North East Security Watch

[Oracle]

Two NDFB militants killed in Assam

Guwahati, June 23 (IANS): Two tribal militants belonging to the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were killed on Wednesday and two more arrested in separate incidents in Assam, officials said.
A police spokesperson said that soldiers and a group of five NDFB militants were engaged in a fierce gun battle near Itakhola in Sonitpur district.

The security personnel had received inputs that the rebels were planning to sneak into Tezpur town, about 180 km here. "Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of a five member NDFB group of bombers planning to enter Tezpur, an army team launched an operation and killed two of the rebels," a senior police official said. Three of the bombers managed to escape after a nearly hour long gunfight. Weapons and explosives, including two grenades, were recovered from them.

"We had definite reports of the NDFB group planning a strike in Tezpur," the official said.

In another incident, a joint team of police and army soldiers raided a house belonging to the NDFB in the adjoining Dhemaji district and arrested two rebels.

"The two were possibly involved in extortion activities in the area," a police official said.

The NDFB is a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland for the tribal Bodos and the group is accused of triggering the Oct 30, 2008 serial explosions in Assam that killed about 100 people.

NDFB chairman and the mastermind of the serial bombings, Ranjan Daimary, is in police custody after he was handed over to India by Bangladesh in May.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2310/at042

 

[Oracle]

4 ULFA among 8 ultras held in city
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 26 – City Police tasted major success arresting eight militants, including four ULFA cadres, in the last 24 hours from various parts of the city.
Police also recovered explosives weighing 700 gms, a laptop, a pen drive, 15 SIM cards and five cell phones after it raided a house in Noonmati area acting on a tip-off.

The ULFA cadres have been identified as Tapan Deka, Naba Kumar Das and Bidyut Kalita.

"The trio were deputed in Guwahati by Akash Thapa, the dreaded ULFA leader. They were getting computer training for the outfit," said Longnit Terong, Additional SP (City) while talking to this reporter.

"One of them is also undergoing a course in the Industrial Training Institute.

Though they were not directly involved with extortion drives, the outfit engaged them as informers," he informed.

"We are questioning them and nothing more could be shared at this moment," he stated.

Another ULFA cadre identified as Manas Roy was arrested from Chandmari area.

The other four arrested militants include two cadres of UNLF and as many cadres of Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF), a newly-formed outfit of Garo Hills.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2710/city05

 

[Oracle]

CBI raids engineer's residence
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 26 – Officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today conducted raid in the residence of Karuna Saikia, an engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department in the Beltola area of the city in connection with the financial scam in the NC Hills Autonomous Council.
CBI sources said that some documents, papers relating to bank accounts etc were seized from the residence of Saikia, who was earlier posted in NC Hills and is presently under suspension. Saikia is likely to be questioned soon.

Meanwhile, sources said that the CBI today also carried out similar raids in other parts of the State including Haflong.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2710/city07

 

[Oracle]

North East insurgency needs special strategy
R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, June 27 – Insurgency in North East should never be equated with that in Jammu and Kashmir. While dealing with insurgency in the North East states, the Government of India should adopt different strategies for different states depending on the ground situation instead of clubbing the same together, observed former GOC of the 4 Corps of the Army, Lt Gen DB Shekhatkar.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Lt Gen Shekhatkar, who served both in North East and Jammu and Kashmir for a long time as an Army officer, said that insurgency in J&K is based on religious fundamentalism, it is not the case in Assam and other parts of North East. While Pakistan is directly involved in creating trouble in J&K for years, most of the major insurgent groups of NE used to receive indirect help from China.

Lt Gen Shekhatkar said that Pakistan has a direct role to play in creating trouble in J&K, while China officially never declared that it was supporting the militants of NE. However, it is a well established fact that the militant groups of NE are receiving direct or indirect help from China for years and even last year at least six to seven groups of militants went to China.

Giving a detailed account of the difference of militancy in J&K and NE, the former Army officer said that the first seeds of insurgency in NE were sown by the British rulers, who promised some kind of independence to Naga people, while the situation in J&K took a turn for the worse with the deterioration of the law and order situation since 1989. He said that though there were people who were for separation of J&K since the time of independence, the state started facing terrorism much later.

After the Chinese aggression of 1962, the rebels in NE started getting direct or indirect help from China and NSCN leaders I Swu and T Muivah went to China at a very young age to receive training. For years the militant groups continued to receive help from China in the form of training and weapons though the Government of that country never officially accepted the same, while Pakistan openly supported insurgency in J&K and even spoke in the favour of the insurgents in the international forum.

