IMPHAL: An Army jawan was killed and two others seriously injured when a powerful bomb, allegedly planted by insurgents, exploded in Manipur's interior Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar and Mizoram on Tuesday morning.
Official sources said personnel of 11 Gorkha Rifles were on patrol duty when the bomb, which was attached to a culvert, exploded at around 6.40am killing a jawan on the spot and injuring two others seriously.
It was not immediately known whether the suspected insurgents used remote-controlled device or a timer.
The explosion occurred about 6 km from Churachandpur police station and about 50 km south of the state capital, the sources said.
Security and police personnel posted near Churachandpur police station immediately surrounded the area and launched a search operation but no one was apprehended and it is suspected that the assailants might have hidden in the nearby thickly wooded hilly area.
No individual or group immediately claimed responsibility for the incident which is the first major attack on Army personnel this year, the sources added.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
ZILLAI bodies flay monetary demand
Imphal, Feb 28 :
Condemning monetary demand served to Khuplianmang Vaiphei, Chief of
Lingshiphai Village under Churachandpur district by Zomi Football Club
(ZFC) in alleged nexus with Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) ZILLAI General
Headquarters (GHQ) and its block level bodies namely ZILLAI
Churachandpur; ZILLAI Kangvai; ZILLAI Imphal and ZILLAI Eastern has
demanded the concerned authorities to take up immediate action in this
regard within five days.
In a joint statement, the two ZILLAI bodies informed that after threat and intimidation through phone calls did not work, ZRA cadres ultimately manhandled and assaulted the wife of the Chief at his residence.
ZRA cadres also used derogatory and abusive words demeaning the Vaiphei tribe, thus hurting the sentiments of people.
The ZILLAI bodies also warned of taking their own course of action if concerned authorities failed to meet their demands within the stipulated period.
In a joint statement, the two ZILLAI bodies informed that after threat and intimidation through phone calls did not work, ZRA cadres ultimately manhandled and assaulted the wife of the Chief at his residence.
ZRA cadres also used derogatory and abusive words demeaning the Vaiphei tribe, thus hurting the sentiments of people.
The ZILLAI bodies also warned of taking their own course of action if concerned authorities failed to meet their demands within the stipulated period.
Monday, February 25, 2013
UNLF clarifies stand
Imphal, Feb. 26 : UNLF chairman R.K. Meghen alias Sana Yaima is firm on continuing with the struggle despite being tried by the NIA.
In a statement issued here today, the UNLF said Sana Yaima, chairman of the group, was firm on his stand of not entering into the peace process with the Centre.
The group was reacting to reports by some Guwahati-based news channels and an Assamese daily, which reported on February 20 that Sana Yaima had begun peace talks with representatives of the Centre through video conferencing from Dispur.
Terming the reports as baseless, the statement clarified that the NIA took Sana Yaima and 14 others to Dispur secretariat complex for video conferencing as it produced two protected witnesses at a New Delhi court. The witnesses’ statements were taken through video conferencing.
It said the Centre was trying to undermine Sana Yaima and the others. It charged the NIA with manipulating the media to mislead the public. It demanded apology from the news channels and the daily.
In a statement issued here today, the UNLF said Sana Yaima, chairman of the group, was firm on his stand of not entering into the peace process with the Centre.
The group was reacting to reports by some Guwahati-based news channels and an Assamese daily, which reported on February 20 that Sana Yaima had begun peace talks with representatives of the Centre through video conferencing from Dispur.
Terming the reports as baseless, the statement clarified that the NIA took Sana Yaima and 14 others to Dispur secretariat complex for video conferencing as it produced two protected witnesses at a New Delhi court. The witnesses’ statements were taken through video conferencing.
It said the Centre was trying to undermine Sana Yaima and the others. It charged the NIA with manipulating the media to mislead the public. It demanded apology from the news channels and the daily.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Nunisa homecoming in March
Silchar Feb 25 : The DHD (Nunisa) faction which had signed a tripartite peace accord in New Delhi on October 8 last year, will celebrate its formal “homecoming” on March 9 in Haflong.
