Armed insurgents seen in Mizoram near B'desh border

Aizawl: Armed insurgents dressed in Army camouflage have been sighted in western Mizoram's Mamit district, which shares border with Bangladesh and Tripura, police said on Monday.

Road construction workers saw the insurgents recently near Muathuam after which the sub-divisional police officer of Kawrthah was sent with armed police to the area.

The workers suspected the insurgents to be Nagas and said that while two of the militants were armed with AK-47 assault rifles, the other two were carrying automatic pistols in their hip holsters.

"All four of them carried identical hunting knives," one of the eye-witnesses told police officials.

Around ten armed insurgents, speaking in Bru dialect, crossed the road near this village on the previous day and the matter was reported to the police by the villagers.

An insurgent known as Iwarifa was reported to have been looking for prospective recruits for the NLFT and the recently-formed Borok National Council of Tripura (BNCT) in nearby Thaidawr and surrounding villages during last week, reports said.

Meanwhile, three non-tribal timber traders, abducted by suspected NLFT and BNCT militants on November 25 night were still in captivity in the jungles near Zopui and Thangnang villages in Bangladesh.

The abductors demanded a ransom of Rs 30 lakh for their release.

Militant arrested from border town In Manipur

A militant of banned People's Liberation Army (PLA) has been arrested by para military forces in the border town of Moreh in Manipur's Chandel district bordering Myanmar, official reports said today.

The reports said Assam Rifles personnel of 9th battalion launched a massive search operation at the border town of Moreh yesterday following reported infiltration of militants from across the border.

During the search operation, the PLA militant identified as Kh amujao (30) alias Khagemba was arrested, the reports said.

One .32 pistol and some rounds of ammunition were recovered from his possession.

He was handed over to Imphal West district police station here for interrogation, the reports said.

Top Maoist leader of Jharkhand caught in Assam

Tezpur: A Jharkhand Maoist leader, carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, was arrested on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, police caught Anil Kharwal alias Anandji, who is the zonal commander of three districts of Jharkhand, along with his brother-in-law.

There were 18 cases registered against Kharwal who was suspected to have come to Assam to organise the banned outfit in rural areas of the state.

Police did not reveal his brother-in-law's name as his involvement with the outfit was yet to be ascertained.

Militant activities in Assam points towards need of serious attention on Bengal foothills

SILIGURI: Following the encounter of last week in which ULFA top leader Saurav Borah has been shot down in Western Assam, whole of the NE state has been put under Red Alert.

But the development has once again pointed out towards the need to give serious attention on critical foothills region of North Bengal at India's 'chicken neck' adjoining to lower Assam that is witnessing gradual consolidation of extremist's outfits in its socio-economically shattered tea belts.

With Nepal in North-West and Bangladesh in South-East, West Bengal's foothills had always remained a major and preferred passage for the extremists from NE Indian states to Nepal, Bangladesh and also Bhutan across the infamous 'Chicken neck' of India that connects entire north east region with rest of country. Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Nepal, while both of these borders are open, that with Bangladesh is fenced and closed but highly porous.

"The extremists are using the foothills as important hub of their operation. Largely varying topography of the region with hilly rivers, jungles or uninhabited lands give additional advantages to them," said security experts.

"Despite best effort, the border guarding forces cannot fully stop infiltration of people, explosives, arms or narcotics across these borders. These make this Dooars region a strategically important and suitable place for the militants of NE region to camp in,"" agreed top security agency officials. "There is a definite upsurge in the effort of these groups for reconsolidation in this region," they said.

Contentious arrest of many in the region since long including top Maoist leaders like Mr. Mohan Vaidya or volunteers from ULFA, NDFB or KLO and seizures of huge cache of arms confirm increasing presence of militants in the.

The chaotic Tea economics since last couple of years has caused socioeconomic downfall of less educated and simple minded tea workers of foothills tea belt that hosts over 300 organized gardens. UPA Government's 'Special packages' or 'Grants' for tea industry could hardly reach the workers level. Naturaly, these socially and economically victimized class of people may become easy prey of these groups," complained Mr. S Roy, veteran Tea Trade Union Leader.

"These have already been reported. But state Government seems to be too concerned with political issues to spare an eye for this region," said a top official from state Police force on condition of anonymity.

Security forces gun down two militants in Assam

Security forces gunned down two hardcore militants of the banned militant outfits — The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) — in Goalpara District that is located on the Assam-Meghalaya border on Sunday.

Superintendent of Police, Goalpara, Shyamal Saikia, said: “So far, one person has not been identified; another person has been identified as a GNLA (Garo National Liberation Army) cadre, because we recovered the outfit's I-card from his bag. The other person is suspected to be an ULFA cadre but he has not been formally identified yet."

According to media reports, other militants of the outfits managed to flee and enter Meghalaya.

Saikia said security forces had recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from the slain militants.

“Among the arms and ammunitions, we have recovered a 7.5 pistol, a 9mm pistol, live ammunitions and also about 52 detonators from the site and three bundles of cordex and also three mobile sets. The writing pads belonging to both, ULFA and GNLA have been found. Since one person has been identified as GNLA cadre and since there is a demand note from the ULFA, we have assumed the other person to be an ULFA cadre,” said Saikia.

Search operations have been launched along the border area to nab the absconding militants.

United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is the top militant group fighting in the country's remote northeast.

The ULFA is one of the deadliest separatist groups in the northeast, and progress in resolving the insurgency, which has been a drain on resources.

Separatist movements have riddled India's remote northeast region for decades.

Thousands have died in three decades of violence since ULFA was formed in 1979 in Assam, demanding independence from India, which it accused of plundering the region's mineral and agricultural resources, but public support for the group has sagged recently.

Assam has been a focus of a separatist insurgency for decades, but it has also recently suffered bomb attacks by alleged Islamist militants operating from neighbouring Bangladesh.

Ringed by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, India's northeast is home to more than 200 tribes and has been racked by separatist revolts since India gained independence.

Assamese workers held for suspected ULFA link

Kottayam (Kerala), Nov 30 : Three migrant labourers from Assam have been arrested here for their suspected links with radical outfit ULFA.

According to police, the mobile phone sets siezed from them had pictures of key ULFA leaders and visuals of parades conducted by the ultra outfit in parts of Assam.

The arrested were identified as Hemanth Gogoi (22), Dhaniyam Gogoi (53) and Bidyut Chedia (18), all hailing from Shivsagar district of Assam, police sources said.

They were taken into custody yesterday and their arrest recorded late in the evening.

They would be produced before the first class judicial magistrate today, sources said.

Based on interrogation, police was on the look out for a person who was believed to have given them the memory card containing ULFA visuals and group song, as part of propagation of ULFA ideology among migrant labourers.

Police also searched the worksite at Kanhirapally in the distrct where the arrested had been working for the last several months.

The arrested have been charged under Section 41-A of the CrPC (reasonable suspcion of committing offence), sources said.

Construction sector in Kerala has thousands of migrant labourers from north east, mostly from Assam, Orissa and West Bengal.

Top insurgent leader taken to Guwahati

Imphal: A top insurgent leader of banned People's Liberation Army (PLA), who was lodged in Manipur Central Jail, has been taken to Guwahati to hand him over to National Investigation Agency (NIA), police said on Wednesday.

Self-styled Lt Col Khumanthem Punshi (30) was arrested from Paltan Bazar area in Guwahati by a team of Assam and Manipur police some months ago. He was brought to Manipur for a case involving him, sources said, adding that he was lodged at Manipur central jail as an undertrial.

Sources said as demanded by the NIA, he was taken to Guwahati yesterday adding that he was allegedly involved in many unlawful activities in Manipur.

Manipur blast injures civilian

IMPHAL, NOV 28 : A civilian was injured when a powerful bomb, planted by suspected militants, exploded in Imphal east district of Manipur today, police said.

Sources said the bomb, made of improvised explosive device (IED), was placed at a roadside in Chairen area when it went off at 10.30 a.m. The road is was frequently used by security personnel including those from paramilitary forces to travel between Imphal and their camps at places near Chairen. Police said the explosion occurred seconds after the security convoy (battalion or unit not yet known) passed through the area.

A farmer from a nearby locality who was going to his paddy field was injured by the splinters, sources said, adding that he was taken to a nearby hospital where his condition was stated to be out of danger.

Places like Manipur jail at Sajiwa, some Manipur Rifles battalion and several para-military posts are just a few kilometres away from Chairen area where the explosion occurred, sources said.

The area was immediately cordoned off. It was also not yet known whether the bomb was remote controlled or had a timer attached to it, sources said. Several bomb explosions targeting security and police personnel have been reported in the past few months from different parts of the state.

DHD(J) dissolved, new panel formed

HAFLONG, Nov 27 – In a solemn function the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) was dissolved by its president Jewel Gorlosa in presence of rank and file of DHD (J) on Monday at the Liaison Office located at Sarkari bangan, Haflong, Dima Hasao.

According to the MoS, both the factions of DHD were supposed to be dissolved within six months, but the DHD(J) after a prolonged discussion with the rank and file of DHD (J) decided to dissolved the organisation on Monday.

The meeting was attended by Jewel Gorlosa, vice-president Phaiprang Dimasa, C-in-C Niranjan Hojai, Deputy C-in-C Daniel Dimasa, Home Secretary David Dimasa etc, besides all the cadres.

The DHD (J) was formed in 2004 and on October 2, 2009 surrendered their arms before Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. On November 8 last a Memorandum of Settlement was signed between both the factions of DHD, Government of India and Government of Assam.

