Centre rules out GNLA talks

New Delhi, Jun 30 : The Centre, refusing to see the turmoil in Garo hills through Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma’s eyes, has rejected a proposal for talks with the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) but is ready to strengthen police forces with a Rs 500-crore assistance.

Two developments in the ministry of home affairs indicate that the Centre will help the Mukul Sangma-led government but not without red lines, as Sangma’s “overtures” were rejected, The Telegraph has learnt.

Sangma last week met Union home minister Rajnath Singh to brief him about law and order in the state.

Sangma has criticised the GNLA for meddling in the recently concluded elections. However, security agencies believe that the government is in a mood to accept feelers from the outfit for talks, a move Delhi disapproves of.

“The GNLA has to be dealt with force and without compromise,” a government source said. Talks with the outfit are unlikely in the near future unless there is cessation of violence by the group, sources said.

The outfit was formed in 2009 and despite its limited strength, has become a challenge for security forces. The Narendra Modi government has taken a hard view on tackling Naxals or insurgent groups like the GNLA.

However, Sangma’s proposal to the government for strengthening police stations, particularly in Garo hills, may be accepted by the North Block. Sources said a Rs 500-crore proposal would be examined by the cabinet soon.

Earlier this year, the outfit was believed to be willing for talks but one incident changed the ground apparently cleared for negotiations. When GNLA cadres blew up a woman’s head after accusing her of being a police informer, the idea for negotiations was lost.

In fact, the Centre is ready to step up attacks against the group. Following the killing of the woman, 15 companies (about 1,500 personnel) of central forces and five teams of the CRPF’s elite CoBRA force were despatched to Garo hills. Since then, the forces have been taking on the rebels, whose chief, former deputy superintendent of police Champion R. Sangma, is in police custody. Currently, the outfit’s “commander-in-chief” is said to be leading the offensive against security forces.

The Centre is ready to send another 1,000 central forces to Garo hills, along with five more CoBRA. The clash between security forces and rebels would get fiercer as intelligence reports suggest that the outfit is losing whatever little public support it enjoyed in its pocket boroughs.

Meghalaya’s Khasi hills have found some respite from the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council but Garo hills continues to remain on the boil. Settlements have to be reached with the A’chik National Volunteer Council and other smaller groups that are engaged in extortion and remain an irritant for the security forces. Their activitivies have compelled the government to dedicate resources not only to insurgency but also to guard the Indo-Bangla border.

Cop-killer outfit strikes again

Nagaon, Jun 24 : A 32-year-old India Reserve Battalion (IRBN) jawan and a senior cadre of the United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) were killed in an exchange of fire in an interior Karbi village, 40km from Karbi Anglong district headquarters Diphu, early this morning.

Acting on specific information, a joint team of Karbi Anglong police and IRBN jawans carried out a search operation in Doldoli Hanse Gaon early this morning. Suspected UPLA cadres in army fatigues ambushed the joint team as soon as they reached the entry point of the village. The team fired back and the exchange continued for half-an-hour.

IRBN jawan Goutam Koch, 32, died on the spot. Militants escaped from the site during the exchange of fire.

The police later found the body of the UPLA cadre along with an AK-47 rifle and some bullets. He was later identified as UPLA Doldoli area commander Rajib Engleng.

The police also recovered some extortion letters addressed to prominent persons of the hill district.

Koch, who married five months back, was from Bokoliaghat of Karbi Anglong.

The UPLA has emerged as a very influential outfit within a couple of months with its network spread across Karbi Anglong and neighbouring Dima Hasao district.

On June 5, the militant group carried on its first ambush in Hamren in which Hamren superintendent of police Nityananda Goswami and his personal security officer Ratul Nunisa died.

In Dima Hasao, the police carried out an operation against UPLA in Karbi-dominated Umrangsu area and dismantled two of the outfit’s training camps. Some arms and ammunition, including two pistols, were seized.

A police source said the UPLA does not have more than 50 cadres. Initially, Karbi Anglong police were in the dark about its base in Dimapur where it gets patronage from the NSCN (I-M).

In another unrelated incident, Dima Hasao police today rescued M. Rao who was kidnapped by unknown militants from Maibong on Tuesday.

