R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, June 12 – Intelligence inputs about a plan by members of the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to target the oil companies has sent alarm bells ringing in the administration and all the district police forces have been alerted to thwart any such move.
Highly-placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that the anti-talk faction of the ULFA, headed by the commander in chief of the outfit, Paresh Baruah is desperate to strike to make its presence felt as the talks with the pro-talk faction are scheduled to resume soon, and in recent months, the outfit has recruited more than a hundred cadres. Some of the new recruits have also been taken to Myanmar for training, while, the others are being kept in the State.
Sources said that though the upper Assam districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar are considered most vulnerable, the police forces of all the districts have been alerted to keep close watch on the situation in the wake of the fresh threat.
As per information available with the security agencies, 35 hardcore militants including a few well-trained cadres have already entered Assam from the bases of the outfit in Myanmar and they have been given target to indulge in acts of violence to make the outfit’s presence felt in the State.
Sources said that the oil companies including the public sector companies and the firms engaged by the PSUs for various works including drillings are considered most vulnerable at this moment. The ULFA may even try to kidnap Oil officials or contractors. At one point of time, the ULFA managed to extort money from the contractors engaged by the oil companies, but they have not been able to do so in recent times and the outfit may try to strike to show its strength, sources added. At the same time, the police and security forces have also been directed to keep close watch on oil installations including pipelines.
The possibility of the anti-talk group ULFA members targeting the pro-talk faction members also cannot be ruled out, sources said.
Security sources revealed that the group of ULFA men, who have been sent to Assam for indulging in acts of violence, have been directed to look for soft target as the leaders of the outfit are careful of not losing their men, particularly the well trained men. The possibility of the ULFA using members of other militant outfits to indulge in acts of violence also cannot be ruled out as in the past also, the outfit carried out such acts to avoid arrests.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Grenade explodes in front of Assam Rifles unit
Shillong, June 11 (PTI) A grenade exploded in front of the main gate of an Assam Rifles unit here, but there was no casualty. An Assam Rifles spokesman said a 42-year-old civilian, apparently in inebriated condition, lobbed the grenade at a drain in front of the unit gate located at Madanriting in the city this evening. The person, identified as Petros Nongdhar of Mawshabit locality in the city, was detained by the Assam Rifles jawans and has been handed over to police. The accused claimed to have got the grenade from a firing range in the city. ASP (crime) Vivek Syeim said investigation was on to ascertain how the person got the grenade and the purpose of exploding it there.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Arrested men not PLA cadres
The Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF) today clarified that seven people arrested in Assam on June 7 were not cadres of its armed wing the Peoples Liberation Army.
RPF 'assistant secretary publicity' G M Changjou today said the seven people were arrested from Christian Busti, Rangoli Apartment by a combined team of Assam Police, Indian Army and CRPF. It was further stated that one of them identified as Okendro was declared as deserter by the 'secretary general' of the organisation.
RPF 'assistant secretary publicity' G M Changjou today said the seven people were arrested from Christian Busti, Rangoli Apartment by a combined team of Assam Police, Indian Army and CRPF. It was further stated that one of them identified as Okendro was declared as deserter by the 'secretary general' of the organisation.
Friday, June 10, 2011
ULFA must deposit weapons for formal talks: Assam CM
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said it was imperative for the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to sign a formal suspension of operation (SoO) and deposit weapons before the peace talks start with the government.
"Like all other insurgent groups in truce with the government, the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) too would have to enter into a formal agreement for SoO and surrender weapons before starting dialogue with the government of India," he told reporters.
The Chief Minister said the peace process with the ULFA was progressing well and Centre’s peace interlocutor P C Haldar was in constant touch with the outfit’s leadership, led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa.
"Once they (the ULFA faction) have decided to hold formal talks, they will have to surrender and enter into agreement of SoO with the government," Mr Gogoi added.
Stating that insurgency was on the wane, the Chief Minister added that the problem was far from being solved as some factions like anti-talks group of ULFA led by Paresh Barua, anti-talks faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the newly-formed Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT) were still outside the ambit of the talks.
Recruitment of youths and extortion activities were still being carried out by the outfits, he added.
"We have identified the areas where such recruitment are taking place and taking steps to check it," he said.
On the NDFB (anti-talks faction), led by its jailed chief Ranjan Daimary, Mr Gogoi said the outfit has expressed its willingness for talks.
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He said the NDFB faction had conveyed through the Bodoland People’s Convention (BPC) emissaries, who were accompanied by two of the MLAs from Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), that the outfit was interested in meeting him within this month.
The government forces are observing suspension of operation against the other faction of the NDFB led by Govinda Basumatary and cadres of this faction are now lodged in designated camps.
"Like all other insurgent groups in truce with the government, the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) too would have to enter into a formal agreement for SoO and surrender weapons before starting dialogue with the government of India," he told reporters.
The Chief Minister said the peace process with the ULFA was progressing well and Centre’s peace interlocutor P C Haldar was in constant touch with the outfit’s leadership, led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa.
"Once they (the ULFA faction) have decided to hold formal talks, they will have to surrender and enter into agreement of SoO with the government," Mr Gogoi added.
Stating that insurgency was on the wane, the Chief Minister added that the problem was far from being solved as some factions like anti-talks group of ULFA led by Paresh Barua, anti-talks faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the newly-formed Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT) were still outside the ambit of the talks.
Recruitment of youths and extortion activities were still being carried out by the outfits, he added.
"We have identified the areas where such recruitment are taking place and taking steps to check it," he said.
On the NDFB (anti-talks faction), led by its jailed chief Ranjan Daimary, Mr Gogoi said the outfit has expressed its willingness for talks.
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He said the NDFB faction had conveyed through the Bodoland People’s Convention (BPC) emissaries, who were accompanied by two of the MLAs from Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), that the outfit was interested in meeting him within this month.
The government forces are observing suspension of operation against the other faction of the NDFB led by Govinda Basumatary and cadres of this faction are now lodged in designated camps.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Myanmar split in Naga group
NISHIT DHOLABHAI
New Delhi, June 8: A Naga militant group straddling India and Myanmar turned “Indian” on Tuesday in a split that is expected to impact the entire Northeast.
S.S. Khaplang, the Myanmar-based head of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K), was expelled by his group’s leaders in Nagaland Kitovi Zhimoni and Khole Konyak.
Khole was chosen to head the NSCN (K) in the state.
“There is someone behind the split,” said a leader of the rival NSCN (Isak-Muivah) group, suggesting security agencies have engineered the split.
For the government of India, an Indian insurgent group severing ties with a Myanmar-based head is a major development.
“That the Myanmar axis is cut off is important so that we may engage with our Indian citizens,” a senior official said.
Khaplang is based in the Sagaing division of Myanmar, where his camps were the training base for Paresh Barua’s Ulfa and Manipur-based groups such as the UNLF. His NSCN (K) would also provide Barua’s boys safe passage into Assam through Arunachal and Nagaland, something it will not be able to do now after the split with the group’s Indian arm.
Besides, the NSCN leader’s tie-ups with Myanmarese groups were a concern for Indian security agencies.
The NSCN (K) split, which is not a surprise because there have for long been differences between Khaplang and the Indian leaders, is being seen as indicative of how security and intelligence agencies have “opened all fronts” whether in Myanmar, Bangladesh or Bhutan. For the last two years, the excellent rapport with Dhaka has resulted in major Ulfa and National Democratic Front of Boroland leaders being caught.
Khole’s elevation might also address the discontent of the backward eastern Naga tribes of Mon, Kiphire, Tuensang and Longleng districts, who have felt neglected since Nagaland attained statehood in 1963 and have recently demanded a separate state. He is a Konyak Naga from the frontier Mon district.
Since New Delhi would be in a mood to bestow legitimacy on Khole, “eastern Nagaland” could be effectively appeased, sources said.
The government’s official position on the split is that it is “their internal matter” but sources said it was happy with the development, more so because of the increasing incursions of the NSCN (I-M) into Myanmar.
Both the NSCN (K) and the NSCN (I-M) have been demanding secession from India and integration of all Naga-dominated areas, including those in Myanmar.
After the split, it is unlikely the group led by Khole would press the demand for integration with areas in Myanmar, which will help the government when it bargains with the NSCN (I-M).
The NSCN split into the Khaplang and Isak-Muivah factions in 1988 after Khaplang fell out with fellow leaders Thuingalang Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu. Since then, the two groups have been involved in internecine battles.
Top
New Delhi, June 8: A Naga militant group straddling India and Myanmar turned “Indian” on Tuesday in a split that is expected to impact the entire Northeast.
S.S. Khaplang, the Myanmar-based head of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K), was expelled by his group’s leaders in Nagaland Kitovi Zhimoni and Khole Konyak.
Khole was chosen to head the NSCN (K) in the state.
“There is someone behind the split,” said a leader of the rival NSCN (Isak-Muivah) group, suggesting security agencies have engineered the split.
For the government of India, an Indian insurgent group severing ties with a Myanmar-based head is a major development.
“That the Myanmar axis is cut off is important so that we may engage with our Indian citizens,” a senior official said.
Khaplang is based in the Sagaing division of Myanmar, where his camps were the training base for Paresh Barua’s Ulfa and Manipur-based groups such as the UNLF. His NSCN (K) would also provide Barua’s boys safe passage into Assam through Arunachal and Nagaland, something it will not be able to do now after the split with the group’s Indian arm.
Besides, the NSCN leader’s tie-ups with Myanmarese groups were a concern for Indian security agencies.
The NSCN (K) split, which is not a surprise because there have for long been differences between Khaplang and the Indian leaders, is being seen as indicative of how security and intelligence agencies have “opened all fronts” whether in Myanmar, Bangladesh or Bhutan. For the last two years, the excellent rapport with Dhaka has resulted in major Ulfa and National Democratic Front of Boroland leaders being caught.
Khole’s elevation might also address the discontent of the backward eastern Naga tribes of Mon, Kiphire, Tuensang and Longleng districts, who have felt neglected since Nagaland attained statehood in 1963 and have recently demanded a separate state. He is a Konyak Naga from the frontier Mon district.
Since New Delhi would be in a mood to bestow legitimacy on Khole, “eastern Nagaland” could be effectively appeased, sources said.
The government’s official position on the split is that it is “their internal matter” but sources said it was happy with the development, more so because of the increasing incursions of the NSCN (I-M) into Myanmar.
Both the NSCN (K) and the NSCN (I-M) have been demanding secession from India and integration of all Naga-dominated areas, including those in Myanmar.
After the split, it is unlikely the group led by Khole would press the demand for integration with areas in Myanmar, which will help the government when it bargains with the NSCN (I-M).
The NSCN split into the Khaplang and Isak-Muivah factions in 1988 after Khaplang fell out with fellow leaders Thuingalang Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu. Since then, the two groups have been involved in internecine battles.
Top
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
10 people abducted by rebels in Tripura, Mizoram
Agartala/Aizawl, June 8 (IANS) At least 10 people, including two executives of an Assam-based private company, were abducted by tribal guerrillas in two separate incidents in Tripura and Mizoram, police said Wednesday. Three of the victims were released later.
Tripura's Dhalai district police chief G.K. Rao told IANS: 'Militants of the outlawed NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) abducted eight tribal villagers Wednesday from Kalyan Singh village. The rebels later released three of the captives.'
'The tribal villagers were abducted while they were working in a field on a hill top. We suspect the militants took them to Bangladesh,' the police official said over phone.
Rao rushed to the spot, 165 km from here, and launched a combing operation.
In a separate incident, two executives of an Assam-based private company were abducted Tuesday night by tribal guerrillas from north Mizoram, bordering Tripura and Assam.
'Armed rebels kidnapped project manager Premlal Dhiman, 48, and commercial manager Bajrang Lalbhurgi, 45, of Anupam Bricks and Concrete Industries Limited (ABCIL) from Meidum village in Kolasib district in Mizoram Tuesday night,' a Mizoram police spokesman told reporters in Aizawl.
'The ABCIL was engaged in road construction in Mizoram,' he said.
