Northeast insurgent groups using Myanmar as safe sanctury:Govt

New Delhi, Aug 29 : Insurgent groups like ULFA and NSCN-K have been using Myanmar as safe sanctury and have set up bases there, despite that country's repeated assurances not to allow its territory for activities inimical to India, Government said today. Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran told Lok Sabha that Manipur based Meiti insurgent groups like People's Liberation Army, United National Liberation Front, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak; Naga insurgent group like NSCN-K and ULFA (anti-talk faction) and NDFB have their camps and hideouts in Myanmar Naga Hills. He said the presence of insurgent groups in Myanmar has been the single most important security issue for India at every bilateral negotiations between India and Myanmar. "Myanmar has always been assuring India that they will not allow their soil to be used by these groups to carry out activities inimical to India's

"These groups continue to use Myanmar territory notwithstanding Myanmar's repeated assurances not to allow its territory for activities inimical to India," he said. Replying to another question, Ramachandran said there were reports that the ULFA (anti talk faction) continues to consolidate organisationally and strengthen its military capability for carrying out violent activities in different parts of Assam, with a view to maintain its dominance as well as create fear psychosis to facilitate extortion. "State government has been advised to alert the security forces to control the activities of ULFA," he said.

5 United Tribal Liberation Army militants surrender to Assam Rifles

SILCHAR: Five militants belonging to the Manipur-based outfit United Tribal Liberation Army (Utla - SK Thadou group) surrendered to the Jiribam-based Assam Rifles' (AR) battalion under the aegis of the Haflong-based AR sector headquarters recently. They were motivated by the AR troops to shun violence and join the national mainstream.

The five cadres surrendered in presence of the commander of the Haflong-based Assam Rifles sector, a senior official of Assam Rifles said on Tuesday.

The surrendered cadres have been identified as self-styled commander-in-chief Manglien Singson alias Bonny, 'Major' Kalsem Singson alias Romance, 'Second Lt' Ketkai, 'Private' Haobem Singson alias Laden and 'Private' Chungkholem Chongloi alias Raju. These cadres surrendered with one 7.62mm bolt action rifle, one single-barrel rifle, one 9mm carbine and two 9mm pistols besides ammunition.

Utla (SK Thadou group) was formed after its cadres defected from Utla (Robert Singson group), which is under a suspension of operation (SoO) in Manipur since March 2012. Manipur 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.

Ulfa warns non-Assamese in Assam

GUWAHATI: The Ulfa Sunday warned of attacks on "Indians" in Assam if "atrocities" on Assamese people did not halt in other parts of the country.

A statement signed by its elusive chief Paresh Baruah alleged that 14 Assamese youth had been killed in "mainland India".

"The atrocities on Assamese ... must be stopped immediately, failing which we will be forced to take necessary action on Indians living here," said the statement.

The statement also warned India-based Muslim groups against spreading communal hatred in Assam.

It charged All India United Democratic Front chief Badaruddin Ajmal with spreading communal hatred by saying Muslims were being killed in Assam.

The Ulfa statement follows ethnic violence in Assam and the consequent flight of thousands of Assamese from places like Bangalore and Pune due to mysterious telephonic threats.

Manipur Govt unhappy with thin attendance at SoO camps

IMPHAL, Aug 27 : The Manipur government has expressed reservations on the absence of satisfactory number of cadres in the designated camps of SoO groups specially the Kuki groups and of violations of ground rules.

It may be recalled here that the government had extended the Suspension of Operations with several Kuki militant groups for three months recently.

It may be mentioned that the Suspension of Operations between the Army and the several Kuki militants coming under United People’s Front and the Kuki National Organization had been in force since August 1, while the formalization of the Suspension of Operations between the Centre, state and the Kuki militants to cease hostilities was from August 22, 2008.

The SoO has been extended on a regular basis since then with a tripartite talk held at the national capital on August 16, 2011 agreeing to sign the fourth extension for another period.

It is also learnt that the state government had invited comments from various agencies and the MHA.

Sources informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs had expressed that due to rampant SoO violations, the centre agrees for further extension of the SoO for a three month under the condition of 100 percent attendance at the designated camps.

It is also learnt that the state police had also expressed that the number of violations of ground rules of the Suspension of Operation has been affecting the credibility of the SoO arrangement and may affect the maintenance of law and order.

The state police had also put forth the need of fresh strategies for bringing the process to a logical end and for the JMG to deal more seriously with the groups in terms of SoO violations.

CRPF had recommended the extension of the SoO citing that the extension has reduced cases of killing, abduction/kidnappings in Kuki dominated areas and that the public is already feeling the relief, while the Assam Rifles had also recommended its extension while mentioning that in the last one year, there has been significant reduction in the number of violent cases in the state.

The AR had also commented that the Kuki groups are adhering to SoO ground rules to a large extent.

The AR however added an addendum, that there should be a mechanism in the agreement which imposes suitable penalty in case of violation of ground rules.

Sources also informed that the Army had recommended a fresh look at the existing arrangement and necessity for the future considering the SoO violations, poor presence of cadres in designated camps, misuse of weapons meant for camp protection among others, while the BSF had expressed that the SoO has contributed positively towards the society and recommended extension of the SoO for a year.

Following the several comments, the state government had deduced that the presence of cadres during the monthly joint inspections is not satisfactory except for a few and that there are reports on violations of the ground rules by the groups.

The extension of the SoO was agreed upon after due consideration of the several comments, the source added.

Meghen, Daimary produced in court

GUWAHATI: United National Liberation Front (UNLF) chairman Raj Kumar Meghen was produced at NIA special court here on Thursday. The court will deliver the charge order on the Manipuri rebel leader on September 6, said his counsel M Gunedhor Singh.

The NIA had already filed chargesheets against Meghen and 17 other leaders of UNLF for waging war against the Indian Union. Meghen alias Sanayaima was arrested by NIA on November 30, 2010, from Motihari in Bihar near the India-Nepal border.

But his arrest had become a huge controversy in Manipur when the media first broke the news about his arrest in Dhaka on September 29, 2010, by Bangladesh intelligence agencies. Meghen, later, claimed he was arrested in Dhaka and kept in 'secret detention' for two-months in Bangladesh and finally shown 'arrested' in Bihar. The 66-year-old rebel leader is a scion of the Manipuri royal family and is now lodged at the Guwahati Central Jail.

On the other hand, NDFB (Ranjan faction) chief Ranjan Daimary was also produced in a TADA court here on Thursday but the hearing could not take place. A new judge has joined the TADA court, but could not take up the matter today, said Manas Sarania, the counsel of Daimary. He added that the next hearing on the case will take place on September 15.

Both Meghen and Daimary are now lodged at Guwahati Central Jail.

Replying to a question by the media on the unilateral ceasefire by his group, Daimary said, "We are in ceasefire and right now there is no question of withdrawing it." He called the ongoing talks of his outfit with former IB chief P C Haldar as fruitful and moving towards the right direction. Haldar has been appointed as the Centre's interlocutor for holding talks with the Ranjan faction of NDFB.

The NDFB (Ranjan) has its presence in Myanmar and is sharing camps with the anti-talks faction of Ulfa and NSCN (Khaplang). The NDFB (Ranjan) declared unilateral truce in August, 2011, after its chairman Ranjan Daimary was arrested by security agencies in Bangladesh. The Ranjan faction was involved in the 2008 serial blasts in the state where over 90 people were killed. The CBI has named Daimary and many other leaders of the outfit as accused in the serial blasts case.

Insurgents Outfits Trying to Rebuild Base in Tripura: DGP

The outlawed insurgent outfits in Tripura were trying to rebuild their base ahead of the state assembly elections due in February next, state Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Sinha said today.

"We have information that the ultras are preparing to launch subversive activities ahead of the assembly elections but the state police was ready to face any kind of eventuality," Sinha said while unveiling a memorial of policemen killed by separatists in 2002 at Hirapur, about 30 km from here.

20 Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans were killed by banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants on Aug 20, 2002.

The ultras should not consider that the state government is weak, he said.

The DGP also urged the ultras to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream and involve themselves with the developmental works in the state rather than trying to motivate the innocent tribal youths to join their outfits for illegal works.

Bangla not to allow NE outfits to operate

IMPHAL, Aug 20 – The Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Mahbub Hassan Saleh said his country will not allow North East based militants to operate in Bangladesh soil.

“No entity will be allowed (to operate) in the Bangladesh soil,” said the Deputy High Commissioner while speaking to media persons on the sideline of the two-day International conference here at Manipur University yesterday. “The Bangladesh Prime Minister has not only spoken about it, but she has demonstrated it in action”, he claimed.

