GUWAHATI: Police on Wednesday arrested the self-styled deputy commander-in-chief of Dimasa National Revolutionary Front (DNRF), Manjit Phanglo alias Main Dimasa, and vice-chairman Nilesh Thousen alias Thairing, from the city's the Noonmati area.
Police also found a .32 pistol from Manjit's possession. Both the rebels were in the most wanted list of state police and were involved in insurgency activities. The operations wing of the police said they had been staying in the city for six months.
"They were hiding here since February and were controlling insurgency in Dima Hasao district through phone and other networking. They have a strong network with NSCN. We were looking for them for a long time," said an official of the operations wing.
"They were wanted in several kidnapping and extortion cases. We are going to interrogate them after Guwahati Police handed them over to us," said Dima Hasao SP Mugdhajyoti Mahanta.
The duo was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of one Dharmendra Yadav, an official of a stone crusher unit of Triveni Construction, on January 20 this year. Later, police rescued Yadav. DNRF militants are active in Dima Hasao district.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Myanmar Army closing in on NE ultra camps
GUWAHATI, July 6 – Some movements of personnel of the Myanmar Army have been noticed in the areas where most of the militant groups of North East have their bases in the neighbouring country in recent times. However, no operation has yet been launched against the militants.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that according to information available with the security agencies, Myanmar Army personnel have moved closer to the camps of the militant groups. During the last visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Myanmar, the Government of that country assured to take action against the militant groups taking shelter in that country. Sources said that the Myanmar Army had asked the militants to move out of the area, but as per information available with the security agencies, none of the militant outfits moved out of the area so far.
It may be mentioned here that most of the militant groups of the North East, including the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), have strong bases in Myanmar. In fact, the mobile military headquarter of the hardline faction of the ULFA is located in Myanmar. Sources, however, said that Paresh Baruah has not visited the camps of the outfit in the Taga area of Myanmar for some time and he is in Ruilie in Myanmar-China border.
On the activities of the ULFA in Assam, sources said that there have been intelligence inputs about attempts by the hardline faction of the ULFA to strike before the Independence Day celebrations and the police and security forces have been alerted to thwart any such attempt. Sources revealed that the militants, who are now in Assam, have been directed to indulge in acts of violence, but their movements have been curbed due to operations by police and security forces in upper Assam districts.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that according to information available with the security agencies, Myanmar Army personnel have moved closer to the camps of the militant groups. During the last visit of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to Myanmar, the Government of that country assured to take action against the militant groups taking shelter in that country. Sources said that the Myanmar Army had asked the militants to move out of the area, but as per information available with the security agencies, none of the militant outfits moved out of the area so far.
It may be mentioned here that most of the militant groups of the North East, including the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), have strong bases in Myanmar. In fact, the mobile military headquarter of the hardline faction of the ULFA is located in Myanmar. Sources, however, said that Paresh Baruah has not visited the camps of the outfit in the Taga area of Myanmar for some time and he is in Ruilie in Myanmar-China border.
On the activities of the ULFA in Assam, sources said that there have been intelligence inputs about attempts by the hardline faction of the ULFA to strike before the Independence Day celebrations and the police and security forces have been alerted to thwart any such attempt. Sources revealed that the militants, who are now in Assam, have been directed to indulge in acts of violence, but their movements have been curbed due to operations by police and security forces in upper Assam districts.
Insurgents ambush security patrol in Manipur
Imphal: Insurgents have ambushed an Assam Rifles battalion patrolling Sita Hill area in Chandel district of Manipur bordering Myanmar, officials said Thursday.
Casualty, if any, was not known, they said.
The insurgents fired at the security personnel of the 24th Assam Rifles battalion in the interior hill area, about 100 km from here, yesterday.
The security personnel retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for several hours.
A spokesman of the banned Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) identified as Taohang Heiremcha said the ambush was carried out by cadre of its armed wing, People's Liberation Army (PLA).
In a statement, the spokesman claimed that at least three Assam Rifles personnel were injured.
Casualty, if any, was not known, they said.
The insurgents fired at the security personnel of the 24th Assam Rifles battalion in the interior hill area, about 100 km from here, yesterday.
The security personnel retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for several hours.
A spokesman of the banned Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) identified as Taohang Heiremcha said the ambush was carried out by cadre of its armed wing, People's Liberation Army (PLA).
In a statement, the spokesman claimed that at least three Assam Rifles personnel were injured.
Myanmar picks rebel thorn with NSCN
New Delhi, July 6 : Myanmar has agreed to ask the NSCN (Khaplang) to reduce strength of the Meitei militants to one-third of their current strength.
This could be seen as a move to moderate Myanmar’s failure to push out Manipur-based insurgents out of the country.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of Union ministry of home affairs officials with a nine-member Myanmar delegation in Calcutta on June 26 and 27, sources told The Telegraph.
Another commitment of this decision was made to Indian officials in Myanmar on Wednesday, the source added.
There are at least 3,500 Meitei militants in different camps across Kachin, Sagaing and Chin areas of Myanmar.
India is trying to help the newly democratised Myanmar regime to co-operate on the ground with its forces.
“The cadre strength of Meitei groups will be reduced to one-third by Myanmar,” a government source said.
This would be effected through the NSCN, led by S.S. Khaplang, who mentored several Meitei groups from Manipur for many years without much opposition from the state.
However, a day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Yangon and Naypyidaw on May 28, the Myanmar government directed Khaplang to ask Manipur-based groups to get out of the country by June 10.
As the Myanmar government geared to flush out insurgents, the Centre has beefed up security in Manipur along the border areas.
The NSCN entered in a peace pact with the Myanmar government in early May. But the pact did not have any impact on the Manipur-based militant groups and they continued to remain entrenched in the camps.
Meitei militant groups are believed to be friends with senior Myanmar army officials and have been able to ward off any plans of offensive action against them.
Indian officials said “two things cannot co-exist” — the privilege of a ceasefire offered to NSCN by Myanmar and the militant group’s continued support to Meitei groups.
Intelligence sources said there was evidence that information about planning offensives were “leaked to militants” in the nick of time. “We have shared a list of 54 camps of the Meitei groups with Myanmar,” said a source.
The Myanmar delegation was led by its director-general (general administration).
“Many of them are believed to have shifted base to other places,” said the official. Besides 54 major camps, the militants have also set up temporary camps that are mobile.
In May, Myanmar President Thein Sein’s message was conveyed to rebel groups like PLA, UNLF and Prepak through Khaplang but the militants simply shifted bases to other areas, including the Chin hills. This time round, the pressure is mounted by New Delhi.
Sein’s directives were in line with what both leaders buttressed later in the joint statement.
“Both leaders reiterated the assurance that territories of either country would not be allowed to be used for activities inimical to the other, including for training, sanctuary and other operations by terrorist and insurgent organisations and their operatives,” the joint statement of May 28 said.
A liaison office will be operationalised by Myanmar in the border town of Panhsaun in Myanmar by October, a source said.
This could be seen as a move to moderate Myanmar’s failure to push out Manipur-based insurgents out of the country.
The agreement was reached at a meeting of Union ministry of home affairs officials with a nine-member Myanmar delegation in Calcutta on June 26 and 27, sources told The Telegraph.
Another commitment of this decision was made to Indian officials in Myanmar on Wednesday, the source added.
There are at least 3,500 Meitei militants in different camps across Kachin, Sagaing and Chin areas of Myanmar.
India is trying to help the newly democratised Myanmar regime to co-operate on the ground with its forces.
“The cadre strength of Meitei groups will be reduced to one-third by Myanmar,” a government source said.
This would be effected through the NSCN, led by S.S. Khaplang, who mentored several Meitei groups from Manipur for many years without much opposition from the state.
However, a day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Yangon and Naypyidaw on May 28, the Myanmar government directed Khaplang to ask Manipur-based groups to get out of the country by June 10.
As the Myanmar government geared to flush out insurgents, the Centre has beefed up security in Manipur along the border areas.
The NSCN entered in a peace pact with the Myanmar government in early May. But the pact did not have any impact on the Manipur-based militant groups and they continued to remain entrenched in the camps.
Meitei militant groups are believed to be friends with senior Myanmar army officials and have been able to ward off any plans of offensive action against them.
Indian officials said “two things cannot co-exist” — the privilege of a ceasefire offered to NSCN by Myanmar and the militant group’s continued support to Meitei groups.
Intelligence sources said there was evidence that information about planning offensives were “leaked to militants” in the nick of time. “We have shared a list of 54 camps of the Meitei groups with Myanmar,” said a source.
The Myanmar delegation was led by its director-general (general administration).
“Many of them are believed to have shifted base to other places,” said the official. Besides 54 major camps, the militants have also set up temporary camps that are mobile.
In May, Myanmar President Thein Sein’s message was conveyed to rebel groups like PLA, UNLF and Prepak through Khaplang but the militants simply shifted bases to other areas, including the Chin hills. This time round, the pressure is mounted by New Delhi.
Sein’s directives were in line with what both leaders buttressed later in the joint statement.
“Both leaders reiterated the assurance that territories of either country would not be allowed to be used for activities inimical to the other, including for training, sanctuary and other operations by terrorist and insurgent organisations and their operatives,” the joint statement of May 28 said.
A liaison office will be operationalised by Myanmar in the border town of Panhsaun in Myanmar by October, a source said.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Center accuses NSCN (K) for sheltering NE rebels
The Centre has accused the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) of giving shelter to northeast insurgent outfits.
The representatives of the Center and the NSCN (K), which met at Kohima yesterday in the Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) meeting, discussed several issues including the outfit providing shelter and aiding northeast outfits like United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) despite objection by New Delhi. The Chairman of the CFSB, constituted by the Center to monitor implementation of Cease Fire Ground Rules (CFGR), Maj Gen(Retd) N George said at the meeting that the security forces had tabled clear evidences of NSCN (K) still sheltering cadres of other outfits.
He said there was clear evidence of ULFA camps in Changlang and Tirap, which were aided by the NSCN (K).
However, the NSCN (K) rebutted the claim of government representative. The outfit said they had an understanding with other insurgent groups like ULFA and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur, but claimed that it does not either provide them shelter or aid them.
The representatives of the Center and the NSCN (K), which met at Kohima yesterday in the Cease Fire Supervisory Board (CFSB) meeting, discussed several issues including the outfit providing shelter and aiding northeast outfits like United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) despite objection by New Delhi. The Chairman of the CFSB, constituted by the Center to monitor implementation of Cease Fire Ground Rules (CFGR), Maj Gen(Retd) N George said at the meeting that the security forces had tabled clear evidences of NSCN (K) still sheltering cadres of other outfits.
He said there was clear evidence of ULFA camps in Changlang and Tirap, which were aided by the NSCN (K).
However, the NSCN (K) rebutted the claim of government representative. The outfit said they had an understanding with other insurgent groups like ULFA and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur, but claimed that it does not either provide them shelter or aid them.
Combing operation being considered in Manipur district
Imphal: A massive combing operation will be launched in Manipur's interior Tamenglong hill district following frequent clashes among various militant factions that resulted in the killing of civilians, official sources said on Wednesday.
Militant factions such as Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), NSCN factions and other groups were operating in the district.
In the latest incident on June 21, two civilians and four militants were killed in an exchange of fire between ZUF and NSCN (K).
The sources said the authorities were considering to deploy the army, police and other forces during the combing operation, but a final decision was yet to be taken. A high-level meeting presided over by Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam yesterday reviewed the situation.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police Y Joykumar, GOC 57 Mountain Division Maj Gen Binoy Poonen, home department officials and representatives from security agencies, the sources said.
Militant factions such as Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF), NSCN factions and other groups were operating in the district.
In the latest incident on June 21, two civilians and four militants were killed in an exchange of fire between ZUF and NSCN (K).
The sources said the authorities were considering to deploy the army, police and other forces during the combing operation, but a final decision was yet to be taken. A high-level meeting presided over by Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam yesterday reviewed the situation.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police Y Joykumar, GOC 57 Mountain Division Maj Gen Binoy Poonen, home department officials and representatives from security agencies, the sources said.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
NLFT extremist flees Myanmar base camp, records statement in Agartala
A National Liberation Front of Tripura extremist, who claimed to have escaped from the faction's training base in Myanmar, today recorded statement before a local court here. According to police, the person identified as Shambhu Debbarma appeared before the court and stated that NLFT base in Myanmar had been facing a turbulent phase with the arrest of five surrendered militants in Agartala with an amount of Rs 25 lakh a fortnight ago. "I have taken the advantage of mismanagement in the camp and fled away on June 30 and reached home last evening via Mizoram and Silchar," Shambhu, a resident of Mandai - on the outskirts of the city, stated before the court. He however, confessed that two of the surrendered NLFT cadres- Dhanu Koloi and Pradip Koloi, who had been working for revival of the outfit's operation in the state for past few months and he was forced to join the arms training in Myanmar. The court recorded his statement under section 161 and asked police to investigate the case. Meanwhile, the court sent Pradip Koloi to seven more days of judicial custody yesterday and sealed his three bank accounts. Police had managed to access to two of his hard-discs and found several contacts of Northeastern militants and photographs besides, some classified documents.
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