mechanic, mobile phone repair, farming, food processing etc. Self-help groups have also been formed to train and enable these youth to start their own businesses like piggery, poultry, fishery and taxi service. Interested cadres are also counselled for enrolment into the ITBP, CRPF and Assam Rifles. While these surrenders form a silver lining, and in 2010 there was a reduction in insurgency incidents and fatalities compared to earlier years, there is still more than enough insurgent activity still going on by all the groups. In 2011, after targeting employees in education, banking and hospitality sectors, insurgents in Manipur are now also targeting labourers. The latest to join the fray are Kuki groups with threats like “pay `1 crore or your husbands will be killed”, sent out to three families in Thoubal district of Manipur whose bread-winning male members were finally abducted on July 29. In 2010, non-Manipuris were targeted by the insurgents in a big way. Having extorted money time and again from non-Manipuri traders and businessmen, the Meitei insurgent groups intimidated at least 200 Sikh families to leave the state permanently. Many of these are families have been in Manipur or neighbouring Burma for many decades, in some cases over a century. Marwaris too have been paying huge amounts as “taxes” and are yet threatened. Such out of law collection of money and threat mechanism by insurgents as well as abductions and killings of innocents continue mainly because of lack of governance and the widely and frequently reported nexus between the ruling political leaders and various insurgent groups. A new development has been reported from Darjeeling on August 4, 2011, that the National Investigation Agency found out that KYKL has set up new bases in the region by using residents of Darjeeling and Sikkim. NIA investigated the KYKL activities in the region and submitted a supplementary chargesheet to the Darjeeling district and sessions court, following the arrest of many KYKL members from the region in 2010. The members of the organisation allegedly used to send money from Manipur to their counterparts who had set up a base in the region for investment in real estate. According to sources, these insurgents had bought large tracts of lands in Jalpaiguri and Siliguri areas and had already constructed two-to-three-storeyed buildings in Kurseong and Gangtok. Some KYKL members, arrested by the NIA from Khaprail, Siliguri and other places, call themselves “army commander-in-chief” and “finance-in-charge” of the outfit. Ningthoujam Tomba, along with Sonokhybam Memcha, Roma Chanu, Sorokhaibhem Menjor Singh and Kangunjam Rabi Kumar Singh had also been arrested. “During the investigation, it has also been established that Chirom Robert Meitei, Kongkham Tomba Singh, Asem Naoba Singh, Ch. Leishemba, along with Ningthoujam Tomba, had entered into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the state,” the source reportedly added. Chirom Robert Meitei was the information and publicity secretary of the outfit. The larger plan of sending money to the Darjeeling-Sikkim region is to send it to KYKL agents in Nepal from where the money would be routed to Burma, Malaysia and Singapore to procure deadly arms. This forms another part of the Chinese connection with North-Eastern insurgents. Now that the NIA has made some significant progress in capturing top leaders like Antony Shimray of the Issac-Muivah group of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland and R.K. Meghen of the UNLF, it should press forth relentlessly and catch more. But even then insurgency in the Northeast will not end till the alleged nexus between politicians and these groups is not severed meaningfully. Is there any hope of the political will required to be put into effect? Anil Bhat is a defence and security analyst based in New Delhi

Five NSCN-K cadres nabbed ahead of I-Day

JORHAT/ITANAGAR: In the run up to Independence Day celebrations, security forces have apprehended five NSCN (K) ultras from Golaghat in Assam and Tirap in Arunachal Pradesh. Two armed NSCN (K) militants were caught from the Sarupathar area under Sungajan police station in Golaghat district on Saturday. Police found a pistol, some ammunition and extortion notes on them.