“We all know and can see the result and I think – I don’t need to elaborate on it…and this will remain as policy of the government,” added the Bangladesh official who attended the conference held under the theme “India and her neighbours: Reverting relation with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Maldives” here.

Reacting to a question on illegal migration, the visiting foreign diplomat said, “Migration took place historically in the past and of course, look at the history…as far as I’m concern there is no illegal migration taking place now.”

When sought his comment on the present situation in India’s Northeastern States due to report of illegal migration, he termed it as an internal problem. He, however, expressed unhappiness over the violent activities.

Regarding the controversial Tipaimukh multi-purpose project which is planned to be developed in Manipur’s south western junction bordering Mizoram, the Bangladesh diplomat informed that both Bangladesh and India have decided to form a joint group which will be meeting soon with their technical experts to study the project.

Earlier, speaking at the conference, he said his country has taken up issues relating to water sharing, border security and border killing besides trade investment and security with the Indian authority.

Stating that Bangladesh always looks at India as an elder brother, not as a big brother, the visiting foreign diplomat also expressed the need to rectify the land boundary agreement between the two countries. He said his country has been seriously considering the water sharing issue with India as they have as many as 54 international rivers flowing down to their country. He also expressed the hope the ongoing conference will definitely help the neighbouring countries to understand each other’s problems.

Assam Rifles nab 2 Kuki National Army cadres, rescue kidnapped person

Two cadres of Kuki National Army (KNA), a signatory of the tripartite suspension of operation, who kidnapped a person for ransom, were apprehended by troops of Assam Rifles in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on August 14, said a police source Thursday.

The two KNA cadres, Lunkhosei Touthang (39) of Bijang and Th Haokip alias Alen (33) of D Phailen village, were nabbed from Bijang village of Churachandpur district along with one Md Atajuddin alias Manoj of Kwakta ward no. 2 who was kidnapped by them.

Atajuddin was a former cadre of People’s United Liberation Front who had surrendered to the government few years back and now leading a normal life. While handing over the two cadres to police, the troops alleged that the cadres kidnapped him on ransom demand.

One 9 mm pistol along with a magazine loaded with eight live rounds in it and a motor bike bearing registration no. MN-01Z/1145 was recovered from the cadres were been booked by the police under section 364-A/400 of IPC.

In another unrelated incident, police commandos attached with Thoubal district police arrested a KYKL activist identified as Khumanthem Raju alias Naobi @ Thanil (25) of Wangoo village during a counter insurgency operation at same village on August 15.

Hold talks with rebels, women's group tells Meghalaya

Shillong, Aug 17 : A prominent women's group in Meghalaya Thursday asked the government to accept an offer of talks of a militant organisation, which is fighting for a sovereign homeland in the state.

The Civil Society Women's Organisation (CSWO) urged the state government to accept the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council's (HNLC) offer for talks.

"The state government should take the opportunity to initiate talks between the central government and the HNLC. There is a chance for talks across the table with the HNLC, who have made their offer clear," CSWO chairperson Agnes Kharshiing said.

HNLC general secretary Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, who is hiding in Bangladesh for over two decades, recently said his outfit is ready to come to the negotiating table.

HNLC, which stages hit-and-run attacks from its hideouts in Bangladesh, seeks a sovereign Hynniewtrep homeland in eastern Meghalaya.

"Solutions should be thrashed out across the table and not through arms," Kharshiing said.

Thangkhiew vowed to continue HNLC's armed struggle if the government ignored the offer.

HNLC is closely linked to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland as well as the National Liberation Front of Tripura.

Blasts mar I-Day celebrations in Manipur

Iboyaima Laithangbam

• 
  PTI Security personnel along with bomb squad investigate at the site of explosion at Mahabali Temple in Imphal East on Wednesday
• 

Four powerful bombs exploded in Manipur, shortly before the start of the official Independence Day function here on Wednesday. The blasts occurred around 8 a.m. in Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal districts. Two persons sustained shrapnel injuries in Thoubal.

Though all major underground organisations gave a call for boycott of the function, including a “ban” on school and college students participating in the march past, there were 30 contingents at the event where Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh hoisted the tricolour on the I Manipur Rifles parade ground here.

Security measures were beefed up but life came to a standstill in Manipur with no vehicle plying on roads. Only those of the press and vehicles for essential services were seen, in small numbers.