Engineer Abducted by Suspected Militants Freed in Assam

The stone crushing unit at Kalachand in Assam, from where Mr Naga Malleshwar Rao was kidnapped on June 17

Guwahati:  Naga Malleshwar Rao, an engineer from Andhra Pradesh who was kidnapped by suspected militants in Assam last week, was released today.

Mr Rao, who works for a private company in Assam, hails from Chimakurthy in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.

The 36-year-old engineer was kidnapped from a stone crushing unit at Kalachand, about 60 kilometres from Assam's Haflong town, by a group of suspected Bodo militants on June 17.

The Andhra Pradesh government had on Sunday appealed to the Assam administration to ensure the safe release of Mr Rao.

On the directions of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, state Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao had spoken to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police in Assam and requested them to take steps for the safe and early release of the engineer, a statement had said.

Engineer From Andhra Pradesh Kidnapped by Militants in Assam

Guwahati:  An engineer from Andhra Pradesh has been kidnapped near Haflong in Assam, allegedly by militants. The abductors have demanded a ransom of Rs. 6 crore, according to sources.

Nagamalleswara Rao, a native of the Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh, is employed with a private firm in Assam. He was abducted on June 16.

"He was working as the manager of a stone crusher unit. The reason for abduction is extortion. Police is conduction search operations," said the Haflong Superintendent of Police (SP).

Last Monday, around five suspected militants entered the stone crushing unit at Kalachand, about 60 kilometres from Haflong and kidnapped the 36-year-old manager.

GNLA Vice-Chairman arrested in Bangalore

In a major breakthrough, the Bangalore and Meghalaya police carried out a combined operation and arrested Rafiush Sangma, the vice chairman of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).

The self-styled "vice-chairman" of outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), Rafiush Sangma was arrested from his residence in Bangalore, where was hiding for the last three months and had been receiving money through bank transfers and leading a "luxurious life".

"The Meghalaya police officers were in touch with us for a long time and we were all assisting them and were sharing the information. A team from Meghalaya led by DSP had arrived to Bangalore and we had assisted them by sending inspectors and staff of Koramangala and Madiwala police stations. They were able to arrest him on June 16 in Chandapur village on the outskirts of the Bangalore city. He has been produced before the Anekkal jurisdictional court," said Bangalore Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar.

Sangma is the second top-ranking GNLA leader to come under the police net. In July 2012, GNLA chairman, Champion Sangma was arrested near the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya.

The banned Garo National Liberation Army is based in North Garo Hills of Meghalaya and has been involved in several acts of violence in both Meghalaya and Assam.

The government is stressing on strengthening the state's police force to tackle the rising menace of the Garo insurgents.

Request to Bhutan to help fight NE rebels

New Delhi, Jun 18 : India has sought Bhutan’s co-operation in fighting Northeast insurgent groups that have camps along the border with the Himalayan country.

New Delhi has cited the success against the Ulfa over a decade ago and underlined the request for help with the “terrorism divides, tourism unites” message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to Bhutan’s parliament yesterday.

Modi’s reference was seen as his way of emphasising Bhutan’s close links with the Northeast.

“India has sought Bhutan’s co-operation in dealing with this problem. We recall how in 2003, Bhutan had pushed back the Ulfa,” an official said.

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland’s (Songbijit) faction is one of the militant groups that has such camps, sources said.

The splinter NDFB faction — which is opposed to talks unlike the main group — is blamed for a large number of killings and extortion in the Bodo areas.

The officials stressed the need to nip the threat from the NDFB camps in the bud before it assumed menacing proportions like that of the Ulfa over a decade ago.

The Bodo outfit is largely headless in the area as the top leadership, including I.K. Songbijit and others, are believed to be hiding in Myanmar, close to the border with Manipur.

Officials said the NDFB camps were largely restricted to the border areas in Bhutan and could be tackled with better co-ordination between the forces of the two nations.

The sources said the security request to Thimphu was dovetailed with Modi’s proposal yesterday for a tourism circuit “combining India’s north-eastern states and Bhutan”.

