SILCHAR: Three rebels belonging to United Democratic Liberation Front (Breakaway), a Bru (Reang) militant outfit, were gunned down by the Army and one injured at remote Upendra Basti village in Assam's Hailakandi district near Mizoram border on Wednesday morning.
Dhyanyaram Reang, the commander-in-chief of the outfit, who was shot in his right hand and injured during the encounter, managed to escape, sources said.
Sources in the 33 Field Regiment of Red Shield Gunners under the aegis of the Army's Red Shield Division said the Army they had received specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of cadres of UDLF(B) near Upender Basti under Ramnathpur police station area, 120 km from here. Based on this information, an operation was launched on Tuesday night. At about 8am on Wednesday in a fierce encounter with the Army, three Bru militants were killed and one injured rebel was apprehended.
In addition, a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the rebels, including one AK-56 rifle, one .303 rifle, three magazines of AK-56, one magazine of .303, 67 live rounds of AK-56 and five live rounds of .303 rifle.
Two of the militants who were killed in the incident was identified as Ketuk Reang alias Karendra (35) and Jeer Reang (33), both residents of Ghutghuti village in Hailakandi district. The third dead rebel is yet to be identified. The injured was identified as Biswanath Reang (36), a resident of Riflemara village in the district.
The three bodies and the injured were handed over to police along with recovered arms and ammunition, Army sources said. While the injured militant was admitted to Hailakandi civil hospital, an autopsy was carried out on the bodies of the three dead militants in the same hospital.
Meanwhile, the Army continue to raid the jungles near the Assam-Mizoram border. "In its endeavour to restore normalcy in Hailakandi and Karimganj districts of south Assam, the Army launched the daredevil operation and gunned down the militants. This is by far the most successful operation by the Army in Hailakandi district in recent times," an officer of the 33 Field Regiment of Red Shield Gunners told TOI.
Sources said the Bru rebels were on an extortion drive in the villages of southern Hailakandi and were issuing demand notes to the villagers for the past few days. The villagers brought it to the notice of the Army, following which they launched the operation against the rebels.
The area in question is infested by Bru and Muslim militants for the past decade. These militants are engaged in extortion, kidnapping, killings here.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Commandos launch manhunt in Imphal west district
Imphal: Police commandos today launched a massive manhunt at Singjamei Sapam Leikai area in Imphal West district of Manipur following the movement of ultras, official sources said.
Sources said security and police commandos checked all the menfolk after calling them out from their homes and searched every house since 4 am.
Five persons were rounded up and detained at Singjamei police station but they were freed after verification, sources said.
The state police headquarters have instructed all the police stations particularly in the four valley districts of Imphal east, Imphal west, Bishenpur and Thoubal to check all passers by and leikais (localities) in their jurisdiction and to launch random operation to detect movement of ultras.
Militants have been planting grenades or bombs and exploding them at many places in the past four weeks in the run-up to the assembly polls, sources said.
Elections to the10th Manipur assembly was held on January 28 amidst boycott call by different militant factions during which about 80 percent of 17 lakh voters exercised their franchise to elect 60 representatives.
Sources said security and police commandos checked all the menfolk after calling them out from their homes and searched every house since 4 am.
Five persons were rounded up and detained at Singjamei police station but they were freed after verification, sources said.
The state police headquarters have instructed all the police stations particularly in the four valley districts of Imphal east, Imphal west, Bishenpur and Thoubal to check all passers by and leikais (localities) in their jurisdiction and to launch random operation to detect movement of ultras.
Militants have been planting grenades or bombs and exploding them at many places in the past four weeks in the run-up to the assembly polls, sources said.
Elections to the10th Manipur assembly was held on January 28 amidst boycott call by different militant factions during which about 80 percent of 17 lakh voters exercised their franchise to elect 60 representatives.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Security forces gun down rebel in Imphal
IMPHAL: A joint security team of Assam Rifles troopers and police commandos gunned down a rebel in an encounter in Imphal West, while four suspected Kuki rebels were thrashed by irate locals for extorting money in Imphal East on Tuesday.
The rebel was gunned down near Don Bosco School at Phayeng village around 7pm, a source said. He added that a scooter and a pistol were recovered from the spot.
Family members of the slain cadre, W Jayanta (42) of Kumbi village in Bishupur district, claimed that he had nothing to do with any unlawful organization and he did not possess any weapons. They also alleged that the Rs 30,000 he had with him and his gold chain were not found after his death. Contending that he was killed in a fake encounter, the bereaved family and a local pressure group demanded that the government institute a judicial probe into it and punish the guilty personnel involved in his killing.
Four cadres of a Kuki militant outfit, which is a party to the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SOO) with the government, were beaten up by a group of locals for extorting money from them at Itham Moirang Purel village in Imphal East. The four Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) cadres were taken to police custody. The incident has come at a time when the government is taking note of the violation of the SOO ground rules by the cadres of some of the truce signatories.
The rebel was gunned down near Don Bosco School at Phayeng village around 7pm, a source said. He added that a scooter and a pistol were recovered from the spot.
Family members of the slain cadre, W Jayanta (42) of Kumbi village in Bishupur district, claimed that he had nothing to do with any unlawful organization and he did not possess any weapons. They also alleged that the Rs 30,000 he had with him and his gold chain were not found after his death. Contending that he was killed in a fake encounter, the bereaved family and a local pressure group demanded that the government institute a judicial probe into it and punish the guilty personnel involved in his killing.
Four cadres of a Kuki militant outfit, which is a party to the ongoing Suspension of Operation (SOO) with the government, were beaten up by a group of locals for extorting money from them at Itham Moirang Purel village in Imphal East. The four Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) cadres were taken to police custody. The incident has come at a time when the government is taking note of the violation of the SOO ground rules by the cadres of some of the truce signatories.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Garo terrorists treated us well: Freed engineers
Shillong: The two Meghalaya government engineers who were held hostage by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) terrorists describe their 11 days in captivity as "fearful", but say they were treated well.
Assistant executive engineer Apus Pohthmi and junior engineer Bonnieface Majaw of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), posted in West Garo Hills district, were freed by GNLA Saturday night after trekking almost 30 km of dense forests, hills and rivulets.
"They (terrorists) provided us good food and looked after us well, but our experience was fearful, as we didn't know what was going to happen next," Pohthmi told journalists.
"We didn't see any camps but we were kept captive in the jungle whole day and night under the supervision of a GNLA action commander, Kamphret Sangma," he said.
Pohthmi and Majaw were given a public reception at the MeECL office in Shillong Sunday evening on their arrival from Rongkhon village in West Garo Hills district.
"They released us after the (Meghalaya) government assured that every non-electrified village in Garo Hills would get power connection," Majaw said.
GNLA, which was declared a terrorist organisation, had claimed the two engineers were abducted due to the failure of the government to provide power connectivity in the three insurgency-ravaged districts of Garo Hills in western Meghalaya.
The government, on the other hand, says it has launched various schemes for improving power supply, including implementing the Rajiv Gandhi rural electrification programme in Garo Hills.
According to the duo, they were kept somewhere in Nokrek reserve forest after being abducted by four armed GNLA terrorists from their official quarters at Rongkhon.
GNLA had abducted another engineer, Marshal R. Swer, on the same day, but he was immediately released. "They had some conversation and released Swer, but Pohthmi and I were held back," Majaw added.
On Saturday night, the terrorists after informing the engineers that they were being released helped them out of the jungle.
"Finally, they showed us a metalled road downhill and asked us to take its course and reach our residential quarters. We hitched a vehicle and returned. We are so happy to be back," the duo echoed.
Several organisations, including MeECL employees, separately appealed to the GNLA for the immediate and unconditional release of the engineers on humanitarian grounds.
Over 30 people, including security personnel, have been killed while more than 10 were abducted for ransom in the area in the last one year by GNLA rebels.
Assistant executive engineer Apus Pohthmi and junior engineer Bonnieface Majaw of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), posted in West Garo Hills district, were freed by GNLA Saturday night after trekking almost 30 km of dense forests, hills and rivulets.
"They (terrorists) provided us good food and looked after us well, but our experience was fearful, as we didn't know what was going to happen next," Pohthmi told journalists.
"We didn't see any camps but we were kept captive in the jungle whole day and night under the supervision of a GNLA action commander, Kamphret Sangma," he said.
Pohthmi and Majaw were given a public reception at the MeECL office in Shillong Sunday evening on their arrival from Rongkhon village in West Garo Hills district.
"They released us after the (Meghalaya) government assured that every non-electrified village in Garo Hills would get power connection," Majaw said.
GNLA, which was declared a terrorist organisation, had claimed the two engineers were abducted due to the failure of the government to provide power connectivity in the three insurgency-ravaged districts of Garo Hills in western Meghalaya.
The government, on the other hand, says it has launched various schemes for improving power supply, including implementing the Rajiv Gandhi rural electrification programme in Garo Hills.
According to the duo, they were kept somewhere in Nokrek reserve forest after being abducted by four armed GNLA terrorists from their official quarters at Rongkhon.
GNLA had abducted another engineer, Marshal R. Swer, on the same day, but he was immediately released. "They had some conversation and released Swer, but Pohthmi and I were held back," Majaw added.
On Saturday night, the terrorists after informing the engineers that they were being released helped them out of the jungle.
"Finally, they showed us a metalled road downhill and asked us to take its course and reach our residential quarters. We hitched a vehicle and returned. We are so happy to be back," the duo echoed.
Several organisations, including MeECL employees, separately appealed to the GNLA for the immediate and unconditional release of the engineers on humanitarian grounds.
Over 30 people, including security personnel, have been killed while more than 10 were abducted for ransom in the area in the last one year by GNLA rebels.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Meghalaya engineers freed after 11 days
SHILLONG, Feb 6 – After being held captive by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) for eleven days, the two engineers were freed last night unharmed.
Assistant executive engineer Apus Pohthmi and junior engineer Bonnieface Majaw of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited serving in West Garo Hills were freed on Saturday night.
On January 24, GNLA rebels abducted Pothmi, Majaw and another engineer, Marshal R Swer at gunpoint from their residential quarters in Rongkhon, West Garo Hills. Swer was, however, released by the militants.
“The two engineers were released Saturday night at about 10.30 pm and no harm was done to them. We have no reports of ransom being exchanged during the release,” Meghalaya Director General of Police N Ramachandran said.
The engineers were abducted by the GNLA allegedly in protest against poor power supply in the rural areas of Garo Hills. The GNLA after the abduction said it wants a convincing reply from the State Government why the three districts of Garo Hills face acute power shortages.
The State Government claimed that it has launched various schemes for improving power supply in the three districts of Garo Hills, including the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification programme.
Various civil society groups had condemned the abductions stating that human rights must be respected and the alleged failure of the government cannot be passed on to the government officials and victimised.
It was largely due to the public pressure, both in Khasi and Garo Hills that the GNLA relented and released the engineers, although the GNLA has made no statement so far.
The Central Government has declared the GNLA as a terrorist organisation for the atrocities it continues to perpetrate in the three districts of Garo Hills.
Last year, over ten people were abducted by GNLA rebels for ransom from Garo Hills. Recently, the outfit abducted a coal baron from West Khasi Hills district.
Assistant executive engineer Apus Pohthmi and junior engineer Bonnieface Majaw of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited serving in West Garo Hills were freed on Saturday night.
On January 24, GNLA rebels abducted Pothmi, Majaw and another engineer, Marshal R Swer at gunpoint from their residential quarters in Rongkhon, West Garo Hills. Swer was, however, released by the militants.
“The two engineers were released Saturday night at about 10.30 pm and no harm was done to them. We have no reports of ransom being exchanged during the release,” Meghalaya Director General of Police N Ramachandran said.
The engineers were abducted by the GNLA allegedly in protest against poor power supply in the rural areas of Garo Hills. The GNLA after the abduction said it wants a convincing reply from the State Government why the three districts of Garo Hills face acute power shortages.
The State Government claimed that it has launched various schemes for improving power supply in the three districts of Garo Hills, including the Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification programme.
Various civil society groups had condemned the abductions stating that human rights must be respected and the alleged failure of the government cannot be passed on to the government officials and victimised.
It was largely due to the public pressure, both in Khasi and Garo Hills that the GNLA relented and released the engineers, although the GNLA has made no statement so far.
The Central Government has declared the GNLA as a terrorist organisation for the atrocities it continues to perpetrate in the three districts of Garo Hills.
Last year, over ten people were abducted by GNLA rebels for ransom from Garo Hills. Recently, the outfit abducted a coal baron from West Khasi Hills district.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Paresh Barua admits blunder by Ulfa in Assam
Sanjib Kr Baruah
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Admitting that his cadres had committed blunders on occasions because of lack of foresight and planning, United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) chief of staff Paresh Barua has said there will be no more bombings in Assam in places where indigenous people live.
"There will be nobombings in Assam and elsewhere where indigenous communities reside. We do admit the Ulfa has blundered earlier on a couple of occasions. And these have happened mainly as a result of the lack of foresight and planning by commanders," Barua told a reporter of the Guwahati-based Seven Sisters Post who had trekked to the jungled tracts along the Myanmar-China border to interview the leader.
"We feel extremely resentful for actions that have led to death and injury to innocent people."
Admitting to a tactical understanding with the Maoists in India, Barua said several top Maoist leaders had visited Ulfa camps in Bhutan in 1996 after which there have been many bilateral meetings followed by logistical and moral support to them.
"Ulfa would be benefited if the Maoists are able to carry out an effective campaign against India," he added.
Barua said he did not think the Maoist would be able to strike deep roots in Assam and there was a definite strategy in place.
In December 2003, the Royal Bhutanese Army embarked on Operation All Clear to destroy the Ulfa camps and making its cadres flee the Himalayan kingdom.
The outfit's next stronghold was in Bangladesh under the patronage of the Khaleda Zia government that ended in 2006. The pro-India Sheikh Hasina government arrested most top Ulfa leaders and handed them over to Indian authorities in 2008. Since then the outfit has steadily built up its stronghold in Myanmar and along the border with China allegedly with substantial Chinese help.
Ulfa was formed in Sivasgar in 1979 with complete sovereignty and independence of Assam as its avowed goal. More than 12,000 people have lost their lives in Assam in the three-decade long insurgency. Another faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa is engaged in peace talks with the government.
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Admitting that his cadres had committed blunders on occasions because of lack of foresight and planning, United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) chief of staff Paresh Barua has said there will be no more bombings in Assam in places where indigenous people live.
"There will be nobombings in Assam and elsewhere where indigenous communities reside. We do admit the Ulfa has blundered earlier on a couple of occasions. And these have happened mainly as a result of the lack of foresight and planning by commanders," Barua told a reporter of the Guwahati-based Seven Sisters Post who had trekked to the jungled tracts along the Myanmar-China border to interview the leader.
"We feel extremely resentful for actions that have led to death and injury to innocent people."
Admitting to a tactical understanding with the Maoists in India, Barua said several top Maoist leaders had visited Ulfa camps in Bhutan in 1996 after which there have been many bilateral meetings followed by logistical and moral support to them.
"Ulfa would be benefited if the Maoists are able to carry out an effective campaign against India," he added.
Barua said he did not think the Maoist would be able to strike deep roots in Assam and there was a definite strategy in place.
In December 2003, the Royal Bhutanese Army embarked on Operation All Clear to destroy the Ulfa camps and making its cadres flee the Himalayan kingdom.
The outfit's next stronghold was in Bangladesh under the patronage of the Khaleda Zia government that ended in 2006. The pro-India Sheikh Hasina government arrested most top Ulfa leaders and handed them over to Indian authorities in 2008. Since then the outfit has steadily built up its stronghold in Myanmar and along the border with China allegedly with substantial Chinese help.
Ulfa was formed in Sivasgar in 1979 with complete sovereignty and independence of Assam as its avowed goal. More than 12,000 people have lost their lives in Assam in the three-decade long insurgency. Another faction led by Arabinda Rajkhowa is engaged in peace talks with the government.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Missing Assam scribes return after interviewing Paresh Barua
Two Assam journalists, who were reportedly untraced for over a month from Myanmar territory while returning after interviewing ULFA 'c-in-c' Paresh Barua, have returned safely. The duo reportedly entered eastern Assam late on Monday night through Nagaland and are reportedly safe. Rajeev Bhattacharjee and Pradip Gogoi had gone to interview Barua deep in the Myanmar jungles in October last year. They had contacted ULFA and NSCN leadership for setting up the interview and the militants had reportedly escorted them to Barua's camp. However, reports in November-end said the journalists were untraced after being taken into custody by the Junta in Myanmar. The Union Home Secretary had also issued a statement in New Delhi that the scribes were with the Myanmar army and India was negotiating their safe release. However, the statement was retracted within hours and the Central government remained mum on the matter since. While Bhattacharjee is the executive editor of a newly launched English daily from Guwahati 'Seven Sister's Post' and based in Guwahati, Gogoi is associated with a private television channel and works from Duliajan in Tinsukia district.
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