Lt Gen Shekhatkar pointed out that the demand of the tribal groups for self rule was the base of growth of insurgency in NE and after starting from Nagaland, insurgency spread to other parts of the region. So far Mizoram is the only success story where peace talks led to logical conclusion and the state is now considered one of the most peaceful in the entire country. In Assam, insurgency started much later as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was formed in 1979 and the administrative vacuums as well as the demand for deportation of illegal migrants were the main reasons for the growth of insurgency though it took a different turn later. Now insurgency has become more like cottage industries in the region with new militant groups being formed every year, which is very unfortunate, he added. He also said that wrong policies of the Government of India also fuelled growth of insurgency in the region.

Drawing a difference between the situation in NE and J&K, Lt Gen Shekhatkar said that the insurgents from J&K are receiving direct patronage from Pakistan and the leaders of the groups are receiving shelter in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) and they are operating from those bases. The terrorists are also receiving weapons and other kinds of support from the administration of Pakistan. Only much later, Pakistan started providing indirect help to the insurgent groups of NE, who came in touch with the Pakistani agents mostly through Bangladesh. Though the insurgent groups of NE also have their bases in Myanmar, they are not receiving direct help from the Government of that country and they managed to stay in Myanmar because of incapability of the Government.

Lt Gen Shekhatkar pointed out that there have been instances when wrong policies of the Government of India resulted in deterioration of the situation in NE. Citing one example, he said that the recent trouble between Nagaland and Manipur over the visit of Muivah could have been avoided and the Centre failed to take right step at the right moment. On the other hand, Manipur should have been developed as the gateway to the SE Asian countries for the overall development of the state.

On his suggestions for the solution of the problems, the former Army officer said that the people in Assam are now fed up with insurgency and it is believed that the leaders of the ULFA also want an honourable way out. The Government of India should make all efforts to start the process of dialogue and at the same time, operations should continue to keep mounting pressure on the militants to come to the negotiation table. Efforts should also be made to de-link the insurgent groups from each other, he added. He also said that the Government should expose Pakistan's help to the insurgents both in NE and J&K in the international forum with conclusive proof.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2810/at05

 

[Oracle]

19 militants lay down arms in Manipur
Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, June 28 – In one of the biggest surrender ceremony in recent times,19 hardcore members of three militants groups laid down arms and surrendered to Manipur DGP Yumnam Joy Kumar and Major General CA Krishnan, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) on Saturday.
The surrendered militants – 15 United Liberation Army, three Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup and a self-styled Sergeant Major of the United National Liberation Front also handed over a large quantity of stores and communication equipment including an AK Rifle with ammunition, two Sten-gun carbines, two 303 rifles, four pistols, a revolver, hand grenades and three wireless radio sets.

The surrender ceremony was held at Assam Rifles headquarters at Mantripukhuri near here on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, Manipur Police chief assured that the government will ensure for their future life under existing surrender policy while IG Assam Rifles CA Krishnan said that such a large scale surrender of the militants is unprecedented in insurgency history of the State.

Earlier, 13 Zou People's Army cadres and six militants belonging to the People's Liberation Army and the Kangleipak Communist Party- Military Council (KCP-MC) had surrendered to the Assam Rifles and Red Shield division separately on June 4 and June 9 last.

Meanwhile, Assam Rifles troops apprehended one over ground worker of People's Liberation Army of Heirok Part II while jawans of Maratha Light Infantry arrested one People's United Liberation Front cadre of Khelokhong Makha Uchiwa on Sunday. Troops of Assam Rifles also apprehended two cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party (MC) in Imphal East district.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2910/oth06

 

[Oracle]

2 Garo militants killed in encounter
Correspondent
TURA, June 28 – Security forces in Garo Hills with assistance from the army achieved its first major breakthrough against the newly created Garo militant outift called Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) by gunning down two of its senior leaders who were returning to a camp deep inside the jungles of Kharkutta in East Garo Hills district bordering Assam late Saturday night.
Official sources said Commandos of the Meghalaya police's Special Operations Team (SOT) in collaboration with Mendipather Police of East Garo Hills and army troops stationed in Paikan area of Assam came across a group of GNLA militants deep inside the jungles of Kharkutta area. The inaccessible area is a zone for militants to cross to and fro Assam.

Based on intelligence reports that a group of GNLA militants would be returning through the said route after releasing a coal merchant of Shallang area in West Khasi Hills, the security forces were preparing to lay a trap when seven well armed GNLA militants suddenly appeared from the thick undergrowth in pitch dark in Amerim hill shortly after 12:30 in the night.

A heavy exchange of fire took place between the two sides. In the ensuing encounter two militants, including the leader of the group, were shot dead while the rest escaped.