Northeastern states alerted to likely terror strike

Agartala : The central government has alerted the northeastern states over possible terror strike in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations Monday and asked them to take steps to foil any attempt by militants to upset peace, police said here Sunday. "The union home ministry has alerted the northeastern states to maintain a strict vigil in the run-up to the Independence Day and thwart any attempt of the separatist outfits to create violence," Tripura's Deputy Inspector General Nepal Das told reporters. "The central and the state governments have also asked the Border Security Force (BSF) to tighten vigilance along the India-Bangladesh border to prevent trans-border movement of militants." "Central para-military personnel, accompanied by bomb disposal and dog squads, continued their search operations at airports, hotels, bus terminals, major markets and national highways," Das said. Four northeastern states -- Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam -- share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh, while India and Bhutan share a 643-km unfenced border. Twelve separatist outfits, including anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura have called a 17-hour general strike from midnight of Sunday and boycott the 65th Independence Day celebrations. "We are fighting against the colonial India for this obligation of national sovereignty and will fight for it to the end," a joint statement of the militant groups said. Said the statement, e-mailed to media organisations: "The Indian government is trying to lure the people and the freedom fighters as well in the name of peace talk with the so-called Indian mainstream." "We have experienced futile promises of the governments in Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, etc. and the present process of peace talks in Assam and Nagaland is nothing but dilly-dallying to our struggle of national self-determination," it added. However, police authorities in the northeastern states said they are not aware of any such boycott call. The Northeast Frontier Railway has cancelled and rescheduled all night trains through Assam and Tripura since Saturday until Aug 17 for security reasons. "All passenger trains running during night in Assam and Tripura have been suspended and many trains either cancelled or rescheduled and regulated till 5 a.m. Aug 17," Northeast Frontier Railways chief public relations officer Subrata Hajong said in a statement. Tripura State Rifles troopers arrested five armed youths during raids in western Tripura's Kalyanapur Saturday night. Five locally-made guns, grenades and knives, along with subscription receipts for militant outfits were recovered from them.

Insurgent activities in Tripura gains momentum

Insurgency in Tripura has gained momentum following fresh recruitment in the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and merger of All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) with NLFT, police said here today. Police said there was fierce incident between NLFT militants and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans yesterday in Khengdra Royajapara of Dhalai district but no report of causality had yet been reported. The militants opened fire on TSR jawans when they were in village on anti-insurgency operation. TSR had also retaliated with counter fire and exchange of fire continued for more than half-an hour. At least three incidents of kidnappings were reported in the state and eight poor tribal villagers who had been abducted by the gun-totting militants last months were traceless for past 24 days. Moreover, the state home department officials said that as many as 15 surrendered NLFT militants had gone back to the outfit in the past one month from Khowai, Longtarai Valley and Kanchanpur sub-divisions. Altogether 300 cadres of the outfit had been undergoing training in Bangladesh and Myanmar hideouts who would reportedly be engaged in militant activities in Tripura soon, the officials stated.

NLFT attempt to plant explosives on highway foiled

AGARTALA: Police averted a sabotage attempt ahead of Independence Day when they engaged a group of NLFT militants in an encounter in Dhalai district on Thursday afternoon. According to police sources, a group of about 9-10 NLFT militants led by Athara Babu Halam was planning to plant explosives on National Highway 44 on or before Independence Day. The bid was foiled when a team of Dhalai district police led by additional S P Nagendra Debbarma, acting on a tip off, raided the remote Khagendra Roaja Para of Ambassa sub-division. "We had specific information about militants' movements in the area and, accordingly, we sent out three police parties, accompanied by Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel and led by senior officials, on a coordinated hunt. I was leading the group that came across the militants about 400-450 metre north of Khagendra Roaja Para," said Nagendra Debbarma. He said as the combined party of police and TSR personnel were entering the area they saw a militant. When the raiding party challenged the militant, his comrades-in-arms hiding in the nearby jungle opened fire. The police-TSR combine immediately retaliated, forcing the militants to flee. "We then launched a massive search operation to hunt down the militants. But they managed to escape as the area was densely forested. We suspect there were nine to ten militants," Debbarma said. Police later came to know that the group was led by Athara Babu Halam, a first generation NLFT militant responsible for several attacks including the Kamalpur UBI robbery on November, 1995. He hails from Jamthung village of the district. Another officer said the Athara Babu-led NLFT militants had plans to plant explosives on NH-44 between Assam and Agartala ahead of Independence Day. But due to the police action, they are now on the run. Of late, there has been a sudden spurt in NLFT offensives in various parts of Dhalai district. Besides, attempts are also on to recruit youths from the tribal villages as cadres. Sources said the militants seem to have become highly active before the Independence Day celebration. In view of the threat posed by them, massive security arrangements have been across the state, with intensified force deployment, tightened surveillance and bomb squads being pressed into service. Border vigil has also been stepped. Bordering areas Gandacherra, Raishyabari, remote areas of Chhailengta and some parts of Khowai subdivision have been put on round-the-clock surveillance. In view of the sudden spate of cross-border movements of militants in the area, at some places, apart from BSF, TSR personnel too have been deployed to guard the frontier, the officer added. On Thursday night, the TSR nabbed five tribal youths with country-made firearms from Murabari under Kalyanpur police station. The youths were from Gayanfangbari, police sources said. "At least three NLFT groups are holed up in Bangladesh just across the border; they regularly sneak into Indian territory and move around in the interior parts of Dhalai district. One group is led by Athara babu, and the two others by Bomtong, aka Ananda Hari Jamatia and Lakshilung Halam. And all them are desperate to make a high-impact attack," said a senior officer in Agartala. The NLFT militants are now trying to extort money from villagers. Lakshilung kidnapped eight villagers from Dhalai recently and took them to Bangladesh where they are still held captive for ransom. During monsoon, the forest cover in the area becomes thick, so militants can move freely in without fear of being caught. While verdant foliage gives them the required cover, the jhum fields spread in the hilly regions provide them food. In fact, unlike other times, they do not need to enter any village for food. They can get vegetables and fruits from the jhum fields up in the hills and stay in the hills. They steer clear of nearby villages, which are all virtually covered by security forces like TSR or Assam Rifles. Besides, in the absence of villages and habitations across large tracts of the hilly region on both sides of the border, the NLFT hideouts - which are constantly moved - remain untraced by the security forces of both the countries.