Chief of militant outfit UALA held in Guwahati hospital

Novembirth Marak at the nursing home in Guwahati on Sunday. (Dasarath Deka)

Assam Police arrested self-styled chairman of the United Achik Liberation Army (UALA), Novembirth Marak alias Chiindik Marak, from a nursing home in Guwahati late on Saturday night.

He has been taken to Tura in Meghalaya where he is wanted in connection with several cases.

A senior officer in the Assam Police said Marak (36) was living in rented accommodation in the Birubari area of Guwahati for the last few months from where he was said to have been running the UALA — based in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya — over the telephone.

  

“We got intelligence inputs that he was undergoing surgery in a private nursing home in Guwahati.

We closed in on him and picked him up late in the evening (on Saturday),” another officer said on Sunday.

Marak was admitted to the nursing home for a gall bladder operation on June 10.

After his arrest, the police searched his house and recovered a number of incriminating documents.

Marak is wanted for several crimes, including murder, kidnap and extortion, among others, in Garo Hills region of Meghalaya.

A former general secretary of the Garo National Liberation Army (GLNA), Marak was first arrested in 2010. He is said to have joined the UALA after his release in November 2013.

The UALA was formed by former Achik National Volunteers Council leader Norok X Momin in February 2013 and comprises about 40 cadres.

Interestingly, on June 2, the UALA had expressed willingness to join peace talks with the government, albeit on the condition that a separate Garoland state be created.

In a statement Marak had said, “We have decided to hold talks with the government for final solution in order to restore everlasting peace and development of Garo hills and for the larger interest of the people.”

New rebel outfit in Dima Hasao

Nagaon, June 15: About five cadres of disbanded Dimasa militant outfits have floated a new group and launched a massive extortion drive in Haflong and Maibong subdivisions of the troubled Dima Hasao district in Assam.

Dima Hasao police have told the government’s home department about the newly floated group and an operation is on to catch the leaders.

The outfit — Dima Hasao National Army — has its own letterheads and other items, including two pistols.

The development came to light just a week after another newly floated militant group killed Hamren superintendent of police Nityananda Goswami in an ambush in neighbouring Karbi Anglong district. As alleged, that group too has been formed by disbanded leaders of another militant outfit.

Dima Hasao police today said the fact came to light during the recent arrest of a Dimasa youth from Topodisa near Haflong, who allegedly attempted to collect money demanded in the name of the new outfit. The police recovered three extortion letters from the arrested youth.

“We have received several complaints from businessmen, government employees and villagers about the fresh extortion drive. Operations are on to catch the leaders behind the new group,” said Dima Hasao superintendent of police B. Rajkhowa.

Rajkhowa, however, refused to give details about the present cadre strength of the outfit.

NDFB faction likely to strike’

MANOJ ANAND

GUWAHATI : National Democratic Front of Bodoland plans offensives in BTC before council elections, security sources said

The security agencies have alerted Assam that the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction) was piling up arms and ammunition in the Bodoland Territorial Council and may strike in a big way after September this year.

Informing that there is possibility of anti-talk faction of the NDFB joining hands with other struggling forces of the BTC, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that the defeat of all the Bodo candidates on the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha seat has forced the political and non-political forces of the Bodo community to rethink their stand.

Asserting that there was rethinking on uniting the forces fighting for Bodoland state separately, security sources said that this has also come in the wake of elections for the Bodoland Territorial Council in April 2015. The polarisation of the non-Bodo population, which is more than 60 per cent in the BTC, may prove to be another setback for the ruling Bodoland People’s Front.

Security sources said that the anti-talk faction of the NDFB has also decided to appoint a commander of Bodo origin as its commander-in-chief in place of I.K. Songbijit (not of Bodo origin), who may be promoted as chairman or given some advisory role in the outfit.

Referring to intelligence inputs emanating from the field, security sources said that the NDFB was smuggling sophisticated arms and ammunitions in the BTC in smaller numbers every week.

Claiming that the move was strategic, security sources said that some of the arms consignments of the NDFB were seized but the confession of some conduits involved in smuggling arms for the outfit revealed that many such shipments have reached their destination in the BTC.

Pointing out that anti-talk factions of NDFB considers the unity among the non-Bodo organisations, as a setback for the separate Bodoland movement, security sources said that attempt of driving out non-Bodo population from BTC at gun-point may not be ruled out.

