Arunachal Pradesh Timeline - 2004

February 12

Media reports quoting an intelligence report said that the Northeast region witnessed a marginal decline in militancy related fatalities in the year 2003 compared to the previous years.

The report indicated that 1072 persons were killed by different militant outfits during the year 2003 as compared to 1172 in 2002. Most number of killings was reported from Assam which recorded 379 deaths. While Tripura recorded 286 deaths, Manipur witnessed 201 fatalities. 88 and 78 deaths were reported from Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively. Arunachal Pradesh witnessed 36 fatalities. Mizoram was the most peaceful State in the region with four deaths. The report also indicated a rise in the number of abduction cases in the region. Tripura witnessed the most number of such cases with 213 abductions occurring in 2003. Nagaland was placed second with 167 cases while Manipur followed with 79 cases of abductions. The corresponding figure for Meghalaya was 45. Whereas 21 cases were reported from Arunachal Pradesh, no abduction occurred in Mizoram.

Suspected NDFB militants abducted the owner of a sawmill in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh. Official sources suspect that the trader was abducted for ransom.

A suspected NSCN-IM cadre was shot dead by the Assam Rifles personnel near Jairampur-Kharsang road in the Changlang District. A diary was reportedly recovered from the possession of the slain militant.

Sentinel quoting intelligence sources reports that following the stepped up counter-insurgency operations by SFs in the Tinsukia District of Assam, a large number of ULFA militants have shifted their operational bases to Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in the Lohit and Changlang Districts. The Arunachal Dragon Federation (ADF) is reportedly providing some logistic support to the ULFA cadres in Lohit District.

K. H. Tara, chairman of the militant outfit, NLFA, claimed that over 180 hardcore cadres belonging to the Arunachal Dragon Force (ADF) and Arunachal Liberation Front (ALF) have merged with his outfit.

Media reports indicated that the Khaplang faction of NSCN-K has been accused of intimidating the Buddhist population in the Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh. A statement issued by the Purbanchal Bhikkhu Sangha indicated that NSCN-K has threatened to kill them if they do not embrace Christianity.

A NSCN-K cadre, identified as Pangran Jugli, from Rangran village in the Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh is reported to have surrendered to the Police.

According to a statement by B Dollung, 'publicity secretary' of the NLFA, militant outfits in Arunachal Pradesh such as the National Liberation Army, Revolutionary Army of Arunachal, Arunachal Tigers and Border Protection Force of Arunachal have merged with the NLFA. The statement further claimed that the NLFA, headed 'Chairman' K. H Tara, is the oldest 'revolutionary group' in the State with 28 cadres.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, speaking to press persons in Guwahati, said that recent attacks by the ULFA in upper Assam is largely to reassert itself and stake its claim in the political consciousness of the State. Gogoi also said that the ULFA is taking advantage of the bases it has set up in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland bordering the areas in upper Assam.

SF personnel arrested a NSCN-IM cadre, identified as Sindong Shim, from the Tirap District.

Troops shot dead a ULFA militant at Pinjori area of Changlang District.

The National Liberation Front of Arunachal (NLFA), in a press statement, asked the Election Commission of India to delete the names of the Chakma and Hajong refugees from the electoral rolls. The outfit has stated that "being foreigners, the refugees should not be given voting rights for the October 7 Assembly elections."

The NSCN-IM stated that it would not interfere in the forthcoming October 7 Legislative Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh. The statement came in the backdrop of the allegations levelled against the outfit of intimidating voters and candidates from Tirap and Changlang, the insurgency-affected Districts of the State. Its 'deputy kilonser (minister) of the 'ministry of information and publicity', Kraibo Chawang, said that the outfit had already instructed its cadres not to interfere in the election process.

A Myanmar-trained NSCN-K cadre, identified as Whaom Khimhun, surrendered in Changlang District. According to reports, prior to his surrender, he functioned as the personal security guard of Koikhap Ngemu, 'regional chairman' of the outfit, at Waktam.

The 12-hour strike called by the North East Students' Organisation (NESO) is reported to have passed off peacefully although normal life was affected in the entire region. In Guwahati, Assam, the strike completely paralysed normal life with shops and business establishments, banks and educational institutions remaining closed. Normal life was also affected in several other parts of Assam, including in the Dhansiri sub-division, Tezpur, Naduar, Jamugurihat, Sootea, Balipara, Darrang District, Mangaldoi, Bongaigaon and Chirang Districts, Rangiya, Dhubri and Kokrajhar Districts.

Normal life was also reportedly affected in the States of Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya. However, it failed to evoke any response in the State of Tripura. Official sources in the capital Agartala said markets, shops and commercial establishments remained open throughout the State and attendance in Government offices, banks, schools and colleges remained normal.

Police sources stated that a team of 70 women cadres of the ULFA's 'Army' wing are trying to sneak into the upper Assam Districts from the Longding area of Tirap District in Arunachal Pradesh.

The NLFA, asked the Chakma-Hajong refugees to leave the State within two months. A statement by the outfit's 'publicity secretary', B Dollung, also blamed the refugees for the murder of a District level leader of Diyun in the Changlang District on November 30.

More than hundred ULFA militants have abandoned their bases in Myanmar and have taken shelter along the Arunachal Pradesh-Myanmar border following counter-insurgency operations by the Myanmar Army.

A delegation of 11 legislators from the Tirap and Changlang Districts of Arunachal Pradesh are reported to have called on the NSCN-IM 'chairman' Isak Chishi and 'general secretary' Thuingaleng Muivah at the 'Camp Hebron' in the Dimapur District of Nagaland.