Top Ranking NDFB(S) Militant Involved in 2014 Assam Massacre Arrested

File Photo: Adivasis keep vigil outside a church after attacks by Bodo militants in Sonitpur in Assam (Press Trust of India)

Guwahati:  A top ranking militant leader of the NDFB (Songbijit), involved in the Adivasi massacre on December 23 last, was arrested during a joint operation of army and police from Chetnaguri in Kokrajhar district of Assam today.

The militant has been identified as self styled Chirang platoon commander "Samar Basumatary" alias "Sona", a defence spokesman said.

One 7.65 mm pistol, three live cartridges, one hand grenade and other materials were recovered during the operation leading to his arrest, he said.

"Sona", who received training in Myanmar, was a close aide of NDFB(S) 'deputy commander-in-chief Batha' and tasked to give training to recruits of the outfit at NDFB camp in Myanmar from 2010 to 2013, he said.

The militant is one of the senior most cadres of NDFB (S) and was directly involved in the massacre of Adivasis in Ultapani on December 23, the spokesman said.

He was also involved in snatching of weapons from Territorial Ecological Force in Kokrajhar district last year.

Four injured in explosion in Manipur

Imphal:
Four persons were injured today when a powerful bomb, apparently meant to target BSF personnel, exploded in Manipur’s interior Churachandpur district bordering Myanmar.

The bomb planted at a roadside near a movie theatre was  set off by suspected militants using remote-controlled device at around 9 am injuring four persons, police officials said.

Official reports from the district said the explosion was an attempt to target BSF personnel who are deployed in the area, but no BSF personnel was injured in the incident.

The identity of the militants is not yet known as different extremist organisations operate in the district, police officials said.

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.