It is learnt that to look after all the cadres a new organisation was formed in the name and style Ex-DHD(J) Welfare Society for a period of one year.

Thus, on 8-year-old armed struggle of DHD(J) has come to an end.

NSCN-IM Dima Hasao 'district area chief' arrested

Silchar: A joint operation by the Haflong-based 25 Assam Rifles and Assam Police resulted in a big blow to NSCN (IM) when its Dima Hasao 'district area commander', self-styled major Cleanson, was apprehended from Lodhi Basti near Haflong on Sunday.

A list of NSCN (IM) cadres, a 9-mm pistol, eight rounds of ammunition, a Chinese grenade and a sketch of the spot at Hindu Inpui village of the hill district where army personnel were ambushed last week were recovered from the militant.

An army official said the rebel was involved in the attack on the army personnel of 9 Madras Regiment at Inpui village near Mahur on November 21, in which one jawan was killed and six others injured. He was also involved in an attack on a group of policemen near a children's park at Lungkhuk village near Haflong on November 24, killing a constable on the spot. Cleanson is the mastermind in many cases of kidnapping, extortion etc in the central Assam district, the sources said.

As per inputs, the banned Naga militant outfit has been trying to directly control subversive activities in Dima Hasao and Jenam Valley after the signing of the Dimasa Accord in Delhi on October 8.

Reports also suggest that the NSCN (IM) is using proxies like the Indigenous Peoples Forum (IPF) and the Dima Jadi Naiso Army (DJNA) and the Dimasa National Revolutionary Front (DNRF) to expand its extortion, illegal tax collection activities and to retain influence in the area, the army official added.

He said during the last few months, the operations at Nrianam, Mailubra, Mongjang, Baladhan and Haflong in Dima Hasao district, conducted by the Maibong-based army unit and the Haflong garrison Assam Rifles unit, have degraded the NSCN (IM) set-up in Dima Hasao by eliminating the outfit's top self-styled officer cadres and apprehending many others. The pressure to act and retrieve its image was evident when its cadres had to return the extortion money to villagers in Mahur area.

The arrest is a result of a massive hunt for the perpetrators of the recent IED blast near Mahur targeting army troops and killing of an Assam police constable in Haflong.

Naga rebels gun down policeman

The security agencies in Assam are worried about the growing activities of National Social Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) rebels in Dima Hasao district where heavily armed Naga rebels in an ambush on Saturday gunned down a policeman.

Pointing out that it has come close on the heels of Thursday’s offensive in which NSCN (I-M) rebels had killed an Army soldier and wounded six others in an ambush on an Army convoy, security sources said that tension was mounting in the area as Army has not only forced NSCN(I-M) to stop tax collection but also compelled them to return the money collected as tax from villagers in Assam.

The police said that heavily armed insurgents, who were hiding, fired upon the police patrolling team, which was on motorcycles near Lunkhuk village, under Haflong police station, at around 8.30 am on Saturday killing Luhit Nath on the spot.

The militants were armed with sophisticated weapons, the security sources said, adding that a search operation has been launched in the area to nab the attackers who fled after the ambush.

Security forces are yet to ascertain the identity of assailants but suspected involvement of Naga rebels who are targeting army for driving them out of Dima Hasao district.

Asserting that NSCN(I-M) was collecting taxes in frontier area of Dima Hasao district adjoining Nagaland and Manipur, security sources said that NSCN(I-M) rebels are also found to have been involved in propping up a forum of non-Dimasa indigenous people in the frontier district.

Clarifying that cease-fire with NSCN(I-M) was not applicable in Assam, security sources said that NSCN(I-M) have been told to refrain from indulging in their tax collection and other activities inside Assam.

Security sources also claimed that NSCN(I-M) leaders have also been to restrict the movement of armed NSCN(I-M) rebels outside the state. The activity of NSCN(I-M) was also the area of concern for the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh where all the three factions of NSCN has been threatening the peace of trouble-torn Tirap and Changlang districts.

Op ‘illegal arms’ gets more teeth in Assam

The ongoing operation against the illegal weapons in the four districts of Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts (BTAD) will be intensified further after the Assam Governor had issued orders to go for house-to-house search operation to seize illegal weapons.

Governor JB Patnaik had issued the orders after reviewing the law and order situation in the BTAD areas with the State Chief Secretary and Director General of Assam Police and its impact on the developmental activities.

The police and security forces had intensified operations and engaged two companies of additional forces, which have arrived in the State recently, in the operation against illegal weapons.

“The operation against the illegal weapons will be intensified further from now on after the Assam Governor had given orders in this regard. We have already started the operation in Kokrajhar and other districts of the BTAD and recovered several illegal weapons,” said Assam’s Home Secretary GD Tripathy while talking to The Pioneer on Friday.

The security forces had been carrying out the operations based on specific information but the recent orders from the Governor will enable the security forces to go for house searches, whenever it is required.

A total of 10 people have been killed in Kokrajhar and another one in neighbouring Baksa district in fresh violence that started since November 10, forcing the district administration to enforce indefinite curfew in Kokrajhar.

“The situation is improving and the indefinite curfew had been removed for the last few days except for the night hours. Night curfew has been still in force - from 9 pm to 6 am,” said a senior official deployed in the district and said that no fresh incidents have been reported for the last few days.

Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts of Assam had witnessed the worst-ever communal riots between the Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslim settlers during July-August this year killing over 100 persons and displacing over four lakh people.

Four soldiers injured in militant attack in Assam

Guwahati: At least four soldiers were injured after suspected NSCN (IM) militants ambushed an army convoy near the Assam-Manipur border Wednesday, police said.

At least four soldiers received bullet injuries during the incident in Dima Hasao district in Assam, said Superintendent of Police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta.

The militants first triggered an IED blast and then fired indiscriminately, he said.

The incident took place at near Mahur near the Assam-Manipur border.

"We suspect the hands of NSCN-IM militants behind the incident," said Mahanta.

Mahanta said the attack took place when the army convoy was passing through the area for patrolling.

Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao, is over 300 km from here.

DHD-J leaders get bail relief

Guwahati, Nov 21 : Gauhati High Court today extended the interim bail period of DHD (J) chairman Joel Gorlosa and commander-in-chief Niranjan Hojai by another three months.

A division bench of Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh passed the order after the Assam government raised a no-objection to the extension of interim bail period of the duo, provided they ensure full disclosure and surrender of arms and disbanding of the outfit as stipulated in the memorandum of settlement (MoS).

The DHD (J) had signed the MoS with the government in Delhi on October 8 this year.

Advocate Bijon Kumar Mahajan moved the bail petitions on behalf of the two leaders after their bail period expired today. Additional public prosecutor K. Munir represented the state government in the court.

Though Mahajan had appealed for converting their interim bail into absolute bail, the court rejected the plea.

The duo were first granted interim bail in two cases — registered against them by the National Investigation Agency — for six months in August, 2011, which was subsequently extended several times to facilitate the peace talks between the government and the outfit.

Fake currency charge

Shillong, Nov 20 : The breakaway faction of the ANVC, the ANVC (B), today claimed that fake Indian currency to the tune of crores of rupees had entered the Garo hills region in the last few weeks.

“Garo hills is being exploited politically and economically, and strategies adopted are foolproof. Fake currency amounting not less than crores of rupees made way into the region in the last few weeks. It is sure to affect the economy,” ANVC (B) chairman Rimpu N. Marak said.

The main area of concern is the coal mining belt as payments made every week to the suppliers include thousands of fake currency notes, he said. “Simple and ignorant people fail to differentiate between the real and the fake,” Marak said.

Elections are around the corner. People should be aware of fake notes, which are making way into the region, he added.

“Do not encourage distribution of money in the elections. Coal traders must transact through banks, as it is the only way to detect fake notes. If this is not checked, we are sure to find Garo hills rolling back in time,” Marak said.

Won’t allow militancy in northeast: NSAB chief

Shillong, Nov 20 : In the wake of spurt of violence in Assam and Manipur, National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) chairman Naresh Chandra Monday said that the government would not allow a “few group of people” to disturb peace and tranquility in the northeast states.

“Public order will be maintained at all cost and the government cannot allow a few group of people to disturb peace and tranquility. Respective governments must take necessary steps against such people,” Chandra told journalists after reviewing the security situation in the northeast with respective government officials from the region.

He added: “A group of militants cannot take the public and community for granted and disturb peace and tranquility.”

Chandra said efficient border management remains a crucial factor for the country in its effort to improve the overall security scenario in the region.

“Borders need to be managed to control infiltration of militants, illegal migrants and arms into the country. Though our borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh cannot be physically sealed totally, they can be managed intelligently,” Chandra said.

India’s landlocked northeast shares a 4,500 km international border with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China but connects with the rest of India by a 22 km strip of land called the Siliguri Corridor.

Work is on to fence this entire stretch, but unfenced areas remain vulnerable to infiltration.

Members and officials were of the view that connectivity in terms of road, railways and airways would help mitigate the militancy problem to some extent, he said.

“More focus on education to make people employable, emphasis on infrastructure development and improving the quality of developmental programmes in the region would help in addressing the insurgency problem,” Chandra said.

The board chairman said that with Myanmar and Bangladesh were now being viewed as “friendly” regimes. Chandra, however, cautioned that no move should be undertaken, which potentially undermines the overall security of the country and region in particular.

On China’s claim over Arunachal Pradesh, Chandra said the issues that were raised were more of concerns relating to water sharing.