Though, home ministry has decided not withdraw the central forces deployed in the BTC, security sources said that state government has also been informed in very categorical term to keep close watch on BTC.

Security sources however claimed that Assam government has also taken the alerts very seriously and decided to work out mechanism to foil any such attempt of creating unrest in BTC.

‘Maoists getting sophisticated arms through NE’

Raju Das

SHILLONG, June 13  – The Maoists operating in different parts of India are getting sophisticated arms and ammunition delivered from the North East, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said in the Assembly yesterday and added that a joint Centre-State approach is needed to stop this dangerous trend.

Replying to budget discussions, the Chief Minister said that the Maoists who were earlier operating with muzzle loading guns are now in possession of sophisticated weapons from Myanmar, Bangladesh and China.

He said some of the sophisticated weapons such as rocket and grenade launchers, latest AK-47s are all available in the North East, which are being delivered across India, including the Maoists.

Sangma said that he, like all other Chief Ministers of the North East, does not have the mandate to guard the borders or hold talks with the respective heads of countries. He, therefore, said that a robust Centre-State relationship is required to stop this dangerous trend of arms being slipped into the country.

He suggested that the Centre must take steps to seal the borders and also hold talks with the neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and China so that arms smuggling could be stopped and thereby avoid wider security ramifications.

The Chief Minister further said that the problem of militancy and terrorism in Meghalaya cannot be stopped unless all the seven States of the region and the Centre join hands. He said that outfits like the ULFA and NDFB in Assam are “hand-holding” groups in Meghalaya for their own benefit.

Stating that the problem is complex and much of the cadres of the militant and terrorist groups of Meghalaya are from Assam and Bangladesh, he said, there is a sizeable population of Garos in these areas from where the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and other groups draw recruits.

“I would head a delegate to New Delhi and meet the Central Ministers to apprise them of the situation. On the other hand I would also be writing to my counterparts of all seven States in the region on the issue,” Sangma informed the House.

Touching on the sensitive militancy and terrorism problem of the State, he said that outfits like the GNLA which have unleashed a senseless reign of killings in Garo Hills does not deserve any talks with the government.

Sangma said that these groups have been provided ample opportunity in the past to mend its ways by giving up violence and sit for talks. But now, the Government has no other option but to take a step back and review its earlier decision to invite these groups for talks.

“In spite of the government’s goodwill they (GNLA) have continued with violence. There is a need to review whether the GNLA deserves to be involved in talks,” Sangma asserted.

10 ultras involved in SP killing nabbed

DIPHU/GUWAHATI, June 11 : Acting on a tip-off provided by Karbi Anglong SP Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta, a team led by SDPO (Bokajan) Sankar Rai Medhi today arrested 10 suspected cadres of the United People’s Liberation Army (UPLA) separately from Dimapur in Nagaland and Balipathar in Assam.

The arrested militants include the self-styled deputy commander-in-chief of UPLA, Nikunja Kathar, and its foreign affairs secretary Bali Tisso alias Baliram Rongphar, Assam Police sources said. Police claimed that Nikunja Kathar has confessed to killing the Hamren SP Nitya Nanda Goswami and his PSO during the June 4 encounter.

It may be mentioned here that Nikunja Kathar is a former member of the disbanded United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), who later joined the lesser known Karbi outfit last year.

The other arrested militants have been identified as Longing Terang, Deputy C-in-C, Mensing Engti, Bijay Sing Timung, Bijay Milik, Bidya Tisso, Joseph Hanse and Bolesri Tisso.

“We received immense help from the Dimapur police, without which the operation probably would not have been successful,” said Bolin Deuri, Additional Superintendent of Police, Karbi Anglong.

Security forces later recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from a militant hideout near Baithalangso town of Hamren, which include rocket launchers, Universal machine guns, two self-loading rifles, a 303 rifle, 300 rounds of assorted ammunition, two improvised explosive devices, etc.

Yesterday, a fierce gunbattle took place inside the thick forests near Habang along Meghalaya border when security forces were chasing a group of UPLA militants supposedly involved in the assault on the Hamren SP.

In the encounter, UPLA guerrillas managed to escape from the spot, but there is a strong likelihood of some of the fleeing ultras getting serious injuries in the gunfight, according to C Saloi, DIG, Central Range, Assam Police.

Security forces bust Garo National Liberation Army camp in Meghalaya

SHILLONG: A day after a woman was murdered by Garo National Liberation Army militants for resisting rape, a joint team of commandos from Meghalaya's Special Weapons and Tactics unit and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) intensified operations against the rebels and busted a GNLA camp in Adugre village near the Durama hills range in East Garo Hills on Thursday.

A gun battle was on in East Garo Hills district since morning after security forces launched a crackdown on militant hideouts. Till the time of filing this report, it was not known if there were any casualties. "Security forces have busted the GNLA camp here," East Garo Hills SP Davis N R Marak said. "The gun battle continues."

Police sources said though the camp was busted, the militants escaped. "Security forces are in search of the militants," said a source.

The husband of the woman who was killed denied there had been an attempt to molest or rape her. Abel Sangma told reporters the militants made her sit on a chair and accused her of being a police informer, before shooting her in the head from point-blank range. The FIR lodged by the victim's family also did not mention any sexual assault.

Following the worsening law and order situation in the Garo Hills, which culminated in the woman's killing at Goera Rangot in South Garo Hills, the Centre rushed 1,000 paramilitary personnel to Meghalaya and sought a report from the state government.

Union minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke to chief minister Mukul Sangma and urged him to take strong action against the militants. State home minister Roshan Warjari visited the victim's house.

Chief minister Sangma said his government was offering a "one-time" peace settlement to all militant groups active in the state. He said the government would set up a special court to prosecute the militants involved in Tuesday's crime. The state also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh for the deceased's family.

Militants execute civilian in Nagaland

DIMAPUR, Jun 5 – Outrage is growing in Phek district of Nagaland against the growing crimes committed by Naga underground groups, with the latest instance being the execution of a civilian by cadres of the NNC (Non-Accordist) on June 3.

NGO Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has demanded that the underground faction hand over the ‘criminals’ who killed the civilian, ChivoveyiNienu of Phek, within 48 hours or face a public uprising to flush out the outfit. The two alleged killers have been named as one Vekuvo and Thomas of the NNC (N/A) who are understood to have killed the civilian.

The ACAUT has vehemently condemned the brutal murder of ChivoveyiNienu by the underground cadres.

“The act was so brutal and barbaric in nature (by those) who claim themselves to be NPGs fighting for the cause of the Nagas. The public demands response from the NNC (N/A) whether death penalty is appropriate and befitting for a mere theft if committed by the victim,” the ACAUT said in a release today. The pubic also warned the NPGs not to disown their cadres and their acts, when committed, to cover up the status of the outfit.

A separate statement from the Phek Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PCCI) has condemned the crime and called it an ‘act of cowardice’, carried out by ‘undisciplined’ cadres of NNC (‘N/A’). Minister for Roads & Bridges (R&B) Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu has expressed serious concern over the high handedness of Naga political groups in Phek town which has yet again resulted in the death of a civilian on June 3.

Two Manipuri Militants arrested in Patna

Patna: Police on Tuesday arrested two terrorists hailing from Manipur and staying here as tourist from bus stand.
The two identified as Khotan Ranjeet alias Chaiba and Dhoshant Hem Malam alias Naubar have been active members of Kangleipak Communist Party Manipur and evading arrest in several cases, Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj
said in a statement.

They were evading arrest in a dozen cases of heinous crime, the SSP said.

Maharaj said that acting on information provided by Manipur police, the Patna police arrested the two from Karbighaia bus stand.
The two were staying in the capital disguising themselves as tourists from Manipur, the SSP said.
They were evading arrest in a dozen cases of heinous crime, the SSP said.

Huge arms haul in Habiganj

RAB has unearthed a huge arms cache in Satchharhi jungles of Habiganj's Chunarughat Upazila from what was once perhaps the headquarters of the now-weakened All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF).

Around 200 high explosive anti-tank weapons with as many chargers were recovered in a daylong drive in the Satchharhi hill, RAB’s Additional Director General (operations) Col Ziaul Ahsan said.

There might be more ammo, he said.

