Manipur blast: Two injured admitted to hospital, receiving treatment

IED) exploded earlier today at the Morei Lamkhai near Yaingngpokpi Bazar, along the NH-202 on Imphal- Ukhrul Road, are now undergoing treatment.

"Around 6.15 in the morning, the blast sound was heard at the nearby village. The police team rushed to the spot immediately and took the two injured people to the hospital," said Inspector Mr. W. Devkumar Singh, Officer-in-Charge, Lamlai Police Station.

One of the civilians, who was returning from the agricultural field with his day's catch of fish, was injured by the splinters and was immediately evacuated to Raj Medicity at north A.O.C.

The other injured person, who was on his morning walk along the NH-150 was rushed to the JNIMS trauma centre.

The motive for the explosion was not immediately known as no rebel group has yet claimed any responsibility.

Manipur has long been affected by insurgent violence and is also home to dozens of tribal groups along with small guerrilla armies rebelling against the government.

They often compete against each other in the turf wars for dominance in the state. According to the authorities, at least 50,000 people have lost their lives in insurgency-driven violence in six of India's seven northeastern states since the country's independence from Britain in 1947.

The militants say the northeast has been largely neglected by India's political leaders, accusing them of focusing only on the development of the country's relatively wealthier eight northern states.

Outfit vows to continue struggle

Imphal, Sept 25 : The president of the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), Irengbam Chaoren, today reaffirmed its stand of continuing the “freedom struggle” saying “freedom is our birthright.”

In his message to the people of Manipur on the occasion of 36th raising day of the RPF’s military wing — People’s Liberation Army (PLA) which falls tomorrow — Chaoren said: “Freedom is our birthright.”

The PLA is one of the major militant groups of Manipur fighting to regain Manipur’s “freedom”.

Chaoren said India “forcibly annexed” Manipur in 1949 after the British left. He opposed India’s policy of constructing mega dams like the one at Tipaimukh in Manipur, saying the projects were aimed at extracting maximum profit and not for welfare of the people of the state.

The RPF also strongly condemned the recent deployment of India Reserve Battalion and police commandos in Ukhrul terming it as “militarisation” of the district.

“It is a fact that people of both the hills and the valley have been living under the shadow of heavy militarisation — a process which started since the day Manipur was annexed to the Indian Union,” Chaoren said.

In view of tomorrow’s PLA foundation day, police today launched search operations in two places in and around Imphal city to ferret out cadres of the group.

Official sources said the police combed Thangmeiband and Yumnam Leikai areas in the city in the early hours today.

The police called out all the residents and carried out a verification process. They took 10 persons for further verification to Imphal West police station. All of them were later released.

NSCN on Myanmar mission

New Delhi, Sept. 24 : The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has despatched a senior leader to Myanmar to explore fallback options in case of failed negotiations, ahead of its talks with the Centre.

The outfit has said its leader is on a “special mission”.

What has surprised security agencies is that the NSCN leader is camping with the Meitei outfit, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) in Myanmar. For nearly a month, “colonel” S. Nganingkhui alias Akhui of the NSCN left his area in Manipur and is camping in Myanmar, sources told The Telegraph.

There are at least 30 cadres of the NSCN (I-M), along with members of KYKL.

Former interlocutor for the talks, Ajit Lal, said this was the first time in over a decade that such a development has been heard of. Government sources said the outfit might be exploring options in case the talks with the Centre do not work out.

The NSCN (I-M) is said to be apprehensive of the new government’s resolve for a “time-bound” programme.

The new interlocutor for the Naga Peace Process, R.N. Ravi, is known to be a result-oriented former intelligence officer. With a time-bound programme of the Narendra Modi government on the anvil and its resolve to crack down on extortion, the NSCN (I-M) is believed to be looking at a worst-case scenario despite remnants of hope of a final settlement. Nevertheless, Swu and Muivah are trying to catch up with the Prime Minister before he leaves for Washington this week.

Akhui and his men are understood to have camped at a place called Kattha near Hesin, north of Tamu in Myanmar’s Sagaing Division, where the Meitei group has a camp. Naga rebels and Meitei outfits are traditional adversaries as the former claims Naga hills in Manipur as part of Nagalim.

Over the years, the divisions among rebel groups has deepened and widened to result in divisions among the communities. However, senior leaders of KYKL have apparently been in good working relationship with the senior leadership of the Naga group.

Government sources analysed the situation to see if there was a split in the NSCN but the Naga outfit seemed robust in its co-ordination.