“We are not so sure about China and so all such developmental matters of water sharing and others have to be taken up diplomatically,” Chandra said.

Chandra also called on Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and discussed the security situation in Meghalaya.

ULFA militant killed in encounter

RANGIYA (Assam): A suspected ULFA militant was killed in an encounter with security forces this morning in Assam's Kamrup (Rural) district, police said.

Acting on specific information about the presence of a group of ULFA militants who have come down from neighbouring Meghalaya, the police launched an operation in Parabari village under Boko police station area.

An encounter followed as the militants opened fire, Kamrup (Rural) Superintendent of Police Parthasarathi Mahanta said.

A militant was killed in the encounter while the others managed to escape, he said.

A pistol, three rounds of ammunition and two empty cartridge shells, two bags with dress materials and some documents have been recovered from the slain militant who was yet to be identified.

Bangladesh asked to demolish northeast militants' camps

Agartala: The Border Security Force (BSF) has asked Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to demolish 55 camps that militants from India's northeastern region have set up in the neighbouring country, an official said here Wednesday.

"BSF officials have asked BGB to destroy all camps of northeast militants in Bangladesh. We have given a list of 55 camps set up by various militant outfits of northeastern region," a BSF spokesman told reporters.

He said the issue was discussed last week at a four-day border coordination meeting between BSF inspector general and BGB deputy director general in Sylhet in Bangladesh.

The inspectors general of Meghalaya, Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Cachar frontiers, BSF officials from New Delhi and officials of the National Crime Records Bureau and the union home ministry also attended the meeting.

"BSF demanded strong action against Indian militants hiding in Bangladesh. The BGB officials were also requested to share information it gathered from people arrested for involvement in cross-border crimes and militancy," the official said.

BSF also demanded early resolution of disputes on erection of fencing on the India-Bangladesh border.

Smuggling of fake Indian currency notes, drugs such as phensedyl and narcotics were also discussed.

The BSF officials expressed concern over increasing incidents of attacks on BSF and unarmed Indians by the Bangladeshis on the border.

Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh, some of it unfenced and running through dense forests.

Huge cache of arms seized, 7 held

Police recovered a huge cache of arms reportedly belonging to Meghalaya-based outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and arrested seven persons, police said today.

The seizure was made during a joint operation by Assam and Meghalaya police late last night, Inspector General of Police (Assam) L R Bishnoi said.

Five persons were arrested during the operation, he said, adding the van was intercepted by the police team at Khetri near here on the National Highway 37.

Later in the night, two more persons were arrested by the Nagaland police in Dimapur.

Among the arms recovered were two AK-47 rifles with eight magazines, five .22 pistols with 150 rounds of bullet, a 9 mm pistol with eight magazines, a Chinese hand grenade and a wireless set, among others.

"The arms were enroute from Dimapur in Nagaland to Garo Hills area of Meghalaya," Bishnoi said.

He said various militant groups were trying to make use of Guwahati as a transit point for arms shipment.

Bishnoi said police forces of Assam and Meghalaya were working jointly to thwart the militant groups. There is coordination with Nagaland police too.

"Since March this year, this is our fifth successful operation jointly conducted with Meghalaya police. We have arrested 20 GNLA cadres and recovered seven vehicles and huge amount of arms and ammunition," he said.

Tea garden owner shot dead by NDFB militants in Assam's Sonitpur district

Tezpur (Assam): Suspected NDFB militants today shot dead a tea garden owner and injured his security guard in Assam's Sonitpur district, police said.

The militants fired about 15 rounds on the vehicle of Mahalaxmi Tea Estate proprietor Adilur Rahman at Nagda on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border as he was driving with his security guard towards Baihata Chariali.

Rahman was killed and guard Motilal Tirke, belonging to the Assam Tea Protection Force, was seriously injured, they said.

Tirke was referred to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital where his condition was stated to be stable.

Following the incident, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said operations against the anti-talk faction of the NDFB would be intensified.

"I have directed the security forces to take strong measures against the anti-talk faction of the NDFB so that we can crush the group," he told reporters in Guwahati.

He said an inquiry would be carried out into the killing of Rahman who had been warned by the police to be careful in his movements.

"The DGP of state police has informed me that Rahman had been told to be careful about his movements as he was considered to be a target of the militants," he said.

Talking to television channels here, while on his way to the hospital, Tirke said around 12 armed men fired at their car from both sides of the road.

He sustained severe injuries in his hands.

Imphal-airport road blast injures five

Police personnel inspect the bomb blast site at Gari Makha Leikai near Airport Road in Imphal on Wednesday.

Imphal, Nov 8 : Two army personnel and three civilians, including a student, were injured when a powerful improvised explosive device was detonated on a busy stretch of the Imphal Airport Road this morning.

No rebel group, however, has claimed responsibility for the blast, which is the fourth in the area in the past two months.

Police said the IED, planted on the median of the road, 5km from here, exploded as a four-vehicle convoy of the airport army unit was coming towards Imphal to fetch water. Two of the vehicles were water tankers. The blast also impacted a schoolbus that was passing by at the time.

The driver of one of the tankers and a jawan sitting beside him sustained injuries, while the tanker’s front was damaged and it had to be towed back to the post.

One civilian van driver, M. Raghubir Singh, and a woman, K. Shanty Devi, travelling with him sustained splinter injuries. The van was headed towards the airport.

A Class XII student of Comet Higher Secondary School, Pukhrambam Rohen, who was travelling in the schoolbus, also sustained minor injuries.

The police said the bomb was remote-detonated, adding that traffic was heavy along the road at the time.

Frequent bomb explosions in the area have created panic among residents.

“I heard a loud sound. I thought a vehicle tyre had burst. I came to know that there had been a bomb blast only when an elderly woman came to my house saying there had been an explosion and she had been injured in the leg,” Wahengbam Iboton, a resident of the area, said.

The bomb exploded in front of Iboton’s house. “My children had just left for school when the blast took place. Frequent bomb explosions in our area have created a fear psychosis among the residents. We are worried that our children might get hurt in a blast. Such things must stop,” he said.

Though army and police personnel combed the area after the blast, no other explosives were recovered and no one was arrested.

Around 30 minutes after this blast, another IED exploded at Khongjom along Imphal-Moreh road in Thoubal district. No one, however, was injured in thaat incident.

A police source said an Assam Rifles patrol party recovered yet another IED at Th-oubal Wangbal in Thoubal district and safely detonated it later.

Abducted village chief rescued in Manipur

Imphal: A village chief, who was abducted from his village in Senapati district, has been rescued from a place in Churachandpur district, police said today.

Ngumkhulum Tuboi (77), the village chief had left his village Chasang under Saikul sub-division in Senapati district on October 3 to attend a meeting nearby but was abducted by suspected Kuki militants.

After a complaint was lodged with Saikul police station, police supported by Assam Rifles personnel of 16th battalion searched Peace Ground area near Churachandpur district headquarters and found Tuboi yesterday morning, they said.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.

India asks Myanmar to act against NE ultras

NEW DELHI, Nov 6 – India has again pressed for crackdown on insurgent groups of North-East including Paresh Barua-led faction of ULFA operating out of Myanmar.

The issue of the rebels continuing to operate out of the neighbouring country figured at the Twelfth India-Myanmar Foreign Office Consultations held here today. The Indian delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and the Myanmar delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw, official sources said.

Under pressure of the North Eastern States mainly Assam and Manipur, New Delhi has been urging Myanmar to flush out the militants. Major insurgents groups of Manipur, Naga rebels and anti-talk faction of ULFA have been operating out of bases in Myanmar for long, taking advantage of the porous border, rough terrain and an indifferent Myanmari regime.

Sources said the two sides reviewed and positively assessed the implementation of the decisions taken during the visits of the President of Myanmar to India in October 2011 and that of the Prime Minister of India to Myanmar in May.

It was noted that significant progress has been achieved in taking forward the initiatives related to enhancing connectivity among others.

Manipur rebel chief held in Delhi: Police

The Delhi Police Friday claimed to have arrested the suspected leader of Kangleipak Communist Party (MC), a militant outfit based out of Manipur.
Ningthoujam Romen Singh, 27, was arrested from Sarai Kale Khan bus station Thursday, Special Commissioner of Police S N Srivastava said. “He is the commander-in-chief and financial secretary of KCP (MC), a faction of the banned terrorist organisation Kangleipak Communist Party,” Srivastava added.
Singh is an accused in 17 criminal cases, including one for holding to Rs 2 crore ransom government officials Budhi Chandra and Ningthembi. The officials, who were involved with the construction of Takmu water sports facility at Moirang, were rescued by the Manipur Police soon after Singh’s arrest, Srivastava said.
On Friday, Singh was produced in the a Delhi court, which sent him in three-day transit remand of the Manipur Police.
This is not the first time Singh, who joined KCP in 2007, has landed behind bars. He was arrested in 2008 for his alleged involvement in terrorism but was bailed out, and some time later, he shifted base to Agra.
In 2011, the police said, he moved to Kakarbita, Nepal, where he continued to direct kidnappings and extortion in India. Later that year, he went to Goa and in June this year, relocated back to Agra.
In October, Singh allegedly had a supervisor with the Integrated Child Development Services abducted from Bishnupur, Manipur. He later ransomed her for Rs 10 lakh.

Bangladesh-based ULFA linkman held in Meghalaya

Border Security Force (BSF) troopers Friday arrested a Bangladeshi linkman of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in Meghalaya after he sneaked into India from the neighbouring country, an official said.