Meitei rebels, Ulfa hawks boycott I-Day

GUWAHATI: At time when the state government is rattled by intelligence reports that some ministers in the Tarun Gogoi cabinet are on Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah's hit list, a newly-floated conglomerate of 12 militant outfits in the region has boycotted Independence Day celebrations and called a strike in the region on August 15. In a joint statement issued here on Thursday, the rebel forum has criticized the Centre for the ongoing peace talks with Ulfa and other Naga outfits. "We have seen futile promises made by the Centre earlier. The ongoing peace processes in Assam and Nagaland is nothing but an effort to weaken our struggle," the statement added. Lending voice to Baruah's opposition to peace talks between the Centre and the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led Ulfa's pro-talks faction without sovereignty on the agenda, the forum said, "Sovereignty is the utmost obligation of a nation. It is the most valuable prize and it cannot be replace by anything else." Along with eight Manipuri outfits, the conglomerate includes the Hynnitrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) of Meghalaya, the West Bengal-based Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO) and the Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF). Incidentally, the NDFB's anti-talks faction, which has declared a unilateral ceasefire after expressing willingness to hold peace talks, has not joined the conglomerate. A government source said authorities considered the joint statement as a view of Manipuri outfits. "The primary concern is the coming together of the Meitei groups. They are very active in Manipur. KLO is virtually non-existent, while the ground is set for the group to join the peace talks soon. The HNLC and TPDF are weak groups and there is not too much threat perception from the Ulfa's Baruah faction," the source said. Last month, the eight Meitei groups had joined hands with Ulfa in Myanmar. A source said 17 cadres of Manipur's PLA have entered the state with Ulfa cadres in two groups to strike on behalf of Ulfa. "They have not been successful so far because of the presence of security forces, especially in Sivasagar and Tinsukia district," the source said. In the meantime, suspected Ulfa militants looted Rs 25 lakh and two INSAS rifles from security personnel at Roing in Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday. According to sources, Baruah has recruited and transferred 25 new cadres from Tinsukia to Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh recently.

Assam escapes massive terror attacks ahead of Aug 15

Guwahati, Aug 12: Assam escaped massive terror attacks on Friday, Aug 12 when police officials and bomb squad discarded huge amount of explosives found in a train and a house in Goalpara district.
Powerful bomb was found in Kamakhya-Puri Express on Friday. The five kg Improvised Explosives Device (IED)at Pancharatna Railway station at the wee hours of Friday.
The house owner, Dholaram Rabha, has been arrested. He was suspected to be a militant of either local extremist groups Rabha Viper Army or the Garo National Liberation Army.
The intelligence bureau has already alerted Jammu Kashmir and the North-East states as terror attacks might bruise the region ahead of the Independence Day.
Meanwhile, the anti Ulfa-government talk terror outfit boycotted the Independence Day celebration and called a strike on Aug 15.

Centre alerts NE States on terror attack

NEW DELHI, Aug 12 – The Centre has alerted the States about the possibility of a terror attack, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, in the run up to the the Independence Day and asked them to take every possible step to foil any attempt by militants to disturb peace, reports PTI. Acting on intelligence inputs which suggested various militant groups may try to carry out terror attacks particularly in Northeastern States and Jammu and Kashmir, the Home Ministry asked the State governments to intensify vigil at sensitive locations and public places. “It is a comprehensive alert as well as advisory. We have asked the States what to do and what not to,” a senior Home Ministry official said. “We are specifically concerned about Assam, Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir as we are regularly getting adverse intelligence inputs, the official said.