Twenty personnel were honoured with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. But Mr. Singh fainted shortly after he started giving away the medals. His security guards came to his rescue, and he continued the distribution, seated. When he felt better, the Chief Minister began his speech. However, within minutes, he collapsed again and he was immediately taken to his residence where doctors attended to him.

Four injured in bomb blasts during I-Day celebrations in Manipur

IMPHAL: Four persons were injured when a series of bombs exploded in Manipur during Independence Day celebrations on Wednesday.

Official sources said the first explosion was reported from interior Thoubal district at a fair ground, near the district headquarters, at around 8am while arrangements were being made to celebrate the occasion.

Four persons, identified as Y Manao Singh (52), Sanabanta Das (22), Akoijam Ongbi Sanajaobi Devi (55) and Ningombam Manisam Devi (65) were injured and taken to a nearby district hospital.

Their condition was stated to be critical, the sources said.

3 militants gunned down in Garo Hills

SHILLONG, Aug 15 – Meghalaya police today defused a grenade planted underneath a flagpole of the banned Hyniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on the occasion of its 25th “Raising day.”

The incident occurred at Phot Ja-ud village in South West Khasi Hills, some 80 kms from here, after the outfit unfurled its flag and also attached the grenade. However, the police detected the strings attached near the flag pole and alerted the bomb squad stationed here at the State capital.

The bomb squad rushed to the spot and defused the grenade. “It could have killed many people, especially children if they played with the flag pole,” South West Khasi Hills District Superintendent of Police, Sylvester Nongtnger said.

The HNLC further placed a sign board at the site warning people not to pull down the flag or dismantle the signboard.

Police said that the flag was hoisted last night at about 1 am. The cadres of the outfit also fired three rounds from AK-47 rifles, as per account of the villagers in the area.

The HNLC together with six other militant organisations from the North East, including the ULFA, have called for a “general strike” from 1 am (Wednesday) to 5 pm, to boycott the Independence Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident three cadres of the newly floated Achik National United Front were gunned down by security forces in North Garo Hills district. One AK-47 rifle was recovered from the place of the incident.

Meanwhile, the district administration here has made elaborate arrangements for tomorrow’s Independence Day celebration to be held at the Polo Grounds.

The customary flag hoisting would be followed by a display of a “Giant Canvas” of the Meghalaya fine arts and craft society placed for the public to pen down their thoughts. Further, a public art demonstration, by the local artists and a football match between Meghalaya State Government officers and the media fraternity would round up the celebrations.

Myanmar Army yet to act against NE ultras

By R Dutta choudhury

GUWAHATI, Aug 14 – The hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and other active militant groups of the North East may feel safe in Myanmar at least for some time as the Government of that country signed a cease-fire agreement with the NSCN (K). Meanwhile, there have been reports of the hardline faction of the ULFA bringing in explosives to Assam on the eve of the Independence Day celebrations, which kept the police and security forces on their toes.

Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that the Government of Myanmar has not yet launched any offensive against the militants taking shelter in that country and so far only two deadlines were set for the militants to vacate the camps, both of which expired without any movement from the militant groups.

Sources said that the Government of Myanmar has also signed a cease-fire agreement with NSCN (K) at a time when majority of the militant groups including the ULFA and NDFB are maintaining their camps with the help of the Naga outfit. Sources said that according to information available with the Government of India, the Government of Myanmar is having problems with different groups in Kachin area and the Army of that country is not strong enough to open two fronts at the same time by launching an offensive against the militant groups of the North East.

The militant groups are also maintaining links with the lower level functionaries of the Myanmar army and they always get information about any movement of the Army. The Myanmar army is unlikely to catch the militants off guard by launching a surprise attack, sources pointed out.

Meanwhile, according to information available with the security forces, the hardline faction of the ULFA has a number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and most of those were made with TNT and not with high quality explosives like RDX. Sources revealed that according to information available, some amount of TNT was moved into India from Myanmar through the Khorsang area of Arunachal Pradesh recently. However, the ULFA does not have adequate number of trained manpower to plant explosives and the outfit has been trying to use linkmen and couriers to plant ready made IEDs.

However, sources said that the group headed by Drishti Rajkhowa is capable to trigger off explosions and the same group, which is moving around in Garo Hills area, has been given the responsibility of launching attack in Guwahati city, while, other small groups of the ultra groups have been asked to target upper Assam districts.

