Date

Incidents

January 1

A surrendered NDFB cadre, identified as Darendra Basumatary was killed and another injured in a clash among the group at the outfit's camp at Sudempuri in Kokrajhar town in Kokrajhar District. Police said Darendra Basumatary died on the spot when he was shot by another member of the camp, Rakesh Brahma, after a fight. According to SP S.P. Sarma, Rakesh Brahma was arrested along with arms later.

According to sources, at least 31 militants were killed and over 766 arrested by SFs in 'Operation All-Out' in the state over the past one year. The Army launched the operation to flush out rebels of the NDFB-IKS after the militants gunned down over 69 Adivasis on December 23, 2014. The operation, which completed a year, is still on. The security situation in the state in 2015 was grim in the aftermath of the mass killings of Adivasis. The scars of the May 2014 killings of 46 Muslims were yet to be healed. Relentless operations resulted in significant improvement of the security situation in the state, with the seizure of more than 443 firearms and many arrests, said Defence PRO, Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton.

The Army also claimed that most terrorist groups, including NDFB-IKS and KPLT had gone on the back foot with their activities severely curtailed. "This was achieved through synergistic intelligence-based joint operations of the Army, Assam Police, Central Armed Police Forces and coordination with the state administration," the defence statement added. The Army made sure of community development initiatives to meet the aspirations of BTAD by organizing events such as the BTC Army Goodwill Football Premier League to provide a platform to local youth to showcase their talent. The Army said it will facilitate the success of upcoming events in the state, including the SAF Games and the assembly election.

A Tura-based businessman, who also handles transportation of FCI materials for Garo Hills, identified as Nanhelal Shah was abducted from near Gairong village under Krishnai Police Station in Goalpara District. The trader, who has residences in Krishnai and Mendipathar in North Garo Hills, had gone to a friend’s house for a New Year party when he was picked up the kidnappers. According to Police sources, the abduction could be the handiwork of the ULFA.

Security was stepped up at Army and air force installations located in the northeastern region in the wake of the terrorist attack at an Air Force Base at Pathankot in Punjab. The northeast, which is surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China, on all sides, barring a chicken-neck corridor towards north Bengal, is a strategic defence area. The seven states in the northeast house many Army cantonments and air force bases. The Eastern Air Command of the IAF is located in Shillong in Meghalaya.

Army sources in the region said that forces guarding defence installations in the northeast are already on a high alert as the region is an insurgency-affected area and shares borders with four countries. Security was also beefed up at LGBI airport in Guwahati as it is located adjacent to the Borjhar air base. Defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton said that along with other SFs in Assam and the entire region, are deployed on a counter-insurgency/terrorism grid and are always on a high alert. "We are always prepared to effectively contain any such untoward incident," he said.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi appealed to insurgents to join the mainstream and take part in dialogue to solve their issues. “I appeal to those who are outside the mainstream to give up the path of confrontation and adopt conciliatory posture by joining the peace process to usher in durable peace and faster economic development in the state,” Gogoi said in a statement. He said the gusto with which the people celebrated New Year points that peace and stability have returned to the state despite attempts by certain forces to disturb peace. “Assam is on the path of peace, development and social harmony. Though the state has surged ahead on various fronts, it has still miles to go,” Gogoi said.

UHM Rajnath Singh visited Karimganj sector of the India-Bangladesh border in Assam and said the porous border will be sealed this year. The Minister, who reviewed the fencing project at Steamerghat, expressed his satisfaction at the progress of the work. He said, two major issues that were stalling the project - protests by locals whose properties would be affected by the fencing and objection by BGB in certain patches - have been resolved. Along with the fencing, the installation of flood lights will also be completed this year. "Security measures have been tightened and this has resulted in drastic reduction in cross border crimes and also infiltration from that side of the border," Singh added.

January 4

UHM Rajnath Singh admitted that there are "gaps" in the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam and that managing a riverine border is a tough challenge. The Minister visited the Dhubri sector of the border with AASU leaders and assured that two pilot projects on how to stop infiltration in riverine areas are going on and depending on the success of these two projects, steps will be taken. "It is a 263 km long border. But gaps are there and these need to be filled up. Covering the riverine stretch is a problem. We hope measures can be worked out depending on the findings of these two pilot projects, which are likely to be completed soon," the Minister said addressing a press conference. Rajnath Singh, however, added that he was not "entirely satisfied" with the sealing work, though he did not specify any details.

After the joint border visit with UHM Rajnath Singh, the AASU submitted a memorandum clarifying its stand of not accepting any illegal foreigner entering the State after 1971. AASU leaders Dr Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya, Dipanka Kumar Nath and Lurin Jyoti Gogoi discussed several lingering issues with the Minister that included implementation of the Assam Accord, border security, constitutional safeguard, economic development, and the status of illegal migration post 1971. Two memorandums were submitted to the Home Minister in this regard.

A team of Army personnel, along with Police representative from Khoirabari Police Station in Udalguri District launched a joint operation and arrested two hardcore cadres and one linkman of NDFB-IKS. The arrested cadres were identified as Raju Daimary and Rikhang Daimary. Raju Daimary was also involved in numerous extortion cases and heinous crimes in Udalguri and Chirang Districts. Both the cadres were in the lookout list of Udalguri and Chirang Police. On questioning Raju Daimary and Rikhang Daimary, NDFB-IKS linkman, identified as Shankar Dutta was arrested from Misahatkhola village in Darrang District. A grenade and five money receipts of extortion and three mobile phones were also recovered from their possession.

The GNC, GWC and Garo youth Council asked All Rabha Students’ Union and All Rabha Women Council not to interfere in the internal matter of the Garo people of Assam, stated a press release. They said that Garo leader AG Momin in no way involved in the 2011 Garo-Rabha ethnic conflict as alleged by Rabha organizations.

January 5

ULFA-PTF opened an office in the Hatigaon area in Kamrup District. The office was inaugurated by the outfit's ‘chairman’, Arabinda Rajkhowa.