“Allauddin was arrested Mahadev area in Meghalaya’s  South Garo Hills district bordering Bangladesh,” Border Security Force (BSF) spokesman Ravi Gandhi said.

During preliminary questioning, the apprehended ULFA linkman  revealed that he has been facilitating the cross border movement of the United Liberation Front of Asom cadres as guide and he himself has crossed the border several times.
Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly, unfenced and prone to frequent infiltration.

Underground elements turn Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap District into war field

 Incessant loud burst from automatic rifles by underground elements for around two hours rent the air shattering the Sunday evening silence of Borduria and Kaimai villages in Tirap district as security forces watched helplessly.

The turf-war by two groups firing thousands of bullets left the villages shell-shocked while many wondered - Why the security forces were reduced to lame ducks and failed to take on the these elements? Was it for their inability or there was no instruction from authorities concerned?

The security forces during search operation in the battle field Monday recovered an AK-56 rifle and 20 live rounds but could not ascertain if there was any causality or injury on either side.

This is the fourth gun battle between the NSCN (IM) and Khaflang cadres in the district this year and second at Boduria, according to district sources. Five days earlier in the wee hours of October 23, such infighting at Chasa village had left A. C. Mishu Sing, 24, an NSCN (IM) cadre belonging to Ukhrul district of Manipur dead and an AK-47 rifle and 19 live rounds recovered from his person.

This year's first turf-war was reported from Chasa village in January and second in Borduria in March last, another took place along the Changlang-Tirap-Myanmar tri-junction but could not be ascertained because for the remoteness of the area while another reported Saturday last from Namtok area in Changlang district, the sources added.

Intermittent infighting for area dominance between these two groups is a common phenomenon in both insurgency-infested districts (newly created Longding district included), declared disturbed under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 notwithstanding the ongoing peace talk between Naga groups and the Centre since 1997 for an amicable solution to the Naga imbroglio.

Imposition of house tax, extortion, threat and intimidation haunts the poor people of these districts who have been left to fend for themselves without any escape route while GoI or GoAP seems to be lest bothered.

When contacted, New Delhi mandarin, on condition of anonymity, in clearly told that law and order is a state subject and additional forces at the request of the GoAP were deployed by the union ministry of home affairs (MoHA).

The present deployment included one IBRn and CRPF battalion in each district, one and two battalions of Assam Rifles in Tirap and Changlang respectively, Army's 111 Mountain Brigade (Madras Regiment) in Tirap but not battle-ready while 4th Rajput Battalion in Longding district.

It would be worth recalling that the then Home Minister P Chidambaram, after expressing his satisfaction at the law and order situation in the state here on May 12 last had told media persons that "They are eliminating each other by such infighting which we do not encourage and should not happen in Arunachal soil. Any action that violates the rights of the Arunachalees would be dealt with by stern action....No ceasefire ground rules are applicable to Arunachal. The GoAP would take action against any violation of the rules by any faction of NSCN (K) or NSCN (IM) as we do not recognise their presence in this state."

But despite the knowledge about the presence of both the groups in huge numbers in the districts why do the security forces remain silent spectators and launching search operation only after every turf-war is intriguing.

Are such violent actions leading to bloodshed not contrary to Chidambaram's satisfaction? Are these infightings not violation of ceasefire ground rules? If yes, why the security forces are not acting? Is the GoAP appraising the MoHA on the ongoing battle? - are relevant questions for the GoI/GoAP to reply.

BNP supports steps against NE ultras

NEW DELHI, Oct 30 – Seeking to mend fences with India, Opposition Leader and chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), on Monday assured Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh that the anti-terror crackdown would continue even if her Party came to power.

The BNP leader held a 30-minute-long meeting with the Prime Minister today and expressed her commitment to continue with the anti-terror cooperation with India. Perhaps to convince New Delhi, Begum Zia conveyed that Bangladesh’s soil would not be allowed to be used by forces inimical to India’s interest.

Both leaders agreed to continue counter-terror cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting was very cordial and lasted approximately for 30 minutes, an official source told newsmen after the meeting. Both the leaders felt that terrorism is of great concern and agreed to continue cooperation on terrorism and insurgent groups,” said the source.

The two leaders held talks on a wide array of bilateral issues, including trade and security relations between the two countries, sources further added.

Begum Zia hailed the various Indian initiatives, which have been taken by the Prime Minister, including liberalisation of trade and efforts to provide power to the neighbouring country, said the source.

“She also expressed satisfaction at the manner in which, India is working out issues related to Tipaimukh Dam and matters on border management,” said the source.

Manmohan Singh assured Zia that India was willing to discuss all issues of importance to Bangladesh and underlined India’s commitment to “a close and deeper relationship with Bangladesh”. “He mentioned that he always believed that the prosperity of India’s neighbours, particularly Bangladesh, is in India’s interest,” said the source.

Briefing newsmen, vice chairman of BNP, Shamsher Muhib Choudhury confirmed about Begum Zia assuring the Prime Minister about her party resolve to continue with the ongoing security cooperation and crackdown on militant of the North-East.

10-year-old boy killed in India grenade blast

A member of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force guards a building in Guwahati (AFP/File)

GUWAHATI, India — A 10-year-old boy was killed and five more people injured when suspected militants lobbed a grenade into a crowded market in India's tense northeast, police said.

"Militants riding a motorcycle threw a grenade as they drove through a busy market, killing one child and wounding five other people," senior police official Debajit Deuri told AFP.

Two of the injured were in critical condition, he added.

The attack took place in the small town of Udalguri, 71 kilometres (44 miles) north of Assam state's capital Guwahati.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but in the past police have blamed similar attacks on groups fighting for independent homelands for their tribal followers in the tea and oil-rich region of Assam.
Last year, one of the strongest militant groups, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) announced it would join peace talks with the Indian government in a move to end a 33-year-old rebellion.
A faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militant group also recently agreed to a ceasefire with New Delhi.
Since then, factions of both groups, which oppose the peace overtures have carried out bomb and grenade attacks in the state, according to police officials.
More than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam during the past two decades.
India has been wracked by separatist conflicts since its independence in 1947, with deadly insurgencies in its northwestern Kashmir region and the northeast.

NE states to launch joint operation against militants

Karimganj: The police of Tripura and Mizoram have decided to launch a joint operation to flush out militants from areas bordering south Assam, officials said on Monday.

DIGs of Tripura and Mizoram, Gaurav Tripathi and C Zoramna respectively, agreed at a recent meeting at Kanchanpur in North Tripura that they would hold joint exercises and the next move against extremism and cross border crimes would be coordinated with Assam.

"Since Barak Valley shares border with Mizoram and Tripura, we are always in touch with police administration of Kolasib in Mizoram and North Tripura in our operations against militants," DIG of South Assam Binod Kumar said.

"Any operation involving Assam would be fruitful in tackling militancy and other crimes," he added.

During the joint operations, the target would be the hideouts and bases of militant groups along the border areas on the basis of shared information, sources said.

In remote areas of the three states, like south of Hailakandi and Karimganj districts in Assam, breakaway groups have cropped up and were extorting people, the sources said.

It is often reported that North-East based extremists continue to operate in Chittagong Hills Tract in Bangladesh and use the Tripura-Assam-Mizoram corridor for their movement to Myanmar, now a favourite destination for them.

The routes and corridors have been identified and only a combined operation can block their movement, they said.

Besides tackling the extremists, other inter-state crimes such as hijacking of vehicles from highways, smuggling of fake currency notes, contraband goods and human trafficking could also be tracked in the operation.

Joint operations between Assam and Manipur had been successful in the past in containing movement of ultra Meitei groups, PLA, UNLF, KCP and Prepak militants.

NSCN group to undertake ID drive for non-locals

DIMAPUR, Oct 26 – Stating that the recent explosion of non-local population in Nagaland is the greatest threat confronting the Nagas, the NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) has announced that it will undertake an identification drive for non-locals residing in the State.

“The GPRN/NSCN, through the Kilo Ministry, informs the general public that identification of Non-Nagas have become compulsory in Nagaland,” the outfit said in a release.

It also informed that the meeting of GBs, Council Chairmen and secretaries of villages, wards, colonies and khels of Dimapur on October 2, 2012, at Khehoi Designated camp recognised the long-term and short-term dangers posed by unidentified non-locals in Nagaland. It said the community elders were briefed on the need to entrench traditional/customary laws least Nagaland becomes another Tripura in the next 20 years. The delegates equally pointed out the many crimes committed against Nagas by immigrants, which needed urgent drastic measures, the release said.

The NSCN (Khole-Kitovi), therefore, said it will be initiating an identification drive of non-locals above the age of 15 “to pursue and identify criminals and to control wave after wave of immigrants moving into Nagaland”. It added that “every Naga must assist in preventing political, cultural and economic annihilation of Nagas by immigrants”.

The release added that forceful intrusion and occupation of traditional land of Nagas have been reported in Dimapur, Wokha and Mon districts.

The NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) said its regional authorities in every region will be activated to accomplish the onerous task of identification. It said temporary and permanent addresses as well as left thumb impression will be insisted from all non-Nagas above the age of 15 while those families residing in Nagaland since 1962 must produce relevant document to the GPRN/NSCN officials. However, non-local government employees and military personnel are exempt from this identification drive, it said.

The outfit appealed for fullest cooperation from GBs, Village Councils, wards, colonies and khels all over Nagaland “so that the noble endeavour is not taken advantage of by adverse elements”. The ‘Kilo Ministry’ also appealed for assistance in accomplishing the common task.

Two Garo Hills rebels killed in Meghalaya

Shillong : Two rebels of the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) were killed in a gunbattle in Meghalaya Thursday, police said.

The battle broke out in Watregittim area in South Garo Hills district when the rebels fired at the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos who were tracking them down, Inspector General of Police (western range) F.D. Sangma told IANS.

He said a team of SWAT commandos launched a morning crackdown in the area based on specific information about the presence of the rebels along with their regional commander Rakkam Sangma.

However, Rakkam managed to escape during the encounter.

The rebels killed in a gunbattle, which lasted for more than 20 minutes, were identified as Rengchang Ch Marak and Subarthapa N. Marak, he said.

An AK-47 rifle, two pistols, a grenade, a cache of ammunition, a cellphone and some "incriminating documents" were recovered from the site, police said.

Meanwhile, SWAT commandos are continuing with their combing operation in the area to track down more rebels, Sangma said.

The GNLA, one of the five Garo tribal rebel groups, is fighting for a separate Garoland in the five impoverished districts of the Garo Hills to be carved out from Meghalaya.

Naga leaders set deadline to resolve insurgency

Shinde promised to get back to the leaders of Nagaland after speaking to interlocutors and stakeholders.

(Photo: sinlung.com)

New Delhi:  Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has set a deadline for the centre to find a permanent solution to the 60-year-old insurgency in the state.

A high-level delegation from the state led by the chief minister urged federal home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to find a peaceful solution before the assembly polls are announced.

The assembly polls in the state are due early next year.

Several rounds of talks since 1997, when insurgent outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland-IM (NSCN- IM) declared ceasefire, have failed to find a lasting solution.

"We have requested the home minister to expedite the talks with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) and find a solution before the assembly election," Nagaland home minister Imkong Imchem said.

All the 60 members of the Nagaland assembly are ready to resign for an alternative political arrangement, said a legislator, who was part of the delegation.

"We, too, want more autonomy for Nagaland," he said.

Under Article 371A of the Indian Constitution, no Act of Parliament applies to the state in respect of religious or social practices of the Nagas, administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources, unless its legislative assembly by a resolution so decides.

Shinde promised to get back to the leaders of Nagaland after speaking to interlocutors and stakeholders, including chief ministers of neighboring Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that have Naga population.

The delegation also met insurgent outfit NSCN (I-M) chief Th Muivah here.

NSCN (I-M) is demanding unification of Naga inhabited areas, while guaranteeing territorial integrity of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Rhino poacher link to Kuki militants

Rhino poacher arrested in Assam, confesses to militants’ involvement

Kaziranga, October 24, 2012: Since June floods devastated Assam, animals trying to escape the rising waters in Kaziranga National Park have fallen prey to hunters, poachers and speeding vehicles. More than 700 animals have died since then and more carcasses are being revealed as the waters go down.

But there’s another threat, particularly to rhinos, that won’t recede with the water. It is from the armed militant separatist outfits in the area.

The biggest clue to this came after the arrest of one Lindok Rongpi yesterday, who confessed before a magistrate that he poached six rhinos under the instructions of Songja Timung, self-styled defence secretary of Kuki National Liberation Front, one of the armed outfits from Karbianglong in Assam, now in a ceasefire agreement.

His arrest led the police to Dimapur in Nagaland, the hub of animal-parts trade, only to find that the main buyer, a Chinese named Ho-Chin had fled.

The money militants make by poaching rhinos, they use it to buy arms. Post-mortem of the animals reveal the use of automatic guns which further provides evidence of the involvement of militants, considering professional poachers use .303 rifles, rather than spraying bullets.

These threats are compounded by the way these animals are being poached. In a number of cases, wildlife officials found that the rhinos were dehorned even while alive. Shot by a gun, while a rhino recovered, the poacher would hack off the horn. In one case, even the ear was chopped off and the animal left to bleed to death. Here again the finger is being pointed at militants, mainly because of the kind of guns used. Bullets from automatic weapons have been recovered and one AK-56, two .303 rifles and one SBML gun have so far been seized by the police in the last two weeks.

There are several stark reminders of militancy targeting wildlife in Assam. In the eighties the Laukhowa sanctuary, not far from Kaziranga, was cleaned of its entire rhino population allegedly by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Manas lost its world heritage site status after Bodo militancy wiped out all animals including the rhino. With a horde of armed groups in Karbianglong and with evidence of militant involvement in the recent poaching cases, it is not unlikely that Kaziranga could be in similar danger.

The threat to the rhinos, and the value of their horns in the international market, has increased also due to the enhanced security measures in the other big source, South Africa. This coincides with a surge in demand for rhino horn in South Asia, where it is used as an aphrodisiac. A World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report clearly says that Kaziranga, with its 2,000 rhinos, is an area vulnerable for increased poaching. Its proximity to the international border makes it an even easier target.

Minister for Environment and Forests Jayanti Natarajan was in Kaziranga recently to announce monetary grants and measures but the initiative appeared too routine for any immediate action.

On October 19, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of Assam, clarifying a WWF press release provided the following rhino data:

There have been 12 poaching cases this year – Seven inside Kaziranga, four in Karbianglong and one in Nowgang. However, all these rhinos were from Kaziranga.

28 rhinos died by drowning, taking the total number of deaths to 40 this year.

Compare the recent data to the previous years and the number may not look alarming. On an average Assam has lost around 90 rhinos a year to various reasons which in itself is a shocking statistic. But losing 40 from a single park in ten months may be a new worrying record.

Meghalaya rebels free three abducted engineers

Shillong : Three engineers of a Hyderabad-based road construction company, kidnapped by rebels in Meghalaya, were released unharmed Tuesday after four days in captivity, police said.

Manoj Kumar, Deepak Kumar and A.K. Sharma, of BSC-C&C (JV) road construction company, were kidnapped for ransom by the "B-faction of the A'chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC)", a police official said.

They were abducted Saturday from Dambu Aga Reserve Forest in East Garo Hills district, he said.

"The three engineers were released unharmed this morning at Kosi village under Rongjeng police station," Meghalaya Police chief N. Ramachandran told IANS.

"Our investigation strongly indicates that rebels of the ANVC-B with the help of local goons abducted the three engineers," he said.

The Hyderabad-based firm was awarded a contract to construct a two-lane 94-km road at an estimated cost of Rs.1,494 crore to connect Shillong to Tura, a town in Garo Hills region, via Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills.

Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Meghalaya's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos had launched a massive operation to rescue the engineers.

Asked if the Hyderabad-based company paid any ransom for the engineers' release, Ramachandran said: "The police will investigate into this angle and we will find out from them (company)."

The police chief said that a hunt was on now to arrest the kidnappers.

The ANVC-B is a splinter group of the ANVC, which has been observing a tripartite ceasefire with the central and Meghalaya governments for nine years.

The ANVC-B, headed by Bernard N. Marak, has stuck to its demand for "Greater Garoland" in western Meghalaya, while its parent organisation has scaled down its demand from "Greater Garoland" to the creation of a Garoland Territorial Council.

New Dimasa militant outfit surfaces in Assam

Guwahati : A week after the central government signed a peace accord with the two factions of the Dimasa militant outfit, Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), a new militant outfit has surfaced in the troubled Dima Hasao district of Assam.

This became known after the outfit christened as Dima Jadi Naiso Army (DJNA) circulated a press communique to a section of local media recently.

The communique, signed by its self-styled chairman Bhaipa Dimasa, "commander-in-chief" Jering Dimasa and secretary Rinjen Dimasa claimed that the outfit was formed Sep 25 this year to fight for a separate state for the Dimasa ethnic group called Dimaraji.

Dima Hasao district Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta confirmed this to IANS and said that police have already registered a case against the new militant outfit.

"This is the handiwork of a small group basically aimed at extortion. The outfit is yet to carry out any activity so far. However, we have registered a case against them," said Mahanta while talking to IANS Wednesday.

"We are trying to identify the cadres of the outfit and locate them," said Mahanta.

On Oct 8, the two factions of Dima Halom Daogah (DHD) - one headed by Dilip Nunisa and the other by Jewel Garlosa - signed a Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) with the central and Assam governments, initiating a new era of peace in the troubled hill district.

The newly floated DJNA also said in the communique that it will work for unification of all Dimasa-Kachari inhabited areas of the northeast and to bring them under one umbrella.

India to seek more info on insurgents from Bangladesh

New Delhi, Oct 15 : An Indian delegation will seek cooperation from Bangladesh to collect more evidence on North East insurgents during the two-day home secretary level talks that begins in Bangladesh from Monday.

The delegation led by Home Secretary R K Singh will also have officers from the NIA, which arrested the insurgents, to gather more information and evidence under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. United National Liberation Front (UNLF) chairman R K Meghan was arrested along with 13 others on charges of waging war against the nation.

Apart from this, R K Singh is expected to take up with his Bangladeshi counterpart Manjur Hussain other key issues, including  border fencing, enhancing cooperation in combating terrorism, update on repatriation of ULFA leader Anup Chetia and smuggling of contraband.

It is learnt that the much awaited extradition treaty to be signed between the two nations will take some time as it is with the ministry of external affairs to give a final shape.

Manipur rebels vow to intensify ‘freedom’ stir

IMPHAL: Two rebel outfits — the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) and the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive (Prepak-Pro) — have refused to hold peace talks with the Centre.

Instead, both Prepak and Prepak (Pro) have vowed to intensify their movement to restore Manipur's sovereignty. The outfits, which completed 35 years on Tuesday, are the constituent members of the Coordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella body of seven rebel groups of the state.

Prepak chairman N Nongdrenkhomba and Prepak (Pro) chairman Paliba M, in separate statements, said they will not enter into talks with New Delhi.

Paliba said the outfit in its possible strength will fight the security forces to ensure the movement is placed in a specific position under the aegis of CorCom. On the frequent call for peace talks by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and governor Gurbachan Jagat, he said New Delhi must first agree to give Manipur back its sovereignty, which was allegedly annexed through coercion and treachery.

Alleging that the military is sporting a mask of 'soft power', the outfit called upon the people not to be taken in by their military civic action programme.

Prepak chairman Nongdrenkhomba said, "As long as the alien (New Delhi) rule continues, the liberation movement will continue. The problem will be resolved only when New Delhi along with its military withdraws from Manipur's soil."

Stating that Manipur has remained an "occupied territory" for 63 years, Nongdrenkhomba said the struggle to restore the lost sovereignty has been moving on without flagging.

Manipur rebel outfits reject peace talks

Imphal, Oct 9 : Manipur’s Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) and Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive (Prepak-Pro) have rejected the offer for peace talks with the Centre. The decision was announced on the eve of their 35th foundation day.

In separate statements issued today, Prepak chairman N. Nongdrenkhomba and Prepak (Pro) chairman Paliba M. said they would not hold talks with the Centre.

The stand taken by the two armed groups is on the line of the decision taken by an umbrella body of seven militant groups under the banner of Co-ordination Committee. These two groups are constituent members of the body.

The committee announced a few days back that it would not enter into any dialogue with the Centre.

Stating that the root of the armed conflict in Manipur was forcible annexation of the state, Nongdrenkhomba said the issue could be politically settled only when India and its forces withdrew from Manipur.

Paliba also said India should admit that it forcibly annexed Manipur and its freedom should be restored.

Nongdrenkhomba said peace talks under the suspension of operations arrangement or any alternative arrangement could never solve the problem. He also attributed the frequent bandhs and economic blockades as a fallout of the Centre’s divide-and-rule policy to create enmity among communities.

The two leaders said influx in Manipur, “surrender dramas” and military civic action programmes were not only to crush the freedom struggle but also a policy of Indianisation.

Paliba said Manipur was second to Uttar Pradesh in fake encounter cases.

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s admission of a petition filed by two NGOs of Manipur seeking investigation into alleged fake encounter killings, he demanded that chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh should be “punished” as he masterminded them.

He further said India has never been sincere when it came to infrastructure development of Manipur.

In an unrelated development, an IED planted by Peoples Liberation Army militants exploded at Moidangpok along Imphal-Jiribam road in Imphal West this morning, police said.

The bomb exploded soon after a convoy of the Assam Rifles passed the area. However, no one was injured.

In protest against the explosion, local residents blocked the road briefly.

NE rebels hand in glove with Chinese spies: Centre

By Rakesh K Singh

New Delhi: In a candid admission of facts, the Union Home Ministry has revealed that inputs with the Centre suggest liaison of top leaders of some insurgent groups in the North-East, especially the NSCN (I-M) with which the Government is engaged in dialogue for peace, with the Chinese intelligence agencies.

While Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) faction maintains close links with the Chinese intelligence agencies, the banned People’s Liberation Army of Manipur has established a permanent base in Ruili of Yannan province of China. The Centre has been pursuing dialogue for peace with the NSCN (IM) faction even as the NSCN (Khaplang) faction continues to advocate sovereignty for the Naga homeland.

Intelligence reports also point out that the Khaplang faction has set up camps in Mon district in the Sagaing division of Myanmar for providing shelter to its cadre.

The revelations were made by Union Home Secretary RK Singh earlier this year before a Parliamentary committee. Intelligence reports have been pointing to smuggling of arms from Yunnan province but this is the first time a senior official has candidly admitted the role of Chinese agencies in fuelling trouble in the North-East.

With a friendly regime in Bangladesh shutting down most of the camps of the Indian insurgent groups, the insurgents are now smuggling arms from China, Thailand and Sino-Myanmar border towns like Tengchong, Ruili and Yingjiang in Yunnan province and route them through Myanmar.

India has raised the concerns with China through diplomatic channels. Linkages of some of the North-East insurgent groups with the banned CPI(Maoist) and recoveries of the Chinese AK 81 assault rifles from the Naxals give a new dynamism to the North-East insurgency.

The National Investigation Agency is discreetly probing the linkages of the North-East insurgent groups with foreign agencies including their funding channels.

The Parliamentary committee noted: “North-East is one of the hottest trouble spots of the country, not simply because the region has many armed insurgent organisations operating and fighting the Indian State, but because trans-border linkages that these groups have, and strategic alliances among them, have acted as force multipliers and have made the conflict dynamics all the more intricate.”

With demands of these groups ranging from secession to autonomy and the right to self determination, and a plethora of ethnic groups clamouring for special rights and the protection of their distinct identity, the region has become turbulent one, it further observed.

The committee outlined that counter-insurgency strategies in the North-East should be multi-pronged and India should include a clause for closure of training camps of insurgent groups in all trade discussions with the countries bordering the region.

According to the Union Home Ministry, there are 79 insurgent groups, including splinter groups, active in the North-East and the major ones include United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) (anti-talk faction), Meitei insurgent groups like Revolutionary People’s Front, People’s Liberation Army, United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Kangleipak Communist Party, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kengleipak in Manipur. Achik National Volunteers’ Council, Garo National Liberation Army and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council in Meghalaya, factions of NSCN in Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh and National Liberation Front of Tripura (Biswamohan group) and All Tripura Tiger Force.

Gunmen fire at Agartala Express in Assam

Unidentified gunmen early this morning fired at the down Agartala Express train near Bagetar railway station in central Assam's Dima Hasao district but there was no report of any injury or casualty, police sources said.

The gunmen fired from nearby hills on the Agartala-bound train from Lumding near the station under Haflong police station at around 4 am, the sources said.

No one was injured or any damage caused to the train by the firing, the sources said.

Police and security forces rushed to the site and launched a manhunt to track out the attackers.

Seven policemen hurt in ambush by insurgents in Manipur

Seven policemen escorting a senior police official were injured when insurgents detonated a powerful bomb leading to an hour-long exchange of fire in Manipur's Chandel hill district bordering Myanmar today, official sources said.

The unidentified insurgents detonated the bomb at Khudengtabi area, about 100 km from here, at 2:00 PM when the policemen were escorting district superintendent of police E Priyo Kumar after he was returning from a meeting with Myanmar officials at the border town of Tamu, the sources said.

The SP was unhurt, but the policemen were injured by bomb splinters, they said.

This led to a heavy exchange of fire between the policemen and insurgents for almost an hour, they said.
It was not known if there was any casualty on the side of the insurgents.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blast. A combing operation was launched in the surrounding hill areas.

Last Saturday, insurgents had exploded seven bombs at the Kwatha Khunou area near Khudengtabai in which two Assam Rifles jawans and a civilian were killed.

Probe into Arunachal Pradesh's public distribution system scam nearing completion

Sanjib Kr Baruah

New Delhi, Oct 3 : Insurgent outfits in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district had been illegally mining coal, using the proceeds for buying sophisticated weapons from arms dealers based in Thailand and China. On March 26, 2012, the Union home ministry wrote to the coal ministry — drawing its attention to
the illegal mining being undertaken at the 45-km-long Khasang block by Naga militants. The home ministry also requested the coal ministry to consider taking over all the coal mining operations in the state.

On May 15, the coal ministry wrote to the Arunachal government, asking it to take steps to stop the mining. “The Arunachal government has taken the necessary steps to ensure that these outfits no longer use the mines,” said Shambhu Singh, joint secretary (N-E), Union home ministry.

Changlang, a hub of insurgent activity, is located close to the China-Myanmar international border, where thousands of fighters belonging to at least nine insurgent outfits from Assam, Manipur and Nagaland stay in well-fortified camps. The weapons possessed by these groups include Kalashinov rifles, Heckler and Koch assault rifles, American M-16 and M-17 rifles, and rocket launchers.

Another issue highlighted in the communication was the contractor’s “illegal” right to sell coal extracted from the 29-sq km Namchik-Namphik coal block. “As this is in gross violation of the CMN Act (Coal Mines Nationalisation), the coal controller is being instructed to have coal mining in the Namchik-Namphik coal block stopped immediately,” the coal ministry letter said.

The Namchik-Namphik block in Changlang, which has been allotted to the Arunachal Pradesh Mineral Development & Trading Corp, has estimated reserves of about 84 mn tonnes of high-quality coal in the open cast mine. While rules allow Arunachal Pradesh to mine coal on its own, it can only use the same for captive projects such as thermal power plants in the state — not selling it outside.

Have proof of politician-militant nexus: Mukul Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma Tuesday said that his government has received inputs on state politicians hobnobbing with militants.

"There are inputs which indicate that there is a nexus between certain politicians of various political parties and militant outfits," Sangma told IANS.

He added: "We are working on getting further inputs to corroborate with the inputs we already have."

Sangma's statement assumed significance in the wake of jailed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chief Champion R. Sangma's declaration that his outlawed outfit would support the ruling Congress in the 2013 assembly elections in five districts of Garo Hills in western Meghalaya.

"I have always maintained that the nexus between politicians cutting across party lines with militants cannot be ruled out and these inputs that we have need to be substantiated," the chief minister said.