Police recovered from the possession of the two dead militants one M 20 pistol, a .673 calibre Chinese pistol, two hand grenades, photos, several mobile phones and photos of the abducted coal merchant from Shallang.

The deceased have been identified as senior GNLA member Patrick Marak who is also known as Jong and Janggam in the GNLA. He hailed from Mangsang area of East Garo Hills which is adjoining West Khasi Hills. Patrick was also in a recent photo of the GNLA sitting next to Commander-in-Chief Sohan D Shira and loading a pistol. That photo also included arrested GNLA general secretary Novembirth Ch Marak which police later seized.

The other militant who died in the encounter has been identified as Sengbat Sangma of Upper Watregre village under Raksamgre region of Dadenggre sub-division in West Garo Hills.

It is believed that the group of seven militants were returning after escorting the coal merchant back to Shallang for his release. The militants had reportedly obtained Rs 10 lakh from the family of the merchant for his safe release.

During the encounter, one of the militants was spotted carrying a large camouflage bag believed to contain the ransom money.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2910/oth05

 

[Oracle]

Boroland to ensure security for all: NDFB(P)
Correspondent
UDALGURI, June 29 – "Boroland, as demanded by the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), will ensure security and rights of all linguistic ethnic groups living within this land and no one should have doubts regarding this," said Govinda Basumatary alias B Swmkhwr, general secretary of National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) while addressing a group of media persons of Bodoland Journalists' Association here at the designated camp of the outfit at Chandana village under Udalguri PS today.
Narrating the logic behind a separate homeland for the Boros within the framework of the Constitution of India, the NDFB(P) general secretary observed that the demand was not a fresh one, rather it was raised since 1967 by the then PTCA which was revived from time to time by the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) also. The Boroland is a historical and political right of the indigenous Boros of this region and the Government of India must award it on due time, he observed. He also narrated how the outfit was divided into two halves after the fateful October 30 serial bomb blasts in the State and to get rid of all confusions regarding its identity, the pro talk faction of the outfit was recently rechristened as National Front of Boroland (Progressive) which was declared formally on Sunday.

Interacting with the mediapersons on the occasion, the general secretary of the NDFB(P) also said that the organisation has already held several rounds of talks with the Union government on the issue of the demand of a separate State and the outcome of these talks have been positive till date.

Replying to the queries of the mediapersons on the occasion, the NDFB (P) leader clarified its stand on the difference between the ABSU and the BPF on demand of separate Boroland as these two organizations too have revived the demand and said that "if the BPF has really demanded it, we should welcome it, but we don't know what is in its mind and we welcome the revival of demand of separate State by the ABSU which will indeed work as pressure groups for the same." When asked about anti talk faction chairman Ranjan Daimari's stand on separate Boroland, the general secretary of the outfit said that Ranjan Daimari would not so easily concede to the demand of sovereignty and even if he comes, the NDFB(P) would accord welcome to him.

Earlier, B Bodosa, assistant publicity secretary of the outfit explained the purpose of the meet and introduced the leaders to the mediapersons. In his written address, B. Sunthangra alias Dhiren Boro, president of the outfit narrated the history of the struggle for a separate Boroland since 1986 and low after 19 years of protracted war the NDFB(P) came to truce with the government of India with a view to having resolution of the Indo-Boro problem through a political dialogue as a result of which the outfit consequently signed a ceasefire agreement on May 25 in 2005. He also clarified behind dropping the demand of sovereignty "after studying the mindset as well as the sentiment of the Boro people" and since then the NDFB(P) "has changed the strategy and adopted the ideology of creating a separate state- Boroland under Article 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution.

The NDFB (P) also observed that "some mediapersons were seen practicing 'biased and yellow journalism' which was harmful to our land" and hoped that the press within Boroland shall think twice before writing anything that it may not harm the people and defend the right and the cause of the downtrodden and marginalized people of the region.

In his three page long address, the president of the outfit also observed that "there will be no peace in the region unless the issues raised by the Boro people through the NDFB are resolved." He also appealed to all the people "to work united to bring the dream of Boroland into reality which is the only way to bring permanent peace in the region."

Govinda Basumatary alias B Swmkhwr, general secretary of National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) said that unless 100 constituencies out of 126 were not reserved for the indigenous tribes of Assam, the whole State would soon be dominated by the illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

This was said by the NDFB(P) general secretary while an interaction with the mediapersons here at the designated camp of the outfit here at Chandana village under Udalguri PS. Basumatary added that this was very necessary for the existence of the indigenous tribes in their homeland which is already partially captured by the illegal migrants. He also cited examples from Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh where the outsiders cannot enjoy the rights like buying land and contesting elections which could safeguard the rights of the indigenous people of these states and added that Assam should follow the same otherwise people of Assam would be converted into minority one day in near future.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun3010/state05

 

[Oracle]

Chidambaram rules out leaders' release
Spl correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 30 – The possibility of release of the outlawed ULFA leaders appeared slim with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram asserting that the detained leaders could talk with the government from the prison.
"People in jail can also talk if they want to," said the Union Home Minister in reply to a question about his recent meeting with the delegation of Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) led by Dr Hiren Gohain.