Police arrested two persons identified as Ramen Barman and Rameswar Saikia, the masterminds behind the abduction of a small-time businessman Hazrat Ali, who was abducted on December 29, from Tulsibari under Rangia Police Station in Kamrup District. According to Police, Ramen Barman of Shahpur and Rameswar Saikia of Suwapur, both under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa District, abducted Ali at gunpoint in a Tata Sumo, identifying themselves as NDFB-IKS cadres and wearing SSB uniform on the evening of December 29 when Ali was returning home from his shop at Tulsibari under Rangia Police Station in Kamrup District.  Police said the abductors along with another associate took Ali to Lotibari under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa where he was kept in the house of Saikia elder sister.

January 7

The SSB and Police, in a joint operation, arrested a militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Nirmal Basumatary (27) from Rangjihoura village in Chirang District. A 9 mm pistol, three rounds of ammunition and a mobile phone were recovered from him. “He is a trained militant of the outfit and was trained in Myanmar,” SSB sources said.

ULFA ‘General Secretary’ Anup Chetia said that he is not going to put pressure on Independent faction of ULFA (ULFA-I) ‘Commander in Chief (C-in-C)’ Paresh Baruah to come for dialogue with the Central Government. Anup Chetia said in Darrang that it is up to the ‘C-in-C’ to decide himself whether to take part in the dialogue process, and in this regard Chetia will never put pressure on him.

Top leaders of NDFB-IKS, including ‘army chief’ G. Bidai and his deputy K. Batha, are hiding in the dense jungles along the Indo-Bhutan border, BTAD IGP L. R. Bishnoi said. Bishnoi said operations as a part of the army's "final push" against the militant group were on. Bishnoi claimed that the NDFB-IKS was becoming weak with many of its top leaders having been killed or arrested since the operation against the outfit was intensified last year (2015). A joint force of the Army, Police, SSB and CRPF had started a massive operation against the outfit on September 18 last year to apprehend the "last remaining 20-25 cadres of the NDFB (S)", including Bishnu Goyari alias Bidai, the mastermind of the Adivasi carnage on December 23, 2014, and his deputy Binod Mushahary alias Batha. Bidai carries a cash reward of INR 5 lakh on his head.

He added that altogether 21 militants of the outfit have been killed, 256 arrested and 185 of its linkmen apprehended since the operation began. A total of 15 AK-56 rifles, 10 AK-47s, two M-16, two HKs, seven Insas rifles, 495 rounds of ammunition, 21 grenades, 81kg of explosives 14 lakh in cash and 12 motorcycles have also been recovered from the outfit's militants, Bishnoi said. The top leaders of the outfit arrested so far include its ‘self-styled deputy commander in chief’ Dwiswrang Daimary alias Dhananjay, ‘self-styled army chief’ Rabi Basumutary alias Rongja Baja, his ‘personal security officer’ Jwnglaw Narzary alias Jekhai and the former ‘personal security officer’ of Bidai, Biron Narzary alias N. Bapeibai. Bishnoi said the SFs were continuing their operation against the group and expressed confidence that Bidai and his 20-25 associates would be arrested soon.

Bishnoi said other than NDFB-IKS militants, 86 militants belonging to various groups like the KLO, RVA, NSLA and the MPTFA were also arrested by SFs last year (2015). Besides, fundamentalists trying to gain a foothold in lower Assam Districts had been neutralised, he said, adding that 30 fundamentalists were arrested and 22 country-made arms recovered in 2015.

Police arrested a ULFA cadre, identified as Ajit Bora alias Dhaniram in Dibrugarh District.

January 8

Three NSLA militants were arrested from Barabil under Gossaigaon Police station in Kokrajhar District. The arrested NSLA militants were involved in extortion of money and other illegal activities, Defence officials said. Two pistols and a revolver with 3 live rounds were recovered from them, they said.

Haluwating Police, in an operation, arrested one person, identified as Konwer Singh Tanti (28) along with a hand grenade and four bullets of a 9mm pistol from the Tifuk Tea Estate in Sivasagar District. Police suspected him to be linkman of NSCN.

January 9

ULFA ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia was given the responsibility of leading the peace-talks with the GoI in place of its ‘chairman’ Arbinda Rajkhowa. The decision to lead ULFA talks was taken formally in a central committee meeting which was attended by ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, ‘vice-chairman’ Pradeep Gogoi, ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Raju Barua, ‘foreign secretary’ Sasha Choudhury, ‘finance secretary’ Chitraban Hazarika, and several other leaders of the outfit, including Mrinal Hazarika, Jiten Dutta and Pranjit Saikia.

Though, the outfit has ruled out that decision in this effect would marginalize the ULFA ‘chairman’ who was leading the peace-talks so far, security sources claimed that Chetia’s elevation to lead the peace-talks might subside the simmering dissension in the ULFA-PTF to a large extent. Pointing out that some hard-core ULFA cadres were not happy over the way day-to-day affairs were being handled by the ULFA leadership, security sources said that the situation had come to stage that some cadres were contemplating to join back to anti-talk faction of ULFA lead by its ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah.

January 10

SFs arrested two persons, identified as Buddha Narzary and Nripen Boro along with four gelatin sticks weighing 200 gm and fuse wire from Guwahati Railway Station. The duo was bringing the consignment from Manipur to Tamulpur.

Former AGP president Brindaban Goswami, at an AJYCP meet at Jelkajhar in Bongaigaon District, said Assam cannot accommodate any more illegal migrants.

The demand for a separate Bodoland got a boost with former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga and chairman of the all-party Telangana Political Joint Action Committee M. Kodandaram offering to help. Addressing the 48th annual conference of(ABS) at Turibari Noudari Pwthar in Bijni subdivision of Chirang District, Zoramthanga said, "If my humble service is needed, I am ready to help you." "The ball does not lies in the court of Delhi or in Guwahati (Dispur). It lies only in the hands of the Bodo people. With all effort, I believe an amicable solution, which is welcome and accepted by Delhi, Dispur and the Bodo people will be achieved soon," he said. Kodandaram, who attended the conference as chief guest, said the demand needed to be discussed.

Security has been tightened around IAF station at Chabua in Dibrugarh District following intelligence inputs about threats to the air base, a Police official said. Following the Pathankot terror attack (Punjab), Police has received certain inputs which need to be corroborated and confirmed in consultation with various agencies and SFs but security has been tightened around the airbase, Dibrugarh SP Bir Bikram Gogoi said.

January 11

One person, identified as Ram Tudu (27) was arrested with arms from Sukhanjuli in Baska District.

An unidentified cadre of NDFB-IKS was arrested from Islampur in Tinsukia District.

A NSLA cadre was arrested from Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District.

A suspected linkman of ULFA-I, identified as Babul Dihingia was detained by Assam Police in Kakopathar of Tinsukia District along with INR 25 Lakh. Dihingia has not been produced in court by Police even after 24 hours have been passed, report said.

January 12

A team of Army personnel from Borrengajuli Army camp along with Assam Police launched a joint operation and arrested a cadre of NDFB-IKS, identified as Rituraj Basumatary (18) from Bainara village under Khairabari Police Station in Udalguri District. A country-made hand grenade was recovered from his possession.

SFs arrested linkman of NDFB-IKS, identified as Khonsai Gaorao Mashahary from an undisclosed place in Assam. Khonsai was planning to kidnap three persons and he had already collected INR 1 lakh from VCDC chairmen in the locality in Kachugaon area in Baksa District, BTC IGP, LR Bishnoi said, adding that the Police could recover INR 82,000 and a mobile handset from his possession.

SFs arrested a KLO linkman, identified as Atul Barman alias Dabla from an undisclosed place in Assam.

Sivasagar District Police arrested a ULFA hardliner's linkman from Changmaibari area in Sibsagar District.

January 13

A hardcore cadre of the NSLA, identified as Ram Kishku alias Ram Hembrom was killed in an encounter with Assam Police near Grahampur under Srirampur Police outpost in Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar District. The BTC IGP, LR Bishnoi said the Police team recovered one 7.65 mm pistol, four rounds of ammunition and two hand grenades from his possession. He also said the slain cadre was involved in several criminal activities, murder and extortion in the area.

Bishnoi said after eliminating Hembrom, the area would be peaceful to a great extent as most of the criminal activities were carried out under his command. He said the total strength of the NSLA was around 40 of which 22 have been arrested in 2015, four were killed in different encounters and the remaining cadres are involved in criminal activities.

The ULFA-I opposed the construction of a war memorial on the bank of Dighalipukhuri in Guwahati. In a statement, ULFA-I ‘assistant information and publicity secretary’ Arunodoy Asom also extended support to a group of citizens opposing construction of the memorial. "We have immense respect for soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country. But the Indian government is forcefully invading Assam and its action to destruct a heritage site and ecology for construction of the war memorial is in no way is acceptable," the statement said. The outfit is against peace talks with the Government without discussion on its key demand for a "sovereign Assam".

George Kuki, claiming to be the ‘self styled in-charge of publicity and information’ of KLF based somewhere in eastern Karbi Anglong District claimed that the outfit, which was formed in 2008 and remained active until 2010, has been revived. KLF remained silent when a faction of the organization formed the UKDA and laid down arms along with the KRA in 2012 at Guwahati, stated George.

He also alleged that the leaders of both KRA-A and UKDA have seized the bank pass books and ATM cards of the surrendered cadres thereby denying them of all Government sponsored benefits. The same leaders have also misused the Government fund given to the cadres for establishing camps, he added. George has also alleged that the over ground Kuki militant leaders instead of protecting the interest of its own community are exploiting the ginger farmers mostly concentrated in Singhason hills. The KLF also claimed that three sophisticated arms have been recovered from the possession of UKDA and KRA-A cadres (one SLR, one M-16 rifle and one AK rifle) recently.

January 16

Assam Police and Army, in a joint operation, arrested three militants of NDFB-IKS along with a huge cache of arms in Baksa District. Acting on a tip off, Police launched operation at Dolabari area under Barama Police Station in Baksa District and arrested a cadre of the outfit, identified as Ranjit Muchahary.

Based on the confession of the detained militant, a joint Police and Army team arrested NDFB-IKS militants, Jimi Boro alias Dharmendra Boro from Panbari in Kumarikata and Sansuma Boro from Bagajuli area of the District. “A 7.65 pistol, one magazine, two live ammunition of 7.65 pistol, ten bullets of 9mm pistol, three live grenades, a handmade gun and ten extortion notes were found on them, “ said SDPO Tamulpur, Asif Ahmed. Police sources also said the detained rebels were involved in various subversive activities in BTAD.

A top Police official said with 30 to 35 cadres, the NDFB-IKS is still strong and active in lower Assam. He said apart from the NDFB-IKS, various outfits like the KLO, RVA, NSLA and the MPTFA are trying to gain a foothold and strengthen their base in the area. He said SFs are continuing counter operations against the groups.

ULFA is planning to include a few additional points in its charter of demands already submitted to the GoI, disclosed by the ‘general secretary’ of the outfit, Anup Chetia. Chetia, who was brought back to Assam recently from the protective custody of Bangladesh, said that he would participate in the next round of talks between the outfit and the GoI. However, the dates for the next round of talks are yet to be announced. He said a meeting of the ULFA was held in Jagiroad on January 9 where the progress of the peace process was discussed.

He said that as the people of the State have raised a few questions on the charter of demands submitted to the Government by the ULFA, a few additional points may be added. However, he said that as a charter of demands has already been submitted to the Government, “we will have to request the Government to allow us to add the new points in the charter of demands.” The issue will soon be discussed with the Centre’s interlocutor for talks, PC Haldar.

The three Bodo groups, ABSU, PJACBM and NDFB-P demanded a "solution" to the Bodoland issue and not false promises. Leaders of these groups said they would convey this message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his maiden visit to Kokrajhar on January 19. The three Bodo groups, which have been jointly working for the community since 2013, appealed to Modi to "announce a clear-cut policy on creation of Bodoland" as promised in the manifesto of 2014 Lok Sabha polls by the BJP. "People in (proposed) Bodoland are eagerly awaiting a prudent decision," said ABSU president Pramod Boro.

Cachar Police arrested nine persons, including a woman from different places midnight for being allegedly involved in abductions and extortion in Barak valley. The nine arrested persons were identified as Bapan Mazumder (31), Akhtar Hussain Laskar (35), Imran Hussain Raj Barbhuiya (27), Shammim Choudhury (22), Santo Roy alias Shaymal Sarkar (22), and his wife Mahi Deb (20), Moinul Haque Barbhuiya (30), and Abdur Rahman Tapadar (22), including Tiklu (28). Cachar Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajveer Singh said that the gang used Mahi to lure men and then abduct them. The racket was busted after the Police started an investigation into the abduction of college student Sohail Ahmed Laskar of Saidpur village of Cachar District.

January 17

SFs arrested a NSLA militant, identified as Robvan Hembram (22) from Serfanguri in Kokrajhar District.

Police arrested one more person belonging to the gang allegedly involved in abductions and extortion in Barak valley, identified as Tiklu Mazumder. "Around 14 to 15 people are involved in the racket. We have arrested 10. We have continued our hunt for those who have been running abduction rackets here for the past four to five years," SP Rajveer Singh added.

January 18

Representatives of six ethnic communities of Assam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati to discuss the issue of granting ST status. Leaders of the communities said the meeting, which lasted for about 15 minutes, failed to get a timeframe on granting ST status. “The Prime Minister only told us that his office is seriously considering the issue. We do not know when the status will be granted,” said AKRSU president Hitesh Barman. The six communities demanding ST status are Tai Ahoms, Koch Rajbongshis, Morans, Motocks, adivasis and Soteas.

January 19

One woman, identified as Asma Kahtun of South Salmara-Mancachar in Dhubri District lodged a FIR after she was allegedly threatened by a GNLA militant over phone, demanding INR 10 lakh.

The ABSU, NDFB-P and the PJACBM demanded early permanent solution to the Bodoland issue and constitutional safeguard and political rights to the Bodo people.

Karbi Anglong Police arrested five militants, including ‘commander-in-chief’ of UKPLA, identified as Roben Phangcho, from the Dolamara area of Diphu in Karbi Anglong District.

January 20

A joint team of Barpathar Police and SFs arrested three KPLT cadres at Bokajan in East Karbi Anglong District. Acting on a tip-off, the joint team conducted a search operation at Majung Teron Gaon under Barpathar Police Station and arrested one cadre, identified as Winson Teron (26) along with a muzzle loaded rifle, a .22 pistol with three live ammunition and three live ammunition of AK-47 rifle in his possession.

The arrested cadre was later interrogated and based on his information, the joint team conducted another raid in the Bonarea locality and successfully arrested two other cadres, identified as Biren Engti (26) and Amus Ingti (45), thereby  recovering a .22 pistol with two live ammunition from their possession.

Two persons, identified as Naren Chouhan and Mohan Turi were arrested for allegedly trying to extort money from a business-man in Jorhat District.

Police arrested a wanted NDFB-IKS militant, identified as the ‘self-styled platoon commander’ Lwithwi Brahma alias Lafa from his hideout in Dolaigaon under Dhaligaon Police Station in Bongaigaon District.

January 21

Police arrested two persons from Satra Kanora in Barpeta District for carrying illegal arms and ammunition.

Seven leaders of the ULFA-PTF, including Anup Chetia and ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, met interlocutor P.C. Haldar at the BSF camp in Patgaon in Guwahati and discussed issues concerning the ongoing talks with the Centre. The outfit's leaders did not disclose the issues discussed in the meeting but sources said they spoke of new demands they want to include in their charter of demands already submitted to the Centre in 2011. After the meeting, Rajkhowa said that Chetia's inclusion would give a fresh impetus to the talks and a solution would soon be worked out with the Government.

According to sources, the Central Government has turned down the offers of the NDFB-IKS for a ceasefire to start the process of talks. Meanwhile, the Centre has also decided not to talk with any insurgent group involved in killing of innocent persons. Highly placed sources UMHA revealed that after receiving major setbacks in sustained operations by the SFs, NDFB-IKS has sent feelers on several occasions to go for a ceasefire agreement followed by talks with the Government. But such proposals from the outfit were emphatically turned down by the Government.

UMHA sources revealed that immediately after coming to power, the present Government at the Centre took a tough stand against outfits involved in killings of innocents and the same formula would be adopted in case of all other militant groups. Sources further said that the Government has decided not to go for ad-hoc measures for solution of the problem of militancy. From now on, the Government would try to go for comprehensive solution of the problems and there would be no discussion with any outfit involved in senseless killing of innocent people, sources added.

Kokrajhar district has the highest number of children who have lost their parents in terrorist attacks, said ADGP of Railway Police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta. "As many as 267 children were affected by militancy in Kokrajhar district, which is the highest in Assam. The number is quite high in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD)," said Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta while addressing a gathering at Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

KPLT has called for a 48-hour Karbi Anglong bandh (strike) beginning from 5 a.m. January 25 to 5 a.m. of January 27. Claiming to be KPLT source, a text message to local media at Diphu stated that the organization has called for boycotting the Republic Day celebration in protest against “reprisal measure of the government” against it.

January 23

SFs, in an operation, arrested two militants of the NSCN-IM from Kashipur and Lodi villages in Dima Hasao District while they were carrying out extortion activities in the area. A pistol, along with seven rounds of live ammunition was also recovered from their possession.

January 24

Four militant outfits operating in north-east India called for their boycott of Republic Day celebrations on January 26. In a joint statement the four organisations, the United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFWSEA), CorCom of Manipur, GNLA and the HNLC called for the shutdown in the region on January 26. “We call upon the citizens to put out a strong, clear message and protest against the imposed celebration of the Republic day in our West Eastern South East Asia (WESEA). We call for a total shutdown of our region from 00.01 hrs to 18 hrs of January 26,” the statement mailed to the media said.

January 25

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi claimed that Islamic militant group, Islamic State (IS/ ISIS) has not been able to make significant inroads into the State that has a sizeable Muslim population. Gogoi said that though the threat from ISIS exists everywhere, the group so far had failed to strike roots in the State which, of course, can’t be a reason for the SFs to become complacent. Pointing out that ISIS was using social media in its attempt to radicalize youth with its doctrines, Gogoi said close watch was being kept at all levels to ensure that the group was not able to penetrate the state. He also underlined that youth of the country, who have been radicalized by the ISIS, had to be made to see reason and return to the mainstream.

Assam DGP, Mukesh Sahay sounded an alarm over the growing threat of ISIS in different fronts and use of social media to recruit vulnerable youth to its ranks. Assam stands vulnerable to threat from radical groups like the ISIS because of presence of a large pool of unemployed youth from the backward Muslim community. The State has witnessed rising activities of jihadi elements in the recent years. Several training dens of jihadis were busted in western Assam in the last couple of years following dismantling of JMB modules in neighbouring West Bengal by Indian security agencies including the NIA. A number of leaders and cadres of various Islamic fundamentalist groups were arrested in the State in the last couple of years.

January 26

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, while hoisting the national flag at the Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati, made an appeal to elusive ULFA ‘chief’ Paresh Baruah and other separatist leaders to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream. Gogoi also warned that his Government would continue to take stern measures to crush the armed rebel groups in the State.

State Transport, Excise and Sports Minister Ajit Singh while welcoming the militant groups that have come over ground and joined the peace process repeated his call to those outfits which are still in wilderness. He described their move as a positive signal which will contribute towards the strengthening of unity and solidarity. Ajit Singh said, “No solution is possible through gun-culture.” It is in their overall interest that they should return to the mainstream life. He at the same time cautioned if any group makes any attempt to challenge law and order and create disorder, his Government will not hesitate to deal with them firmly.

January 27

Unidentified assailants abducted three persons, identified as Lala Nampui (75), Josepha Nampui (25) and Luapui Thiaite, from New Sangbar village under Umrangsu Police Station in Dima Hasao District.

January 28

Three Policemen, identified as Dharmendra Das, Tilak Nath and R K Rajesh Singh, were injured when unidentified assailants hurled a grenade at them during patrol duty in Ram Nagar under Haflong Police Station in Dima Hasao District. Investigations are on and a search has been launched to nab the culprits, the Police officer said.

Unidentified assailants fired at the residence of District BJP General Secretary Deben Thaosen in Haflong in Dima Hasao District. However, no casualties were reported.

Assailants abducted one Bijon Kemprai, brother of Dima Hasao DCC president Mahendra Kemprai, from Thaijuari in Dima Hasao District.

Police and Army, in a joint operation, arrested one NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Gangaraj Wary alias Dableu Gold (35), and a linkman, identified as Kalicharan Brahma (25) from Chirang District. Spot interrogation and search led to recovery of one 7.62 mm pistol with two rounds of ammunition, one .305 Rifle with 25 rounds of ammunition, 14 rounds of .315 rifle, one Chinese hand grenade and other war like stores, an Army official said in a statement.

Army and Tengakhat Police in a joint operation arrested a leader of the ULFA-I and his wife from Ulton area under Tengakhat Police Station in Dibrugarh District. The arrested militants have been identified as Abhinash Gogoi alias Dudu (18), a resident of Tengakhat Lohali Village under Duliajan Police Station and Puja Marak (20), resident of Sherpur District in Bangladesh. According to Police sources, Dudu was joined banned outfit ULFA-I in 2011 and subsequently he was sheltered at Bangladesh and had involved in various activities of ULFA.

January 29

One person, identified as Dip Neog, who was arrested on charges of making an extortion demand to a local resident in Rajahowli in Jorhat District, was sent to judicial custody by a local court in Jorhat.

January 30

A jihadi identified as Jahidul Islam (28) was arrested from Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District.

January 31

Chirang Police arrested one jihadi, from Hatigaon in Guwahati in Kamrup District. The jihadi identified as Tota Miya (40) was residing as a tenant at Mina Begum’s residence situated at Masjid Road in Notboma. Police have recovered one 7.65 pistol and two rounds of live ammunition, one magazine and two mobile phones from his possession.

February 1

Nearly 1,450 cadres of different militant groups were arrested across the state last year (2015) and a huge cache of arms and ammunition seized, Governor Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya informed the State Assembly. "During 2015, the security forces apprehended 1,449 cadres of different militant groups," Acharya said in his address to the House on the first day of the February Session. "The security forces also recovered 577 assorted arms, 15,515 rounds of live ammunition, 58 IEDs, 307 grenades, 144 kg of explosives, 2,979 detonators and cash amounting to Rs 29,85,510 from different extremist elements," he added. Acharya also said 58 militants and 10 civilians were killed last year in encounters, while 49 other people were kidnapped in extremist-related incidents.

"Identification of one module of JMB in the state in the wake of the blast in Khagragarh, Burdwan district, West Bengal, led to the arrest of 30 members of the module from Barpeta, Nalbari and Chirang districts of Assam as well as recovery of 10 bombs," he added. Acharya said efforts are going on to apprehend the remaining members of the module. Currently 13 militant groups are on the path of joining the mainstream after laying down their arms, he said. "My government would also like to appeal to Shri Paresh Baruah and his faction of the ULFA and other insurgent groups to give up the path of violence and come back to the national mainstream in the interest of the people of Assam and the country at large," he added.

BSF troops of Dhubri sector seized FICN worth INR 100,000 from three Indian FICN racketeers. Based on a specific input provided by BSF intelligence wing, a joint operation was launched by troops of BSF Dhubri sector along with Police and arrested three FICN couriers, identified as Golam Hussain (50), Jahar Ali (28) and Jamaluddin Sheikh (25) with the FICN worth INR 100,000 from Jogmaya Ghat, adjacent to Dhubri town, BSF official said.

February 2

The Red Horns Division operating in the parts of Darrang and Udalguri Districts arrested six hardcore militants of the NLFB. The arrest was made after a combined operation by Army Camp based at Chapai in Borrengajuli and Deomornai assisted by the joint teams SDPO Bhergaon and Police representatives from Khoirabari and Dimakuchi Police Stations. Intelligence inputs received from sources about the presence of a new insurgent outfit, NLFB, being actively involved in killing and several extortion activities across Darrang and Udalguri Districts. Intelligence inputs also revealed about their connection with several militant outfits based at Dimapur like NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and NDFB-S.

The Assam State Government said that the killing of civilians and SF personnel has declined significantly during recent years. Replying to a call attention motion by AIUDF MLA Abdur Rahim Khan in the Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rakibul Hussain said that only four SF personnel died in counter-insurgency operations in 2014, and none in 2015. Similarly, 10 civilians were killed by militants in 2015, and none so far in 2016. “The situation has improved significantly since our Government took charge. The fear psychosis that existed earlier is now absent. A total of 89 security personnel had died in 1997, 77 in 1998 and 87 in 1999. No doubt, in some areas problems do exist, but the situation now is much better,” Hussain said. Earlier, citing a media report, AIUDF’s Khan said that 272 Police personnel lost their lives in Assam during the last 15 years.

February 3

Unidentified assailants fired at the gate of former Doomdooma MLA and secretary of APCC, Durga Bhumij’s residence at Milantirtha in Rupai Siding in Tinsukia District. According to Bhumij, a Tata Indica vehicle came at a breakneck speed and fired indiscriminately at his gate and fled towards Daimukhia Tea Estate. He was inside his residence and no casualty was reported. Police recovered six empty shells of 7.65 mm pistol from the site of the incident. Various organisations have condemned the incident and demanded an inquiry into the incident.

Another firing incident took place at Ultapul near Digboi town in Tinsukia District at 6.45 pm. Three persons riding a car stopped in front of a paan shop owned by one Rameswar Majhi. Alighting from the car, they first asked for cigarettes. Suddenly, one of them whipped out a pistol and fired at the shopkeeper, missing him narrowly. The trio boarded the vehicle and sped off but not before firing again. No one was injured in the incident.

Members of a newly-floated militant outfit of the Moran community, Moran Tiger Force (MTF) are said to be behind the two incidents of firings happened in Tinsukia District. ADGP (special branch) Pallab Bhattacharya said "We have reports about a new outfit, Moran Tiger Force, floated a week ago. We also have clues about Paresh Baruah's involvement. The situation in Tinsukia district is tense and we have issued orders to bring the situation under control so that it does not spill over to Dibrugarh."

February 4

Tamulpur Police arrested two militants of NDFB-IKS, identified as Sudem Muchahary alias Manual (24) and Khassar Muchahary (36) along with arms and ammunition from Naokata under Tamulpur subdivision in Baksa District. Police sources said that the militants were involved in various cases of extortion. Acting on a tip off a team of Tamulpur police arrested the rebels when they came to collect extorted money from a trader at Naokata. Tamulpur SDPO Asif Ahmed said that the detained militants threatened MP Biswajit Daimary and BTC EM Ganesh Kachari several times.

A NDFB-IKS militant, identified as ‘self-styled section commander’ Lothen Basumatary alias Birai (42) was arrested in a joint operation by the Army and the Assam Police in Gorebil village in Kokrajhar District. A 7.65mm pistol and some ammunition was recovered from him.

Assam Police have launched an operation to arrest at least 10 jihadi militants, who are now on the run. The operation will be centred around the BTAD, but various minority-dominated Districts of the State have also been alerted, report said. Besides, three BTC Districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and Baksa and neighbouring western Assam Districts of Barpeta and Nalbari have been marked sensitive on the suspicion that the Jihadi elements might have settled to spread tentacles in these areas.

The Police have been conducting a major search operation against the jihadis for the past six months in the area and have arrested 18 people who are directly or indirectly involved in the recruitment, gun running and extortion rackets of various Muslim fundamentalist outfits. The biggest success was the busting of a training module at Daukhanagar in Dhaligaon in September 2015. The Police teams recovered eight handmade AK-47 lookalike rifles that were hidden in a pit. A Police official said, "During the combing operation, we found 28 uniforms meant for the cadres. So far we have arrested 18. We suspect that 10 more jihadi cadres are at large. Already, six among them have been identified."

The CBI, while probing the 2012 BTAD riots, has disclosed the involvement of Islamic elements in the violence. Post Burdwan blast (October 2, 2014), the arrest of JMB cadre, Sahanur Alom, and his wife by an NIA team in Burdwan District of West Bengal had clearly proved the presence of jihadi elements in the State. Recently, Chirang Police arrested Tota Miya from the city's Hatigaon area with a pistol. He has been taken into three-day police custody. "We hope to get vital infofrom him," said IGP BTAD, L R Bishnoi. One of the biggest catches in the operation, Bura Bhai, who was engaged in arms training and gun running for jihadi groups in the state, has revealed, during interrogation, how the char areas in the state have been used by such modules.

Hundreds of Adivasis (tribals), armed with bows and arrows, marched on the National Highway in Tinsukia District in protest against two incidents of firing in the District on February 3.

According to written replies to a series of short notice questions in the State Assembly, eight bloody ethnic clashes in different parts of the State, which ended in the deaths of 535 people, including 45 children and 80 women, form the biggest blot on the unbroken but chequered 15-year Congress rule under Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. On the positive side, as many as four militant outfits signed peace deals with the Government and 13 other outfits, including ULFA, declared ceasefire and began peace talks. Since Gogoi's first term from May 2001, militancy claimed at least 2,275 civilians and 309 security personnel. A total of 2,103 militants were killed and 8,930 others laid down arms. Another 213 people were killed in Police firing.

On the crime chart, a total of 19,821 murder cases, 21,556 rape cases, 43,879 cases of kidnapping, 91,419 cases of crime against women, 158 cases of witch-hunts, 4,816 cases of dacoity and 43,328 cases of suicide were registered between May 2001 and December 2015.

According to the replies, ethnic clashes during Gogoi's terms include the Hmar-Dimasa clash in Dima Hasao District and the Kuki-Karbi clash in Karbi Anglong District in 2003, Karbi-Dimasa clash in Karbi Anglong District in 2005, Muslim-Bodo clash in Darrang and Udalguri Districts in 2005, Zemi Naga-Dimasa clash in Dima Hasao District in 2009, Rabha-Garo clash in Goalpara District in 2011, Bodo-Muslim clash in BTAD areas in 2012 and Karbi-Rengma Naga clash in Karbi Anglong District in 2013-14.

The State Government informed that 6,658 cases of ethnic clashes were registered. Of these, chargesheets were filed in 159 cases, final reports were submitted in 3,594 cases, 5,353 cases are under investigation, 12 cases were transferred to the CBI and 2,358 cases were amalgamated

Apart from ethnic clashes within the State, another 36 clashes with neighbouring States also took place in which 87 people were killed and 78 injured. Interstate clashes include fights with Mizoram in Hailakandi District in 2003 and 2008 and in Cachar District in 2013, with Meghalaya in Kamrup (Metro) District in 2010 and in Dhubri District in 2013, with Nagaland in Golaghat District in 2002, 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2015, in Sivasagar District in 2005, 2007 and 2015, in Jorhat District in 2013, in Karbi Anglong District in 2014, with Arunachal Pradesh in Dhemaji District in 2001, 2006, 2008, in Lakhimpur District in 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2011, in Sonitpur District in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and in Biswanath Chariali Police District in 2015.

February 5

Two incidents of firing in Tinsukia District, both by the hitherto-unknown MTF, has sent local Police in a tizzy. Police arrested Surajit Moran, president of the Tinsukia unit of AJYCP from Doomdooma in Tinsukia District for his alleged involvement with the outfit.

February 6

Police recovered three handmade bombs from the house of Bipul Basumatary at Sahoriagaon under Dhing Police Station in Nagaon District. Later, several weapons and ammunition were also recovered at the house of Basumatary's father-in-law Khuken Hazowari at Boragaon in Kamrup District.

Tinsukia ASP-headquarters, Lamhao Doungel said that Police were trying to gather more information about MTF, a new kid on the block as far as rebel groups are concerned. "Our team has found vital clues (about the outfit) after going through the call details of the phone number used to send text messages after the firings. We have found evidence of Moran's involvement with the perpetrators of the two incidents. Unlike militant outfits like ULFA and NDFB-Songbijit, MTF doesn't seem to have any particular leader," he explained.

A suspected Islamic State (IS) operative, identified as Suman Aziz Laskar was arrested at SMC in Cachar District. Police have launched an operation to arrest three others based on information revealed by him during interrogation. A senior Police officer said the 20-year-old man was taking the fourth semester examination of MBBS at SMC on February 6 morning. The students said that the man, in question, was not a student of the medical college. ASP-Cachar, Subhashini Shankaran said the investigation was conducted on the basis of the information revealed by the man adding that some incriminating documents have been recovered from him including a file that contains certain codes of Mumbai and other cities.

However, reports also said that during interrogation, the arrested person said he was involved with a Bangladesh-based terror group and that he hails from Bangladesh.

February 7

ULFA-PTF leader Anup Chetia made a sudden visit to ex-MLA Durga Bhumij’s house at Rupaisiding in Tinsukia District along with Prabal Neog. The visit has carried much significance in view of the fact that on the evening of February 3, some miscreants claiming to be member of the MTF indiscriminately fired at the house of Durga Bhumij from an Indica car and immediately escaped from the spot.

The State Government has written to the UMHA asking the latter to facilitate formal deportation of suspected Myanmarese nationals, currently lodged in the detention camps of Assam, through diplomatic channels. The letter, written by the Home Department at Dispur, has also requested the UMHA to pursue the matter with the MEA so that the nationality of the Myanmarese nationals, caught in Assam from time to time, can be cross-checked after which the process could be started.

Sources stated that the MEA had already taken up the matter with its counterpart in the neighbouring country. In the letter to the UMHA, the Home Department had sent a list of 28 Myanmarese nationals, which also comprises Rohingya Muslims who had fled the neighbouring country fearing their lives. These also include women and children, official sources said. The 28 Myanmar nationals, who were lodged in the detention camps situated in Goalpara, Kokrajhar and Silchar after their arrest, are now being shifted to the new detention camp in Tezpur. The State has six detention camps, including one each in Dibrugarh and Jorhat.

February 8

A ‘platoon commander’ of the  NDFB-IKS, identified as Uday Narzary alias N. Khilikhang (30), wanted for the Adivasi massacre of December 23, 2014, was killed in an encounter with SFs in Chirang District of lower Assam. An AK-56 rifle with a magazine and INR 31,000 were recovered from the slain militant. Chirang SP Ranjan Bhuyan said Narzary, who hails from Bengtol in Chirang District, was also involved in extortions and abductions. "He had joined NDFB (S) in 2010 and was a member of the outfit's 35th batch. He had undergone training in use of arms and explosives in Myanmar," the Police officer added.

Narzary's killing is being seen as a major success for the SFs, who have been carrying out relentless operations against the NDFB-IKS since the outfit killed more than 65 Adivasi villagers in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur Districts in December 2014. A source said 25 cadres of the outfit have been killed and about 600 of its members and linkmen arrested in the operation. However, about 25 to 30 militants, including top leaders G. Bidai and K. Batha, are still at large.

February 9

Two militants of the PLF-M, identified as Babul Momin and (Energy) Momin, were beaten to death by a mob at Rowmari Garopara area under Rongjuli Police Station in Goalpara District. The militant-brother duo were beaten to death by a mob on charge of terrorizing them by demanding extortion money, District SP Nitul Gogoi said. One of the slain militants Babul Momin was wanted by Police for indulging in anti-social activities and extortion demands, the SP said. Extortion demand letters and the Meghalaya-based PLFM letter pads were recovered from the slain militants.

SFs arrested one person, identified as Hitesh Roy, along with FICN worth of INR 17,000 from Amguri in Sivasagar District.

February 10

SFs arrested a ULFA-I cadre, identified as Deepak Das (27), along with a 7.62 mm pistol and some ammunition from Kachiabari Borogopha in Kokrajhar District. The militant was involved in money collection, extortion and providing administrative support to ULFA-I.

The attempt on the part of the suspected GNLA-ULFA combine to attack the Police personnel in Resubelpara in North Garo Hills District was foiled, following the recovery of IEDs and arrest of a person by a joint team of both Assam and Meghalaya Police from Goalpara District of Assam. Based on the revelation of one of the GNLA cadre, one Malsing R Marak was arrested on the outskirts of Resubelpara and three remote controlled IEDs and gelatins sticks were recovered from a house at Kalaring village adjacent to the forest area of Dorenkitip in Assam. Later, all the IEDs were defused by a bomb disposal team of Meghalaya Police.

February 10-11

Based on intelligence input about NDFB-IKS militants holed up deep in the jungles of Rowta Reserve Forest North of Mazbat town (Udalguri District) bordering Arunachal Pradesh, a 48 hour long search and destroy mission was conducted by the Army and Udalguri Police and arrested two persons from the camp location. The operation was launched on February 10 by Army and Assam Police, was a major success and resulted in successful busting of NDFB-IKS militant camp, report said. The camp was being used to train and provide logistic support to the active cadres of the NDFB-IKS. The destruction of the NDFB-IKS camp goes a long way in reducing the menace of this unlawful organization from the Udalguri District and will help in bringing peace and normalcy in the region, Army said in a statement.

