Date

Incidents

January 1

SFs arrested an unidentified militant belonging to NDFB-IKS at Chhagaliya near the Assam-West Bengal border in Dhubri District.

The dead body of an Adivasi villager, Kero Hasda, was recovered in Chirang District. The death toll in the violence which started with the December 23, 2013 NDFB-IKS attacks, its backlash and in Police firing has gone up to 82. "He [Kero Hasda] was missing since December 25 from Koraibari village in Chirang district," Inspector-General of Police (law and order) S.N. Singh said.

An AR jawan was injured, in unconfirmed reports, during an encounter between AR personnel and suspected NDFB-IKS militants under Itakhola Police Station area in Sonitpur District. A meeting of the Special Operations Group of Unified Command was held at the Army's Red Horns Division Headquarters at Rangiya on January 2 to review the security situation following the NDFB-IKS attacks.

SFs arrested one KPLT linkman, identified as Babu Hanseyin Kheroni Police Station of Karbi Anglong District. Police also recovered one 9mm pistol with 4 ammunitions and 5 bullets of AK series assault rifle from the residence of Sarmen Enghi located in village Notun Enghi Gaon.

Home Commissioner Prateek Hajela said that the number of Adivasi and Bodo people taking shelter in relief camps has come down to 2,08,000 (on January 2) from 2,36,000 (on January 1), with more people returning home.

A Junior Commissioned Officer of 12 Assam Rifles was killed, in an encounter, with militants of the NDFB-IKS in Sonitpur District. Official sources said a group of 12 NDFB-IKS militants came down from the hilly Seijosa area near Pakke reserve forest in East Kameng District of neighboring Arunachal Pradesh and opened fire on Security Forces (SFs).SFs had launched operations against NDFB-IKS after the later carried out December 23 massacre of Adivasis in Sonitpur, Chirang and Kokrajhar Districts.

Inspector-General of Police (law and order) S.N. Singh said that the ULFA-I might carry out strikes ahead of Republic Day.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the December 23 attack on Adivasi could not have been possible without the knowledge of the NDFB-IKS's 'Commander-in- chief' Ingti Kathar Songbijit. "The attacks could not have taken place without Songbijit consent. His deputy might have executed the attacks but it is not possible that the attacks happened without Songbijit knowing of it," Gogoi said at a press conference here.

Six relief camps have been closed down in Chirang and Kokrajhar districts, and with this, the total number of relief camps has come down to 96 in the four Districts namely Chirang, Udalguri, Kokrajhar and Sonitpur. As on January 4, approximately 164,790 inmates are living in 96 relief camps.

Activists of the ATPC, led by 'general secretary' Manak Chandra Bordoloi, staged a dharna [non-violent sit-in protest] on January 4 to demand dissolution of the present Tiwa Autonomous Council (TAC) and holding of elections in February 2015.

Talks are on with Bhutan at the highest-level for a possible "coordinated" operation against the NDFB-IKS. A senior official today said it might take a few days for the discussions to yield results on the ground. Though India is not planning any joint crackdown in Bhutan as of now, it wants the Himalayan kingdom to back-up the operations launched in Assam.

SFs arrested two militants belonging to NDFB-IKS, identified as Nakul Narzary and Raju Rabha, from Namora under Jinjia Police Station area of Sonitpur District.

The Chief Executive Officer of ASDMA, P.K. Tiwari, said during the last 24 hours, 11 relief camps have been closed down with 24,651 inmates returning home. Now there are 140,139 inmates in 85 relief camps in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri and Sonitpur Districts, P.K. Tiwari, said.

SFs arrested two suspected NDFB-IKS militants from Shamuktala area under the Shamuktala Police Station in Alipurduar District. The militants were nabbed of West Bengal close to the border with Assam. A huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from them, police added.

SFs arrested a NDFB-IKS militant, Daimu Narzary, from Kajalgaon in Chirang District. IGP-law and order S.N. Singh said Narzary was involved in a grenade blast at Chapaguri in Chirang some months ago."Two grenade shells of 40mm UBGL and a Chinese grenade were recovered from him," Singh said.

IGP-law and order, S.N. Singh retracted from his earlier statement absolving NDFB-IKS 'commander-in-chief' I.K. Songbijit of the December 23 carnage of Adivasis. "Whatever the chief minister has stated is correct and I stand by his statement," he told reporters. The IGP-Law and Order had on January 2 said that the killings were carried out under direction of G. Bidai, the number two leader of the NDFB-IKS without the consent of Songbijit.

SFs arrested ULFA-I militant, Kamal Laskar alias David Asom (32), from Dhemajigaon near Raha in Nagaon district. ADGP-Law and Order RM Singh further revealed that several political leaders of the State belonging to different parties could be targeted by the banned outfit.

Police killed a suspected militant of NDFB-IKS in the Bogijaan area along the Golaghat-Karbi Anglong border. Two grenades, a 9mm pistol, seven rounds of cartridges and two mobile phones were recovered from the site. The suspected NDFB-IKS cadre who was killed in the encounter was identified as Birat Basumatary of Gohpur in Sonitpur District.

Army, in an encounter, killed a suspected KPLT militant near Hamren in Karbi Anglong District. An M16 rifle and ammunition were recovered.

SFs arrested five GNLA militants from Rongsoi on the Assam-Meghalaya border. Five pistols and ammunition were recovered.

SFs arrested two militants belonging to NDFB-IKS, identified as Probin Brahma and Vijay Kumar Brahma, from Banshijhora in Parbatjhora subdivision in Kokrajhar District. A 9mm pistol, a 7.62mm pistol, ammunition and mobile phones were recovered.

Police arrested two UDLA militants from Hailakandi District.

SFs killed two KPLT cadres in a gun-battle at Rongtang village in Karbi Anglong District. Three small fire arms were also seized from the incident site, Police informed. KPLT has called for a 48-hour bandh in Karbi Anglong District from January 11. The bandh (shutdown) has been called to protest the killing of its member, believed to be the 'deputy commander-in-chief', Kengkam Terang.

Police, in another operation, arrested one UPLA militant, identified as one Aspee Bey, from Phonglopet village in Karbi Anglong District. According to Police, Aspee Bey was supposedly involved in the killing of Hamren SP, Nityananda Goswami in June 2014.

Security Forces arrested nine NDFB-IKS cadres along with a huge cache of arms and ammunition. Seven of them were arrested in Kokrajhar District on January 9 while the other two were nabbed at Gohpur on January 8. Seven of the arrested cadres were identified as Milan Mushahary alias Mithinga (‘second in-command of Kokrajhar platoon’ of NDFB-IKS), Gautam Moholia, Joyanta Muchahary, Bina Basumatary, Swamkar Brahma alias Khurai, Khanda Narzary and Deuthwai Basumatary. The remaining two were not unidentified yet.

SFs, during a counter-insurgency operation, killed a ‘platoon commander’, identified as B.Jeblang, of NDFB-IKS at Khalsibazar within Serfanguri Police Station jurisdiction in Kokrajhar District. The news report stated that Jeblang was involved in the killing of five Adivasis at Pakriguri in Kokrajhar on December 23, 2014 and was also involved in the killing of five Hindi-speaking people in the same District. Inspector General of Police (BTAD) L R Bishnoi said "We have intensified our combing operation in the area. Two NDFB-IKS militants, identified as Genda and Bullet, were also arrested today (on January 10)," Bishnoi said. Four pistols and ammunition were seized from the two rebels.

SFs recovered a Chinese grenade near BJP district office located in GF Road in Bengenakhowa area in Golaghat town in Golaghat district. The report adds that the incidence comes a day after a ULFA-I's deadline to disrupt the BJP's meetings aimed at winning the 2016 state Assembly election. "The grenade is a Chinese-made one and powerful. We are already on high alert regarding the warning issued by ULFA-I to attack the BJP's offices and workers and it was because our strict vigil that we have managed to foil the plot of criminals," Additional superintendent of Police Numal Mahato said.

SFs arrested 12 NDFB-IKS militants from three different locations in the forest areas along the Indo-Bhutan border in Chirang District and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunitions. The arrested militants are Parmanesh Narzary alias N. Pwlersa (24), 'council member' and 'joint secretary media and publicity wing' of the NDFB-IKS, 'deputy commander' Swmkwr Basumatary alias B. Simang (27), Rahul Islary alias J. Rwmwilu (31), 'sergeant major'/'commander' Joleswar Basumatary alias B. Jakrup (29), 'sergeant major' Swrang Narzary alias N. Saya (25), 'corporal/section commander' Anan Brahma alias B. Aorai (26), 'corporal' Josao Muchahary alias M. Jahar (25), 'lance corporal'/'section commander' Karan Muchahary alias Kwiram Dwiram, Nagen Boro alias B. Tharun (35), Kalaram Goyary alias Kala (30) and Riten Basumatary alias B. Awgao (26).

Normal life came to a grinding halt following the 48-hour Karbi Anglong bandh (shutdown strike) called by KPLT from 5am on January 11,. The militant outfit called the bandh to protest against the killing of its 'deputy commander-in-chief' Kangkan Terang in an encounter with SFs near Rangjangfong under Hamren subdivision of the hill District. Government offices and business institutions remained closed in district headquarters Diphu and two subdivisional headquarters of Bokajan and Hamren during the strike.

The UMHA has issued an official order to resume the fourth official tripartite parley with JACAS to look for a solution to settle the long-standing demand for implementation of Article 244 (A).The meeting is scheduled to be held on January 19 in New Delhi. In the parley, top officials from Assam and Union Government will sit together with JACAS leaders for talks.

SFs arrested 'platoon commander of Belsiri area' "corporal" of NDFB-IKS, Bodosha Narzary alias Bishnu Narzary (28), from Dhemaji district. During interrogation, Bodosha confessed to his involvement in the carnage at Sonajuli in Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur district and his association in other unlawful activities.

SFs arrested an NDFB-IKS linkman, Subungma Basumatary alias Suresh (37), from Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur District on January 12. L.R. Bishnoi said nearly 50 NDFB-IKS militants have been apprehended and a top leader of the outfit killed in the four BTAD Districts since the operation against the rebel group was intensified.

The NIA will take three militants of the NDFB-IKS; arrested from Chirang district on January 11, into custody to interrogate them in connection with the killing of minorities in the BTAD in May 2014. The militants are Swmkwr Basumatary alias B. Simang (27), Surjoy Goyari alias G. Sujulang (25) and Joleswar Basumatary alias B. Jakhrup (29) into custody in connection with cases RC-01/2014 and RC-02 2014 registered at the agency's Guwahati branch.

Government sources stated that NDFB-IKS 'Deputy Army Chief' G. Bidai alias Bishnu Goyari, one of the mastermind behind the December 23 Adivasi massacre, had discussed the possibility of talks with the State Government nearly a week ahead of the killing, report. The discussions failed and an encounter on December 21, 2014 resulted in a massacre by Bidai's men. Sources here said Bidai had been sending feelers on coming to the negotiation table for some time, which prompted the Assam Police to explore the opportunity of getting the entire group.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh reiterated that there will be no talks with militant outfits that indulge in violence, though doors are open for parleys with others.

SFs arrested the 'second lieutenant' and "chief recruiting officer", Enon Bargoyary alias Erkhang (30) 'platoon commander of Amteka', Rinen Basumatary alias Majhi (30), from a forested area in Amteka on the Indo-Bhutan border in Chirang District on January 13. He is also very close to the I.K. Songbijit, 'commander-in-chief' G. Bidai and his 'deputy commander-in-chief' K. Batha, sources said. Rinen Basumatary had surrendered after the Operation All Clear in 2003 but rejoined the NDFB-IKS two years back, the sources said. IGP- BTAD L.R. Bishnoi said an AK-47 rifle, an AK-56 rifle, two 7.65mm pistols, two magazines, a grenade and 219 live ammunitions were seized from them.

SFs arrested six more NDFB-IKS militants from unidentified locations on January 13. The arrested militants were identified as Pranjit Basumatary (19), Kerkho Mushahary (21), Pribol Chumpamari (21), Milan Basumatary (28), Anjalus Basumatary (27) and Pradit Swargoyary (26).

SFs arrested six militants of UGPO, from different locations in Baska and Udalguri districts. Police sources said six persons including UGPO 'commander-in-chief' Suraj Magor, 'chairman' Lal Bahadur Tamang, 'vice-chairman' Suresh Ghimire and two cadres Arjun Chetri and Birkha Bahadur Limbu were arrested from different locations in two districts.

Leaders of now disbanded militant formation DHD-N sought a CBI inquiry into the recent killing of its former 'general secretary', Rajesh Naiding.

SFs arrested a 'platoon commander', identified as Pradeep Brahma, of the NDFB-IKS from Goalpara district.

The Army arrested two RVA militants, identified as Ful Kumar Rabha and Bishwajit Rabha, from Kokrajhar district.

SFs arrested two suspected NDFB-IKS linkmen from Lawdangi under Dhekiajuli Police Station in Sonitpur District. Police sources said the duo was identified as Lakhi Basumatary alias Faila and Debasri Mochahari. A grenade and eight rounds of live cartridges of M16 rifle and a money receipt book were recovered from them.

SFs arrested two militants of NDFB-IKS from Gauripur under Bijni Police Station in Chirang District. The arrested cadres were identified as Suwambam Basumatary and Toten Basumatary. SFs recovered a hand grenade from the duo.

The counter-insurgency operation against the NDFB-IKS militants has spread from the India-Bhutan and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border areas to Assam-Meghalaya and India-Myanmar borders. With the SFs cracking down on the Bodo rebels in the India-Bhutan and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border areas, the militants are now trying to slip into Bangladesh and Myanmar through Meghalaya and Manipur, respectively.

Normal life was paralyzed in Dima Hasao District in the wake of a 48-hour bandh (shutdown strike) beginning. The bandh, called by the HPWS, an NGO formed by the ex-militants of the disbanded militant outfit DHD-N, would end at 5 AM on January 18. All schools, colleges, commercial establishments, markets, offices, banks, post office, transport remained closed in the district but no untoward incident has been reported so far, a district police officer said.

Police arrested a suspected KLO militant, Govinda Roy, from Golokganj area of Dhubri District. The militant was arrested on charges of serving extortion notes to businessmen of the district.

SFs arrested five NDFB-IKS militants along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Udalguri District The five include "commanding officer" of the '13th battalion' Binku Narzary alias Birlangbai [on the "most wanted" list], Bidai Singh Narzary alias Bugdaw, Lohit Basumatary alias B. Ferkw, N. Araibaw alias Ajak Narzary and Durga Sing Basumatary alias B. Khamshaw. One AK-56 rifle with magazine, one 9mm pistol, 25 rounds of live ammunition of 7.62mm pistol, 54 rounds of live ammunition of 9mm pistol and a hand grenade were also recovered.

SFs arrested 'Nalbari platoon commander' of NDFB-IKS "sergeant" Bimal Boro alias Khwobla (26), from Antaibari under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa.

SFs arrested another NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Danswrang Daimary (21), from the Paltan Bazar Police Station area in Guwahati in Kamrup.

SFs arrested eight suspected KLPF militants from Gandhipur in Karbi Anglong District. The five were identified as Biren Ingti, Mohan Terang, Andres Teron, Bizu Teron, John Teron, Babu Teron, Rakesh Ingti and Rup Singh

NIA has revealed that a section of State forest department personnel had teamed up with NDFB-IKS o kill 36 people, including women and children, from the minority community in Assam's Baksa district in 2014. NIA stated that "Some forest officials have joined hands with suspected NDFB-IKS cadres and formed a 30 to 40-member group, who took part in mass killing of innocent people at N.K. Khagrabari village on May 2, 2014, with firearms and sharp weapons like dao (machete)," An NIA source said the forest staff of Bansbari range, who were from the Bodo community, were against people from the minority community staying in the fringe areas of the forest as they consider them as outsiders and because of that they joined hands with NDFB-IKS to carry out the massacre.

Army defused an IED which as kept inside a white gunny bag along with some rags near the Bongaigaon Railway Engineering workshop, in Bongaigaon District. Bongaigaon SP stated that We have inputs that the Independent faction ULFA-I has planned to attack local BJP leaders and grenade attacks might be carried out by IK Songbijit faction of NDFB-IKS in the town on the eve or after Republic Day. As part of these plans, the IED was planted close to the security picket."

A 'section commander' of NDFB-IKS Sirkhung Basumatary, who was involved in the killing of Adivasis on December 23 was arrested at Bangalore in Karnataka. A source stated that he was also suspected to be involved in an earlier incident of killing of Hindi-speaking people.

Four NDFB-IKS militants Binku Narzary alias Birlangbai, Ajoi Basumatary alias B. Buhum, Dilip Basumatary alias Bir Baisa alias Lambu and Khamrei Basumatary alias Udla , who were earlier arrested were shifted to Sonitpur from Guwahati by NIA for detailed interrogation. NIA has registered two cases in connection with killings in Sonitpur and another two in connection with killings in Kokrajhar. A source stated that Binku Narzary, the self-styled 'commanding officer' of the outfit's '13th battalion', and Khamrei Basumatary, the deputy commander of the '14th battalion' of NDFB-IKS, will also be questioned by the NIA in connection with killing of minorities in Baksa district in May last year, which is also being investigated by the central anti-terror probe agency,". More than 40 NDFB-IKS militants have been arrested so far in the ongoing operations

BSF IG Meghalaya Frontier Sudesh Kumar stated that umber of camps of Indian militant groups in Bangladesh has gone down after security authorities of that country launched a crackdown. He also added that there are only 39 camps of Indian militant groups in Bangladesh and most of these camps are located in inaccessible areas of the Chittagong Hill Tract (CHT). He also said that most these Indian militants now do not have any well-mechanized training camps but instead they have set up small sheds from where the insurgents usually operate.

Bangladesh security forces had last year overrun the hideouts of NLFT and gunned down eight of its cadres in Bangladesh CHT. The combined team of army and paramilitary forces arrested a NLFT "commander" Kwaplai Debbarma, 33, alias Karna, from the house of a former All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) 'commander' Jewel Debbarma in Char Mile area on the Khagrachari-Dighinala road. They also recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, which included 263 rounds of ammunition for 9mm pistol, 70 rounds of ammunition for .762 rifles, 11 hand grenades, 17 rounds of rocket-launchers, 19 wireless sets, two very high frequency wireless sets, nine G3 magazines, 1,200 detonators, 18 sets of detonator cable, seven magazines of sub-machine guns, a pistol and a revolver. Number of camps of insurgents was over 100 five years ago.

Shambhu Singh, Joint Secretary for North East in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) stated that a massive security alert has been sounded across North East India after separatist rebels announced a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. ULFA (NDFB) , (KLO) and CorCom had earlier announced their boycott through a joint statement e-mailed to several media houses.