The recovery at Satchharhi on Tuesday is perhaps the single biggest case of arms seizure since the 2004 Chittagong arms case.

The huge cache was found inside bunkers dug in deep holes in the hillock, the official said.

The source of the ammo will be known after further investigation, he said.

The RAB officials were preparing to conduct the drive for several days in Satchharhi, barely 3 kms from the border with India's Tripura state.

Around 100 RAB personnel conducted the raid at the 100-foot hillock with dogs.

RAB's Col Ahsan and Legal-Media director Wing Commander Habibur Rahman oversaw the raid.

The officials called off the drive for Tuesday as daylight faded, Col Ahsan told bdnews24.com on his way back to Dhaka.

The drive will resume on Wednesday morning, he said.

He said they had found 184 high explosive anti-tank weapons and 154 chargers.

The drive was launched on a tip-off, RAB official Habib told reporters in Satchharhi.

RAB’s network signal detected the signal of arms inside the bunkers, he said.

Of the two hillocks, there were two wells in the one and five in the other. There was more than one bunker in each well, the RAB official said.

Several houses were there on the hilltop, but there were only women and children in the houses, no man was found there, Col Ahsan said.

RAB official Rahman said, “It's assumed that a third of the arms cache has already been seized.”

The ATTF is now weakened and its chief Ranjit Debbarma is now standing trial in his home state Tripura on countless charges of murder and abduction.

Debbarma, who is said to be handed over to India by Bangladesh after being arrested in Jan 2013, is very close to ULFA military wing chief Paresh Barua.

Ranjit Debbarma (File Photo)

Barua , who has been awarded a death sentence in the 2004 Chittagong arms cases, is believed to be hiding somewhere around Tengchong in the Sino-Burmese border.

The ULFA and ATTF would smuggle a huge quantity of Chinese-made weapons through Southeast Asia by sea, land them around Cox's Bazar or Chittagong and take them to rebel bases like Satchharhi, from where they would be smuggled into India's troubled northeast.

Delhi court convicts NSCN (IM) leader for killing Manipur officer

IMPHAL: A special CBI court in New Delhi found a top leader of NSCN (IM) guilty in the brutal killing of Manipur civil service officer Thingnam Kishan Singh and his two employees five years ago.

After holding trial for about three years, the Delhi's Patiala court on Saturday convicted self-styled 'lieutenant colonel' of NSCN (IM) Hopeson Ningshen for committing the offence under section 302 IPC (murder) and other offences -kidnapping and stealing the victims' property.

Headed by judge V K Gupta, the court fixed June 30 for announcing the quantum of punishment to be given to the Naga rebel leader even as Kishan's family demanded capital punishment for Hopeson.

Sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Kashom Khullen in Ukhrul district, Kishan, his driver A Rajen Sharma and Mandal Yumnam Token Singh, all Imphal residents, were abducted on February 13, 2009, from Hungdung gate in Ukhrul.

Their bodies, with multiple injuries, were found at Taphou area in Senapati district on February 17. Bowing down to large scale public protest against the brutal murder, the state government handed over the case to the CBI. In June 2009, NSCN (IM) handed Hopeson to the Naga Hoho , the highest Naga civil organization of the region, after which the CBI took him into its custody for investigation. For security reasons, the trial venue was shifted from Imphal to the New Delhi court .

Under the aegis of a joint action committee (JAC) set up against the incident, a series of protests and public meetings demanding fitting punishment of the murder accused were held.

Besides paying ex-gratia, the state also gave government jobs to the next of kin of the victims' families.

For late Kishan's wife Romita Devi, the government gave a Manipur civil service (MCS) post.

"We are thankful to the court's verdict convicting Hopson Ningshen. But our prayer is to give capital punishment to him for committing the mindless and barbaric acts," Romita, wife of Kishan, said on Sunday.

The bereaved widow demanded similar punishment to three other accused NSCN (IM) cadres who have been absconding.

Including two self-styled 'majors' and a 'captain', the three were accused by the CBI in its charge sheet, a source said.

"Our family members including me and my brothers-in-law did not miss the trial conducted in Delhi. I'm also thankful to the public in general and the JAC in particular for holding the democratic movement to bring justice in the triple murder case," Romita added.