3 killed in militant attack in N.E. India

NEW DELHI, April 1 -- At least three people were killed and two others injured in a militant attack on a village in the northeast Indian state Manipur on Tuesday, said local media.
Heavily armed guerrillas attacked the people, killing three on the spot, in Ukhrul district bordering Myanmar. Two others were injured in the attack, the Indo-Asian News Service quoted a police official as saying.
The militants attacked the village when paramilitary forces were patrolling in the nearby area, said the report.
Manipur has about 40 militant outfits, some of which have reached ceasefire with authorities while some others continue to attack government forces.
India's northeast region and states are inhabited by people who are ethnically different from those in other parts of India.

Sabotage charge on former rebels

Nagaon, Mar 30 : The North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council today alleged that a section of former DHD (J) rebel leaders are trying to sabotage development activities of the council.

The autonomous council's spokesperson Kulendra Daulagupu today told this correspondent that former rebel leader Niranjan Hojai - who is a member of the present council - tries to mislead people of the hill district by misinterpreting the council's long-term policies that could cause heavy revenue loss.

Hojai, who was the commander-in-chief of the DHD (J), joined active politics soon after his outfit was dissolved.

Daulagupu's allegations have come a few days after Hojai alleged that the council's recent sand allocation policy was decided by a syndicate.

He asked the Debojit Thaosen-led council to clear its stand on leasing the council members' hostel for hotel business.

The members' hostel was allegedly used as designated camp of DHD (J) after the outfit laid down arms in 2009.

Recently, the council has decided to lease the abandoned hostel against a fixed yearly revenue.

"Niranjan Hojai and his associates have hatched a big conspiracy against the Congress-led council for their vested political interest. Being elected members of the council, we want his honesty in dealing with different council-related matters," Daulagupu said today.

The 28-member 11th NC Hills autonomous council had seven elected rebel leaders. Of the seven, Hadingma constituency member Debojit Bathari joined the Congress. Hojai, accompanied by some other high profile leaders, joined the BJP six months back.

Daulagupu today said at a recent council sitting, the Dima Hasao resource management committee was formed for augmenting the council's revenue.

"The committee would work as a high-level body to earn revenue. The money would be spent on paying outstanding salaries of council's employees. Unfortunately, a section of rebel leaders' unwanted interference stands in the way of proper implementation of works," Daulagupu said.

Hojai has recently alleged that the council has opened a "sand syndicate" which could damage the existing revenue-earning network.

A clash between the two factions within the council started a couple of months back when Hojai and his associates allegedly urged their former leader Debojit Bathari to leave the Congress. Hojai and the Congress-led council subsequently approached police with allegations against each other.

Hojai, however, iterated that the Congress-led council is going against the interest of the people of Dima Hasao.

CorCom pat for NSCN-K

Imphal, Mar 30 : The Coordination Committee, an umbrella militant group in Manipur, has welcomed the decision of the Khaplang faction of the NSCN to abrogate the ceasefire with the Centre.

"The decision taken by the NSCN (K) under the leadership of S.S. Khaplang to abrogate the 14-year ceasefire with the Centre is a right step," the Coordination Committee, which is known as CorCom, said in a statement issued here today.

The NSCN (K) on Friday announced that Khaplang, after consultation with top functionaries, had decided to abrogate the ceasefire. The outfit signed a truce in 2001 but talks had not yet begun. The ceasefire will expire on April 28.

The CorCom comprises six militant groups - Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak, People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Progressive), Kangleipak Communist Party, United National Liberation Front and Revolutionary People's Front.

The group has not been responding to calls for peace talks by the Centre and the Manipur government. However, over 20 other armed groups have responded and signed tripartite ceasefire agreements with the Centre and the state government beginning 2008.

In a statement, CorCom termed the Centre the "common enemy" and said the NSCN (K) statement that no one could distort the freedom of Naga people was welcome. It said the CorCom would support the NSCN (K) struggle.

The first signs of trouble came when NSCN (K) cadres ambushed an army patrol party in Manipur's Tamenglong district on March 21, in which four army personnel sustained injuries. The outfit, however, claimed that two army personnel were killed and some others were wounded in the incident.

‘Ulfa assisted GNLA in Meghalaya ambush’

Shillong: A day after four policemen were killed by suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in South Garo Hills, police on Wednesday said Ulfa cadres had 'assisted' the rebels in the ambush.

Sub-inspector Sombatsing K Sangma and constables Lenin Ch Marak, Tangseng Arengh and Hemingstone Marak were killed at Panda Reserve, near Rongara in South Garo Hills, on Tuesday. Two other policemen are undergoing treatment.

Meghalaya DGP Rajiv Mehta said Ulfa 'could have been' involved in the ambush, adding that the aim of the militants was to loot arms from the security forces.

Meanwhile, police sources said Sohan D Shira, self-styled 'commander-in-chief' of GNLA, had formed a special action commando team to carry out the ambush.

"The state police is working in tandem with the Intelligence Bureau to nab the culprits, some of whom have been identified," a source said.

"Wanted criminals of GNLA, including self-styled area commander of East Garo Hills Jimmy Sangma and area commander of West Khasi Hills Hebel, who is also an escapee from Tura jail, were involved in the ambush," the source added.

The state government on Wednesday reiterated its commitment to root out militancy from the state and ensure safety and security of citizens. Making a suo motu statement in the assembly, home minister Roshan Warjri expressed 'deep anguish at the unfortunate incident and deep gratitude to the brave personnel of Meghalaya Police who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of the state".

The government also reiterated its commitment to nab the culprits.

UPLF ‘Chairman’ killed in encounter

Diphu:Underground group United People’s Liberation Force’s (UPLF) ‘Chairman’ Dhananjay Dalogopu was killed in an encounter with police in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Monday, said a senior police official. Police launched an operation on Monday based on intelligence provided by the Army about the presence of a five-member gang of the UPLF in the Borlangpha area, district Superintendent of Police Mukdhya Jyoti Mahanta said. In the encounter within the deep forests, about 8 km from Borlangpha police station, the UPLF chief was injured and a pistol with an empty cartridge and three rounds of ammunition were recovered from him, Mahanta said. Dalogopu alias Ratan Dalogopu alias Kala on being taken to Diphu Civil Hospital was declared brought dead by the doctors there, Mahanta said. The UPLF chief, a former insurgent of the Dima Hasao Daogah (DHD) that had laid down arms in 2003, was involved in many extortion cases after he had joined the outfit about a year and a half ago and took over its reins following the arrest of its ‘Chairman’ Gajao eight months ago, he said.

Meghalaya Militants exchange fire with police

TURA, Mar 10 : Suspected GNLA militants allegedly fired at a school near Rongsai but fled after the police retaliated. However, the school clarified that the shooting happened outside the compound and did not affect the school.

According to information, a group of suspected GNLA militants riding on two motorcycles were trying to enforce the bandh call of the outfit when the firing took place at Rabhagre village near Tikrikilla at 2.30 pm today.

“Police personnel present there retaliated but the militants ran away. They left behind five bags containing arms and ammunition”, said SP West Garo Hills Mukesh Singh. The militants also left behind two motorcycles.

The police recovered a 7.65 mm pistol with one magazine and five live ammunition, safety fuses, two electric detonators, one GNLA demand pad with seal, empty cartridge cases, and two motorcycles.

The bandh call by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) completely paralysed life in the Garo Hills region. The bandh also affected students appearing for their board exams, with most centres reporting a good number of students absent. The bandh, however, passed off peacefully.