“Col Akhui is still part of the steering committee and is on a special mission,” said an NSCN (I-M) source.

Why he has gone has not been revealed but the NSCN leaders said they enjoy a good “working relationship” leaving the question open whether the cornered Naga outfit was looking for options parallel to the talks. But Akhui’s visit has caused unease not just in Delhi but also among other Meitei outfits.

The CorCom, which is an umbrella group of Meitei outfits that includes KYKL, is believed to be livid with the KYKL for helping the NSCN (I-M).

Other CorCom members like the UNLF are said to have ticked off the KYKL leadership about the development.

Although the CorCom has been in close contact with the NSCN (I-M)’s rival NSCN (Khaplang) in Myanmar, its relationship with Muivah has been bitter.

The NSCN (I-M)’s dream of a Nagalim or Greater Nagaland directly affects Manipur — if the Naga hill districts are removed, little of Manipur would be left.

For Muivah, old relations have come handy when the outfit fears a possible crisis.

Uncertainty over future of the negotiation continued after hopes of a settlement were crashed last year during the UPA’s tenure.

Former steel and petroleum secretary R.S. Pandey quit the job of interlocutor as he joined the BJP.

Later, former joint intelligence committee chairman Ajit Lal met the NSCN leaders a few times but amid the high-decibel election campaign since last year, no political decision-making was possible.

Ravi, the joint intelligence committee chairman, is now interlocutor and has invited the NSCN leaders for re-starting the stalled talks. He recently met members of the United Naga Council who called on Union home minister Rajnath Singh to expedite the peace talks.

NSCN-IM to hold talks with Modi soon

DIMAPUR/DELHI, Sept 23 – The NSCN-IM delegation will hold dialogue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the precise date has not been confirmed. This time it was from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) which invited the NSCN-IM to hold ‘formal talks’.

“Our team will definitely meet the Prime Minister this time,” said a well placed source from the NSCN-IM.

A ten-member team of the NSCN-IM had left Dimapur on Saturday for New Delhi. NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu and the outfit general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah are leading the team. However, a source from the outfit’s Ministry of Information and Publicity said altogether 48 NSCN-IM leaders have left for New Delhi in batches in the past few days to prepare for the talks.

Meanwhile, the NSCN-IM delegation is likely to start meeting the Government of India representatives in the next few days’ time.

2 women killed in Manipur blast

Sobhapati Samom

IMPHAL, Sept 19 – Two women were killed while two businessmen sustained injuries when suspected Naga militants exploded a bomb in Ukhrul town in Manipur on Wednesday evening.

The incident took place in front of a hardware store at Viewland market in the hill town around 5.30 pm.

BA student Lamsophy alias Sosonao Tangva (25) of Pettigrew College was killed on the spot while AS Dinah (42), former president of Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL), apex body of Tangkhul women organisation, succumbed to injuries on way to a hospital in Imphal.

The injured persons – Rajendra, proprietor of the hardware store and his salesman Gudu have been sent to Shija Hospital in Imphal.

Police suspect it to be an IED blast. A case has been registered in connection with the incident and investigation is on, police said. No armed group operating in the State has claimed responsibility for the incident.

The TSL and Tangkhul student’s body observed a total shut down in the hill town today from dawn to dusk in protest against the incident and killings.

The United Naga Council, Naga Women’s Union and the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur in a joint press statement have strongly condemned the incident.

Northeast outfits on Delhi talks radar

Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, Sept. 19 : The Narendra Modi government has begun taking steps for a dialogue with insurgent outfits in the Northeast amid a debate within the government that talks without a broad framework of policy may not go far.

In the last two days, the Union home ministry has recommenced stalled negotiations with two organisations — one of them being a militant outfit in truce with the Centre. Today, a six-member delegation of National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) held talks with home ministry officials. The suspension of operations agreement with the outfit has been extended by three months.

A memorandum of settlement with the A’chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC), a Meghalaya-based outfit, will also be signed next week, sources said.

The NDFB (P) has been pushing the government for political-level negotiations for over a year. The Modi government was expected to take some bold initiatives, but in the first 100 days, little happened, leading insurgent leaders to remark that they were a shade disappointed.

As the NDFB’s Ranjan Daimary-led faction is also in the process of coming to the negotiating table and the NDFB (Songbijit) continues to appeal to the hardline elements, the Govinda Basumatary-led faction is under pressure to perform.

