Assam Timeline - 2013

Date

Incidents

January 1

PJACB economic blockade starts with supporters blocking NH-31C in Assam.

Tarun Gogoi, the CM of Assam said his Government could not control the BTAD unrest the way it would have liked to and it would take some time for rehabilitation of the remaining camp inmates.

A militant of Songbijit faction of NDFB-IKS, identified as H Leba alias Lalit Hajong, laid down arms before Udalguri Dy. Commissioner, Thaneswar Malakar, in Udalguri District of Assam.

CM, Tarun Gogoi said that after tackling insurgency effectively over the years, his Government was now faced with the problem posed by CPI-Maoists that are trying to strike roots in the State.

SFs arrested a person, identified as Rafikul Islam (34), along with arms and ammunition in Kokrajhar District of Assam.

The indefinite economic blockade called by the PJACBM has been suspended till January 15, following intervention from the MHA.

Unidentified militants abducted a businessman, identified as Anjan Kar (30), from the Kherbari in Sonitpur District of Assam.

Activists set ablaze a motorcycle, damaged a car and an attempt was made to burn down the Bamunigaon panchayat office in RHAC areas during a 36-hour Bandh in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts of Assam.

SFs arrested two active militants of ADF, Jehaskal Hasda alias Rajen and Raju Hembram, at Kachugaon under Gossaigaon sub-division in Kokrajhar District. One 9 mm pistol and 5 mobile phones were recovered from their possession.

SFs recovered two IEDs suspected to be planted by Anti-Talks faction of ULFA-ATF, from an Oil India Ltd pipeline at Nagajan in Tinsukia District of Assam.

SFs arrested an ULFA linkman from Dhubri District of Assam.

HSDP, a new political entity, created after dissolution of some Opposition parties and now-disbanded UPDS, will launch a "mass political movement" from March 2013 demanding a separate State comprising Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao Districts of Assam.

Former UPDS leaders, who had signed a tripartite MoS with the Centre and the State Government on November 25, 2011, said they have lost faith in the government as even after more than one year no step has been taken to implement the agreement.

SFs in an encounter killed an ULFA-ATF militant, corporal Debajit Duarah alias Bangli Asom, at Hebeda village in the Bordubi area in Tinsukia District.

SFs arrested three militants belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as Mridul Hazarika and Samarjit Sarma of Panigaon-Patkata and Illias Ali, in Nalbari District.

SFs arrested one militant of AANLA, identified as Mohesh Orang (23), from Gopinathpur area of Kokrajhar District. One .9 mm pistol along with 5 live rounds was recovered from the arrested militant.

SFs arrested two suspected GNLA militants, identified as Nidu Sangma (19) and Dukham Momin (18), from Bakhrakhuti village near Dudhnoi in Goalpara District.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, identified as Nitul Moran, at Doomdooma in Tinsukia District.

Non-tribals of Kamrup-rural District blocked NH-37 and disrupted rail communication at different locations in southern Kamrup demanding the forthcoming Garm Panchayat (village-level self governing body) election be held in non-tribal pockets within the RHAC. The Gram Panchayat polls are not held in all the autonomous council areas of the State, including under the RHAC, as these special category areas have their own council elections.

State Government will update NRC in 42 LACs in eight districts of Assam in the first phase.According to an official source, the 42 LACs are from Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Nagaon and Sonitpur Districts. The NRC in these constituencies will be updated within three years from the day of starting the work.

The CBI team arrested Moinul Haque, former 'president' of ABMSU for his role in the killing of four Bodo youths on July 20, 2012, at Joypur in Kokrajhar District. Two of his associates, identified as Jahanuddin Sheik and Jakhir Ali, were also arrested.

Altogether 22 people have been arrested by the CBI in connection with the case. The CBI has earlier arrested five people in September 2012, six in December 2012 and eight persons on January 5, 2013.

Three children, identified as Rinki Kurmi (10), Rupesh Kurmi (5) and Sandhya Kurmi (5), were killed and two others were injured in a suspected grenade explosion at Kharjan under Digboi Police Station in Tinsukia District. Those injured in the blast were identified as Bhanumati (25), and Pushpanjali Kurmi (7).

ABSU warned of a massive movement if Bodoland is not formed by the time the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh State gets statehood. ABSU 'General Secretary', Jiron Basumatary further called for the release of jailed NDFB-RD 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary to facilitate the peace process.

Suspected NSCN-K militants abducted four persons of a private mining company from Tikok Hills area under Margherita Sub-Division in Tinsukia District. The abducted persons were identified as Mahendra Baruah, Pancham Charki, Kunal Basumatary and Raja Thapa.

UHM, Sushil Kumar Shinde said that ban on outlawed ULFA and NDFB would continue.

CM, Tarun Gogoi held the ULFA-ATF responsible for the death of three children in Tinsukia district on January 9.

SFs rescued the four employees of Brahmaputra Infrastructure Private Ltd, abducted by suspected NSCN-K militants on January 10, from the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Tinsukia District.

SFs arrested a suspected militant belonging to ULFA-ATF, Dhanudhar Neog, from Jutlibari area of Doomdooma in the Tinsukia District.

Following the inputs provided by the arrested ULFA-ATF militant SFs busted a militant camp located in the northern part of the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in the same District.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to I K.Sanbijit faction of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Sailot Narzary, from Sukrajhar area under Basugaon Police Station in Chirang District. Two foreign made hand grenades were recovered.

SFs arrested two injured militants of the NDFB-IKS, following an encounter with SFs, at Ultapani in Kokrajhar District. SFs recovered two grenades, one pistol and some incriminating documents from the injured militants.

SFs killed two militants, identified as Thungri Basumatary and Barfu alias B Borailing belonging to the NDFB-IKS at Delaishree near Lumsung Forest reserve under Chirang reserve in Kokrajhar District. The SFs also recovered two .9 mm pistols and some rounds of ammunition. NDFB-IKS, however, termed the killing of two militants in the encounter as "fake encounter" and condemned the killings.

SFs arrested an NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Sylot Narzary (25) alias Syco, from Salbari area under Basugaon Police Station of Chirang District.

Central Government said that the SoO Agreement with the NDFB-PTF had been extended till June 30, 2013.

The next round of political dialogue between the Government and NDFB-PTF is likely to be held later this month, even as the NDFB-PTF renewed its demand for creation of a separate State of Bodoland. A five-member delegation of NDFB-PTF led by 'general secretary' Govinda Basumatary on January 16 had their first interaction with UMHA, Sushilkumar Shinde. The militant leaders urged the UMHA to expedite resolution of their charter of demands.

State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi credited the BTC authorities and Congress for the quick rehabilitation of the riot-affected people. CM Gogoi said, "We thought it would take time to rehabilitate the people after such major riots but I am told only about 6,000 people are now left in the relief camps and the process is on to rehabilitate them. Most of the over 4 lakh people have returned. It was possible because of the initiative by the Hagrama Mohilary-led BTC administration and the people of this area, who have realised that we need to live together in peace. The riots were incited by certain forces to create misunderstanding and chaos among the people."

In addition, BTC 'chairman' Hagrama Mohilary softened his stand on rehabilitation of doubtful citizens in the Bodo belt, saying all displaced people would be re-settled with or without land documents.

SFs arrested an ULFA-ATF linkman, identified as Tutu Bora Moran, from Jutlibari under Doomdooma Police Station in Tinsukia District.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that notwithstanding the improvement in the situation in BTC areas following a period of prolonged Bodo-Muslim ethnic violence in 2012, forces that had fuelled the clashes were still active in the State. CM, Tarun Gogoi also asserted that militant groups and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agents were also at work during the ethnic-clashes period.

48- hour Karbi Anglong Bandh (General Shutdown) imposed by KANCHASDCOM, a organisation demanding creation of an autonomous state encompassing the two autonomous hill Districts; Karbi Anglong & Dima Hasao, of the State began. A leader of KLNLF Dhani Ram Tisso further said that the creation of an autonomous State was a national commitment and that sentiment of the entire hill people was involved.

SFs recovered two bottle grenades from Budlabet Tea Estate area under Doomdooma Police Station. The two youths who were carrying the grenades managed to escape.

Separately, SFs arrested a Dima Hasao based Dimasa militant, identified as Bipa Dimasa (27), from Banderdewa in North Lakhimpur District.

SFs arrested three linkmen NDFB-IKS, identified as Hitesh Das alias Kendura, Bidya Basumatary alias Bonjar and Thempu Narzary, from Bongaigaon and Chirang District respectively.

SFs arrested two armed couriers of NDFB-IKS, Bipul Khaklari (39), and Chandradhar Bora, (32), and recovered a Chinese grenade launcher and 12 shells at Tezpur in Sonitpur District.

SFs arrested a women conduit of NDFB-IKS, Benita Mushahary, from Bongaigaon District.

KSA-Laichan faction has called for a 12-hour Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao District Bandh (General strike) on January 25 to press its demand for an autonomous State comprising the two hill district of the State as per the provision of the article 244(A) of the Constitution of India.

ABSU said that it would not sit silent if the Government of India drops the demand for creation of a separate Bodo State (Bodoland) this time and goes ahead with the creation of Telangana State.

SFs in an encounter, killed a militant belonging to the ULFA-ATF, identified as Lalit Moran, in Kakojan Reserve Forest under Digboi Police Station in Tinsukia District. But the local people claimed that the slain youth was innocent.

SFs recovered two powerful IEDs from the house of one Biswajit Moran at Hahkhati Pathargaon under Kakopathar Police Station in the same District.

The leader of the ULFA-ATF, Paresh Baruah, is securing an uninterrupted flow of funds from Guwahati, the main commercial centre in Northeast India, for his personal use, revealed an internal report of the government. The militant leader in hiding, who shuttles between Taga in northern Myanmar and Ruili in southern China, is collecting the money from a handful of Guwahati-based contractors through his own channel, the report said, adding they are paying hefty amounts to Baruah "without any real threats to their lives."

ULFA-ATF and NDFB-IKS along with nine other militant outfits of the northeast called for boycott of Republic Day celebrations on January 26 and blamed the Government of covert military operations.

The other groups includes CorCom, the umbrella body of seven militant groups of Manipur, NLFT and Tripura People’s Democratic Front,[Political organisation representing (ATTF)]

ULFA-ATF militants opened fire at the Namtola Police Station under Sivasagar District injuring a trooper, identified as Liladhar Chetia, and also set ablaze four vehicles.

SFs, in an encounter killed two GNLA militants near Khardand under Krishnai Police Station of Goalpara District.

SFs arrested a Bangladeshi citizen, identified as Altaf Hussain (30), along with FICN worth INR 100,000 from Sealdoh village in Dhubri District. The arrestee belongs to Panchbari village under Kurigram District of Bangladesh.

In a statement issued by Aranya Asom, a member of the ‘publicity wing ‘of the ULFA-ATF, the outfit claimed responsibility for the attack. It said the action was in retaliation to the killing of an innocent youth, Lalit Moran, in Tinsukia District on January 20 by SFs.

SFs recovered a hand grenade in front of the Kakopathar Police Station in Tinsukia District. Police recovered the grenade from the road while checking vehicles.

The KPLT has called a 36-hours Karbi Anglong bandh (shutdown strike), beginning 5 pm of January 24. It has also announced to boycott the Republic Day celebrations in the District.  In a press communiqué, KPLT  ‘general secretary’ and ‘publicity in-charge’ of the organization, Pakler Ageng, stated that, “There is no justification in observing Republic Day in Karbi Anglong as Government has resorted to oppressive and suppressive policies to thwart the free will of the people. Therefore, all democratic values have lost their credibility in the District.”

NDFB-PTF leadership is optimistic on the creation of Bodoland State as the Central Government is about to announce its decision on the demand for a separate Telangana State by January 28.

A suspected cadre of KPLT Bikrom Teron died after he and four others were allegedly thrashed by the public for extortion in an interior village in Karbi Anglong District in the night. Teron and four other KPLT cadres — Donsingh Tokbi, Mangalsingh Signer, Mansingh Rangpi and Rensingh Tokbi — were caught by villagers while they were going to Donghap under Dokmoka Police station to extort money from.

CRPF jawan Yambel Darlong was killed and havildar Debnath Laskar of the Assam Police was seriously injured when the KPLT, a rebel group, fired at a joint team of Police and CRPF patrolling party at Engti gaon of Koilamati area under the Chokihola Police station in Karbi Anglong District.

Army’s bomb disposal squad defused a ‘sophisticated and powerful’ IED suspected to have been planted by ULFA at Mangaldoi in Darrang District. The IED was planted just outside the sadar Police station on National Highway-52. Security forces have been put on high alert, apprehending strikes by the outfit ahead of Republic Day.

258 incidents of extremist violence were reported in 2012 and 53 insurgents were killed during the same period in Assam. Moreover, the number of civilians killed in extremist violence stood at 33 while four security personnel also lost their lives. Besides, 1174 insurgents were also captured. Further, 443 arms, 9320 rounds of ammunition, 110 improvised explosive devices and 163 grenades were recovered by the Security Forces. This was informed by ADGP-Law and Order, AP Rawat while talking to the media persons at Assam Police headquarters.  He also informed that over INR 110 million cash was recovered from across the State.

The senior Assam Police official also put the total number of extremist-related incidents violence in the last three years at 790. Moreover, in the last three years, the tally of arms and ammunition recovery stood at 1247 and 18764 rounds respectively.

Asked about the rising number of arms and explosive recovery, DGP, JN Choudhury said that the procurement of explosives has never been a problem. Dimapur and China has been the major sources of arms smuggling in the State, the DGP added.

The DGP, said, the ULFA-ATF may be facing manpower crisis but there is “no shortage” of arsenal for the outfit. According to Choudhury, the seizure of a large number of Chinese grenades and IED in Assam in 2012 is an indicator that the group still has access to sophisticated arms and ammunition. According to Police records, a total of 163 grenades and 110 IEDs were seized in 2012 compared to 110 grenades and 89 IEDs seized in 2011. Similarly, the number of rounds of ammunition seized went up to 9,320 in 2012 from 5,544 rounds in 2011.

On the Maoist threat, he said there are 114 Maoists at present, who are mostly active in Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji and are concentrating on mass mobilisation and creation of a support base.

Though the overall level of violence in Assam has come down, extortion by the militant groups remains a major cause of concern and according to a “very conservative estimate”, the militants managed to collect at least INR 270 million from the State in 2012.

The AANLA has urged the State as well as the Central Government to redress its grievances and to deal with the long-pending issue of Adivasis. In an email , C-n-C of AANLA , Peter Dang expressing his total annoyance over the Government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the problems of the Adivasi people living in the State and urged the agencies concerned, particularly the Central government to provide ST status to the Adivasi people, to create a separate Autonomous Council for the Adivasis in Assam, land allotment and pattas to the Adivasis residing in tea gardens and villages of Assam by sending the mobile circle office for protection of land and properties.

Plastic explosives were recovered from three youths who were targeting a power station in Assam’s Dhemaji District on Republic Day. They were caught and arrested following a chase. Three packets of plastic explosives, five packets of fuse wire, six fuses and daggers were found in their possession. The youths identified as Pranendra Wari, Nakesh Narzari and Hemkanta Narzari were targeting the NHPC at the Gerukamukh Dam Site. It was not known to which insurgent outfit they belonged to.

At least eight low-intensity explosions were reported from two different Districts. While four explosions were reported Porabhata, Medattari, Airkata and Chirakuti in Dhubri District, another four were reported from Simlakandi, Jaleswar, Gornagar and Merakuchi in Goalpara District. One of the blast occurred near the house of Mainuddin Ahmed, AIUDF legislator, from Jaleswar.

Immediately after the explosions at Jaleswar, the villagers caught a motorcycle-borne man. Suspecting he was the one carrying bombs, the villagers lynched him. The man was later identified as Nazrul Islam Khan, a known criminal, from the neighbouring Dhubri District.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Goalpara, Shyamal Saikia said, “It seems the blasts were triggered by a gang of criminals. We found a letter on a fake ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom] letterhead from the spot where he was killed. The letter carried a demand for Rs. 1 crore [INR 10 million]". The possibility of the involvement of Ulfa was very remote in this case, added Saikia.

The State Government has sanctioned eight new Police Stations in Udalguri District. This was stated by the Deputy Commissioner, Thaneswar Malakar. The eight Police Stations will be set up at Bhairabkunda, Lalpani, Borobazar, Bhakatpara, Khagrabari, Goriajhar, Bhergaon and Amjuli.

NDFB-RD has clarified that the outfit was not behind any extortion demands in the region and cautioned the people not to give away to the fake demands made in the name of the outfit.

The 'Information and Publicity Secretary' of the NDFB-RD, B Najib said that the outfit was not behind the demand of INR five million as was reported in some section of the media. The Publicity Secretary said that such demands are being made by organizations who pose as NDFB-RD with the conspiracy to malign the name of the outfit and to derail the outfit's peace parleys with the Central Government.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde assured an official delegation led by a group of executive members of the Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong autonomous District councils that discussion on Autonomous State will be done at the meeting of the state re-organisation committee, reports Nagaland Post. Creation of an autonomous State within Assam has been a long standing demand of the tribal population of the twin hill Districts.

SFs in an encounter killed a militant belonging to the ULFA-ATF at Upper Khardung in Goalpara District. Two troopers of the 19 Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army were also injured during the exchange of fire. The ULFA-ATF militant has been identified as Nayan Asom alias Babul Ali. SFs recovered a pistol and three magazines from his possession. Militants also lobbed grenades on SF personals during the encounter.

Suspected ULFA-ATF militants blew up an oil pipeline at Makum in Tinsukia District.

NDFB-PTF and the PJACBM [a body supporting NDFB-PTF on Bodo State issue] strongly reacted on the allegations levelled by the ruling BTC leaders, blaming NDFB-PTF for rampant extortions and kidnapping in BTC areas. The 'Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary', NDFB-PTF, R Daokha said that the allegation of extortion and kidnapping in BTC areas levelled by State Transport Minister Chandan Brahma and BTC Deputy Chairman, Khampa Borgoyary in a demonstration held at Kajalgaon on January 28.

MHA has released INR 13.57 billion to the State Government to counter- insurgency between the period 1990-91 to 2012 [up to December 18] and the amount was transferred to the State Government through Reserve Bank of India. This information came as a reply to a Right to Information Act (RTI) query by a State-based NGO, APW.

The RTI also revealed that ULFA leader Anup Chetia's willingness on joining the ongoing peace process between ULFA-PTF and Central Government is yet to be received. Anup Chetia is the 'General Secretary' of ULFA and is presently jailed in Bangladesh.

Beginning of formal talks with the NDFB-RD will depend on the release of the chairman of the outfit, Ranjan Daimary on bail.Meanwhile; Daimary has been able to win over most of the rebels of the outfit to persuade them to join the peace process.

Highly placed official sources told the newspaper that though the Central Government's interlocutor PC Haldar had conducted several rounds of informal talks with NDFB-RD 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary in jail to pave the way for formal talks with the outfit; it is still not decided as to when the talks would start.

NDFB-PTF softens its stand on changing the Centre's interlocutor, P.C.Haldar for the peace talks with the outfit. The next round of talks is scheduled to be held on February 28. The Bodo militant outfit had earlier demanded that the Centre should replace Haldar with a person of political background.

MHA -Joint Secretary in charge of North-east, Shambhu Singh said that the Government was not responsible for the slow pace of negotiation with the Bodo militant outfit. The tripartite talks were attended by officials of Assam Government, the NDFB-PTF, besides the MHA.

SFs arrested a suspected cadre of NDFB-IKS Mithisat Narzary (22), from Aipoali in Bengtol area under Chirang District. Police said he had demanded money from a senior officer in the District.

Runikhata residents caught one Jaiklong Basumatary alias Biren for demanding money from local people posing as an NDFB cadre and handed him over to the Police in Bongaigaon District. He confessed to making the demands and named two accomplices, who were later arrested from Bhurdalang.

Suspected militants abducted a businessman, Raju Saha (30), from Dotma in Kokrajhar District.

ABSU came down heavily on State Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das for accusing the Bodos in his affidavit submitted to the Gauhati High Court, of instigating the riots in lower Assam Districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri in 2012.

Suspected militants belonging to the NDFB-IKS exploded a powerful bomb in the railway tracks at Goabari in Kokrajhar District. No casualty was reported. The bomb suspected to have been planted by the NDFB-IKS exploded at 1.10am two minutes after the Howrah-Guwahati down Garibrath Express passed the area between Gossaigaon and Fakiragram, Police said.

Operation wing of Assam Police arrested four youths, who were on their way to Myanmar to join the NDFB-IKS, from the interstate bus terminus (ISBT) in Guwahati under Kamrup (Metro) District. The arrestees were identified as Uttam Borgayari (23), Minu Basumatary (27), Anima Brahma (19) and Bharati Basumatary (19). All of them hail from Chirang District of BTAD.

Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind has claimed that Bodo leaders have agreed to bring back all the people who were compelled to leave the BTAD by the miscreants.Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said top leaders of BTC have assured leaders of that all riot victims will be rehabilitated at their native villages in BTAD area.109 persons lost their lives during the Bodo-Muslim clashes in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri District in 2012.

SFs arrested four militants of Karbi militant formation, UKLA from various hideouts in Karbi Anglong District. According to additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Bolin Deury and officer in-charge of Bakulia Police Station, Khorgeswar Bordoloi, based on the information, SFs arrested Jiten Phangso from Natun basti. Police said that Jiten believed to be the founder of UKL A is serving in Indian Reserve Battalion.

According to latest Government report, at least 4834 militants of different outfits across seven states in North Eastern (NE) region were killed in counter-insurgency operations from 2001 to 2012. During the period, at least 1909 militants were killed in Manipur, while 1777 were killed in Assam, 536 in Nagaland, 307 in Tripura, 105 in Arunachal Pradesh and 9 in Mizoram.

According to the Government report, in a single year, highest number of militants were killed in Manipur in 2008.In Manipur, 341 militants were killed in 2008, while 161 were killed in the year 2001, 101 in 2002, 148 in 2003, 127 in 2004, 143 in 2005, 141 in 2006, 218 in 2007, 321 in 2009, 104 in 2010, 30 in 2011 and 74 in the year 2012.

In other hand, the year 2001 recorded the highest number of militant fatalities under counter-insurgency operations in Assam. In Assam, a total of 1777 militants were killed during the period, in which, 275 were killed in the year 2002, 281 in 2003, 136 in 2004, 83 in 2005, 43 in 2006, 149 in 2007, 133 in 2008, 196 in 2009, 98 in 2010, 45 in 2011 and 55 in 2012.Most of the militants killed during counter-insurgency operations were from United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)," a top official of the Assam Police said.

In Meghalaya, 191 militants were killed during the period, the breakups being - 8 in the year 2001, 17 in 2002, 27 in 2003, 23 in 2004, 26 in 2005, 17 in 2006, 13 in 2007, 12 in 2008, 4 in 2009, 17 in 2010, 8 in 2011 and 19 in 2012.

SFs recovered four AK-56 Assault Rifles and four AK-56 magazines from Damsodiang Phai, Daiphai, under Maibong Police Station in Dima Hasao District. The hidden cache of arms is believed to have been left by the DHD group during the period of ceasefire agreement. It is also believed that the newly formed DJNA group has been trying to trace and recover the said weapons for their subversive activities.

Two militants of the GNLA were killed, in a encounter with the SFs, along the Assam-Meghalaya border at Ambringkona under Boko Police Station of Kamrup (Rural) District. The slain militants are yet to be identified. SFs recovered two 7.65mm pistols, seven rounds of ammunition, a large quantity of AK-47 rifles and two demand notes of the outfit.

SFs arrested a suspected a MULTA militant from the heart of the Nagaon town in Nagaon District. A pistol and live ammunition were seized from him.

SFs arrested, Kishan Agarwal, an owner of a garment shop at Tinsukia town's Daily Bazar for collecting money on behalf of ULFA-ATF in Tinsukia District

SFs arrested a militant belonging to NDFB-RD, identified as Mathura Basumatary (25) alias B Majumser, from Rangsaidham area of No -2 Amguri area under Basugaon Police Station of Chirang District. One Chinese grenade was recovered with him.

The state government of Assam has agreed to a probe by the CBI into the seizure of FICN by officials of the DRI, Guwahati from three accused persons arrested earlier on August 30, 2012. The vehicle was on its way from Malda District in West Bengal and FICN is reported to have been brought from Bangladesh. Earlier, sources from the NIA said fake notes are supplied from Pakistan via Bangladesh to border Districts of Assam and West Bengal.

KNA-Karbi Anglong unit observed the 'Political Autonomy demand day' at its head office named Kuki-Kho in Manja near Diphu in Karbi Anglong District. The celebration was attended by all Kuki chiefs (Haosa), with other frontal Kuki organizations including KRA and UKDA.

Miscreant targeted the Singra weekly market under Boko PS in Kamrup (Rural) District and five houses of the market were damaged by fire.

Eight militants of the newly-formed outfit MPTF surrendered before SFs in Kokrajhar District. The militant group, led by Hafizur Rahman, area commander of the outfit, surrendered before the top police and army officials at Gossaigaon. The militants deposited three .9mm pistols, two 7.6mm pistols, three handmade rifles, one hand grenade and 14 rounds of ammunition."The militant group was formed in 2012 during the ethnic violence in lower Assam," a top police official said.

CEM of KAAC, Joy Ram Engleng appealed to KPLT militants to call off the indefinite Karbi Anglong District strike beginning from 5 p.m. of February 12. However, KPLT 'chairman' B.D. Sarpo Tungjang has dismissed the appeal and stated that, "we have acknowledged the public appeal but this is the time for asking for a separate state when government is mulling over the issue, why should we sit at home; it is better to live in our own land then in other people's house".

The Malang market near Boko in Kamrup (Rural) District was set ablaze by the miscreants.

A meeting of the central committee members of the ULFA-PTF was held at a private lodge in Dispur in Kamrup (Metro) District. Issues related to extradition of the outfit's 'general secretary' Anup Chetia alias Golap Baruah from Bangladesh and the faction's next round of talks with the Centre was discussed at the meeting. Apart from 'Chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, senior leaders such as ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradeep Gogoi, 'foreign secretary' Sasadhar Choudhury, 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary, 'cultural secretary' Pranati Deka, among others, were present at the meeting.

Unidentified miscreants on the eve of third phase of Panchayat (local self government institution) elections, set ablaze three Lower Primary (LP) schools namely Bordamal Kamarpara LP school, Goraimari LP School and Doroni LP School, all under PS in Goalpara District.

An LP school was partially damaged at Nicinta, also under Agia PS.

sources said three schools, which are stated to be voting centres for the Panchayat election on February 12 namely Hatipara LP School, Machenokhowa LP School and Sekhadari LP School under Boko Revenue Circle in Kamrup (rural) District were partially burnt down on February 10 night causing the voters to panic.

Miscreants set ablaze a truck (WB-15-A- 9894) loaded with goods at Kharkhori under Chhaygaon PS and another truck (AS-01 P-9950) was also set on fire at Bodapara under Boko PS in Kamrup (rural) District.

About 500 activist of Rabha bodies have staged a road blockade at Dairang under Krishnai PS in an attempt to block the polling officials from moving to the polling centres by that road.

The Agriculture Office at Dhudhnoi in Goalpara district was also set ablaze by the miscreants.

The RHJMC, an umbrella organisation of 34 groups, is opposing the holding of panchayat polls in RHAC areas. RHJMC are opposed to panchayat polls in the Rabha-Hasong area without holding RHAC election.

Miscreants set ablaze at least five voting centres and one sub-post office in Mirza under Kamrup (rural) District.

Eleven persons were killed and many injured when SFs opened fire to quell groups of protesters ransacking polling stations and preventing other voters from casting their ballots at several places in the RHAC areas in Goalpara District during the third and final phase of Panchayat (village level local self Government institution) elections.

The clashes that erupted between the SFs and groups of protesters armed with machetes, knives, iron rods and sticks left three dead at Kathalmuri Palsa under Dhupdhara Police Station, two at Kachadal under Ranjuli Police Station, one at Siluk under Dudhnoi Police Station, three at Bekipool under Khrishnai Police Station and two at Dhuptola under Mornoi Police Station.

According to sources, four columns of Army have been pressed into service to contain the situation in the district amid unconfirmed reports of fresh group clashes spreading to new areas.

Curfew was clamped in the areas under Mornoi Police Station after fresh reports of group clashes between two communities were reported from Dhuptola area following killing of two persons who allegedly placed two hand bombs outside the polling station at Raikhashini Jawaharlal Nehru Vidyalaya. Earlier, mob set ablaze a village under Krishnai Police Station where around 60 houses were destroyed. The mob also indulged in brick-batting and torched two police vehicles, a bus and a Bolero vehicle standing on NH-37 leaving some CRPF personnel and the Officer-in Charge of Krishnai Police Station, Haten Ali Ahmed, injured.

According to official sources, the Goalpara District recorded a peaceful polling of 60 percent at the 659 polling centres while polling could not take place at the rest 173 centres.

PM Manmohan Singh while addressing a conference of State Governors in New Delhi has said that LWE geographical spread in the country is showing a shrinking trend even though in Assam, it is expanding, which is "worrisome".

SFs killed a militant belonging to NDFB-IKS, identified as Pri Pri Mushahary, somewhere near the Ripu reserve forest under Kachugaon Police Station in Gossaigaon sub division of Kokrajahar District. One 7.65 mm pistol factory made, two 7.65 mm live rounds and one mobile phone were recovered from the site. However, another NDFB-IKS militant managed to escape in the thick forest.

The body of abducted businessman Raju Saha (30), of Dotma in Kokrajhar District, was recovered from the approaching road to National Highway 31-C, about 150 meters from Serfanguri Police Station in the same District in the night. Local People suspect the hands of the NDFB-IKS behind the killing of Saha.

The AABYF condemned the killing and threatened the militant group involved in the killing and the government of dire consequence if effective measures are not taken immediately.

CM Tarun Gogoi revealed that 19 people lost their lives in the RHAC violence, of which six died in ethnic clashes. "Twelve persons died in Police firing during poll violence, one during loot and arson, and six in ethnic clashes. About 70, including 30 policemen, were injured, while over a hundred houses were burnt," Gogoi said. Gogoi, while admitting that there were lapses on the part of the Government and the administration, said that the violence was an 'organized one' with vested interest circles lending their weight behind it. UNI quoted Tarun Gogoi saying, "I take full responsibility for failing to provide adequate security. There were some lapses and we had no prior information."

The violence has triggered an exodus of people from affected villages, forcing over 12,000 people to take shelter in 12 relief camps till February 13 afternoon, even as the Army has been continuing flag marches. There was no relaxation in the curfew clamped in Krishnai and Mornoi Police Station areas.

Two houses were set ablaze in fresh incidents on the outskirts of Goalpara town in Goalpara District. Two fire brigade personnel, who had gone there, also received bullet injuries.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi termed the Rabha Accord as faulty.

A goodwill mission team of the APCC comprising several senior leaders, visiting the violence hit areas of Goalpara District, was attacked at the Rangagora Lower Primary School camp inmates. Rangagora Lower Primary School is being used as relief camp by the violence-hit people of the greater Gobindapur area. According to reports, the APCC delegation was headed by vice president YL Karna. Several vehicles were also damaged in the incident. About 10,650 displaced people have been put up in 12 relief camps.

The State government admitted that it is not constitutionally competent to exclude autonomous council areas from the Panchayat Act, yet it went ahead to promise this to the Rabhas 17 years ago. The CMO issued a statement signed by the Chief Minister's press adviser, Bharat Chandra Narah, which said, "Clause 5 of the Rabha Hasong Accord signed between the Government of Assam and the All Rabha Students Union and the Rabha Hasong Demand Committee on March 10, 1995 at Dispur was unconstitutional because the state government has no jurisdiction to exclude Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council areas from the purview of 73rd Amendment of the Constitution of India under Article 244M." Narah further said that though Clause 5 existed in the accord, it was not included when the state legislative assembly passed the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Act in 1995 to give legality to the accord.

The supporters of Kokrajhar District committee of the ARSU during the 12-hour BTAD bandh (general strike) called by the same organisation set ablaze a car and a bike at Magurmari Rabha Basti in Kokrajhar District. All the business establishments, markets and shops remained closed while vehicles were off the road during the bandh period. The National Highway 31(C) also wore a deserted look.

A Congress Party office and three trucks were set ablaze and vehicles damaged during the bandh in Udalguri District. Unidentified persons poured kerosene on the Congress office, Rajib Bhavan, at Tangla in Udalguri District and set ablaze its wooden doors and windows. Police fired in the air at Kalaigaon to disperse a group of persons using violent means to impose the bandh by forcing shop-owners to close down their shops. At Khoirabari in the same District, some persons set ablaze three trucks and blocked roads to prevent movement of vehicles.

Markets, shops, offices, banks, educational institutions remained closed and vehicles kept off the roads in the BTAD comprising Kokrajhar, Udalguri, Baksa and Chirang Districts.

ABSU had also supported the bandh and observed a Black Day.

Three persons were killed and four seriously injured in clashes and Police firing at Hatsinghimari in Dhubri District, the second day of counting of votes for panchayat (village level local self Government institution) polls in Assam. Sources in Dhubri district administration said a large number of people had started gathering in front of Hatsinghimari counting centre since early morning, alleging that the process for counting and declaration of results had been delayed inordinately.

Counting was stopped and indefinite curfew clamped at Hatsinghimari town, where the counting for panchayat polls under South Salmara-Mancachar subdivision was taking place. The administration also issued shoot-at-sight orders.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to KPLT, identified as Prabin Rongpi, from the Balipathar area under Bokajan Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. Police seized cash worth INR 50,000, a revolver and two live ammunitions from him. Police said a group of KPLT militants were in the Balipathar area to attack businessmen who did not support their bandh (General Shut down) and opened their business establishments during bandh hours.

Normal life in the District has been affected as the indefinite Karbi Anglong bandh (General Shut down) imposed by KPLT entered its fourth day. The bandh called by KPLT militants started on 5 pm of February 12. No untoward incident has so far been received from any part of the District. Government offices barring the Deputy Commissioner's office all other government offices have remained closed, while no vehicular movement was visible.

Two persons were injured and two vehicles damaged as suspected KPLT militants opened fire on NH 37 near Kaziranga National Park in the night. The area falls under Kohora Police outpost in Golaghat District neighbouring Karbi Anglong.

Armed suspected militants abducted a young engineer of a private construction firm engaged by Power Grid Corporation of India from Betagaon in Baksa District. The Police said they were yet to identify the abductors. Sources in Baksa said the NDFB, which has a strong base in the area, might have demanded money from the construction firm and abducted the engineer as it refused to pay them. No one from the company was available for comment.

SFs arrested two NDFB linkmen from Chirang District

Four militants belonging to the ULFA-ATF, including a senior leader, surrendered before SFs in Tinsukia District. Among the militants who laid down their arms is senior ULFA-ATF leader Rahendra Moran alias Guli Asom, Parikshit Moran, Champak Hazarika and Kushal Buragohain. Rahendra Moran alias Guli Asom was responsible for the ULFA-ATF's extortion related activities in the upper Assam Districts.

State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the situation in violence hit Goalpara District is now peaceful and the displaced people will be rehabilitated soon. "Situation in Rabha-Hasong area is now peaceful. Sense of security among the people has returned and the government will make all efforts to ensure their security," Gogoi told reporters. The Rabha Hasong Joint Action Committee (RHJAC) led protest of panchayat (local-level self governing body) polls, had turned violent on February 12 (panchayat election day) with a total of 20 people killed in incidents of Police firing, arson and clashes.

KPLT temporarily suspended the indefinite Karbi Anglong bandh (shutdown strike) from 5 am February 18 in view of the HSLC examination. Meanwhile, the KPLT's general secretary further threatened that if the demand for a separate State is not voiced by the Member of Parliament (MP), Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) s and Member of Autonomous Council (MAC) s before March 15, the organization will again call an indefinite bandh from March 15.

AASU & members of the AATS staged a sit-in protest against the violence in Rabha Hasong areas near Raj Bhawan in Guwahati.

A Bangladeshi national, Aminul Islam, 35, was apprehended by the SFs from Panchughat of Dhubri town in Dhubri District.

A satellite phone and a Chinese grenade were recovered from Nakathalgurie in Tinsukia District, during an encounter between SFs and ULFA-ATF rebels.

NEC, a subsidiary of the Coal India Limited CIL, has been incurring a loss of nearly INR 10 million daily following the closure of Tikak colliery at Margherita in Tinsukia District bordering Arunachal Pradesh. The colliery was shut down in January after four workers of a private company engaged there were abducted by suspected Naga militants.

Police arrested five armed men from the Deberapar area under Mariani Police Station in Jorhat District. The arrested were identified as Asang Injeng, Mireng Injeng, Tussung Injeng, Chened Ayer and Aleng Longkumar. Police recovered two pistols, 13 rounds of live ammunition and cash worth INR 35,000 from them. "We arrested the five at Deberapar Chariali at around 12.30 am on Tuesday. They were travelling from Mokokchung to Chairmanbasti in Nagaland,'' officer-in-charge of Mariani Police Station Padma Kanta Das said.

State Chief Minister Gogoi accompanied by Home Secretary, GD Tripathi visited Goalpara District to take stock of the law and order situation and to meet the camp inmates who were affected by poll-related violence in Rabha Hasong areas.CM, Gogoi assured them that the Government would provide necessary protection and rehabilitate them soon. Altogether 434 houses were fully gutted in Matia and 165 in Balijana revenue circles of the District.

An unidentified GNLA militant was killed in an encounter with SFs at Dokapara under Lakhipur police station of Goalpara district. The Police recovered a 7.65mm US-made pistol, two magazines, seven rounds of ammunition, letter heads of GNLA and a bike from the victim, a police source in Lakhipur said.

The Police Forces of the States of the North East region have decided to launch coordinated efforts to check the Maoist rebels from establishing strong roots in the region. The forces are also of the view that the peace talks with the militant groups, which have already signed cease- fire agreements, should be expedited.

A meeting of the heads of the Police Forces of the North East States, convened by the Union MHA, which concluded in Gangtok in Sikkim, discussed in detail the efforts by the Maoist rebels to establish roots in the North East region and observed that there is need for formulating strategies to check the growth of the Maoists and all the States decided to launch coordinated efforts in this regard. The meeting observed that though the militant groups have weakened in 2011 and 2012, in recent times, the level of violence has gone up, which is a matter of serious concern.

ULFA-ATF militant, 'deputy commander-in-chief', Bijoy Das alias Bijoy Chinese, has come overground to join the peace process. Bijoy Chinese is also the eastern zone commander of ULFA-ATF, surfaced about a week ago and was with the SFs in Tinsukia. Bijoy Chinese on February 21 told reporters in Tinsukia that he would join the ULFA-PTF soon. "It took me some time to return," he said, adding "More cadres of the anti-talks faction will join the pro-talks faction soon."

UDLF announced its "avowed intention" to return to the mainstream by surrendering arms. UDLF was formerly known as the UDLA operates mainly in parts of Karimganj and Hailakandi Districts. Spokesperson for the outfit, Rajesh Charki, said that the UDLF had declared that it would observe ceasefire for six months from yesterday and keep in abeyance all its insurgent operations.

ULFA-ATF' Vice Chairman' Paresh Baruah has switched off his entire mobile and satellite phones and shifted to Skype. This is the last bit of information intelligence agencies intercepted while eavesdropping on Baruah's conversations about a week ago.

Unidentified men hurled two grenades at Belsiri under Missamari Police station in Sonitpur District. Five criminals came on two motorcycles hurled the first grenade at a shop but it did not explode and the second into a field, which exploded.