The chairman of the outfit, Dilip Nunisa, on Friday night told this correspondent over phone from Dispur that chief minister Tarun Gogoi had agreed to be present on that day.
Nunisa said he would go to New Delhi next week to request home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to attend the programme in Dima Hasao.
The daylong function will showcase the lives of the hills and plains people living in Dima Hasao through dances in traditional dresses and martial arts.
Nunisa said on March 6, nearly 1,000 DHD (N) cadres would surrender arms and ammunition to the district administration in Haflong.
In January 2003, the DHD (N) signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre and Dispur and since then it has been holding peace parleys.
Nunisa reiterated that his group would soon be disbanded and he and some of the top commanders and associates would float a political party in Dima Hasao to contest the elections.
The first election to the 40-member Dima Hasao autonomous territorial council, the formation of which was agreed on October 8 when the peace accord was signed in New Delhi, is likely to be held soon, he added.
Sources close to Nunisa said he could contest the territorial council poll from Diongmukh constituency in Dima Hasao district.
The chairman of the outfit, Dilip Nunisa, on Friday night told this correspondent over phone from Dispur that chief minister Tarun Gogoi had agreed to be present on that day.
Nunisa said he would go to New Delhi next week to request home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to attend the programme in Dima Hasao.
The daylong function will showcase the lives of the hills and plains people living in Dima Hasao through dances in traditional dresses and martial arts.
Nunisa said on March 6, nearly 1,000 DHD (N) cadres would surrender arms and ammunition to the district administration in Haflong.
In January 2003, the DHD (N) signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre and Dispur and since then it has been holding peace parleys.
Nunisa reiterated that his group would soon be disbanded and he and some of the top commanders and associates would float a political party in Dima Hasao to contest the elections.
The first election to the 40-member Dima Hasao autonomous territorial council, the formation of which was agreed on October 8 when the peace accord was signed in New Delhi, is likely to be held soon, he added.
Sources close to Nunisa said he could contest the territorial council poll from Diongmukh constituency in Dima Hasao district.
India's northeast alerted after Hyderabad blasts
Agartala, Feb 25 : A high alert has been sounded in India's northeast following the Hyderabad terror attack that killed 16 people, an official said Sunday.
"The union home ministry has asked all northeastern states to intensify their vigil," a paramilitary official told IANS.
He said bomb experts and dog squads had been told to scan crowded places.
Four northeastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam - share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh. Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,640-km border with Myanmar.
Most of the international border is unfenced and runs through dense forests and mountainous, making it porous, vulnerable and advantageous for terrorists and others.
On Feb 21, two powerful bombs, suspected to be planted by terror groups, killed 16 people and injured 117 in Hyderabad.
"The union home ministry has asked all northeastern states to intensify their vigil," a paramilitary official told IANS.
He said bomb experts and dog squads had been told to scan crowded places.
Four northeastern states - Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam - share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh. Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,640-km border with Myanmar.
Most of the international border is unfenced and runs through dense forests and mountainous, making it porous, vulnerable and advantageous for terrorists and others.
On Feb 21, two powerful bombs, suspected to be planted by terror groups, killed 16 people and injured 117 in Hyderabad.
HNA slams HPC(D)
Lamka, Feb 23: The Hmar National Army today slammed the HPC (D)
President’s group for allegedly breaking the SoO ground rules while
pledging to fully back the security forces in and outside Manipur to
further prevent shedding of innocent blood as a result of the internal
conflict within the HPC (D).
HNA has claimed that the President group of the HPC (D) had on February 3 opened fire at Sielmat village and the following night entered the house of an HNA member and fired on him after taking him outside. The HNA member fortunately escaped unhurt, it said and alleged that the Assam Rifles as a result of the firing started operation at the said village and arrested two persons with a 9mm pistol.
Pledging to contain the bloodshed as a result of the conflict within the HPC(D), the HNA said it will regard anyone who breaks the SoO rules as anti-national and support the security forces to punish whoever is responsible for any form of violence. The HNA also claimed that demands raised by the UPF and KNO can be achieved without taking up arms and thus implies that the Hmars living in North East India can get constitutional safeguard without arms as well.