He maintained that in the event of substantive evidence emerging on the nexus between politicians and militants, the provisions of law will prevail.

The chief minister said: "I warn politicians to refrain from piggy-riding on militants as it has dangerous ramifications for the state. But when we are dealing with criminals, we have to deal with the same yardstick."

Asked to comment on the jailed GNLA chief's declaration to support the Congress in the assembly elections, Sangma said: "The Congress does not need the support of criminals."

Earlier, the United Democratic Party (UDP), a key ally in Meghalaya's Congress-led coalition government, had accused some Congress leaders of hobnobbing with the outlawed GNLA and has decided to take up the issue with the central government.

"The party (UDP) has taken serious note of some of the Congress leaders' complicity with the outlawed GNLA," UDP spokesperson Paul Lyngdoh said.

Champion, whose outfit is fighting for a separate Garoland in five districts of Garo Hills in western Meghalaya, was arrested July 30 near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. He was accused of waging a war against India.

"The decision of the GNLA to support the Congress in the state assembly elections to be held in 2013 reflects the desperation of the Congress to come to power at any cost," the opposition National People's Party state unit president W.R. Kharlukhi said.

Assam insurgents eye south Bhutan bases

NEW DELHI, Oct 3 : Battered by Indian military operations, Assamese insurgents are relocating to Bhutan.

Following major Indian military offensives, the United Liberation Front of Asom Paresh Barua-led faction is relocating its base of operations to the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan's southern regions, where densely forested region obscures activities.

The region's dense vegetation cover provides geographical contiguity and proximity to the insurgents to the jungles of India's eastern Assam province. Since 2003 the Indian military has operated in conjunction with the Bhutanese army in pressing ULFA guerrillas, beginning with Operation "All Clear," the Hindustan Times reported.

The operation was launched because of military reports that ULFA, along with several other insurgent groups from northeastern India, established up to 30 guerrilla camps in southern Bhutan's Samdrup Jongkhar district, capable of sustaining nearly 3,500 insurgents. Nine years of subsequent joint military operations have failed to quell the insurgency.

ULFA's leadership is split with Arabinda Rajkhowa leading a faction negotiating with the Indian government, while Paresh Barua heads a faction that remains steadfastly opposed to talks with New Delhi unless sovereignty for Assam is also discussed.

Indian intelligence agencies report that that Barua controls hundreds of heavily armed fighters ULFA and divides his time between ULFA camps on the China-Myanmar border and in Myanmar's Sagaing province, while he reportedly also has close connections to China's intelligence agencies.

But defeating ULFA isn't solely a military issue. Recent confessions by hardcore ULFA cadres Rongmon Gogoi, Mridul Moran and Rocket Syam, arrested by Indian forces in Arunachal Pradesh, reportedly claim the coal industry of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya was contributing to ULFA's revenues, along with the province's oil and tea sectors, security sources speaking on condition of anonymity said.

Gogoi, in his interview, specifically named a mining company that was directly paying ULFA each quarter, the reports said.

Stating that ULFA was desperate for money to continue its insurgency, security sources said that to stanch the flow of funds to the insurgents, Arunachal Pradesh police were exploring the possibility of instituting legal actions against companies and individuals paying money to ULFA and other militant outfits in India's northeast.

ULFA has been battling Indian authorities for an independent Assamese state since 1979. The problem isn't contained to India. Indian intelligence analysts say that starting in the mid-1980s ULFA established links with Pakistan's Inter -Services Intelligence unit as well as the Afghan mujahedin fighting the Soviet occupation, with at least 200 ULFA receiving training in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Indian intelligence says it also uncovered evidence that, beginning in 1989, Bangladesh's Defense Forces Intelligence trained ULFA cadres in more than a dozen camps in Bangladesh's Sylhet district. That year cooperation between various northwestern India terrorist groups and foreign militant organizations was formalized by the formation of the Indo-Burmese Revolutionary Front.

Violation of SoO affect law and order : Manipur police

Violations of ground rules of Suspension of Operation (SoO) has been affecting law and order problems in the state, said Manipur police while commenting on the extension of the agreement with Kuki underground groups.

SoO agreement between Army and constituents of United People’s Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organization (KNO) had been in force since August 1, 2005. It was agreed between the Centre, Manipur government and KNO and UPF to formalize this suspension of operation and cease hostilities with effect from August 22.

Follow the link to read the entire news here

Coal, oil & tea fuel Ulfa funds

The anti-talk faction of Ulfa has roped in more than 20 cadres pro-talk Ulfa back to their fold besides intensifying the extortion drive in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Referring to the confession of three hardcore Ulfa rebels — Rongmon Gogoi, Mridul Moran and Rocket Syam — arrested in Arunachal Pradesh, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that coal trades of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya was contributing hugely to Ulfa’s coffer.

Pointing out that coal, oil and tea sector of Arunachal Pradesh was acting as lifeline to the separatist activities in Assam and trouble-torn Tirap and Changlang of Arunachal, security sources said that Rongmon Gogoi, in his confession, named a mining company which was paying to Ulfa quarterly. Though, after division in the outfit, the company started liaisoning with pro-talk faction leaders of Tinsukia district and stopped paying quarterly installment to anti-talk faction of Ulfa.

Informing that a hard-core Ulfa leader Rohendra Moran has sent a consignment of `58 lakh cash to Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah in Burma last week, security sources said that Ulfa commander Drishti Rajkhowa was collecting quarterly installment of contribution from coal syndicate of Assam-Meghalaya.

Admitting that the flow of fund to Ulfa’s coffer was the major area of concern, security sources said that police was exploring the possibility of registering case against companies and individuals paying money to Ulfa and other militant outfits in the northeast. Informing that Ulfa was desperate for money, security sources said that elusive Ulfa chief Praesh Baruah was trying to start training of a batch of new recruits at the end of this year for which 17-18 newly recruited boys have crossed over to Burma.

114 Militants Surrender in Manipur

Over 110 militants belonging to different banned outfits today laid down arms and surrendered before Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh unconditionally to join the mainstream and to promote peace in the state.

The 114 militants also handed over several arms, including AK 47 rifles, different guns, carbines and pistols to Singh at a simple homecoming ceremony here attended by state Home Minister Gaikhangam, Director General of Police Y Joy Kumar and others, said an official statement issued by Assam Rifles.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM lauded the bold step taken by the militants to shun violence and to join the path of peace and prosperity.

Appreciating the critical role of the Assam Rifles in encouraging misguided youth to join the mainstream thereby promoting peace in the area, Singh said peace and freedom from crime and terrorism are the catalysts for bringing all round development in the region.

Some of the family members of the surrendered militants also appealed to the government to help them rehabilitate properly.

Manipur rebel outfit rejects any settlement under Indian constitution

The PLA president Irengbam Chaoren said that an ‘alternative arrangement’ could lessen their sufferings RK Suresh

Imphal

Photos: PLA publicity wing

The oldest and one of the most powerful rebel outfits of Manipur, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of the Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF), which is waging a bloody war against the Centre, has rejected any negotiated settlement under the framework of the Indian Constitution once again. This comes close on the heels of a plea by Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to the rebel outfit to shun violent means and invited it to come forward for dialogue.

In a statement on the 34th Raising Day of the outfit, PLA president Irengbam Chaoren strongly reacted against recent efforts from the Centre and the state to send out feelers to armed organizations, operating in the Northeast, to abjure violence and come out for negotiated settlement within the Indian Constitution.

Chaoren said that there cannot be any settlement within the Indian Constitution to resolve the sovereignty issue of the Northeast region. The PLA leader also urged armed groups from the region, which are engaged in peace talks, to join a united fight for a sovereign Northeast while sidelining the ceasefire from the government as a mere dragnet to suppress the aspiration of the people.

Touching on the ongoing demands by the Nagas of Manipur for an alternative political arrangement for them outside of the Manipur government, the PLA leader said that an “alternative arrangement” could not justify the oppressions and suppressions being perpetrated by the Indian Government against the people of Northeast including the Nagas. Also, lamenting the present Manipur government’s propensity to be a puppet of the Centre, Chaoren seeked people’s support to impeach the current government citing that it is not just the Nagas who are reeling under the repressive rule, but all communities residing in the state were undergoing the same misery.

Meanwhile, the PLA has initiated a major offensive against a team of Manipur police commandos on the outskirts of Imphal East district on Monday, a day before its 34th Raising Day. The attack was significant considering the fact that the outfit had earlier declared that it will not attack personnel of the state security forces.

The attack was carried out near the Yambem Lambi Dam at Andro in Imphal East against a patrol team of the Imphal East Police commandos using high intensity explosives following which the police also retaliated. However, no casualty was reported from the encounter except for some minor damages on the police vehicle. Meanwhile, the PLA while taking responsibility for the attack claimed that the attack was carried out in retaliation of an ongoing counter operation against cadres of the outfit while cautioning the state police commandos for excessive counter insurgency activities.

In a press release, the PLA has also alleged that the IG Assam Rifles-South has lined up a fake surrender ceremony. It claimed that in a ceremony to be held during the next 2-3 days, the Assam Rifles and the Manipur government will felicitate the surrender of over 50 fake underground groups that includes several persons who were paraded in earlier surrender functions. While cautioning the public of such fake achievements of the Indian Army, the outfit also warned the surrendered militants to stay away from the booby trap of the army and the state police which usually end with fake encounter, the outfit alleges.