A NDFB militant identified as Simang Brahma, was arrested from Rowmari in Chirang District in a joint operation by Police and the Army.

Speculation over the disappearance of Majoni Das, a teacher with Purva Bharati Educational Trust here, with ULFA-ATF claiming that she had joined the outfit. Majoni, a resident of Udaipur village under Demow police station in Sivasagar District, had been reported missing since February 10.

A release issued by the outfit's publicity secretary, Arunudoi Dohotia, claimed that Majoni, who is a human rights activist, writer and a patriot, "managed to escape the evil design of Sivasagar police which had planned to eliminate her, arrived at an Ulfa camp and joined the outfit". Her family alleged that the Police were constantly harassing Majoni for her alleged links with a senior ULFA leader.

The RHJMF strongly objected to a draft of the list of villages for delimitation. The forum strongly objected to the draft that deleted the names of several villages from Goalpara and Kamrup Districts and did not maintain the contiguity of villages. ARSU president Tonkeswar Rabha alleged that five villages from Goalpara and 10 villages from Kamrup districts were found deleted from the draft list compared to the last draft published in 2005.

Preparations for the polls got under way following the publication of the draft of village councils and general council for delimitation on February 21 in all the block development offices, circle offices and offices of Goalpara and Kamrup deputy commissioners, an official source in Goalpara said. The state election commission announced the polls to the Rabha Hasong Council in January.

ULFA-ATF ‘Vice president’ Paresh Baruah claimed that recent surrenders of a few senior members of the ULFA, including the surrender of ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Bijoy Chinese, would not affect the outfit. Baruah said, “We are hopeful that one day the global political scene will turn in our favour. If you look at history, no country could dominate any area against the wishes of the people and even the British had to leave India. Over the years, new countries were born out of changes in the global political scene and some day such a scene will come in our favour.

SFs arrested a NDFB militant, identified as Moni Narjery, from the Misamari area of Sonitpur District. The arrested militant was arrested with a grenade. Narjery was a militant of NDFB's Sangbijit faction and was involved in February 22, 2013 grenade blast near Belsiri railway station.

SFs arrested an AANLA militant, identified as Sunil Munda (35), from Hathimara in Udalguri District.

DHD-N, which had signed a tripartite peace accord in New Delhi on October 8, 2012, will celebrate its formal "homecoming" on March 9 in Haflong. The 'chairman' DHD-N, Dilip Nunisa, on February 22 said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had agreed to be present on that day.

SFs arrested five persons, including two NDFB militants and three linkmen, from Koiemari in Baksa District. SFs recovered a .9mm pistol, six mobile sets and two bikes from the militants.

The NDFB-PTF threatened not to take part in the peace dialogue, being held for past seven years, with the Central Government unless it is held at the political level to resolve its demand for Bodoland state.

ULFA-ATF 'Vice-President', Paresh Barua said that he has not created any faction in the outfit and appealed to the media not to identify the organisation with him. In a statement emailed to media here, Barua clarified that he was not the head of ULFA and was only a fellow official. "I cannot represent the organisation and instead Ulfa carries our identity. Our chairman, Abhijit Asom, is our head and we all function as per his directives," Barua said.

Formal talks with the NDFB-RD are yet to be started. The initiation of formal talks with the NDFB-RD would depend on the release of Daimary on bail.

A truck driver from West Bengal, Mohidul Sheikh (36), was abducted by unidentified persons at Nangdolbari under Sidli Police Station in Chirang District on February 25.

SFs arrested two ULFA linkmen, Rahimuddin (18) and Baktar Ali (24), in Dhubri District.

The PJACBM has called a 100-hour strike in the BTAD and its adjoining tribal-dominated areas from February 28-midnight in protest against what it termed the State Government’s “lackadaisical” attitude towards the Bodoland issue.

State DGP Jayanta Narayan Choudhury  said that a section of the banned ULFA leaders were still “under illusion that establishing a ‘sovereign Assam’ was possible because of their ‘misconception’ about the colonial occupation of Indian State of Assam”.

The GNC, in a meeting held at Hudakona in Goalpara District, renamed itself as Garo National Union GNU. It strongly opposed the inclusion of villages dominated by Garo people in the RHAC area for which a draft was published on February 21 referring the delimitation of villages in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts.

Centre has decided to act tough with insurgent groups in the Northeast and has decided that it will not sign agreements with insurgents as it was proving a futile exercise.

An ULFA-ATF militant lobbed a grenade at a Police team at Kenduguri bypass area in Jorhat in Jorhat District, injuring two SF personnel. The injured were identified as Constable Keshab Gogoi and home guard Bolin Sonowal. Constable Gogoi managed to snatch a bag containing a bottle grenade and 28 rounds of live ammunition of AK-47 rifle from the militants. Police have picked up four persons, identified as Pankaj Bora, Ranjit Dutta, Mintu Bora and Arpan Jyoti Lahon, for questioning.

CISF recovered an IED during a normal security drill near Noonmati Refinery in Guwahati under Kamrup (metro) District. The explosives containing ammonium nitrate and ball bearings placed in a tin can, a detonator and some fuse wires were found inside a bag just outside the refinery’s boundary wall.

Two militants belonging to MPTFA surrendered along with arms and ammunition before the Intelligence Wing of the Army located at Chaprakata of Bongaigaon in presence of Kokrajhar Additional SP. The two cadres were identified as Mohammad Sahajahan Ali (22) and Mohammad Jahinul Islam (25).

An official release stated that as many as 12,644 displaced people due to the Bodo-Muslim clashes in 2012 are still living in 20 relief camps. Of which 4615 are in Kokrajhar District, all of whom belonging to the minority community and 395 Bodo and 7634 minority people are living in camps in Chirang District.

State Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi called for special treatment for all CPI-Maoist affected Districts of the State. Referring to ULFA, the Chief Minister expressed his confidence that Paresh Barua would one day join the peace process. The support base of the militant outfit has shrunk and ULFA has weakened over the years. “Today, I am in a better position to control ULFA,” he said.

An engineer of the PGCL, abducted by suspected militants and taken to their camp in Bhutan, was released. SP Raju, hailing from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, arrived at Ghawra Chowk police station in Baksa District and informed the Police about his release. The engineer was abducted by suspected NDFB-IKS militants on February 15.

Union Home Ministry took three days to request Army for deployment, according to information collected under RTI by the CHRI. “Reports say major incidents of violence erupted on July 20 and the State government wrote to the MHA on July 21. The order for deployment of armed forces went out to the DGMO [Director-General Military Operations] by fax on July 24 at 9:22 p.m. There seems to be a gap of three days between the request for assistance and the order issued for deployment,” says CHRI programme coordinator (access to information programme) Venkatesh Nayak.

UHM, Sushil Kumar Shinde justified holding panchayat (local self governing body) elections in the RHAC area and the Police firing on “group of miscreants” in Goalpara District that killed 14 people. “The security forces had to resort to firing to control the violence at six places. This resulted in deaths of 14 persons. Other seven persons died due to ethnic clashes,” UHM, Shinde said.

He said while eight Districts went to the polls in Assam on February 12, the third and last phase, only in Goalpara was election disrupted “by a large group of miscreants” who attacked polling and security personnel. He added that the situation was now under control and the government would pay ex gratia of INR 500,000 to the next of kin of the firing victims.

A civilian, Nikul Paul (29), was injured when unidentified assailants fired at him at Nutunmati in Baksa District.

Two militants of MPTP, identified as Hafizul Rahman (32) and Moinul Hoque (27) surrendered at the Gossaigaon Police Station under Kokrajhar District.

NDFB-PTF did not participate in a tripartite meeting in New Delhi, sticking to its stand of not participating in peace talks unless these are held at the highest political level.

Non-tribal and Garo bodies here are determined not to allow any polls in the RHAC, if the villages with non-tribal majority were not excluded from the proposed draft delimitation of constituencies for the autonomous council. The RHAC polls are set be conducted on April 30.

 SFs arrested a suspected militant of DNLF at Hatikhali in Dima Hasao District. The militant, identified as Son Khelma, was arrested when he came to collect extortion money from a bank in the area, police sources said.

Normal life was affected and a bike was set on fire on the first day of the 100-hour bandh (shutdown strike) called by the PJACB since midnight. The committee has called the bandh in the proposed Bodoland area, comprising BTAD and adjoining tribal-dominated areas, in protest against the State Government’s “lackadaisical” attitude towards their demand for a separate state under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. The committee also wants the Centre to hold a dialogue with the NDFB-PTF at the highest political level.

 Joint secretary in the MHA, Shambhu Singh and former IB chief P.C. Haldar, who is the interlocutor in the ongoing Bodo peace process, visited Guwahati to hold discussions with State Government officials on the NDFB-PTF’s non-participation in February 28 talks.

NIA special judge, Samarjit Dey convicted DHD-J linkman, Samir Ahmed under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA] in NIA case number 02/2009. Ahmed was set free following the sentence, as he had already spent more than three years in prison during the investigation and trial of the case.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde will attend the ‘home coming ceremony’ of DHD-N militants at Haflong in the same District on March 9. A MoS was signed between the Government and the outfit on October 8 2012.

State DGP J.N. Choudhury expressed hope that ULFA-ATF leader Paresh Baruah will also return to the mainstream and join the peace process initiated by Arabinda Rajkhowa led ULFA-PTF. The DGP said Baruah might also join the peace talks at a later stage if he founds its progress favourable.

A motorcycle and a goods carrier were set ablaze as the 100-hour proposed “Bodoland” bandh (general Shutdown) announced by the PJACBM from the midnight of February 28 paralysed life for the fourth consecutive day. Both the incidents were reported in Kokrajhar District. PJACBM is demanding the creation of Bodoland state comprising BTAD and adjoining tribal-dominated areas, under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, which is not supported by State Government. PJACBM also wants the Centre to hold a dialogue with the NDFB-PTF at the highest political level.

The NRCF urged Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik to take immediate steps to exclude the villages dominated by non-tribals from the RHAC areas, which are scattered over Goalpara and Kamrup (Rural) Districts.

The State Government clarified that contrary to rumours, the proposal to grant ST status to six communities had not been rejected by the RGI. It was still under the consideration of the RGI. The six communities involve Koch Rajbongshis, Tai Ahoms, Morans, Mottacks, Chutias and tea tribes.

WPT & BC Minister, Rajiv Lochan Pegu then informed the State Assembly that the rumour that the RGI had rejected the proposal to grant ST status to the six communities was baseless..

Two militants of the NDFB-IKS, surrendered before the officers of the Red Horns Division of the Army and Police at Kokrajhar District. The two surrendered militants were identified as ‘second lieutenant’ John Islary alias Jwngsar and N Jangkrithai alias Jigkanta Narzary (26). John Islary was the former Commanding Officer (CO) of Western Command and is now the CO of the Central Region of the NDFB-IKS.

 ULFA-ATF has declared its slain leader ‘sergeant major’ Dilip Asom alias Rajen Saikia as ‘national martyrs’ of their revolution. The leader was killed in an encounter with Army at Diyun in Arunachal Pradesh on March 3.

State DGP J.N. Choudhary has warned that forces inimical to the state might try to carry out blasts during the Assembly session.

Non-Rabha and non-tribal organisations under NRCF strongly opposed the inclusion of respective villages in the RHAC in a rally held at Bhalukdubi lower primary school field near Goalpara District on March 6. The protesters demanded the exclusion of 394 villages in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts dominated by non-Rabha and non-tribal people from the draft list of 770 villages.

ULFA-PTF is upset with the Centre’s handling of Anup Chetia’s deportation, as they want him to join the ongoing dialogue with the Central Government. A seven-member delegation of the pro-talk faction, led by ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa arrived in New Delhi on March 6 to take part in the next round of political dialogue on March 7. The discussion, to be held at the Home Secretary level, would also be attended by Centre’s interlocutor PC Haldar.

The NDFB-PTF has made it clear that it would not accept any alternative arrangement other than a separate State of Bodoland.

One woman was arrested from Kamalpur area of Kamrup Rural District along with FICN of a face value of INR 25,000.

40,626 Bangladeshis, who were declared as illegal migrants have evaded deportation over the years.  Assam Accord implementation Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a written reply to a question by Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) legislator Keshab Mahanta, informed the house on March 6 that the Police have been instructed to nab these illegal migrants so that they can be deported to their country. "Police in every District are on their look out and there have been a few arrests too," the minister stated in his reply.

ABSU has demanded issuance of Inner Line Permits (ILPs) for people coming from outside the state to check the unabated influx of outsiders, mainly from Bangladesh. ABSU ‘president’ Promod Boro and ‘general secretary’ Romeo P Narzary, in a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, said the lands in tribal belts and blocks are being occupied by non-tribals and Bangladeshis, but the government machineries have done nothing to protect these lands from the encroachers.

SFs arrested two militants of APA, identified as Jermis Munda and Markush Munda, at Paharpur under Kumarikata Police Station in Baksa District. SFs recovered five rifles, two hand grenades, 45 detonators from their possession.

The negotiations between the Central Government and ULFA-PTF  have reached a crucial stage with the militant leaders claiming that they have received positive vibes from the Government. “Yes, talks were successful”, Union Home Secretary, RK Singh later told newsmen.

State Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi said that the level of insurgency has come down because of development. He further stated that doors of the Government are open for all, who sought solution of their problems through talks.

Publication of the final draft of villages of RHAC, scheduled to be published on March 8, will be delayed as numerous claims and objections are still being heard in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts. Official sources in the two Districts said draft of village councils and general council published in the block development offices, circle and deputy commissioners’ offices on February 20 received numerous claims and objections till the last date of February 28.

ULFA-ATF received a big jolt following surrendering of its 11 cadres before the Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia (District)  at a brief function held at Tinsukia. The surrendered militants were identified as Monoranjan Gogoi alias Kanu alias Minto Asom, Dipen Saikia alias Raja Asom, Manik Dohotia alias Meghon Asom, Hayanta Saikia alias Joi Asom, Bulen Moran alias Devid Asom, Rantu Moran alias Ashim Asom, Mizo Gohain alias Andhi Asom, Hemkanta Changmai alias Jatin Khanka, Dhania Saikia alias Kancha, Dharmen Sonowal alias Janbha and Raju Moran alias Robit.

Bijoy Chinese, Deputy Chief and a close associate of Paresh Baruah, who recently surrendered had stated that a number of hardcore militants were waiting to surrender within a short time. The surrender was a part of the process, Police claimed.

Five suspected NDFB-ATF cadres hatching a plan to abduct a bank employee from Guwahati city were arrested from the Christianbasti area. The arrested cadres have been identified as Gajen Boro alias Lenra, Sanjiv Swargiary alias Ranjal, Jita Boro, Mithuyal Basumatary and Vijay Ramchiary. All of them are from Baksa District.

Taking the next step towards fulfilment of the demands made by the ULFA-PTF, the Centre is likely to start the process of inter-ministerial deliberations to work out a package. The Centre’s latest move was conveyed to the team of pro-talk leaders at the tripartite meeting held in New Delhi on March 7. At the meeting, Union Home Secretary, R.K. Singh reviewed the progress so far made in talks with ULFA. After detailed discussion, it was decided to follow up on a few specific steps on some issues, said official sources.

Miscreants blew up a State Government-run lower primary school at Kachurthal village under Ramnathpur Police station areas in  Hailakandi District near Mizoram border. Police said the blast was triggered by suspected Mizoram-based miscreants. However, there was no report of any loss of life. Sources said border dispute between the two neighboring States has been a contentious issue for past many years. Mizos claim Kachurthal village is within the boundary of Mizoram. They have been opposing the construction of the school in question by Assam authorities. In 2012, the school was damaged due to similar blast.

The DHD, was disbanded. At the same time, Dilip Nunisa, the chief of the outfit, announced the formation of a new political party called Halali Progressive Groups (HPG) at a home-coming ceremony in Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao district.

Nunisa was spearheading an armed struggle for the creation of Dimaraji, a separate Dimasa State comprising Dimasa-inhabited areas of Assam and Nagaland, till his outfit signed a ceasefire agreement with the Centre on January 1, 2003.  He said his new party will contest in the coming election to the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council. He said the HPG will work for a peaceful, developed and progressive Dima Hasao.

Accusing the State Government of totally failing in updating the NRC, the AASU, demanded that both the State Government and the Centre take urgent initiative to implement the Assam Accord in its letter and spirit. The AASU will resort to a Statewide 30-hour fast from 6 am on March 19 at every District headquarters where a 30-member body of the AASU would take part.

Two persons were injured in a bomb blast at a weekly market in Doiangmukh weekly market in Kheroni area of Karbi Anglong District. Police have detained 15 persons for interrogation in connection with the blast and confirmed it as the handiwork of militants.

A bomb weighing one kilogram was recovered from a public bus at Bongaigaon bus stand near Lower Assam Hospital and Research Centre in Bongaigaon District. No one has been arrested yet in this connection and investigation is on. The bomb was defused later.

A total of 1,989 people have died in violence by militants and miscreants in the present BTAD areas since the movement for a separate State of Bodoland in 1987. Further, only one accused out of the 426 has so far been punished. The trial of 49 cases has been completed, resulting in the acquittal of 48 and the rest of the cases are pending.

198 of the total 416 cases pending against the BLT had been withdrawn as on January 2012. Of the remaining 218 cases, petition has been filed for withdrawal of 209 cases following recommendation by the screening committees of the districts concerned. Six cases are under consideration of the screening committees and three are under investigation.

The next of kin of those killed in violence during 1987 to June 22, 2004 have been paid compensation of INR 100,000, and for those killed after June 22, 2004, an amount of INR 300,000 has been paid to the next of kin. A total of INR 19.80 crore has been spent in the compensation since 2007-08 till date.

This was revealed in a written reply by Forest Minister Rockybul Husain (on behalf of the Home Minister) to a question by HB Ahmed of AIUDF in the State Assembly.

SFs arrested two AANLA militants, Bhimsen Kerketa and John Basbech, from Gholapani near Uarimghat along the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat District. The duo was involved in the killing of a teacher Jimmy Brown Buragohain, his wife and daughter in the same District in December 18, 2012. AANLA had demanded money from the teacher a few months before the incident and Buragohain had not heeded to the outfit's demand.

SFs arrested an illegal Bangladeshi migrant, identified as Ghulam Mustafa (45), from the char area of Khagrachar under Sukhchar Police Station in Dhubri District. SFs recovered FICN worth INR 298,000, in the denominations of INR 1000 and INR 500 from his possession.

AASAA-Karbi Anglong has accused Joy Ram Engleng led KAAC of extending "passive" support to certain persons of "doubtful motive" in grabbing land belonging to Adivasi community in various places of Karbi Anglong District. In a release, president of AASAA, Anil Toppo held KAAC responsible for allowing Sanjit Timung and Dilip Kramsa both ex-cadres of UPDS of evicting hundreds of Adivasi people from Hotokajan and Lahorijan tea estate model village, Khatkati block-2 at gun point and occupying 200 bighas of land recently.

Chirang District administration has begun the final phase of rehabilitation of the Bodo-Muslim ethnic clashes-affected people. At least 2,726 inmates are still taking shelter in five relief camps in the District.

Minister of State for Home Affairs M Ramachandran stated that insurgent groups in the Northeastern region are getting arms and ammunition from China, MoS for Home Affairs, M Ramachandran replied with a "no" when asked whether the Government has received information regarding assistance provided by China to separatist groups involved in large-scale violence that took place in the north-eastern states in recent years.

A civilian driver, identified as Sukumar Das (32), was abducted by a group of suspected militants belonging to the NDFB-IKS near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur District. The daring abduction took place even though the driver was accompanied by three army troopers of the intelligence department from the Army base in Misamari.

SFs arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Phunka Narzary (19), from Oguri village under Bijni Police Station in Chirang District on March 13. S Saikia, Officer-in-Charge, Basugaon Police Station, following the arrest, said, "One 7.65 mm pistol, three live ammunition and one hand grenade were recovered from him. We have allegations that he was involved in several extortion cases. We started investigation over the matter."

KPLT decided to postpone the indefinite period Karbi Anglong Bandh (General shutdown). 'chairman' of KPLT, B.D. Sarpo Tung Ajang said that to achieve state hood peoples overwhelming support was necessary and that such a movement in Karbi Anglong was unimaginable.

The RHAC elections scheduled for April 30 is likely to be delayed owing to the continuing process of preparing the final draft of villages and general councils for delimitation. Though the state election commission extended the date of publishing of the final draft from March 8 to 15, officials in Goalpara expressed their inability to complete the process within the deadline adds the report.

Suspected Adivasi militants abducted a schoolteacher, Lebi Tete, from his residence in Paharline Kuani village in Bogijan area under Golaghat Police Station in Golaghat District on March 13. Police arrested five persons for interrogation, but they haven't got any leads in the case so far.

The CPI-Maoist is in the process of appointing local area commanders in the Sonitpur District, security agencies have ascertained. The next step would be the selection of cadres and their training to set up armed squads, sources revealed.

The Union MoS for Home Affairs M Ramachandran said in Parliament that consensus on the definition of 'Assamese people' and the criteria for the reservations in the Parliament, State legislatures, and local bodies could not be arrived at and the proposal could not reach its logical conclusion. The Central and State Governments are nowhere near implementation of the Clause Six of Assam Accord, despite the lapse of 28 years, the report added. The clause deals with the reservation of seats to the Parliament, State legislatures, and local bodies for Assamese people and protection of monuments and places of cultural and historical monuments in Assam.

An encounter between SFs and militants belonging to KPLT took place at Moujadar basti area under Borpathar Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. SFs recovered an AK-47 rifle, one SLR, some incriminating documents and a motorcycle from the spot. However, no one was killed or arrested during the encounter.

The manpower shortage in the State Police has risen sharply in recent years with 7,819 posts lying vacant in various ranks. In a written reply given during the ongoing assembly session, State environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said against a sanctioned strength of 72,461 posts, Assam Police has 64,642 personnel at present. Hussain replied on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also holds the Home Portfolio.

According to an official report on Assam Police's strength as on March 2013 the vacancies among the top-ranking posts are - one post in the rank of DGP, 10 IGP posts, four posts in the DIG rank and 196 posts of DSP of unarmed branch are lying vacant. Besides, several other lower rank posts in the police force are also vacant. These include 82 posts of inspector (unarmed branch), 57 posts of Inspector (armed branch), 177 posts of Sub-Inspector (unarmed branch) and 38 posts of Sub-Inspectors (armed branch).

The Assam Minority Struggle Association staged a dharna (sit-in protest) in front of the Goalpara (Goalpara District) Deputy Commissioner's office to protest against the killings of non-Rabhas in the District. Assam Sankhyalaghu Sangram Parishad 'president', Naziruddin Ahmed alleged that people from a particular community attacked two non-Rabha boys who were on their way to Dhuptola from Moilapathar in broad daylight on March 13. Azibar Ali (15) was killed in the attack and another boy, Hazer Ali, was seriously injured. "Before this incident, Soman Ali (18) was killed and his body was recovered from Maladhara. So, one after another incident is taking place and the government is doing absolutely nothing to control the situation," Ahmed claimed. Also, the Parishad warned the State Government of strong consequences if the culprits aren't brought to book in the next 48 hours.

A Police source in the District said that three person who were allegedly involved in March13's incident were arrested from the Uranpara-Rakhasani area of the District on March 14.

A 36-hour Goalpara bandh (General strike) beginning from March 19 has been called by the NRCF in support of their demand to delete the names of non-Rabha and Garo villages from the draft of villages.

According to the State home department's records, in the year 2012, SFs recovered about 444 arms, 9,373 rounds of ammunition and 200 explosives from all corners of the state.

Goalpara District topped the chart in arms recovery with a total of 123 arm recoveries in 2012. Also, 654 rounds of ammunition, 14 grenades and 36 IEDs were recovered from the District. SFs said that Goalpara District has seen a steep increase in the seizure of arms and ammunition as the GNLA and the ULFA-ATF are highly active along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

"Last year, there were at least 50 arms, 148 rounds of ammunition, six grenades and five IEDs recovered from Kokrajhar District," added the report. As many as 36 and 21 arms were recovered from Baksa and Udalguri Districts of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) respectively last year. The report cited that the highest number of 42 grenades was recovered from Baksa District.

While in the Hill Districts, of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao, 33 and 31 arms seized respectively in 2012. SFs seized almost 2,967 rounds of ammunition from these two Districts alone.

As per the records available, 2,438 rounds of ammunition were recovered from Guwahati city, which topped the charts in the ammunition seizure category. Further, 22 arms and five explosives were also seized from the city in 2012. Besides, the GRP too seized at least 16 arms and 1,035 rounds of ammunition during the same period in the State.

The Tinsukia administration has requested Dispur for 45 motorbikes to reduce response time during anti-insurgency operations after the latest security review pointed to a heightened threat perception in the border district. Insurgent groups like CPI-Maoist, ULFA-ATF and Naga militant outfits are active in the District that shares a 240kilometre border with Arunachal Pradesh.

Unidentified militants abducted three ginger traders from an area near Terang basti under Manja police station of Karbi Anglong District. According to information a group of five armed unidentified militants abducted the traders, Minu Basumatary, Pawgan Singson and Dulal Basumatary. Sources revealed that a huge sum (around INR 1.8 million) has been demanded from the relatives of the abducted persons.

13 youths from Charaideo Sub-Division in Sivasagar District have joined the ULFA-ATF a few days back. A few of them who signed the release are Pabitra Asom, Papu Asom, Gonesh Asom, Binod Asom, Jitu Asom, Nomal Asom and Khagen Asom. The youths, most of them less than 30 years of age, stated in a press release that they joined the outfit willingly for the failure of the authorities in solving issues like the granting of Scheduled Tribe status to the Tai-Ahom community and the Dibang dam, among others.

SFs stationed at Maibong in Dima Hasao recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition, official sources said on March 16. The cache of arms included two .9 mm pistols with magazine, four 12 bore guns, four Chinese grenade, two radio sets, two IED and a few detonators which were hidden in an old water tank. Security sources suspected that the recovered arms belonged to DNLF.

SFs arrested an ULFA-ATF militant, identified as Amar Deka alias Abinash Asom (23), from Darrang District. SFs recovered a Chinese M-46 grenade and some incriminating documents from his possession.

SFs arrested a NDFB linkman, Sanjeev Mushahary (28), from an undisclosed location.

State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi expressed satisfaction over the dialogue between the Central Government and ULFA-PTF. Saying that the peace talks with ULFA-PTF was progressing in the right direction, Gogoi, however, said it would be too early to comment on possible outcome of dialogue.

SFs arrested a DJNA militant, Thomas Daulagapu, from upper Mahandijua village under Manja Police Station in Karbi Anglong District.

In a confessional statement given to Manja Police, Thomas Daulagapu revealed that around 30 DJNA cadres were receiving training in NSCN-K camp. The arrested cadre told Manja police that DJNA was to pay a huge sum to NSCN-K for "imparting training and arming the group." The arrested cadre admitted that the newly formed outfit was also active in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao district for collecting fund by "means of extortion." Thomas said a former DHD cadre Runit Jidung engaged him to send out extortion notices to various individuals and organizations. He revealed that Runit was supposed to receive 20% of the total collection. Thomas also mentioned that the chief aim of DJNA was to form a separate state (Dimaraji) for the Dimasa community on the lines of the disbanded DHD.

Pradip Roy, a member of the KLO, and wanted in Godapani Pathak's murder, was arrested by Bengal police from Kamakhyaguri in Jalpaiguri District in north Bengal a few days ago and was handed over to Bongaigaon Police. He is now being interrogated at Abhayapuri Police Station of the District since the past couple of days.

The Union Government has given its nod to start updating of the NRC in seven Districts of Assam after violence marred the NRC pilot project in Barpeta District in 2010. The decision was taken after a meeting between the Centre and the State government held in New Delhi on Monday.

The NRC would not be updated in Barpeta District this time but it would be updated in non-minority-dominated Districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur, said Shambu Singh, Joint Secretary of Home Ministry (NE In-Charge).

India asked Bangladesh to work out an action plan to flush out the remaining militant leaders of the Northeast region from that country. Central Government's request was conveyed at the Director General level "Border Coordination Conference" between BSF and BGB that got under way on March 18. The meeting will end on March 23.

The Central Government is hoping the peace talks with ULFA-PTF will attain a new level of credibility in April with the return of the outfit's general secretary, Golap Baruah alias Anup Chetia. The key ULFA leader is in "protective custody" in Rajshahi jail in Bangladesh, pending a decision on his petition in the Bangladesh Supreme Court. He has sought asylum in Bangladesh or in a third country. When the court takes up the case, possibly next month, a decision would be tensely awaited in both countries. Though Dhaka is likely to turn down the request, it is hoped that the initiative will come from Chetia himself.

A Policeman was injured when supporters of the 36-hour Goalpara District bandh (general strike) clashed with the Police at Pancharatna under Kharmuja Police outpost. Officer-in charge of Kharmuja Police Outpost, Marmuj Ali, was injured when nearly 500 strike supporters staging a blockade on the road allegedly attacked the SFs.

The situation turned violent when the Police tried to clear the road for vehicles. The supporters then attacked a Tata Sumo at Pancharatna about 300 metres away from Naranaryan Setu and set it ablaze. The driver of the car was also injured in the attack. Protesters also set ablaze a truck at Kumri area in the District. Police later had to fire blank shots in the air to disperse the mob. With the arrival of additional SFs and senior Police officials, a semblance of normalcy returned.

The bandh was called by non-Rabha and non-tribal organisations under the NRCF to register its protest against the inclusion of non-Rabha and non-tribal dominated villages in the RHAC. They demanded the exclusion of the names of 394 villages dominated by non-Rabha, non-tribal and Garo population from the draft of villages in the council, the preparation for which is under way.

Six out of the seven districts, to be covered in first phase of NRC update, do not have the NRC of 1951 while the complete electoral rolls of 1966 and 1971 are available in only two Districts. The first phase of the NRC update approved by the RGI will take place in seven Districts - Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur. According to official records, the districts that are scheduled for the NRC update in the first phase have no records of the NRC of 1951; only partial records of the rolls of 1966 and 1971 are available in Sivasagar District. Among the other first phase Districts, names of 208 villages are not in the electoral rolls of 1966 in Tinsukia. In Nagaon, 19 villages are not included in the rolls of 1971 and names of another 11 villages are not there in rolls of 1966. The complete electoral rolls up to 1971 are available in only Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sonitpur.

The process to update the NRC in Assam will start in April. This was decided at a meeting between officials of Union Home Ministry, representative of the Assam government and the RGI in New Delhi, officials said. "We held detailed discussions with the officials of the Registrar General of India to pave way for early initiation," State Home Commissioner, G.D. Tripathy said.

Three ginger traders, who were abducted by unidentified militants from Terang village in Karbi Anglong on March 15, escaped from the hideout of the militants.

A Police personal, Arfan Khan, was injured during the 36-hour Goalpara District bandh (General strike). nearly 1,200 rubber trees were felled by suspected non-Rabhas during the 36-hour Goalpara District bandh (General strike). The bandh was called by non-Rabha and non-tribal organisations under the NRCF to oppose the inclusion of non-Rabha and non-tribal dominated villages in the upcoming RHAC.

A general alert has been sounded to increase security cover of all the major religious institutions including temples in the State following apprehension that any such temple may come under attack from extremists,. Notably, Kamakhya temple has been on the alert list since 2010 and the threat perception remains till date.

The Centre acknowledged the fact that anti-national activities of CPI-Maoist in some Districts of the north-eastern States are posing a threat to internal security.

In a reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union MoS for Home Affairs RPN Singh said, "The Assam-Arunachal border has emerged as another theatre for Maoist activities. The CPI (Maoist) are trying to establish organizational base in the Northeast with a view to forge relations with other insurgent groups to meet its military requirements." According to him, while Maoist activities have been reported in 2012 in Dhemaji and Tinsukia Districts of Assam, Maoist influence has been noticed in Dibrugarh, Sonitpur and Chirang Districts. The movement of the Maoists have also been reported in Lohit and lower Dibang valley Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The Upper Assam Leading Committee (UALC) of the CPI (Maoist) is operating in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh and has been involved in incidents of looting of weapons and extortion from local villagers. The UALC is also engaged in recruitment and training of cadres of militant outfits in Assam. The foray of CPI (Maoist) into the sensitive north-eastern States is fraught with serious strategic implications since it has potential trans-border possibilities.

MoS for Home affairs RPN Singh further said that the Centre has alerted the State Governments concerned in this regard. The Home Ministry is also monitoring the situation closely and is sending advisories, as and when required, based on intelligence inputs, the Minister added.

In a reply to a question raised by AGP Member of Parliament Birendra Prasad Baishya in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament), Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran said that consensus on the definition of "Assamese people" and the criteria for reservation in the Parliament, State Legislature and local bodies could not be arrived at, and that the proposal had not reached its logical conclusion. Clause 6 of the 1985-Assam Accord provides constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to the "Assamese people" the State.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, when asked about the rise in CPI-Maoist activities in some upper Assam Districts in the State, said, that, "Given the rise in Maoist [CPI-Maoist] activities in upper Assam, we have decided to deploy more security forces". On the issue of NRC update in Assam, Gogoi said, "Due to lots of problems with regard to NRC update in lower Assam, we have started the NRC update in upper Assam in the first phase."

ULFA-PTF 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa stated India and Bangladesh are trying to find a way to get undivided ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia alias Golap Baruah out of the "protective custody" of Bangladesh court so that he can be extradited to India for participation in the ongoing peace talks.

State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain stated that the present Government in the State created around 25,000 posts in the State Police Department and around 8,000 posts in the department are lying vacant at present. Between 1,000 and 2,000 of these posts fall vacant annually due to superannuation of incumbent officers and staff, he said.

He further claimed that the situation in the BTAD areas is returning to normal and those taking shelter following the incidents of ethnic clash last year are returning to their native places. State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain further informed the State Assembly that the migrants entering the State during the 1966-1971 period should register themselves with the authorities concerned or else they are to be sent to the detention camps set up for detaining illegal migrants.

KLNLF observed its 19th raising day at its Diphu designated camp in Karbi Anglong District. In an open session organized leaders of the outfit under truce reiterated its demand for a separate statehood for the scheduled tribes inhabiting in the hills of Assam for lasting peace. KLNLF came over ground in 2010 declaring truce with the government the outfit also 'decommissioned' its entire arsenal as a gesture of readiness for peaceful conclusion of its arms struggle through negotiation.

The Central Government will soon offer a new rehabilitation package to the ULFA-PTF as the primary focus of the ongoing peace talks is rehabilitation of its members. The rehabilitation package will be a "constructive" one that will help its cadres lead a dignified life.

DG of BGB, Major General Aziz Ahmed said Dhaka would never allow its soil to be used against any anti-India activity. BGB DG said that Bangladesh had assured India it would not harbour any anti-India elements, while interacting with journalists at the end of five-day long 37th Border Co-ordination Conference with BSF in New Delhi. The two sides also identified 175 patches along the border for increased patrolling where fencing was not possible.

Alarmed by reports of fresh illegal infiltration from Bangladesh triggered by the ongoing turmoil in the neighbouring country, India has alerted the border guarding force deployed along the international border. Briefing the media, DG, BSF, Subhash Joshi and DG of BGB, Major General Aziz Ahmed said that forces were on alert, denying reports of rise in infiltration along the highly porous international border. DG BSF Subhash Joshi said about 27 percent of India's border with Bangladesh could not be fenced due to riverine terrain and other difficult geographical features. He said fencing work was sanctioned for 3,436 km of the 4,096-km border with Bangladesh and 2,525 km had been fenced. He said work was in progress for fencing on 365 km and the pending work was expected to be completed in a year or two.

SFs arrested two suspected NDFB cadres, identified as Mohash Baghoar (20) Sunil Bormohalia (19), from Rangapara town in Sonitpur District. SFs recovered one country-made gun along with three rounds of ammunition from the cadre.

SFs arrested two suspected linkmen of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Jotin Nazari and Putuli Nazari, near Koliabhomora Bridge in Sonitpur District. SFs recovered a pistol and five grenades from their possession. The husband-wife duo was on their way to Biswanath Chariali from Dimapur via Tezpur on a motorcycle.

The Army has got a ROV to tackle the IED planted by militants in the State. "Designed by the DRDO, the ROV was tested in December and inducted in January," an Army Officer said.

The Central Government has ruled out general amnesty for the members of NDFB-RD, who have been charged with involvement in heinous crimes, including the serial blasts in the state on October 30, 2008. The 2008 serial blasts claimed 88 lives and left 540 persons injured. The CBI in its chargesheet had named 18 NDFB cadres, including its founder 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary, in the October 30 serial blasts. A key Government representative associated with the peace process said peace talks and trials in cases of heinous crimes will go hand in hand for the NDFB-RD.

CM Tarun Gogoi hailed the UC structure engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the State as one of the best in the country and commended the role of the Army and other paramilitary forces in curbing insurgency.CM Gogoi said, "Assam's unified command structure is one of the best in the country. The Army has been successful in taking positive initiatives in the state. We are able to function as a government because of it (the Army)."

NDFB-IKS banned felling of trees and other illegal activities inside the reserve forest. NDFB-IKS has issued leaflets in many areas, especially in the vicinity of forest areas in Ripu-Chirang Reserve in Kokrajhar and Chirang Districts. The leaflets were issued by the NDFB-IKS ‘forest minister’ B. Sibigiri, and ‘commanding officer’ of NDFB-IKS’s western command, M. Biban.

SFs arrested three UPDS cadres, identified as Sarsing Timung (35), Lawrence Engleng (32) and Kangbura Ingti (30), from Maisa Killing located in the valley of Singhason Hill track in Karbi Anglong District. The cadres were planning to abduct two prominent businessmen of the locality.

Criminal cases registered against members of the DHD-N and DHD-J/ BW outfits for non-heinous crime may be withdrawn by the State Government as per procedure established by law. Further, criminal cases registered against members of the two DHD groups for heinous crimes will be reviewed case by case in consonance with the existing policy on the subject, and wherever feasible, steps for withdrawal of such cases will be initiated by the State Government. This was stated in a written reply by Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain on behalf of the State Home Minister to a question by Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the Assembly.

Six insurgent groups are currently active in Assam while 12 others in talks with the Central and State Government, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Rockybul Hussain said. Six groups -  ULFA-ATF, NDFB-ATF/ NDFB-IKS, KPLT, KLO, MULTA and HuM-are active in the State; Hussain said replying to a question in the House.

Hussain said outfits in talks were NDFB’s Progressive faction, ULFA-PTF, KLNLF, ACMA, BCF, KRA, UKDA, KLA, HPC-D, APA, AANLA and STF.

The NDFB-RD and the NSLA have declared unilateral ceasefire, Hussain said while replying on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also holds the Home Affairs portfolio, said.

Two groups —BTF and ULFBV have already surrendered. Settlement has been reached by the central and state governments with the UPDS and the two factions of the DHD.

“However, details regarding the progress of talks with various outfits cannot be disclosed now,” Hussain said. On cases faced by leaders and cadres of outfits in talks, he said, “We will not lift the cases faced by them. The cases will be dealt by the courts and judiciary. A monthly assistance of INR 3,000 is provided to each cadre belonging to groups engaged in peace talks.

SFs arrested five KLRA cadres including the ‘chairman’ and ‘general secretary’ from Kolonga locality under Baithalangso Police Station of Hamren sub-division of Karbi Anglong District. The arrested cadres were identified as Tension alias Sanchar as the ‘chairman’ of KLRA and Robinson Inghi as ‘general secretary’; the other three arrested has been identified as Ronjit Timung, Sanjib Teron and Premison Engti.

NESO asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to expedite the ongoing peace process with various rebel groups in India’s northeastern states. “The Indian government must demonstrate its sincerity and commitment to all the ongoing political dialogues with different armed groups operating in the Northeastern states,” NESO Chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said. “A time-frame mechanism with a focus for an acceptable, honourable and solution must be worked out (with the rebels) and there should be no procrastination towards this the initiative,” Jyrwa said.

On the “unabated influx of illegal migrants from neighbouring countries” that has brought a serious demographic change in the North East, NESO urged the prime minister to extend Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 in the entire North Eastern states. The student body also asked the Government to take immediate initiatives to prepare a register of citizens by updating the National register of citizens, 1951, which is the official the document on citizenship.

A six–member delegation of the PJACBM and NDFB–PTF, met the UHM Sushil Kumar Shinde in New Delhi to discuss the peace talk with the NDFB-PTF in political level to resolve the problems. The delegation was represented by Jebra Ram Mushahary, Chief Convener, PJACBM, Chief Advisor Gangadhar Ramchiary, Maihung Daimary, Member, PJACBM, B Swmkhwr, and ‘General Secretary’ of the NDFB-PTF M Gerema, ‘Home Secretary’ and B Alongbar, ‘Organizing Secretary’ of the outfit. The UHM assured them to expedite the peace talks on desired political level to find an amicable solution to the Bodoland issue.

SFs recovered 556 rounds of ammunition from a train at Hojai station in Nagaon District. The bullets recovered were of AK-47 assault rifles, .9 mm pistols and Insas rifles, Police said.

Suspected Adivasi militants abducted a businessman son belonging to Chapor town from Choibari tea estate near the Dhubri- Kokrajhar District border. The victim was identified as Ranjan Sil (22). There has been no ransom demand so far.

A parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs has recommended increased pressure on countries bordering the Northeastern region during trade discussions to close down Indian rebel training camps operating on their soil.The Venkaiah Naidu-led department-related parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs stated in its report submitted on March that all trade discussions with the countries bordering states of the Northeast should include a clause demanding closure of rebel training camps being run on their soil.

The committee observed that despite adoption of various strategies to bring peace to the Northeast, an environment conducive to investments to ensure accelerated economic growth was yet to become a reality. “The need of the hour is to undertake confidence-building measures and employment generation, besides ensuring security and safety of human beings and their belongings,” it stated. The committee opined that counter-insurgency strategies in the Northeast should be multi-pronged and that Union development ministries along with the State Governments of the region could play effective roles in countering these insurgent groups.

With the improvement of relations between India and Bangladesh, the ties between the border guarding forces of both the countries have also improved considerably and coordinated patrolling by the BSF and BGB has started, which is a major positive in border management. BSF sources elaborated that the personnel of the BSF and BGB jointly identified the vulnerable stretches along the Indo-Bangla border based on infiltration, movement of criminals etc and coordinated patrolling is carried out in those areas.

SFs, in an encounter, killed a GNLA militant near the Khashi Ghaghra area under Krishnai Police Station in Goalpara District. The slain militant was identified as Khowak Marak. While, another GNLA militant identified as Niksrang Sangma was injured in the same incident.

SFs recovered an IED, suspected to be planted by NDFB militants, from a connecting road between Kanyakuchi and Saljhar Township under Rangjuli Police Station in the same District.

Members of FTVFA at a press conference in Guwahati city urged the Government, the judiciary and the public to stand by the victims of the October 30, 2008 serial blasts and pleaded that NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary, who masterminded the serial blasts in the state, is not released on bail. The district sessions court on March 30 heard the bail plea of the militant chief and reserved its judgment till April 3. Official sources said that Daimary is likely to get interim bail to allow him to participate in the ongoing peace parleys between the Centre, state and the NDFB.

Two cadres of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Thaijan (Tamaran) Brahma and Baitu (Kamishar) Brahma, were arrested from Basbari Market in a joint operation by SFs based at Panbari in Dhubri District. One US-made automatic pistol, two magazines, 11 rounds of live ammunition, one hand grenade along with a fuse, INR 25,000 in cash, two mobile phones, photos and documents were recovered from them.   

Police arrested a man, identified as Biswanath Chandra Chauhan (35), along with a handmade gun from his residence at Balagaon under Kokrajhar Police Station in Kokrajhar District.  

Government accorded a special category status to Maoist-affected Tinsukia District to tackle Left-wing extremism and militancy. The Government has constituted a 13-member high-powered committee headed by Power and Industry Minister Pradyut Bordoloi (MLA from the District) with senior officers from several departments, including Commissioner (Upper Assam division) and Deputy Commissioner of Tinsukia District, to prepare a special all-round developmental plan that will focus on infrastructure development and avenues of employment generation. The plan will be named Integrated District Action Plan.

SFs  arrested two suspected NDFB-IKS cadres, during operations, in the foothills area of Misamari in Sonitpur District. The two arrested militants were identified as Prem Surin (26 yrs) and Kathimal Mushahary (45 yrs). SFs recovered two country made rifles, one barrel of country made rifle and one butt of a rifle.

Police managed to rescue Jagdish Chandra Das, an employee at the State Secretariat, from Orang more than a month after he was abducted from Guwahati. Das was abducted on February 26 from Jalukbari area after which he was taken to Udalguri and then to Orang where he was kept in captivity. The abductors had demanded INR 10 million from his family. The arrested persons were identified as Rupsingh Teron, Jagdish Basumatary, Rongpi Boro, Abani Boro, Indrajeet Boro, Deepak Kumar Boro and Suren Basumatary. Jagdish Basumatary is a member of Ex-Bodo Liberation Tigers Welfare Society.

The State Government said that it will not interfere in judicial matters of cases involving leaders and cadres of militant groups engaged in peace talks, Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development Rockybul Hussain informed the Assembly that while the State Government gave full support to talks between the Centre and militant groups, it was up to the judiciary to decide bail pleas and related issues of arrested militants. On the peace talks between the NDFB-RD and the Centre, Hussain said that the Central Government’s interlocutor P C Haldar had held several rounds of talks with Daimary, who is lodged in Guwahati Central Jail.

Ranjan Sil (22), son of a businessman of Chapor town in Dhubri District, was released by militants in Kokrajhar town in Kokrajhar District. Ranjan was abducted by suspected militants of BCF from Choibari tea garden in Dhubri District on March 27.

Police arrested seven persons, including five militants of RNLF [formerly known as Rabha Viper Army] and two arms dealers of Meghalaya from Rani in Kamrup District and Byrnihat (Assam-Meghalaya border) respectively. Inspector General of Police (IGP-Law and Order) LR Bishnoi said, “We have information that following panchayat elections in Goalpara, the Rabha National Liberation Force is again trying to gain strength by purchasing arms and ammunition. The outfit, which is mostly active in the district, had received a blow when eight of its cadres were killed in encounters during the past seven-eight months. Another five cadres had surrendered. Drishti Rajkhowa of Ulfa had asked a leader of the outfit, Deepak Rabha, to regroup and promised them support in this regard.”

Golaghat Police apprehended eight youths from Morongi in the District. They were allegedly on their way to join ULFA.

Police arrested an ULFA cadre, identified as Karuna Milli, with Lalit Konwar from Sissimukh-Machkhowa in Dhemaji District and recovered arms and ammunition from him.

At least seven militant groups will attend a meeting to be hosted by ULFA-PTF on the threat posed by illegal migration to State’s ethnic communities at the group’s designated camp in Kakopathar in Tinsukia District on April 7. April 7^th is ULFA’s raising day. The participants are leaders of HPC-D of Mizoram, DHD of Dima Hasao, Karbi National Liberation Army of Karbi Anglong, ANVC of Meghalaya, NDFB-PTF and KRF.

The court of the District and sessions judge, Kamrup, asked CBI to file its views on NDFB-RD chief Ranjan Daimary’s plea for grant of absolute bail and reduction of the bail amount from the current INR 500,000. The bureau has been given time till April 10, the next date of hearing of Daimary’s bail plea, to do so.

The FT of Goalpara (Goalpara District) has disposed 59 cases in the month of March and has found seven illegal migrants residing in the State. Disposing the cases, the FT has declared 46 contesting ‘D’ voters as genuine Indian citizens, three cases as ex–prate illegal migrants and dismissed one case.

DG of BSF, Subhash Joshi, along with other senior BSF officers concluded a two–day (April 3-4) visit of Karimganj and Mizoram border. The purpose of the visit was to review the security scenario and border management on the Indo–Bangladesh border in both the sectors. The DG revealed that 90 per cent of fencing was complete and the remaining portion would also be completed soon.

State Police arrested four persons from Guwahati city in Kamrup (metro) District and recovered eight .32 bore pistols from them. According to the Police, the Bihar residents were carrying the arms to Dimapur in Nagaland. The four were identified as Nuri Begum, Ayesha Ali Khan, Chandni Begum and Mohammed Firoze.

The AASU warned AIUDF chief Badaruddin Ajmal asking to him not to pose fresh hurdles in the proposed updating of the NRC in the State. The move comes in the wake of AIUDF asking the State Government to approach the Centre seeking use of the term "preparation' instead of "update" in the application form for the NRC and saying that the previous NRC of 1951 of the state had errors. AIUDF, too, pressed for amendments in the sub-rules under the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2009.

Militant outfit KPLT demanded INR 300,000, as extortion money, from former president of AXX, Rong Bong Terang,

All Assam Surrendered ULFA Samiti reiterated its demand that ULFA-ATF 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah be brought to the talks table to find an amicable solution. "Paresh Baruah has never opposed talks. The only thing he wants to discuss is the issue of Assam's sovereignty. But discussing sovereignty doesn't mean granting it. Moreover, the demand charter of Rajkhowa faction is very confusing. So, to reach to a concrete solution, the government must bring Paresh Baruah into the talks," said Rajkumar Duwarah, ‘president’ of the association. Duwarah was a member of ULFA's organizing committee before he surrendered in 1992.

A new militant formation UPLF has come into existence on January 4, with an aim to create a separate Dimasa Karbi-Anchal State comprising the Hill Districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. The leaders of the outfit are R. Dimasa and L. Karbi, in-charge of ‘information and publicity’ of UPLF, S. Karbi ‘chairman’ and J, Dimasa as ‘commander in chief’. UPLF has warned that those involved in illegal exploitation of minerals and natural resources within the declared zone of Dimasa Karbia-anchal would be punished. The outfit also warned dishonest governmental officials to cease from deceitful activities.

Security Forces recovered a bomb planted by unidentified militants from Phandi Line Lower Primary School in Sonitpur District.The school has remained closed since then, adds the report.

SFs recovered a cache of arms and ammunition was hidden in the Nutan Basti locality of Dima Hasao District. The recovered weapons included three country-made revolvers, 973 rounds of ammunition, 100 gelatine sticks, 40 detonators, an IED and two grenades.

SFs defused an IED found at Pathsala in Nalbari District. The device was found on April 6 evening.

SFs arrested two NDFB militants, identified as Fungkha Narzary (25) and Obi Basumatary, from Rowmary area in Chirang District. SFs recovered one pistol, seven rounds of bullet and INR10,400 from them.

The ULFA-ATF, on its 34th raising day, hoisted its flag at Naharkatia College in Dibrugarh District. ULFA-ATF ‘chairman’ Abhijit Asom sought support from the people for its “cause” to free Assam from “colonial forces”. Pro-Talks faction of ULFA (ULFA-PTF) leader Arabinda Rajkhowa however, asked all cadres of the militant outfit, along with the people of the State, not to lose hope in the ongoing peace dialogue with the Government.

Jiten Dutta, a leader of the ULFA-PTF, expressed displeasure at being kept in the dark by their leaders about the content of the ongoing talks with the Central Government. Dutta said, “The central leadership [of ULFA-PTF] has not made public what they are discussing with the Centre though they claim that 80 per cent progress has been achieved in the talks”. He further warned that if the interests of the indigenous people of the State were not included in the on-going talks, then second-rung leaders like him would join hands with other like-minded organisations of the Northeast and launch a new struggle for the protection of the indigenous people.

TVF, an umbrella organisation of victims of militancy in the State, called upon civil society to socially boycott militants and their families to discourage upcoming generations from taking up arms.TVF founder and chief adviser, Dhananjoy Saikia, in a speech, urged society to take a firm stand against militancy. Saikia further called for social boycott of all militants including current, former, surrendered and those who engaged in peace talks.

CPI-Maoists under the banner of ‘Krishak Sramik Mahasamiti’  have become active in the tea estates of Rupacherra, Sonacherra, Amranagar, Chintibil and others in South Assam Districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. The report identifies a Maoist activist Sridhar as office bearer of Krishak Sabha of Cachar District for spreading the Maoist ideology. Further, Shyam Sundar Santhal, Madan Urang, Sarat Kurmi, Naren Urang and Rajeshwar Urang are actively working in different tea estates of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi Districts states the report. The input further adds to say that two cadres, Bikash Debnath and Swapna Debnath, have been given the responsibility of South Assam.

Two militants of the ULFA-ATF were killed in an encounter with  SFs at Bordoloni village in Dibrugarh District. SFs recovered a Germany made Heckler & Koch (HK) 33 assault rifle, one 9 mm pistol, two grenades, five magazines and a few Ulfa letterheads from the encounter site.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to NNC- FGN from Kelelo area in Haflong town of Dima Hasao District. The militant was identified as sergeant, Songbambe Kuame alias Nimpeu of Kohima based 3rd Battalion of NNC-FGN. SFs recovered one auto pistol, one magazine, three live rounds and one mobile hand set with SIM card from his possession.

The State Government has decided to learn from Maoist-hit States to tackle the menace making inroads in Tinsukia District. Deputy commissioner S.S. Meenakshi Sundaram said  that Tinsukia officials would be sent to States like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha to get first-hand knowledge of the development plans being implemented in the rural areas of these states. It was also decided that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would be urged to send Police teams to the Maoist-affected states for an orientation course on strategies adopted there to tackle “Left-wing extremism”. The meeting was a preparatory one before the first sitting of the 13-member high-powered committee constituted by the State Government recently under the chairmanship of Bordoloi for Tinsukia after the District was accorded special category status. The deputy commissioner said the meeting also decided to get a baseline survey conducted in all the 1,126 villages of the District with special focus on about 200 villages identified as CPI-Maoist and ULFA-affected to prepare an integrated district action plan. Most of the villages of Sadiya subdivision on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, where Maoists are said to be gaining a foothold, will be included in the list.

SFs apprehended two surrendered KLA militants, while they were removing nuts and bolts of the railway track, from Migrendisa in Dima Hasao District. The duo was identified as Paojamin and Paominlem.

SFs arrested two ULFA linkmen, identified as Paniram Gogoi and Haren Gogoi, from Tingkhong 2 No. Dhadumia Gaon under Rajgarh Police Station in Dibrugarh District. A motorbike, a pistol and two rounds of live ammunition along with a demand letter were recovered from the house of the duo.

The ULFA-ATF warned singers and artistes in State against singing Hindi songs during Rongali Bihu celebrations. Bihu celebrations start on April 13. In an email, assistant publicity secretary of the group, Arunodoi Asom, appealed to all organisers and artistes not to perform Hindi songs and music and instead stage the traditional cultural items. “We will keep strict watch on the Bihu pandals. ULFA will be forced to protest in future programmes of those singers, artistes and organisers disrespecting our appeal and performing items influenced by Indian culture”.

The CBI opposed any relaxation in the conditions it had prescribed for releasing NDFB-RD ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary on bail. In response to Daimary’s bail application, the CBI had earlier submitted in the court that interim bail might be granted to him by imposing 12 conditions in the bail order. Ranjan Daimary on March 31 prayed to the court for absolute bail instead of interim bail, reduction of the bail amount from INR 500,000 sought by the CBI and not to bar him from giving any statement to the media. Ranjan Daimari was chargsheeted by the CBI for his alleged role in masterminding the October 30, 2008, serial blasts in the State.

the Supreme Court directed Central and State Government & the EC to submit written response within three weeks explaining the reasons for the delay in updating National Register for Citizens (NRC) since 2009. The Apex Court’s direction came after the Counsel for the EC clarified that the Electoral Rolls of 1966 was available. The hearing was in connection with a Writ Petition (civil) filed by APW, a Non Governmental Organisation, which sought the Supreme Court’s direction on the guidelines for updating of NRC.

The Court of Kamrup District and Sessions Judge granted bail to NDFB-RD ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary, the prime accused, in the October 30, 2008 serial blasts in the State. “Ranjan Daimary has been granted bail against a bail bond of Rs 3 lakh [INR 300,000] and two persons standing surety for him. The court has also laid down some conditions for him which are – he cannot get involved in any anti–national activity, he cannot give statements in the public favouring the NDFB (R), he must be present in the court during all hearings in the case and in case he cannot be present, he must give prior information to the court and he cannot leave Assam without the court’s permission,” said Daimary’s defence counsel Manas Sarania.

ULFA-PTF is optimistic that undivided ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who is currently in a jail in Bangladesh, will reach the State and join the peace talks by Assamese New Year in 2014. ULFA-PTF believes that Chetia's inclusion in the talks will open a window to bring Paresh Baruah to the dialogue table."At present, Bangladesh is in a politically volatile situation. After the turmoil is over, the Bangladesh Supreme Court and New Delhi are likely to decide on Chetia's fate next month," ULFA-PTF ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa told the media.

SFs arrested a KLO militant, Deep Sarkar, at Bhaibazar under Golokganj Police Station in Dhubri District.

State EC said that if differences regarding delimitation of seats for RHAC are resolved amicably then polls to the council could be conducted by the middle of May. Speaking to reporters here, State Election Commissioner Biren Dutta said “Earlier we had announced the RHAC polls for April 30. However, it will be difficult to hold the polls by that time as some problems remain regarding delimitation of seats remain to be settled,” he said. Dutta added: “We are hopeful that the issues would be sorted out through discussions by April 23-24 and then polls could be held by mid-May.”The RHAC areas, covers parts of Goalpara and Kamrup (Rural) Districts of lower Assam.

The State EC also issued notifications for the DHAC, which covers the whole of Dima Hasao District. Polling for the 28 seats in DHAC would be held on May 20 and counting would be taken up on May 24. The EC has declared all the 200 polling stations in Dima Hasao as sensitive, while 78 among them have been categorised as hyper-sensitive.

SFs arrested a GNLA militant, identified as Olman K. Marak, in Khardang of Goalpara District.

CM Tarun Gogoi speaking at the 'Chief Ministers' conference in New Delhi said that there was a declining trend in militant violence in the State. CM, Tarun Gogoi said, "In the past few years, there has been a declining trend of militant violence and talks are on with several militant outfits. However, it would be over-optimistic to declare that the nightmare of militant violence is over ". He said at a regional level, it was clear that coordinated action was needed in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and some parts of Meghalaya if training; arms supply, transit routes and shelters of militants operating in Assam were to be choked. Tarun Gogoi said that Myanmar remained a sanctuary for militants and there were efforts to reopen camps in Bhutan."The crackdown by the present Bangladesh government was a major factor in eroding the striking power of outfits like ULFA [United Liberation Front of Asom] and NDFB [National Democratic Front of Bodoland], and we will remain forever grateful (to Bangladesh)," he added.

Tarun Gogoi further said, "We have asked the government to increase the number of foreigners' tribunals, initiating steps to update the National Register of Citizens, strengthening of the border protection measures and completion of border fencing".

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi pointed to growing activities of the CPI-Maoist in the State and citing tough terrain asked the Centre to explore the feasibility of deploying UAV in the State. CM Tarun Gogoi further pleaded that the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) that forms a plank of the Centre's strategy against the CPI-Maoist, should cover Dhemaji, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh and Golaghat Districts initially. The IAP should be implemented without delay, he statetd.

April 16

SFs arrested a person, who was travelling from Tuensang to Dimapur in a Nagaland State Transport bus, along with arms in Karbi Anglong District. SFs recovered five .22 calibre Chinese-made pistols from him.

NDFB-RD 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary has claimed that the CBI's allegation of his involvement in the October 30, 2008, serial blasts in the State was based on "supposition and probabilities" and not on facts. According to Daimary, who was granted bail in the serial blasts case on April 11, the CBI has not been able to establish any prima facie case against him and the allegations in the chargesheet were "false, concocted and fabricated".

However, according to the CBI chargesheet Ranjan Daimary had sent NDFB militant Nilim Daimary to Assam with instructions to procure explosives with the help of G. Songswar, an NDFB militant from Udalguri District. Nilim came to Assam in July 2008 and conveyed Daimary's message to Songswar and R. Guthal. He also contacted George alias B. Jwangkhang, Rahul Brahma alias Kharmswar and Rifikhang in Guwahati. The CBI claimed to have found involvement of the trio in the serial blasts.

Despite the crackdown by the Government of Bangladesh, a majority of the active militant groups of the North East are still maintaining bases in the neighbouring country and in fact, a few of the ultra groups are even giving training to the new recruits in the bases in that country. Highly placed sources in the MHA told the newspaper that the matter has already been conveyed to Bangladesh so that action can be taken against the militants using the territory of the neighbouring country as safe sanctuary.

Sources revealed that the NDFB-IKS has a strong presence in Bangladesh, particularly in the Khagrachari area and according to information available with the security agencies at least 30 to 40 members of the outfit are staying in the area. Sources said that the camp is headed by hardcore militant Thulunga, who was named in the chargesheet of the serial blasts of October 2008. A few fresh recruits of the militant outfit are being trained up in the bases, the sources added.

Central Agencies are closely monitoring the movements of ULFA-ATF leader Paresh Baruah and analyzing his statements in the media to pick up hints the elusive militant leader may have dropped, expressing his interest to join the peace process.

The Centre believes that Baruah would join the peace process sooner or later. Central agencies are now not only taking keen interest in Baruah's statements in the media, but are also analyzing comments made by known ULFA sympathizers. "There are no feelers from Baruah as of now, but if he decides to come for talks, we believe that the first signs in the present situation would be through the voices of a few people, who are vocal in their support towards Baruah," the source added. "His every movement is closely watched and followed. If he joins the peace process, it is the ideal situation for all. We do not want to stamp a peace deal with one faction of an outfit and keep the other faction out in the open. This does not serve the purpose of the peace process," a source said.

A letter sent to 13 States, by the MHA on CPI-Maoist efforts to expand to new areas primarily northeast. The letter states that CPI-Maoist had around one hundred cadres, including 25 to 30 armed, in Assam and with Mahesh, a Central Committee member from the Rabha community appearing to be in charge. Quoting the Assam Police, the letter said 23 of the 79 Police Stations in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Dhemaji and Lakhmipur Districts in Assam were affected by Left-wing extremism with cadres extorting small tea gardens, cattle-rearing farms and individuals to sustain itself."… the Maoists have done some ground-work in the tea garden areas where a local Maoist leader, Aditya Borah, is at the forefront of efforts to recruit Adivasis in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts," the letter said. Some recently arrested ATF militants revealed that they had close links with Borah and that Maoists from West Bengal were providing ideological training to Adivasi youth, the letter said.

An Inspector of a commando unit of Assam Police, identified as Lohit Sonowal, two hardcore militants of the ULFA-ATF and a civilian were killed in an encounter at Kordoiguri village in Tinsukia District. The militants killed in the encounter were identified as Raktajeet Hazarika and Ananta Moran. An official said residents of village, where the incident took place, identified the civilian as Pona Moran, who reportedly died in the crossfire. District SP, P.P. Singh said Hazarika was responsible for criminal activities in the Upper Assam Districts for the past few years. "He was also involved in the killing of surrendered ULFA (SULFA) militant, Tileswar Lahon, at Moran in Dibrugarh District in 2011," Singh said.

UKDA observed its 4th raising day at Immanuel Peace camp located in Saigang village in Karbi Anglong District. In his speech, UKDA 'general secretary', Alex Kuki said that, KAAC never bothered to undertake any developmental works in the Kuki dominated Singhason hills in the last 65 years. He further threatened that the UKDA will not hesitate to undertake another armed resistance if the attitude of the Government towards Kuki people of Karbi Anglong does not change. Leaders from other Kuki militant organization, KRA and representatives of Kuki National Assembly, Kuki Students Organization, and Kuki Women's Association also attended the function.

SFs arrested a SULFA militant, Bipul Chandra Roy, at Daobhangi in Dhubri District. Roy had come to collect extortion money from a person named Abdul Samad Molla of Silaipar in the District.

SFs, in an operation, arrested a militant belonging to NSCN-K, Haihingbe Jeme, from Boro Haflong locality in Dima Hasao District. Ammunition and explosive material were also seized from him. SFs recovered one hand grenade, two live rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and 10 detonators from the militant.

The militant groups, NDFB and KLO are calling business persons and demanding money from them in Dhubri District since last week. The KLO has been demanding huge amounts of money from businessmen in Chagolia and Golokganj areas of the District. A senior police officer of Dhubri district, while admitting about the calls from KLO to businessmen, leaders and contractors in Chagolia, expressed doubt over the calls from supposed NDFB cadres. "As we know there is no presence of NDFB in Dhubri district. Groups involved in this extortion network are intimidating and threatening businessmen to cough up money. We are keeping a close watch on this," a source said. Hagrama Mohilary, chairman of BTC, on April 21 said that is hopeful of the reunion of the two factions of the NDFB and a positive outcome of the peace talks.

Thousands of people belonging to several non-Mising organisations took out a rally in Sivasagar District protesting the inclusion of non-Mising-dominated villages in the MAC. The District administration on April 5 proposed the names of 38 villages in two development blocks of the district in the draft notification for organisation of the Dehing-Desang constituency of the MAC. ATASU 'adviser', Aswini Chetia claimed that most of the villages included in the MAC were dominated by non-Misings.

Incidents of protests against the earlier reported death of Puna Moran, a civilian killed in an encounter between SFs and ULFA-ATF militants on April 19, were reported from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia District. The protesters mainly led by various students' unions demanded INR 2 million as compensation to the family of Puna Moran, employment to his widow, education and other expenses for his two children. They also demanded a high level enquiry into the incident.

State Governor J. B. Patnaik asked State Government officials to take urgent steps for speedy development in Sadiya sub-division of Tinsukia District in order to fight Naxalism [Left Wing Extremism]. Patnaik said Sadiya was the most deprived and underdeveloped sub-division of the State.

According to DTO sources, the District transport officer of Sonitpur, Joshu Kumar Doley, received an extortion letter from ULFA-ATF militants. The letter, demanding INR 1 million, was sent from Tinsukia and signed by one Rupankar Gohain alias Rupankar Asom. Doley has informed the Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner about the letter.

A 36-hour bandh (total shutdown) called by the All Assam Moran Students' Union paralyzed lives in upper Assam Districts. In Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar Districts, educational institutions, banks and business establishments remained closed while vehicles remained off the road. The bandh was called in protest against the death of Puna Moran, a civilian who was killed during an encounter between police and ULFA militants at Kordoiguri village in Tinsukia District on April 19.

Tripartite talks will be held in Dispur on April 24 between representatives of RHJMC, non-Rabha groups and the State Government regarding the RHAC election.

S-CHTF in a memorandum submitted to the Minister of Welfare of Plains Tribe and Backward Community Department, Government of Assam, through the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Lakhipur Sub-Division, Cachar, demanded immediate implementation of the rehabilitation package for the surrendered militants of the outfit and reconstitution of the Barak Valley Hill Tribes' Development Council. The reconstitution is to be done with members selected by the CHTF.

The BVHTDC was formed by the State Government after 417 militants of the CHTF surrendered on March 18, 1996.

The election to the RHAC which was scheduled to be held on April 30, is likely to be delayed. A meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on RHAC election was held in Guwahati. The meeting, in which representatives of Rabha and non-Rabha organizations had taken part, was presided over by State Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Prithvi Majhi. After the meeting, Majhi said, "There are some problems due to which the RHAC polls cannot be conducted soon. More discussions are needed with Rabha and non-Rabha organizations. Hence the polls will be delayed."

KLNLF 'publicity -in-charge' Rajak Dera alleged that on April 22 KPLT militants attacked the house of KLNLF 'sergeant major' Mukesh Rongphar. Rajak Dera said that no one was injured during the attack. Rajak Dera further urged KPLT to stop engaging in factional fights and come to the negotiating table.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to NDFB-IKS, from Balapara in Chirang District.

The BSF troopers have caught 243 Bangladeshis between 2008 and 2011 along the border of Cachar and Karimganj Districts in the State.

A senior Police official said that the involvement of militants in rhino poaching had been confirmed with the interception of messages between the KPLT militants and poachers. "KPLT militants have been supplying arms to the poachers," the official said in the meeting of top officials from Golaghat, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Sonitpur Districts in Kaziranga. The civil administration and the home and forest departments have decided to join hands to strike hard at rhino poachers who have been on the rampage in the wilds of Assam.

A report submitted by the parliamentary standing committee on Home Affairs in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) states that Northeastern region witnessed an overall increase in violence with Assam and Manipur accounted for the bulk of incidents. The report also finds the level of violence in Meghalaya and Nagaland higher than the previous year while Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim remained large peaceful. The report shows that the incidence of violence has risen from 627 in 2011 to 1,025 in 2012 which was 773 in 2010 and 1,297 incidents in 2009.The report further states that 3,562 militants were either arrested or killed or surrendered in the region.

The parliamentary panel has contended that socio-economic development may be the key solution to the ills of the region.

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist 'central committee member' Aklanta Rabha (41) alias Maheshji and Siraj Rabha (35) alias Bijoy Rabha, a Jharkhand-based central training instructor from Jorabat area in Kamrup District. IGP-CWR, LR Bishnoi said that according to a recent State Police task force report, the strength of the CPI-Maoists in the State was 181 including 23 woman cadres but "that is likely to have increased now." LR Bishnoi further said that Aklanta and Siraj were on their way to Meghalaya for mobilising support in Khasi villages.

The Police later arrested Aklanta's wife, Rekha Rani, from Goalpara District for allegedly helping her husband to procure mobile phone SIM cards under fictitious names. A .22 pistol, six rounds of ammunition and seven mobile phone SIM cards were recovered from Aklanta, while 240 rounds of ammunition were found on Siraj. According to the Police the Maoist duo was trying to establish a Maoist sanctuary in the region to help senior rebel leaders hide when security forces turned up the heat against them in the rest of the country.

SFs recovered a .303 rifle along with a silencer from a poacher, Borsing Tisso, in Ketoterang village in Karbi Anglong District. The poacher has further confessed that the rifle and the silencer were given to him by the militant group KPLT, he has not yet revealed when and who gave him the weapon.

SFs arrested three women from the Bhalukdubi area of Goalpara District for helping the CPI-Maoist duo of Aklanta Rabha and Siraj Rabha. The CPI-Maoist duo was, earlier, arrested on April 26.

IGP-CWR said CPI (Maoist) leaders are now propagating their ideology in the rural areas along the Assam-Meghalaya border. "Both the leaders have confessed that they were heading to Khasi Hills in Meghalaya to organize underground meetings with local communities there. Already, five to six such meetings have been conducted between the Khasis and Maoist leaders," said L R Bishnoi, IGP-CWR.

CM Tarun Gogoi said the presence of CPI-Maoist in the State is growing."It is a fact that Maoists activities are growing in the state and we have been updating the Centre on this. Here, there is a very thin line between Maoists and other militant outfits. Almost all of them seem to be working in cooperation," said, CM Gogoi.

The State Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the Police on the April 19 shootout between ULFA-ATF cadres and SFs in which four people were killed in Tinsukia District, an official said. The commission has sought a report within 45 days of an incident, in which two ULFA-ATF militants, one civilian and a Policeman were killed.

The CPI-Maoist is eyeing aggrieved Khasi people from grossly underdeveloped Assam-Meghalaya inter-state boundary areas to facilitate outfits entry into Meghalaya. Earlier, two senior Maoist leaders, Aklanta Rabha alias Maheshji and Siraj Rabha were arrested by SFs on April 26 near Assam-Meghalaya border.

The DC of Kokrajhar clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC in the Duramari area of Kokrajhar District following tension between Muslims and Bodos over a plot of Government land. DC, Jayant Narlikar said that there was a dispute between Muslims and Bodos over occupying a plot of land at Thalitbari village in the Duramari area. He added that some people from the minority community have been trying to construct temporary sheds on the disputed land while the Bodos of nearby areas opposed the move. He added the situation is tense and there is every possibility of breach of a communal clash between the two communities over the disputed land. The District administration also sent security personnel to thwart any violence.

The MHA has set a 2014 deadline to complete fencing along the India-Bangladesh border. This was revealed in a report tabled by a parliamentary panel attached to MHA during the current session of Parliament. The report said Union home secretary R.K. Singh had given the panel an assurance in this regard in the last week of March 2013. The report said the home secretary had admitted that illegal influx, trans-border smuggling and movement of insurgents were major security threats to the country that needed to be curbed by plugging gaps in the border fence. He said these gaps had been classified and those that could be fenced but did not have Government sanction were being put up for sanction, adding that the Bangladesh Government's permission would have to be taken for fencing gaps less 150 yards from the Zero Line. The Union Home Secretary said there were, however, places where fencing was not feasible. He said intruder detection technology would have to be used in these places to plug gaps and curb infiltration. He said though floodlights were in place; availability of power was an issue. "We have requested the ministry of power to give us direct allocation from the central pool, "said Singh.

One civilian was killed while another sustained bullet injuries when unidentified armed assailants opened fire at them at Banderchara under Salakati outpost in Kokrajhar District. The deceased was identified as Chatan Debnath (16). Following the incident, the Bodoland Territorial Council Bengali Youth Students' Federation (BYSF) threatened an indefinite BTC bandh (shut down) if the culprits are not arrested by April 30 (today). The union also demanded INR 1 million for the deceased's family.

Two persons were killed and 10 others injured in the Moilapathar area near Raikhashini Pahar under Goalpara Police Station in Goalpara District when Police allegedly fired on a frenzied mob that went out of control following recovery of a body in the early hours. Those killed in police firing were identified as Gulzar Hussein (55) of Mariam Nagar and Shahidul Islam (25) of Baladmari Char area No. 2. One charred body, yet to be identified, was also recovered from the incident site. The violence started after the recovery of the body of Taher Ali (52), a cowherd who went missing since April 28.

An ULFA-ATF militant, Jagat Bhuyan alias Madan, surrendered along with arms and ammunition in Jorhat District. The Myanmar-trained militant deposited an M-20 rifle, seven rounds of ammunition and two Chinese-bottle grenades.

Altogether 28 organisations warned the State Government of a serious consequence if the non-Mising villages and people are made to live under the MAC.

Several second rung leaders of the KPLT escaped unhurt after a long gun-battle with a SFs in Tikoklangso village in Karbi Anglong. According to Police, based on a tipoff, a counter insurgency force of army and Police entered the village where a group of about six KPLT armed cadres with sophisticated weapons were camping for extorting money from the area.

One more dead body was recovered from near the jungle of Moilaputa in Goalpara District, taking the death toll to five. The body was identified as that of one Jayanta Rabha of Dohikata under the Matia revenue circle in Goalpara. However, the charred body recovered on April 29 could not be identified.

An indefinite BTAD bandh (shut down strike) called by the BTC Bengali Youth Students Federation, which began at 6 am on April 30 in protest against the firing at Bandanchara in Kokrajhar District on April 28 paralysed life in the region. Mritunjay Debnath, who was injured in the firing, died of his injuries in a private nursing home in Bongaigaon on April 30. Mritunjay and Satan Debnath were injured when unidentified gunmen fired at them.

The CPI-Maoist in Assam received training in handling of weapons in Jharkhand and jungles of Arunachal Pradesh and efforts are on by the rebels to spread their bases to other parts of the North East region. Highly placed sources in the MHA told  that though the threat to the security of the North East region by the Maoist rebels cannot be considered very serious, the threat should not be overlooked as setting up of armed wing proved that the Maoists have reasonably strong bases in the State.

Sources revealed that according to information available with the security agencies, the total number of armed cadres of the Maoists in Assam should be around 40. Sources said that the total number of overground activists of the Maoists in Assam is estimated to be around 150 and they work in different capacities to earn their livelihood and work for the Maoists. They have been given the responsibility of working among the people to address issues like anti mega dam movement, problems of the ethnic groups and tea tribes, problems of the people displaced by floods and erosion etc, to strengthen their base among the people. The efforts of the Maoists to increase bases in the North East region is now looked after by Prashant Bose, who is the second in command of the Maoist rebels and in charge of the Eastern region.

Sources further said that there is every possibility of declaration of two Districts of Assam as LWE Affected Districts so that the Districts are eligible to receive special development funds from the Government of India.

A NEFR employee, Biswajit Debnath (32), was abducted, on duty, by unidentified armed persons from Cachar District. The abductors later demanded a ransom of INR 10 million.

ULFA-ATF led by Paresh Baruah has changed its name and now the outfit will be known as the ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I). In a release e-mailed to the media, the ‘chairman’ Abhijit Asom said that the central executive committee meeting of the organization was held from April 2 to 5 and the decision to rename the organization as ULFA-I was taken in the meeting to maintain the distinct identity of the organization. The release said that the ULFA-I would remain a revolutionary organization fighting for the Independence of Assam. On the issue of talks with the Government for political solution of the issues, the ULFA-I chairman said that talks on the issue of sovereignty of Assam can be held in a “third country” in presence of representatives of the United Nations.

The group also announced that its “military chief” Paresh Barua would now also be the organisation’s vice-president. Barua was earlier appointed acting vice-president of the group, apart from being head of its armed wing. Jibon Asom, who was the acting finance secretary of the group, has been given charge permanently while Montu Asom has been newly appointed as assistant secretary. Montu had earlier acted as assistant organising secretary of the group.

Unidentified assailant killed a man, Rabiram Rabha, & injured his wife at Dariduri Tilapara area under Baguan Police Station in Goalpara District, taking the toll in the trouble-torn District to six.

ULFA-ATF also known as (ULFA-Independent) blamed State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for inviting dubious chit fund companies who duped investors and demanded that he ensures that they are paid back their dues. "The chief minister himself has claimed that a chit fund company had donated Rs 20 lakh to his relief fund," ULFA-I's ‘assistant information and publicity secretary’ Arunodoy Asom said in a statement e-mailed to PTI.

A division bench of the AHRC issued a notice to State Chief Secretary N.K. Das, seeking a probe into the violence at Goalpara and submit a report in 45 days.

SFs arrested fifteen cadres belonging to NDFB-IKS from Namtola, on the Assam-Nagaland border in Sivasagar District. The arrested militants were identified as Robin Narzary (20), Subhash Basumatary (23), Chandan Narzary (23), Swmgwm Narzary (20), Ronjoy Basumatary (18), Khagen Basumatary (24), Subung Ser Brahma (20), Ankang Brahma (20), Arjun Narzary (20), Basiram Bodo, (19), Sanjay Hazary (18), Sankar Brahma (32), Samjit Basumatary (19), Eyo Musahari (18), and Prahlad Narzary (19). A senior police official said the Songbijit faction has been sending recruits to Myanmar for training. “They use the route from Kohima to Mon town via Sivasagar district. The cadres are kept in Kohima before being sent to Myanmar. They are first taken to Chenmyo camp of the NSCN-K [Khaplang faction of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland] on the Nagaland-Myanmar border and then sent to the NDFB (Songbijit) camp at Taka in Myanmar,” he added.

SFs arrested three suspected GNLA militants and recovered a 7.6 pistol with two live cartridges under Dudhnoi Police Station in Goalpara District. The apprehended GNLA cadres are Krispal Sangma, Bitram G Marak and Dharkham Marak. The cadres were arrested when they came to collect the extortion money from a businessman of Daranggiri area.

Residents of Margherita town in Tinsukia District nabbed a suspected NSCN-IM militant, Sumit Mech, with an AK-47 rifle and a foreign-made semi- automatic rifle and handed him over to Police.

Eight organisations have called a 12-hour Goalpara District bandh (strike) to protest against the killing of two persons at Moilaputa near Goalpara town on April 29 and the subsequent police inaction. The bandh has been jointly called by the Goalpara District Students’ Union, Hajong Students’ Union, Sutradhar Students’ Union, Bodo Students’ Union, Bengali Youth Students’ Federation, Koch Rajbongshi Sudents’ Union, Nath Jogi Yuva Sanmiloni and the Goalpara Rabha Students’ Union to demand immediate arrest of the culprits.

SFs recovered two powerful IEDs from an abandoned house at Bhetagaon village in Chirang District.

The arrest of 15 new male recruits of the NDFB-IKS in Sivasagar District, on May 3, while they were on their way to Myanmar for training has taken intelligence agencies by surprise, for the outfit's Myanmar-based leadership had asked for only female recruits.  "There are intercepts about the group's top leader issuing instructions to its point man, Udla, who is currently located in Kohima, to send in female recruits as the number of male recruits undergoing training in Myanmar is disproportionately higher. Probably, these 15 boys were the last batch of males being sent to the neighbouring country before the female recruits are sent," a source associated with counter-insurgency operations said.

SFs arrested a NDFB linkman, Dibakar Deka, from NH 31 under Rangiya Police Station in Kamrup (rural) District. SFs recovered a 7.62 revolver, four rounds of live cartridges, a mobile set and some SIM cards from his possession.

The ABBYSF met State Home Secretary, Gyanandra Tripathi and submitted a memorandum, describing him of the problems faced by Hindu Bengalis living in the BTAD. In the memorandum, ABBYSF expressed concern over rise in extortion, abduction and killing of Hindu Bengalis in the BTAD by militant groups, including KLO, an Adivasi militant outfit. Each and every Hindu Bengali in the Bodo belt is compelled to pay around seven militant groups, failing which they are threatened with dire consequences, the memorandum says. “The memorandum says the militant groups carry arms in broad daylight under the very nose of police. There are also allegations that a percentage of extortion amount goes to the police,” federation president Mantu Dey said.

Interrogation of arrested CPI-Maoist militant, Aklanta Rabha alias Maheshji, has revealed that Maoist have succeeded in making inroads into Barak valley in Assam. CPI-Maoist 'central committee member', Maheshji, along with a central training instructor in Jharkhand, Siraj Rabha, was arrested by Police recently in Kamrup District. Barak Valley, comprising the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi, shares inter-state borders with Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Mizoram and an international border with Bangladesh.

"Maheshji has revealed the names of at least five persons who joined the group four to five years ago and are currently working at the village level in Barak Valley to strengthen their base. For the first time, we have got information about how Maoists are making inroads in the region," an official told the newspaper on May 6. The strategic location of the Districts, according to the officer, has come as an advantage for the Maoists. One of the five names Maheshji revealed is that of Shalik Singkhai alias Romeo, a youth of the Khamti community from Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh, who was working to strengthen the Maoist base in Cachar District before his arrest recently. "Romeo was among the first to have started working at the grassroots among the tea community in Barak Valley but he could not continue because of language problems. "We cannot disclose the other four names in the interest of the investigation. The four were working under Maheshji and also visited West Bengal and lower Assam districts," the officer said.

The revelation assumes significance after the task force constituted by the State government in 2012 could not find "significant evidence" of Maoist presence in the area. "The task force report only talked about possible Maoists activities in Barak Valley but Maheshji's interrogation revealed they had made inroads about five years ago and are working systematically to spread their network," the officer said.

The plan of CPI-Maoist to form a women's group in Assam has been hit after Police succeeded to arrest top CPI-Maoist leader Aklanta Rabha's wife Rekha Rani Raha alias Sonpahi in Goalpara on April 27. "Rekha revealed that she was acting as an overground member of CPI (Maoist). She had formed an organization called Nari Mukti Sangha to fight against social discrepancy towards backward classes and was propagating the Maoist ideology among women in particular. She confessed that she had managed to recruit at least seven to eight women Maoist cadres in Goalpara and Kamrup districts," said a Policeman. Aklanta Rabha was arrested on April 26 in the State.

The newly elected president of Ex United Peoples Democratic Society, Kangjang Terang, on May 6 volunteered his service to mediate between the KPLT and MHA if needed. He has appealed to the KPLT to come over ground and negotiate their grievances.

SFs in an encounter killed a militant, Tenkhenlo Rengma (27), belonging to the NRHPF, formed in 2012, at Kaham Rengso hill under Chowkihola Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. The SFs recovered one .9mm pistol, one AK-47 rifle, two hand grenades and huge cache of assorted ammunition besides 112 rounds of 303 bolt action rifle, 61 rounds of self loading rifle, 59 rounds of AK-56 rifle and 14 rounds of .9mm weapon and a solar operated set for charging communication devices from the camp. SFs raided the camp initially thought that the cadres belonged to KPLT. The NRHPF seeks a regional council for the Rengma tribes living in eastern Bokajan subdivision of the District. The outfit's identity was established from some documents found in the camp.

NBSS blocked NH-52 in Sonitpur District for three hours, demanding exclusion of 19 villages dominated by non-Bodos from Udalguri District in the BTAD. The Samiti said the 19 villages fall under Borcholla Assembly constituency of Sonitpur District and were included in the BTAD. NBSS, 'president', Gulam Mustafa Ahmed said people were not safe in the BTAD area of Udalguri. He further alleged that there was a plan to include several villages from Pachnoi in Sonitpur District to Jonai in Dhemaji District in the proposed Bodoland, which would do considerable harm to the non-Bodo people.

Two Guwahati based TV channels, NE TV and News Time Assam, identified Mukul Hazarika, an Assamese physician based in London, as Abhijeet Asom, the 'chairman ' of the ULFA-ATF/ULFA-Independent. ADGP-SB Khagen Sarma said, "It's known to us that Hazarika was in close contact with ULFA hardliners for a long time. But it's difficult to say that whether he is Abhijit Asom."

State Police claimed to have picked up veteran 'central committee' member of CPI-Maoist Anukul Chandra Naskar alias Pareshda (65) from Cachar District. He had joined the organisation in 1967 and became a member of its central committee in 1985. He was made a Politburo member in 2004. He looked after the outfit's eastern wing, comprising West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. The development comes close on the heels of the arrest of CPI (Maoist) 'central committee' member Aklanta Rabha and another Maoist leader Siraj Rabha alias Dipesh on April 26

The SC directed the Centre to finalize the modalities for updating the NRC in the state by July 16. The RGI recently gave its nod to update the document in seven Districts, but no schedule has been announced yet. While hearing a writ petition filed by an NGO, APW, Justices Ranjan Gogoi and HL Gokhale also directed the Central Government to submit the modalities along with forms before the court on July 16. The court said that it will monitor the whole process.

The Central Government told the SC that it had decided to fix January 1, 1966, as the cut-off date for inclusion of citizens' names in the NRC to prevent illegal migrants from staying on in Assam.

Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to help expedite the NRC update process to fulfil the consensus arrived at in the May 2005 tripartite meeting involving the AASU.

The NESO met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and pressed for updating the NRC across the state in a single phase instead of three phases as proposed by the government..

Police arrested six extortionists including a ULFA-PTF member Manoj Rajbongshi alias Anupam, for demanding money from a Government official in Guwahati in Kamrup (metro). He joined the ULFA-PTF a few years ago and masterminded the extortion racket, said city SSP A P Tiwari. The other five members have been identified as Bhaskar Singha of Noonmati sector one, Sanjib Das of Sonapur in Nalbari district, Sunil Das of Sualkuchi, Krishna Barman of Banekuchi in Nalbari District and Hemen Deka of Noonmati area were known as bad elements.

DGP, JN Choudhury observed that maintaining law and order in the state should be a national issue as any disturbance in the State affects communication to the entire North East region. He further said that with the implementation of the Look East policy of the Government of India, the importance of Assam would increase further. Centre should provide help to the Government of Assam to increase the number of police stations, Choudhury added. The DGP revealed that at present, the strength of the Police in Assam is much less than what is required and the State has 330 police stations to cover 80,000 square kilometre area, while, ideally there should be one police station to cover an area of 150 to 200 square kilometre and one in 100 square kilometre in the sixth schedule areas. This will increase the presence of civil police on the ground and it will be of great help in dealing with problems like ethnic tensions, he said.

Suspected KLO militants fired at adjoining labour camps in Assam -West Bengal border Districts of Dhubri-Cooch Behar injuring two labourers . Later, one of the labourers, Monowar Hussain (22), succumbed to his injuries on May 10 the other one identified as Dadhimohan Roy is undergoing treatment in Dhubri.

Police sources and eyewitnesses said four militants, armed with sophisticated weapons, came on two motorbikes without number plates around 8.30pm and opened fire on a labour camp at Bouserkuti under Golokganj police station in Dhubri District of Assam and then on a camp at Mansai in Cooch Behar District of West Bengal. The labourers were hired by Guwahati-based construction, Hi-Tech Company, to construct a bridge over the Raidak River, which flows along the inter-state border.

An intelligence source said the KLO had demanded a huge amount of money from Hi-Tech but the company reportedly did not cough it up, leading to the attack.

The house of Dima Hasao District Congress party President, Mohendra Kemprai, was attacked in an autonomous council poll related violence injuring three persons in the District. The incident occurred in Hamri constituency of DHAC, elections for which are to be held on May 20. Police is investigating the incident and search operation has been launched for the attackers. Kemprai had filed an FIR against five persons, three senior leaders of the DHD-J / BW and two junior members. In the same constituency earlier on May 8, assailants had damaged a vehicle of Independent candidate Debolal Gorlosa who has lodged an FIR with the police regarding the incident.

Arrested ULFA-PTF member Manoj Rajbongshi alias Anupam confessed that he along with three others, had triggered a crude bomb explosion in Chandmari area of Guwahati city on April 29 to create a fear psychosis. The ULFA-PTF member was arrested on charges of extortion May 9.

SFs arrested a person, John Haokip, who was about to launch a Kuki militant group on the behest of NSCN-IM, in Karbi Anglong District.

Based on Haokip's revelation, SFs on May 10 recovered two SLR s.

SFs arrested one of Haokip associate, Pradip Das (30), from Amrajan near Sukanjan under Bokajan police station of Karbi Anglong."We have reports that Haokip attended the Dimapur meeting [with NSCN-IM] and was entrusted with the task of floating a new Kuki rebel outfit. Pradip is reportedly a close associate of Haokip and is assisting him in the mission," the Police Source said. According to the source, work on floating the Kuki group was in the preliminary stage and the youths had only been provided some weapons to start the groundwork. The outfit was yet to get a name, he added.

SFs arrested a youth, Sanjib Hasnu, from Pub Gajalipar area, on the charge of extortion of money in the name of KPLT from different businessmen in the District.

Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary has admitted that Maoists are trying to establish themselves in India's northeastern States, even as he said situation in the Northeast has largely improved. "The Assam government had received few indications that Maoists are trying to establish a foothold. The plain areas along the Meghalaya-Assam border could be vulnerable to Maoists," Mooshahary said. The Assam government, which had also formed a Task Force to combat the Maoists, had found that there are 181 Maoist cadres in the state. It includes women cadres.

Stating that the situation in the Northeast has largely improved, Mooshahary, who was also the former chief of the Border Security Force, said, "The region, barring Manipur have improved a lot in the law and order front, and the current trend in the region is towards peace." Mooshahary, however, urged the State government in the region to improve governance and fight against corruption, eradicate poverty and provide employment avenues.

Unidentified militants abducted a supervisor, Kalyan Kundu (45) of a Kolkata-based private company, UC Consultation, from Bengtol in Chirang District.

ULFA-ATF / ULFA-Independent, in an email statement, said some people were collecting money in their name in the Districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh without their knowledge.

The GNC, one of organizations representing the Garo tribe in the State, stated that an autonomous council should be created by including Garo-dominated villages of the State, which at present fall under the RHAC. GNC 'working president' Tharman Momin claimed that there are 359 Garo-dominated villages in the Kamrup (rural) and Goalpara Districts that are included in the RHAC."Along with the 359 Garo-dominated villages, we also want to include 24 Khasi-dominated villages in the two districts in the exclusive autonomous council for the Garos of Assam. GNC has been asking for an autonomous council for the Garos for a long time, and the state government should consider our demand seriously," Momin said. GNC has vehemently opposed the demand of GHSMC, a Meghalaya based organisation, of including a few villages of Kamrup (rural) and Goalpara in their proposed 'Garoland'.

DGP, JN Choudhury stated that though the level of violence involving the militant groups has come down, growing ethnic tension in different parts of Assam has become a matter of serious concern. Meanwhile, over 60,000 cases are pending in different Police Stations of the State, which is another major area of concern for the Assam Police.

DGP, Choudhary, said that with majority of the militant groups having come forward for talks with the Government, the level of violence has come down and only the anti-talk faction of the ULFA-ATF, NDFB-IKS, KPLT etc are active in the State now. However, these groups do not have all Assam footprints. But extortions by the NDFB-RD/ NDFB-IKS remain an area of concern, the DGP said.

Choudhury admitted that the growing ethnic tensions are a matter of concern as in recent times, the Kokrajhar and Goalpara areas of the State witnessed serious ethnic disturbances and long-term strategies would have to be taken to deal with the problem. He said that efforts are on to increase the number of Police Stations to improve civil policing and the State Government has already sought financial assistance from the Centre for setting up of new police stations.

The DGP pointed out that of late, the mobs have become more and more aggressive and dealing with such mobs is a major problem as the Supreme Court also gave clear-cut guidelines on the use of force.

Police arrested five youths on charges of impersonating as cadres of ULFA-ATF and trying to extort over phone, in Bongaigaon District. The arrested persons were identified as Bikram Pradhan [arrested on May 12], Sukumar Barman, Shankar Boro, Mohendra Roy and Krishna Kanta Bhaumik [rest arrested on May 13].

One Lalit Hatibaruah was arrested at Margherita in Tinsukia District for attempting to extort money from a businessman Ranjit Singh of the area posing as an ULFA-ATF.

ULFA-ATF/ ULFA-Independent criticized the Assam Government for conferring the Srimanta Sankardev Award for the year 2008 on to veteran film personality Sharmila Tagore. In an email statement issued by Arunodoi Asom, 'publicity secretary' of (ULFA-ATF/ ULFA-I) said, "Selecting Bollywood actor Sharmila Tagore alias Begum Ayesha Sultana for the prestigious award is an insult to the Vaishnavite saint in whose honour the award was constituted. The actor has made no contribution to spreading the aura and ideologies of the saint. How could Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi select her for the award?"

AASA of Assam staged a rally at the Industrial Training Institute field in Bongaigaon District. AASA said if the Adivasis did not get ST status before the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the community would boycott the polls.

AAMSU staged a demonstration in front of the Dhubri and Goalpara Deputy Commissioners' offices demanding a judicial inquiry into the Police firing at Rakhasini in Goalpara and Baghmari in Biswanath Chariali on April 29-30. AAMSU also demanded the rehabilitation of people displaced in the BTAD violence in 2012.

Supreme council of the UPLF has called for a 36-hour Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao Districts strike beginning from 5 am of May 17. UPLF is demanding immediate creation of separate state comprising the Karbi and Dimasa areas of India under the provision of Article 244(A) of Indian constitution. UPLF come into existence on January 4, with an aim to create a separate Dimasa Karbi-Anchal State comprising the Hill Districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao.

UKDA has claimed that they are dismayed over the Government's backtrack attitude on the peace proposal of Kuki community of Karbi Anglong District. UKDA 'general secretary', Alex Kuki said the government had assured that the cadres will be provided the necessary needs during their stay inside the designated camp, but in reality Government has done "little". According to UKDA 'defence secretary ', Martin Kuki Government assistance of INR 300,000 to 150 cadres hardly solved the problems of the defenceless Kuki youths inside the designated camp. UKDA demanded police protection and humanitarian aid.

ASM, ITPF and NDFB-PTF have asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to instruct the State government to identify and detect foreigners before updating the NRC.

SFs arrested a 'district committee' member of CPI-Maoist, Kavita Rabha (31), was arrested from Odalbakra area in Kamrup District. SFs recovered two desktops, one hard disc, three pen drives, 15 Compact Disks, two cell phones and some incriminating documents including Maoist literature from her rented house. IGP-CWR Dr LR Bishnoi stated that Kavita was entrusted with the job of printing Maoist literature and circulating them, besides maintaining of accounts. Kavita Rabha is the wife of Anukul Naskar alias Paresh, a senior CPI-Maoist leader, who was arrested from Cachar District by Assam Police on May 7, 2013.

Based on Kavita Rabha's revelations, Ranchi (Jharkhand) Police arrested Prasanna alias Pranab, who is the elder brother of Kavita and a hardcore Maoist. Later in the day, Kavita Rabha's younger brother Rajiv Rabha was also detained from Hajo in Kamrup District.

Thousands of students lead by KSU came on street demanding stern action against KPLT for serving extortion notice to a cleric of a Christian missionary school in Dokmoka in Karbi Anglong District. According to Police, the KPLT served two extortion notices on May 7 and 11 May to Bronson Sangma, principal of Church of Christ English School.

The KRA-A has registered its opposition to the proposed formation of a new Kuki underground group in the State by vested Kukis in collusion with some Rengma Nagas of Karbi Anglong recently. A statement issued by the 'information secretary' of KRA-A, Chungngam Lhangum alias Rex cautioned all concerned never to be misled by one Letjang Thangeo and his comrades while also urging the people not to associate with them. KRA-A pledged that it would never allow Letjang Thangeo and his comrades to carry out the evil design while also warning him of facing dire consequence if he continues to spread rumours, confusion, etc.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi assured the AASU that the exercise of updating the NRC throughout the State would be done at the earliest. AASU raised the demand of conducting the NRC exercise throughout state at 'one go' before 2014 Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) Election.

Gauhati High Court acquitted the former ULFA leader, Arup Konwar, by a trial court for killing Assam minister Nagen Neog and eight others in Golaghat District of Assam in 1996. Konwar alias Tutu alias Amar Singh - a 'sergeant major' of ULFA - was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the District and sessions court, Kamrup, on October 12, 2007. The CBI, which had investigated the case, will now appeal in the Supreme Court against the order. The high court acquitted Konwar on grounds of lack of sufficient evidence.

A militant belonging to ULFA-I militant , identified as Rajib Moran alias Rohim Asom , surrendered to Police in Tinsukia District. The rebel deposited two Chinese grenades.

Two NSCN-K militants, 'lance corporal' Thothung Hakhun and 'sergeant major' Dapnong Tonglim, surrendered at the 25 sector Assam Rifles (AR) headquarters at Lekhapani in the same District. The duo deposited two 7.65 mm pistols and ammunition.

ADGP-SB, Khagen Sarma, said that the Adivasis of Assam, who constitute the tea labourer community, have so far remained out of the influence of CPI-Maoist. The Maoist, instead, has recruited youths, who have been either member of some militant outfits in the past or belong to indigenous tribal communities of the State.

A rally jointly organised BNC and BPF was held at Santipur in Chirang district on May 19 to protest against extortions and frequent abductions. Various organisations and Gaonbura (village headmen) from the neighbourhood supported the rally in which over a thousand people took part with placards, banners and festoons demanding an end to extortion drives by various militant groups and outfits. "The activities are expected to rise because of the growth of saboteur groups or organisations in the region," said BPPF president and BTC member, Rabiram Narzary. He urged the administration to take stringent measures to stop the crimes.

KPLT militants shot dead, Joysing Senar (35), at Lang Tor Tor village under Dokmoka Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. According to sources, the slain person had run an extortion racket in the area in the name of KPLT. The sources also told that he was the former member of now ceasefire group Karbi Longri and KLNLF, but later switched to KPLT. He was later expelled from the organization on the ground of gross indiscipline and impropriety.

KPLT's 'Chairman', Bidisar Tungjang, forewarned any duplicate members to take heed from the lesson taught to Joysing Senar. He said that any person caught in maligning the organization's name would meet with similar kind of fate. He also reiterated that people should not quickly jump into conclusion or slam them before corroborating the fact; such reckless condemnation will not be taken by them lightly.

CPI-Maoist has managed to create a base in six Districts of the State with at least 150 fresh followers. "The char areas of Dhubri District bordering West Bengal and forest areas are the new targets of Red rebels [CPI-Maoist]. The Maoists are also spreading tentacles in Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Silchar (Cachar), Karimganj and Kamrup (rural) Districts too. They have created a fresh support base of at least 150 cadres in these districts," said Inspector-General of Police-Central Western Range (IGP-CWR) L R Bishnoi. "Naskar and Kabita [recently arrested from the State] have already succeeded in forming district committees in these districts. Once the support base is created, they were planning to send some of them to Jharkhand for further training under the guidance of Chandrashekhar Das, a veteran Maoist leader," added an official of State Police.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to the NDFB-IKS, Mandish Daimary, from Mainaguli in Sonitpur District.

BPPF urged the Central Government to hold peace talks with all the factions of the NDFB on the issue of their long standing demand for creation of separate state of Bodoland by creating a congenial atmosphere in the region. BPPF expressed concern over the rise in incidents of extortion and threats to people by militant groups along the India-Bhutan border areas in Kokrajhar and Chirang Districts. "People are even asked to leave the area if they are unable to pay the extortion amount. It is a matter of great concern. The government should take appropriate steps against the militant groups," he said.

SFs arrested two suspected NDFB militants, Bailo Basumatary (32) and Anil Boro (30), from a guesthouse at Jatia in Kamrup (metro) District. Police said two .9mm pistols and 12 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them. A case has been registered in Dispur Police Station and an investigation was on.

SFs revealed that arrested militant of the NDFB-IKS, Mandish Daimary is a key accused in the Adilur Rahman murder case. NDFB-IKS militant, Mandish Daimary was arrested on May 21, 2013, when he went to collect INR 25,000 as extortion money from a businessman. According to the Police, he acted as the NDFB-IKS's 'collection in-charge' in Sonitpur District. Sonitpur SP, Arabinda Kalita, said this was the first time a cadre of the Songbijit faction had been arrested in the District. Adilur Rehman, a tea planter, was killed by NDFB-IKS militants on November 13, 2012.

Police investigating CPI-Maoist activities in the State have claimed that Siraj Rabha, the arrested 'training instructor' of CPI-Maoist, is a landmine expert who is wanted by Police in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. "We had information that landmine expert Dipesh was in Assam, but initially Siraj did not admit that he is Dipesh. But when intelligence branch sleuths from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand came up with his photograph, he confessed that he is the landmine expert Dipesh," a source said. Rabha was arrested on April 26, 2013.

The 12-hour Goalpara District bandh (general shut down), called by the MSP in protest against killing of five coal miners at Nangalbibra in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills, passed off peacefully. The strike was reported to be total, with commercial establishments, government offices and educational institutions remaining closed.

Suspected UALA cadres had shot daed the five labourers, all residents of Goalpara District, on May 20 allegedly in retaliation to the mine's owner refusal to pay them extortion money.

The 'central committee' of the CPI-Maoist militants has been pumping in funds to the North East region for some time to expand their bases in this part of the country. Sources revealed that the security agencies have come to know that the 'central committee' of the Maoists has been pumping in funds to the region every month through Aklanta Rabha, a 'central committee' member arrested on April 26, 2013, to expand the bases of the Maoists in this region and also to recruit members for the outfit.

A State security agency document revealed that the leader of the ULFA-I, Paresh Baruah, had to obey Islamic radicals and convert to Islam along with his family members in return for a safe haven in Bangladesh. A source associated with the compilation of the document said that Baruah, a Hindu by birth, after converting to Islam, changed his name to Kamruj Zaman Khan, while his wife Bobby Dutta is now known as Sofian Zaman. The Baruahs converted to Islam when they took refuge in Bangladesh in 2000. "His family still lives in Bangladesh under the patronage of the influential radicals and this is one reason why Baruah cannot afford to question Bangladeshi migrants back in Assam. He now lives in hiding, off the money extorted from people in Assam," the source said. Paresh Baruah now leads ULFA-I from Myanmar.

Security Forces arrested a ULFA-I militant Jyoti Baruah (25). Jyoti was allegedly involved in a grenade blast case in Sivasagar in 2012.

AAGSU blocked the National Highway-52 in Sonitpur District, for two hours, to protest against extortion notices given by NDFB to Gorkha residents of BTAD and parts of Sonitpur District. AAGSU 'Sonitpur District committee secretary' Gopal Chetry said the NDFB threatened the people living in the Nepali dominated villages to provide INR 50,000 or else leave the BTAD Districts. Chetry also claimed that the more than 200,000 Gorkha population at Charduar, Balijuri, Tinikhuti, Vimajuli, Gohpur and Biswanath Chariali subdivisions were not feeling safe due to the extortion drive of the insurgent group.

SFs arrested two militants of the MULTA, identified as Abdul Hussain and Abdul Khalak, at Rowmari area in Darrang District. SFs recovered a .303 rifle, one pistol and three rounds ammunition from them.

SFs arrested a ULFA linkman, Matiyur Rahman, from village Barajol in Nalbari District. SFs recovered one 7.65mm US made pistol and 2 live rounds were from his possession.

ULFA-I 'criticized' the State Government's failure to prevent killing of one-horned rhinoceros in the KNP despite its 'tall claim' over enhanced deployment of forces armed with sophisticated weapons. The ULFA-I in an e-mailed statement to the media called upon the people of Assam to demand withdrawal of all forces from KNP for their failure to protect the rhino and demanded that the responsibility of protection of Kaziranga resources should be handed over to fringe area villagers. The ULFA-I further stated that it would cooperate with villagers in protecting the rhino and other resources of the Park.

The Assam Government requested the Central Government to declare nine Districts of the State as LWE affected.

Sources revealed that as per the proposal, the State Government said that the Districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Goalpara, Cachar and Karimganj should be declared as LWE affected Districts. The proposal said that 35 Police Station areas of the nine Districts are affected by CPI-Maoist activities. Those include eight Police Station areas in Tinsukia, five in Dibrugarh, four in Golaghat, four in Dhemaji, one in Sivasagar, one in Lakhimpur, three in Goalpara, five in Cachar and four in Karimganj District. These nine districts have altogether 103 Police Stations.

replying to a question on the prevailing law and order situation in BTC and rampant extortions in the BTC, UHS, Anil Goswami said the District administration and the police forces in support with the para military forces will tackle the situation. UHS also held meeting with the District and Police administration at Kokrajhar Circuit House over the prevailing law and order situation in the region. The meeting was attended by the Lower Assam Commissioner, Sabir Hussain, BTC-IGP, GP Singh and others

The BPF, Kokrajhar District committee brought a bike rally in Kokrajhar against the rampant extortions in the BTC region by militant organizations and urged Central Government to take strict action against extortion & all other forms of unlawful activities. President of the Youth-BPF, Mono Kumar Brahma, speaking to the reporters said the rally was brought out in Kokrajhar against the extortion drive carried out by the militant organizations, particularly the NDFB-IKS in Northern Part of the region.

MLA Pramila Rani Brahma while talking to reporters said the extortionists have been serving notice for paying huge amount of money ranging from INR 1 million to INR 2 million in Ultapani and Saralpara area in the District and created a reign of terror in the region. She said the militant organizations, particularly the NDFB-IKS' ongoing extortion drive in the Northern part of the region and should be stopped by any means and the Government should act accordingly against them.

According to intelligence sources, the CPI-Maoist have recruited at least eight to 10 persons from Cachar District's Borkhola and Karimganj District's Patherkandi blocks during the past three months. The sources said the recruiters were primarily focussing on tea tribe youths and other poor sections, including the Kaibarta community.

the BTC Regional Committee of the AGS demanded the State government to safeguard and protection of lives and properties of Gorkha people living within BTC region. They also demanded round the clock vigilance and Police pickets in certain places where the Gorkha have threat perception. 'President' of the AGS, Laksmi Sedai, said that extortion notices in the name of the NDFB were served to the innocent Gorkha villagers living in Indo-Bhutan border areas. He said the villages like Ultapani, Saralpara, Jharbari, Khalasi, Patgaon and Athiabari in Kokrajhar District, Shantipur, Runikhata, Malivita, Patabari, Amteka, Kaila-Maila, and Nijilaguri in Chirang District have been facing the brunt of anti-social elements.

Unidentified gunmen killed a businessman, Sudha Roy (34) at Mahur market in Dima Hasao District.

an extortion drive by KPLT in areas near the Nagaon-Karbi Anglong boundary has forced villagers to flee in panic,. According to reports, around 20 families of Jargaon village under Jakhalabandha Police Station in Koliabar sub-division of Nagaon District fled to the nearby Sakmutia tea estate recently, seeking safety. The villagers said KPLT cadres had recently come to their village and demanded an "annual tax" from the residents. "We were asked to pay INR 1,000 as annual tax. It varied in case of well-to-do families and those who owned commercial and private vehicles," a villager said.

RGOK/ KRA has categorically announced through media that it no longer prefer violence. Announcing this at a press conference at Diphu, 'general secretary 'of RGOK and KRA, Karbi Anglong, Lalsei Gangte said "we want peace and a peaceful settlement of the decade old Kuki Problems of Karbi Anglong".

two cadres of the NDFB-IKS were arrested by the army's Red Horn Division in the Kahibari Chowk area of the Udalguri District bordering Bhutan. The army said the duo, identified as B Hadwad alias Hakim Basumatry and B Birgrang alias Binju Lis were involved in large-scale extortion in the District. Two pistols and ammunition were found on the duo.

Army officials said that there has been a spurt in the activities of the Songbijit faction in the District after it broke away recently from the faction headed by Ranjan Daimary, who is currently in jail and evinced interest for talks.

A college teacher from Chirang District in the BTAD, who went missing three months ago, is "suspected" to have joined the NDFB-IKS. Ranjit Basumatary (40) was teaching history at Bengtol College since 2004. Chirang District superintendent of Police Kumar Sanjit Krishna said, "The college teacher has been missing since the past three months. We suspect that he has joined the NDFB (Songbijit) faction." A close colleague of the missing lecturer confirmed the development saying, "Ranjit has completed his basic training with the outfit. Currently, he is the general secretary of the outfit. He had told me this over phone," the colleague said.

Two suspected CPI-Maoist cadres, Pradip Dhan and Bijoy Bawri, who are also members of the ATF, were arrested at Tengakhat in Dibrugarh District. Dhan, who was arrested on June 1, revealed Bawri's whereabouts who was later arrested on June 2.

former Governor of Assam, Lieutenant General (retired) SK Sinha has attributed prevalence of militancy and lack of development and influx in the Northeast states as a result of bad governance. Stating that bad governance has brought upon itself troubles from various sectors, Sinha said that the growth and development of the north eastern region is hampered by bad governance, the ill effects of which is militancy and influx.

Sihna observed, "Bureaucracy has collapsed, judiciary is collapsing, police has collapsed and the army is not doing too well in particular with cases of scam and extra judiciary killings, some of which even landed in the Supreme Court." Highlighting on the solutions to these problems, Sinha drew his attention to the Assam stating that since Assam is the gateway to the north east, it is the key solution to many problems like influx and Assam should be taken as a lesson for the north east. "Key to the solution is how we handle Assam as its population is twice the population of the north east state put together and strategically it is the heart of northeast," he added.

Former State Minister for the Welfare of plain tribes and backward classes, Rajen Mushahary was arrested along with three alleged cadres of the NDFB-IKS by Security Forces from his Habrubil residence in Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar district on June 2. Mushahary was minister during the AGP government in the state. The arrested militants were identified as Nusar Basumatary (30), Anthony Hazoary alias H. Abita (31), and Nal Narzary (29).

Director General of Assam Police, JN Choudhury, observed that the ULFA-I no longer has quality and committed manpower and the outfit has lost its mass base. The DGP said that the main persons in the outfit either left it or were arrested in recent times and the new recruits are not as committed as the old guards.

The DGP admitted that the ULFA-I does not have shortage of weapons as it is now easy to procure weapons if one has the money. He said there was no direct evidence of the Chinese Government directly providing weapons to the militants, but it is a fact that the militants are getting weapons from China.

The DGP also said that the ULFA-I has lost its sanctuaries in Bangladesh and Bhutan, which weakened the outfit to a large extent, but it still has some bases in Myanmar. He, however, admitted that the situation may change a bit if a change of guard takes place in Bangladesh in the elections scheduled later this year as the ULFA-I and other militant outfits of the North East were given a free run by the previous regime in the neighbouring country.

Unidentified militants from Nagaland on June 3 killed a tea garden worker, Sanjoy Bhumij (25), while he was ploughing a paddy field on the southern fringes of the Naginijan tea estate along Mariani in the Assam-Nagaland border area.

Former Governor of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant General (Retd) SK Sinha, said that vote bank politics resulted in deterioration of the situation in Assam and there is every possibility of worsening of the situation if the problem of infiltration of foreigners is not dealt with.

Commenting on the fact that 14 Districts of the State recorded abnormal growth of population as per the 2011 census, the report of which was released recently, the former Governor said, "it is a self inflicted wound. Over the years, no Government tried to deal with the problem of infiltration of foreigners and the abnormal growth of population is a result of the vote bank politics."

On the militant-politician links, Lieutenant General SK Sinha said, "there is no reason for any controversy. I only said that there is a former ULFA man in the present Cabinet. I need not mention the name of the person as everyone is aware of the fact. I also said that during my tenure as the Governor of Assam, the then state government headed by the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) fully cooperated with me to deal with militants with strong hands." Earlier, Lt Gen Sinha, on May 31 had labelled the same allegation in reaction to Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi's alleged remark in 2006 saying that the leaders of, AGP, were insurgents. On May 30, State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Rahul was 100 per cent correct in his assessment.

AR troopers arrested four cadres of a militant group, who were running an extortion racket, in Dima Hasao District. AR recovered one.22 pistol with magazine and three .22 ammunition from them.

A senior Police official claimed that NSCN-IM was involved in the killing a farmer in Naginijan area along the disputed Assam-Nagaland border on June 3. "We have inputs, NSCN (IM) fired at him," said SN Singh, Inspector General of Police (IGP, Law and Order), after taking stock of the current situation in the entire bordering area in Mariani. The rebels are now hiding in the jungles of Mokokchung District in Nagaland, he said. Police also denied existence of any rebel outfit called the ATTLV, which, according to the Nagaland Government, had started the trouble on June 3 by firing first at Naga farmers near the border behind the garden.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in his speech at a conference on internal security in New Delhi cautioned that if the next Bangladesh Government changes its anti-terror policy, militancy will be on a revival path in the State. He also requested that the Central Government to closely monitor Bhutan, where efforts are on by outfits to reopen their camps.

The CM also pushed for upgrade of IR battalions in Assam to a special force for effective anti- CPI-Maoist operations as approved for other CPI-Maoist-affected states. Gogoi is worried about the vulnerability of riverine islands of the State, which are located in remote areas and have barely any communication.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, described the security situation in the Northeast as "complex" since insurgency, extortion and agitations continue to exist in the region. "The security situation in the northeast continues to be complex, with insurgency, extortion and agitations being the main disruptive elements in the hands of the insurgents," he said in his address at the conference of Chief Ministers on internal security in New Delhi.

Singh, however, said there has been considerable progress in dialogue with several insurgent and ethnic separatist groups in the northeastern region. "A memorandum of understanding has been signed with both factions of DHD of Dima Hasao in Assam. Three Metei insurgent groups have signed a memorandum of understanding in February 2013. Talks with the NSCN are continuing," he said. The Prime Minister said the central government was committed to undertaking and bringing to a satisfactory conclusion dialogue with all groups and organisations which are willing to give up violence to seek solutions within the framework of our Constitution. "We are equally firm in our determination to continue assisting the states of the northeast to enhance their law and order enforcement capabilities, so that the people of the northeast enjoy the normal fruits of democracy and development," he said.

Union Minister for Home Affairs Sushilkumar Shinde in his address said that SoO Agreements have been entered with various insurgent groups in the Northeast and these groups have shown willingness to give up violence and seek solutions for their problems peacefully within the Constitution. "Our government is ready to talk with any group or outfit which is willing to abjure violence and lay down arms like KNO and UPF in Manipur. Further, Metei groups like URF, KCP and KYKL along with their factions, signed MoS in February, 2013 paving way for surrender of their cadres," he said. Shinde said peace talks are also being held with a number of outfits like ULFA, NDFB-P and NDFB-RD. These strategies have resulted in steady reduction in the level of violence. "Moreover, the aforesaid strategy of the government has also encouraged surrender by militants belonging to various groups and their participation in the political process. The central government is continuously assisting the northeastern states by the deployment of central paramilitary forces to assist the state police in counter-insurgency operations and upgrading their skill level", he added.

Suspected militants belonging to KPLT abducted three persons from the Geleki area, near the boundary of Kaziranga National Park, in Karbi Anglong District. The abducted persons were identified as Bijoy Barma, Paresh Saikia and Binud Kalita. However, Binud managed to escape. All the three were engaged as daily wage earners in the construction work of the National Highway.

Former DHD-J 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa and 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai prayed before the Gauhati High Court for the extension of their interim bail, which ended on June 4. However, the High Court division bench reserved their view on the matter. The matter will be discussed again in a different division bench, which will include the Chief Justice of the High Court. The State Government has not opposed the appeal by the duo for absolute bail.

The AASTGA demanded compensation from the State government for the destruction of tea plantations at Geleky in Sivasagar District by villagers from Nagaland.

State Government will equip Assam police personnel manning inter-state boundaries with more sophisticated weapons and modernise border checkposts. While rejecting a proposal for a specialised force to deal with problems on the border, the Assam home department said vigorous patrolling along borders by police and CRPF personnel would be initiated. The proposal was submitted by minister of state for border area development Siddique Ahmed in the aftermath of the June 3 border flare-up between Assam and Nagaland near Mariani in Jorhat District.

Further, Nagaland Government asked its border villagers to exercise "maximum restraint" to allow peace to return. The 'central committee' of the AAASA, withdrew the economic blockade imposed on Nagaland along the National Highway (NH) 39 at Bokajan and NH 36 at Dokmoka in Karbi Anglong District. The economic blockade was imposed on June 6.

MHA has refused to tag the State as Maoist-hit despite the repeated pleas of the state government for assistance to check the spread of Maoists. Chief Minister (CM), Tarun Gogoi has warned the Centre that state has a history of armed struggle and, so, it is vulnerable to the Maoists. The menace should be dealt with right now, added Gogoi. "The Centre thinks Maoists are not yet a problem in the state but my argument is that why can't we nip it in the bud so that we don't have to toil hard later to curb the menace," the CM said.

The ULFA-I 'condemned' the tea tribe for the murder of an Assamese youth in Sonitpur District on June 7. ULFA-I' 'publicity secretary' Arunodoy 'Asom' said on June 8 said the tea tribe has often killed indigenous people from other communities. "The tea tribe is an integral part of the greater Assamese society, but it should not act inhumanely and kill people from other indigenous Assamese communities," Arunodoy 'Asom' said.

The CPI-Maoist have started adopting a very unusual method in their attempts to win over the hearts of the tea garden workers of Assam, that is distribution of CDs of a film based on Maoism. As a part of the Maoist's attempts to win over the hearts of the tea workers, CDs of Chakraveyuh, a popular Hindi film, are being distributed among the tea workers and on a few occasions, screening of the film was also arranged. Highly placed security sources told newspaper that in recent time, the CPI-Maoist have started targeting the tea garden workers.