The HNA statement signed by HR Khawbung, a member of joint monitoring group also alleged that the HPC(D) President’s group had been disseminating false propaganda through the press in the name of Hmar Students Association. Using the student body’s name without the knowledge and permission of the concerned really affects Hmar national integrity and the HNA while also appealing the HPC(D) group to stop exploiting the same in future.
HNA has claimed that the President group of the HPC (D) had on February 3 opened fire at Sielmat village and the following night entered the house of an HNA member and fired on him after taking him outside. The HNA member fortunately escaped unhurt, it said and alleged that the Assam Rifles as a result of the firing started operation at the said village and arrested two persons with a 9mm pistol.
Pledging to contain the bloodshed as a result of the conflict within the HPC(D), the HNA said it will regard anyone who breaks the SoO rules as anti-national and support the security forces to punish whoever is responsible for any form of violence. The HNA also claimed that demands raised by the UPF and KNO can be achieved without taking up arms and thus implies that the Hmars living in North East India can get constitutional safeguard without arms as well.
The HNA statement signed by HR Khawbung, a member of joint monitoring group also alleged that the HPC(D) President’s group had been disseminating false propaganda through the press in the name of Hmar Students Association. Using the student body’s name without the knowledge and permission of the concerned really affects Hmar national integrity and the HNA while also appealing the HPC(D) group to stop exploiting the same in future.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Meghalaya politicians have nexus with militants
SHILLONG, Feb 19 – Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Prashant Naik today said nexus between politicians of the State and militants is “100 per cent true and a known fact,” but in the absence of evidence little can be done.
“It is 100 per cent true that there is a nexus between politicians and militants...it is a known fact, but where is the evidence,” he asked journalists when prodded on the issue.
The BJP has been constantly alleging that the Congress party has been using militants to further its poll objectives in Garo Hills. Other political parties have also made similar allegations.
In Garo Hills, especially the Garo National Liberation Army, the Achik National Volunteers’ Council and its breakaway faction has been active during this election and have been creating trouble in the area.
To contain these disruptive elements, the State Government has requested 71 additional companies of paramilitary forces. With the arrival of 61 companies today all the requested security forces have arrived.
Twenty-nine of these paramilitary forces would be deployed in Garo Hills alone, apart from those already conducting counter-insurgency operations in the troubled districts of the region.
Out of these 29 companies, five have been deployed in Williamnagar alone and more would be deployed for area domination before the polls.
Naik said that Williamnagar and its surroundings, are areas of concern and so forces would be sent there accordingly. He added that request of candidates for additional security for their protection is being studied by the respective Returning Officers.
HSPDP supremo Hopingstone Lyngdoh has requested for extra protection during this election, Naik said, adding, the RO of West Khasi Hills district is assessing the threat level and would provide security accordingly.
“It is 100 per cent true that there is a nexus between politicians and militants...it is a known fact, but where is the evidence,” he asked journalists when prodded on the issue.
The BJP has been constantly alleging that the Congress party has been using militants to further its poll objectives in Garo Hills. Other political parties have also made similar allegations.
In Garo Hills, especially the Garo National Liberation Army, the Achik National Volunteers’ Council and its breakaway faction has been active during this election and have been creating trouble in the area.
To contain these disruptive elements, the State Government has requested 71 additional companies of paramilitary forces. With the arrival of 61 companies today all the requested security forces have arrived.
Twenty-nine of these paramilitary forces would be deployed in Garo Hills alone, apart from those already conducting counter-insurgency operations in the troubled districts of the region.
Out of these 29 companies, five have been deployed in Williamnagar alone and more would be deployed for area domination before the polls.
Naik said that Williamnagar and its surroundings, are areas of concern and so forces would be sent there accordingly. He added that request of candidates for additional security for their protection is being studied by the respective Returning Officers.