The PLA was raised in 1978 on 25 September by N Bisheshwar Singh. It was the first organisation from Manipur to have been trained by the China's People Liberation Army at Lhasa in the ’80s. Since its founding, it has been waging guerrilla-based warfare against the Indian Armed Forces and has targeted the Indian Army, Central Paramilitary Forces and the State Police Force. However, during the late ’90s, it declared a unilateral decision not to target the Manipur Police. Estimated strength of PLA is suspected to be around 5000.

Blast in Manipur, three held

Imphal, Sep 26 : Security forces in Manipur had another close shave Monday when rebels of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) triggered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) blast, police said.

Pic used for representational purposes only.

No one was injured. But a vehicle carrying the security forces was partly damaged by the splinters of the IED, Kamei Angam Romanus, the district police chief of Imphal East said.
The blast occurred at Andro village in Manipur’s Imphal East district during the combing operation launched by the Manipur police commandos and Assam Rifles troopers against the PLA rebels hiding in the area.
During the combing operation, Romanus said, three Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) activists were also nabbed by the security forces in Andro area.

Assam ULFA blast kills 1

One person was killed and seven were injured, three of them seriously, in a powerful explosion that rocked the Upper Assam town of Sivasagar on Monday night. The explosion occurred at around 9 pm. Sivasagar SP A K Singh blamed the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for it.

“It is the handiwork of the ULFA which has been trying to cause mischief in the district in the past few weeks. They had recently triggered off an explosion in Sonari town too,” the SP said. The explosion that occurred in the busy Central Market in the heart of Sivasagar town was caused by a device that was apparently kept on a bicycle.

Reports from Sivasagar said the dead has been identified as one Lulu Das, a shopkeeper who was just coming out after shutting down his shop. While Das died on the way to the hospital, two of the injured have been shifted to the Assam Medical College Hospital in Dibrugarh.

Rebels vow to protest oil move

Imphal, Sep 25 : Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF) came out strongly against New Delhi’s attempt to extract oil from Manipur and United Naga Council (UNC)’s demand for an “alternative administrative arrangement” for Nagas living in Manipur.

In his statement issued on the eve of the 34th foundation day of its military wing Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) tomorrow, the outfit’s president, Irengbam Chaoren, termed extraction of oil from Manipur as a “loot” of natural resources meant for future generations of the state.

He also termed the demand for an alternative arrangement for Nagas outside the purview of the Manipur government as “communal”.

The opposition came as Jubilent Oil and Gas Private Limited, headquartered at Netherlands and based in Noida, is trying to explore oil blocks in the districts of Tamenglong, Churachandpur and Imphal East. People have already raised objections to the oil exploration.

Public hearing on oil exploration had met with strong opposition.

“Our priceless environment and natural wealth could be protected only when the hill and plain take a collective decision by shedding sectarian outlooks. The strong opposition put up by communities in the hills of Manipur against the attempt to extract oil clandestinely is a right step. We all should join the movement,” Chaoren said.

Neighbouring Nagaland has also witnessed opposition to oil exploration with the ONGC being asked to leave in the nineties. Subsequent attempts to resume operations have also failed.

On the issue of the UNC’s demand for alternative arrangement, the statement read, “The communal policies of Manipur government should not be fought with alternative arrangement. It is equally communal. This will only pull apart the people and widen differences between communities further”.

On the recent exodus of the Northeast people from other cities of India in the wake of the BTAD violence, the RPF said it was the result of the same attitude of “mistrust” shown by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who allegedly told Jawaharlal Nehru that people of the Northeast could not be trusted because of their Mongoloid features.

It also charged the threats and intimidation to northeastern people in other Indian cities as racism.

On the ongoing peacetalks between the government and various armed groups, the outfit said any settlement under the framework of the Constitution could not end the sufferings of the people.

The RPF, with its armed wing PLA, is one of the major groups fighting for Manipur’s sovereignty. Its cadres were initially trained in China.

The outfit, which is closely monitoring new Delhi’s moves in seeking military support from Southeast Asian countries to crush armed opposition groups in the Northeast, made it very clear that it would not enter into any talks held under the Indian Constitution.

Security forces in Manipur escape another IED attack

Security forces in Manipur had another narrow escaped Monday when a roadside bomb planted by rebels of People Liberation Army (PLA) exploded in Andro area of Imphal East district, partly damaging the vehicle by the splinters.

On Sunday, a convoy of Assam Rifles also had a narrow escaped when a remote control IED was triggered near Tidim ground along the Tidim Raod (Imphal-Churachandpur section of NH-150) by suspected rebels.

Today’s blast took place around 9.30 am at Andro village under Yairipok police station where a combined force comprising police commandos attached with Imphal East and Thoubal, troopers of 28 Assam Rifles and Army (Military Intelligence) launched a counter insurgency.

No casualty was reported even though the splinters damaged the rear of the vehicle belonging to the combined forces. The culvert where the bomb was planted was blown up by the impact of the blast, reports said.

A highly reliable source said that the bomb attack was targeted on the combined forces entering the area based on disclosure made by three PLA activists arrested by Imphal East police commandos earlier that some cadres of the outfit were taking shelter in the area to carry out attack on security forces.

Later briefing media, Imphal East SP Kamei Angam Romanus said that three active members of Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), the political wing of the PLA were arrested by the combined force with the recovery of four flags of the outfit.

Sharungbam Thoiba Meetei (57) of Andro Torongthel village, Mutum Shanta (40) of Yairipok Mathak Leikai and Yumkhaibam Chaothoi Singh Andro Maringthel were arrested during the counter insurgency operations in Andro area, SP said.

More arms seized in Bodo belt

The weapons and ammunition recovered in Assam’s Chirang district on Wednesday night.

Kokrajhar, Sept. 21 : Illegal arms were seized from the Bodo belt for the third consecutive day today with security personnel recovering two AK-56 rifles, two magazines and 20 rounds of ammunition. This takes the number of weapons seized in the past three days to eight.

Police said a joint team of police and army carried out a search operation at Sonajuli village under Dhimakuchi police station in Udalguri district in the wee hours today following a tip-off and recovered the arms and ammunition, which were hidden in a gunny bag. No one was, however, arrested.

“This recovery has boosted the morale of security forces and enhanced the tempo of search operations in Udalguri district. The police and army are working together to recover more illegal weapons in the area,” a senior army official based at Borrangajuli in the district said.

The security forces had launched the operation to seize illegal arms and ammunition in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District after the recent riots in the two BTAD districts of Kokrajhar and Chirang and neighbouring Dhubri. The government issued the directive after reports surfaced that illegal arms had been used in large numbers during the violence.

The forces achieved first success on Tuesday evening with the recovery of four AK-56 rifles, four magazines and 65 rounds of live ammunitions from Simaluguri under Paneri police station in Udalguri district. They also arrested six persons — Deepak Boro, Utul Boro, Harita Boro, Janeshwar Boro, Vipul Boro and Navreshwar.

Two more AK-47 rifles were seized along with three magazines and 23 rounds of live ammunition from an arms dealer, Jayanta Barua, at Samtaibari in Chirang district last evening.

Chirang superintendent of police K.S. Krishna said they carried out the search operation based on information that a person was coming with arms from Guwahati in a vehicle.

He said Barua, who hails from Tinsukia district in Upper Assam, had brought the arms from Dimapur for supply in the BTAD area. Interrogations are on.

Four Kuki rebels held, arms seized

Assam Rifles personnel have arrested four armed cadres of a Kuki tribal underground organisation in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on the charge of violating ground rules of suspension of operations signed with the Union government, an official report said on Thursday. These members of the Kuki National Front were found in possession of two AK 47 rifles with 40 rounds of ammunition, two M-16 rifles with 40 rounds of ammunition, and two lethod guns with two ammunition bombs.

According to the agreement, the signatories should stay in designated camps and cannot move around carrying arms. The Kuki National Front and 19 other underground organisations in Manipur are yet to begin talks with the government.

Assam Rifles kills two rebels in Imphal

IMPHAL: In the wake of frequent bomb attacks by insurgents on security forces in the restive Imphal valley, Assam Rifles personnel gunned down two militants in an encounter at Kangchup area in Imphal West district in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Soldiers from the Assam Rifles' 10{+t}{+h} battalion, who engaged in the gunfight around 3am, found one AK series rifle, two pistols with bullets, two hand grenades, explosive material and two detonators on the slain militants, whose identities are yet to be ascertained.

Police retrieved the bodies and kept them in the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here for autopsy.

Local sources said they heard gunshot sounds in the area and some fishermen who tried to find out what was happening were blocked by AR personnel.

Following a series of bomb attacks on the security forces, security has been beefed up at strategic locations in the four valley districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal.

In six separate powerful bomb attacks launched by rebels off and on since September 5, at least one Assam Rifles personnel has been killed and 10 security personnel and a civilian have been injured.

Manipur home minister Gaikhangam, who took serious note of the insurgents' subversive actions, has called for a political dialogue with the rebels groups saying that violence can never bring any permanent solution.

Meanwhile, a youth killed by Manipur police commandos in an alleged encounter at Yourbung-Kharasom road in Imphal East on Sunday night turned out to be an underground cadre who surrendered with arms to the Assam Rifles last year.

The bereaved family said T Govind (30) of Takhel Mamang Leikai village in the same district was staying in an Assam Rifles camp before he came home after procuring an 'outpass'.

Incidentally, police claimed that one 9-mm pistol and a hand grenade were recovered from the site where Govind died in the alleged encounter.

Irate locals, who formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) in protest against Govind's killing, are likely to meet chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on the matter.