Former Intelligence Bureau director, P.C. Haldar, is interlocutor for talks with the Bodo outfits as well as groups in Meghalaya. “Substantial issues were discussed with the NDFB,” a government official said this evening.

Pressure is mounting on several other outfits who have signed the suspension of operations agreements or ceasefire agreements with the Centre. They too are also feeling the heat from the ground. “But there is no policy yet, no framework on what should be done or not done in the Northeast or even that the present policy of status quo be allowed to continue,” a senior home ministry official said.

The interlocutor for Naga peace process, R.N. Ravi, was present when a delegation of the United Naga Council (UNC) called on home minister Rajnath Singh yesterday. Although the UNC is a social organisation the government sees its agenda coalescing with demands of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah). The UNC is demanding autonomy for the Naga hill areas of Manipur and has recently withdrawn a call for an economic blockade in Imphal valley after assurances from New Delhi.

By next week, the NSCN (I-M) leadership is expected to be back in Delhi and there is anticipation that the first round of talks between Thuingalang Muivah and Ravi may take place.

Talks have been continuing since 1997 without any headway, but with relative peace in the backdrop.

Officials on Raisina Hill are, however, not satisfied with incremental responses of the government. They argued that a framework was needed in order to draw red lines on what is permissible in the conflict zone.

“Whether extortion should be allowed or if armed persons of outfits in ceasefire be allowed to roam around at will, should be part of the framework,” a senior government officer suggested. “Till now there is no sign of any such broad policy guidelines,” the official added.

The official says that while peace and development continue at a snail’s pace, the issues of insurgent-politician nexus, corruption and extortion should be addressed.

Home minister Singh recently said the government was in the process of drafting a comprehensive policy for all conflict areas, including the Northeast. He told the UNC representatives that while the government would try to address problems in a “time-bound” manner, there is no scope for violence.

Three UPLF cadres killed in encounter

Haflong, Sept 12 Three United Peoples Liberation Front (UPLF) militants were killed in an encounter with a joint team of police and Assam Rifles in Assam's Dima Hasao district, a senior police officer said today.

The extremists exchanged fire with the security forces in a dense jungle between Hatikhali and Mandardisa area under Langting Police Station last night, said district superintendent of police Badanta Madav Rajkhowa.

Centre nod to talks with ANVC

Shillong: Less than three months after Union home minister Rajnath Singh assured Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma of expediting the peace process with the A'chik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) in the insurgency-hit Garo hills, the Union home ministry (MHA) has approved the "agreed text of settlement" with the outfit now in ceasefire, thereby rekindling the prospects of peace.

Sources said the same was communicated to the state government by the MHA last week and steps are now underway to take the settlement forward.

"Suffice it to say that upon this approval, steps will now be undertaken aggressively to ensure that the peace settlement process is initiated at the earliest," a senior official in the state home department said. "It is time for all to reach out and attempt to usher in lasting peace in Garo hills. Enough has been lost, we must move forward now," the official said.

Chief minister Sangma had met Singh in New Delhi on June 24 to discuss several critical issues pertaining to the security scenario in the state, besides the settlement of the long-pending Assam-Meghalaya inter-state boundary dispute.

However, his topmost priority was expediting the signing of the "agreed text of settlement" with the ANVC, which he reasoned, would facilitate holding of elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council that has been kept on hold for long pending peace agreement with the outfit.

The ANVC had entered into a tri-partite ceasefire agreement with the state and the Centre on July 23, 2004. Ever since, cadres of the militant outfit have taken shelter in designated camps waiting for the final inking of the peace agreement.

PCCP urges Delhi to extend SoO pact

Kangpokpi, Sep 8 : With the Central Government still uncommitted on the extension of Suspension of Operations Agreement between UPF-KNO, Government of Manipur and Government of India even after half a month of the expiry of the agreement, the People's Consultative Committee for Peace (PCCP) today drew the attention of the Central Government to formulate official extension of the SoO.

SH Seipu Sitlhou, Convenor of PCCP said the silence of the Central Government on the issue of extension of the SoO agreement with the Kuki UGs has created confusion among the people of Manipur and the SoO signatories.

This has given rise to apprehension that the SoO signatories would have to abandon their designated camps and go back to the jungles again.

The tripartite agreement has been extended annually in the interest of peace and harmony in the hill districts of Manipur, asserted the Convenor before adding that the hard earned peace and harmony in the hill districts of the State as a result of the Suspension of Operations Agreement could be lost which would be a great loss for all.