HSPDP supremo Hopingstone Lyngdoh has requested for extra protection during this election, Naik said, adding, the RO of West Khasi Hills district is assessing the threat level and would provide security accordingly.
gineer goes missing in Assam, abduction by militants suspected
Hyderabad: A
26-year-old engineer from Andhra Pradesh, who was working in Assam, has
gone missing since Friday. Chintala Paidi Raju, a resident of
Visakhapatnam, is suspected to have been abducted by suspected rebels of
the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) on Friday
night.Mr Raju, a quality control engineer with C&C Construction Limited, was reportedly taken away by four armed men on bikes from the Dhekia Puta area of Baksha district in the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam, one of the project sites of the company.
The company had reportedly not informed the local police about starting its work in a remote area.
Mr Raju had been working at the project site for the last 18 months on the transmission lines for the Power Grid Corporation of India. Several others from Andhra Pradesh are also employed and posted there.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Manipur separatist arrested from Indo-Nepal border
Kolkata: A leader of a separatist outfit from Manipur was arrested from Indo-Nepal border in West Bengal by the special task force of Kolkata police, a senior police official said.
Bunty Singh, a senior leader of United Peoples Party of Kangleipak which operates in Manipur, was arrested from Naxalbari area of Jalpaiguri district yesterday for his alleged involvement in various extremist activities.
"We have started investigation," STF chief Rajeev Mishra said.
United People's Party of Kangleipak is an insurgent group of Manipur.
Bunty Singh, a senior leader of United Peoples Party of Kangleipak which operates in Manipur, was arrested from Naxalbari area of Jalpaiguri district yesterday for his alleged involvement in various extremist activities.
"We have started investigation," STF chief Rajeev Mishra said.
United People's Party of Kangleipak is an insurgent group of Manipur.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
197 militants surrender in Manipur
Imphal: One hundred and ninety-seven militants surrendered to Manipur government on Wednesday along with 138 weapons, an official spokesman said.
Principal secretary (Home) Suresh Babu said the militants belonged to United Revolutionary Front, Kangleipak Communist Party (Lamphel faction) and Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (Military Defence Force).
The weapons laid down before Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and other top police and security officials included rifles, pistols and other sophisticated weapons.
Welcoming the militants, Chief Minister Ibobi Singh said the government would initiate peace talks with these militant outfits to enable other militants to lay down arms.
He said the government would rehabilitate these militants and as a first step, each of them would be given Rs 4000 per month for a period of two years from today.
The chief minister said the government would give Rs 2.50 lakh after a period of two years during which period they will be given vocational training so that they can begin a new life.
He said the government was happy that these militants had realised the necessity of joining the mainstream after adopting a 'wrong path' and appealed to other militants to follow their example.
Principal secretary (Home) Suresh Babu said the militants belonged to United Revolutionary Front, Kangleipak Communist Party (Lamphel faction) and Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (Military Defence Force).
The weapons laid down before Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and other top police and security officials included rifles, pistols and other sophisticated weapons.
Welcoming the militants, Chief Minister Ibobi Singh said the government would initiate peace talks with these militant outfits to enable other militants to lay down arms.
He said the government would rehabilitate these militants and as a first step, each of them would be given Rs 4000 per month for a period of two years from today.
The chief minister said the government would give Rs 2.50 lakh after a period of two years during which period they will be given vocational training so that they can begin a new life.
He said the government was happy that these militants had realised the necessity of joining the mainstream after adopting a 'wrong path' and appealed to other militants to follow their example.
Three Manipur outfits sign MoU
Number of Manipur militant groups opting for peace pact now 24
Leaders of three militant groups and government officials sign the MoU in Imphal on Wednesday.
Leaders of three militant groups and government officials sign the MoU in Imphal on Wednesday.
Imphal, Feb 14 : Three militant
factions today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to end
violence in a tripartite agreement between the groups, Manipur
government and the Union home ministry, at a function organised here
today.
Leaders of the United Revolutionary Front
(URF), Kangleipak Communist Party (Lamphel) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna
Lup-Military Defence Force (KYKL-MDF) signed the pact named Memorandum
of Understanding.
The event was held at the banquet hall of
the 1st Manipur Rifles in the presence of chief minister Okram Ibobi
Singh, deputy chief minister Gaikhangam and several other ministers.
Ninety cadres of the URF, 40 cadres of the
KCP (Lamphel) and 67 cadres of the KYKL (MDF) were also present and 139
weapons brought by them were handed over to the Manipur government.
Three Kangleipak Communist Party factions form the URF.
On behalf of Shambhu Singh, joint
secretary (Northeast), Union home ministry, the Manipur government
signed identical MoUs separately with the groups.
According to the agreement, the cadres
would stay in designated camps and before they are set up, they would
stay in temporary camps at the army and Assam Rifles posts.
The cadres would be given a monthly
stipend of Rs 4,000 each per month for a period of two years and a fixed
deposit of Rs 2.5 lakh each, which could be withdrawn with interest,
after two years.
The MoU contains ground rules to be
observed by both the government and the cadres. It also states that
vocational training would be given to the cadres and efforts would be
made to recruit them in paramilitary forces.
With three more factions signing the MoU, the Manipur militant groups entering the peace process since 2005, went up to 24.
Ibobi Singh and home minister Gaikhangam
considered the signing of the MoU today, as a significant stride
towards restoring peace and normality in the state.
“We decided to come back to the national
mainstream after our efforts could not yield any good results,” Athouba,
chairman of the KYKL (MDF) faction, said.
He cautioned the Union home ministry and
the state government that if the government was not sincere and serious
in their efforts to offer them normal life, the cadres could go back to
jungles.
Lalheiba, chief of army staff of URF, said the cadres decided to return to the national mainstream for peace.
Ibobi Singh assured the cadres that his
government would make all efforts to ensure that they were properly
rehabilitated and their lives were safe and secure.
Both the chief minister and Gaikhangam
appealed to other groups to come forward and join the peace process for
protecting the integrity of Manipur and making it one of the most
vibrant and peaceful states in the country.
Rebel attack averted in poll-bound Meghalaya
Shillong, Feb 14 : A rebel was arrested Monday in poll-bound Meghalaya when he tried to lob a crude bomb in a market, police said.
Tenbirth T. Sangma, the rebel of the outlawed Garo outfit, was and a bomb weighing around 300 gram and incriminating documents seized from his possession, police said.
"We have averted a major disaster after we prevented a Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebel from throwing a powerful crude bomb in Rongkhon market," Mukesh Kumar Singh, the district police chief of West Garo Hills, told IANS.
Preparations are on for the Feb 23 assembly elections in Meghalaya.
Many polling stations in the five districts of Garo in the western part of Meghalaya has been classified as "hyper-sensitive". Ten companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in East Garo Hills district to ensure smooth conduct of the elections, a police official said.
The GNLA, fighting for a separate Garoland in the western region of Meghalaya, has forged close operational links with other northeast-based insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
Meghalaya, especially the Garo Hills region, is said to be a safe haven for various northeast-based militant groups, including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), the United Liberation Front of Asom, and a faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland.
Tenbirth T. Sangma, the rebel of the outlawed Garo outfit, was and a bomb weighing around 300 gram and incriminating documents seized from his possession, police said.
"We have averted a major disaster after we prevented a Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebel from throwing a powerful crude bomb in Rongkhon market," Mukesh Kumar Singh, the district police chief of West Garo Hills, told IANS.
Preparations are on for the Feb 23 assembly elections in Meghalaya.
Many polling stations in the five districts of Garo in the western part of Meghalaya has been classified as "hyper-sensitive". Ten companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in East Garo Hills district to ensure smooth conduct of the elections, a police official said.
The GNLA, fighting for a separate Garoland in the western region of Meghalaya, has forged close operational links with other northeast-based insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
Meghalaya, especially the Garo Hills region, is said to be a safe haven for various northeast-based militant groups, including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), the United Liberation Front of Asom, and a faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland.