North East - Developments & Debate

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Two NDFB militants killed in Assam gunfight

Lakhimpur (Assam) (PTI): Two NDFB militants were on Sunday killed in an encounter with the police in Assam's Dhemaji district, official sources said.

The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) ultras exchanged fire with the security forces at Santipur in the district, the sources said adding arms, ammunition and some documents were seized from the slain rebels.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem, they added.

The Hindu News Update Service

Security of migrant workers stepped up in Manipur

Imphal (PTI): The Manipur government has stepped up security of migrant labourers in the state in view of the killings of 16 of them by unidentified gunmen in last seven months.

Police have been asked to patrol round-the-clock places, particularly Imphal and surrounding areas, where migrant labourers work, sources said, adding the workers have been asked not to venture into interior areas of the state.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Imphal West district, L Kailun has appealed to these labourers to stay and work only within Imphal municipality and Imphal market areas.

Public Distribution and Supply minister Yumkham Erabot said that steps had been taken to protect migrant workers.

Around 600 such labourers in Wangkhei assembly constituency have been asked to stay at government relief camps after they approached the minister in this regard.

As many as 16 migrant labourers have been killed this year in four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishenpur.

The recent incident was of a non-Manipuri labourer, who was gunned down at Sagolband area near here in Imphal west district last Tuesday.

The Hindu News Update Service

Manipur on boil over 'fake encounter'
K Sarojkumar Sharma, TNN 3 August 2009, 02:38am IST


IMPHAL: Police on Sunday used tear gas and water canons to disperse hundreds of people who took to streets in Manipur capital Imphal to protest the killing of a youth in an alleged fake encounter last month.

The protests started after local dallies on Sunday reproduced pictures carried by a New Delhi-based web portal on Saturday, depicting some police commandos surrounding and taking the youth, Chungkham Sanjit, into a pharmacy in Imphal and later bringing out his body. The cops had claimed to have killed Sanjit in an encounter on July 23. Sanjit, a former member of the banned People’s Liberation of Army, had surrendered a couple of years back.

A legion of angry locals took out protest rallies accusing the police of killing Sanjit in “fake encounter” in Imphal’s crowded Khwairamband Bazaar.

Manipur on boil over 'fake encounter' - India - NEWS - The Times of India

Indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal

Updated on Tuesday, August 04, 2009, 23:39 IST

Imphal: Indefinite curfew was imposed in Manipur capital on Tuesday night in view of the stepped-up agitation called by a major social outfit in protest against the killing of a youth by the police in an alleged fake encounter.


The curfew was imposed on Imphal municipal limit from 10pm, a senior official said.

Earlier in the day, normal life in the state was paralysed on the second day of the 48-hour general strike in protest against the killing on July 23.

Markets, shops and business establishments were closed while transport services between Manipur and neighbouring states were cancelled, reports said.

Major social organisation Apunba Lup called the strike in protest against the killing of Chungkham Sanjit (27) in an allegedly fake encounter on July 23 at Imphal Market complex by police commandos.

While official sources said Sanjit was killed in an encounter, according to pictures of a Delhi-based news magazine, an 'unarmed' Sanjit was taken by commandos near a pharmacy and shot dead.

Indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal

Shoot-at-sight orders in curfew-bound Imphal- Hindustan Times


Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued in this curfew-bound capital of Manipur, with the state rocked by a wave of violent protests over an alleged fake encounter in which a surrendered militant was killed, officials said on Wednesday.

An indefinite curfew was clamped late on Tuesday after protests against the alleged fake encounter death of a 27-year-old former rebel turned violent.

"Curfew was imposed following several incidents of protesters trying to block roads, burn effigies of the chief minister, besides burning tyres on the streets," a senior police official said.

Police on Tuesday burst teargas shells and baton charged the protesters, besides firing in the air to disperse angry mobs.

"The situation is under control, although tension still prevails. Shoot-at-sight orders have been issued against anyone found violating the curfew orders," the police official said.

"We shall review the situation and see if we can relax curfew for a few hours to enable people to buy essentials," he added.

The immediate provocation for the string of protests was the publication of a set of photographs that punctured the security forces' claim that they had killed a youth following a gunfight.

The photographs clearly revealed that the youth, Chongkham Sanjit, was taken inside a pharmacy by security forces in capital Imphal unchallenged and then his dead body was brought out.

"We want the chief minister's resignation as well as a judicial enquiry into the entire incident," said Radhabinod Koijam, former chief minster and leader of the opposition Nationalist Congress Party.

"Extra judicial killings by security forces in Manipur have assumed alarming proportions. The case of Chongkham Sanjit is another example of fake encounters," Suhas Chakma, chairman of the Asian Centre for Human Rights, told IANS.