Centre, Meghalaya not keen on talks with GNLA

Shillong, Aug 13 : The Central government is not keen to hold talks with the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) on its demand for creation of a separate Garoland State in Meghalaya, a top Union Home Ministry official said on Friday.

"They (the rebels) are always welcome to come out and face trial for their criminal activities. But we are not keen to hold talks with them," Shambu Singh, Joint Secretary (Northeast) in the Home Ministry, told IANS over phone on Friday.

The Meghalaya government too is not in a hurry to accept GNLA's offer for peace talks made by its political secretary Bikdot Nikjang Marak Wednesday.

Marak has offered shun armed struggle if GNLA's demands for the creation of a Garo state within the Indian constitution was accepted.

"We are always willing to hold talks and solve issues peacefully. But GNLA must first disarm and stop its violent activities to create a favourable environment for talks," Meghalaya's Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said.

He also said that people of Meghalaya did not give their mandate to the GNLA to fight for a separate Garoland state. So the question of holding talks on the issue did not arise. "The public have not given its mandate to the GNLA to fight for a separate state. The government has not received any memorandum from the public on the demand for separate state," Lyngdoh said.

Shambu Singh, on the other hand, called GNLA's peace offer a "face-saving" measure after the arrest of its chief Champion R Sangma on July 30 near the India-Bangladesh border.

He said dividing Meghalaya further was not viable. "Meghalaya is already a small state with too many internal conflicts. I don't think further dividing Meghalaya is viable... If the Centre has not acceded to the creation of Telangana, Gorkhaland and Bodoland, do you think the government will give in to their (GNLA) demand for a separate Garoland?"

The GNLA, which has over 200 rebels in its fold, wants Garoland carved out of five impoverished districts of Garo Hills.

Over 35 people, including security personnel, were killed and more than 20 people were abducted by GNLA rebels in the last one year.

The Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), which is observing a tripartite ceasefire with the central and the state governments, has scaled down its demand for a Garoland state to an autonomous council, like the Bodoland Territorial Council.

The Hill State People's Democratic Party, an ally in the ruling Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government, too has been seeking a separate state for Khasi-Jaintia tribals since 1987.

Indian Rebels' Free Hand Strains Relations with Myanmar

Myanmar has asked rebels to move away from its borders with India, rather than cracking down hard on them.

NEW DELHI and TAMU - Despite India's repeated requests to act, Myanmar's government is still perceived by Indian officials as "going easy" on Indian separatists known to be operating out of Myanmar's northwestern fringes.

More than two months after promising tough action against separatist rebels based in its territory during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Myanmar, President Thein Sein's quasi-civilian government is yet to commence any sort of crackdown against the rebels, many of whom are known to be based in Myanmar's Sagaing Division and border towns like Tamu.
Indian officials raised the issue again during a visit to New Delhi in early August by Myanmar's chief of defense staff, General Ming Aung Hlaing. "We have got the usual assurance of action but we have to wait and see," said a senior Indian military official who requested anonymity.

Unlike Bhutan and Bangladesh, both of which have cracked down hard on northeast Indian rebel armies after years of pressure and persuasion from India, Myanmar has instead asked rebels to move to "safer locations" away from its borders with India, according to rebel sources.

Rebel leaders confirmed to this writer that Myanmar has not cracked down against their groups in and around Tamu, where many from India's troubled northeastern state of Manipur have run camps for more than two decades, and that fighters have been allowed to move to areas deeper inside the country.

One rebel leader from Manipur's United National Liberation Front (UNLF), who identified himself only as "NC", said all top leaders of his group have "moved out" of Tamu in the past few weeks. "I am also on my way out," he said recently, declining to disclose where he and other leaders of his group planned to relocate in Myanmar.
The rebel leader moved about freely and met this writer in a Tamu restaurant, not far away from a border checkpoint manned by a large number of Indian and Myanmar border guards.

Indian intelligence officials say they have received reports that many rebels are moving to locations along Myanmar's border with China. This writer, however, could not independently corroborate those claims. Another mid-ranking leader of Manipur's separatist People's Liberation Army (PLA), which enjoys close relations with India's Maoist rebels, said that "our boys have moved out" of the Tamu region.

"All our big leaders are gone and we are also pulling out soon," the PLA rebel said, requesting anonymity due to fear of reprisals "from the Indian side". "The Indian intelligence is monitoring us and Tamu is easy to enter from [the Indian border town of] Moreh because the border is open for locals," he said.

It took this writer and other Manipur-based journalists just a few minutes to receive a pass to visit Tamu from Moreh. The two border towns are separated by less than five kilometers and this writer was allowed to drive a private vehicle into Tamu. "No pictures please, leave your cameras behind," is all that the Myanmar border guards said, while searching the car at the check post that is now being upgraded for anticipated higher volumes of border trade.

Indian intelligence officials say that not only the UNLF and PLA but almost all other Manipur-based rebel groups have until now maintained camps around Tamu, a major border trade entrepot and infamous smuggling route for narcotics and weapons from Myanmar. There is also a robust trade in legitimate goods, ranging from Chinese cigarettes to Korean blankets to Burmese cheroots, at the Namphalong market in Myanmar that straddles the check post from Moreh into Tamu.

"The Manipur rebel groups have had several camps around Tamu and hundreds of their fighters were based there for several decades. Now they have been asked to move out but the [Myanmar] army has not attacked them or nabbed any of their leaders," said an Indian federal intelligence official based in Moreh in an interview.

He said that many of these rebel groups run powerful extortion rackets from Tamu and many powerful businessmen in Manipur often visit the town to negotiate payouts from the rebel chieftains, often over a pint of beer and salad in local restaurants like Waterworld.

"Now that racket may be somewhat affected," the intelligence official said. But more than two months after Singh's visit to Myanmar, there is hardly any sign of a crackdown on the Indian rebel groups that New Delhi has long requested, he said.

During Singh's official visit, Myanmar officials reiterated their commitment to not allow their soil to be used for any anti-Indian activities. Nonetheless, the Indian delegation pushed for more committed offensive actions against rebel groups and were assured such security sweeps would soon take place.

Indeed, Myanmar security officials have cracked down on Manipur-based rebel groups operating around Tamu only once in the last 15 years. Nearly 200 rebels, including some of the top leaders of UNLF and PLA, were arrested by Myanmar security forces in the winter of 1999-2000 - only to be let off without charge a few months later.

Indian intelligence officials claim that one-off crackdown took place because rebels had failed to pay off sufficiently Myanmar border guards and that once these were adequately compensated the rebels were freed. Indian diplomatic intervention, through the then-ambassador in Yangon, Vivek Katju, failed to achieve the handover or extradition of any suspects while they were in temporary detention.

As bilateral and commercial relations have recently warmed, India expects Myanmar's new reformist government to deploy its security forces against the northeast Indian rebels based in its territory. While Myanmar leaders in the capital make assurances that such a crackdown is imminent, inaction on the ground speaks to an apparent desire to maintain a buffer with Myanmar's giant western neighbor.

Notably, other neighboring countries have obliged India's requests. The small mountain kingdom of Bhutan used its army in an operation codenamed "All Clear" to uproot rebel bases in its territory in December 2003. Bangladesh has more recently nabbed separatist leaders and activists and quietly handed them over to India since the Awami League formed the government in Dhaka in January 2009. More than 100 separatists, including some of the believed top guns behind northeast India's long-running insurgency, have recently been handed over to India.

Despite rising diplomatic pressure, Myanmar has so far resisted such decisive military action. "Upper Myanmar is the last great regrouping zone for these rebels. They have nowhere else to go," said former Indian military intelligence official Retired Major General Gaganjit Singh. " If Myanmar is a friend, we want some definite action against these rebels."

Subir Bhaumik, a known specialist on Northeast India and Bangladesh, is a former BBC Correspondent

Three ATLA militants caught in Assam

Haflong: Three cadre of All Tribal Liberation Army (ATLA) were caught in a joint operation by the Army and police from Dima Hasao district of Assam, the police said on Thursday.

Suomthinglal Khelma, Soumchungthang Khelma, Suomroilal Khelma were picked up at Sangbar in Umrangso yesterday, the police said.

They were nabbed when security forces reached the area following a tip-off that the trio was in the area for extortion.

One 0.22 rifle and a pistol were recovered from them.

Police search newspapers premises after bomb threat

Imphal, Aug 8: Police today searched the premises of two vernacular dailies in Manipur's Imphal West district following an anonymous call that bombs were planted there, official sources said. Bomb squad personnel, commandos and police personnel searched the premises of the 'Naharolgi Thoudang' and 'Hueiyen Lanpao' after cordoning off the area, the sources said. Nothing, however, was found and the police were investigating where the call came from, they said. Home Minister Gaikhangam, who was informed about the development, instructed the police to look into the matter. The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) and editors of local dailies yesterday held a meeting condemning the threat by a particular militant outfit to journalists and editors if their press statements were not published in verbatim. "We have decided not to publish any statement of militant outfit which is not newsworthy and we will not work under any pressure from any quarter," an AMWJU spokesman said.