Clarifying further, Chidambaram maintained that the ULFA leaders were in judicial custody and executive cannot release anybody who is in judicial custody.

"We have authorised the Chief Minister of Assam to decide on when, and whether and in what manner the talks can be held," he reiterated an as after thought.

The Union Home Minister's response on Wednesday was same as the reply he gave to a SJA delegation last week. Virtually ruling out the possibility of releasing the ULFA leaders, the Union Home Minister had done some plain speaking citing serious legal charges pending against them.

He made it clear that talks, if held at all, would be according to government's terms and not the other way around. He had reportedly opined that it was an old ploy of the militant outfit to engage in talks, whenever it faced the heat. He mentioned that it was with great difficulty that India had managed to lay its hands on the ULFA leaders, all of whom were hiding in Bangladesh.

Ironically, in their memorandum to the Union Home Minister, Dr Gohain had lauded his initiative for reviving the peace process. He said it is the opportune moment to attempt a permanent and decisive solution to the problem of insurgency in Assam. "And the initiative you have already shown has earned our gratitude," SJA said.

Meanwhile, tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Achik National Volunteers' Council (ANVC), Meghalaya has been extended by three months from July 1.

Ceasefire between ANVC and Government of India are on since July 23, 2004 and is currently valid till June 30.

Discussions on the demands of ANVC are continuing with PC Halder, Government of India's representative for peace talks.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0110/at05

 

[Oracle]

Centre extends truce with Garo Hills outfit
Raju Das
SHILLONG, June 30 – The Union Government today extended the ceasefire agreement with the proscribed Achik National Volunteers' Council (ANVC) by another three months.
The tripartite ceasefire agreement between the militant outfit, the Centre and Meghalaya Government expired today. However, the Centre decided to extend it by another three months, Chief Secretary WMS Pariat said here.

"The Centre has extended the ceasefire agreement by another three months," Pariat said. He, however, added that the ANVC's demand to extend the ceasefire agreement indefinitely rests with the Centre.

There was confusion amongst the ANVC after the Centre did not extend the ceasefire agreement till yesterday. The ANVC said it has shifted 175 of its cadres to an undisclosed location from its designated camps as the Centre remained non-committal to extend the ceasefire agreement 24 hours prior to its expiry.

Cadres from the ANVC met State Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh and inquired about the fate of the ceasefire agreement, yesterday. They further demanded that the agreement should be extended indefinitely.

Lyngdoh told the ANVC that the State Government was in favour of extending the agreement, but a final decision must be taken by the Central Government. Similarly, any decision to extend the agreement indefinitely must also be taken up by New Delhi.

The ANVC today expressed satisfaction at the Centre's decision and said they would now decide on the cadres who have left their designated camps and are hiding in an undisclosed location.

Pariat said that with the extension of the ceasefire agreement the political dialogue with the outfit and the Central and State Governments would continue.

The ANVC has been demanding a separate Garoland Territorial Council on the lines of Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam. "The political dialogue would go ahead as it has always been done for an amicable settlement," the Chief Secretary added.

The political talks are being headed by the Central Government's interlocutor, PC Haldar.

Earlier yesterday, the State unit of the Nationalist Congress Party had expressed concern that the Centre and the State Government had failed to extend the ceasefire agreement.

"The situation in Garo Hills is alarming with reports of ANVC cadres shifting to an undisclosed place away from its designated camps," NCP spokesperson said.

"NCP feels that the Meghalaya Government is not taking this issue seriously. It is very obvious that this situation has the potential of worsening the already poor law and order situation in the Garo Hills," Sangma stated.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0110/oth05

 

[Oracle]

ULFA attacks tea garden; torch vehicles

After lying low for the last two years since one of its factions declared unilateral ceasefire, United Liberation Front of Asom militants attacked a tea planter and a garden employee and torched vehicles in upper Assam along Arunachal Pradesh.

Official sources on Friday said a group of about 12 ULFA insurgents belonging to the 28th battalion armed with AK-47 rifles and pistols stormed the office of Luit Tea Company at Bijulibon, under Pengeri police station of Tinsukia district on Thursday.