12 northeast militant groups call to boycott Independence Day celebrations

Imphal, Aug 11 : Twelve militant groups of northeast today called upon the people of the region to boycott the Independence day celebration. They also called upon the people to observe a general strike from midnight till 1730 hrs that day. All the twelve outfits-- Hynnitrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), National Liberation Front of Twipara (NLFT), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak/Progressive [PREPAK(Pro), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and United People's Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) issued a joint statement in this regard. Essential services like medical, electricity, water supply, fire services and the Press shall be exempted from the purview of the strike. The statement added, ''India Government is trying to lure the people and the freedom fighters in the name of peace. We have experienced futile promises of India Government in Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, etc. and present process of peace talks in Assam and Nagaland is nothing but dilly-dallying to our struggle of national self-determination.'' It also said, ''Genuine freedom fighters cannot be lured by any prize and it is wrong deed to compromise our genuine cause with personal interest. Sovereignty is the utmost obligation of a Nation, it is the most valuable thing than any prizes thus cannot be replaced by anything.''

Manipur insurgents coming together: government

New Delhi : There are reports to suggest that major Meiti insurgent outfits in Manipur are making serious efforts to form a 'united front', parliament was told Tuesday. Minister of State for Home M. Ramachandran told the Lok Sabha that these groups included the Revolutionary People's Front/People's Liberation Army, United National Liberation Front, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, Kangleipak Communist Party/Neyon Faction, PREPARK (VC Faction), PREPAK/Progressive, and United People's Party of Kangleipak. The minister said the government had "always shown willingness to enter a dialogue with any group willing to abjure the path of violence and place its demand within the framework of the Indian constitution. "Certain Kuki insurgent groups have already signed Suspension of Operation agreements with the government," he added.

Meghalaya: Top Commander Among Killed Garo Militants

Four militants, including a self-proclaimed deputy 'commander-in-chief' of a Garo militant outfit were killed in a gunfight with Meghalaya Police commandos in the East Garo Hills district today. Two other militants escaped during the operation, DIG (Western Range) GHP Raju said. From the encounter spot, the commandos recovered one grenade launcher with five cells, one AK-81 series rifle and another MKS assault rifle, five Chinese grenades, two high-explosive grenades, one pistol and over 300 rounds of AK and INSAS ammunition and important documents, the DIG said. On a tip-off, a team of SWAT commandos launched an operation late last night in the Bolkinggre forests, about 5 km from district headquarter town of Williamnagar. Around 2 AM this morning, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants fired at the commandos and in the ensuing gunfight, which lasted for over an hour, four of the militants were shot dead, he said. One of the slain militants has been identified as Roster Marak, a deserter constable of Meghalaya Police who had joined the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). He is the deputy 'c-in-c' of the outfit and believed to be the right-hand man of Sohan D Shira, the 'c-in-c' of the Garo rebel group. Other three have been identified as Peter Momin alias Bruno, Henitson Sangma and Jekyll Marak, Raju said. Two cadre – Darwin Shira and BM Sangma - managed to escape from the spot which was believed to be a transit camp, he said. A sub inspector of the SWAT team, Sengoran Ch Marak, sustained bullets wounds in his left hand during the encounter. He has been shifted to Tura Civil Hospital and was stated to be out of danger. GNLA, a nascent Garo militant group floated by a deserter DSP of Meghalaya Police, Champion Sangma, has been blamed for rampant extortion, kidnappings in the three districts of Garo hills. It was also responsible for killing policeman and labourers and is said to be the most active group in Meghalaya at present.

Manipuri rebels held near Agartala

AGARTALA: Police have arrested two Meitei militants belonging to the Manipur-based Kangleipak Communist party (KCP) on the outskirts of the city. Acting on a tip-off, personnel from the East Agartala police station raided the house of Damayanti Pal at Jogendranagara on Monday and caught Nangam Subed Maitei (35) alias Rubel alias Sumit and Hirojit Singh (26). "Police found 13 mobile handsets, nine SIM cards, two laptops, a digital camera and some incriminating papers on them," a police official said, adding that the duo was hiding in the area for eight months. Sources said police were trying to find out their antecedants, but refused to divulge details. Officials said Manipur police had been alerted and a team of cops from Imphal was likely to arrive here soon to interrogate the two KCP militants. They might also seek transit remand for them. Tripura had always been a favorued corridor for Manipuri militants to sneak into Manipur from their hideouts in Bangladeh. In the past, several Meitei militants belonging to outfits such as the PLA, the UNLF, the PREPAK and the KCP have been arrested from various areas in Tripura. In mid and late Eighties, the militants used Kailasahar and Dharmanagar in North Tripura to cross over to Imphal from Bangladesh.