The state government maintains the Sanjit was killed in a gunfight.

"We shall inquire into the matter," Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said.

Judicial probe ordered into Manipur encounter; 6 cops suspended
PTI 5 August 2009, 07:04pm IST


IMPHAL: Facing intensified protests against the killing of a youth by police commandos in an all alleged fake encounter here, Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday ordered a judicial probe into the incident and suspended six policemen in connection with it. ( Watch )

Addressing a press conference, Singh said further action would depend on the report of the judicial inquiry.

He said the state government would request the Guwahati High Court to spare a sitting judge to conduct the inquiry but did not say when the judicial commission would submit its report.

Chungkham Sanjit (27) was killed in the allegedly fake encounter on July 23 at Imphal Market complex by police commandos. The chief minister said Sanjit was a former activist of militant group People's Liberation Army (PLA).

He said his earlier remarks about Sanjit being an active PLA member was based on reports given to him by the Director General of Police and other senior police officials.

Leading social outfit Apunba Lup, which is spearheading an agitation in protest against the killing of Sanjit, claimed he was innocent.

Judicial probe ordered into Manipur encounter; 6 cops suspended - India - NEWS - The Times of India

65 rebels killed in Assam since June
TNN 5 August 2009, 11:29pm IST


GUWAHATI: Security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations have gunned down 65 militants of various outfits since June. The NDFB, which is in ceasefire with the government, is the worst hit with 36 cadres of the outfit falling prey to bullets during this period.

In the past 12 hours, two militants of the outfit have been killed in Sonitpur and Dhemaji districts. According to security forces, the deceased belonged to the Ranjan Daimary faction of the outfit, which has declared truce but is not ready to talk within the Constitution.

However, rebels of the other faction staying in designated camps have agreed to a solution within the Constitution.

Twenty-four NDFB militants were killed in June, 8 in July and 3 this month. These killings have taken place in the BTC belt from Kokrajhar to Udalguri and neighbouring Sonitpur district.

Security forces claimed the deaths of NDFB cadres have put pressure on Ranjan Daimary, who is based in Bangladesh. They added that the Ranjan Daimary faction of NDFB is likely to carry out terror strikes jointly with Ulfa in the run-up to Independence Day.

Data available with security forces reveal that the DHD (J), which is the most dangerous outfit, has suffered just one casualty in June.

The figures suggest that the identity of five of these slain militants couldn't be ascertained. Among them, three were killed in June and and three in July. Again, 15 Ulfa cadres were killed in June and another five in July. Five KLNLF militants were killed in June.

Security forces claimed that the killing of NDFB's explosive expert and most wanted terrorist Gandi, in the Gogamukh area of Dhemaji district on Tuesday night, was a big blow to the outfit. One Chinese pistol and ammunition were found on the slain militant.

Defence spokesman Col R Kalia said the slain NDFB militant and two other men were travelling in two motorcycles in the Monabarie tea estate early on Wednesday morning when they were asked to stop by a patrol team.

He added that the three youths didn't stop and one of them was killed in the encounter. The other two managed to flee taking advantage of bad light. An M20 pistol and ammunition were found on the slain militant.

65 rebels killed in Assam since June - Guwahati - City - NEWS - The Times of India

Imphal shame: the inside story- Hindustan Times

Bowing to a public outcry, Manipur has ordered a judicial probe into the alleged fake encounter that claimed a pregnant woman and a former militant here on July 23

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh announced this after returning from New Delhi on Wednesday. He also said six Manipur Police Commando (MPC) personnel, caught on camera during the “encounter” have been suspended.

“We want to ensure justice to the victims, hence the probe by a sitting or retired judge,” he said, adding that his government would prefer the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to handle the probe.

Promising “necessary action” against the guilty police commandos following the probe, the CM said his government would desist from giving the police a “free hand” in carrying out counter-insurgency operations.

Singh was non-committal about stepping down on moral grounds — pressure is also on Manipur DGP Y. Joykumar Singh to quit — but said the situation would be decided if curfew is relaxed in the greater Imphal area.

Curfew was imposed since 10 pm on Tuesday following widespread protests in the state capital.

The protests, spearheaded by Apunba Lup (meaning United Body), a conglomerate of various social and human rights organisations, is against the “encounter” deaths of the pregnant Th Rabina Devi (23) and former militant Chongkhan Sanjit.

Notably, the unrest across the Imphal Valley is reminiscent of what followed the custodial death of alleged militant Thangjam Manorama (32) in July 2004.

As in Manorama’s case, Sanjit’s killing has put the focus back on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act [AFSPA].

The AFSPA, legislated in 1958 for “disturbed areas” in the seven northeastern states, is in force in Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and parts of Tripura. In the remaining states, it sanctions operational immunity to the armed forces within 20 km from the inter-state border.