The rebels fired five rounds in the air, threatened and assaulted garden manager Sadhan Kumar Tamuli and an employee Bhaskarjyoti Changmai Phukan, they said.

The militants then set ablaze a car, two transport trucks and a motorcycle before fleeing. Luit Tea Company had received an extortion note from the ULFA about four months ago, a company official said on condition of anonymity.

The ULFA's strike force 28th battalion was on a resurgence since last month, demanding early settlement of the vexed peace talks. Officials suspect that Thursday's attack was a show of strength and reaction to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's statement before the media in Delhi on June 30 that the government would have to wait for the court's decision on the release of the jailed ULFA leaders.

The banned outfit has been targeting the tea sector for extortion since last month, including on June 17 when they attacked Bajrangpur tea estate.

On June 28, the extremists kidnapped garden manager Karanbir Sarma from his residence at Nampong in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh. The sources said that intelligence reports said a heavily armed group of ULFA led by Arindam Saharia alias Bijoy Kalita was carrying out extortion activities along the inter-state boundary.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/02/ulfa-attacks-tea-garden-torch-vehicles.htm

 

[Oracle]

13 ATTF insurgents surrender before Assam Rifles

AGARTALA, July 2 (PTI) - Thirteen insurgents of outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) surrendered before the Assam Rifles here today after fleeing from their base camp in neighbouring Bangladesh, police said.
The 13-member group led by self-styled captain Jagadish Debbarma deposited a cache of arms with the DIG of Assam Rifles Brig ST Upasani in presence of DGP Tripura Selim Ali.

They handed over 11 AK-47 rifles, 2 SLR, 2 rifles, live cartridges and 24 kgs of explosives, they said.

The insurgents said they took the decision following heavy crackdown by security forces in Bangladesh, non payment of their salaries and crisis of food in the camps, according to police.

It was the biggest surrender of any insurgent group this year along with arms and ammunition, police claimed.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0210/at033

 

[Oracle]

Old news, posting anyway.
Rs 1,000 Crore Scam in NC Hills, Assam

Guwahati, Feb 18 : Daring the Assam state Government to take action against the seven ministers named in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) report on the militant-politician-bureaucrat nexus in NC Hills district, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) today urged Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to direct the NIA to file a supplementary charge sheet against the accused politicians.

"The NIA report made sensational revelations, linking seven ministers in the unprecedented Rs 1,000-crore scam by the militant-politician-bureaucrat nexus. But the ministers, i.e. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rockybul Hussain, Khorsing Ingty, Akon Bora, Chandan Brahma, Gautam Roy and Ajanta Neog besides MP Dip Gogoi, brother of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Haflong MLA GC Langthasa, and the then Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh were let off following pressure by the Congress-led UPA Government, undermining seriously in the process the credibility of the top investigating agency, and more importantly, the unity and integrity of the country," AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said at a press conference.

Referring to a news item that had appeared on The Week's February 7, 2010 issue, Patowary said it was apparent that the NIA report was brushed under the carpet by the UPA Government to save the Congress regime in the State even though it meant compromising with national interest.

"An impartial agency constituted precisely to deal with terror threats looming over the nation exposes a State Government's link with a militant outfit that has been creating mayhem killing and looting hundreds of innocent people but the Government pressurizes the Centre into protecting the ministers named specifically in the report. The Tarun Gogoi Government is directly patronizing militant outfits, with seven of its ministers involved in the embezzlement of development funds worth Rs 1,000 crore in cahoots with militants," Patowary said, adding that the State Government had no moral right to be in power.

Money From Scam Used to Buy Arms and Ammunition for Dimasa Militants

Terming the developments as jeopardizing the future of democracy, Patowary wondered what the people could expect from a Government that was little more than a puppet in the hands of militants, with the ministers themselves providing astronomical funds to militants for procuring arms.
"The Centre's role is even more disturbing, as it has not just turned a blind eye to the murky developments but gone to the extent of protecting the State Government by brushing aside the NIA's impartial findings," he said.

Asserting that the AGP's claims on the State Government's militant nexus stood vindicated, Patowary said that the only redeeming stance the Centre could take now was to direct the NIA to issue a supplementary charge sheet indicting the seven ministers. "We expect the Prime Minister to take such a step as the matter has implications beyond the State of Assam and involves the nation's sovereignty and integrity," Patowary said.

CPI shocked: Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India, Assam State Council has expressed shock at the reported revelations in the NIA report linking seven ministers of the State cabinet in the Rs 1,000-crore scam in NC Hills district in cahoots with militants, and demanded immediate expulsion of the ministers, besides initiating stringent legal action on them as well as the other accused former Governor Lt General (retd) Ajai Singh, an MP, an MLA, and a few bureaucrats and businessmen.

In a statement, the CPI said the happenings were a threat to the democratic system of governance and unless dealt with a firm hand, would totally disintegrate the nation.

http://www.sinlung.com/2010/02/rs-1000-crore-scam-in-nc-hills-assam.html

 

[nandu]

Assam ultra leader's arrest in Nepal a mystery

Kathmandu: Mystery shrouds the reported arrest of an Indian militant leader in Nepal with the Nepali authorities denying any knowledge of it.

Nepal's home ministry Monday denied having any information about the arrest of Niranjan Hojai, leader of Assam's banned Dima Halim Daoga group.

Hojai, who belongs to the Jewel faction of the underground outfit, also known as the Black Widow group, is said to have been held in Nepal Friday midnight or early Saturday.

However, security forces at Nepal's Tribhuvan International Airport as well as the Kathmandu metropolitan police said they had no information about such an arrest.

"We have no knowledge of such an arrest," Nepal home ministry spokesman Jai Mukunda Khanal told IANS.

According to the Indian media, Hojai fled with millions of rupees from the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council to buy arms for his organisation.

He was reportedly caught after he fled to Nepal, where he is said to own a hotel and is married to a Nepali woman.

http://www.zeenews.com/news638749.html

 

[Oracle]

ISI agent, 4 others arrested
Correspondent
AGARTALA, July 5 – An ISI agent and three others were detained by a joint team of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and State police from different places of Tripura, police confirmed here on Monday.
The ISI agent Omar Ashraf alias Momin Khan of Pakistan's Bhagalpur district, landed at Sonamura in West Tripura district on June 26 through Srimantapur border. Based on a tip-off, members of the joint team laid traps at different locations on the Sonamura-Agartala road on June 3.

Around 10 pm, police spotted a Tata Indica car (TR-01W0596) moving towards Sonamura town through the Sanghati bridge. The security personnel chased the vehicle and detained it.

Three persons, including the suspected ISI agent, were picked up and taken to Sagar Mahal for interrogation, said a police officer. Later, the detained persons were taken to Agartala from where they were shifted to BSF sector headquarters at Gakulnagar for further interrogation.

According to police, Tajul Islam of Durgapur, who was arrested is the main associate of the ISI agent. Based on the interrogation report, police arrested one more person- Uttam Barman of Jogendranagar under East Agartala Police station. Uttam, driver of the vehicle is also accused of helping the ISI agent.

Senior police officers have started grilling the ISI agent and his associates but are yet find out the agenda of the detained Pakistani spy. However, sleuths hope to get vital inputs on ISI network in Tripura, which shares a 856 km long border with Bangladesh, said a police official.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0610/oth06

 

[Oracle]

BJP for boosting Army, ITBP presence
Kalyan Barooah
NEW DELHI, July 5 – A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fact-finding team has called for immediate strengthening of Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) along the Chinese border to stop a 'virtual creepy invasion', and demanded constitution of a statutory high-powered autonomous border management group at the national level.
The five-member team led by national vice-president and MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari that has submitted a preliminary report on 'Chinese incursions', has recommended that there is an immediate need of creation of new posts to man gaps at different points along the international border, as also the urgent need to increase Army's strength to match Chinese deployment.

The team members including Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Dr Rajan Sushant, Tapir Gaon and Prof. Nirmal Singh visited the forward areas of all States bordering China. India shares 4056 km of international border with China divided into three sectors – eastern, middle and western.

Set up in the backdrop of growing tensions between the two countries over demarcation of border and reports of Chinese intrusions in Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, the team has made several recommendations and demanded that a Parliamentary group be set up for detail study and overseeing of border issues.

The team toured Arunachal Pradesh in the fist leg from March 24 to 28, has made some startling observations. It discovered that till date Thagla Ridge, Namka Chu and Sumdrong Chu Valley continue to be under Chinese occupation. In 1962, when the Chinese aggression began at Thagla Ridge, about 60 km away from Zemithang on the north-westerly side.

In Kurung Kamey district, in the central part of Arunachal Pradesh, prior to the 1962 conflict, there were nine Army base camps till the actual border. Today, only two of those camps are under the control of Indian Army, while seven of them have been occupied by the Chinese Army.

In Upper Subansiri district, the Asa-Pila-Maya Army camps, which were in the Indian territory, are now under Chinese occupation. In eastern part of the State in Dibang Valley district, the Athu-pupu range is under the Chinese occupation since 2006. In Chaklagam range in the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh three mountains frequented by Indian hunters have been occupied by China.

It has observed that China has devised zero-conflict strategy using nomads and grazers to invade pasture lands and grazing grounds inching quietly and providing a discreet protection to their nomads successfully unleashing a virtual creepy invasion.

Although some of the observations like Chinese game plan of developing the border areas in break-neck speed were known, the BJP has held that privacy imposed by the Government of India preventing Indians and other tourists to access the frontiers without permit has kept the region deprived of public interaction. This has impeded the awareness of Indian to the ground realities on the Chinese front.

The team also discovered that since Leh-Ladakh region is treated both by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs as non-conflict zone, the presence of Army and para-military forces is miniscule and inadequate. The large tracts of unmanned land spread into thousands of square km give enough temptation for intrusion, it remarked.

The team has reported that roads and communication are in a shabby condition. There is an urgent need of making advance landing grounds at Chushul and Furchok workable. The Government of India should speed up construction of airports in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

The local people should be involved to guard borders. It can be done recruiting the locals in Territorial Army, it was recommended.

Better way to secure border is to provide socio-economic security to people living there. The Government should take measures to provide employment opportunities, better education and health facilities.

The BJP team said successive governments since 1962 and as recent as 1996 turned a deliberate bind eye to frequent incursions and clandestine occupation of strategic posts and locations.

The issue of Chinese incursions has rocked the Parliament on several occasions in the past, with the Centre blaming the unmarked boundary as the prime cause of dispute. Both China and India have nominated special representatives to resolve the boundary dispute.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0610/at07

 

[Oracle]

Ultra gunned down in Manipur, arms seized
Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, July 6 – Security forces gunned down a suspected militant in a pre-dawn operation, while three persons were hurt when suspected militants exploded a bomb in at a private clinic in Manipur today.
At around 3 am, troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry observed suspicious movement of three militants, PRO Assam Rifles said in a press release. "On being challenged, the ultras opened fire which was immediately retaliated by the troops resulting in death of one militant.

One nine mm Pistol, five live rounds, one Chinese hand grenade, a mobile phone, etc., were recovered from the deceased.

Meanwhile, three persons sustained injuries when suspected militants exploded a hand grenade near an Alto Maruti car parked in front of Langol View Clinic in Imphal around 2.30pm.

Police said, a two wheeler borne suspected militants hurled a hand grenade towards the car which belonged to the clinic's owner.

The Assam Rifles jawans detected a huge cache of ammunition including 536 live rounds of AK 47 rifle, 30 numbers of 7.62 mm CTN, 10 nine mm balls, six Lathode bombs, three Kenwood radio sets and three battery chargers while checking a Omni van at Khudengthabi, 100 km from here near the Indo-Myanmar border on Tuesday.

The consignment was being transported by one Hemkhopao Touthang of Moreh border town. In a follow up operations, 85 rounds of AK 47 ammunition and Rs 1,50,000 in cash were also recovered from Moreh town, the source added. The arrested person was handed over to Imphal West Police Station.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0710/oth07

 

[nandu]

Militants blast railway tracks, Garibrath Express derails

At least seven persons, including the train driver, were injured when five bogies and engine of the Kolkata-bound Garibrath Express derailed in the wee hours today after NDFP militants blasted railway track in Assam's Kokrajhar district.

The incident occurred around 2.25 a.m. after militants of the banned group blasted rail tracks at a spot between Gosaigaon and Chowtara in lower Assam, police said.

The injured have been rushed to a hospital, a railway spokesperson said.

The General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railways (Guwahati), along with senior officials, have rushed to the spot, the spokesperson said, adding Divisional General Manager (Alipurduar) had reached there with a medical team.

Passengers have been sent by another train, while recovery vans from New Bongaigaon (Assam) and Alipurduar (West Bengal) have been sent to the spot, he said.

Rescue operations were on at the spot, when reports last came in.

NDFB militants had last night blasted railway tracks at two places in Sonitpur district of Assam. The banned group had threatened to target railway tracks and roads in Tezpur and Udalgiri districts.

http://thehindu.com/news/national/article505833.ece?homepage=true

 

[nandu]

Gun-runner held in Manipur

The troopers of 31 Assam Rifles have handed over a gun-runner, Hemkhopao Taothang, to the police on Tuesday along with a van and a huge assortment of bullets.

He has been charged with being a member of the gang of the international gun-runners active along the border with Myanmar.

The troopers found 536 rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition, 10 rounds of 9 mm and 30 rounds of 7.32 mm bullets and three radio sets. During preliminary interrogation, Taothang disclosed that there were some more ammunition at Moreh, the shanty town along the international border. On this information, 85 rounds of AK-47 ammunition and currency worth Rs.1.50 lakh were recovered.