ISI trained Ulfa, says outfit's 'foreign secretary'

NEW DELHI: From the jungles of Myanmar, a life in disguise in Bangladesh to the power corridors of Delhi's North Block, it's been an arduous trek for United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) leaders. For 12 years till his arrest in November 2009, Ulfa foreign secretary Shashadhar Choudhury lived in Bangladesh with his wife and 10-year-old daughter. "I lived in Bangladesh as Rafiqul Islam. My wife Runima, a member of Ulfa's cultural wing, assumed the name Sabina Yasmin," said Choudhury, who lived in a rented house in Dhaka's upscale locality Uttara Sector 3. Choudhury and Runima got married in Bangladesh in 1997 and set up home there. Their daughter studied in Dhaka's International Turkish Hope School. "I had Bangladeshi national ID card issued by their army and passports of several countries, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Fiji and South Africa," he said. Individuals in various Bangladeshi agencies helped Ulfa with logistics and support. Choudhury was not the only one. While Indian security agencies hunted for them, the top Ulfa leadership, including chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, found a safe haven in Bangladesh. Ulfa leaders, their wives and children assumed Islamic names and lived a life of disguise in Bangladesh till Sheikh Hasina swept to power in 2009. Soon after, top Ulfa leaders were picked up by Bangladesh and handed over to India. In its more than two decades of terrorist activities, Ulfa has received international help and set up bases in neighbouring countries. "Pakistan's ISI trained Ulfa. In 1991, I was part of the first batch of Ulfa members to go to Pakistan for training in small arms, including main battle rifles," said Choudhury, who joined Ulfa in 1985. "We were guerrilla fighters and faced Operation Bajrang and Operation Rhino in 1990 and 1991," he said. In 1992, he was chosen Ulfa foreign secretary by the outfit's general council. "Soon after joining, we had trained with the Nagas of the undivided NSCN. In 1988, we were the second batch of Ulfa who went over to Kachin in Myanmar. We fought along with Kachin Independence Army (KIA) for two years and shared their guns," he said. Later, as Ulfa's financial resources improved, they began buying weapons. "The Chinese sold Ulfa weapons but indirectly. They are not fools to train insurgents or get directly involved," Choudhury said. The worst ordeal, Choudhury said, was during Operation Goldenbird in 1995, a joint anti-insurgent military offensive launched by India and Myanmar. "I was the golden bird they were looking for. For nine days, I fought without food or water in the jungles of Myanmar's Chin which was an unknown terrain for us," he claimed. But, the Indian Army managed to catch him in Mizoram. "But they did not knpw they had caught Shashadhar Choudhury. For two-and-a-half months in Army custody, they only asked me where is Shasha? But I managed to protect myself saying I was Sailen Choudhury," he said. Sailen Choudhury was an Ulfa member who had been killed in that operation. Later, he was taken away from Army custody, produced in court and sent to jail. He struck a deal with then AGP government in Assam. He offered to build bridges between Ulfa and the government in return for his release. But, soon after he was released, he jumped bail and fled to Bhutan. "It was for survival," he said. Ulfa received the worst blow during Royal Bhutan Army's Operation All Clear in 2003. A large number of their members were killed or went missing. "After this, we shifted our headquarters to Bangladesh and then to Myanmar," he said. Ulfa commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, opposing peace talks, still operates from their base in Myanmar. "Ulfa did not take up guns out of choice. State terror and India's colonial occupation gave birth to Ulfa," said Choudhury.