In November 2000, Irom Sharmila Chanu, then 30, put the spotlight on this ‘draconian’ Act — the armed forces swear by it, but those at the receiving end say it gives them the “licence to kill with impunity” — by starting her indefinite fast.

The killing of 10 villagers by Assam Rifles personnel at Malom in Imphal West district triggered her fast that continues to this day.

A series of demonstrations — including the nude protest by a dozen women — following Manorama’s death made the Manipur government withdraw the AFSPA from the Imphal Municipal Area comprising eight assembly constituencies.

But as Babloo Loitongbam of the Imphal-based Human Rights Alert pointed out, the armed forces devised “joint operations” with MPCs to operate within the no-AFSPA zone. The police, notably, are not governed by the AFSPA.

The bulk of some 50 extra-judicial killings in Manipur till January this year have been attributed to such joint operations. The July 23 ‘fake encounter’ was arguably the first photographed case where the MPCs operated on their own.

Army Colonel abducted in Guwahati

Updated on Thursday, August 06, 2009, 17:56 IST Tags:Army Colonel, Guwahati

New Delhi: An army Colonel was abducted from his residence in Guwahati, army sources said here on.


Col Dayal Kakoti of the 13-Mahar Regiment was abducted from his residence last night by unknown persons.

He was going to Tezpur to join his new unit and had stopped in his hometown Guwahati to visit his family.

"Between 8 pm and 10 pm, some unidentified men abducted him from his residence. His family approached the police and lodged an FIR," a source said.

Bureau Report

Army Colonel abducted in Guwahati

Huge quantities of explosives seized, three arrested

Updated on Thursday, August 06, 2009, 15:29 IST

Karimganj (Assam): Huge quantities of explosives were seized and three persons were arrested from a village along the Indo-Bangla border in Assam's Karimganj district on Thursday, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, BSF personnel found the explosives from a house in Maladighipar area in a remote border village and arrested three persons from the house.


The seized items include 10 kg of explosives and 90 electronic detonators and the security forces suspect that those were brought from across the border to create violence in the run-up to the Independence Day.

The arrested trio have been identified as Shamsuddin, Nelabuddin and Jamaluddin, the sources added.

Huge quantities of explosives seized, three arrested

Gunmen open fire at newspaper office in Manipur

Imphal (PTI): Unidentified gunmen fired at a newspaper office in Manipur's Imphal West district, but there was no casualty, police sources said on Friday.

The gunmen fired at the office of Paojel, an evening newspaper at around 7.50 pm on Thursday, the sources said.

A spokesman of the newspaper said the district senior superintendent of police arrived at the newspaper office to make an on the spot enquiry.

The newspaper, he said, had not received any threat from any quarter and doubted whether any report had annoyed any individual or group.

A team of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union met Chief Minister Ibobi Singh on Thursday evening to lodge a complaint, an AWWJU spokesman said.

No individual or group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident.

The Hindu News Update Service

28 insurgents lay down arms in Arunachal

Updated on Friday, August 07, 2009, 21:57 IST Tags:28 insurgents, arms in Arunachal

Itanagar: In all 28 terrorists of various outfits with a large cache of arms and ammunition surrendered at the 19 Assam Rifles Battalion headquarters at Khonsa in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, according to official sources.


The surrenderees include ULFA (9), NSCN-IM (3), NSCNK (6), NSCN-U (2) and ANLA (8), 19 Assam Rifles Commandant Colonel Naveen told, adding they deposited Chinese Rifle (1), pistol (11), revolvers (6), hand grenade (6), IED (2) and large quantity of ammunition and explosives.

Brig Cherukapalli congratulated the surrendered cadres on their bold and wise decision to join the national mainstream.

He added that the return of large number of cadres of various outfits is an indicator that terrorists were fast losing ground and Army operations coupled with psychological initiatives were bearing dividends.

28 insurgents lay down arms in Arunachal

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Hundreds defy curfew in Imphal

Imphal (PTI): Continuing protests over the killing of a youth in an alleged fake encounter, hundreds of people on Saunday defied curfew and took out protest rallies in Manipur's Imphal East and West districts, demanding resignation of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh over the July 23 incident.

Sit-ins and rallies were organised at Kongpal, Porompat, Sekmai and other areas to denounce the killing of Chungkham Sanjit even as indefinite curfew in force was relaxed for seven hours from 5 am on Sunday to enable people buy essential commodities, official sources said.

Police mobile parties were patrolling round-the-clock and security personnel were deployed in strength in the State capital complex to prevent any untoward incident, they said.

Meanwhile, Apunba Lup, the social organisation spearheading the agitation, said it would intensify the protests to press the government to take mesures "to stop killing of civilians in fake encounters".

The Hindu News Update Service