He said no ransom had yet been demanded for the release of the two executives and no rebel group had claimed responsibility for the incident.
North Tripura Superintendent of Police L. Darlong told IANS over phone that there was no clue of any militant from Mizoram, along with the captives, hiding in Tripura.
Tripura's Dhalai district police chief G.K. Rao told IANS: 'Militants of the outlawed NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) abducted eight tribal villagers Wednesday from Kalyan Singh village. The rebels later released three of the captives.'
'The tribal villagers were abducted while they were working in a field on a hill top. We suspect the militants took them to Bangladesh,' the police official said over phone.
Rao rushed to the spot, 165 km from here, and launched a combing operation.
In a separate incident, two executives of an Assam-based private company were abducted Tuesday night by tribal guerrillas from north Mizoram, bordering Tripura and Assam.
'Armed rebels kidnapped project manager Premlal Dhiman, 48, and commercial manager Bajrang Lalbhurgi, 45, of Anupam Bricks and Concrete Industries Limited (ABCIL) from Meidum village in Kolasib district in Mizoram Tuesday night,' a Mizoram police spokesman told reporters in Aizawl.
'The ABCIL was engaged in road construction in Mizoram,' he said.
He said no ransom had yet been demanded for the release of the two executives and no rebel group had claimed responsibility for the incident.
North Tripura Superintendent of Police L. Darlong told IANS over phone that there was no clue of any militant from Mizoram, along with the captives, hiding in Tripura.
Monday, May 30, 2011
UNLF slams NPF Manipur unit
IMPHAL: The United National Liberation Front has condemned the launching of Naga People's Front's Manipur unit by Neiphiu Rio in Senapati district.
The UNLF said Rio's visit and setting up of an NPF unit in Manipur was a ploy to advance NSCN (IM)'s agenda of disintegrating Manipur. Naga leader Th Muivah was using Rio to pursue his hidden agenda, alleged the UNLF in a statement on Saturday.
The UNLF, which is fighting to restore Manipur's past sovereignty, has already proposed New Delhi to hold a plebiscite to ascertain whether the people of Manipur would like to be a part of India or not under the aegis of the United Nations.
The opening of NPF unit in Manipur is part of Muivah's plan to set up a political platform for him once the ongoing peace talks between the NSCN (I-M) and the Centre concludes, the statement said. It also pointed out that people of Manipur need to check this.
Terming the decision of people, political parties and the state government to oppose Rio's plan as justified, the UNLF said people should fight collectively against conspiracies hatched by any group or individual under Muivah's influence to trigger conflicts in Manipur.
Referring to certain provisions of NPF's constitution that point at integrating all Naga-inhabited areas under a single administrative roof, a large number of social organizations and political parties alleged that the opening of the party's unit in Manipur was a threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur and other northeastern states.
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) imposed a statewide dawn-to-dusk general strike on Saturday in protest against the issue.
The UNLF said Rio's visit and setting up of an NPF unit in Manipur was a ploy to advance NSCN (IM)'s agenda of disintegrating Manipur. Naga leader Th Muivah was using Rio to pursue his hidden agenda, alleged the UNLF in a statement on Saturday.
The UNLF, which is fighting to restore Manipur's past sovereignty, has already proposed New Delhi to hold a plebiscite to ascertain whether the people of Manipur would like to be a part of India or not under the aegis of the United Nations.
The opening of NPF unit in Manipur is part of Muivah's plan to set up a political platform for him once the ongoing peace talks between the NSCN (I-M) and the Centre concludes, the statement said. It also pointed out that people of Manipur need to check this.
Terming the decision of people, political parties and the state government to oppose Rio's plan as justified, the UNLF said people should fight collectively against conspiracies hatched by any group or individual under Muivah's influence to trigger conflicts in Manipur.
Referring to certain provisions of NPF's constitution that point at integrating all Naga-inhabited areas under a single administrative roof, a large number of social organizations and political parties alleged that the opening of the party's unit in Manipur was a threat to the territorial integrity of Manipur and other northeastern states.
The United Committee Manipur (UCM) imposed a statewide dawn-to-dusk general strike on Saturday in protest against the issue.
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