'Hostile' Dhaka turns ultras Myanmar-ward

Pinaki Das
Agartala, Aug 9 – The tough stance of Dhaka against militants using the Bangladesh soil for anti-India activities has forced the militants active in the northeastern Indian states to shift their camps to Myanmar.
This trend came to light from the interrogation of recently arrested militants of various groups in Tripura, said a government source.
"With the present regime in Bangladesh coming down heavily on the anti-India insurgents, major separatist outfits of Northeast India are eyeing Myanmar," said Tapan Saha, the Tripura public prosecutor.
"Similar inputs were given on Monday by two militants of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) of Manipur state who were arrested in Agartala, capital of Indian northeastern state of Tripura," Saha added.
East Agartala police, based on secret information of Assam Rifles, arrested the militants from a rented house on the outskirts of Agartala where they were staying for over seven months.
Besides a meeting point, the rented house was served as a transit camp for the militants who were moving through Tripura from Bangladesh.
The militants identified as Ngangon Sovet Meitee, 30, a self-styled captain, and another Herojit Singh, 26, were produced before a local court which sent to five-day police remand for further interrogation.
As many as 13 mobile sets, nine SIM cards, two laptops, cash and other incriminating documents were seized from their possession.
The militants informed that several major insurgent groups of Northeast India had recently organised a meeting in Bangladesh where they formed a 'United Joint Forum' and decided to work together to revive their activities in the northeastern region.
The militant groups also decided to shift their base camps from Bangladesh to Myanmar in view of a hostile regime in Bangladesh.
All major separatist outfits of northeast, like the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), cadres of the both factions of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), People's Liberation Army of Manipur (PLA) and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) are among the outfits trying to space in Myanmar.
Myanmar shares 1,643-km boundary with India's four northeastern states Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. India also shares maritime boundary with Myanmar.

Militants now targeting labourers in Manipur

Imphal, Aug 8 (ANI): After targeting employees in the education, banking and hospitality sectors, militants in Manipur are now targeting labourers. "Pay Rs 1 crore or your husbands will be killed." This is the message suspected cadres of Kuki groups sent out to three families in Thoubal district of Manipur whose earning members were abducted on July 29. Those abducted were identified as Soraisam Ningthemjao Singh, A Hemanta Singh and Laishram Sarat Singh. They were working at the Itok Dam at Tamengthong in Chandrakhong area. 7 heavily armed cadres of Kuki groups abducted them from their worksite, where they were engaged in the repair work of the dam. On August 1, the laborers were released after 10 days but the reasons and conditions for their release are as yet not clear. "I am very sick and have three children. When I got to know about my husband's abduction, I broke down. I do not know what to do and what to say. What will they get from my husband we are such a poor family. I request them to release my husband safely," said Meghechen, wife of Sarat Singh. "They are demanding one crore in ransom for the safe release of these people. We are poor laborers and just earn a daily livelihood. We cannot pay such huge amounts. Militants should understand that we cannot get so much money," said a labourer. Though militants claim to represent the interests of the people, their actions certainly don't reflect this fact. On the contrary their activities create uncertainty, which affects the growth of progress of the state. (ANI)

Indo-Bangla border sealed ahead of Independence Day

Shillong: Security has been beefed up in vulnerable areas in Meghalaya, including state secretariat, and the Indo-Bangla border sealed in the wake of threats of possible militant strikes in ahead of the Independence Day. After chairing a high-level security meeting today, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said the Indo-Bangla border has been sealed to prevent possible entry of militants into the state. "Police are conducting raids on suspected militant hideouts," he said. Lyngdoh said the government has taken a decision to restrict entry of public into the main secretariat to ensure discipline and order. "Government employees will have to produce identity cards for entering the secretariat," he said. Police indicated that there were inputs about groups of militants entering the state to carry out subversive attacks. "We are monitoring the situation. Necessary action is being taken to prevent them in their plans," a senior official said.

ULFA denies reports on being backed by Pakistani fundamentalists

The ULFA on Monday claimed that the Centre has assured its leaders that the Constitution would be amended, if necessary, to find an honourable solution to the 32-year old political conflict in Assam. At the same time, it denied that it was influenced by Pakistani Islamic fundamentalists. “Chidambaram has categorically told us that the Constitution would also be amended if necessary for a positive outcome of the talks to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people,” ULFA Vice-Chairman Pradip Gogoi told PTI here in an interview. Stating that the next round of talks would be held after August 15, he denied recent media reports about the ULFA being backed by Pakistani Islamic fundamentalists. “These reports are false. Our chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa did not say any such thing. The question of being influenced by fundamentalists does not arise,” the ULFA ‘second-in-command’ asserted. To a query if the reported influence alienated the ULFA from the people, Mr. Gogoi replied, “We are still with the people. The Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (of intellectuals) preparing our charter of demands is proof that we are with the people.” He said to strengthen the ULFA it did have talks with several organisations and also went to the United Nations thrice. On its ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah’s opposition to the talks, Mr. Gogoi said, “He has not directly opposed the talks. It is only his publicity secretary Arun Udoy Dohotia who sends press statements opposing the parleys.” “We have made it clear that all must cooperate with the peace process wherever and whoever they may be. It is their duty to do so as the talks involve the rights, existence and culture of the people of Assam,” he said. “The people should have no doubt in their mind that all efforts would be made by us to find a lasting, peaceful and political solution to their problems,” he said. Urging those ‘fishing in troubled waters’ to desist, he asked, “What is the intention of those speaking against the talks? This will only spoil the peace process that has been initiated for an honourable peaceful and political solution to the 32-year-old problem.” “If peace is required, then talks are a must. The talks are now in the initial stage. Our charter of demands prepared by the SJA submitted to the central government on August 5 in Delhi was only a synopsis of the outline of what we want. The formal talks will elaborate on it,” he said. “At the beginning of our Charter we have mentioned why we had to take up arms. We are not at fault... we had to highlight that the state failed to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people,” the ULFA vice-chairman said.

