Thursday, March 29, 2012
Assam's ULFA turns wildlife conservationist
Guwahati: Adopting the new role of wildlife conservationist, the banned faction of United Liberation Front of Asom today called upon the state forest department to involve international experts in removing horns of rhinos and curb poaching of these majestic animals.
In an emailed statement to the media here, the 'acting Chairman' of ULFA's anti-talk faction Abhizeet Asom called upon the forest department to declare the "process of de-horning of rhinos".
Asom's comments came a few days after a rhino died after its horn was sawed off by the forest department. The rhino had strayed away from Kaziranga National Park and took shelter in Majuli island in the Brahmaputra.
The rhino later died on March 25 due to internal injuries suffered during an attack by locals.
In the statement, ULFA said a transparent methodology of storing horns should be adopted and the revenue earned from it legally should be used for conservation efforts.
Asom said that help of renowned conservationist like John Hume of South Africa should be sought for this matter.
The ULFA has asked the forest department to emulate the Chinese example and take help of the public and NGOs for planting 'quick growing grass, bamboo, wild palms' as fodder for these herbivores.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Good And Bad News From The Northeast
While the insurgency related deaths
fell from a peak of 1,051 in 2008 to a total of 247 in 2011 in the Northeast,
there is a growing evidence of linkages abroad
Ajai Sahni
India's Northeast, troubled by decades of militancy and
ethnic extremism, has seen dramatic improvements in the prevailing security
scenario over the past years, with a multiplicity of enduring insurgencies
weakening considerably, disintegrating or seeking peace through negotiated
settlements with the government. Trends in fatalities for the Northeast
demonstrate sustained and dramatic improvements, from a recent peak in
insurgency-related fatalities across the region, at 1,051 in 2008, collapsing
to a total of just 247 fatalities in 2011.
Years
|
Civilians
|
SFs
|
Terrorists
|
Total
|
2005
|
334
|
69
|
314
|
717
|
2006
|
232
|
92
|
313
|
637
|
2007
|
457
|
68
|
511
|
1036
|
2008
|
404
|
40
|
607
|
1051
|
2009
|
270
|
40
|
542
|
852
|
2010
|
77
|
22
|
223
|
322
|
2011
|
80
|
35
|
132
|
247
|
2012
|
24
|
9
|
49
|
82
|
Total*
|
1878
|
375
|
2691
|
4944
|
Source: South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), *Data
till March 25, 2012
In
its year-end review for 2011, the union ministry of home affairs described the
year as one of the most successful in terms of bringing rebel groups to the
negotiation table in India's northeastern states.
The most significant recent improvements have been witnessed in Assam and Manipur, the two states in the region that accounted for the overwhelming majority of recent fatalities.
In Assam, the SATP database recorded a 39.87 per cent decline in militancy-related fatalities, from 158 in 2010, to 95 in 2011. More importantly, a 27 per cent drop was registered in civilian killings in 2011 as compared to 2010, indicating considerable improvement in the general security situation. 45 militants, 35 civilians and 15 security forces (SF) personnel, were killed in 67 incidents in 2011, as against 98 militants, 48 civilians and 12 SF personnel, in 100 incidents, in 2010.
Nine fatalities had been recorded by SATP in 2012 [Data till March 25], as compared to 26 fatalities in 2011 during the same period. 2012 fatalities included seven militants and two civilians. There has been no SF killing this year.
21 militant groups remain present in Assam, with existing armed cadres, though many of these are under various processes of negotiation with the government. Of these, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland - Ranjan Daimary faction (NDFB-RD) and the Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT), were responsible for most fatalities in 2011. The various 'active' militant groups in the state which retain armed cadres include
The most significant recent improvements have been witnessed in Assam and Manipur, the two states in the region that accounted for the overwhelming majority of recent fatalities.
In Assam, the SATP database recorded a 39.87 per cent decline in militancy-related fatalities, from 158 in 2010, to 95 in 2011. More importantly, a 27 per cent drop was registered in civilian killings in 2011 as compared to 2010, indicating considerable improvement in the general security situation. 45 militants, 35 civilians and 15 security forces (SF) personnel, were killed in 67 incidents in 2011, as against 98 militants, 48 civilians and 12 SF personnel, in 100 incidents, in 2010.
Nine fatalities had been recorded by SATP in 2012 [Data till March 25], as compared to 26 fatalities in 2011 during the same period. 2012 fatalities included seven militants and two civilians. There has been no SF killing this year.
21 militant groups remain present in Assam, with existing armed cadres, though many of these are under various processes of negotiation with the government. Of these, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland - Ranjan Daimary faction (NDFB-RD) and the Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT), were responsible for most fatalities in 2011. The various 'active' militant groups in the state which retain armed cadres include
[A
groups is categorized 'active' if it has been involved in any incident
(including extortion, intimidation, arrests, shootings, abductions bomb blasts,
encounters, fratricidal clashes, etc.) over the preceding two years].
- United Liberation Front of Asom - Pro Talks Faction (ULFA-PTF): The ULFA-PTF signed a tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the central and state government on September 3, 2011, after declaring a ceasefire on July 13, 2011. The first formal talks with central government were held on October 25. 496 militants belonging to ULFA-PTF are located in seven 'designated camps'.
- ULFA-Anti Talks Faction (ULFA-ATF): Paresh Baruah and Abhijeet Barman head the ULFA-ATF, which has an estimated surviving strength of some 225 to 250 militants. The group's leadership and principal cadre strength is currently located in camps in Myanmar. ULFA-ATF continues to carry out occasional terrorist attacks in the state.
- National Democratic Front of Bodoland - Pro Talks Faction (NDFB-PTF): NDFB-PTF signed a SoO agreement on May 25, 2005. Talks with the formation remains in a very early stage. The group has demanded the replacement of the present interlocutor, P.C. Haldar, a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau, by a politician from the Northeast. The outfit has recently come out in public demanding a separate Bodoland state within the Indian Union. 936 NDFB-PTF militants are staying in three 'designated camps' in the state.
- NDFB-RD: NDFB-RD declared an indefinite ceasefire on August 1, 2011, but Security Operations against the group have continued. Daimary and other top leaders of the group had been arrested in Bangladesh in 2010, and were handed over to Indian authorities. The central government has appointed P.C. Hadar as the interlocutor with the outfit and informal meeting between Halder and Daimari have taken place in Guwahati Jail. The group's strength is estimated at about 325 to 350 militants.
- Dima Halim Daogah - Nunisa faction (DHD-N): The group signed a SoO on January 1, 2003. The talks with the formation have hit a roadblock over its demand for incorporation of additional villages of the Districts of Cachar and Nagaon with Dima Hasao District. 512 DHD-N militants are staying in four 'designated camps'.
- Jewel Garlosa faction of DHD (DHD-J)/ Black Widow (BW): The group lay down arms on September 2009. Peace talks with the outfit are close to completion according to government sources. 440 DHD-J members are staying in four 'designated camps'.
- United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS): UPDS signed a tripartite accord on September 25, 2011, with the centre and state government.
- Karbi Longri North Cachar Liberation Front (KLNLF): The group lay down arms on February 11, 2010. Talks are on, but the issue of 'Karbi self rule' remains the roadblock to resolution. The group is demanding the status of a state within a state. 288 militants of the KLNLF are staying in three designated camps.
- Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT): KPLT has an estimated strength of about 60 to 70 armed cadres and has been involved in frequent acts of violence.
- Hill Tiger Force (HTF): A militant outfit of the non-Dimasa hill tribes in Dima Hasao District, was formed following the ethnic clashes among the Dimasas and the Zeme Nagas in the NC Hills District in 2009. The group suffered major setbacks. Specifically, on November 13, 2011, SFs arrested nine HTF militants, including its 'commander-in-chief' Benjamin Jaolin Zaute and 'finance secretary' Alex Thiek, from the deep jungles at the Hmar village of Arda under Harangajao Police Station in Dima Hasao District.
Seven
militant formations - the Adivasi People's Army (APA), All Adivasi National
Liberation Army (AANLA), Santhal Tiger Force (STF), United Kukigam Defence Army
(UKDA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) and Hmar Peoples
Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) - lay down arms on January 24, 2012.
Two Muslim militant formations remain active in the state: Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen (HuM). MULTA has an estimated 60 cadres while HuM is reported to have some 40 armed cadres.
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has also made inroads into the state.
In addition, there are many smaller outfits operating in certain pockets. They include: Liberation Democratic Council of Mising Land (LDCMS), a rebel formation in Lakhimpur and Jorhat Districts; United Tribal Liberation Front (UTLF); the United Tribal Revolutionary Army (UTRA); Dimasa National Liberation Front (DNLF); Bodoland Royal Tigers Force (BRTF); National Dimasa Protection Army (NDPA); and Gorkha Liberation Army (GLA).
Manipur also recorded a steep decline (52.89 per cent) in the number of overall fatalities from 138 in 2010 to 65 in 2011. The number of civilian and SF personnel killed has, however, remained more or less the same. Militant fatalities have registered a sharp drop of 74.03 percent from 104 in 2010 to 27 in 2011. 47 encounters between SFs and militants were recorded by the SATP database in 2010, while just nine were registered in 2011. Fratricidal clashes between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) - a breakaway faction of the NSCN-IM - became very prominent in the state after the latter's formation on February 25, 2011.
The early months of 2012 give cause for rising concern, with 42 fatalities recorded by March 25, 2012, dramatically higher than the previous year's figure of 16 fatalities over the same period. The 2012 fatalities included 22 militants, nine SF personnel and 11 civilians. CorCom - an umbrella organization of seven Valley-based militant groups - which called for a boycott of the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) during the recently concluded Assembly Elections, was responsible for the largest number (10) of attributable fatalities this year, with the NSCN-IM following (7).
There are 15 active groups in Manipur, while some of these groups have a number of factions. The Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), for instance, is known to have more than 12 factions.
The most significant active groups in the state include:
Two Muslim militant formations remain active in the state: Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-ul-Mujahedeen (HuM). MULTA has an estimated 60 cadres while HuM is reported to have some 40 armed cadres.
The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has also made inroads into the state.
In addition, there are many smaller outfits operating in certain pockets. They include: Liberation Democratic Council of Mising Land (LDCMS), a rebel formation in Lakhimpur and Jorhat Districts; United Tribal Liberation Front (UTLF); the United Tribal Revolutionary Army (UTRA); Dimasa National Liberation Front (DNLF); Bodoland Royal Tigers Force (BRTF); National Dimasa Protection Army (NDPA); and Gorkha Liberation Army (GLA).
Manipur also recorded a steep decline (52.89 per cent) in the number of overall fatalities from 138 in 2010 to 65 in 2011. The number of civilian and SF personnel killed has, however, remained more or less the same. Militant fatalities have registered a sharp drop of 74.03 percent from 104 in 2010 to 27 in 2011. 47 encounters between SFs and militants were recorded by the SATP database in 2010, while just nine were registered in 2011. Fratricidal clashes between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) - a breakaway faction of the NSCN-IM - became very prominent in the state after the latter's formation on February 25, 2011.
The early months of 2012 give cause for rising concern, with 42 fatalities recorded by March 25, 2012, dramatically higher than the previous year's figure of 16 fatalities over the same period. The 2012 fatalities included 22 militants, nine SF personnel and 11 civilians. CorCom - an umbrella organization of seven Valley-based militant groups - which called for a boycott of the ruling Indian National Congress (INC) during the recently concluded Assembly Elections, was responsible for the largest number (10) of attributable fatalities this year, with the NSCN-IM following (7).
There are 15 active groups in Manipur, while some of these groups have a number of factions. The Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), for instance, is known to have more than 12 factions.
The most significant active groups in the state include:
- CorCom - The 'Coordination Committee' comprising seven militant outfits, including the KCP, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), PREPAK - Progressive faction (PREPAK-Pro), Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF), United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and United Peoples Party of Kangleipak (UPPK). The committee had banned the Congress from contesting the recently held Assembly elections (January 28) in Manipur. The ban failed, and the Congress won an overwhelming majority of 42 out of the state's 60 Assembly constituencies.
- UPPK - The former Chinglemba Mangang group of PREPAK re-incarnated itself under a new identity, the UPPK, with its armed wing Kangleipak People's Army (KPA). The party with its armed wing was founded on November 6, 2008.
- NSCN-IM: The Naga formation, which has been engaged in extended peace talks in Nagaland, seeks the inclusion of Naga dominated areas of Manipur in its projected 'Greater Nagalim', and has been involved in continuous mobilization of the Naga tribes in the Manipur hills, as well as in some violent operations in this state.
Meghalaya has bucked the broad trend of improvement in the
Northeast, registering an increase in insurgency-related fatalities from 20 in
2010 (in 11 incidents of killing), to 29 in 2011 (in 13 incidents of killing).
More worryingly, civilian fatalities nearly quadrupled, from three in 2010 to
11 in 2011. This is the first time since 2003 that fatalities among civilians
have reached double digits. Similarly, the state recorded double-digit
fatalities among the SFs for the first time since 2002, with 10 fatalities
among SF personnel in 2011, as against none in 2010. In fact, it was on
December 7, 2008, that a trooper had last been killed in the state. Meanwhile,
militant fatalities declined, with eight killed in 2011, as compared to 17 in
2010. 2009 had recorded four insurgent fatalities.
Meghalaya has already recorded 10 fatalities in year 2012, including nine civilians and one militant [until March 25].
There are two active groups in Meghalaya, the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). GNLA remains the most potent threat in the state and is responsible for most casualties. HNLC has expressed interest in initiating talks, but has alleged that the Meghalaya government was 'not sincere', and warned that it would, consequently, continue its 'armed struggle. Groups like the Liberation A'chik Elite Force (LAEF) and Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) remain dormant. LAEF 'chief' Nikseng G. Momin had been killed on December 2, 2010, while the ANVC had entered into a cease-fire with the government on July 23, 2004. On October 11, 2011, the tripartite cease-fire agreement between the centre, state government and the ANVC was extended by another year, effective from October 1, 2011.
At least 50 persons were killed and eight injured in 16 fratricidal clashes between Naga militant formations in 2011, both within and outside Nagaland. In 2010, the number of persons killed in just two such incidents was two. Insurgency related fatalities within Nagaland have increased from just three in 2010 to 15 in 2011. More worryingly, seven civilians were killed in six incidents in 2011. There were no civilian killings in 2010. The last civilian killing before the spike in 2011 was reported on July 23, 2009. While the number of militants killed increased to eight in 2011, from just three in 2010, there has been no SF casualty since May 11, 2008.
In 2012, Nagaland has already recorded 18 fatalities [until March 25], including 16 militants and two civilians. The NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K) suffered a split in June 2011, with the Khole-Kitovi group forming another faction. The maximum fatalities in 2012 are due to fratricidal clashes between the two outfits, NSCN-Khole-Kitovi and NSCN-K.
There are five active groups in the state: the NSCN-IM, NSCN-K, NSCN-Khole-Kitovi, NSCN-Unification and the Naga National Council.
Tripura recorded just one militancy-related fatality in 2011, as against three in 2010, a remarkable contrast with the 514 fatalities recorded in 2000, when terrorism was at its peak in the state. National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was responsible for the single fatality in the state in 2011. An October 20, 2011, Police report indicated that 74 people, mostly tribals, were abducted by militants in Tripura in 2011, as against 114 and 121 people in 2010 and 2009 respectively. One militant fatality has been recorded so far in 2012.
There are two active militant groups in Tripura:
Meghalaya has already recorded 10 fatalities in year 2012, including nine civilians and one militant [until March 25].
There are two active groups in Meghalaya, the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). GNLA remains the most potent threat in the state and is responsible for most casualties. HNLC has expressed interest in initiating talks, but has alleged that the Meghalaya government was 'not sincere', and warned that it would, consequently, continue its 'armed struggle. Groups like the Liberation A'chik Elite Force (LAEF) and Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) remain dormant. LAEF 'chief' Nikseng G. Momin had been killed on December 2, 2010, while the ANVC had entered into a cease-fire with the government on July 23, 2004. On October 11, 2011, the tripartite cease-fire agreement between the centre, state government and the ANVC was extended by another year, effective from October 1, 2011.
At least 50 persons were killed and eight injured in 16 fratricidal clashes between Naga militant formations in 2011, both within and outside Nagaland. In 2010, the number of persons killed in just two such incidents was two. Insurgency related fatalities within Nagaland have increased from just three in 2010 to 15 in 2011. More worryingly, seven civilians were killed in six incidents in 2011. There were no civilian killings in 2010. The last civilian killing before the spike in 2011 was reported on July 23, 2009. While the number of militants killed increased to eight in 2011, from just three in 2010, there has been no SF casualty since May 11, 2008.
In 2012, Nagaland has already recorded 18 fatalities [until March 25], including 16 militants and two civilians. The NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K) suffered a split in June 2011, with the Khole-Kitovi group forming another faction. The maximum fatalities in 2012 are due to fratricidal clashes between the two outfits, NSCN-Khole-Kitovi and NSCN-K.
There are five active groups in the state: the NSCN-IM, NSCN-K, NSCN-Khole-Kitovi, NSCN-Unification and the Naga National Council.
Tripura recorded just one militancy-related fatality in 2011, as against three in 2010, a remarkable contrast with the 514 fatalities recorded in 2000, when terrorism was at its peak in the state. National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) was responsible for the single fatality in the state in 2011. An October 20, 2011, Police report indicated that 74 people, mostly tribals, were abducted by militants in Tripura in 2011, as against 114 and 121 people in 2010 and 2009 respectively. One militant fatality has been recorded so far in 2012.
There are two active militant groups in Tripura:
- NLFT: After a series of splits suffered by the NLFT, only the Biswamohan faction of the group (NLFT-B) remains active. It has, however, suffered a severe loss in cadre strength. The group continues to operate from Bangladesh, with occasional strikes against civilian targets, principally abductions for ransom, across the border into Tripura. The state government estimates the cadre strength of the outfit at approximately 150.
- All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF): Two factions, headed by Ranjit Debbarma (ATTF-RD) and Sachin Debbarma (ATTF-SD) have been decimated, and have a minimal surviving strength based in Bangladesh. The Sachin Group has reportedly joined NLFT. The combined strength of the ATTF is currently estimated at no more than 10 to 12 militants.
A two-decade long insurgency in Mizoram ended in 1986, and
peace has held since. Occasional incidents, principally the result of overflows
from neighbouring states, or of unresolved issues relating to refugees
populations, still occur.
According to the SATP database, Mizoram recorded a single fatality (civilian killed by the Assam-based UDLA) in 2011. No fatalities have yet been recorded in 2012. There were no fatalities in the state in 2010, and one in 2009.
The important militant groups with a presence in Mizoram include the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), which surrendered in 2005, and is currently in negotiations with the Mizoram government for the repatriation of Bru refugees, currently housed in camps in Tripura; and the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy (HPC-D), which entered into a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the government on November 11, 2010 for six months. The SoO expired on May 11, 2011, and was not extended by the Mizoram government on the grounds that the HPC-D was violating SoO ground rules. The HPC-D continues to demand the formation of separate Hmar Territorial Council in the north eastern part of the state. Peace talks with the outfit were supposed to start in January 2011. However, the government has refused to resume talks on the grounds that HPC-D has involved a foreigner, a US citizen (Rochunga Pudaite), as interlocutor.
There is no major indigenous insurgency in Arunachal Pradesh, though an 'overflow' from neighbouring Nagaland has resulted in regular fatalities in this state as well. According to SATP data, the state recorded 41 fatalities during the year 2011, up from none in 2010. All 41 fatalities were militants. The state recorded three major incidence of killing during the year. There were no militancy-related fatalities in the state in 2010, while 2009 had recorded nine militant fatalities.
Arunachal Pradesh has already recorded two (militant) fatalities in 2012. Significant groups operating in the state include the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K, as well as the Arunachal Naga Liberation Front (ANLF), which was formed in May 2010. The ANLF, however, formally merged with NSCN-K on June 19, 2011.
The broad positive trends in the security environment in India's Northeast are, however, tainted by a number of emerging factors, including a number of crucial and potentially disruptive 'externalities'. For one, an Intelligence Bureau (IB) note reportedly indicates that the idea of a Strategic United Front, designed to bring a number of terrorist groups in the Northeast and in Jammu & Kashmir under a single umbrella, has been chalked out by China, to launch what has been described as 'synergised attacks in India'. The Manipur-based People's Liberation Army (PLA) has elaborated this vision of evolving a 'Strong United Front', along with CPI-Maoist and Kashmiri militants, backed by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and China. The PLA has claimed that the 'United Front' so formed had been promised 'Chinese support', but only after the militant conglomerate had secured cadre strength of 'over 30,000'. The PLA also declared that it would extend support to Myanmar's insurgent groups in days to come.
Militant groups in India's Northeast have also created linkages with other insurgent groupings in India, most prominently the CPI-Maoist. The CPI-Maoist has already signed an agreement with the PLA of Manipur.
Sources also indicate that the ULFA-ATF was imparting arms training to Maoist cadres in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh. An MHA internal note warned of a new 'Red Terror Corridor' along the Assam-Arunachal border, and indicated that the Maoists had started making extortion demands on local villagers in this area. In a March 14, 2012, report, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) confirmed that the CPI-Maoist was making inroads into Northeastern states. Reports also indicate that PLA cadres had travelled to Jharkhand to provide weapons' training to Maoist recruits there.
The most significant, potentially destabilizing, externalities, however, include accelerating foreign interventions in the region, particularly by China and Pakistan. Pakistan has, of course, supported insurgencies in India's Northeast since the commencement of the first Naga insurgency in 1951, providing insurgent groups safe-haven and support in what was then East Pakistan. After the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, this support became difficult for a brief period, till the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in August 1975 restored certain pro-Pakistan element to influence in Bangladesh. Over time, a strong alliance was built up between Pakistan's ISI and Bangladesh's Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and full support was restored to Northeast Indian insurgent groups, through Bangladeshi soil, in operations jointly controlled by these agencies. On March 14, 2012, former ISI Chief Asad Durrani admitted, before a three-member bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, that the notorious agency had continuously intervened to support the insurgencies in India's Northeast.
Intelligence agency cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, however, went into a gradual decline under the interim military-backed government between 2006 and 2008, and finally terminated under the Sheikh Hasina government, with the arrest, hand over, or expulsion of most Northeast insurgent leaders and cadres, over the past three years.
With the loss of Bangladesh as a staging ground, the ISI has now shifted its strategy. Intelligence sources indicate that the ISI has sought to extend its support to insurgent groupings in India's hinterland - implying efforts to establish links with the Maoists - and to deepen its engagement with groups such as Paresh Baruah's ULFA-ATF and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). The KLO is now believed to have emerged as one of the principal weapons' suppliers to the Maoists, in turn, sourcing its own supplies from ULFA-ATF.
A January 11, 2012, news report cited intelligence sources to claim that the ISI 'recently' spent over Rs 200 million towards supplying arms to militant outfits in Assam, and through these, to the Maoists. Stockpiles of sophisticated weapons were transferred in two installments through the Kalishara area of Bangladesh, and handed over to militant outfits of the Northeast. Separately, between April and November 2011, the Tripura-based NLFT received a consignment of weapons in the Pheni (Feni) area on the Indo-Bangladesh border; the NDFB-RD received weapons at the border near Sylhet; the Garo rebel outfit GNLA collected its consignment at the Sherpur border area; the ULFA-ATF at the Haluwaghat border area; the NSCN-IM at Moulavibazar; the KLO at the Charonmola and Maheshkhali border areas. The handing over of weapons is reported to have been supervised by ISI agent G.K. Choudhury.
Earlier, on August 9, 2011, Shasadhar Choudhury, 'foreign secretary' ULFA-PTF had disclosed, "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." Media reports of January 9, 2010, cited a 'senior Bangladesh Minister' to allege that former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf had a secret meeting with jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia during a visit to Dhaka, when the then Premier, Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was in power.
With the loss of Bangladeshi safe havens, several of the surviving insurgent formations in the Northeast have moved into, or increased their presence in, Myanmar. ULFA-ATF, headed by Paresh Baruah, is reported to be located in the Taga Area in Myanmar, in close contact with the leaders of the Manipur-based groups, as well as with the Khaplang faction of NSCN (NSCN-K). The 'commander-in-chief' of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB-ATF, I.K. Sangbijit, along with several hardcore members of the outfit, are also believed to have moved closer to the Taga area.
On November 22, 2011, the central government formally confirmed that several militant outfits of India's Northeast, including ULFA-ATF, NDFB-ATF, and both the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K had established camps in the Sagaing Region, and states of Chin and Kachin, in Myanmar.
The shutting down of Bangladeshi safe havens for India's Northeastern insurgents has pushed the surviving groups together in their last foreign refuge in Myanmar, ready for picking by the Chinese. While the Chinese role in mobilizing these elements in an anti-India strategy remains shadowy, it is given substance by patterns of the flow of small arms into India.
Several Manipur-based militant formations, including the PLA, UNLF, PREPAK and KYKL, have arrived at a mutual understanding to seek Chinese support.
Crucially, the CPI-Maoist has made no secret of its objective of extending the "people's war throughout the country", and plans to fill up the emerging vacuum in the Northeast have long been afoot. These efforts have gained greater momentum because of the Maoists' search for a reliable source of weaponry. The Northeast rebel groupings offer access to smuggling routes through Myanmar and Bangladesh, and a new flood of Chinese small arms appears to have been released into the region. News reports indicate that intelligence sources, in September 2011, noted, "ULFA's Paresh Baruah faction recently received a huge cache of arms from China and there were serious apprehensions in the intelligence and security establishments that the outfit may sell these weapons to the Maoist. as ULFA has struck an alliance and has assured them of a steady supply of arms and ammunition."
Official sources also indicated that "ISI and PLA are in touch and supplying Maoists with arms. They are supposedly using China as the alternative route."
There has been a steady procurement of arms by Northeast militants from China over the years, especially from its Yunan Province, through the India-Myanmar border. This arms supply is propelled by a major modernization drive in the Chinese Army, resulting in the release of vast quantities of old weapons, some of which are being offloaded to arms dealers in the grey market. Weapons, including AK series and M-15 rifles, LMGs, and ammunition, discarded by the Chinese Army, are good enough for militant groups. The managers of Chinese state-owned weapons' establishments are reportedly involved in this clandestine arms supply. According to February 21, 2010, news report, nearly 80 per cent of weapons seized or recovered from militants in the Northeast in recent years have the 'star' mark, indicating Chinese manufacture, on them. In an analysis of the Asian weapons black market, Jane's Intelligence Review observes that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) rebel group in Myanmar acts as the "middleman" between Chinese arms manufacturers and insurgent groups in India's Northeast, with most weapons routed through China's Yunnan province.
Some quantities of weapons' supplies to militants in the Northeast are also being sourced from various other countries. A number of weapons recovered from the ultras in recent times were of German, Italian and Israeli manufacture. These were also brought into India mostly through Myanmar, and it is believed that Dimapur has become a hub for transaction of such weapons by the militant groups. Sources of weapons recovered in the Northeast have also been identified as including Pakistan, Belgium, Thailand, Russia, USA, UK, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar.
The involvement of Northeast militants with external agencies is visible in wide and variable indices. Growing linkages abroad, as well as between various insurgent groupings within the region, and with the Maoists, as well as the easy acquisition and inflow of arms into the region, give significant cause for concern, despite the declining indices of current violence.
According to the SATP database, Mizoram recorded a single fatality (civilian killed by the Assam-based UDLA) in 2011. No fatalities have yet been recorded in 2012. There were no fatalities in the state in 2010, and one in 2009.
The important militant groups with a presence in Mizoram include the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), which surrendered in 2005, and is currently in negotiations with the Mizoram government for the repatriation of Bru refugees, currently housed in camps in Tripura; and the Hmar People's Convention-Democracy (HPC-D), which entered into a Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the government on November 11, 2010 for six months. The SoO expired on May 11, 2011, and was not extended by the Mizoram government on the grounds that the HPC-D was violating SoO ground rules. The HPC-D continues to demand the formation of separate Hmar Territorial Council in the north eastern part of the state. Peace talks with the outfit were supposed to start in January 2011. However, the government has refused to resume talks on the grounds that HPC-D has involved a foreigner, a US citizen (Rochunga Pudaite), as interlocutor.
There is no major indigenous insurgency in Arunachal Pradesh, though an 'overflow' from neighbouring Nagaland has resulted in regular fatalities in this state as well. According to SATP data, the state recorded 41 fatalities during the year 2011, up from none in 2010. All 41 fatalities were militants. The state recorded three major incidence of killing during the year. There were no militancy-related fatalities in the state in 2010, while 2009 had recorded nine militant fatalities.
Arunachal Pradesh has already recorded two (militant) fatalities in 2012. Significant groups operating in the state include the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K, as well as the Arunachal Naga Liberation Front (ANLF), which was formed in May 2010. The ANLF, however, formally merged with NSCN-K on June 19, 2011.
The broad positive trends in the security environment in India's Northeast are, however, tainted by a number of emerging factors, including a number of crucial and potentially disruptive 'externalities'. For one, an Intelligence Bureau (IB) note reportedly indicates that the idea of a Strategic United Front, designed to bring a number of terrorist groups in the Northeast and in Jammu & Kashmir under a single umbrella, has been chalked out by China, to launch what has been described as 'synergised attacks in India'. The Manipur-based People's Liberation Army (PLA) has elaborated this vision of evolving a 'Strong United Front', along with CPI-Maoist and Kashmiri militants, backed by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and China. The PLA has claimed that the 'United Front' so formed had been promised 'Chinese support', but only after the militant conglomerate had secured cadre strength of 'over 30,000'. The PLA also declared that it would extend support to Myanmar's insurgent groups in days to come.
Militant groups in India's Northeast have also created linkages with other insurgent groupings in India, most prominently the CPI-Maoist. The CPI-Maoist has already signed an agreement with the PLA of Manipur.
Sources also indicate that the ULFA-ATF was imparting arms training to Maoist cadres in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh. An MHA internal note warned of a new 'Red Terror Corridor' along the Assam-Arunachal border, and indicated that the Maoists had started making extortion demands on local villagers in this area. In a March 14, 2012, report, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) confirmed that the CPI-Maoist was making inroads into Northeastern states. Reports also indicate that PLA cadres had travelled to Jharkhand to provide weapons' training to Maoist recruits there.
The most significant, potentially destabilizing, externalities, however, include accelerating foreign interventions in the region, particularly by China and Pakistan. Pakistan has, of course, supported insurgencies in India's Northeast since the commencement of the first Naga insurgency in 1951, providing insurgent groups safe-haven and support in what was then East Pakistan. After the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, this support became difficult for a brief period, till the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in August 1975 restored certain pro-Pakistan element to influence in Bangladesh. Over time, a strong alliance was built up between Pakistan's ISI and Bangladesh's Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), and full support was restored to Northeast Indian insurgent groups, through Bangladeshi soil, in operations jointly controlled by these agencies. On March 14, 2012, former ISI Chief Asad Durrani admitted, before a three-member bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, that the notorious agency had continuously intervened to support the insurgencies in India's Northeast.
Intelligence agency cooperation between Pakistan and Bangladesh, however, went into a gradual decline under the interim military-backed government between 2006 and 2008, and finally terminated under the Sheikh Hasina government, with the arrest, hand over, or expulsion of most Northeast insurgent leaders and cadres, over the past three years.
With the loss of Bangladesh as a staging ground, the ISI has now shifted its strategy. Intelligence sources indicate that the ISI has sought to extend its support to insurgent groupings in India's hinterland - implying efforts to establish links with the Maoists - and to deepen its engagement with groups such as Paresh Baruah's ULFA-ATF and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). The KLO is now believed to have emerged as one of the principal weapons' suppliers to the Maoists, in turn, sourcing its own supplies from ULFA-ATF.
A January 11, 2012, news report cited intelligence sources to claim that the ISI 'recently' spent over Rs 200 million towards supplying arms to militant outfits in Assam, and through these, to the Maoists. Stockpiles of sophisticated weapons were transferred in two installments through the Kalishara area of Bangladesh, and handed over to militant outfits of the Northeast. Separately, between April and November 2011, the Tripura-based NLFT received a consignment of weapons in the Pheni (Feni) area on the Indo-Bangladesh border; the NDFB-RD received weapons at the border near Sylhet; the Garo rebel outfit GNLA collected its consignment at the Sherpur border area; the ULFA-ATF at the Haluwaghat border area; the NSCN-IM at Moulavibazar; the KLO at the Charonmola and Maheshkhali border areas. The handing over of weapons is reported to have been supervised by ISI agent G.K. Choudhury.
Earlier, on August 9, 2011, Shasadhar Choudhury, 'foreign secretary' ULFA-PTF had disclosed, "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." Media reports of January 9, 2010, cited a 'senior Bangladesh Minister' to allege that former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf had a secret meeting with jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia during a visit to Dhaka, when the then Premier, Khaleda Zia of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was in power.
With the loss of Bangladeshi safe havens, several of the surviving insurgent formations in the Northeast have moved into, or increased their presence in, Myanmar. ULFA-ATF, headed by Paresh Baruah, is reported to be located in the Taga Area in Myanmar, in close contact with the leaders of the Manipur-based groups, as well as with the Khaplang faction of NSCN (NSCN-K). The 'commander-in-chief' of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB-ATF, I.K. Sangbijit, along with several hardcore members of the outfit, are also believed to have moved closer to the Taga area.
On November 22, 2011, the central government formally confirmed that several militant outfits of India's Northeast, including ULFA-ATF, NDFB-ATF, and both the NSCN-IM and NSCN-K had established camps in the Sagaing Region, and states of Chin and Kachin, in Myanmar.
The shutting down of Bangladeshi safe havens for India's Northeastern insurgents has pushed the surviving groups together in their last foreign refuge in Myanmar, ready for picking by the Chinese. While the Chinese role in mobilizing these elements in an anti-India strategy remains shadowy, it is given substance by patterns of the flow of small arms into India.
Several Manipur-based militant formations, including the PLA, UNLF, PREPAK and KYKL, have arrived at a mutual understanding to seek Chinese support.
Crucially, the CPI-Maoist has made no secret of its objective of extending the "people's war throughout the country", and plans to fill up the emerging vacuum in the Northeast have long been afoot. These efforts have gained greater momentum because of the Maoists' search for a reliable source of weaponry. The Northeast rebel groupings offer access to smuggling routes through Myanmar and Bangladesh, and a new flood of Chinese small arms appears to have been released into the region. News reports indicate that intelligence sources, in September 2011, noted, "ULFA's Paresh Baruah faction recently received a huge cache of arms from China and there were serious apprehensions in the intelligence and security establishments that the outfit may sell these weapons to the Maoist. as ULFA has struck an alliance and has assured them of a steady supply of arms and ammunition."
Official sources also indicated that "ISI and PLA are in touch and supplying Maoists with arms. They are supposedly using China as the alternative route."
There has been a steady procurement of arms by Northeast militants from China over the years, especially from its Yunan Province, through the India-Myanmar border. This arms supply is propelled by a major modernization drive in the Chinese Army, resulting in the release of vast quantities of old weapons, some of which are being offloaded to arms dealers in the grey market. Weapons, including AK series and M-15 rifles, LMGs, and ammunition, discarded by the Chinese Army, are good enough for militant groups. The managers of Chinese state-owned weapons' establishments are reportedly involved in this clandestine arms supply. According to February 21, 2010, news report, nearly 80 per cent of weapons seized or recovered from militants in the Northeast in recent years have the 'star' mark, indicating Chinese manufacture, on them. In an analysis of the Asian weapons black market, Jane's Intelligence Review observes that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) rebel group in Myanmar acts as the "middleman" between Chinese arms manufacturers and insurgent groups in India's Northeast, with most weapons routed through China's Yunnan province.
Some quantities of weapons' supplies to militants in the Northeast are also being sourced from various other countries. A number of weapons recovered from the ultras in recent times were of German, Italian and Israeli manufacture. These were also brought into India mostly through Myanmar, and it is believed that Dimapur has become a hub for transaction of such weapons by the militant groups. Sources of weapons recovered in the Northeast have also been identified as including Pakistan, Belgium, Thailand, Russia, USA, UK, Czechoslovakia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar.
The involvement of Northeast militants with external agencies is visible in wide and variable indices. Growing linkages abroad, as well as between various insurgent groupings within the region, and with the Maoists, as well as the easy acquisition and inflow of arms into the region, give significant cause for concern, despite the declining indices of current violence.
Ajai
Sahni is Editor, SAIR; Executive Director, Institute for Conflict Management
& SATP
Heavy firing between security forces and GNLA ultras
Shillong, Mar 29 : Heavy exchange of firing took
place between security forces and the Garo hills National
Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in remote coal-belt area of
West Khasi Hills district today, police said.
Acting on a tip off about the presence of GNLA ultras,
Meghalaya's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandoes
rushed to Nongjri-Borsora area this morning, they said.
However, on their way to Diengiei village, police
intercepted presence of around 10-15 GNLA cadre on a hillock.
On seeing the police teams, the militants fired as
the police personnel retaliated.
While no casualty was reported from either side,
police intensified search operations in the area.
The incident took place as police stepped up search
operations in coal belt area of West Khasi Hills based on
inputs of GNLA militants serving demand notes and threatening
businessmen.
Deemed as a terror organisation in January this year,
the GNLA is actively involved in crimes in three Garo Hills
districts and in parts of West Khasi Hills district.
United Tribal Liberation Army cadres lay down arms in Manipur
IMPHAL: Fifty-two 'military wing' cadres of the United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) who had recently signed a suspension of operation (Soo) pact with the government came forward before chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh during a 'home coming' ceremony at the headquarters Red Shield division of the army at Leimakhong near Imphal on Tuesday.
The cadres laid down 42 sophisticated weapons, including nine that were 'looted' by them during a raid on IRB post at Chekra Cham in south Assam on November 13, 2009, in front of the government. On October 27, 2012 around 43 cadres of the same outfit declared a Soo in a homecoming ceremony in Imphal.
The chief minister, home minister Gaikhangam, GOC Red Shied Division Maj Gen Binoy Poonnen, deputy GOC of the division, and Manipur DGP R Baral presented gifts to the 52 cadres. Welcoming them, Ibobi Singh described the development as another step towards peace. Appealing to all other underground groups to denounce violence, the CM lauded the efforts of the Red Shied Division and was satisfied with the peace initiative taken by the GOC. "The homecoming shows that peace is not very far from the state," Ibobi said.
The GOC praised the cadres for their courage and wisdom in choosing to become responsible citizens of the state.
The cadres laid down 42 sophisticated weapons, including nine that were 'looted' by them during a raid on IRB post at Chekra Cham in south Assam on November 13, 2009, in front of the government. On October 27, 2012 around 43 cadres of the same outfit declared a Soo in a homecoming ceremony in Imphal.
The chief minister, home minister Gaikhangam, GOC Red Shied Division Maj Gen Binoy Poonnen, deputy GOC of the division, and Manipur DGP R Baral presented gifts to the 52 cadres. Welcoming them, Ibobi Singh described the development as another step towards peace. Appealing to all other underground groups to denounce violence, the CM lauded the efforts of the Red Shied Division and was satisfied with the peace initiative taken by the GOC. "The homecoming shows that peace is not very far from the state," Ibobi said.
The GOC praised the cadres for their courage and wisdom in choosing to become responsible citizens of the state.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
52 militants surrender in Manipur
Mar 28 : Fifty-two militants belonging to Manipur-based outfit United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA) surrendered at an official function in Imphal Tuesday.
The cadres of the outfit laid down their arms and ammunition at a function before Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. The function was attended by top brass of the Manipur Police.
"It is a good sign that so many militants have decided to come overground today. Insurgency and law and order condition is one of the biggest challenges of my government and we are committed to ensure lasting peace in the state," said Ibobi Singh.
"We have already taken up the issue of insurgency seriously and some more militant outfits are likely to come over ground very soon," he said. The chief minister, however, did not divulge the names of the outfits.
The tiny northeastern states is one of the worst insurgency hit states in the region with over 30 militant outfits, belonging to various ethnic groups operating in the state.
Sources, however, informed that over 15 militant outfits in Manipur have signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the state and central government a few days ago.
While the UTLA militants formally surrendered and laid down their arms Tuesday, the rest of the groups are likely to follow suit, the sources said, adding that the government will send the surrendered militants to their designated camps.
"However, the government is also going to monitor the surrendered militants closely to ensure that there is no violation of ground rules like extortion," the sources informed.
The cadres of the outfit laid down their arms and ammunition at a function before Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. The function was attended by top brass of the Manipur Police.
"It is a good sign that so many militants have decided to come overground today. Insurgency and law and order condition is one of the biggest challenges of my government and we are committed to ensure lasting peace in the state," said Ibobi Singh.
"We have already taken up the issue of insurgency seriously and some more militant outfits are likely to come over ground very soon," he said. The chief minister, however, did not divulge the names of the outfits.
The tiny northeastern states is one of the worst insurgency hit states in the region with over 30 militant outfits, belonging to various ethnic groups operating in the state.
Sources, however, informed that over 15 militant outfits in Manipur have signed a Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the state and central government a few days ago.
While the UTLA militants formally surrendered and laid down their arms Tuesday, the rest of the groups are likely to follow suit, the sources said, adding that the government will send the surrendered militants to their designated camps.
"However, the government is also going to monitor the surrendered militants closely to ensure that there is no violation of ground rules like extortion," the sources informed.
Illegal arms seized in Assam, three arrested
Guwahati: Security forces in Assam have seized arms
and ammunition and arrested three people in two separate incidents
today, officials said.
While the first incident took place under Sootea police station in Sonitpur district, the second incident took place at Kamakhya railway station in Guwahati.
In the first incident, a joint team of Assam Rifles and army arrested
two people and recovered two .303 rifles, 61 rounds of live ammunition,
three silencers, an IED and a detonator from their possession early
today at Bhoroiguri.
An amount of Rs 4 lakh was also recovered from their possession.
The two arrested men were identified as Hazrat Ali and Rafikul Ali, sources said adding that interrogation is on to find whether they belong to any militant outfit.
The two were later handed over to Sonitpur police.
In the other incident, the Government Railway Police (GRP) at the railway station arrested Shiv Kumar from a New Delhi-bound train today afternoon and recovered two home-made pistols from his possession.
Sources in the GRP said Kumar was on his way to Bihar and that he bought the two pistols from a man called Amar in Guwahati for Rs 15,000 each.
“Shiv Kumar has confessed that he has been ferrying arms to Bihar for last three months from Guwahati. We are trying to get some details about Amar,” the sources said adding that arrest of Amar is likely to expose the arms smuggling racket in Guwahati.
While the first incident took place under Sootea police station in Sonitpur district, the second incident took place at Kamakhya railway station in Guwahati.
On alert. Reuters
An amount of Rs 4 lakh was also recovered from their possession.
The two arrested men were identified as Hazrat Ali and Rafikul Ali, sources said adding that interrogation is on to find whether they belong to any militant outfit.
The two were later handed over to Sonitpur police.
In the other incident, the Government Railway Police (GRP) at the railway station arrested Shiv Kumar from a New Delhi-bound train today afternoon and recovered two home-made pistols from his possession.
Sources in the GRP said Kumar was on his way to Bihar and that he bought the two pistols from a man called Amar in Guwahati for Rs 15,000 each.
“Shiv Kumar has confessed that he has been ferrying arms to Bihar for last three months from Guwahati. We are trying to get some details about Amar,” the sources said adding that arrest of Amar is likely to expose the arms smuggling racket in Guwahati.
Monday, March 26, 2012
ULFA slams army's missile programme in Assam, Nagaland
Guwahati, Mar 27 : The banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Monday slammed the central government's proposed plan to base the Akash and Brahmos missile regiments in Assam and Nagaland and said the move has threatened the existence of the people of Assam and northeast as a whole.
'The people of Assam are being 'sandwiched' between the Indo-China conflict by the government of India and we appeal to them to stop this design to destroy the culture and heritage of Assamese people,' said ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah alias Paresh Asom in an e-mailed statement.
The ULFA chief also cited the example of the 1962 Chinese aggression and said that India has always used Assam as its shield. 'When the Indian army escaped from Assam due to aggression of Chinese forces in 1962, the Chinese also backtracked respecting the right to life of the people of Assam,' he said, addding there is no conflict between Assam and China.
'The main reason of Indo-China conflict is Arunachal Pradesh. However, the government of India has chosen Assam for establishing the base for the missiles programmes. The missile bases are bound to be targeted by Red China and in that case Assam will have to bear the brunt of nuclear explosion,' he said.
'A retired Indian army chief V.P. Malik had recently admitted that India does not have the capability to win a war with China and so Indians will escape Assam-like in 1962 in case of any attack by China. The Indian army had already inducted fighters Sukhoi-30MKIs at Tezpur and Chabua in Assam. These are not good signs for Assam,' he said and appealed to the people of Assam to take a strong stand against 'this conspiracy of the government of India'.
'This is high time for the people of Assam and northeast to think and act against the evil designs of the government of India otherwise it would be difficult to save our future generations from nuclear explosion and radiation.'
'The people of Assam are being 'sandwiched' between the Indo-China conflict by the government of India and we appeal to them to stop this design to destroy the culture and heritage of Assamese people,' said ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah alias Paresh Asom in an e-mailed statement.
The ULFA chief also cited the example of the 1962 Chinese aggression and said that India has always used Assam as its shield. 'When the Indian army escaped from Assam due to aggression of Chinese forces in 1962, the Chinese also backtracked respecting the right to life of the people of Assam,' he said, addding there is no conflict between Assam and China.
'The main reason of Indo-China conflict is Arunachal Pradesh. However, the government of India has chosen Assam for establishing the base for the missiles programmes. The missile bases are bound to be targeted by Red China and in that case Assam will have to bear the brunt of nuclear explosion,' he said.
'A retired Indian army chief V.P. Malik had recently admitted that India does not have the capability to win a war with China and so Indians will escape Assam-like in 1962 in case of any attack by China. The Indian army had already inducted fighters Sukhoi-30MKIs at Tezpur and Chabua in Assam. These are not good signs for Assam,' he said and appealed to the people of Assam to take a strong stand against 'this conspiracy of the government of India'.
'This is high time for the people of Assam and northeast to think and act against the evil designs of the government of India otherwise it would be difficult to save our future generations from nuclear explosion and radiation.'
UNLF warns sex offenders
The United National Liberation Front (UNLF), a
proscribed underground organisation, has announced that it will start
giving capital punishment to those convicted of rape and other sex
offenders. It had killed a few alleged sex offenders in the 1990s.
However, for unexplained reasons it suspended the campaign.
There
has been a spurt in sex-related crimes in Manipur. Even mentally and
physically challenged girls and infants have been raped.
The
UNLF took umbrage at the gang rape of a tribal woman by four IRB
personnel in Bishnupur district recently. Police have arrested all the
accused.
The UNLF said all four would be given the death sentence.
However,
they could present their case to the outfit in order to exculpate
themselves if they proved that they had not committed the crime.
Meanwhile,
another outfit, the Revolutionary People's Front, in a statement said
most sex crimes were committed by security personnel.
In the past, all underground organisations had joined the campaign to kill sex offenders.
Two GNLA insurgents held in Meghalaya
Security forces in Meghalaya arrested two insurgents including a woman, belonging to the Garo Hills-based Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in West Garo Hills, the police said on Monday. The duo, identified as Vishal Hajong and Balsri M Marak, were apprehended during a joint operation between the BSF and the police last evening from Barengpara village under Dalu police station.
The police alleged that the two had gone to Bangladesh to procure arms for the outfit.
A 9 mm pistol, a magazine with four ammunition, mobile phones and Bangladeshi SIM cards were seized from their possession, the sources said.
While Balrsi is believed to be a close aide of GNLA 'C-in-C' Sohan D Shira, Vishal was actively involved in Ampati area of West Garo Hills district.
Deemed as a terror outfit in January, the GNLA is actively involved in activities like killing, kidnapping and abducting businessmen in Garo Hills region for the past two years.
The police alleged that the two had gone to Bangladesh to procure arms for the outfit.
A 9 mm pistol, a magazine with four ammunition, mobile phones and Bangladeshi SIM cards were seized from their possession, the sources said.
While Balrsi is believed to be a close aide of GNLA 'C-in-C' Sohan D Shira, Vishal was actively involved in Ampati area of West Garo Hills district.
Deemed as a terror outfit in January, the GNLA is actively involved in activities like killing, kidnapping and abducting businessmen in Garo Hills region for the past two years.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
'Naga rebels backing non-Dimasa outfits'
GUWAHATI: The growing subversive activity of Nagaland-based militants in the Dima Hasao district has become the major hurdle for the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAC), which is eyeing a facelift in tourism.
The council, which is all set to get its first commercial chopper service on Saturday, asked the government to take stern steps to check the Nagaland-based outfits from causing disturbance in the hill district. The Rudra GTL Aviation Pvt Ltd is to start its chopper services to Dima Hasao district for the first time on Saturday. The service will be available on a regular basis from Monday.
Sources said the Khaplang faction of NSCN is extending military support to some non-Dimasa outfits like Hill Tiger Force (HTF), who are demanding bifurcation of Dima Hasao into two separate autonomous councils.
"We are now trying to tap the tourism industry to its fullest in the council. The first chopper service is a major step. But, there are some groups backed by militants from neighbouring states who are trying to create obstacles for us," said Debojeet Thaosen, chief executive member of DHAC.
"Insurgency is almost on the verge of extinction in the district, but these groups will not let it die so soon. These outfits only want to create panic amongst the people and they are now outsourcing small groups. The government must do something about it," he added.
A police officer said that apart from HTF, Dimasa National Revolutionary Front (DNRF) is also getting support from NSCN factions. "Since the major Dimasa outfits of DHD Nunisa and Jewel factions are engaged in peace talks, both faction of NSCN are trying to stir trouble in the hill district through some local groups. They have launched a massive extortion drive here," said the police officer.
The council, which is all set to get its first commercial chopper service on Saturday, asked the government to take stern steps to check the Nagaland-based outfits from causing disturbance in the hill district. The Rudra GTL Aviation Pvt Ltd is to start its chopper services to Dima Hasao district for the first time on Saturday. The service will be available on a regular basis from Monday.
Sources said the Khaplang faction of NSCN is extending military support to some non-Dimasa outfits like Hill Tiger Force (HTF), who are demanding bifurcation of Dima Hasao into two separate autonomous councils.
"We are now trying to tap the tourism industry to its fullest in the council. The first chopper service is a major step. But, there are some groups backed by militants from neighbouring states who are trying to create obstacles for us," said Debojeet Thaosen, chief executive member of DHAC.
"Insurgency is almost on the verge of extinction in the district, but these groups will not let it die so soon. These outfits only want to create panic amongst the people and they are now outsourcing small groups. The government must do something about it," he added.
A police officer said that apart from HTF, Dimasa National Revolutionary Front (DNRF) is also getting support from NSCN factions. "Since the major Dimasa outfits of DHD Nunisa and Jewel factions are engaged in peace talks, both faction of NSCN are trying to stir trouble in the hill district through some local groups. They have launched a massive extortion drive here," said the police officer.
NE ultras changing arms routes
GUWAHATI, Mar 26 – With the improvement of relation between India and Bangladesh, the militant groups have changed their routes to bring in weapons and explosives to the North East region of India. The militant groups of the region do not have any shortage of weapons but they are facing shortage of ammunition, highly-placed security sources said.
Sources told The Assam Tribune that the militant groups have stopped bringing in weapons through Bangladesh and most of the weapons are now brought into the region through Myanmar where most of the militant groups of the region have their strong bases. The weapons are brought through different routes along the India-Myanmar border and though Mizoram is now one of the most peaceful states, the militants are also bringing in weapons through that state. In recent times, Dimapur has become one of the hubs for transactions for weapons, sources added.
The militant groups of the region including the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) now have abundance of weapons including sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, etc. and most of the weapons are manufactured in China. In recent times, some weapons manufactured in European countries were also recovered from militants, but there are reasons to believe that those were, in fact, manufactured in China and only the stamps of European countries were put on the same.
The Government of India took up the issue with China on several occasions but the Chinese authorities always denied the same.
Sources said that the militant groups are facing shortage of ammunition for the weapons and that fact came to light during interception of communication of the militant leaders on several occasions.
The militant groups also have explosive materials and in this regard also, the militant groups have started changing their tactics. Sources said that the militant groups including the hardline faction of the ULFA managed to procure remote controlled improvised explosive devices manufactured in China. But those bombs were found to be unreliable after several failed attacks and the ultras have started manufacturing IEDs themselves by procuring explosives from different sources.
On a number of occasions, RDX was used but the fact remains that RDX is manufactured in Pakistan and China and not in India. But the possibility of pilferage of other explosives like the TNT from the stone queries and construction project sites cannot be ruled out.
The militant groups have also managed to bring in number of grenades and the communication intercepts also proved the fact, sources said.
Sources told The Assam Tribune that the militant groups have stopped bringing in weapons through Bangladesh and most of the weapons are now brought into the region through Myanmar where most of the militant groups of the region have their strong bases. The weapons are brought through different routes along the India-Myanmar border and though Mizoram is now one of the most peaceful states, the militants are also bringing in weapons through that state. In recent times, Dimapur has become one of the hubs for transactions for weapons, sources added.
The militant groups of the region including the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) now have abundance of weapons including sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, etc. and most of the weapons are manufactured in China. In recent times, some weapons manufactured in European countries were also recovered from militants, but there are reasons to believe that those were, in fact, manufactured in China and only the stamps of European countries were put on the same.
The Government of India took up the issue with China on several occasions but the Chinese authorities always denied the same.
Sources said that the militant groups are facing shortage of ammunition for the weapons and that fact came to light during interception of communication of the militant leaders on several occasions.
The militant groups also have explosive materials and in this regard also, the militant groups have started changing their tactics. Sources said that the militant groups including the hardline faction of the ULFA managed to procure remote controlled improvised explosive devices manufactured in China. But those bombs were found to be unreliable after several failed attacks and the ultras have started manufacturing IEDs themselves by procuring explosives from different sources.
On a number of occasions, RDX was used but the fact remains that RDX is manufactured in Pakistan and China and not in India. But the possibility of pilferage of other explosives like the TNT from the stone queries and construction project sites cannot be ruled out.
The militant groups have also managed to bring in number of grenades and the communication intercepts also proved the fact, sources said.
Two Kuki groups to sign pact with govt
IMPHAL: Giving a fillip to the government's frequent bids to resolve the insurgency problem, two Kuki militant groups - United Tribal Liberation Army (Utla) and Pakan Reunification Army (PRA) operating in Manipur - have come forward to sign the Suspension of Operation (SOO) with the government.
Altogether 19 Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur under two apex bodies and a valley based-group have already signed SOO, a tripartite agreement with the state and central government.
Utla and PRA will sign the agreement at the banquet hall of 1st BN Manipur Rifles in the heart of Imphal on Saturday morning , an official said. He added that joint secretary (Home) for northeast Sambhu Singh is already in the state capital to take stock of the development.
Shambu Singh, who discussed the matter with senior official of the state government, will append his signature on the Soo agreement on behalf of the Centre, a source added. UTLA is based in Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam, while Moreh town in Chandel district bordering Myanamr is PRA's stronghold.
On October 27 last year, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, felicitated a large number of Utla cadres, including its president and general secretary, in a formal 'home coming' ceremony at 1st BN Manipur Rifles.
In his address to the assembly a few days ago, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said the tripartite agreement with KCP (MC) Lallumba group, the first "valley -based" militant group to enter into agreement , was renewed for another year to facilitate rehabilitation of cadres.
The SOO agreement with Kuki groups under Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) was also renewed for one more year, the governor said. He added that approximately 1500 cadres of these outfits have shifted to 11 designated camps.
Security forces have acknowledged improvement in law and order in the five hill districts following signing of the agreement in 2009 and meetings of the joint monitoring group are held frequently to ensure that Soo groups abide by the agreed ground rules, he added.
Altogether 19 Kuki militant groups operating in Manipur under two apex bodies and a valley based-group have already signed SOO, a tripartite agreement with the state and central government.
Utla and PRA will sign the agreement at the banquet hall of 1st BN Manipur Rifles in the heart of Imphal on Saturday morning , an official said. He added that joint secretary (Home) for northeast Sambhu Singh is already in the state capital to take stock of the development.
Shambu Singh, who discussed the matter with senior official of the state government, will append his signature on the Soo agreement on behalf of the Centre, a source added. UTLA is based in Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam, while Moreh town in Chandel district bordering Myanamr is PRA's stronghold.
On October 27 last year, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, felicitated a large number of Utla cadres, including its president and general secretary, in a formal 'home coming' ceremony at 1st BN Manipur Rifles.
In his address to the assembly a few days ago, Governor Gurbachan Jagat said the tripartite agreement with KCP (MC) Lallumba group, the first "valley -based" militant group to enter into agreement , was renewed for another year to facilitate rehabilitation of cadres.
The SOO agreement with Kuki groups under Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF) was also renewed for one more year, the governor said. He added that approximately 1500 cadres of these outfits have shifted to 11 designated camps.
Security forces have acknowledged improvement in law and order in the five hill districts following signing of the agreement in 2009 and meetings of the joint monitoring group are held frequently to ensure that Soo groups abide by the agreed ground rules, he added.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Hope for pact with Nunisa
New Delhi, Mar 23 : The Centre may finally strike a deal with the Dima Halam Daoga (Nunisa) before Rongali Bihu, on April 14, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said today.
“Nothing has been finalised yet but we may have something before Bihu,” he said after a meeting on various issues with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today.
Negotiation is stuck over the outfit’s chief Dilip Nunisa’s insistence that over 90 Dimasa-majority villages should be included in Dima Hasao district. These villages are currently part of Nagaon and Cachar districts.
To this, the state government has not agreed.
“We are ready for give and take but have not heard from the government,” Nunisa told The Telegraph.
It may be some time before the destination is reached as Nunisa is sulking over difficulty in meeting Gogoi in Dispur.
“It is easy to meet the home minister in Delhi but to meet the chief minister in Guwahati is like meeting Barack Obama,” Nunisa said over phone.
A delegation of DHD leaders met interlocutor P.C. Haldar on February 21 in Delhi but things have not been moving since.
For three months, Nunisa complained, he had applied for an appointment with Gogoi but there was no reply from the CMO.
The Centre feels that the relationship between the state and a militant outfit in a peace pact should be cordial.
The realisation came after the Karbi outfit, the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), was disappointed as it was not given a fair chance by the state Congress to contest the Karbi Anglong territorial council elections.
The UPDS later announced that it might abrogate the tripartite Memorandum of Settlement it had recently signed.
“Nothing has been finalised yet but we may have something before Bihu,” he said after a meeting on various issues with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today.
Negotiation is stuck over the outfit’s chief Dilip Nunisa’s insistence that over 90 Dimasa-majority villages should be included in Dima Hasao district. These villages are currently part of Nagaon and Cachar districts.
To this, the state government has not agreed.
“We are ready for give and take but have not heard from the government,” Nunisa told The Telegraph.
It may be some time before the destination is reached as Nunisa is sulking over difficulty in meeting Gogoi in Dispur.
“It is easy to meet the home minister in Delhi but to meet the chief minister in Guwahati is like meeting Barack Obama,” Nunisa said over phone.
A delegation of DHD leaders met interlocutor P.C. Haldar on February 21 in Delhi but things have not been moving since.
For three months, Nunisa complained, he had applied for an appointment with Gogoi but there was no reply from the CMO.
The Centre feels that the relationship between the state and a militant outfit in a peace pact should be cordial.
The realisation came after the Karbi outfit, the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), was disappointed as it was not given a fair chance by the state Congress to contest the Karbi Anglong territorial council elections.
The UPDS later announced that it might abrogate the tripartite Memorandum of Settlement it had recently signed.
China 'warns' India with border drill
NEW DELHI\BEIJING: China is back to flexing its muscles close to the Indian border. The People's Liberation Army has conducted a major "live fire" exercise, testing its multi-role J-10 fighters armed with laser-guided and other bombs, in the high-altitude Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Chinese official media on Thursday described the exercise as "the first operation of its kind" on the 3,500-metre high plateau, which saw the fighter jets being fuelled and loaded with bombs for ground attack missions during sub-zero temperatures.
The rare publicity given to the exercise comes at a time when China is getting ready for a change of guard, including the election of a new president and secretary general of the Communist Party.
It's also meant as a strong signal to India, which has belatedly taken to strategically counter China's massive build-up of military infrastructure all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control over the last two decades.
This is, of course, not the first time PLA has undertaken combat exercises in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), having tested its Sukhoi-27UBK and Sukhoi-30MKK fighters as well as rapid reaction forces and airborne corps there over the last two-three years.
But China-watchers in the Indian defence establishment say the latest exercise, with fighters conducting both day and night sorties, seems to be "several rungs higher" than the ones conducted in the past. It comes barely five months after another major PLA exercise, involving air force, tanks and artillery, was held in the region.
"China usually deploys fighters in TAR only during summers from March onwards because of the thin air and tough operating conditions there. But last year for the first time, PLA kept the J-10 jets deployed at Gongar (Lhasa) throughout the winter," said a senior officer.
China, apart from nuclear missile bases in Qinghai province that unmistakably target India, has built five fully operational airbases at Gongar, Pangta, Linchi, Hoping and Gar Gunsa, an extensive rail network and over 58,000-km of roads in TAR.
This makes it possible for PLA to move around 30 divisions (each with over 15,000 soldiers) to the LAC within 30 days to outnumber Indian forces by at least three-is-to-one. The Chengdu military region and the PLA airbases in TAR are mainly tasked for an anti-India role, as earlier reported by TOI.
India, in turn, has based its most potent fighters Sukhoi-30MKIs, which can go deep into China, at Tezpur and Chabua in Assam, apart from planning to deploy six C-130J "Super Hercules" strategic airlift aircraft in the eastern sector.
"We have a slight advantage over China in the sense that its TAR airbases are located at an average height of 10,000 to 12,000-feet. This restricts the weapon loads their Sukhois and J-10s can carry. PLA Air Force, of course, is almost triple our size" said an IAF officer.
India is also now upgrading eastern sector ALGs (advanced landing grounds) like Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro and Vijaynagar as well as several helipads in Arunachal Pradesh. This comes after the reactivation of western sector ALGs like Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyama in eastern Ladakh.
Moreover, Army is now planning a mountain strike corps (70,000 soldiers) after raising two new mountain infantry divisions, with 1,260 officers and 35,011 soldiers, in Assam and Nagaland. There are also plans to base Akash and BrahMos missile regiments in the North-East for conventional deterrence against China.
Chinese official media on Thursday described the exercise as "the first operation of its kind" on the 3,500-metre high plateau, which saw the fighter jets being fuelled and loaded with bombs for ground attack missions during sub-zero temperatures.
The rare publicity given to the exercise comes at a time when China is getting ready for a change of guard, including the election of a new president and secretary general of the Communist Party.
It's also meant as a strong signal to India, which has belatedly taken to strategically counter China's massive build-up of military infrastructure all along the 4,057-km Line of Actual Control over the last two decades.
This is, of course, not the first time PLA has undertaken combat exercises in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), having tested its Sukhoi-27UBK and Sukhoi-30MKK fighters as well as rapid reaction forces and airborne corps there over the last two-three years.
But China-watchers in the Indian defence establishment say the latest exercise, with fighters conducting both day and night sorties, seems to be "several rungs higher" than the ones conducted in the past. It comes barely five months after another major PLA exercise, involving air force, tanks and artillery, was held in the region.
"China usually deploys fighters in TAR only during summers from March onwards because of the thin air and tough operating conditions there. But last year for the first time, PLA kept the J-10 jets deployed at Gongar (Lhasa) throughout the winter," said a senior officer.
China, apart from nuclear missile bases in Qinghai province that unmistakably target India, has built five fully operational airbases at Gongar, Pangta, Linchi, Hoping and Gar Gunsa, an extensive rail network and over 58,000-km of roads in TAR.
This makes it possible for PLA to move around 30 divisions (each with over 15,000 soldiers) to the LAC within 30 days to outnumber Indian forces by at least three-is-to-one. The Chengdu military region and the PLA airbases in TAR are mainly tasked for an anti-India role, as earlier reported by TOI.
India, in turn, has based its most potent fighters Sukhoi-30MKIs, which can go deep into China, at Tezpur and Chabua in Assam, apart from planning to deploy six C-130J "Super Hercules" strategic airlift aircraft in the eastern sector.
"We have a slight advantage over China in the sense that its TAR airbases are located at an average height of 10,000 to 12,000-feet. This restricts the weapon loads their Sukhois and J-10s can carry. PLA Air Force, of course, is almost triple our size" said an IAF officer.
India is also now upgrading eastern sector ALGs (advanced landing grounds) like Pasighat, Mechuka, Walong, Tuting, Ziro and Vijaynagar as well as several helipads in Arunachal Pradesh. This comes after the reactivation of western sector ALGs like Daulat Beg Oldi, Fukche and Nyama in eastern Ladakh.
Moreover, Army is now planning a mountain strike corps (70,000 soldiers) after raising two new mountain infantry divisions, with 1,260 officers and 35,011 soldiers, in Assam and Nagaland. There are also plans to base Akash and BrahMos missile regiments in the North-East for conventional deterrence against China.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Kuki rebels reject agreement
Imphal, Mar 15 : The Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) has rejected the suspension of operation agreement signed by 18 Kuki rebel groups with the government as an attempt by the Centre to suppress their struggle.
In a statement issued here today in connection with the March 6 foundation day of the outfit, KNLF chairman Palen Kuki said, “The agreement has created divisions among communities and weakened the unity of the people.” The fourth foundation day of KNLF and its armed wing, Kuki Peoples Army, was held at the group’s tactical headquarters in Chandel district.
He said KNLF and KPA were founded on March 6, 2008, to protect Kukis’ land from India and also to unify the community. “KNLF and its armed wing will never compromise on Kuki nationalism. India’s policy to sign the agreement with the 18 Kuki groups has diluted the Kuki revolutionary spirit,” he added.
The KNLF was founded after the tripartite agreement was signed in 2005 by the Manipur government, the Centre and 18 Kuki armed groups.
In a statement issued here today in connection with the March 6 foundation day of the outfit, KNLF chairman Palen Kuki said, “The agreement has created divisions among communities and weakened the unity of the people.” The fourth foundation day of KNLF and its armed wing, Kuki Peoples Army, was held at the group’s tactical headquarters in Chandel district.
He said KNLF and KPA were founded on March 6, 2008, to protect Kukis’ land from India and also to unify the community. “KNLF and its armed wing will never compromise on Kuki nationalism. India’s policy to sign the agreement with the 18 Kuki groups has diluted the Kuki revolutionary spirit,” he added.
The KNLF was founded after the tripartite agreement was signed in 2005 by the Manipur government, the Centre and 18 Kuki armed groups.
Don't link us with Maoists: NGOs
NGOs working in the North-Eastern states have expressed concern about recent comments by a section of officials in the centre and various states alleging links between civil society groups and Maoists.
About 60 NGOs from the North East states, who concluded a two-day long deliberation
in Guwahati on Wednesday, said such "blanket designation" would harm social activities undertaken by them.
"Now that most of the separatist groups in the North East have come overground to hold talks, the government has found a new bogey and that is to see a collusion between NGOs and Maoists in all incidents, whether it is anti-dam agitations or protests against extra-judicial killings," Ravindra Nath, Director of Assam-based NGO Rural Volunteer Centre said.
The NGOs said they would do their "utmost" to put their "own houses in order" and expected the government to desist from making such allegations.
Participants at the two-day event also criticised the Assam government for alleging that NGOs working in the state are funded by Maoists.
"The government has to understand that support to locals against dams or against nuclear power plants, as in Tamil Nadu, do not mean we are against development. What we urge is that the government evaluate all pros and cons while undertaking such projects," Supreme Court Commissioner on Food Security Sunil Kaul said.
Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) senior fellow K K Subramanian said there is a need to link national security with the security of individuals.
"In states like Manipur, security forces are engaged in extrajudicial killings. In such cases, it is the NGOs and civil society groups who take up the cases of victims. But that does not mean that NGOs are fighting the government," he said.
According to the participants, both the government and the civil society groups should work together for narrowing down their differences.
About 60 NGOs from the North East states, who concluded a two-day long deliberation
in Guwahati on Wednesday, said such "blanket designation" would harm social activities undertaken by them.
"Now that most of the separatist groups in the North East have come overground to hold talks, the government has found a new bogey and that is to see a collusion between NGOs and Maoists in all incidents, whether it is anti-dam agitations or protests against extra-judicial killings," Ravindra Nath, Director of Assam-based NGO Rural Volunteer Centre said.
The NGOs said they would do their "utmost" to put their "own houses in order" and expected the government to desist from making such allegations.
Participants at the two-day event also criticised the Assam government for alleging that NGOs working in the state are funded by Maoists.
"The government has to understand that support to locals against dams or against nuclear power plants, as in Tamil Nadu, do not mean we are against development. What we urge is that the government evaluate all pros and cons while undertaking such projects," Supreme Court Commissioner on Food Security Sunil Kaul said.
Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) senior fellow K K Subramanian said there is a need to link national security with the security of individuals.
"In states like Manipur, security forces are engaged in extrajudicial killings. In such cases, it is the NGOs and civil society groups who take up the cases of victims. But that does not mean that NGOs are fighting the government," he said.
According to the participants, both the government and the civil society groups should work together for narrowing down their differences.
Centre alerts Assam about ULFA plan to strike
New Delhi: The Home Ministry on Wednesday sounded a high alert and asked the Assam government to tighten security in the state in view of ULFA's 'army day' on Friday.
Based on specific intelligence inputs, the Centre directed the state to deploy additional security personnel in all sensitive installations, crowded places, markets, railway stations and tracks to foil any attempt by the extremists to disrupt peace.
Sources said that the inputs suggested that the anti-talk faction of ULFA led by Paresh Baruah has been able to dispatch some explosive materials into Assam with the aim to carry out subversive activities ahead of or during the 'army day', observed on March 16 every year.
Guwahati, being the main the city of Assam, is always high on the target list of the ULFA hardliners and several deadly attacks were carried out by the insurgents in the recent past, sources said.
ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Baruah is opposed to any peace negotiation with the government and has vowed to continue his fight for a 'sovereign' Assam. The faction led by 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa has entered into dialogue process to solve their decades-long insurgency problem.
Based on specific intelligence inputs, the Centre directed the state to deploy additional security personnel in all sensitive installations, crowded places, markets, railway stations and tracks to foil any attempt by the extremists to disrupt peace.
Sources said that the inputs suggested that the anti-talk faction of ULFA led by Paresh Baruah has been able to dispatch some explosive materials into Assam with the aim to carry out subversive activities ahead of or during the 'army day', observed on March 16 every year.
Guwahati, being the main the city of Assam, is always high on the target list of the ULFA hardliners and several deadly attacks were carried out by the insurgents in the recent past, sources said.
ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Baruah is opposed to any peace negotiation with the government and has vowed to continue his fight for a 'sovereign' Assam. The faction led by 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa has entered into dialogue process to solve their decades-long insurgency problem.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Bru militant killed in Tripura encounter
AGARTALA, Mar 12 – An insurgent of outlawed Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) was killed in an encounter with police at Asharambari in North Tripura district, police said here on Sunday.
While the rest of the BNLF group managed to escape from the scene, one Assistant Sub-Inspector was injured in the encounter.
Based on specific information about the presence of militants, SDPO Sudip Paul along with a strong contingent of jawans moved out for a special operation on Saturday.
Around 4 pm, insurgents opened fire at the police team at Asharambari in Kanchanpur subdivision, close to Ashapra Bru refugee camp.
In retaliation, security forces also started firing that led to a fierce gun battle. However, in the face of well-coordinated firing the BNLF insurgents suddenly disappeared from the scene.
During search, police recovered a bullet-riddled body of a militant from the encounter site. Two country-made guns were also found there. The identity of the slain militant is yet to be established.
Superintendent of Police Bijoy Nag along with additional forces rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation to nab the fleeing militants.
Sources said, the BNLF militant had demanded Rs 10 lakh from a well-known contractor Babul Barua who was awarded a contract work amounting to Rs 7 crore.
As the outfit insisted for early payment, the contractor had informed police about the extortion notice served on him. After receiving specific information, police carried out the special operation and achieved a major success.
While the rest of the BNLF group managed to escape from the scene, one Assistant Sub-Inspector was injured in the encounter.
Based on specific information about the presence of militants, SDPO Sudip Paul along with a strong contingent of jawans moved out for a special operation on Saturday.
Around 4 pm, insurgents opened fire at the police team at Asharambari in Kanchanpur subdivision, close to Ashapra Bru refugee camp.
In retaliation, security forces also started firing that led to a fierce gun battle. However, in the face of well-coordinated firing the BNLF insurgents suddenly disappeared from the scene.
During search, police recovered a bullet-riddled body of a militant from the encounter site. Two country-made guns were also found there. The identity of the slain militant is yet to be established.
Superintendent of Police Bijoy Nag along with additional forces rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation to nab the fleeing militants.
Sources said, the BNLF militant had demanded Rs 10 lakh from a well-known contractor Babul Barua who was awarded a contract work amounting to Rs 7 crore.
As the outfit insisted for early payment, the contractor had informed police about the extortion notice served on him. After receiving specific information, police carried out the special operation and achieved a major success.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Chargesheet against UNLF
PANKAJ SARMA
Guwahati, Mar 7 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary chargesheet in a case registered against the Manipur-based militant group United National Liberation Front (UNLF) at the NIA special court here today.
Official sources said six persons have been named in the chargesheet.
“Three of the accused against whom the supplementary chargesheet was filed today are absconding while the remaining three are currently in judicial custody,” a source said.
Three of those chargesheeted — Y. Brojobidhu Singh, N. Bomi Singh, A. Ibomcha Singh — were lodged in Guwahati Central Jail following their arrest from Manipur in January this year.
These three were office-bearers of a registered society called the Association for Extensive Growers Innovative Service (AEGIS) in Manipur, where the UNLF had allegedly invested the money they had extorted from individuals and business houses.
The three absconding accused against whom the chargesheet was filed today are N. Nardip Singh alias Thabal, C.H. Tanil alias Nabachandra and L. Iwanthaba alias Nanao Singh.
The source said Thabal, who is the general secretary of the UNLF, is hiding somewhere in Nepal.
“According to intelligence inputs, Nabachandra, who was the staff officer of UNLF chairman R.K. Meghen, is now in Bangladesh,” he said.
The source said Nanao Singh was arrested here earlier in connection with a case registered at Panbazar police station but he went into hiding after jumping bail. “He is believed to have fled to Myanmar,” he added.
The NIA had filed the first chargesheet in this case on February 14, 2011 against 19 persons, including Meghen.
The NIA had taken over the case (number 10/10), which was initially registered by Assam police at Noonmati police station here, following an order from the Union home ministry in September 2010.
The UNLF is one of the oldest and most dreaded insurgent outfits of Manipur. Formed in 1964 to fight for the state’s liberation from India, the group is estimated to have 5,000 cadres.
“The NIA had filed its first chargesheet on February 14, 2011, before the completion of its investigation with whatever evidence it had in hand to ensure that the court does not grant bail to the accused persons on the ground that the investigation agency had failed to file the chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days,” the source said.
“After filing the first chargesheet, the NIA continued its investigation and filed the supplementary chargesheet today, which will further consolidate the case. More substantiating evidence has been included in the supplementary chargesheet against the illegal and anti-national activities being carried out by the UNLF,” he added.
Guwahati, Mar 7 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary chargesheet in a case registered against the Manipur-based militant group United National Liberation Front (UNLF) at the NIA special court here today.
Official sources said six persons have been named in the chargesheet.
“Three of the accused against whom the supplementary chargesheet was filed today are absconding while the remaining three are currently in judicial custody,” a source said.
Three of those chargesheeted — Y. Brojobidhu Singh, N. Bomi Singh, A. Ibomcha Singh — were lodged in Guwahati Central Jail following their arrest from Manipur in January this year.
These three were office-bearers of a registered society called the Association for Extensive Growers Innovative Service (AEGIS) in Manipur, where the UNLF had allegedly invested the money they had extorted from individuals and business houses.
The three absconding accused against whom the chargesheet was filed today are N. Nardip Singh alias Thabal, C.H. Tanil alias Nabachandra and L. Iwanthaba alias Nanao Singh.
The source said Thabal, who is the general secretary of the UNLF, is hiding somewhere in Nepal.
“According to intelligence inputs, Nabachandra, who was the staff officer of UNLF chairman R.K. Meghen, is now in Bangladesh,” he said.
The source said Nanao Singh was arrested here earlier in connection with a case registered at Panbazar police station but he went into hiding after jumping bail. “He is believed to have fled to Myanmar,” he added.
The NIA had filed the first chargesheet in this case on February 14, 2011 against 19 persons, including Meghen.
The NIA had taken over the case (number 10/10), which was initially registered by Assam police at Noonmati police station here, following an order from the Union home ministry in September 2010.
The UNLF is one of the oldest and most dreaded insurgent outfits of Manipur. Formed in 1964 to fight for the state’s liberation from India, the group is estimated to have 5,000 cadres.
“The NIA had filed its first chargesheet on February 14, 2011, before the completion of its investigation with whatever evidence it had in hand to ensure that the court does not grant bail to the accused persons on the ground that the investigation agency had failed to file the chargesheet within the stipulated 90 days,” the source said.
“After filing the first chargesheet, the NIA continued its investigation and filed the supplementary chargesheet today, which will further consolidate the case. More substantiating evidence has been included in the supplementary chargesheet against the illegal and anti-national activities being carried out by the UNLF,” he added.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Assam: Forest officers kidnapped, search begins
Karbi Anglong: Six
armed militants on Saturday abducted the Chief Conservator of Forests
and a ranger in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. According to sources, a demand of Rs 2 crore in ransom and been made for the release of the officers. The militants are suspected to be members of the Karbi People Liberation Tigers.
Meanwhile, a massive search operation has been initiated in the region to trace the whereabouts of the forest officers.
Militants kidnap two supporters of Manipur poll candidate
Imphal: Suspected militants kidnapped two supporters of a poll candidate in Manipur's Chandel district bordering with Myanmar, official reports from the district said on Saturday.
Reports said the militants abducted the two who were supporters of Independent candidate Olis while they were trying to fill petrol at a petrol pump yesterday at Chandel area.
Olis is contesting from Chandel assembly constituency and it was not exactly known who had kidnapped his supporters along with the vehicle, the reports said.
Election office sources said today there would be repoll at 67 polling stations in all the five hill districts of Manipur tomorrow and there are about 13 polling stations in Chandel assembly constituency where there would be repoll.
Reports said the militants abducted the two who were supporters of Independent candidate Olis while they were trying to fill petrol at a petrol pump yesterday at Chandel area.
Olis is contesting from Chandel assembly constituency and it was not exactly known who had kidnapped his supporters along with the vehicle, the reports said.
Election office sources said today there would be repoll at 67 polling stations in all the five hill districts of Manipur tomorrow and there are about 13 polling stations in Chandel assembly constituency where there would be repoll.
Friday, March 2, 2012
GNLA rebels, forces exchange fire in Meghalaya
Shillong : There was fierce exchange of fire Friday between security
forces and the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) that ended in the
guerrillas retreating into the forests in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills
district, police said.
The gunfight lasted for about an hour. Though there were no casualties on the security forces' side, police are yet to confirm if any of the rebels were injured.
The exchange of fire took place at 6.30 a.m. in Arengdo village bordering Assam's Goalpara district when security forces came under fire from GNLA rebels in hiding.
"The encounter lasted for an hour and the militants retreated back to the jungles after intensive firing from security forces," J.F.K. Marak, district police chief of East Garo Hills, told IANS.
One pistol, detonators and incriminating documents was recovered from the site.
Acting on a tip-off, security forces had launched a combing operation in the area since Thursday night.
"The combing operation will continue in the area to flush them out," Marak said.
The GNLA, which is headed by police officer-turned-outlaw Champion R. Sangma, is fighting for a Garoland in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills to be carved out of Meghalaya.
The GNLA, which has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operating in East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, has been declared a terrorist outfit.
Over 30 people, including security personnel, have been killed while more than 10 people were abducted for ransom by GNLA rebels in the last one year. In the past two months alone, 10 people were killed by GNLA.
The gunfight lasted for about an hour. Though there were no casualties on the security forces' side, police are yet to confirm if any of the rebels were injured.
The exchange of fire took place at 6.30 a.m. in Arengdo village bordering Assam's Goalpara district when security forces came under fire from GNLA rebels in hiding.
"The encounter lasted for an hour and the militants retreated back to the jungles after intensive firing from security forces," J.F.K. Marak, district police chief of East Garo Hills, told IANS.
One pistol, detonators and incriminating documents was recovered from the site.
Acting on a tip-off, security forces had launched a combing operation in the area since Thursday night.
"The combing operation will continue in the area to flush them out," Marak said.
The GNLA, which is headed by police officer-turned-outlaw Champion R. Sangma, is fighting for a Garoland in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills to be carved out of Meghalaya.
The GNLA, which has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operating in East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, has been declared a terrorist outfit.
Over 30 people, including security personnel, have been killed while more than 10 people were abducted for ransom by GNLA rebels in the last one year. In the past two months alone, 10 people were killed by GNLA.
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