Five NFDB-IKS militants were arrested from Ripu reserve forest area of Kokrajhar. . Three militants has been identified as Daneshwar Basumatary alias B Dapung alias Ustad Laoga Basumatary and Girish Soren. Two pistols and three hand grenades were recovered from Daneshwar Basumatary and two hand grenades and eight detonators with fuses were recovered from Laoga Basumatary and Girish Soren.

Suspected militants of ULFA-I triggered two blasts near Digboi town in Tinsukia District. SP of Tinsukia stated that "While one blast was triggered on the outskirts of Digboi town, another blast took place near a drain in the town. Both were low intensity crude bombs and there is no injury or any damage". Police also recovered an IED from Jorhat town in Jorhat District.

Bangalore Crime Branch arrested B. Sibigiri alias Sanju Bordoloi, 'organising secretary' of NDFB-IKS from Electronic city in Bangalore in Karnataka. NIA Guwahati has sought the custody of Sanju Bordoloi, alias Sibigiri, He allegedly confessed to have participated in the recent attacks in Assam, which had forced Indian Army to intensify its operations in the area.

Police recovered timed IED just hours before the Republic Day celebration in Jorhat. Police recovered the timed IED planted by ULFA-I from the Hatigarh area of Jorhat under Lahdoigarh Police outpost. The IED was later disposed of safely.

Mohammad Sahidul Islam and Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, DCs of Sylhet and Moulvi Bazaar Districts of Bangladesh, stated that Bangladesh and Sylhet division of the county bordering India, in particular, is free from terror activities triggered by JMB. They also stated that NDFB-IKS ULFA-I or any other Indian militant outfit do not have any hideout inside Bangladeshi territory.

CM Tarun Gogoi said that the process of up NRC intended at helping solve the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh to the State will be completed in the current year. He stated that "The procedure devised for updation envisages use of latest information technology and aims at ensuring that no names of foreign nationals find place in the NRC. The NRC will be published in January 2016. He also added that issue of illegal migration has been a matter of serious concern in Assam for long, and updating the NRC was one step towards a permanent solution. "We are committed to detect and deport foreigners under provisions of the Assam Accord [signed in 1985], but there are certain difficulties too. Our government is committed to the imperative of preventing illegal infiltration from across the international borders and various measures have been taken in this regard.

CM Tarun Gogoi further claimed credit for bringing to the mainstream several militant groups through the strategy adopted by his Government in the past 14 years under the Unified Command Structure. "The success has been reflected in SoO agreements with as many as 17 extremist outfits, out of which four have signed MoS with the government," he added.

SFs arrested three NDFB-IKS militants Sarakpur Dhuli Nalah, a remote village bordering Arunachal Pradesh in Sonitpur. The arrested militants were identified as Nitul Daimary alias Naihab, Runilush Daimary alias Mwnthai and Sukson Basumatary alias Jondesh. An AK-47 a Chinese rifle and a hand grenade were recovered from the militants. Nitul Daimary alias Naihab was 'deputy commander' of the outfit's 'third battalion' and was allegedly involved in the killing of former Sonitpur Additional Superintendent of police Gulzar Husain in an ambush at Thaolo under Dhekiajuli police station in Sonitpur District, on January 28 2014.

SFs arrested two militants of the NDFB-IKS in Kusrabari village in Udalguri District Militants identified as Dhananjay Basumatary alias Didum and 'section commander' Sanjay Basumatary alias Jingabil. Two pistols, three hand grenades, four rounds of ammunitions and an ignitor set were recovered from them.

SFs arrested KPLT militants identified as Binit Tokbi and Francis Teron from Dokmoka bus stand in Karbi Anglong. One .22 mm pistol, 10 rounds live ammunition, a magazine and one mobile handset were recovered from them.

In a joint operation Meghalaya Police along with Army and Assam Police, on January 28, arrested finance secretary of a newly-formed militant outfit AJRK as Ramu Sangma.He was arrested from Santipur village in Kamrup District. Police recovered one 9mm pistol, three live ammunition, one notepad, several demand notes, one walkie-talkie, one mobile handset besides AJRK seal from his procession.

GoI closely monitoring the CI operations and has directed the forces on the ground to lay stress on recovery of weapons along with arrest of militants. Meanwhile, for the first time, the militants are feeling the pressure from SFs of Myanmar. Following pressure from India, the Government of Myanmar has moved army personnel towards the area where the militants have their bases. Though a full-scale operation is yet to be launched by Myanmar, the army movement has forced the militants to shift some of their bases.

MHA official stated that stated that more than 70 militants of NDFB-IKS have been arrested since December 23 2014. Sources said there have been reports that some militants gave themselves up in the face of sustained operations. But most of the militants managed to hide their weapons. It is also reported that the militants managed to bury some sophisticated weapons. Also, Bhutan Government is fully cooperating with India in dealing with militancy.

A militant of NDFB-IKS identified as 'sergeant major' Jornaluis Narzary alias Jankla was killed in an encounter with Police at Ripu Reserved Forest under Kachugaon Police Station in Kokrajhar. Arms and ammunition including .65 mm pistol, a magazine, and two grenades were recovered from him. He was a close associate of G Bidai, the 'commander in chief' of NDFB-IKS. He was the main man involved in the killing of schoolgirl Priya Basumatary and was also involved in snatching of weapons from the Eco Task Force in October 2014.

Two NDFB-IKS militants and three OGWs were arrested from Chirang and Kokrajhar Districts. One of the arrested militant has been identified as Sansuma Brahma alias B Susrwn, a Myanmar trained militant. One 7.65mm pistol, two-country made revolvers, crude bomb and two hand grenades were recovered during the operations.

Three UALA militants were arrested during a joint operation by Army and Police near Mechelkhowa area in Goalpara District. Two 12 bore country-made rifles, ammunition, two mobile phones and some cash were recovered.

A 'second lieutenant' Sagar Dutta of ULFA-I was arrested from a hideout near the Assam-Nagaland border in Jorhat.

Deposition and cross examination of Prosecution Witnesses in NIA case against UNLF 'chief' Meghen alias Sanayaima, continued for the second day at the special court NIA Guwahati.

Top bureaucrats of Assam and Bhutan participated in the 10th two-day border District coordination meeting which concluded at the Circuit House in Bongaigaon. The meet among other things discussed law and order in the both sides of the India-Bhutan border. Baksa, Udalguri, Kokrajhar and Chirang, four Districts of BTAD have their borders with Bhutan.

NIA has found that laptops, offered to meritorious students in Assam under a government scheme, were used by the JMB militants in the operations. Sleuths of the agency, who came from Kolkata, recovered an unspecified number of such laptops in the state over the last few days. "The JMB had developed its network through these laptops. The first of these laptops was recovered from a madrasa in West Bengal. Subsequently, interrogations of the arrested JMB members led to the recovery of some more laptops from Assam," an NIA source told the newspaper

BSF arrested two individuals from Badarpur Market in Karimganj District and recovered FICN worth INR 198,500. The arrested individuals have been identified as Salim Uddin Barbhuiya and Aftar Uddin.

NIA found that laptops offered to meritorious students in Assam under a government scheme, were used by JMB in their operations. NIA source stated that "The JMB had developed its network through these laptops. The first of these laptops was recovered from a madrasa in West Bengal. Subsequently, interrogations of the arrested JMB members led to the recovery of some more laptops from Assam

Three persons, including a rickshaw puller and two pedestrians, were injured in a grenade explosion on Sib Bari Road in Hailakandi town of Hailakandi District.

SFs arrested three person linked to KPLT an area commander and two linkmen, in Karbi Anglong. The arrested trio was identified as Munthir Engti, 'area commander' of KPLT, while the linkmen were identified as Horen Teron and David Engti.

SFs have arrested more than 60 per cent cadres of the KPLT. Many small militant groups are operating in the Hill District and these groups are involved in a number of extortion cases."Some of these small groups were formed by former members of UPDS or KLNLF We have managed to arrest 66 KPLT cadres while 11 were killed in encounters in the past year. About 50 cadres are still at large, mostly in eastern part of the district and Hamren. Now But the KPLT now has been split into five groups - KPLT (Buche group), KPLT (Pratap), KPLT (Donri), KPLT (Symbon) and KPLT (Sojong). Some of these groups have six-seven members," Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta said.

ED has recently filed a prayer before the designated court of PMLA in Guwahati seeking physical possession of cash and other assets worth INR 10.3 million recovered from DHD-J and its sympathisers.

Army is facing a tough challenge in tracking down a handful of NDFB-IKS militants who are based approximately in a 15,000 square km area and have mixed among villagers. Intelligence sources said G Bidai, who was behind orchestrating the killings, is believed to have escaped to West Bengal. Some leaders have also escaped to Nagaland. Besides Bidai, the SFs are also in look out for leaders like Batha, Madan and Soha. Army sources said many of the cadres have fled to the foothills of neighbouring Bhutan. Army had set up 80 operation bases on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River to fight the militants. Over 100 to 300 villages are cover by each of the operation base adds the report.

A higher secondary school teacher, identified as Iqbal Rafique , of Tura Christian Girls' School in Meghalaya, was abducted by unidentified militants from Mankachar in Dhubri. The family of the victim later received a call from an unidentified individual speaking in Bengali, asking for a ransom of INR 5 million.

AASU and 26 organisations representing different ethnic groups of the State called upon the Government to prepare a handbook of guidelines for the officers to be engaged in the process of updating the NRC 1951. AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the Government should devise a foolproof mechanism to ensure that no foreign national can get his or her name included in the NRC with false documents.

Movement of Myanmar Army towards the Taga area created panic among the militant groups of the North East, who are taking shelter in Myanmar. Highly placed security sources state that Myanmar Army personnel started moving towards the Taga area on January 18. As most of the camps of the militant groups such ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS are based in the Taga area, the movement caused panic among them. There is no reports of any large-scale offensive against militants in Myanmar so far. The real reason for the movement of the Army is also not known. A source stated that "There is one belief that the operation was aimed against the KIA. However, the possibility of Myanmar deploying the Army in Taga area to send a message to the North East Indian militants also cannot be ruled out as the incident occurred a few days before the Republic Day.

Militants from Karbi Anglong hills killed a rhino at Kaziranga National Park, and engaged in a gun-battle with forest guards. The incident took place near Borgho forest camp under Burapahar range of Kaziranga Park.

Two unidentified militants of DHNA were arrested from Maibong in Dima Hasao.

A suspected ULFA militant identified as Rukmoh Chetia was arrested at Borgaon village in Tinsukia District.

Over 70 NDFB-IKS militants have been arrested since December, after the crack down began against them. , NIA found that among those arrested were at least seven militants, who were wanted for their involvement in the killings in Baksa on May 1 and 2.

Union Minister for Law and Justice DV Sadananda Gowda on February 3 expressed his dissatisfaction with the functioning of the foreigner's tribunals in the State and assured that his ministry would do the needful to make the mechanism more effective, reports The Assam Tribune. He stated that there was a need for more foreigners' tribunals and promised that his ministry would take steps to ensure that the vacancies in the tribunals are filled up at the earliest as the foreigners issue was crucial for the State.

Three NDFB-IKS a militant, including Ringsar Basumatary was arrested from Manas Reserve Forest of Chirang District a combined team of Assam Police and Indian Army. Ringsar who is an active terrorist of the outfit and was recruited in 2010.One 7.65mm pistol, two hand grenades and large quantity of ammunition were recovered.

Two KPLT militants identified as Dineson Terang and Jinong Terang were arrested from Diphu Railway Station in Karbi Anglong District. Police recovered five demand notes of KPLT.

Two unidentified youths were arrested on charges of serving an extortion letter to a businessman at Chandmari in Kamrup Metropolitan District, demanding INR 500000 in the name ULFA.Police stated they were not members of ULFA.

NIA court extended the remand period of NDFB-IKS militant Bikunas Narzary alias Birlangbai, who was arrested on January 19, for 12 days. NIA source stated that "He is an important member of the outfit. Further interrogation will reveal more about the outfit's presence at Manas National Park and in areas along the Assam-Arunachal border,".

16 NDFB-RD cadres joined NDFB-P at Barbari designated camp in Baksa District. This is the third time that the members of NDFB-RD have joined NDFB-P.

A bomb blast occurred at Kazidahar village near Sonai in Cachar District, injuring a 10-year-old boy Zabir Husain Barbhiuya.

Two NDFB-IKS militants identified as Lwmsao Narzary and Sistu Basumatary were arrested from Baksa and 12 KG of RDX was recovered from them.

Fearing human casualty Army and SFs are yet to go full throttle against top NDFB-IKS 'army chief', B Bidai who ordered the massacre of Adivasi villagers on December 23. MHA fear that final assault by the Army in these areas could result in the killing of civilians. A source stated that "These areas are populated and we do not have information about Bidai's exact location. We do not want to rush in forces".

According to a senior Army official, only a handful of the outfit's cadres are left but tracking them down is proving to be a challenge. Security agencies estimate that the cadre strength of NDFB-IKS would be less than 300. The Army has about 80 operation bases on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra and each of these bases has more than 100 villages in the vicinity

Former DHD leaders threatened to stop the ongoing broad gauge conversion and East-West corridor projects in Dima Hasao District for an indefinite period unless a CBI inquiry was conducted into the killing of its former 'general secretary' Rajesh Naidin on January 9.

BSF Meghalaya Frontier IG Sudesh Kumar stated that Bangladesh country no longer has any full-fledged training camp of any militant outfit. He added that BSF BGB are working in close co-ordination and sharing information on a regular basis. "There are 39 vulnerable locations which have been identified by the BSF.

Police arrested Sharif Uddin from his rented house in the Mohanpur locality in Hailakandi District, reports The Times of India on February 9. Police suspect all arrested individuals to have links with JMB.

Police arrested Jahangir Alam Sheikh, a trader from his rented house in the Alakulipur locality of Badarpur in Karimganj.

six individuals identified as Abdul Mannan Sheikh, Ismail Sheikh, Anwarul Sheikh, Ibadul Sheikh, Sharif Sheikh and Noor Alam, were arrested from ward No. 11 of Hailakandi town in Hailakandi District in connection with February 1 blast. All of them were arrested from a rented house belonging to Shahid Husain Majharbhuiya

A militant of DHNA Bishwanath Sengyung was lynched by villagers of Tongikro in Dima Hasao. Four militants entered the village was celebrating Bushu Dima, and assaulted some villagers and when escaping, one of the militants, brandishing a pistol, started firing and a bullet hit a child identified as Bushit Hojai. The villagers ultimately caught them lynched them, leading to the death of a militant and injuring two others. The injured militants are Diboajoy Daulagupu, Kameswar Haflongbar alias Bouring Dimasa and militant identified as Mikar Langthasa, alias Moton managed to escape.

AGP leaders identified as General Secretary Rusvelt Rabha, Purandar Rabha and Ratna Das were arrested for alleged link with ULFA-I, from Goalpara District. All three were SULFA members.

Assam ED Debojit Borah received death threats from DHD. ED had launched a prosecution against some of the top DHD leaders, who are accused of being involved in the NC Hills Scam in a special court on January 19 2015.

A militant of NDFB-IKS identified as Orga was killed in an encounter with joint team of SFs at Fulkumari forest in Kokrajhar District. Kokrajhar Additional SP Surjeet Singh Panesar informed that Orga was a close associate of senior NDFB-IKS militant Rangabaja. One 7.65 mm pistol, two magazines, one hand grenade, 9 live rounds of 7.65 pistol, 10 detonators, one magazine of Ak-47, five live round ammunition of AK 47 were recovered from the dead militant.

Four NSLA militants were arrested on February 9 from Kokrajhar District. Two 7.62mm Rifles and two muzzle loaded guns and huge quantity of arms and other war like material were recovered during the operation.

Army recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from Manas Reserve Forest in Chirag. The recovered items include an IED documents with details of extortions being carried out by NDFB-IKS and details of important and linkmen of NDFB-IKS.

In the previous week, Five NDFB-IKS militants were beaten up by a mob when they had come to extort money during a function in Borsimaluguri village in Baksa and was handed over to Police.

ULFA-I stated that said the "immigrant" tag reflected how people from other parts of the country think about the Northeast Earlier BJP vision document for New Delhi elections had mistakenly printed that people from North East as 'immigrants'.

NRC project is on schedule with the draft NRC to be published by mid-November this year and the final NRC to be out by January 2016.

Pramod Boro, president of ABSU stated that ABSU will keep mounting pressure on the Government to ensure a violence-free society by taking action against all those in possession of illegal weapons. The student body also demanded that the Assam State Election Commission take help from the Central Government to ensure that the ensuing election to BTC is free and fair.

Election to the 74 urban local bodies in Assam passed off peacefully on February 9 with a turnout of 72%

The , 'chairman' of KPLT identified as Donri Kramsa was arrested by a joint team of SFs from Parokhuwa Bazar near Dokmoka in Karbi Anglong. KPLT is the breakaway faction of KLNLF,. with an objective to carve an autonomous Karbi state out of Assam.

Police booked an individual identified as Chandan Kalita under NSA act and took him into preventive custody for 90 days. He was arrested in December 2014 in connection with an abduction case, is an accused in at least six murder, abduction, extortion and arms-related cases.

MHA directed Police and SFs engaged in counter-insurgency operations to continue with sustained operations against NDFB-IKS. MHA also said the forces should not be complacent with the recent success of the operations against the militant outfit as the top leaders of the groups were still at large. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, Chairman of JIC RV Ravi and other officers of the Ministry reviewed the security scenario and the success of operations at a meeting with senior officials of the State Government, Assam Police, Army and the paramilitary forces involved in the operations.

Sources have revealed that 'chairman' of NDFB-IKS, IK Songbijit, commander-in-chief G Bidai and a few others are abroad. Songbijit is in Myanmar, while it is believed that Bidai managed to escape to Bhutan. However, around 40 to 50 hardcore members of the outfit are still hiding in the jungles inside Assam and there is a need to intensify operations in those areas. The meeting also discussed the problem of logistics faced by SFs.

In separate news, though the Army, Police and Paramilitary Forces achieved considerable success in the counter-insurgency operations since the beginning of this year, recovery of the arms of the militants and ensuring security in the "ethnic fault lines of the State" remain a major challenge.

An army source stated that only about 50 per cent of success in finishing off NDFB-IKS has been achieved despite arrest of around 150 cadres and over ground workers. Sources admitted that the top leaders of the outfit are still at large and they are believed to be in the neighbouring states or countries. Moreover, another area of concern is the weapons of the outfit. Though a substantial number of weapons have been recovered, majority of those are small arms as the hardcore members managed to hide the sophisticated weapons and are now moving around with small arms. "It is a fact that the forces managed to recover some sophisticated weapons like AK series rifles and M16 rifles, but majority of the weapons recovered are small arms.

On reports that some militants moved into Arunachal Pradesh, Army sources said that as per provisions of the Disturbed Areas Act, the Army can move into 20 kilometres inside the state and operations are going on in those areas. However, there is need for augmenting the capacity building of Police forces in Arunachal Pradesh.

ASM lambasted the wrong policies of AASU nd categorically stated that if names of those illegal Bangladesh origin citizens totalling 70 lakh in number figure in the NRC as Indian citizens, then the identity of the Assamese people would be at stake.

Demanding inclusive rehabilitation and compensation to Adivasis, who were the victims of the December 23 massacre, activists of AASA All Santhali Students' Union, BCF and ACF militants and the inmates of the Deusri-Santipur relief camp in Chirang District staged a four-hour sit-in demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office at Kajalgaon in Bongaigaon. 29,375 Adivasis of around 90 villages had taken shelter in 19 relief camps in Chirang of who 20,055 had returned to their respective villages after the situation became normal. The rest of the 9,320 Adivasi inmates have been staying in four relief camps in the Deusri and Santipur areas in Chirag District.

Unknown persons travelling in a cycle hurled a grenade at the house of a businessman, identified as Biren Agarwal, in Sepon Market in Sibsagar District, killing his younger brother Situ Agarwal and their driver Dimbeswar Bhuyan. The locals claimed that ULFA-I had recently demanded extortion money from the Agarwal family who refused to make the payment.

ULFA-I militant identified as Bidyut Bikash Khanikar surrendered near Ranghar Sena Camp in Sivasagar District.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh stated that process of recruiting surrendered militants from Manipur and Assam to raise two battalions of CSFs would begin soon, but didn't give any time frame. MHA plan to recruit 750 former militants each to form two battalions in BSF and SSB.

200 gelatine sticks, 230 detonators and a coil fuse were recovered from a Mon bound bus in Bokajan in Karbi Anglong District. Four individuals, identified as Jakir Ali, Durga Bahadur Chetri, Kishor Sing and Ramada Kumar were arrested from the bus by CRPF. They were travelling to Mon in Nagaland to deliver the explosive items to a certain person residing in Mon.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while on a brief visit to Tripura, appealed to the underground groups to shun violence. He stated that GoI will develop the Northeast in 10 years if insurgency comes to an end. He said insurgency remained a hurdle to restoration of peace and development of the region.

Police recovered RDX explosives weighing around 20 kilo grams from Kausi Bazar Prem Nagar village in Kokrajhar.

Three militants of KPLT identified as Birton Timung alias Rock, the 'finance secretary', Hemai Singh Kro alias Mysing, 'auditor', along with Langtuk Rohang were arrested by a joint team of Army and Police from Karbirongsope village, in Hamren in Karbi Anglong. One AK rifle, two pistols along with assorted ammunition, including other incriminating documents was recovered from the militants. The Telegraph further adds that SFs have arrested over 70 cadres of KPLT in 2014 and killed 12.

Security Sources stated that after the operations were launched following December 23 massacre, senior NDFB-IKS leaders who were in Assam , managed to escape. Security agencies involved in operations state that there was a need for a full-scale and well-coordinated operation in Bhutan to nab the senior leaders of NDFB-IKS. Security sources revealed according to inputs available, around 25 militant of NDFB-IKS are now in Bhutan. However, they have not been able to set up camps in the neighbouring country as the security forces of that country are also keeping a close watch on the situation.

Village Headmen (gaon burahs) will be asked to assist villagers to enlist themselves in NRC which is to be updated by January 2016.

Seven KPLT militants including the ‘commander in chief’ of KPLT Sunder Dera  and Danger Ingti , the ‘deputy commander in chief” were arrested in a joint operation by Army and Police from a hideout in the Amring forest area near a hamlet called Tapat, in Hamren sub-division in Karbi Anglong District, after a fire fight. a huge cache of arms, ammunition and other stores that included four AK series rifles, two pistols, one grenade launcher, fourteen magazines of AK rifles, six magazines of pistols, 2,343 rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition, 14 rounds of 9 mm calibre ammunition, dummy rifles for training new recruits and various incriminatory documents like extortion notes of KPLT and money receipts were recovered.

NIA which is probing several cases in Assam in connection with JMB has traced terror links to Pakistan. NIA source stated that MULTA leader Abdur Rahman, who had fled Assam, was traced to Karachi. The ISI helped him to flee the country as they wanted Rahman to command operations in the region from there without any risk. He also added that MULTA and the ISI have been working together to create disturbance in the region. The source said "Rahman was once caught from the Chapori area in Dhubri district in 2009. But he managed to escape. Pakistan appears to be intentionally propping up MULTA so that fundamentalist forces here can be aided. Abdur Rahman is also believed to have close links with ULFA-I.

Assam-Nagaland border area is tense once again following attempts made allegedly some nagas  to build houses inside Assam territory.  According to information, a group of people came to the areas under the B-sector of the Assam-Nagaland border area and threatened the Assamese people saying that they will build their houses in the area. The Naga people came to Rajapukhuri, Romanbasti in Golaghat District on February 16 and asked the Assamese villagers to vacate the land.

Five KPLT leaders were arrested from Lacheng area in Hamren Sub Division in Karbi Anglong District by a joint team of Police and Army. The militants were arrested after a brief fire fight. With this arrest the entire top leadership of KPLT has been arrested. In the last three days 15 KPLT militants have been arrested..SFs recovered one Universal Machine Gun, six AK series rifles, seven pistols, a grenade launcher, 10 pistol magazines, 16 magazines of AK-16, 2,490 rounds of AK rifle ammunition, 31 rounds of pistol ammunition and one Drum Magazine of UMG.

Army expressed hope that it would be able to wipe out NDFB-IKS as operations were on against them after the December 23 massacre. Major General C P Mohanty stated that over 171 NDFB-IKS militants have been arrested so far during continuing successful operations against the group.

‘commander in chief ‘ of AANLA identified as Nirmal Tirkey and four others were arrested by Golaghat Police from an unspecified location. Three of the arrestees have been identified as Padmeswar Ghatowar, Bubai Ghatowar and Sanjay Singh alias Ram Singh. Police said they had taken a group of 30 youths from Assam to Chhattisgarh for Maoists training.

Assam Police and SSB personnel’s demolished six houses built by Naga miscreants in B Sector of Golaghat. 

SFs arrested 4 NDFB-IKS militants from Rangajan village in Sonitpur. The arrested militants were identified as Rohit Narzary, Prosen Basumatary, Asish Basumatary and Rajib Uzir.Biswanath Chariali Superintendent of Police Manobendra Roy told this correspondent that a 7.65 pistol, six bullets, some documents, a few SIM cards and handsets were seized from the militants.

The ceasefire between NDFB-RD and Union Government was extended till June 30. . The decision to extend the ceasefire, which was earlier for an indefinite period, was taken at a joint monitoring committee (JMC) meeting held at Dispur.

Kuki and Adivasi militant groups such as KRA, ACMA, APM, BCF,AANLA,UKDAwhich also took part in the JMC meeting, raised their respective demands. The Adivasi outfits demanded ST status for the Adivasi people living in the State while the Kuki outfit again raised their demand for a Kuki Regional Council in Karbi Anglong district. APM ‘chairman’ Bijoy Sing Lokra, after the meeting, said, “We are hopeful that our demands will be considered by the Central government.” KRA ‘joint secretary’ J Hangsing said, “Our main demand is the formation of the Kuki Regional Council for the greater interests of Kuki people.”

NIA taken over investigation of another case related to the killings of Adivasis by NDFB-IKS NIA had earlier registered four cases in connection with the killings and on February 20, a case (number RC 01/2015) was registered at the NIA's Guwahati Branch office in connection with killings of Adivasis at Pakhriguri village in Kokrajhar District. NDFB-IKS militants had opened indiscriminate fire with sophisticated weapons at Pakhriguri, resulting in the death of five persons and injuries to several others.

Over 200 armed Nagas had encroached on a vast portion of Assam land by cutting down trees at Indrapur village.

A group of armed Nagas burnt down a vast portion of tea garden land at Ronkham in Jorhat District. Locals say that Naga group, comprising Of NSCN-K militants, is still taking shelter in the Ronkham area for a chance to encroach on Assam land.

PVM, an NGO against infiltration said that Assam Government was not doing its bit to tackle the illegal migration issue from Bangladesh.

Anup Chetia, top ULFA leader is unlikely to be deported by Bangladesh till India ratifies the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh.

An IED was recovered from a spot near the boundary wall of the house of an individual identified as Alim Uddin Majumdar in the Barband locality near Hailakandi town in Hailakandi District. Police recovered 100 gram of gelatine and a detonator from the spot.

Assam DGP Khagen Sarma stated that ULFA-I has been carrying out subversive activities in upper Assam Districts with the help of KLO and NSCN He also added that Maoist are also trying to gain a foothold in some parts of upper Assam, particularly in tea growing areas.

Tension prevailed in the bordering areas of Golaghat and Jorhat Districts due to frequent attacks by Nagas on Assamese villagers.

D-Sector of the Assam-Nagaland border at the Merapani area of Golaghat District, process of demarcation of land was carried out in the same area by the Golaghat Forest Division under the direction of the District Deputy Commissioner Nitin Khade.

Police dug out five assault rifles from an undisclosed area under Dhekiajuli Police Station in Sonitpur Distric. he arms are suspected to belong to NDFB-IKS.

NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Habel Basumatary, was arrested from Kachugaon in Kokrajhar District. He was wanted in connection with the December 23 massacre. A 7.65 pistol was recovered from him.He is believed to have been maintaining communication with the top leaders of NDFB-IKS.

NSLA ‘chairman’ identified as Epil Murmuhas, was arrested at Boreo under Sahibganj Police Station in Jharkhand.

All ribes bracketed as “tea tribes” in Assam will not be considered for the status of ST by GoI. Meanwhile, the Centre has started the process of granting ST status to six communities of the State on the basis of a recommendation of a Parliamentary committee. Sources said that after a thorough examination of the background of the tribes, it was decided that among the tribes bracketed as “tea tribes”, only 26 would be considered for ST status added the report.

Three bags of 400 geletin sticks and 8 fuse wire coils were recovered by Police at ISBT in Guwahati.

Based on information provided by the Meghalaya Police Special Branch, Assam Police arrested two GNLA arms suppliers at Jorabat in Kamrup Metropolitan District. The arrested have been identified as Runa Sangma and Biswajit Sangma. One AK 47 rifle with six round and two magazines, 380 numbers of ammunition of 9mm and 164 of INSAS were recovered from the vehicle which they were travelling.

NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Dorjoi Goyari alias doctor was arrested from Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur.He used to provide medical facilities to members of the militant group. INR 50000 was recovered from him.

Anthony Hembrom and Badal Hembrom, militants of NSLA were arrested from Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District by a joint team of Police and Army. A 9mm pistol was recovered from them.

Five KLO militants, two of them carrying Rs 5 lakh reward, surrendered with arms in Kokrajhar District. One HK-33 rifle with magazine, 100 rounds of ammunition and two satellite phones. Those surrendered include the reward-carrying KLO activists were ‘Assistant Organising Secretary’ Hareswar alias Lal Deka alias Jayanta, and 'Commanding Officer' ‘first battalion’ Tiranga alias Ananth alias Birkhang, the other three were ‘Assistant Finance Secretary’ Panchanan alias Bikash and cadres Brajen Barman alias Rajani and Pradip Barman.

GoI has closed its doors for talks with any more militant outfits and the ongoing process of talks with militant groups, which have already signed cease-fire pacts to solve their problems through discussions, will be expedited so that those are taken to a logical conclusion as soon as possible. Highly placed sources in MHA made it clear that the Government was not keen on starting talks with any more militant outfit as enough opportunity was given to them to shun violence and solve their problems through discussions. It was also asserted by sources that no more effort would be made to bring ULFA-I to the negotiation table.

Union minister of state for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in Rajya Sabha stated that GoI had been implementing a scheme for surrender-cum-rehabilitation of militants of North East region, since 1998, reports Nagaland Post. He said under the scheme, one time grant of INR 150000 and monthly stipend of INR 3500 are given to surrendered militants, and in case of Manipur, he said one time grant of INR 250000 and monthly stipend of INR 4000 per militant was given under a special surrender-cum-rehabilitation scheme formulated in 2012. He also added that INR 155.5 million was released to North Eastern States payment of stipend to surrendered militants.

A joint team of Police and Army liquid petroleum cylinder-based IED from railway track at Barigaon near Dudhnoi in Darrang District.

Assam Police arrested a linkman of NDFB-IKS identified as Hakil Narzary from Biswanath Chariali in Sonitpur.

Two unidentified individuals posing as militants of ULFA-I was arrested from an undisclosed location in Jorhat. They were arrested when they had come to collect INR 500000 from a trader.

Over 2000 families whose houses were burnt down during the clashes between Bodos and Adivasis in Kokrajhar District in December 2014 will get INR 50000 each to rebuild their houses.

GoI has sought a detailed report from the State Government over the reports of encroachment on the reserve forests posing a threat to the law and order situation in the State. The Centre has also expressed concern over the encroachment on the tribal belts and blocks in the State. GoI became concerned after  December 23 massacre.

Security sources admitted that the most of the killings took place in the notified forest areas, while the militants involved in the attacks also took shelter in the forests that are now under encroachment. Interestingly, the Government is not in a position to construct permanent Police Stations or roads in the areas notified as reserved forests and the militants are taking full advantage of the situation to take shelter among the encroachers.

SFs arrested an AANLA cadre, Surja Nayak from Santipur in Sonitpur district.

SFs arrested two NDFB-IKS militants from Kokrajhar District The duo was identified as Swmkwr Mushahary alias Sugum and Swmkwr Basumatary.

Assam State unit of Jamiat Ulama has said that it will extend full cooperation to the process of updation of NRC. . “Jamiat has decided to extend full cooperation in preparation of the NRC to ensure that names of illegal immigrants are not included in it, while those of genuine Indian citizens are not excluded,” the statement from Jamiat said. The organization has also decided to help citizens in depositing relevant documents to the NRC staff. The State committee of the Jamiat Ulama has directed all the district committees to form a five-member cell in each ward to help the local people in this regard.

An unidentified militant was killed in a joint operation by police and AR in the Jenamghat area of Dima Hasao District.

SFs arrested two militants and two linkmen of the UPLA at Dilai of Karbi Anglong District. The arrested UALA cadres were identified as Ronard Momin (militant), Singsang Nehang (militant), Nokjir Timung (linkman) and Rajkumar Rajbongshi (linkman). One 7.65 pistol along with some ammunition and incriminating documents were recovered from

SFs arrested three CPI-Maoist cadres from Rupacherra village under Malugram Police Station in Silchar town of Cachar District. The trio was identified as Naren Orang (28), Arjun Orang (20) and Barsing Teron (23). Borah said Naren and Arjun Orang were involved in spreading Maoist ideology while Barsing Teron was a trained Maoist.

Top Nagaland Police and government officials are allegedly occupying land along the disputed stretches of Assam-Nagaland border. Officials from the level of sub-divisional officers to superintendents of police are “owners” of plots in the B Sector of the inter-State border in Golaghat district, according to information with Assam Police.

March 2

Governor P B Acharya stated that Security forces have arrested at least 167 terrorists and linkmen allegedly involved in the serial attacks on Adivasi people in many districts across Assam in the last two months. "Two of their leaders were also killed during the action by the security forces. On the insistence of the state government, the NIA has taken up investigation and registered four cases against the terrorists," Acharya said. At least 81 persons, including Adivasis, Bodos and Bengalis, were killed in serial attacks by NDFB-IKS terrorists, retaliatory violence and police firing across many districts in December 2014.The Government has so far inked 'Suspension of Operation' agreement with 17 extremist groups, of which Memorandum of Settlement agreement have been signed with BLT, UPDS, DHD-N and DHD-J also known as BW, added P B Acharya.

SFs arrested an Over Ground Worker of the NDFB-IKS, Milan Basumatary alias Khununga, from Shimlabagan village in Chirang Reserve Forest area of Chirang district. SFs recovered about 12.5 kilogram TNT explosives from him.

A Kamrup (metro) Chief Judicial Magistrate (Guwahati) granted bail to Sujena Begum, and Jakaria, wife and brother of Sahanur Alom, a key accused in the October 2, 2014 Bardhaman blast case. This comes after Police's inability to file a chargesheet within 90 days of their arrest.  Alom is a JMB operative arrested on December 5, 2014 in Assam.

March 3

Three militants were injured, in a shootout, which took place between Police and NDFB-IKS militants in Sonitpur district.

The Police raided the house of a senior NDFB-IKS ‘leader’ named Mendala in Laizaguri village recovered arms and ammunitions in Chirang district. Police recovered three country made AK-type rifles along with ammunitions and 50 rounds of ammunition and gunpowder from the house. Mendala is absconding; however, Police arrested a linkman of the outfit identified as Markas.

Police arrested of an ULFA-I sympathiser, Bolin Barua (40), from Borbum Nis Khalai Gurguru village under Moranhat Police Station in Sivasagar District. With the arrest of the ULFA-I sympathiser Police claimed to have solved the February 13 Sepon blast case in which two persons were killed in the explosion.

Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Minister for Assam Accord Implementation, in his written reply on March 3 stated that 71,201 foreigners have been detected in Assam since 1985, of whom 38,186 came after 1971 and were found by the Foreigners’ Tribunals to be liable for deportation. Of the total foreigners detected, 2,448 have been deported and 68 are kept in detention centres, while the remaining are either absconding or are dead.

Police arrested suspected MLA militant, Hafizur Islam, from Srirampur under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. BTAD Inspector-General of Police, L.R. Bishnoi, on March 4 that said Islam had revealed during interrogation that the outfit was procuring country made arms from Bihar to kill BPF supporters ahead of the BTC election next month. Bishnoi said the outfit was an offshoot of another armed group - MPTFA - formed after the riots in BTAD in July 2012.

March 4

IG of BSF Meghalaya Frontier, Sudesh Kumar stated that Bangladesh Government has sought access from the Indian Government to allow movement of its SFs to enter inside the rugged terrain of CHT in order to launch a crackdown against Indian rebels in CHT. The IG also added that Indian government was yet to take a call on the request. He also added that there were 39 active camps and hideouts of North East militants in different parts of CHT. Four Indian north-eastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam share a 1,880-km border with Bangladesh.

March 5

One unidentified militant of an unspecified group was arrested with arms from Jatinga railway station in Dima Hasao District.

March 6

An unidentified militant of ASAK was arrested on March 6th, near Damra village in Goalpara District. A .22 mm pistol, ammunition and one hand grenade were recovered from him.

Police arrested a woman NDFB-IKS militant at Rangajan in Golaghat District and seized cartridges of INSAS rifle.

Police are pressing for help from neighbouring Bhutan and Myanmar to arrest top leaders of NDFB-IKS. The ‘chairman’ of NDFB-IKS IK Songbijit, is suspected to have fled to Myanmar, his close associate G Bidai and other top leaders are believed to be in Bhutan. Sources said Bidai, the mastermind of December 23 massacres was last seen somewhere near Thimphu in Bhutan. Minister of state for Home affairs Kiren Rijiju recently said in Parliament that till February 28 this year, 214 cadres of NDFB-IKS have been arrested. Earlier, Security Forces had claimed that the outfit has a total strength of about 270 members. The Security Source further added that "Due to intensified operations against the outfit in Sonitpur, Udalguri and Kokrajhar Districts, NDFB-IKS militants are now trying to seek refuge in Golaghat District in Assam and Dimapur in Nagaland.

ULFA-I demanded an ‘apology’ from Police for detaining the son of Anup Chetia, the ULFA-I's ‘general secretary’ and founder member, for several hours in Sivasagar District.

Clashes along the Assam-Nagaland border have claimed 158 lives since 1972, according to Government records. In the first incident that took place on March 14, 1972, one Assam Police man was killed in a firing by the Nagaland Police in Sivasagar In another land encroachment related incident on January 5, 1979, 54 people were killed and 39 injured in Assam Golaghat.

A senior official of the MHA said that over the past five years Bangladeshi security agencies have arrested 17 top leaders of the insurgent groups banned in India, especially those active in the Northeast. The official said “Several top leaders, including those from Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam, had taken shelter in Bangladesh. Through proactive action, the Bangladesh Government has been extending full cooperation to us in the fight against such groups. During 2009-14, at least 17 top leaders of various groups were arrested, and eight suspects surrendered.”

March 7

Suspected militants belonging to a Naga rebel outfit fired at a Police patrol party along the Assam-Nagaland border in Sivasagar District.

The two-month deadline given by the Central Government to the Police and Security Forces to “finish off” the NDFB-IKS has expired, but the UMHA has made it clear that there would be no relaxing of the operations till the top leaders of the outfit fall in the security net.

The BSS, the apex literary body of the Bodos raised the pitch for expediting peace talks between militant outfits in the state and the Centre. While backing the Centre and state government's operation against rebels who have not yet given up arms, the BSS said the government should find an early solution for the rebel groups it has been holding talks with for years.

March 8

Army recovered an IED, weighing about 15 kilograms, from Patiladaha-Panbari Road Chirang District. The IED was later diffused.

SFs arrested an unidentified MULTA militant from Baijer Alga village in Dhubri District. A 9 mm pistol along with four rounds of ammunition was recovered from his possession.

SFs arrested a suspected NDFB-IKS militant, Manas Swargiwari, from Karibil area in Sonitpur District. A US-made 7.65 mm pistol, its magazine, live ammunition and some documents were recovered from the cadre.

Police, in an encounter, killed the present 'chairman' of UPLF Dhananjay Dalogopu, at Borlangpha in Karbi Anglong. A pistol with an empty magazine and three rounds of ammunition were recovered from him. Dhananjay alias Ratan alias Kala was a former insurgent of DHD Dalogopu took over UPLF's reins following the arrest of UPLF's earlier 'chairman' Gajao eight months ago.

In an email 'information and publicity secretary' of NDFB-PTF S Sanjarang claimed that its 'president' Dhiren Boro alias B Sungthagra, was arrested on the 'false pretext' of attending to an unknown registered case by the Gauhati High Court on March 2.

State's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rockybul Hussain informed that currently eight militant outfits were active in the State, including ULFA-I ,NDFB-IKS,KLO, HuM, MULTA JMB CPI- Maoist.

SFs arrested an unidentified GNLA militant from village Balaikhwar under Lakhipur police station in Goalpara. SFs recovered one 9 mm pistol and two 9 mm live rounds.

Police arrested linkman of ULFA-I Dharmadev Gosai, from Sonari in Sivasagar District in connection with the blast at Sepon on February 13.

BSF arrested an alleged fundamentalist, Ali Hussain in the Indo-Bangladesh border area in Dhubri.

Tarun Gogoi described the modernization of the Police force as the topmost priority of the State Government. Tarun Gogoi, in his budget speech, went ahead on the modernization of Police force scheme proposing steps to fill up all vacant posts of the State Police within the next financial year, including 6748 posts of armed branch constables, filling up of 340 unarmed branch sub inspectors' posts and 340 APRO posts.

To boost the morale of the security force personnel engaged in fighting the insurgents, he said that the ex-gratia grant to the next of kin of the security personnel, including Home Guards, killed in direct encounter has been raised to INR 2 million. In the Government's bid to strengthen the State Police, Gogoi proposed raise in the wages of Home Guards and steps to improve their service condition.

He further proposed enhancement in the pocket money of VDP personnel from INR 500 to INR 1,500 per month. The CM further said that seven new border outposts/forest protection camps have been sanctioned for the inter-state borders with Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Altogether 27 new border outposts/ forest protection camps are proposed to be established in the coming year. The CCTV project in Guwahati will be completed within June 2015, Gogoi said.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in his budget speech in the State Assembly stated that efforts by his government for maintenance of law and order resulted in signing of record 21 tripartite agreements for suspension of operations or Memorandum of Settlements with 21 militant outfits.

SFs arrested two hardcore militants of NDFB-IKS, Bilifang Brahma and Khampu Brahma, from Barshijhar area in Chirang District.

SFs arrested two KPLT militants, 'area commander' Arsek alias Chinthong and Bidya Sing Kro alias Laher along with two linkmen, Prakash Teran and Sarmen Bey, from Umlapher village in Hamren sub-division of Karbi Anglong District. A .9 mm pistol along with five live rounds, two hand grenades (including one Chinese) and incriminatory documents like extortion notes of KPLT and demand money receipts were recovered from the militants.

SFs arrested a MULTA cadre, Nur Ali rom his residence in Dhubri District. A 9mm pistol, four rounds of live ammunition were recovered from him.

SFs have been put on alert to prevent a fresh breakout of ethnic clashes in the Bodo heartland ahead of the election to the BTC which is likely to be held in April.

JMB has managed to send a few bombs from Assam to Bangladesh by taking advantage of the porous international border,. Highly placed sources in MHA told the newspaper that recently security forces in Bangladesh managed to recover a IEDs with information provided by the Indian security agencies.

SFs arrested NSLA militants and a linkman , from Kashiabari village in Kokrajhar. One 7.62 mm SLR with magazine, 20 cartridges of 7.62 mm ammunition, two country-made pistols and a hand-grenade, among other things were recovered from them. One rebel has been identified as Sonyram Soren, the right-hand man of Framjeet, alias Dadiya, NSLA area commander of Kashiabari. The other two are Shivlal Hembrom and Dhub Kisku. The linkman has been identified as Roshan Murmu.

SFs arrested three unidentified militants, including two suspected militants of NDFB-IKS and another suspected MTFA in Kokrajhar District.

NSLA is trying to regroup. The NSLA has been blamed for several kidnappings and extortion drives in Alipurduar and Coochbehar areas of neighbouring West Bengal. An Army official stated that "We have observed heightened activities of Adivasi militants.

The leading citizens of Barak Valley convened a mass convention at Chuto Lal Seth Institute in Silchar District on March 15 to chalk out strategies to fight against the complexities that arise out from the process of NRC.

Border Security Force (BSF-Guwahati frontier) had recovered FICN worth INR 257,500 in 2014. "FICN with a face value of INR 2,57,500 and 7,471 head of cattle worth INR 4 crore were seized while 138 smugglers and illegal immigrants, including 62 Indians and 76 Bangladeshis, were arrested by the BSF's Guwahati Frontier last year," a BSF source said. The Guwahati Frontier of BSF, Headquartered at Patgaon (Guwahati), has three sectors under its jurisdiction - Dhubri in Assam and Falakata and Cooch Behar in Bengal.

SFs arrested, a most wanted militant leader of the NDFB-IKS Roshish Basumatary, alias Jama was arrested from New Alipurduar in Alipurdar District in West Bengal. He was involved in the massacre of Adivasis on December 23, 2014. A source stated that "The operation was conducted with the help of West Bengal Police. The militant was apprehended from the densely-forested Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal," Roshish Basumatary belongs to the outfit's 35th batch of Myanmar-trained cadres.

SFs arrested two militants belonging to NDFB-IKS along with a rifle and ammunition from Hadan Bazar in Chirang District. The arrested militants were identified as Bathiram Goyari, [number four in NDFB-IKS hierarchy] and Selma Owari.

SFs arrested two MULTA militants in Lakhipur area of Goalpara District. SFs recovered FICN with a face value of INR 200,000 and two pistols from the two militants.

The Army recovered two 303 rifles with silencers, two magazines and 17 rounds of live ammunition from Biswanath Ghat in Sonitpur District.

Extortion demands in the northern part of Sonitpur District by different armed groups, including Bodo and Adivasi militant groups, remains rampant in spite of the ongoing Counter-insurgency operations in the District. Militant formations like NDFB-IKS, AANLA, ACMA, BCF, etc remain active in the area. Recently, the chairman of the Eastern Zone chapter of the All India MES (Army) Contractors’ Association, Rajesh Singh and a forest official, Gopal Deka, received two demand notes for huge amounts of money by the AANLA militants under the ‘leadership’ of one Dipen Nayak, adds the report. Rajesh Singh further alleged that many of them had to oblige as the police and the AANLA militants have a nexus.

March 22

Police, during an operation, arrested four KPLT militants from forest area of Koilamati in Chakihola under Bokajan subdivision in Karbi Anglong District. The four militants were identified as Lankiram Terang, Ramesh Ronghang, Jiten Ronghang and Ubeshly Engti alias Amar.

March 23

Police recovered a handmade grenade at Balajan Tinali in Kokrajhar District. The handmade grenade was later defused by Police.

AGP’s legislator Padma Hazarika told the Assembly that NDFB militants were running a parallel government across a large area in the North Bank (of river Brahmaputra) where the State government and the administration had little presence. Hazarika also alleged that there was a nexus between the ultras and a section of the police, and demanded a probe into it.

76 Bangladeshi nationals were declared as illegal migrants by FT since February 2014, State Home Secretary L S Changsan told that the three camps in Goalpara, Silchar and Kokrajhar also house other foreigners who have been convicted by the judiciary on various counts of violation of the Passport Act and overstaying visa grants."There are two types of detainees in the camps. One category comprises those declared as illegal migrants by tribunals, and the other includes people convicted by the judiciary for various violations. The total number of detainees in the camps is 180, out of which 76 have been declared as illegal migrants by tribunals. The number was 68 last February [2014]," the Home Secretary said. Changsan said the number of detainees sent to detention camps by the judiciary is 104, of which 28 are Myanmarese and the rest are from Bangladesh.

Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Rakibul Hussain informed the State Assembly that militant had killed 195 civilians and four police personnel in Assam during 2014.

Hussain informed the House that eight militant organizations are active in the state as on date –NDFB-IKS , ULFA-I, KPLT, KLO, HuM-Assam unit, MULTA, CPI-Maoist and JMB As many as 13 militant groups have declared Suspension of Operation  which include NDFB-PTF, NDFB-RD, ULFA-PTF, AANLA etc. Among the eight active organizations, NDFB-IKS has about 250-270 cadres, followed by ULFA-I with 240 cadres and MULTA with 140 cadres. The remaining five outfits have cadre strength ranging from 70 to 20.

As many as 6082 violent incidents  have been perpetrated by these eight active outfits in the state since 1991 to present, of which ULFA has carried out highest 3632 incidents, followed by NDFB with 2231 incidents. As many as 2059 arms have been recovered from these eight outfits since 1991, of which 1376 belonged to ULFA and 561 to NDFB. No arms belonging to JMB have been recovered yet.

Hussain further informed that as many as 19, 939 leaders and cadres of these eight outfits have been arrested since 1991 till date, with the ULFA accounting for the highest number (14982) of arrests, followed by NDFB’s 4059. No cadre or leader of HuM has been arrested yet.

March 24

SFs arrested a NDFB -RD militant, identified as Deepjyoti Daimari, from Sonitpur District. The militant was arrested for physically assaulting a businessman at Charduar area on March 22, 2015.

March 25

SFs arrested an unidentified MULTA militant at Modati in Kokrajhar District. 

DGP Khagen Sarma said it was possible that some Police personnel might have nexus with NDFB militants on personal level. The DGP pointed out that the department had taken the allegation made by the MLA Padma Hazarika seriously and the officer in charge of Chariduar Police Station in Sonitpur District had already been removed from his post. The DGP also said that NDFB-IKS ultras might try to disrupt forthcoming polls in BTC. The opposition MLA informed that the militants of the NDFB-RD which is now in truce mode with the Government of India, have demanded ‘monthly tax’ from villagers from Bogijulee village under Chariduar Police Station which prompted the villagers to lay siege to the same Police Station on March 22, 2015.

The AAMSU insisted on making the 1971 electoral rolls as the base for NRC update in the State. The students' body even threatened non-cooperation with the exercise of updating the NRC if their demand was not met. AAMSU also demanded that March 24, 1971, should be the cut-off date for NRC update and to fix the definition of Assamese people.

Three OGWs identified as Bodosa Mushahary, Dwinden Basumatary and Dolaharu Narzary of NDFB-IKS were arrested from Jharbari in Kokrajhar. A country-made pistol, two country-made rifles and a hand grenade were recovered from them.

March 27

SFs arrested two NDFB-IKS cadres from Balipara under Charduar Police Station in Sonitpur District.

Three NDFB-IKS militants were arrested, near Kachugaon in Kokrajhar. The arrested militants have been identified as Heita Boro, Ashok Basumatary and Ranjoy Boro alias Lawdang. The militants were involved in extortion and were working as linkmen providing food and ration to NDFB-IKS militants in Ripu Reserve Forest.

ULFA-I militant, identified as Raman Rabhawho was arrested from Gaksha village in Kokrajhar. He had undergone training in 2012 at Durama hills in Meghalaya along with the 4th Batch of GNLA.

Four militants of MTFA were arrested near Kharkhariin village in Kokrajhar. Three pistols and live ammunition were recovered from them.

Due to various terror attacks 413 people died in North East India in 2014. Assam accounted for 168 deaths in 246 insurgency incidents. As many as 144 deaths were at the hands of NDFB-IKS. In the last 3 years insurgent outfits in Assam have killed 242 people including 14 security personnel.

Of the 40 deaths recorded due to insurgency in the state in 2013, 16 were in NDFB-IKS attacks. Comparatively ULFA claimed just three lives while KPLT killed 12.

March 28

SFs arrested four militants of NDFB-IKS from Tharaibari in Sonitpur District. Two of the extremists Brim Basumatary alias Belashi and Superior Basumatary alias Maniraj were involved in the massacre of over 80 Adivasis, Biswanath Chariali Police District SP M D Ray said. The two others were identified as Pohar Narzary and Pratim Daimary.

The process of updating of NRC based on Citizenship Act 1955 and Citizenship Rule 2003, under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court of India will start in Sonitpur District from April 1.

ULFA-I claimed responsibility for the recent killing of an employee of the Shell petrol depot at Aulachowka (Borjamguri) on NH-15 in Darrang District. During the incident on March 27, two motor cycle borne gunmen opened indiscriminate firing at the petrol depot, wounding an employee Manoj Patel. He was rushed to Mangaldai Civil Hospital and later was referred him to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital. According to unconfirmed report, few months back the outfit had demanded a huge amount from the proprietor of the depot as donation to the fund of the outfit.

The state authorities, in response to an RTI application, have replied that the KPLT, an Karbi Anglong District based outfit, was actively involved in the poaching of rhinos and trade of its horns in Kaziranga National Park.

A special NIA court in Guwahati has sent three militants NDFB-IKS to seven-day NIA remand. "The militants were involved in the massacre of Adivasi villagers at Pakhriguri under Serfanguri police station on December 23 and the killing of Hindi-speaking persons at Athiabari, also under Serfanguri Police Station, on National Highway 31 on January 17 last year," Police said earlier.

The Supreme Court pulled up Dispur for "dragging its feet" on the massive influx of illegal migrants by not showing the seriousness with which the matter needs to be dealt with, reports The Telegraph. A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R.F. Nariman directed the State Chief Secretary, Jitesh Khosla, to file a fresh affidavit to explain the measures taken by the Assam government like setting up of task forces to prevent infiltration from across the border. The court also asked the nodal officer of Assam to file a separate affidavit on the status of the NRC.

Some startling facts were revealed in the findings of CAG of India with regards to the function of Police in Assam.

Again, 18 police stations do not have rest rooms for personnel and two others do not even have drinking water facilities. One Police Station in the State is operating from a market shed, another from a private club and a third from a quarter of Public Works Department. The CAG further points out that for combating modern day cyber crime; Assam Cyber Crime Investigation Lab was set up in October, 2013. But the lab remained no-functional till December, 2014 due to the primary requirement of a broadband connection, shortage of equipment; skilled manpower and separate automated power back up.

Not just the lack of basic human facilities, the CAG has also pointed out that 26% of weapons and same percentage of ammunition with the state police force are obsolete. Besides, its existing analog communication system is also vulnerable to easy interception. The CAG states that the objective of establishing the Counter Insurgency and anti-Terrorist Training Schools (CIAT) has not been achieved as the 4,769 personnel, who completed training at these schools, were not trained in night training, underground firing and jungle warfare.

Over 250 militants of NDFB-IKS have been apprehended, and four killed, in an operation launched by the UC after the Adivasi massacre in the State on December 23, 2014. The forces have also recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition.

State Agriculture Minister Rakibul Hussain, on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, informed the house in a written reply that the UC has seized 78 assorted weapons belonging to NDFB-IKS, which include 13 AK-56 rifles, five AK-47 rifles, an SLR, an M16 rifle, a Chinese rifle, an M22 rifle, a .303 rifle, an AK semi-automatic rifle, three HK33 rifles and an INSAS rifle. The findings also include two M20 pistol, 16 7.65 mm pistols, four 7.62 pistols, two .22 pistols, one Mark 30 pistol, nine 9mm pistols, three 65 mm pistols and seven handmade guns. Hussain said three of the NDFB-IKS cadres have been nabbed in Kerala and another three in Nagaland. "At present, there are just a few NDFB-IKS militants at large and the search is on, inside and outside the state," the Minister added.

The UC is also simultaneously searching for illegal weapons in the Bodo areas and has recovered 21 such assorted weapons, 168 rounds of ammunition, six grenades, seven detonators and two crude bombs from cadres of various other outfits in and around BTAD.

SFs, in an encounter, killed two militants belonging to the NDFB-IKS, 'deputy commandant' Sohiasula and 'sergeant major' Ratan, at Lakhipathar area in Sonitpur District.

Two militants of the ULFA-I, identified as Pranjal Bora and Rubul Ali were arrested from an unspecified location. Pranjal Bora, a former employee of a private security agency in Guwahati, had reportedly been working as a linkman of ULFA-I militant Deepak Bora alias Bikram Asom in an extortion drive. Rubul Ali delivered the extortion money to the ULFA-I about one year back.

NIA interrogation of IK Songbijit faction of NDFB-IKS has revealed that Chinese made weapons come to Manipur through the China-Myanmar-India border. According to the interrogation report arms consignments are smuggled from the China border to South Myanmar by the Kachin rebels who hand over the weapons to NSCN-IM in Myanmar. NSCN-IM then passes on the weapons to NDFB-IKS in Manipur which are taken to Assam's Bodoland area, where NDFB operates. Forty six NDFB-IKS militants have been arrested so far by the NIA after December 2014 massacre of tribals.

GNLA deserter, identified as Sengrak T. Sangma alias Bamon Rance was arrested in a joint operation by Meghalaya Police and Army at Arabellapra in Goalpara District. Sengrak is wanted in connection with firing on a CRPF team in 2014. Ramesh Singh, ASP, North Garo Hills stated that "He has confessed to his involvement in the firing at Bolsal Ading village in North Garo Hills, where two CRPF men were injured,". A 9mm pistol, a magazine, two rounds of ammunition and a GNLA pad were recovered from him. ASP also added that he had confessed to being involved with AMEF and ANLA.

Security Forces arrested two suspected members of NSLA at Srirampur in Kokrajhar District.

Union Tribal Welfare Minister Jual Oram announced that six communities of the state would be given ST status within the next four to five months. Making an election statement while campaigning for BJP candidates for the BTC polls in Kokrajhar, Oram said, "I cannot give a time frame but six communities - Koch-Rajbongshis, tea tribes, Tai Ahoms, Morans, Motoks and Chutiyas - will be given ST status in four to five months. The case of ST status to these six communities is lying with me. The group of ministers has already prepared a note. We are changing the modalities of granting tribal status."

SFs killed two cadres of the UDLF-O at Borobasti in South Ratabari in Karimganj District. The dead duo was identified as Narendra Reang (30) and Sishumoni Reang (36). Another militant managed to escape from the site.

Police arrested the 'commander-in-chief' of AANLA, identified as Pipar Dang along with four other members of the outfit, from Dayalpur forest area near Assam -Nagaland boundary, in Golaghat District. The four other arrested AANLA militants were identified as Isaque Bag, Fabinos Surin, Sangphai Lothanaga and a woman cadre Lily Kikone. Police recovered one pistol and ammunition from the militants. Police informed that the operation was carried in specific information to rescue two persons, Mono Karmakar and Amit Dutta, who were abducted by AANLA militants on March 27. The abducted persons were rescued by the Police during the operation. Following the incident, Golaghat Police are planning to send a proposal to the state government to review the ceasefire agreement with the AANLA.

A militant of NSLA-AT identified as Nandu Kisku was arrested. He was arrested from Sapkata in Kokrajhar District.

Security Forces recovered a huge quantity of explosives buried at Dhansirighat near Tulip tea garden in Sonitpur District. According to Sonitpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjukta Parasar, the explosives were buried near a river bank under Dhekiajuli Police Station and were recovered last night. She said the team recovered 75 detonators and other explosive materials from the site and added; investigation was on to ascertain who were behind the matter.

ULFA-I 'chairman' Abhijit Barman alias Abhijit Asom, in an email statement, vowed to continue the armed struggle for a sovereign Assam. The statement was issued on the occasion of the outfit's 36th Raising day.

Security Forces arrested two militants, one belonging to ULFA-I and the other to NSCN-K, from Tinsukia District. Tinsukia SP Anand Prakash Tiwari said the ULFA-I cadre has been identified as Biraj Hazarika of Karbi Anglong District and the NSCN-K cadre as "sergeant major" Kammen Kamlaon from Khonsa in Tirap District in Arunachal Pradesh.

40-seat BTC election saw a turnout of 75 per cent and was by and large peaceful. BTC administers the BTAD Districts of Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang.

Police arrested two persons were arrested with FICN having face value of INR 137,000 in Barpeta District. The arrested duo was identified as Jamaluddin and Tariqueuddin.

SFs arrested NSLA 'area commander' of Gossaigaon area, Lakhiram Kisku alias Surya alias Mathiyas, from Gomna area in Kokrajhar District. SFs recovered a factory made 7.62 mm pistol, few ammunition and other war like stores from him.

With the Government of Myanmar yet to take any action against the militants of North-East, who are taking shelter in that country, the GoI has started working on augmenting security along the international border and a comprehensive border management strategy is being planned. The international border with Myanmar is being guarded by the Assam Rifles (AR) since 2002 as a part of the one border one force strategy of the Government of India (GoI). However, it is often reported that majority of the Assam Rifles camps are located deep inside Indian Territory and the deployment of the force could not check the movement of militants and other anti-national elements. Though there were some discussions about entrusting the BSF with the responsibility of guarding the border with Myanmar, the final decision in this regard is yet to be taken.

Joint Secretary (North-East) of MHA Sambhu Singh stated that AR has sought to increase its strength with induction of new battalions so that more dedicated forces can be deployed along the border with Myanmar. MHA official also added that it may not be possible to construct fencing all along the border with Myanmar because of the terrain. But the Government may go for construction of fencing in the areas where such construction is feasible. He also added that so far, the Government of Myanmar is yet to take strong action to evict the camps of the militants from the territory of that country. According to an estimate, the total strength of Indian militants in Myanmar should be around 2,000.

An IED was recovered by the Army from the house of one Atikur Rahman at Khukundi village in Nalbari District.

Mizoram Police arrested three militants of the Democrats faction of HPC-D, from Ramnagar in Cachar District in Assam. The militants have been identified as, 'army chief' Lalropuia, 'finance secretary' Famhoite Norbar Sanate and Ngurthantluanga Sanate.

Police recovered an abandoned truck from Baihata area in Kamrup District. Sources say that the truck was taken away the truck from Mandakata area by armed militants, on April 13.

SFs arrested an NDFB-IKS militant, identified as 'platoon commander of Chirang platoon' Samar Basumatary alias Sona, from Chetnaguri village in Kokrajhar District. SFs recovered a 7.65 mm pistol (factory made), three live rounds, one hand grenade and other war like stores from him.

September 8

A NSCN-K cadre, identified as Longlaway Shanki, was arrested at Ledo in Tinsukia District when he came to extort money from a businessman.

AR arrested a suspected cadre of PULF, identified as Firoze Khan (28) from Pailpool area in Cachar District. On preliminary interrogation, he revealed that he was a cadre of PULF and surrendered along with others in 2012 before Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Three driving licenses and the surrender slip were also recovered from his possession.

September 9

A NDFB-IKS militant, Biron Narzary alias N. Bapeibai, senior cadre of the outfit and ex-PSO of most-wanted NDFB-IKS militant G. Bidai was arrested from Patabari in Chirang District.

In a separate operation, another NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Swmkwr Basumatary alias B. Sukao was arrested from Sishubari in the Chirang District. Police recovered arms and ammunition from both the militants. IGP L.R. Bishnoi said that the two militants were involved in the December 23 killing of Adivasis. They were also directly involved in the kidnapping of two Bhutanese citizens in September 2002.

Unidentified gunmen fired two rounds at a forest office at Parkup Hill in Karbi Anglong District. There was no injury or casualty reported in the incident. However, Police suspect that KPLT militants could be behind it.

According to reports, the militants of the ULFA-I may target the Borholla oil well of ONGC in Jorhat District and the Hindustan Lever Unit at Doomdooma in Tinsukia District in a bid to create terror and serve extortion notice to the tune of several crores of rupees. An unnamed top intelligence officer disclosed about a probable meeting of ‘captain’ Arunodoy Dohotiya, ‘assistant information and publicity secretary’ of the ULFA-I holding a meeting with another ULFA cadre Rontu Asom somewhere in Nagaland and entrusting the cadre with an extortion assignment in Upper Assam by first carrying out subversive activities that might include bomb blast in ONGC’s pipeline and other oil pumping sites besides hitting at the factory unit of the Hindustan Lever in Doomdooma.

September 10

Two top leaders of the DHD-A,  identified as Sibu Kemprai, the ‘chairman and commander-in-chief’ of the outfit, and Nigam Phonglo, a founding member of the group and a KPLT militant, identified as  Jatong Terang were killed in an encounter with Assam Police in Dima Hasao District Police also recovered an AK-56 rifle and two pistols from their possession.

According to highly placed security sources, the tough stand adopted by the GoI against the militants involved in December 23, 2014 massacre has brought down the level of violence in Assam. Though initially, the operation was aimed against the NDFB-IKS, which was involved in the massacre, the operations seriously affected the other militant groups active in the State. In the past, such operations launched after killings of innocents were not sustained for a long time, but because of the tough stand of the GoI, the operations have been sustained and the force level on the ground has also not been reduced.

Sources said that in the operations against NDFB-IKS, so far, around 30 hardcore militants have been killed, while more than 190 have been arrested. More than 250 sympathisers and overground workers of the outfit have also been arrested. Report said that till May 2015, senior NDFB-IKS leader G Bidai, who allegedly masterminded the December 23 attack, was moving around with around 40 cadres and the strength of his group has dwindled to less than 10 now. They very often get into the Manas National Park to avoid arrest by the SFs. Small groups of NDFB-IKS men are also located in Gossaigaon, Saralpara, Udalguri, Sonitpur, etc., but they are not in a position to come out of the jungles. Abduction for ransom was the main source of income of the NDFB-IKS, but the outfit could not abduct anyone since the operation was launched against the outfit last year.

Sources said that under serious pressure, NDFB-IKS leader G Bidai has sent feelers to the Government through a few NGOs expressing his desire to go for a ceasefire. But the Government is not willing to take the offer. “The Government’s stand on the issue is very clear. If Bidai and any other member of the outfit wants to surrender, they will be arrested and they will have to face the law. There will be no ceasefire with the outfit,” sources added.

September 12

SFs arrested a FICN dealer, identified as Mijanwar Rehman along with FICN worth of INR 3.90 lakh from Malibari village under Boko Police Station in Kamrup District.

September 13

Police arrested an NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Thopsa Narzary (28) from Hagrama Bridge over Aie river at Khagrabari area under Dhaligaon Police Station of Chirang District. SP Chirang, Ranjan Bhuyan said that the militant was directly involved in the killing of Adivasi people in December 23, 2014 massacre and several other kidnapping cases. One 7.65 mm pistol, two rounds ammunition and one hand grenade were also recovered from his possession.

The NDFB-P, in ceasefire and peace talks with the Centre, criticised the BJP-led NDA Government for not keeping its promise on the Bodoland issue. The outfit raised its voice against the Centre's notification allowing "non-Muslims" from Bangladesh and Pakistan to stay in India without valid documents.

The NIA has summoned the ULFA-I chief, Abhijit Asom alias Mukul Hazarika for questioning. The ULFA-I chief, who is currently living in the UK, is wanted in several cases and this is yet another move by the NIA to crack down on outfits in the North East which are derailing the peace process.

The Centre’s interlocutor for Naga talks, RN Ravi said that Assam would not be affected in any way in solution of the Naga political problem. He said that the GoI will give adequate weightage to the views and concerns of all the stakeholders while going for comprehensive solution of the Naga political problem.

September 14

The NDFB-IKS observed its ‘Martyrs Day’ at an undisclosed location. According to reports, KLO chairman Jeevan Singh alias Timir Das, along with other senior NDFB-IKS leaders like IK Songbijit, NDFB-IKS ‘president’ B. Saoraigwra, and ‘general secretary’ B. Ferenga attended the event.

In a statement via e-mail to the media, B. Saoraigwra claimed that the outfit was still strong enough and rubbished the claim of the SFs that the outfit was no longer a strong force after the ‘Operation All Out’. In his address, he said the outfit would continue to work against the illegal immigrants who had occupied the land of the indigenous people, making them a minority in their own land. He said over the years, Bodo and other tribal people had lost their land and had been reduced to landless agricultural labourers.

The NDFB-RD said that the outfit, which was participating in the peace process, wanted solution of Bodoland issue in the political level. The NDFB-RD observed the 27th Martyrs’ Day at Khourang in Udalguri designated camp and North Gandabilw in Chirang District and re- affirmed to make their dream a reality.

The ‘organizing secretary’ of the NDFB, N. Danswrang said the NDFB had been fighting for the right to self-determination since its inception. In the prolonged arms struggle over 3,000 members and well wishers had lost their lives, he said, adding that they were not sitting with folding hands but continuing the struggle for creation of Bodoland through peaceful manner. The Bodo people deserve to live with equal respect and dignity as others do, but the Bodos had been being suppressed and dominated by the government for which they took up the arms struggle, he said adding that they always remembered the members who had lost their lives for the cause of the Bodos. He also urged the GoI to bring amicable solution of Bodoland issue through political dialogue.

In a press release, NDFB president B Saoraigwra claimed that KLO chairman Jeevan Singh is alive and attended the outfit's Martyr's Day programme on behalf of KLO along with leaders of NSCN-K and ULFA-I.

September 15

A plan by NSCN-K to blow up a major bridge in Silchar town in Cachar District connecting the Barak Valley to the state’s neighbouring Dima Hasao District and Manipur was busted after Police arrested four persons along with explosives in this connection. The arrested persons were identified as Mostor Ali Laskar along with his two sons - Afzal Hussain and Azmal Hussain - and another person, Atabur Rehman Laskar. According to sources, acting on a tip-off, Police along with AR recovered one powerful IED along with 52 gelatin sticks weighing 6.5 kg, one fuse wire and a map depicting the sites where the bombs were to be planted. The explosives have been recovered from the house of one Mostar Ali Laskar. The two NSCN-K militants, however, escaped under the cover of darkness, the official said.

Assam DGP Khagen Sarma while talking to media persons at Police Guest House in Mangaldai in Darrang District said that “The people of Assam have realized the original nature and way of functioning of the ULFA and hence irrespective of caste, language and religion, people have lost faith in them and rejected the outlawed outfit which has now been confined to a very small group of frustrated militants”.  Speaking about the activities of the ULFA cadres in Darrang and Udalguri, he said that only three ULFA cadres namely Rajen Deka, Bikram Bora alias Dipak and Ramesh Deka were functioning but instead of taking part in any major operation, the three were hiding in some remote areas.

The DGP also said that “Islamic fundamentalists and other fundamentalist groups are active in Darrang and many other parts of the State. We are keeping a strict vigil on the activities of such fundamentalist groups”.  On the question of recent arrest of a youth from Darrang District in connection with his alleged links with notorious criminal Dawood Ibrahim, he said, “Dawood Ibrahim has massive business networks. There may be some links of the local youth with his business or criminal network but we are more concerned with the terrorist links.”

Assam Police and Army in a joint operation arrested a NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Devendro Narzary alias Selthai from Chirang District. Ten live rounds of AK-47 rifle and two live rounds of 9 mm Pistol were recovered from his possession.

According to reports, the NIA is planning to approach the British Government for information on an Indian-origin citizen who is believed to be the mysterious 'chairman' of the ULFA-I outfit. As part of the Government of India's crackdown on militant outfits in the northeast, the NIA has homed in on one Mukul Hazarika alias Abhizeet Barman, alias Abhizeet Asom general practitioner in the UK. NIA believes he is the chairman of ULFA-I and has been running the outfit since 2011. If this is confirmed by the British Government, the Centre will seek extradition of Hazarika for trial in a case registered by the NIA in Guwahati in 2013.

September 16

Chirang District Police in association with CRPF arrested three suspected ‘jihadists’, identified as Minarul Islam, Bodiul Zamal Sekh, and Zohorul Haque from Daukhanagar area under Dhaligaon Police Station of Chirang District. Chirang SP Ranjan Bhuyan said that they were forming a new jihadist group. He also said that the name of the group from which these cadres belonged had not been found out.

A suspected NSLA militant, identified as William Mardi was arrested from Nalaijhora under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. A pistol and 10 live ammunition were also recovered from him.

Assam Government offered free passage to elusive ULFA-I leader Paresh Baruah if he wishes to visit his ailing old mother at his native village in Dibrugarh District of Assam. Baruah is reportedly shuttling between the outfit's base in Taga area in Myanmar and Ruili in west Yunan Province in China. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said: “If Paresh Baruah desires to see his ailing mother in his native place, the government would consider it on humanitarian ground”. Baruah's mother, 86-year-old Miliki Baruah, has been suffering from old age ailments since last month. She lives with her two other sons and their families at Jeraigaon village in Dibrugarh District.

A day after Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned as a MLA, CM Tarun Gogoi claimed that the UMHA was reluctant to give clearance to the TV channel owned by Sarma’s wife, suspecting that he had links with the banned ULFA.

A 15-year old boy, Kathar Engti was allegedly abducted at gun-point by a group of four armed assailants as the plantation owner failed to meet their extortion demand in the Koilamati area of Bokajan in Karbi Anglong District. Later, the enraged local people launched a massive search operation amid thick forest and busted their hideout, thereby rescuing the captive. The public even nabbed two members of the gang - Prem Munda and Tiru Kumar Rai – and beat them up. The other two members however, managed to flee.

September 17

The DRI arrested a person, identified as Tajmul Sheikh along with FICN worth of INR 1 million from Silpukhuri in Kamrup District. The accused hailed from Malda in West Bengal. Later, he was produced in the court and remanded in judicial custody.

The ‘commander-in-chief’ of ULFA-I, Paresh Barua rejected the safe passage offered to him by the CM Tarun Gogoi for visiting his ailing mother in Dibrugarh District. Barua called up a Guwahati-based satellite channel and described Gogoi’s offer as being “politically motivated”.

Baruah said that if the CM is really interested in humanity, he should have allowed all members of the ULFA safe passage to see their ailing parents or to attend the last rites of their parents. “If Gogoi is interested in humanity, he should force the Centre to withdraw the AFSPA, which is affecting the human rights of the people of Assam for a long time,” he added.

Security agencies have expressed doubts on whether the Chief Minister can legally offer safe passage to the ULFA-I leader as he is charged with several major crimes and an Interpol red corner notice was issued against him.

ULFA-I issued an email stating that Mukul Hazarika, a human rights worker associated with an organisation called Assam Watch, is not its chairman.  It said that Abhijit Asom alias Abhijit Barman is the chairman of the outfit. The outfit’s statement comes in the wake of the NIA claiming that the UK-based Hazarika and Abhijit Asom was the same person.

September 18

Police conducted operations in Daukhanagar and arrested a person allegedly associated with a training camp of a fundamentalist organisation. The arrested person, identified as Md Sayed Mia, led the Police to the backyard of his house from where eight handmade AK Rifles and two handmade INSAS Rifles were recovered. IGP said initial interrogation has revealed that the weapons were being used to train the cadres in the camp busted by Police two days back.

According to an estimate of the UMHA,  the Northeastern states have seen a steady decline in insurgency-related violence in the first eight months of this year (2015) in comparison to the corresponding period of last year (2014) but saw a three-fold increase in casualties of SFs.

According to the report, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram saw a total of 418 incidents of insurgency violence from January 1 to September 15, 2015 during which 115 extremists were killed and 1,453 were arrested. During the same period in 2014, a total of 575 incidents were reported in the seven Northeastern states in which 128 militants were killed and 1,401 others were arrested.

40 security personnel lost their lives till September 15 this year in comparison to 12 security personnel killed in the corresponding period of 2014. There were 182 incidents of kidnapping in the Northeast till September 15 this year in comparison to 250 last year. 91 insurgents have surrendered before SFs so far this year, compared to 170 last year. Higher number of casualties was witnessed in civilians in 2014 when 114 people lost their lives. So far this year, 32 people were killed due to insurgency violence.

The highest number of incidents was reported this year in Manipur which saw 169 incidents in comparison to 278 last year. Nagaland has witnessed 76 incidents this year in comparison to 77 last year while Assam saw 63 incidents so far this year compared to 246 in 2014.

Indian Army and Assam Police launched their biggest operation – ‘Operation All Out’ - against Bodo militant outfit NDFB-IKS, particularly in places close to the international border with Bhutan.

September 19

Assam DGP Khagen Sarma, after reviewing the security scenario in Chirang District said that “We launched the biggest operation against the NDFB militants yesterday (September 18). In today’s (September 19) meeting, we discussed the measures to be taken against them.” The operation against the NDFB-IKS has been launched in areas under the BTAD in Assam. Indian Air Force is involved in ‘Operation All Out,’ operating since January, along with the Army, Paramilitary Forces and State Police to eliminate NDFB-IKS militants.

DGP said NDFB-IKS commander B. Bidai, who was involved in the massacre of Adivasis in December 2014, has gone into hiding. “It is difficult to find out someone if he goes into hiding, particularly due to the forest areas, which works in their favour. But if he comes out and tries to attack the security forces, we are going to catch him,” Sarma said. Some NDFB cadres were still in Myanmar and the SFs were taking maximum precautions so that the militants are not able to enter India, he added.

Lieutenant General Chand said that the operation has been intensified, especially along the Bhutan border, the forest areas of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Sonitpur with the deployment of approximately 4,000 security personnel since January 2015. “As a result of these sustained and surgical intelligence-based operations, 18 terrorists were neutralised, 539 terrorists or overground workers were apprehended, and 175 assorted weapons, 180 hand grenades and seven IEDs were seized,” he said.

An upsurge of Islamic fundamentalism in Assam to avenge violence against minorities in the BTAD has become a challenge for the SFs. Report said that the recent busting of a jihadi training centre and the recovery of arms in Chirang District are the latest pointers to this emerging threat. The training centre was being run under the guise of a martial arts school to escape the prying eyes of security agencies.

“Formation of a new militant outfit called the Muslim Tiger Force of Assam (MTFA) to take revenge for killing of minorities in the BTAD is another cause of concern for the security establishments,” a Police source said. Two MTFA militants were arrested by the army from Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District on September 18 and one 7.65mm rifle was recovered from them.

According to Assam DGP Khagen Sarma, threat from Islamic fundamentalist forces is higher than that from local outfits like the NDFB-IKS because of the former’s pan-Islamic links. Sarma said during investigations into the activities of JMB in connection with the Burdwan blast, it had come to light that some key leaders of Islamic fundamentalist organisations had visited minority-dominated areas in lower Assam. He said the recent arrest of four Islamic fundamentalists from Chirang district has provided some fresh leads about their activities.

September 20

Haibargaon Police arrested a person, identified as Jehiruddin Ali along with FICN of INR 14,000 when a Police team raided a bus at Dhing Road of Nagaon in Nagaon District.

A magisterial enquiry has been ordered into the death of two NDFB-IKS militants on August 29 near the forest of Oxiguri village under Amguri Police Station in Chirang District. The militants were reportedly killed in the exchange of fire with the team of Assam Police, Army and Paramilitary Forces.

NIA officers visited a higher secondary school of Puranigudam area (Nagaon District) in which the alleged present 'chairman' of ULFA-I, Dr Abhijit Axom alias Dr Mukul Hazarika had studied. The NIA team quizzed the headmistress regarding the materials donated by Dr Mukul Hazarika recently to the school. London-based Dr Hazarika had donated some table tennis boards and other materials to the school on the occasion of the school's alumni meet.

Slow progress of talks between the GoI and ULFA-PTF has resulted in growing frustration among the cadres of the outfit. Reports said that under the circumstances, the possibility of a sizeable number of ULFA-PTF cadres switching over to the hardline faction headed by Paresh Baruah ULFA-I cannot be ruled out. The security agencies recently intercepted a few calls of ULFA-I ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah and he also spoke about the possibility of some ULFA-PTF members switching over to the hardline faction.

September 21

Mizoram Police arrested two HPC-D militants at Hmarkhawlien, a small town in Cachar District of Assam inhabited by the Hmar tribe. The two HPC-D militants identified as self-styled ‘sergeant’ Lalchuailova alias LC Hmar and self-styled ‘private’ Reuben Lalromawia have allegedly taken part in the ambush of a MLA convoy on March 28, 2015. The two are also believed to be bodyguards of Lalbiakliana alias Biaka Hmar, who oversaw the Zokhawthlang ambush. The Mizoram Police also arrested four civilians, including 68-year-old H Lala, father of self-styled ‘commander’ Lalbiakliana. The civilians, except H Lala, were later released.

Police, on the basis of intelligence input, arrested a cadre of CPI-Maoist, identified as Khirud Gogoi alias Khagen Bora alias Kiran Bora (33) from Kaki Jabrakhuwa Manjupathar area in Nagaon District, when he was taking shelter in a house. Sources stated that Khirud Gogoi had been working for the Maoist group in greater Kaki areas since 2013 and the Police picked him up when he was taking shelter in the house of Nitul Bora of Kaki Jabrakhuwa Manjupathar area.

According to reports, under tremendous pressure due to sustained operations by Police and SFs, the leaders and cadres of the NDFB-IKS, who are in Assam, sought permission from the headquarters of the outfit in Myanmar to surrender.  This fact came out in the intercepts by the SFs. Highly placed security sources said that the request of the Assam based members of the outfit was rejected by the ‘Chairman’ of the outfit on the ground that as the NDFB-IKS is now a member of the new platform of four militant outfits of the region having bases in Myanmar, it would not be possible for them to allow surrenders.

Sources said that due to the sustained counter-insurgency operations, some members of the outfit, including the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the outfit, G Bidai sent feelers to the Government agencies expressing desire for a ceasefire. But the Government of India has made its stand clear that there would be no ceasefire with the NDFB-IKS and if any member comes forward to surrender, he or she would have to face trial as per the provisions of the law.

September 22

AR and Police, in a joint operation, killed two militants of the newly formed JNB, identified as Hamsen Ardao alias Laden and Maisa alias Mukhesh Porbosa in Dima Hasao District. AR official said that they raided a hideout of the JNB in the dense jungles between Lungting and Hatikhali East of Hatikali village under Langting Police Station. Two militants were neutralised, while the third fled, he said, adding, one AK-56 rifle, three single barrel rifles and one air gun pistol were recovered from the hideout.

Assam CM Tarun Gogoi asked the Centre to resume talks with the ULFA-PTF at the earliest. On September 20, ULFA-PTF ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa had threatened to abandon the peace process and take an “alternative path” if the Centre fails to resolve their problems by November 30. Rajkhowa alleged that he Centre was quite apathetic to their demands raised.

The NIA may take over the probe into the recent busting of a jihadi training centre and recovery of arms in Chirang District in Assam. The training centre was being run under the guise of a martial arts school to escape the prying eyes of security agencies. A Police source said the NIA had contacted Assam Police to know details of the case and a team of officers are likely to visit Chirang shortly in this connection. 

September 23

Army and Kokrajhar Police arrested a KLO militant, identified as Sohen Roy, from Balagaon in Kokrajhar District. A 7.62mm country-made weapon and three live ammunitions were recovered from him.

September 25

Six jihadi activists said to be cadres of the JMB were arrested by Assam Police in back-to-back operations in Goalpara and Chirang Districts. Two activists - Md Soleman Ali (26) and Md Mofidul Islam (28) - were arrested from Lakhipur area in Goalpara District. Acting on revelations by these two activists, Chirang District Police arrested four more fundamentalists from Rajpara village under Amguri police station in Chirang District. They have been identified as Md Nur Hussein (25), Md Habibur Ali (25), Md Mustafa Mondol (25) and Md Malek Sheikh (34). Two country-made AK-47 rifles, two barrels and three mobile hand-sets have been seized from their possession. BTAD, IGP LR Bishnoi said that Police is keeping a close watch on jihadi activities in the State.  "These activists belong to the Islamic terrorist group JMB. They were tasked to set up bases in lower Assam," he said.

The SFs arrested the self-styled ‘commander-in-chief’ of the NDFB-S Rabi Basumatary alias Rongjabaja at Panbari in Chirang District. Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of Indian Army, Assam Police and the SSB launched an operation near the Hakua River at Panbari. During the operation, the SFs arrested Rongjabaja and his PSO identified as Jwnglaw Narzary. One AK 56 rifle, 170 rounds of AK ammunition, 50 rounds of INSAS ammunition and four hand grenades were recovered from their possession. Rongjabaja was involved in the killing of Naryan Barman, the then in-charge of Rupsi outpost in Kokrajhar District on September 26, 2013. Earlier the outfit's 3rd battalion commander, Rongjabaja was elevated as the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the NDFB-S in October, 2014.

September 27

Dhing Police arrested a suspected jihadi, identified as Fajaluddin Ahmed, with arms and ammunition from Tuktuki under Dhing Police Station in Nagaon District. Police recovered a handmade pistol, four rounds of live ammunition and two IEDs from his possession. Sources also said that the youth was under Police scanner for a long time. 

The training camp of a JMB module busted at Daukhanagar in Chirang District on September 18, was opened under the cover of a martial arts training school, investigations have revealed. Chirang SP Ranjan Bhuyan said, the camp was started in September 7. "It was in a preparatory stage. We got a tip-off and busted it," he said. Police have information that there were around ten cadres undergoing training there. However, though Police have arrested ten people so far, all are not cadres. Some were organizers and associates. Investigations have identified one Ashique alias Burabhai of Barpeta District as the main kingpin of the jihadi module. "We are looking for the other cadres who had undergone training besides Ashique," said a senior Police official.

September 28

Two militants were killed in an early morning encounter near Chalibhui village under Mancachar Police Station in Dhubri District of Assam. The encounter took place between a group of unidentified rebels from Garo hills and a joint team of the 7th Jat Regiment of the army and Assam Police. One AK-56 rifle, one hand grenade, one .32 pistol and other items were recovered from the spot. The militants are yet to be identified. 

A militant of the ADF, identified as Mangal Murmu, was arrested from Batabari village in Chirang District of Assam.

September 29

A NSLA militant cadre was arrested from Gurufella in Kokrajhar District.  

Three suspected JNB cadres were arrested from Langting in Dima Hasao District.

Interest in the ISIS and jihadi organizations is on the rise in Assam, which has got the State Police worried, revealed Assam DGP Khagen Sarma. Speaking at a press conference held at the Assam Police headquarters in Guwahati, the DGP said that although no ISIS activity has yet been seen in the State, internet users are frequently making ISIS related searches. No one from Assam has joined the IS so far, but rising interest in the terror organisation is a worrying aspect, said Sarma. “Many people have visited the ISIS websites through Internet and the hits recorded by these websites indicate that it is more than curiosity. It is on the higher side like in Jammu and Kashmir or in Andhra Pradesh,” the DGP said. “We do not have the expertise and equipment to monitor this but the NTRO is monitoring all these developments,” the DGP said, adding the cyber cell of the CID, Assam Police, is also working on it. 

The DGP also said that the Assam Police is striving to increase the ratio of female Police personnel vis-a-vis male personnel. Stating that at present there are 65, 000 personnel in Assam Police, he said, “We have already posted 1,036 female constables. In each Police station presently, at least two female constables will be there.”

September 30

Suspected militants of the ULFA and NSCN-K, attacked Kakopathar Police Station in Tinsukia District, with sophisticated weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, but there was no casualty. Tinsukia SP Mugdhajyoti Mahanta, said, "The militants fired at the police station from near an SBI ATM located about 100 metres away. Personnel at the police station retaliated and went after the militants. The militants fled after firing an RPG which, however, did not explode", adding that no one sustained injuries in the exchange of fire. He said though initially it was believed that there were four militants – two ULFA cadres and two from NSCN-K – possibility of the presence of a fifth militant is not ruled out. “Moreover, there could be a few more who were positioned for ambushes,” the SP said, adding that a manhunt has been launched to arrest them.

Three militants of the MULTA, identified as Abdul Rahim Ahmed (30), Rupchand Ali (25) and Ashraful Islam (35), have been arrested by the troops of BSF from Mahmaya Char in Dhubri District. The trio was arrested by a patrolling party of the 17 battalion of the BSF, while they were smuggling cattle in a boat to Bangladesh through river route. The BSF also seized four cattle.

SFs arrested a NDFB-S militant, identified as Udiyachal Dwimary alias Udangcha, ‘deputy commander’ of the outfit's 13 battalion, from Aie Powali under Runikhata Police Station in Chirang District. BTAD, IGP, L.R. Bishnoi said a joint team of Chirang Police and the 7 Sikh Light Infantry regiment conducted a search operation based on information and arrested Udangcha. A 7.65mm pistol with five rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades were recovered from him, Police said. Bishnoi said Udangcha hails from Salbari in Baksa District. The Police said Udangcha was involved in the Narsingbari killings in Baksa in 2014.

SFs arrested a NDFB-S cadre, identified as Sandhulal Basumatary alias Shakal alias Birkhang Basumatary from Basbari area under Bishmuri Police outpost in Kokrajhar District. Based on information about the presence of militants in the area, the Army and Police personnel conducted a joint operation at Basbari and arrested Sandhulal along with arms. A country-made pistol and three live rounds of ammunition were recovered from him.

The NIA arrested an NDFB-S cadre, identified as Amal Mushahary alias Aogoi, who was allegedly involved in the attack on Adivasis at Pakhriguri in Kokrajhar District on December 23, 2014. An NIA source said when the operations against the outfit intensified in Assam, he fled to Alipurduar in Bengal, where he was later sent to jail for committing a petty crime. "Recently, during interrogation of some other NDFB (S) militants we came to know that he was the district jail at Alipurduar in Bengal's Jalpaiguri district and after that we formally arrested him in our case and brought him here yesterday," the source said. He was arrested in case number RC 01/2015/NIA registered at the Guwahati branch of the agency on February 20, 2015, in connection with Pakhriguri attack in which five persons, including two children, were killed. Amal was the personal secretary of the outfit's military commander-in-chief G. Bidai, who allegedly masterminded the Adivasi massacre. "Today, an NIA team recovered two hand grenades, seven live ammunitions and one magazine of 7.65 pistol from his house at Kokrajhar based on Amal's disclosure. He was involved directly in the Pakhriguri massacre of Adivasis at Pakhriguri in Kokrajhar District," he said.

Describing the militants in the NE States as the “greatest destabilisers”, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called upon them to shun violence, which he said was the only factor holding back the progress of the region. “I am directly sending messages to the militants that if you are thinking of taking up arms and achieve something you are wrong. You are causing harm to your own people and you are the greatest destabilisers. “You are a trouble for your own region, not other region,” Rijiju said while addressing students at Lady Sri Ram College for Women at the DU in New Delhi. Appealing for peace, Rijiju said that violence is the only factor that is holding back the progress of the region, which otherwise has everything that could make it a great destination of India. “North East is really beautiful region. Once we remove the violence from the region I can tell you it is the place to be. Only thing is we need to secure the place and once peace prevails prosperity will follow,” he added.

October 1

Assam DGP Khagen Sarma said anti-talk groups from the ULFA and NSCN-K have entered the state to conduct subversive activities and added that both these outfits were behind the attack on the Kakopathar Police Station in Tinsukia District on September 30. Police were on the alert to foil attempts by these outfits to carry out their evil designs, Sarma told media persons on the sidelines of an Assam Police Day celebrations function at Kahilipara in Guwahati city. “The ULFA and NSCN-K cadres wanted to attack in a big way but quick retaliation by an alert police force made the militants flee,” the DGP said. “We have seen ULFA and NSCN (K) cadres come together in the recent past,” Sarma said referring to the formation of UNLFW by the ULFA, NSCN-K and some other north-eastern militant outfits. 

The NIA has learnt that the NDFB-S which carried out the Kokrajhar attack at Assam was planning more strikes in the state. Following the arrest of Amal Mushahary, the NIA raided his home and recovered a cache of arms. During the raid that was conducted, the NIA recovered two hand grenades, seven rounds of 7.65 calibre along with one magazine of same calibre. The NIA has also learnt that Amal alias Aogoi had played a major role in the killing of the tribals at Kokrajhar in Assam in the month of December 2014.  The NIA says that Amal was in a senior leadership position in the NDFB-S as head of internal intelligence, finance member and also Personal Secretary to outfit’s military chief G Bedai. Amal told the NIA that he was with Bedai and ‘deputy military chief’ M Biban alias Batha along with 40 other cadres in the jungles bordering Bhutan after the massacre of 23rd December 2014.

Police arrested a CPI-Maoist leader, identified as Aditya Bora alias Baba (41), from his hideout at Khakandaguri under Dergaon Police Station in Golaghat District. A team, led by ASP Numal Mahatta, during the raid, also arrested two of Bora's associates, Uttam Hazarika (25), and Binanda Bora (21). Some demand notes and ammunition, including a 9mm pistol and 12 cartridges, were seized from Bora, a science graduate and a resident of Betoni Gaon in Dibrugarh District. Mahatta said Bora, who was the secretary of Indian Student Association (Leftist), formed an organisation, the UALC, affiliated to the CPI-Maoist, after he came in contact with Bipul Chakrabarty, a resident of West Bengal and founder of similar outfits. "The Upper Assam Leading Committee operates in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Today's arrest is a major success in the anti-Maoist effort," Mahatta added.

October 3

In an operation in Kokrajhar District, a Myanmar-trained militant of the NDFB-S was arrested along with a pistol and live rounds of ammunition. The militant has been identified as Bikash Borgayari and was involved in subversive activities in the past.  

In a joint operation at Guwabari area, in Kokrajhar, five militants, identified as Aminur Islam, Nijam Ali, Ainuddin Mondol, Najir Hussain and Nur Hussain, belonging to MTFA were arrested. Five rifles and live ammunition were recovered from them.  

In an operation in Goalpara District, Army and Police arrested three GNLA militants. The militants were identified as Cheg Cheng Marak, Lahen Marak and Singsi Rbat. Three pistols and some ammunition were recovered from them," Lt Col Newton said.

October 4

27 AR arrested one NSCN-K militant, identified as Langbong Paw (41) while conducting routine vehicle checks in Madhura bridge point on VIP Road near Rangpur in Sivasagar District. The AR officials recovered incriminating documents related to the terror-module from his possession.

NDFB observed the 29th Anniversary at an NDFB designated camp at Sonai near Udalguri town in Udalguri District. During the anniversary programme the NDFB supremo, Ranjan Daimari informed that since 1986, around 3000 NDFB ‘soldiers’ were killed and many were taken away from their home without trace leaving behind their wives as widows and their children as orphan besides many parents as childless.

Ranjan Daimari also said that ”We participated in several rounds of talk with central government in the last ten years, but no solution come till date”, adding, “If the Indian government repeatedly betrays the demands tabled by the NDFB then the outfit might be compelled to re-consider the ongoing peace talk”. “The demand of separate state of Bodoland is not only for the Bodos’ but for the all round development, peace, unity and integrity of the whole communities residing in the proposed separate state of Bodoland”, Daimary said.

NDFB will have a peace talk with the Union Government on October 9.

October 6

In a joint operation, Army of Boko Camp and Assam Police recovered one IED, 5 kg in weight, two detonators and two gelatin sticks from the house of one Abdul Malek of Chutara village under Jorsimulu Police outpost in Chaygaon in Kamrup District. Police arrested two persons, identified as Abdul Malek and Aksad Ali in this connection. Later, a bomb squad from Guwahati defused the IED at Chaygaon Police station.

Nagaon Sadar Police along with CRPF personnel recovered a weapon called ‘Red Signal’ from Barhampur Adarshagaon in Nagaon District. According to the sources, some MGNREGA workers saw the weapon at first while they were working in the area and informed it the local Police station. The Police later on confirmed it as Red Signal.

Police arrested a surrendered ULFA member, identified as Bastab Gogoi from Sonari town in Sivasagar District for allegedly having links with ULFA-I.

Maoist leader Aditya Bora, who was arrested on October 1, had floated the RPG to get training from the NSCN-IM. Police sources said the NSCN-IM had refused to give training to Maoists. Hence Bora tried to get training for Maoist cadres operating in Upper Assam under the cover of RPG.

Interrogation revealed that Bora was also the key liaison person between Maoists and the PLA of Manipur and would sent Maoist cadres for training to Manipur and Nagaland, the sources said. According to the sources, Upper Assam Districts are becoming a hotbed of Maoist activities. While arms training of its cadres take place mostly outside Assam, political training is imparted to them in Upper Assam itself, report said.

October 7

The Army and Police in a joint operation arrested an NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Maidee Basumatary (26) from Kaurbaha village under Tamulpur Police station in Baksa District. Two hand grenades, four detonators, two fuse wires and some extortions letters were also recovered from his possession. Maidee, who hails from Nakhuti Laxmigaon village in Golaghat District, told the reporters that he joined the NDFB-RD in 2007 and was trained in Myanmar. He was associated with NDFB-IKS in 2012. Maidee was operating under ‘captain’ Abki Basumatary in Sonitpur District. He was involved in extortion cases in Golaghat and Sonitpur Districts besides in Nagaland. He sneaked into Baksa District a few days back, report said.

CRPF in coordination with Lakhipur Police arrested 5 persons belonging to the Hmar and Lushai tribes along with 100 detonators from the Fulertal area of Hmarkhawlien in Cachar District. The arrested persons have been identified as Langsangzuala (58), Chualanga (32), Sangrelinba (24), Nehakulin Lushai (35) and Chuala Hmar (27).

The Zeliangrong Baudi Assam, the Zeme Council Assam and the Mathai (Village Chief) Council Assam, have submitted a representation to the ‘Ato Kilonser’ (Prime Minister) of NSCN-IM urging for the creation of a separate District known as ‘Haflong District’ with its headquarters at Haflong, mainly for the Zeliangrong Nagas along with the minority communities under the new administrative system that may be created through the Framework Agreement with the GoI.

The joint representation urged for “special attention for inclusion and integration of our land and people to that of Nagalim.” “Irrespective of any circumstances or technicalities that may arise during the political settlement process, the organisations expressed hope that Zeliangrong areas shall be treated as a single territory and no part of it will be left out in the process of integration of Naga areas. It further asked that the Zeme Nagas of the NC Hills remain intact and bound to the remaining Naga areas as a single administrative and political unit.

October 8

An NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Thopsa Basumatary alias B Onsai was killed in an encounter with Police in Mazbat area of Udalguri District of Assam. IGP L R Bishnoi said that “based on tip-off regarding movement of NDFB-IKS militants, a team led by Udalguri SP Bir Bikram Gogoi conducted an operation during which a fierce exchange of fire ensued with a group of NDFB-IKS militants at River Rowta near Rowta Gate, under Mazbat Police station.” In the gun-battle, one militant of NDFB-IKS's '43rd' batch died of bullet injuries, while others fled under cover of darkness, he said. One 7.65 caliber pistol with magazine, four rounds of 7.65 caliber live ammunition, two empty cases of 7.65 caliber ammunition and two mobile handsets were recovered by the Police from the encounter site. Search operation was on to apprehend the escaped militants.

Police on arrested a suspected ULFA-I linkman, identified as Netra Bonia in Sonari town in Sivasagar District.

The Maoists are trying to gain foothold in the North-East again and they are getting ‘wide’ range of allies’ form rhino poachers of Kaziranga to the NSCN-IM which recently signed a peace deal with the Centre.

The startling facts came out during interrogation of top Maoists leader of Assam, Aditya Bora, who was arrested on October 1. Police sources said that Bora alias ‘Baba’, was a most wanted in Assam Police list. He was the founder of the Upper Assam CPI-Maoist and used to take direct instruction from CPI-Maoist Politburo member Prasanta Ghosh alias Kishan Da.

He also revealed that after most members of the CPI-Maoist who operated across the state, including in lower Assam, Upper Assam and Barak valley region were arrested between 2012 to 2014, and he was busy reorganizing the group. He himself created a sleeper cell and got fresh recruits. It was not possible for him to send out the recruit for training to Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh due to scaled up operations. As such he was asked by the top leadership to float a ‘shadow’ organisation named RPG.

Police sources further added that the RPG then established contacts with the NSCN-IM, so that it can get its new recruits trained in Nagaland. The CPI-Maoist already had an understanding with the RPF of Manipur and Bora tried to send his cadres across the border to the RPF base at Sagaing division of Myanmar, sources added.

October 9

An NDFB-IKS cadre was arrested from Bongaigaon in Bongaigaon District.

CM Tarun Gogoi urged PM Narendra Modi to restore the Special Category State status for Assam and other North Eastern States. In a letter sent to the PM, Gogoi also sought the PM’s intervention for a change in the funding pattern of the Centrally-sponsored schemes. “Change in funding pattern of the Centrally-sponsored schemes has retarded the pace of development in the State,” he said.

In a first-of-its-kind initiative, civil society members from Assam and Nagaland met at a ‘Naga-Assamese Round Table Towards Strengthening Friendship and Fraternity’, unanimously called for a permanent mechanism to continue the dialogue process between the two neighbours.

October 11

An NDFB-IKS linkman, identified as Sombaru Basumatary was killed by militants of the outfit during an encounter with SF that busted their camp in a dense forest in Chirang District. IGP L R Bishnoi said that a joint team of Police and CRPF's CoBRA unit busted the NDFB-IKS camp inside Manas Reserve Forest under Panbari Police Station in Chirang District. Acting on a tip off, the Police arrested Sombaru from Amlaiguri village and during interrogation he confessed to supplying ration to the NDFB-IKS' camp and agreed to take the force to the spot. As the security personnel approached the area on foot through dense jungles, the militants started firing on them from automatic weapons and one of the bullets hit Sombaru who was in the front showing the way, Bishnoi said.

Security personnel and NDFB-IKS militant exchanged fire for 15 to 20 minutes before they escaped taking cover of the dense forest. Police then found a temporary camp and preliminary investigations revealed that NDFB-IKS ‘vice chairman’ G Bidai along with six militants - Bidai, Batha, Jarimin, Birbai, Jwetwn and Jewthi - had been staying there, the IGP said.

From the camp, Police recovered 45 rounds of AK ammunition, 19 rounds of M-16 ammunition and other household items.

SF recovered an IED from the residence of Polen Rabha of Khar-khari village in Kokrajhar District.

A former militant leader and an elected member of Dima Hasao District Autonomous Council, Mihir Garlosa alias Jewel Garlosa was arrested by Police from his rented residence in the city in connection with a murder case registered against him in 2008. A Police source informed that the former ‘self-styled chairman’ of now disbanded DHD-J, Jewel Garlosa was arrested in connection with Langting Police station (in Dima Hasao Hill District) case in connection with murder of one Bijon Haflongbar, a former cadre of DHD-N.

E-155 battalion CRPF arrested two persons, identified as Yein Pai and Singhong Konyan along with explosives at Bokajan check post (Cement Corporation of India factory) in Karbi Anglong District. Police sources said that the duo was travelling in a bus (NL 11-2388) from Dimapur. During the routine check, CRPF personnel seized 250 gelatine sticks, 600 detonators and 60 meters fuse wire reportedly being smuggled by the duo, Police added.

According to sources, the Government of Myanmar is yet to launch an offensive against the militants despite repeated promises.  During his last visit to New Delhi, the Chief of the Myanmar Army had promised to strengthen the presence of the Army along the areas bordering India.

Sources said that according to inputs available with the security agencies, there was some movement of Myanmar Army personnel along the international border areas in the month of August. Though the Army personnel did not launch any operation, the movement created panic among the militants. The security agencies received some intercepts of communication of the militants, which proved that they were apprehensive of strong Army action and some militants even tried to shift weapons from the camps to comparatively safer places. But the additional troops sent to the bordering areas reportedly went back without launching any operation against the militants.

Sources said that life is not easy for the militants, particularly those belonging to the ULFA-I and the NDFB-IKS as the outfits are facing severe financial crunch.

Security sources said that the ULFA-I is making desperate attempts to launch extortion drive, particularly in the upper Assam Districts. But the militants are not getting enough funds to sustain in Myanmar. The people who received extortion notes from the ULFA-I are not willing to pay the demanded amount any more, forcing the outfit to negotiate the amount and there were occasions where they were forced to accept even small amounts, sources added.

The situation is even worse for the NDFB-IKS and the outfit has reportedly gone into heavy debt as the flow of funds has been totally squeezed. The main source of income of the outfit was kidnapping. But after the massive crackdown launched against the outfit in December last year (2014), NDFB-IKS was not being able to indulge in any kidnapping.

According to information available with the security agencies, at least 200 cadres of the NDFB-IKS are staying in the camps in Myanmar, including two batches of new recruits. The outfit is not in a position to send them to Assam, while, the leaders are finding it tough to sustain the camps in Myanmar. Facing severe financial crunch, the NDFB-IKS militants are now engaged in cultivation near the camps in Myanmar. Sources, however, admitted that both ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS do not have shortage of weapons and they may resort to selling of arms and ammunition to other militant groups in near future.

Former militant leader of now disbanded DHD-J and an elected member of Dima Hasao District Autonomous Council, Mihir Garlosa alias Jewel Garlosa who was arrested by Assam Police on October 11 was granted bail by a local court in Dima Hasao Hill District.

Tinsukia SP Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta has denied reports about the surrender of ‘chief lieutenant’ of Independent faction of ULFA-I, Jiban Moran, which appeared in a section of the media.

Demanding exclusion of non-Bodo majority villages from the BTAD and protesting against creation of a separate Bodo State, Aboro Surakshya Samittee is taking up a series of agitation programmes. The spokesperson of the organisation, Jogeswar Kalita, in a press release said that at the time of sealing the BTC Accord, more than 800 villages were illegally and undemocratically included in BTAD. Though, as per the Accord, the villages with less than 50 per cent Bodo population could not be included in BTAD, but the same was done by supplying false reports and records at the time of preparing the model for the BTAD, he alleged.

The spokesman also said that the non-Bodos of over 800 villages have been subjected to harassment and exploitation. “They are not only deprived of the Government welfare schemes, but their culture and languages are also under threat,” he added.

Armed with sophisticated weapons, a large number of Para-military and state security personnel would be deployed in Tripura and Assam for the Durga Puja festivities beginning next week, officials said. “The BSF has been asked to maintain a close watch on the India-Bangladesh border to ensure that the festival is free of any untoward incident,” Tripura’s IGP Nepal Das said. “Counter-insurgency operation against the outlawed militants would be intensified by Assam Rifles, CRPF and the Tripura State Rifles in the terrorist prone and hilly areas,” Das said. He said intelligence networks have been activated and police pickets and mobile and foot patrolling will be conducted.

Security was tightened further in southern Assam, dominated by Bengalis and people from other northeastern states. “Besides strengthening of normal security, movement of trains will also be monitored in southern Assam,” a Police officer said at Silchar, one of the main commercial cities in southern Assam.

Life came to a halt following the 24-hour BTAD bandh (strike) called by various organisations from October 13 morning, demanding restoration of tribal land that is now owned by "outsiders".

A joint team of the Army and the Police launched an operation and arrested an NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Joytun Narzary alias Jaila in  Kokrajhar District. A 7.62 mm pistol with some ammunition was recovered from his possession. Narzary was trained under NDFB-IKS’s top leader Batha along with 180 other cadres near the border with Arunachal Pradesh. He was allegedly involved in last December’s attack on Adivasi villagers in Sonitpur and BTAD, a Defence spokesman said. Narzary was said to be hiding in West Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat and Bangalore for the last nine months to escape arrest.

A KPLT militant, identified as Tiger Ke-up alias Joy Tisso was arrested from Disoma near Manja in Karbi Anglong District by Assam Police and SF. One .22 pistol, two rounds of .22 live ammunition, 15 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition and one mobile handset were recovered from the militant. This hardcore militant had fled from Diphu Jail few months back along with three KPLT associates.

Assam Police have sounded alert over the militant threat to disrupt ISL football matches to be played in Guwahati and tightened the security in and around the venue. Guwahati city Police Commissioner Mukesh Agarwal informed that there had been intelligence inputs about possible attempts by some militant groups to disrupt ISL matches which, he said would be held under tight security in the city. He said alert had already been sounded over the militants’ threat and Police and SFs were working round the clock to hold the matches without any hitch in the city.

Assam CM Tarun Gogoi has issued instruction to the Police force and the law and order maintenance machinery in the state to take all possible steps to enhance security of people and property in the state during the ensuing festive season that starts with celebration of Durga Puja.

ABSU staged a 12-hour national highway blockade demanding early creation of separate state of Bodoland on the lines of Telangana to ensure protection and all-round development of Bodos under articles 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution.

One person, identified as Hitesh Kalita was arrested while trying to palm off a FICN of INR 100 at a shop in Moran in Dibrugarh District.

The ABSU blocked the NH for 12 hours demanding early creation of a separate state of Bodoland on the lines of Telangana to ensure protection and all-round development of the indigenous people of the state. The blockade was supported by NDFB-P and People's Joint Action Committee for Bodoland Movement.

Two persons, identified as Joti Prasad Roy alias Jone and Matleb Hussain alias Monowar Hussain were arrested by Assam Police for alleged offence of extortion in the name of KLO.  According to Police sources INR 5 million was demanded from a businessman Arup Saha, a resident of Senpara of Dhubri town (Dhubri District) in the name of KLO.

During the 12-hour NH blockade programme undertaken by the ABSU and other supporters at Rowta Chariali in Darrang District, the ABSU threatened that it will not sit idle till the Centre concedes to their rightful demand and grants a separate homeland for the Boro people along the northern belt of the Brahmaputra.

The organizers of the mass movement, ABSU, PJACBM and the NDFB-P in a press release after the blockade hinted at intensifying their democratic movement if the Government failed to respond positively to their call.

The UNLFWESEA, a newly formed platform of four militant outfits of the North-east region, is trying to rope in at least nine more outfits of the region into the platform to launch a united struggle against the GoI. So far, four outfits of the region – NSCN-K, ULFA-I, NDFB-IKS and the KLO - are the constituents of the platform and efforts are on by the leaders of the Front to rope in other militant groups of the region to increase its strength, report added.

ULFA-I ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah said that two Meghalaya-based outfits, GNLA and HNLC, have already expressed their desire to join the common platform. He said that the formal process of these outfits joining the new outfit may be completed within this year.

Baruah pointed out that seven militant outfits of Manipur have already formed a common platform called the CorCom and they are likely to join the new front. Six outfits of Manipur are ready to join the Front immediately. “But we want the entire CorCom to join us. They have some problem with one of the constituents and we are hoping that they can settle their problems soon so that the entire CorCom can join us. We are expecting that the seven outfits of Manipur will be joining hands with us within this year,” he added. He also said that one outfit from Tripura would also be joining the front soon.

Baruah admitted that SS Khaplang, the NSCN-K chief and ‘chairman’ of the new front, is under pressure from different circles to resume the peace process with the Government of India. However, he said that Khaplang has not taken any decision to resume the peace talks with the Government of India. He also said that Khaplang would not come for talks with the Government in the near future.

Two suspected NLFT cadres, identified as Kamalesh Jamatia and Manoj Koloy, and a leader of Meghalaya-based outlawed group, UALA, were arrested at Balukdupi under Basistha Police Station in Kamrup District of Assam. Although Kamalesh, a dreaded NLFT cadre, surrendered before Police way back in 2011, he went to jungle once again. Kamalesh’s arrest by Assam Police has virtually confirmed his close association with the outlawed NLFT and UALA. Manoj, who used to stay in Assam and Meghalaya, is a well known arms dealer.

Two persons, identified as Sorowal Ali and Akhidur Mandal were arrested in connection with the abduction of a person on September 4 from Lakhtokia in Guwahati. The abducted person was rescued by the Police. Acting on the case filed in this connection, the Police arrested five kidnappers earlier.

Ahead of the Assam Assembly elections next year, the Centre may sign a peace accord with ULFA-PTF to bring an end to the nearly four decades of insurgency in the north-eastern state. According to reports, hectic parleys have been going on between Central Government’s interlocutor P C Haldar and the ULFA faction led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa almost every week for an amicable solution to the group’s demands after it threatened to walk out of the talks if no solution comes by November-end.

The peace accord may not be ready by November-end but UMHA is making efforts to finalise it well before the next year’s assembly elections. “Efforts are on to achieve a breakthrough soon,” Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said.

October 19

Police arrested six persons, suspected to have links with a Pakistan-based racket, along with FICN worth of INR 210,000 from Gorchuk and Paltan Bazar areas in Guwahati. Based on intelligence reports, a joint team of the crime branch and city Police arrested Sudhir Sarkar, a resident of Chaipara village in Malda District (West Bengal), Paban Sarma, Pobitra Sonowal, Bastav Sonowal, Pradip Gogoi and Ankur Borah.

Maoists are planning to make fresh recruitments, especially targeting the age group of 12-year-olds and above as they are running short of manpower in Assam, according to sources in the SFs. The Maoists have chosen the festival season to scout for youths from tea garden areas and ethnic groups in the tea belt for recruiting them into the insurgent fold, the sources said. They are also planning to recruit youths through their allies by sending details through WhatsApp about the youths’ education, family background and location, the sources added.

According to sources, though the recruitment drive started a year back, the process has now been speeded up due to shortage of manpower in the Maoist camps as two batches after their 18-month training in Jharkhand and Odisha are ready to arrive by January 2016. In the belt along the Brahmaputra, short documentary films are loaded in 1GB/2GB mobile handsets so that the impressionable boys of age 12 to 13 years are influenced and brainwashed to join the Naxalite movement, said the sources.

The seven Upper Assam Districts of Dhemaji, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Golaghat have borders with neighbouring hill States, while the belt along the river is a breeding ground for Naxal activities, the sources mentioned.

The Police are on their toes in the State, including Guwahati, so as to ensure that the ongoing festive season passes of peacefully. Report said that the Police have to go an extra mile with the deployment of paramilitary forces and its reserved forces, keeping an eye on the sense of communal intolerance wafting across the country. These apart, according to a top-level Police official, during such festivals insurgent groups like the ULFA are on the lookout for soft targets. “We’re ready to face every eventuality. We keep in touch with the district administrations. Special watch is being maintained in places like Dhubri, Hojai in Nagaon, Barpeta, Barak Valley etc., where the possibilities communal uprising are always high,” he said.

October 20

Police arrested two persons, Timon Fanso and Joysing Dey, for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Hiranya Bora, ASI of Diphu Police station in Karbi Anglong District, two months ago. However, Bora is still untraced.

Police arrested a militant of newly founded Rajesh Chorky faction of ULFBV, identified as Torasen Riang alias Jhon Chorky from Joynagar area in Nagaon District. Police recovered one AK 47 and 6 live rounds of bullets from his possession. Police sources said that during interrogation the accused revealed that he was formerly a cadre of BNLF and surrendered in the year 2006. But, he was now a member of the newly founded Rajesh Chorky faction of ULFBV. Rajesh Chorky is the ‘chief finance secretary’ of the barely 3 month old ULFBV. At time of apprehension, Torasen Riang was badly assaulted by the local public. He had come to the area for collecting money from the locals to carry out subversive activities of the terror outfit.

October 21

A hardcore militant of ULFA-I, identified as  Dipak Bora alias Bikram Asom was killed by SFs at Uttar Borpukhuri village under Kalaigaon Police Station in Udalguri District. According to report, Killed militant joined the banned outfit in 2000 and served as a ‘self-styled sergeant major’ of the outfit. He was considered to be one of the hardcore militant after the killing of ULFA leader Bosa Singh in 2010. The Darrang Police earlier had announced a cash reward of INR 2 lakh for providing information about Dipak Bora. A laptop containing vital information of the outfit, two pistols along with several rounds of ammunitions, several cellular phones with SIM cards were also recovered from his possession.  The slain militant was reportedly involved several killing.

October 22

Assam Police and CRPF personnel, in a joint operation, arrested two linkmen of ULFA-I, identified as Ridip Neog alias Bijoy Moran and Minali Gohain along with and a cache of arms and ammunition from Kakopathar area of Tinsukia District. One M-20 pistol, two rounds ammunition, one bottle grenade, one motorcycle and two mobile handsets were recovered from them.

The Army and Assam Police in a joint operation arrested a RVA militant, identified as Mupan Rabha from Kokrajhar District.  One 7.62 mm Pistol with some ammunition, 40 live rounds of AK 47 and 5 kg RDX were recovered from the militant. The explosive and ammunition were being taken by the militant for subversive activities. Some extortion notes also recovered from his possession.

Assam Police arrested a wanted ULFA-I militant, identified as Naba Rabha, from an area near Krishnai in Goalpara District. Police also recovered explosive items and two detonators from him. Rabha is believed to be a Myanmar trained militant of the outfit and an arms runner operating in the Assam-Meghalaya bordering areas.

A suspected GNLA militant was killed in an encounter with the Police and one Policeman and one militant were injured in Goalpara District of Assam. District SP Nitul Gogoi said, on getting information about militants coming to Damra to kidnap an individual, Police launched an operation to arrest them. On seeing the Police, the two militants travelling on a motorcycle fired at them in an attempt to flee, Gogoi said. In the exchange of fire, the extremist was killed and his associate along with the policeman were injured, he said. A pistol was recovered from the slain militant, Gogoi added.

An encounter between SFs and the militants of ULFA-I occurred in Noloni reserve forest in Pengaree in Tinsukia District. However, no casualty has been reported. SFs recovered an IED, magazines, torch lights, blankets and jackets from the site. According to sources, following the encounter with the SFs, the militants managed to escape but the SFs are confident of desirable result soon as the entire green belt has been surrounded by SFs.  Latest reports confirmed encounter followed by intense combing operation and various significant developments in the reserve forest.

The Kokrajhar Police arrested two extortionists, identified as Krishna Debnath and Utpal Pandit for trying to extort money from a contractor at Harigaon by identifying themselves as NDFB-IKS members from Basugaon town of Chirang District.

Police arrested a woman, identified as Asheda Begum, along with FICNs worth of INR 6,000 from Kanimara village under Mancachar Police station of Dhubri District.

Following the recommendations of the NHRC, the Assam Government has paid INR 4 million as relief to the families of six persons who were allegedly killed in separate Police encounters between 2010 – 2011.

A militant belonging to NDFB-IKS, identified as Pankaj Brahma, was arrested from Dimruguri in Kokrajhar District.

SFs arrested four militants belonging to NDFB-IKS from Daoraighabnai under Runikhata Police station in Chirang District. The arrested militants were identified as Rajeev Basumatary alias Mwrgwng, allegedly involved in the attack on adivasis in December 2014, Hitesh Narzary, Mohanto Narzary and Antho Narzary. A 7.65 mm Pistol, some ammunition and two grenades were also recovered from them.

Kheroni Police and CRPF team, during a search operation, arrested a KPLT linkman, identified as Dhon Timung (25) from Deuri Tinali under Baithalangso Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. The Police said that he was closely associated with earlier arrested KPLT ‘vice-chairman’ Longbi Timung and Borkiri Timung alias Babu Phangso, ‘second lieutenant’ of KPLT.

The General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi reviewed the security scenario in Lower Assam and the counter-insurgency (CI) operations. After visiting the forward locations in Tawang Sector, Bakshi visited Rangiya- based Red Horns Division accompanied by Lieutenant General Sarath Chand to review the overall security situation prevailing in Lower Assam and also to get a first-hand feel of the ongoing operations against the terrorist groups.

According to reports, he was given a detailed briefing on the ongoing counter-insurgency and counter- terrorism operations in Lower Assam, with a specific update on the current operations being undertaken against NDFB-IKS post the December 23, 2014 violence against the Adivasis.

One person, identified as Raheswar Ray (56) was abducted by unidentified militants at Tirimari beside Champa river under Basugaon Police Station in Chirang District.

The Guwahati city Police recovered a vehicle along with a huge cache of explosives and arrested three persons in this connection from Khanapara in Kamrup District. The explosives contain 20 cartoons of gelatin sticks and 30 cartoons of detonators. The three arrested were identified as Uddhav Das (driver), Munin Deka and Jitu Baishya. However, the main accused managed to escape.

To commemorate the tragic serial blast of Oct 30, 2008, the All Assam Students’ Union will observe the day as ‘A Day Against Terrorism’ on October 30. In this regard, the organization will organize prayer meets at various places and will pray for those who lost their lives on the fateful day.

A joint team of Police and CRPF personnel arrested a militant belonging to NSLA, identified as Karna Luis Murmu from Gossaigaon town in Kokrajhar District.

Army and Delai Police arrested one person, identified as Denial Terang along with three grenades from 10 mile general area of Delai in Karbi Anglong District.

In an operation, Kheroni Police and CRPF arrested a suspected linkman of KPLT, identified as Dhan Timung (25) from Deuri Tiniali village in Dhemaji District, while he was traveling in a motorbike.

Suspected cadres of the NSCN-IM abducted a local contractor of Natun Lonkhai village under Mahur police station in Dima Hasao, identified as Sangjeulungbe Panme from Hajaichak village in the night.

Four youths, who had demanded money at gun point from some teachers who are staying in hostel in Fakirganj of Dhubri District, were arrested.

The Central agencies warned the Assam Government about the possibility of the militants belonging to the NDFB-IKS indulging in poaching to ensure survival of the members of the outfit in the face of severe financial crunch.

Highly placed security sources said that the security agencies recently received a disturbing input about the possibility of the militants belonging to NDFB-IKS indulging in poaching and the input was immediately shared with the Assam Government and all the forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations.

Sources said that according to the input, the NDFB-IKS has gone into heavy debt in Myanmar as the flow of funds from Assam dried up following sustained operations against the outfit. The NDFB-IKS has not been able to pay the debts to the NSCN-K for using the facilities of the outfit in Myanmar. Recently, the NDFB-IKS leaders requested the NSCN-K to provide some weapons, but the request was denied because of the failure of the outfit to repay the outstanding debts.

The Myanmar Army has started patrolling along the international border though no offensive has yet been launched against the militants of North East, who are taking shelter in the territory of that country.

According to reports, Members of ULFA-I are being given lessons during their recruitment training to be "friendly and helpful" towards villagers in order to regain the trust of the people. In his confessional statement to Police, ULFA-I militant Lakhyajit Moran alias Moina alias Tushar who was arrested in Tinsukia District on October 16, said the outfit is attempting to win back public support. Moran is now in judicial custody.

Four youths, who were arrested for demanding money at gun point from some teachers were produced before the Dhubri judicial magistrate and sent to jail, said Police.

SFs arrested a NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Kamakhya Daimary (23) from Basbari in Kokrajhar.

One NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Bidyaram Brahma (30) was arrested from Baksa.

The abducted a local contractor of Natun Lonkhai village, Sangjeulungbe Panme was released in the morning. However, Police said they are yet to receive a FIR in connection with the kidnapping but the incident had come to their knowledge and they were investigating it.

Thousands of students and youth observed a massive satyagraha in Kokrajhar District to protest against the Union Government’s decision to allow Hindu refugees from Bangladesh and Pakistan to stay over in India even after the expiry of their visas.

Police recovered a suspected IED from a house in Borbaruah Bolai Road under Borbaruah Police Station in Dibrugarh District. According to a source, the IED was kept in a fruit bag.

A bomb disposal squad from Dergaon diffused a low-intensity IED at the residence of palmist-astrologer Kanahayalal Saha of Barbaruah in Dibrugarh District.

Police arrested a linkman belonging to the ULFA-I, identified as Kishore Baruah, who had gone to collect money on behalf of the outfit, from Balipara area in Sonitpur District. The linkman claimed that he was ULFA-I ‘commander chief’ Paresh Barua’s nephew and was assigned to collect money for the outfit, Sonitpur SP Sanjukta Parashar said

Assam DGP Khagen Sarma said that the Barak valley has been used continuously as a safe corridor by militant groups. Sarma said that different militant groups had been importing arms and weapons to Assam from Myanmar and Bangladesh via the three Districts of the Barak valley - Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi.

The DGP, who held a meeting with the police officials of Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Dima Hasao Districts in Silchar, said a few years ago, the NDFB and ULFA had also used the Barak valley as a safe passage to bring arms from the neighbouring countries. According to him, the arms are being imported mainly from Myanmar to Mizoram and then these are carried to the Barak valley.

Sarma, however, said the law and order situation in the state had improved a lot. He added that 13 different militant groups were currently in a ceasefire mode after having signed SoO agreements with the Government. Asked about the presence of Maoists in the valley area, Sarma said the Maoists had been trying to spread their base in two or three tea garden areas, but the Police were keeping a strict watch.

The NSCN-IM is allegedly carrying out extortion in Dima Hasao District of Assam in violation of the truce with the Centre. According to sources, a group of NSCN-IM militants is still active in certain areas of the district bordering Nagaland and running extortion drives from its temporary camps located at Baladhan village. Dima Hasao shares a 46km border with Nagaland.

An Assam Police team is expected to take custody of the ‘chief commanding officer’ of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Dimga alias Lidion Basumatary (34) who was arrested from Kakkodi Mukku in Kozhikode District of Kerala on November 2.

The NIA has initiated the process to gather relevant information to seek the extradition of Dr Abhijit Asom, ‘chairman’ of the ULFA-I, who is believed to be living in the UK. Highly placed official sources said that all the relevant information about the ULFA-I ‘chairman’ would have to be gathered before seeking his extradition and the process of doing that has started.

Sources said that the first step would be to get the real identity of the ULFA-I ‘chairman’ with enough documentary evidence. Sources said that according to information available with the security agencies, a UK-based Assamese doctor, Dr Mukul Hazarika is the ULFA-I ‘chairman’ Dr Abhijit Asom. But that has to be established with adequate documentary evidence before seeking his extradition from the UK. However, ULFA-I has always been claiming that Dr Mukul Hazarika and Dr Abhijit Asom are two different persons.

The Diphu Police arrested five KPLT militants, identified as Moni Ram Rongpi, Bharat Timung, Francis Milik, Rohit Ingti and Ericson Teron from different locations in and around Diphu town in Karbi Anglong District. Sources said that the militants were attempting to kidnap a businessman of Diphu town and on getting the information about the presence and the motive of the KPLT outfit, the Police jumped into action and arrested the militants from different locations in Diphu town and foiled their kidnapping bid. Police also recovered one .22 pistol, one 9mm pistol, one 7.65 pistol and nine  live ammunition along with four mobile handsets, four SIM cards and two torch lights from their possession.

The NIA named six militants of NDFB-IKS in the latest chargesheet filed by it regarding December 23, 2014 massacre of adivasi (tribal) villagers in Kokrajhar District. Top NDFB-IKS militants Keshab Basumatary, Jemson Narzary, Tupil Borgoyary, Prahlad Narzary alias Mandela, Samar Basumatary alias Sona and Pradip Swargiary alias Doctor, were named in the NIA chargesheet. All of them were arrested this year (2015) and are currently in judicial custody.

Sentiments of all communities in Manipur and people of neighbouring States of Nagaland would not be allowed to hurt by the Naga Peace Accord, Centre’s interlocutor for Naga talks, RN Ravi reassured. Ravi’s trip to Imphal, Manipur aimed at clearing the air concerning the framework agreement signed between the GoI and NSCN-IM on August 3. Ravi assured the leaders of social organisations that the Naga Peace Accord would not disrupt the interests of all communities as well as the territorial boundaries of neighbouring states of Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

SFs arrested two hardcore cadres of Adivasi Dragon Fighters (ADF), identified as Habil Murmu (founder and ‘self-styled commander-in-chief’ of the ADF) and Vijay Baski along with arms from Jogendrapur and Picha Dabri under Saraibil Police outpost of Gossaigaon subdivision in Kokrajhar District. The arrested militants were involved in various incidents of extortion and abduction in the area. A country-made riffle, one pistol, two live bullets, three magazines and some incriminating documents were recovered from their possession.

Assam CM Tarun Gogoi said that Islamic militants and Maoists are active in the state but his Government was keeping a strict vigil on their activities. "Islamic outfits, Maoists and all other insurgent organisations are trying to create trouble in the state but we are vigilant," Gogoi said. He asserted that containing insurgency was the "single-most achievement of my three terms in office but there are several forces trying to destabilise the state and its development".

Gogoi claimed that militant groups like NDFB-IKS and ULFA-I have been considerably weakened with most of its top leaders either eliminated or captured. "The outfits, earlier active in the state, have been thoroughly marginalised and now they are trying to merge together and organise themselves," he said.

Acting on a reliable intelligence, a team of Army along with Police launched a joint operation and arrested a Myanmar-trained hardcore cadre of NDFB-IKS, identified as Bengal Davrao alias Sansuma alias Susrwn along with one 7.65mm pistol with two live rounds from Shimaluguri village in Udalguri District. Bengal Davrao is a listed cadre of NDFB-IKS and was out of District for the last few months. Davrao is one of the most dreaded names in the Udalguri platoon of NDFB-IKS and is wanted in many firing and extortion cases under Bhergaon Police Station.

Assam Police arrested a hardcore Maoist leader, identified as Mahendra Orang, a resident of Jharkhand from Patni tea estate under Patharkandi Police Station in Karimganj District. Mahendra along with three others had taken shelter at Patni tea estate few days back. During the past few days, he had meeting with some tea estate labourers to persuade them to join Maoist movement, sources said. However, three of his companions managed to escape from the tea estate, sources added. Sources further said the Maoist leaders had embarked on a mission to expand its base in tea estates in Barak Valley and Tripura. And, they had a plan to visit some tea estates in the state to influence tea labourers.

Assam DGP Khagen Sarma said that jihadis are posing serious threat to the north eastern region. “Jihadis are posing serious threat to the north east. As fundamentalist groups are more dangerous than other outfits we have been monitoring the matter very seriously and taking every possible initiative to combat the threat,” Sarma said.

DGP Khagen Sarma also urged ULFA-I ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah to come forward to join the mainstream as there is no example in the world where war or terrorism has resulted in anything positive.  “Baruah’s process will not solve any problem of the region and he should come forward for talks,” he added.

The ULFA-I sought China's 'friendship' to help attain 'sovereignty' in Assam for the first time. ULFA-I ‘chairman’, Abhizeet Asom, who the NIA believes to be a London-based general practitioner named Mukul Hazarika, said in a statement, "China is our next-door neighbour. Despite Indian occupation of Nan Zang (south Tibet), China is trying to maintain status quo for the sake of peaceful coexistence. At the same time, it remains ambivalent on the plight of indigenous Assam, except occasional voicing by Chinese citizen in support of Assam's legitimate claim in print," the militant leader said.

Referring to the 1962 India-China war, the ULFA-I leader said the People's Liberation Army had not set foot on Assam soil and he is amazed at China's respect for Assam. "Since then, I have been observing China closely and, in my best judgment, I have not seen any enmity towards Assam yet. In absence of enmity, building friendship should be easy. But, without taking a first step, there won't be any progress. The watershed moment has arrived for indigenous Assam to prompt us to build that friendship with China with confidence. We sincerely hope that China will put forward the hand of friendship towards Assam without hesitation." The militant leader said his outfit had taken note of the fifth All India Tibet Support Group meeting in the state on November 2 and 3.