Two insurgents of Manipur outfit arrested

Agartala: Two insurgents of Manipur-based outlawed organization- KCP (MC) were arrested from Vidhyasagar area in the outskirts the state capital on Monday. Based on a tip-off, a joint team of Assam Rifles and police raided a house at Vidhyasagar Chowmuhani and picked up two suspected youths- Herojit Singh (26) of Hariram under Thoubal police station and Ngyangon Meiti (26) of Khorai under Porungpet police station. Two laptops, 13 mobile sets and one digital camera were recovered from their possession, DIG (Control) Nepal Chandra Das said. Based on the preliminary interrogation, Herojit and Ngyangon were arrested and produced before the court. "They have been staying with their family members there for the past seven months to skip security forces of Manipur", he said. The detention of two militants was communicated to Manipur police for taking necessary steps, he said.

Terror strike puts a question mark on N-E peace talks

Security personnel look at a truck set ablaze by protesters during blockade on the highway at Senapati on Wednesday. PHOTO: PTI

SHORTLY AFTER the reports in media about China trying to unite Northeast terrorist groups and the entry of one in Assam to launch attacks around Independence Day, terrorists struck in Imphal.
On August 1, five persons, including two girl students, were killed and many were injured as a powerful bomb exploded at about 1.40 pm in front of a grocery shop and a barber’s shop, opposite Sangakpham Keithel.
The two girls, studying in Class 3 at Chingmeirong Primary School, were returning home when the bomb exploded, flinging their bodies, one of which was found inside the grocery store and the other in the barber shop. The barber and his son were also killed. Another man’s body was found in front of the shop. The impact of the blast was so powerful that it ripped and charred human flesh, pulverised some vehicles and reduced the place to scattered debris.
There were reports of this attack being a failed attempt by National Socialist Council of Nagaland/Nagalim (Issac-Muivah) group NSCN (I-M) at targeting members of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) housed in a nearby guest house complex and chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Union home minister P. Chidambaram are reported to have endorsed the same.
A press note from the state home department said, “Government of Manipur has received concrete and convincing evidence which establishes the direct involvement of NSCN (I-M) in the series of recent violent incidents which left several innocent civilians dead and many seriously injured in various parts.”
According to the home department, one Anthony, son of Bonkulung of Sadu Koireng killed in this blast was an active NSCN (I-M) cadre.
Apparently, the explosion occurred moments after some vehicles of ADC members went past the blast site.
The government stated that these acts of terror are quite clearly designed to thwart the democratic process taken up by the Manipur government to introduce democratic decentralisation by successfully conducting elections to the six district councils which had remained dormant for over two decades.
It may be recalled that last year, it was on this issue that All-Manipur Naga Students’ Union had caused a blockade of National Highway 39, Manipur’s main artery, which had extended to three months by Thuingaleng Muivah timing his visit to his hometown in Manipur after almost 40 years.
Almost all the schools located in the valley districts of Manipur staged protest demonstrations and rallies decrying the Sangakpham bomb attack. On Tidim Road, thousands of school students took out a joint protest rally.
One group which has been most vocal is the All-Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO), which, while listing a number of violent incidents allegedly involving the NSCN(I-M), including the recent bomb blast, accused both the Central and state governments of being soft towards this rebel group. Contending that inaction against the NSCN(I-M), in spite of its involvement in various incidents of violence clearly suggests indirect support of both the governments to it, AMUCO president K.T. Rahman demanded that effective measures be initiated to curb activities of the outfit in Manipur. Speaking to the media, he is reported to have stated that as the ongoing ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN(I-M) does not cover Manipur, not only should the illegal activities of the outfit need to be dealt with according to law, but also that all its camps in the state should be shut down.
Rahman further stated that the ongoing peace parleys between the NSCN(I-M) and Centre have been reduced to a mockery as the outfit is still involved in acts of terrorism, highway extortion, destruction of public property and intimidation. Mentioning the Sangakpham blast, the killing of a couple in Lungphu village of Phungyar sub-division (Ukhrul) and slaying of security personnel of Phungyar AC MLA’s escort party as recent cases involving the terrorist group, he blamed the Manipur government by recounting a particular incident when weapons seized by state security forces near Pallel were returned to the outfit along with its apprehended cadres.