Trader shot dead, another kidnapped by militants in Meghalaya

Shillong, Aug 8 : An Assam-based trader was shot dead and another kidnapped by heavily armed militants at a marketplace in Meghalaya’s North Garo Hills district early today, official sources said. The 68-year old trader from Krishnoi in Assam was shot dead by four militants inside his shop at Rari bazaar near the Assam-Meghalaya border and another was kidnapped, they said. The sources said that the trader had received an extortion demand from the Garo Hills-based Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) which he did not pay.

Four injured in bomb blast in Manipur

Four people were injuries in a bomb blast at the residence of a Panchayat elections candidate on Monday night at Ghari in Imphal West.
 
Police said the bomb blast was triggered at the residence  of Wahengbam Brajabidhu at Ghari by some unidentified persons who came in a
car.
 
Four people who were in the courtyard of the house, were injured.
 
All the injured were rushed to RIMS and reported to be out of danger.
 
Minister of Social Welfare Ak Mirabai along with officials visited the hospital to meet the injured.
 
An investigation into the incident was on, police said  while suspecting that the bomb attack could be related to the ensuing panchayat elections.

Solution with single group unacceptable: NSCN

DIMAPUR, Aug 7 – The NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) today warned that an ‘exclusive and isolated political solution’ with a single group without the consent of the Nagas will have no political validity.

In a release, the NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) said it has been a silently observing the recent ‘brouhaha’ over alternative political arrangement, interim political body, present State Government’s position and so on.

While stating that the Alternative Political Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur is well deserved for which the NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) under the leadership of President Gen (Retd) Khole Konyak and Ato Kilonser N Kitovi Zhimomi has declared their solidarity with the Naga brethren in Manipur, it said such an alternative arrangement will not cover the present State of Nagaland or Naga areas in Assam or Arunachal Pradesh. It would be a violation of trust and support of Naga people if it extends beyond Naga areas in Manipur, it stated.

The outfit said the 60-year-old Indo-Naga political problem and its solution demands Naga people’s participation with clear vision and direction. “If the reported political solution between the Centre and NSCN-IM, is truly a cherished Naga sovereignty and independence, even an orphan whose parents were killed by NSCN-IM will nod in agreement and maybe live in peace,” it said. However, it maintained that an ‘exclusive and isolated political solution, terminating Naga aspiration, discarding all documented reconciliation process among the political groups in recent times, is a disturbing political step’. “None should attempt to decorate oneself with medals and trophies clearly knowing such political moves brought untold misery and suffering into Nagaland in the past,” it added.

In this regard, the release sought to remind the Government of India that a ‘solution with a single group will drive the Nagas away further because unapproved political documents in the past that insulted Naga history were outrightly rejected by the Nagas’. Solution to the Indo-Naga Political problem without the consent of the Nagas has no political validity, it stated.

The NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) also said it would be wise on the part of the Nagaland legislators to tell the Naga people if the noble assurance to step down from power is based on the principle of the Naga Concordant signed by top leaders of the three Naga political groups on Aug 26, 2011, under the aegis of the FNR.

But it said Naga legislators in Manipur should also follow the same example if Alternative Political Arrangement for Nagas in Manipur is achieved.

Militants lob grenade at a govt official's house

Imphal: Militants exploded a powerful grenade at the home of a senior Manipur government official in Imphal east district late last night.

The grenade exploded in the housing complex of deputy director of agriculture department, Ph. Rajendro at Kongpal area near here, at around 11 PM, officials said on Monday.

The official and his family members were present at the time of the explosion, but none was injured, they said.

A caller who identified himself as a spokesperson of militant outfit, Maoist Communist Party (Manipur), claimed responsibility for the blast.

Family sources said some militant outfits had demanded a huge sum of money from the official, but declined to name the outfit.

Militants also threw a powerful grenade at a pharmacy near the district hospital at Porompat area in the same district last evening, but it did not explode and was defused, the sources said. A militant outfit had demanded Rs.1.20 lakh from each pharmacy located near the hospital, they said. Several social organisations in separate statements urged the authorities to take action against the militants who were extorting money from people and organisations.