While bringing to the notice of the Central Government that the Government of Manipur has resolved to extend the SoO agreement which was published in all leading newspapers of the State on August 22, Convenor of PCCP SH Seipu Sitlhou appealed to the Union Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on behalf of the hill people of the State and the Kuki civil society to formulate official extension of Suspension of Operations Agreement between the Kuki UGs, Government of Manipur and Government of India so as to sustain the peaceful atmosphere.

The PCCP Convenor further disclosed that the PCCP has put in writing to Anil Goswami, Union Home Secretary, MHA, Government of India regarding the issue while the same has been received at the office of MHA, New Delhi today.

IM not happy with new interlocutor

Dimapur, Sep 4 : The NSCN-IM is not happy that chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) RN Ravi has been appointed as the new interlocutor for Naga talks.

In a press communique today, the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), NSCN-IM, said "The reportage that has emerged with the appointment of R.N.Ravi, as the Government of India's interlocutor of the Indo-Naga peace talks who is well known for his antagonistic approach to the Naga issue and obnoxious writings have come as a total surprise to the NSCN/GPRN.

His opinionated writings have been condemned in the strongest term by the NSCN/GPRN and his appointment as the GoI Interlocutor has raised doubts in the minds of the Nagas, the real intent of the Government of India" .

According to the NSCN-IM, in the political negotiation that has lasted for 17 years and more than 80 rounds of talks, the NSCN-IM and its talk team led by its chief negotiator, Th.Muivah, they have not met any person by the name of Shri R.N.Ravi.

The NSCN-IM said it is therefore flabbergasted as to which Naga has given a commitment to R.N.Ravi that the solution of the Indo-Naga issue will be within the framework of the Constitution of India as reported in the media.

"As maintained in the same reportage he seems to have been given the unguided and unguarded mandate or the, 'the liberty to change the format of the talks, making negotiation time-bound and expeditious' for the Indo-Naga talks.

If these media reportage is considered to be factual, the appointment of Shri RN.

Ravi , a person who is not guided by conscience and who also has no respect or insight of the Naga history as observed from his write-ups, then the NSCN/GPRN is seriously doubtful of the sincerity of the Government of India in appointing him as their interlocutor for the Indo-Naga peace talks," it added.

The NSCN-IM statement then said that the Nagas have come to the negotiating table after decades of fighting with the armed forces of India when the latter agreed and acknowledged that the Indo-Naga issue was not the internal "law and order issue" of India and agreed to have peace negotiation at the Prime Minister's level and without any pre-conditions.

The BJP government led by Atal Behari Vajpayee exercised prudence and good judgment in recognizing the 'unique history and situation of the Nagas' in order to settle a permanent political solution based on that recognition.

The peace-negotiation had moved forward in a positive manner and as quoted above, in spite of the difficulties involved efforts were on by both the negotiating parties to narrow down the differences in order to conclude a 'mutually acceptable solution'., the statement added.

"It is therefore extremely important and crucial that the Indo-Naga peace talks proceed in a positive manner in order to conclude a peaceful negotiated political settlement and also in such efforts to involve broadminded and forward-thinking people who have the sincere and committed interest for India and peace," the NSCN-IM asserted.

The Naga outfit then said that ot will do well to remember that the Government of India's 60 years of military solution to the Indo-Naga issue has not solved the issue.

Turning the wheels of history back by 'pre-conditions' and "strong armed methods" may have serious consequences for the Indo-Naga peace talks.

"And therefore, while welcoming the new government in New Delhi we hope that political wisdom will prevail upon its leadership considering the critical and significant need to end the more than 6 decades of conflict between India and the Nagas," it stated.

"This is the time for both the parties to prove themselves," the NSCN-IM said.

Recalling the sequent of events, the NSCN-IM said that more than 80 rounds of political negotiation have transpired since the declaration of cease-fire between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) in 1997 and in one the latest formal talks held on July 18, 2011 in New Delhi, the joint statement have clearly indicated the progress that has been made.

The press note of the NSCN-IM mentioned the joint statement signed by Mr.RS Pandey, Interlocutor, representative of the Government of India and Th Muivah, General Secretary and chief negotiator of the NSCN-IM states, "Negotiating teams of the Government of India (GoI) and the NSCN met on 18-07-11 at New Delhi.

The Government of India team was led by the Government of India's representative and interlocutor, Mr.RS Pandey and the NSCN team was led by its chief negotiator, General Secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah.