Arunachal Pradesh Timeline - 2012

January 6

Militant groups operating in the Northeast have realised that violence will never pay and the only way to solve their problems is peace negotiations, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said.

Chidambaram said peace agreements have been signed by the Government with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in West Bengal, UPDS in Assam and again it was on the verge of concluding another agreement with at least two groups in Assam. "ULFA, both factions of NSCN -- IM and K -- as well as NDFB are in talks mood.

He said most of the Northeast was today conflict-free and there was no violence in most parts of Northeast as 2011 witnessed a new low in the level of violence where in all states together there were only 627 incidents in which 70 civilians and 32 Security Force personnel were killed. "There is a grain of truth (to it).

The Home Minister, however, said there were still some areas of concern that include extortion and occasional kidnapping for extortion. "Extortion keeps the militant groups going. That is their source of funds....I have been saying this with responsibility that these extortion rackets must be stopped," he added. Chidambaram said the Central government was offering support to all state governments in the region to ensure that extortion does not take place and kidnapping for extortion does not take place. "During the last year, these incidents have come down dramatically and I am confident that in 2012, the situation will be better," he said.

January 8

NSCN-IM claimed that two militants belonging to NSCN-K were killed and four other got injured when the latter attacked NSCN-IM camp in Chasha village in Tirap District.

Three Civilians were injured and a house was set ablaze during a clash between NSCN-IM and NSCN-K at Chasa village in Tirap District. The clashes have now stopped after arrival of Security Forces in the area.

Representatives from the Central and Government of Arunachal Pradesh as well as AAPSU and Citizenship Demand Committee for Chakma and Hajong refugees are members of the committee on January 9, arrived at a consensus that the Chakma and Hajong refugees, who came to India between 1964 and 1969, can be accepted as Indian citizens.

During the annual Home Secretary-level meet between India and Myanmar at Naypyitaw which is to take place on January 19, a joint strategy to deal with Northeast Indian militant groups, smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition will be high on the agenda.

During the Home Secretary level meeting between the India and Myanmar, Myanmar has assured India that steps would be taken against the Northeastern militants using its territory.

Myanmar has sought India's help for implementation of several road projects, which would facilitate free movement of the troops to the areas where the militants are taking shelter. Myanmar has also sought India's help in completing the trilateral highway linking India, Myanmar and Thailand.

Bhutan 'Prime Minister' Jigme Y Thinley said that there is no camp of any militant formation of the northeast in his country. He further asserted that Security Forces are on alert to thwart any such potential attempts by the militants.

Two top cadres belonging to NSCN-K surrendered along with two .9mm pistols and six live rounds of ammunition at the Battalion Headquarters, 4 Assam Rifles, in Changlang District.

Pakistan's external intelligence agency ISI has admitted before a three-member bench of the Pakistan Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary to meddling in northeast India. Former ISI chief Asad Durrani made the admission before the bench during a hearing on the ISI's mandate. He also admitted ISI funding the BNP during the 1991 general elections in Bangladesh.

State Governor General (Retd.) J J Singh said that Central Government has announced INR 1.38 billion-security package for insurgency hit Tirap and Changlang Districts for strengthening the Police forces to counter insurgent activities.

Assam and Arunachal Pradesh State Police have constituted a joint team to carry out anti-insurgency operations along the interstate border areas. The areas of operation are the border areas along Tinsukia District of Assam and three of the five Districts of Arunachal Pradesh namely Lohit, Changlang and Lower Dibang Valley. The other two Districts are Tirap and East Siang. ULFA-ATF and CPI-Maoists reportedly use the area.

SFs arrested a cadre of the NNC, identified as Khapwang Mema, from Deomali in Tirap District. An amount INR 15,600 and an extortion note addressed to market officials of Deomali on the letterhead of NNC was also found in his possession. Mema was carrying out extortion in the town for the last couple of weeks. He had also threatened the locals with dire consequences if they fail to give him the ransom, an Assam Rifles communiqué said.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said that the Union Home Ministry has approved the demand for deployment of 2,000 additional CAPF in the State to maintain law and order.

A new militant outfit, the UPDF threatened those involved in the illegal trade of coal, timber and stone from Lohit and Changlang Districts. Police said, the threat is meant to extort money from traders. The outfit is headed by Sumona Munlang, once a trusted sharpshooter of Dawood Ibrahim's gang, Police said.

Addressing the Chief Minister's conference on internal security, Prime Minister (PM) Manmohan Singh on April 16 expressed concern over the abduction and extortion activities in Northeastern region

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram while addressing Chief Minister's conference on internal security said that in the Northeastern states, nearly all major insurgent groups were in talks with the Centre and was confident that there would further be improvement in the region.

Security agencies believe tha the CPI-Maoist is making inroads into the North-East to gain access to the arms market in the neighbouring Yunan province of China and not with the aim of expanding their base.

A MHA document says Maoists are working in close association with the PLA of Manipur, which also has a base in Myanmar. "The Maoists have been found carrying Chinese-made arms, but we do not know yet whether they procured the weapons directly from China or were supplied arms by north-eastern militant outfits," the source said.

Assam Rifles personnel arrested four UPDF cadres, identified Lamlai Chowai alias Babu, Dipankan Chakma alias Pinti, Kina Marak and Arun Chakma, from Manabum area in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. The militants were arrested from Maitri Village under Diyun Police Station, where they had taken shelter in the house of a Chakma widow.

The first Arunachal Scouts battalion arrived in the State to take charge two years after its formation. Arunachal Scouts is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army with specialization in mountain warfare and was raised to defend India's border with Tibet in Arunachal Pradesh.

Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur, referring to the issue of militants operating in the northeastern States of India getting help from China, told the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) that the Chinese Government has conveyed that it would never support armed groups that are against the Government of India.

Illegal mining is funding extremist outfits in Arunachal Pradesh, according to a home ministry investigation. The report, prepared after a visit of senior home ministry officials to the entire 45-km coal-rich stretch of Changlang District, said that insurgent groups such as the NSCN are indulging in illegal mining at Namchik Namphuk, the only coal block allotted to the State Government.

UHM P. Chidambaram asked the Arunachal Pradesh Government to be on guard against Maoists who are reported to have already achieved "minimal presence" along the state's boundary with Assam.

On the issue of law and order problems in Tirap and Changlang Districts that shares a border with Nagaland and Myanmar, UHM said that steps had already been initiated to upgrade police infrastructure and recruit more police personnel. He added that more CRPF personnel were being deployed to maintain the law and order in the two Districts. "A total of 1,526 policemen have been newly recruited in the state and they will start training from July this year.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said unlawful activities of CPI-Maoist will not be tolerated in the northeast. "There will be no compromise with Maoists trying to destabilize peace in the region and police have been instructed to take action," Chidambaram said, adding, "There is no reason to allow such elements in the region to create disturbance."