North East - Developments & Debate

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Govt plan to deploy forces in hills opposed by locals

Imphal, June 26: The Manipur government's plan to deploy police commandos and India Reserve Battalion personnel in the hill districts has met with resistance by a large number of people.

Hundreds of people took out a rally in interior Ukhrul town yesterday demanding revocation of the state cabinet's decision on the deployment of security personnel in the five hill districts of Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati, Churachandpur and Chandel.

Hill-based social organisation United Naga Council (UNC) in a memorandum to Governor Gurbachan Jagat, urged him to intervene and revoke the cabinet decision, which, it said was a 'deliberate move to disturb Centre-NSCN-IM peace talks' continuing since 1997.

Official sources said the government's decision to deploy state police commandos and IRB personnel was to effectively control the deteriorating law and order situation in hill districts.

They said commandos and IRB personnel were also deployed presently in four valley districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishenpur.

Govt plan to deploy forces in hills opposed by locals

 

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Militants set ablaze 115 houses in N.C. Hills

Special Correspondent


Guwahati: Suspected militants set ablaze 115 houses, gunned down one person and injured two others during an attack at Dimasa, a remote village in the troubled North Cachar Hills district, late on Thursday afternoon.

The attack came even as the district administration is awaiting the release of funds by the State government for creating the necessary infrastructure in nine identified villages. They will be converted into clusters of Dimasa and Zeme Naga villages and 10,000 people of 50 villages will be shifted to the proposed clusters.

The shifting is being planned to launch a full-scale counter-insurgency operations in the depopulated villages.

The Hindu : Front Page : Militants set ablaze 115 houses in N.C. Hills

 

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Fleeing ULFA rebel held along Bangla border

Shillong, June 28: An ULFA cadre, who reportedly fled one of the outfit's camp in Bangladesh, was on Sunday apprehended by BSF along the international border.

Mantu Dhar of Barpeta in Assam was caught near Halchati in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, BSF sources said. Some Bangladeshi Taka was seized from him, they said.

Mantu along with some four to five other youths from Barpeta were recruited by the ULFA about a year and half back.

The BSF said Mantu developed some confrontation with senior cadres of the outfit and fled the Gandhigaon camp in the neighbouring country.

He is being interrogated.

Fleeing ULFA rebel held along Bangla border

 

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Four militants killed in Manipur encounters

Imphal(PTI): Four militants have been killed in three separate encounters in Manipur, official sources said on Sunday.

The first encounter occurred at Kwakta area in Bishnupur district between combined forces and armed militants on Saturday.

During the encounter two unidentified militants were killed. One carbine with five rounds and one 9 mm pistol with four live rounds were recovered from the spot.

In another encounter between police commandos and armed militants at Iroishemba area in Imphal West, a militant was killed.

One 9 mm pistol with four live rounds were recovered from the spot, the sources said.

An activist of the Kuki National Front (KNF) was killed in an encounter with Assam Rifles personnel at Heipi village in Manipur's Senapati district.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

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Two KLNLF militants killed in Assam encounter

Diphu, Assam (PTI): Two Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) militants were killed in an encounter on Sunday with security forces in Assam's Karbi Anglong district.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the police and Army's 5th Rajputana Rifles launched an operation in Thekerajan Milik Basti under Manja police station area.

The security forces were attacked by a group of KLNLF militants and in the ensuing encounter two of the ultras were killed.

Two 7.65 mm pistols with two magazines, eight live cartridges and some combat dresses were recovered from the slain militants.

Two days earlier also, two militants of the same outfit were killed in an encounter.

Meanwhile, the KLNLF has alleged that the security forces were "indulging in fake encounters and killing innocent people."

To protest against these killings, they have even called for a 36-hour strike in Karbi Anglong district from July 1, KLNLF'S publicity secretary R. Dera said.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

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Three NDFB militants, school headmaster arrested

Nalbari (Assam), June 28: Three NDFB militants, including two women cadres, were arrested on Sunday in this Assam district.

The trio were taking shelter in the house of Joseph Basumatary, a primary school headmaster at Bamunditari village, who has also been arrested, police said.

The militants have been identified as Khanin Basumatary, Purnima Brahma and Bilasi Daimary, they said.

An Australian grenade, 44 AK-47 bullets, 20 SLR bullets and 20 .9 mm pistol bullets were recovered from them.

The three militants along with Joseph were later produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court and were remanded in three days' police custody.

Meanwhile, the police has said that it has received Intelligence reports that a group of over 70 NDFB militants have sneaked into Assam through the border district of Dhubri to carry out serial blasts in Kokrajhar, Nalbari, Chirang, Barpeta, Baksa and Kamrup districts.

Three NDFB militants, school headmaster arrested

 

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'Manipuri outfit has 3 terror camps in B’desh, Burma'

New Delhi, June 28: Delhi Police on Sunday claimed that the banned Manipuri outfit Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) was running three terrorist training camps abroad, including two in Bangladesh.

Police, which arrested Raj Kumar Raghunath Singh (37) from south Delhi yesterday, also claimed that the terror outfit collects two per cent cut on all the contracts awarded in the state and 1.5 per cent from the salary of employees.

"The KYKL has two terrorist camps in Bangladesh and one camp in Burma. They are using sophisticated weapons like AK-47, Rocket Launcher and SLR," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Alok Kumar said.

The Special Cell arrested Singh yesterday from South Extension around 1:30 pm following investigations into a tip-off from Manipur Police and HQ 57 Mountain Division that he was regularly visiting Delhi to take shelter and collect money for terrorist activities.

Singh, wanted in several cases of murder, extortion, kidnapping and unlawful activities at behest of KYKL, was also planning to set up a base in the capital, he said.

"The purported objective of KYKL is to rebuild Manipuri society by clearing it of all vices like immoral activities, drug peddling and corruption. But KYKL actually indulge in extortion in a big way sparing none.

"They get a two per cent cut on all the contracts awarded in Manipur and 1.5 per cent cut from the salary given," Kumar said

`Manipuri outfit has 3 terror camps in B?desh, Burma`

 

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Four Hindi-speaking persons shot dead in Assam
30 Jun 2009, 1144 hrs IST, PTI



GUWAHATI: At least four Hindi-speaking persons were shot dead and two others injured by outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants in Assam on Tuesday.

Heavily-armed NDFB ultras fired from AK-47 rifles on a group of people near Naharani tea estate at Rangapara in central Assam's Sonitput district at 9.30am killing the four, police said.

Besides the two women, a man and a boy of the same family were shot dead by the militants.

The injured have been rushed admitted to a Tezpur hospital, while the police have launched a combing operation to apprehend the killers.

Police believe the killing could be in retaliation against stepped up operation against the NDFB by security forces with over 30 militants killed in the last one month.

Four Hindi-speaking persons shot dead in Assam - India - The Times of India





Top Manipuri actress arrested for terror links
30 Jun 2009, 1058 hrs IST, IANS


IMPHAL: Popular Manipuri actress Urikhinbam Devita was arrested by police on charges of terror links after she was caught from a hotel room in New Delhi with a top separatist leader, police said here on Tuesday.

A police spokesperson said the award winning 24-year-old film star was arrested from Imphal airport on Monday evening upon her return from New Delhi.

"Devita was arrested and is being interrogated," the official said without elaborating on the nature of her crime.

A sobbing Devita was escorted by policewoman even as hundreds of curious onlookers at the airport looked at the glamour girl of Manipur with disbelief.

On June 16, Devita was found in a hotel room in New Delhi by a team of Manipur and Delhi police along with R K Raghunath, 48, a top leader of the outlawed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL).

While Raghunath was arrested, Devita, winner of top state film awards, was let off in New Delhi.

According to family sources, Devita was in New Delhi for a health check up, although there was no word on how she was found sharing a hotel room with the KYKL rebel leader.

"My daughter is innocent," said Umabati Devi, Devita's mother.

Police are now investigating if the KYKL was trying to set up a base in New Delhi with Devita's help.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...sted-for-terror-links/articleshow/4719086.cms

 

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AGP walkout on fund diversion to ultras

Guwahati, June 30: Assam assembly on Tuesday witnessed noisy scenes on alleged diversion of development funds to the ultras.

AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary while participating in the discussion during the passage of the Assam Appropriation bill, 2009, in the state assembly alleged there was large scale diversion of funds to the militants particularly in the autonomous councils.

Citing the arrest of North Cachar Hills autonomous council chief executive member Mohet Hojai for funding militancy, Patowary referred to reports about Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mohilary's admission of giving a huge amount of money to the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

The AGP president demanded action against Mohilary, president of the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF), an ally of the ruling Congress, if the reports, appearing in a section of the media, was proved.

BPF member and transport minister Chandan Brahma objected to the manner in which Patowary tried to project the case and demanded that the charges (against Mohilary) were not officially recorded in the assembly proceedings.

With speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai ruling that the charges should not be recorded, Patowary accused him of being biased before leading his party's walkout from the house.

AGP walkout on fund diversion to ultras

 

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Militants kill seven in Assam

Sushanta Talukdar


Guwahati: Suspected militants gunned down seven persons including four women in two separate incidents in southern Assam’s North Cachar Hills district and northern Assam’s Sonitpur district late on Monday night.

In the incident in Sonitpur district, four members of a Hindi-speaking family including a three-year-old child were shot dead and two others injured near the Naharani tea estate under Rangapara police station.

A group of militants opened indiscriminate fire in which a Hindi-speaking businessman, his wife, the couple’s child Pankaj, and a relative died instantly. A five-year-old girl and a teenaged girl were injured in the attack. Police, however, are yet to identify the militant outfit involved.

In another incident a mother and her two daughters were killed in an abandoned Zeme Naga village under Mahur police station late on Monday night. Following this, the death toll in attacks on Naga villages since March 19 has gone up to 51.

Furore in the House


The Assembly witnessed noisy scenes for the second consecutive day over continued militant violence in N.C. Hills district with the main opposition party Asom Gana Parishad alleging that funds allocated to the N.C. Hills Autonomous Council had been diverted to militant coffers since the days of the Congress rule in the hill council.

The AGP members staged a walk out protesting a ruling by Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai expunging from the proceedings the references made by Leader of Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary to Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mahilary while raising some points about diversion of N.C. Hills council funds to militants.

Mr. Patowary, however, later demanded that Mr. Mahilary be arrested for his confession and going on record that he (Mr. Mahilary) had paid Rs. 50 lakh to the banned militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland.
The Hindu : National : Militants kill seven in Assam

Politicians really sucks alot

 

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Five police commandos suspended from service in Manipur

Imphal (PTI): Five police commandos have been placed under suspension for allegedly extorting money and forcibly taking away mobile phones from some persons in Manipur, official sources said on Wednesday.

The commandos had forcibly taken away money and mobile phones from two civilians, who were identified as the younger brothers of two police officers, at Khuman Lampak area near here in Imphal West district on Monday.

Their relatives had lodged a complaint with the Imphal West police station following which they were suspended yesterday, the sources said.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

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Separatists kill five in Assam

Guwahati, July 02: Tribal separatists killed five people, including four teenagers, and wounded three more in an attack in Assam, officials here said on Thursday.

A police spokesperson said unidentified tribal militants armed with automatic weapons late Wednesday attacked village Semkhor in North Cachar Hills district, about 350 km south of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

"Heavily armed militants attacked the village killing five people - four children and a woman - and injured three more. The militants opened indiscriminate fire on a group of people resulting in the fatalities," a police official said.

The injured, a woman and two children, were admitted to a local hospital with multiple bullet injuries.

"The condition of the two children was stated to be critical," the official said.

The identity of the militants was not immediately known.

"The victims were all from the Dimasa tribe and it appears to be a retaliation to the killing of three Zemi Naga women earlier this week," the official said.

Ethnic violence in the district - the Dimasa and the Zemi Naga tribes are waging a bitter fratricidal war for territorial supremacy - have claimed up to 50 lives in the past three months and left more than 2,000 people homeless.

Separatists kill five in Assam

 

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Two top rebel leaders arrested in Meghalaya

Shillong (PTI): Self-styled Commander-in-Chief and a 'Sergeant Major' of Meghalaya-based militant group Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) were arrested.

Sengrang R Marak alias Charan alias Chukam Marak, the self-styled LAEF C-in-C were held yesterday near Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi district along Assam border.

Based on his disclosure, 'Sergeant Major' of the group Marjin R Marakwas was arrested from a market area in Shillong later.

Sengran was picked up while he was on his way to Shillong from Assam along with three other men to meet Marjin to arrange for arms and uniform for the outfit, police said.

Several documents were seized from the duo and the police said some more operations were being conducted based on their statements.

The LAEF, known to have nexus with Naga militant groups, is involved in extortion and kidnappings in the state.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

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Manipur cinematographer held for alleged terror links

Imphal, July 02: A well-known Manipuri cinematographer was arrested following the arrest of popular Manipuri actress Urikhinbam Devita for alleged terror links, police said Thursday.

L Surjakanta was arrested yesterday from his house at Nagamapal area near here on the charges of aiding the self-styled captain of militant outfit Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL) R K Raghunath.

Surjakanta, who is also the vice-president of the Manipur Film Forum (MFF), had allegedly issued an 'unauthenticated identity card' to Raghunath helping him to forge a false identity of being a member of the MFF.

Surjakanta was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Bishenpur district yesterday and has been remanded to police custody till July 6, sources said adding that a case has been filed against him for assisting in unlawful activists.

While Raghunath is at present in Delhi police custody, Devita, who was arrested on her arrival here from Delhi on Monday has also been remanded to police custody till July 4, sources said.

Delhi police had earlier arrested Raghunath and Devita from a rented house in South Delhi on June 27.

Manipur cinematographer held for alleged terror links

 

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Govt bans Assam militant group
2 Jul 2009, 2146 hrs IST, PTI



NEW DELHI: In the wake of its involvement in recent series of violence in Assam, the Centre on Friday banned the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD)-Black Widow militant group.

The decision was taken at a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security, headed by prime minister Manmohan Singh.

This comes in the wake of DHD's involvement in several violent incidents in North Cachar Hills district where the group targeted businessmen, railway properties besides government officials.

DHD's chief Jewel Garlosa was arrested in Bangalore last month.

Govt bans Assam militant group - India - The Times of India

 

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NSCN(IM) militant killed in encounter

Haflong, Assam (PTI): An NSCN(IM) militant was killed and another ultra injured in an encounter with Army in Assam's trouble-torn North Cachar Hills district on Friday.

Official sources said that the extremists exchanged fire with the troops at Chotalinglo during which one of them was gunned down and another injured.

An improved explosive devise (IED), arms and ammunition were seized from the ultras, the sources added.

Insurgents have been targetting security forces, railway personnel and property and miscreants attacking Dimasa and Zeme Naga ethnic communities in the district since May last.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

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Militant killed; houses torched in Assam's NC Hills

Haflong/Diphu (Assam) (PTI) An NDFB militant was killed in an encounter with the army in Assam's strife-hit N C Hills district on Saturday where the houses of Dimasa tribals were set ablaze.

A three-member group of the ultras exchanged fire with the Five Rajputana Rifles men in Panjuri area of Karbi Anglong district. One of the militants was killed, while two others manage to flee, official sources said.

An Italian made 7.65 pistol with 14 rounds of ammunition was recovered from the slain extremist.

Meanwhile, unidentified persons set ablaze houses of Dimasa tribals at Sabujoy Basti village in the district early Saturdaymorning.

Details were not known as the police was on their way to the remote village.

The Hindu News Update Service

 

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Naga rebels torch 17 Dimasa homes
5 Jul 2009, 0346 hrs IST, TNN



SILCHAR: Suspected Naga rebels torched houses belonging to Dimasa tribals as fresh ethnic violence erupted in Assam's North Cachar Hills district on Saturday. "Miscreants, armed with guns and weapons, raided Sabujoy village and set ablaze 17 houses around 8am," a police official said. Sabujoy is a Dimasa-dominated village situated about 35 km from the district town of Haflong.

"There were no casualties because the villagers had shifted to safer places when clashes between Dimasas and Zeme Nagas intensified in the district recently," he added. Locals identified the attackers as Naga militants. Police and paramilitary forces from Mahur and Haflong rushed to the area. A manhunt was launched to arrest the assailants. Worried over the continuing violence, the Centre on Thursday banned the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel faction), a Dimasa outfit which is also known as Black Widow, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1965.

For quite some time, the Black Widow has been fighting for a separate Dimasa state comprising North Cachar Hills, Cachar, Karbi Anglong in Assam and parts of Dimapur in Nagaland. The outfit's rivalry with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) and its demand for parts of Dimapur are cited as the reasons for the conflicts between the Dimasas and the Nagas. Dimasas have always resented the inclusion of Dimapur, a part of the erstwhile Kachari kingdom, in Nagaland.

Naga rebels torch 17 Dimasa homes - India - The Times of India

 

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3 militants killed in Manipur

Iboyaima Laithangbam

IMPHAL: Police and security personnel gunned down three militants in two separate incidents in Manipur and recovered weapons.

On Friday morning personnel of 29 Assam Rifles shot dead two Muslim youths at Lilam centre, about 30 km from the police station at Tamenglong district headquarters in an encounter.

An AK-47 rifle with a bayonet and five rounds of ammunition and one magazine were recovered.

In another incident, police commandos and 12 Maratha Light Infantry personnel shot dead a youth.

The Hindu : National : 3 militants killed in Manipur

 

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Bandh affects normal life in Assam's troubled district

Haflong (Assam), July 06: The 24-hour bandh to protest against the ethnic clashes between Zeme-Naga and Dimasa tribesmen on Monday affected normal life in North Cachar Hills district of Assam.

Shops, banks, schools other educational institutions remained closed while traffic was thin on the national highway, sources said.

There was no report of any untoward incident, the police said.

More than 32 people have been killed and 200 houses were burned in a series of violent clashes between the warring communities in the last three months.

Besides, the militant groups of Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) and rival factions of NSCN-IM and NSCN-Khaplang have targeted railway property in the strife-torn district.

Bureau Report

Bandh affects normal life in Assam`s troubled district