The troopers have been arresting gun-runners, including women, on Highway 39 frequently. After buying sophisticated weapons and bullets from the international gun-runners, the men and women bring the same to Manipur for supplying to militants of the North-East region.
Grenade attack

Five pedestrians were injured when suspected militants lobbed a hand-grenade at the parked car of the proprietor of a private nursing home here on Tuesday. There had been several bomb attacks on the clinic for extortion of money. Though police have registered a case, no arrest has been made yet.

The women vendors of a shopping complex staged a sit-in protest after a hand-grenade was discovered in the complex on Tuesday. A bomb was recovered from the same complex on June 30.

http://thehindu.com/news/article504600.ece

 

[Oracle]

Serial blasts in Assam, one killed

GUWAHATI, July 8 (IANS) - The outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) Thursday struck in Assam triggering three explosions, including a blast on a passenger train that killed a five-year-old, officials said.
A police spokesperson said the blast at the Garib Rath Express from Guwahati to Kolkata took place at 2.15 am at Babubil in Kokrajhar district, about 270 km west of Guwahati.

"The Garib Rath was at Babubil when the blast took place derailing seven coaches," S Hajong, chief spokesperson of the Northeast Frontier Railways, told IANS. At least 15 people were injured in the blast.

The injured were shifted to hospitals. Relief trains shifted the stranded passengers from the site.

"The driver of the train and another passenger received serious injuries, while six coaches were damaged," Hajong said.

The lone casuality in the incident was identified as Durlav Sethia, 5, of Guwahati. His parents escaped unhurt.

The remote-controlled improvised explosive device was planted on the track over a rail bridge, police said.

"The engine and the first coach bore the maximum brunt of the explosion. The other four coaches just derailed, thereby minimizing the casualties," the official said.

"The casualty figure is less since the train was moving very slowly on the rail bridge."

Police blamed the NDFB for the blast.

"A group of about 25 NDFB militants were involved in the blast," Kokrajhar district police chief PK Dutta told IANS.

There were two more explosions Thursday - both on rail tracks in Batasipur and Delseri railway stations in northern Assam.

The explosions took place even as the Assam government Wednesday sounded a security alert with intelligence inputs of serial explosions by the NDFB.

The railways Wednesday night announced cancellation or suspension of at least six long-distance passenger trains due to the threat.

A police spokesperson said radio intercepts of the NDFB revealed a massive plan to trigger a wave of blasts across Assam, mainly targeting trains, bridges, and other vital installations, besides security forces and public places.

"There are definite plans by the NDFB to create violence in parts of Assam to make their presence felt. We are on full alert," Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0810/at022

 

[Oracle]

Govt waiting for ULFA to make first move
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, July 8 – The Government of India is likely to adopt a wait and watch policy regarding talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for a political solution of the problems, while, extortion bids by some members of the militant group has become a cause of serious concern.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the Government of India is likely to wait for the ULFA leaders to make the first move for talks. Though a delegation of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) recently met the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister with the request to start the process of talks, the Centre is of the view that the ULFA should formally announce its decision to come for talks.

Sources said that the stand of the Government of India on the issue of talks with any militant group is very clear. To start the process of talks, the militant groups must abjure violence and all talks must be held within the framework of the Constitution of India. The ULFA leaders have not so far announced their willingness to come for talks within the framework of the Constitution of India and the Centre would start the process only after receiving a formal communication from the top leaders of the outfit, sources added.

Sources further clarified that as the top leaders of the ULFA including the chairman of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa are under judicial custody, the Government cannot release them. However, they can obtain bail from the court if the State Government does not oppose their bail plea and so far no such decision has been taken, sources added.

The Government is also not aware of the whereabouts of the ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah and though there were reports that he might have moved to Pakistan recently, the reports are yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, the intelligence inputs in recent days indicated a division among some of the leaders of the ULFA as the security agencies received intercepts where the hardliners, who are known to be close to Paresh Baruah, directed the cadres not to keep in close contacts with the leaders who are in favour of talks with the Government.

Security sources said that fearing that a number of ULFA cadres might come out if the process of talks starts, the hardliners and close associates of the ULFA commander-in-chief started keeping close watch on the cadres. The ULFA has around a hundred cadres in Myanmar and strict instructions have been given to them not to come into Assam without specific instructions. Despite the crackdown in Bangladesh, at least 60 to 70 cadres of the outfit are still in that country, but they are not in a comfortable position as before as they are forced to live in constant fear of being apprehended by the security forces.

Sources also admitted that there have been growing efforts by the ULFA to launch extortion drives. "But there were instances in the past when some middle level leaders of the ULFA launched such drives to collect money before coming out of the out-fit and such a possibility cannot be ruled out," sources added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0910/at07