While asserting that the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and Manipur should be measured by the same yardstick and grimly noting the failure of the home minister to visit Manipur and assess the overall situation following the Sangakpham blast, Rahman commented that such an attitude demonstrated the Centre’s step-motherly treatment to the people of Manipur.
Chronicling a number of attacks by NSCN(I-M) since April this year, the home department said that the state government is seriously considering taking up the matter with the Central government to revoke the ceasefire with NSCN(I-M) due to these continuous and open acts of terrorism committed by it.
While violence by the Meitei terrorist groups in Manipur has been reported much since the arrest of United National Liberation Front’s R.K. Meghen, many of its cadres earlier in Bangladesh and now in Burma are being rallied by Chinese intelligence, there is no saying how and when they will strike again.
In Assam, as the pro-talk faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa)’s seven-member team, led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, submitted the charter of demands prepared by the Sanmilito Jatiya Abhivartan (SJA) under the leadership of intellectual Hiren Gohain to ministry of home affairs, their anti-talks colleague Paresh Baruah is all set to keep Assam on the boil yet again.
The Ulfa’s bid to strike came to light when the Assam Rifles apprehended hardcore leader Rwittick Hazarika in Sonitpur district bordering Arunachal Pradesh recently. He confessed before the police that a group of hardcore Ulfa cadres have come down to Assam to strike at the instance of Paresh Baruah.
Hazarika, a “second lieutenant” in Ulfa’s 27 battalion, was arrested a day after the Union home ministry’s advisory to Assam to step up security in view of the Ulfa’s martyrs’ day on July 27.
The seven-member Ulfa team met home minister P. Chidambaram in the presence of Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, home secretary R.K. Singh and other senior officials.
The charter of demands that exchanged hands during the meeting will be the basis of dialogue with the Ulfa. Although the contents of the charter have not been disclosed, as earlier reported, the SJA charter demands constitutional amendments to give Assam, and thereby its people greater control over their own future by strengthening the state’s power to control the revenue, natural resources, and the planning process and ensure a secure demographic situation as well as accelerated and balanced development.
“If the government of India and the Ulfa honour the charter in letter and spirit and do not undersell it, we may look forward to untroubled peace, true development, and vigorous growth of democracy in the region,” said Gohain. The SJA noted that the present calm does not mean the return of peace.
One aspect of the charter about ensuring a secure demographic situation, ironically stands greatly compromised, thanks to the Ulfa, which during the stay of its top honchos in Bangladesh for almost two decades had actually aided and speeded up the illegal migration from Bangladesh, contradicting the very basis of its rise following the bloody Assam agitation of 1983.
This writer’s book, Assam Terrorism and the Demographic Challenge, elaborates on how ULFA became an effective tool of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence’s set-up (based in Bangladesh during Khaleda Zia’s tenure), pursuing its aim of inducting and settling illegal Bangladeshi migrants in various parts of Assam; of raising new madrasas and controlling old ones; trying to convert ethnic Assamese Muslims to fundamentalism; creating communal tension; circulating fake Indian currency; trafficking arms and narcotics; sabotaging installations and generally spreading terror.
Talks with terrorists are fine but must meaningfully lead to permanent eradication of violence by the group and must be undertaken after securing all its weapons and ammunition. In cases of both NSCN(I-M) and Ulfa, this has not been done. Besides, both these groups have factions, leaders or members already guilty of anti-India activities.
Both these groups are also involved in supplying arms to Naxal-Maoists. In the case of talks with the Ulfa, if Anup Chetia is going to be handed over by Bangladesh as part of the goodwill of Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government, then the Centre may consider waiting till Paresh Baruah is caught and then hold talks purposefully.
Last but certainly not the least, what about Ulfa leaders and cadres guilty of heinous crimes against innocent people? If their mere “apologies” are accepted and that turns them into good mainstream citizens overnight , then we might as well free all murderers on death row.
Anil Bhat, a retired Army officer, is a defence and security analyst based in New Delhi