February 11

SFs arrested a senior cadre of the NSLA, identified as Everest Tudu alias Jambua from Siyalmari village in Kokrajhar District. A pistol along with some ammunition and a mobile phone were recovered from his possession.

BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate in Assam Sarbananda Sonowal said that illegal immigrants were the enemies of the people of the State. In an interview, Sonowal, said, ‘’Congress is trying to bring illegal migrants to the state. The local people have been reduced to ‘microscopic minority’. These people (immigrants) are the enemies of the people of Assam. Claiming that unabated infiltration from Bangladesh is still on, Sonowal said if voted to power, his party will find a lasting solution to the burning issue which is threatening the basis of Assamese society.

February 13

A linkman of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Ila Narzary, was arrested from Mainaguri under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District. He was involved in extortion and information gathering for the outfit. A country-made pistol, along with live bullets were recovered from him.

February 14

In a joint operation, the Indian Army and Kokrajhar Police killed two militants of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Sanjib Basumatary alias Khardes and Jangswrang Basumatary alias Ladai at Auzarguri in Kokrajhar District. “An ambush was laid following a tip-off regarding the movement of some NDFB-IKS militants in the area. When the militants were challenged, they opened indiscriminate fire, prompting the security forces to retaliate. Two militants were killed in the exchange of fire”, defence spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton said. One of the slain militant, Ladai is wanted by the NIA in connection with the Adivasi massacre of December 2014 and for kidnapping Hindi-speaking people in January 2014. Khardes is also a wanted terrorist involved in subversive acts. Two 7.65mm pistols with five rounds of ammunition, six empty cases of 7.65mm pistol, a 7.62mm AK magazine, six 7.62mm empty cases, eight 7.62mm live rounds, two grenades, some explosives and two mobiles were recovered from the duo.

February 15

The NDFB-IKS claimed that Sanjib Basumatary alias Kharde who was killed by the joint team of Army and Police on February 14 morning at Auzarguri in Kokrajhar District, was not their cadre but a student. The outfit also alleged that a hand of Kharde was cut off brutally by the Army.

Suspected Garo militants abducted an owner of a grocery shop, identified as Laldev Shah (Basu), from Bakharapara village in Bongaigaon District. Laldev Shah was returning home at Dhupdhara in Goalpara District at around 5 pm when armed militants allegedly kidnapped him from Bakharapara village at gunpoint.

According to sources, a substantial portion of the funds generated from illegal activities like timber smuggling, poaching etc are going to the coffers of the North East militant groups. Highly placed official sources said that timber smuggling and other such illegal activities are matters of serious concern, more so, because some of the militant groups are surviving on the money generated from such activities. Sources said that the Central Government had alerted the States of the region that such activities helped the militant groups to survive and the concerned State governments should take all possible steps to stop such illegal activities.

Sources further revealed that for years the NDFB survived from the money that they received from those involved in illegal activities like timber smuggling and poaching. The other income source of the NDFB was abduction and extortion. But of late, after the Central Government decided to launch a massive combing operation against the militants belonging to the NDFB-IKS after the involvement of members of the outfit in the gruesome killing of more than 70 persons on December 23, 2014, the fund flow to the outfit came down as its members, including senior leaders are on the run. The outfit has not been able to indulge in any kidnapping since the operation was launched and the extortion amounts are also coming down. However, sources admitted that according to reports, the remaining militants are surviving because of the money that they are receiving from the persons involved in timber smuggling.

February 16

Following an intelligence report, the Army launched a combat operation near Assam and Arunachal Pradesh border and killed four militants in Na Kathalguri village under Bordumsa Police Station in Tinsukia District. According to sources, three of them were from NSCN-K and the fourth one was from the ULFA-I. Police recovered 2 pistols, 2 magazines with 25 rounds of ammunition, one AK-56 rifle with 3 magazines, 82 rounds of ammunition of AK series, 13,500 Kyat (Myanmarese currency), 6 mobile phone sets, 2 sets of Army fatigue, 1 pouch, 2 solar plates and 2 solar lights.

February 17

One person, identified as Amir Hussain was arrested for allegedly demanding INR 2 lakh at gunpoint from Dhubri District Congress vice-president Rezaul Islam on February 16.

ULFA leader Anup Chetia, while urging for peace and harmony among all the ethnic tribes of the State, cautioned the divisive forces which tried to destroy the age-long communal harmony in the State. Chetia was addressing a meeting at the Doomdooma Bangiya Durgabari Hall which was convened by the ULFA-PTF in the wake of firing to the residence of former Doomdooma MLA Durga Bhumij by an organisation named MTF. The meeting was also addressed by ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, former MLA Durga Bhumij and several leaders of various ethnic student and youth organisations. In his address Rajkhowa alleged that an unknown force is trying to disturb the communal harmony among the ethnic tribes of Tinsukia District.

February 18

A link man of NDFB-IKS, identified as Rana Narzary was arrested by SFs from Saraibil under Gossaigaon police station in Kokrajhar District. He was involved with money collection, extortion, providing administrative support and information about movement of security forces to militant outfit organization.

Two youths were arrested from Hingoritoli in newly formed Charaideo District on charges of demanding money from some businessmen in the name of ULFA-I.

The NIA arrested a cadre of NDFB-IKS, identified as Sibiary alias Sansuma alias Daoka Basumatary when he was produced before the special NIA court in Guwahati. According to an official source, the accused, who was wanted by the NIA in the Adivasi massacre case (December 23, 2014), had surrendered before the special NIA court a few days ago. The court remanded him in NIA custody for 12 days.

Basumatary, who hails from Dhalkata village at Nalkhamara in Udalguri District, was allegedly involved in killing of five Adivasi villagers, besides injuring others, at Pakhriguri under Serfanguri police station in Kokrajhar District on December 23, 2014. The source said after carrying out the massacre he was hiding in Nepal and Chennai (Tamil Nadu) disguised as a worker before he surrendered in the court.

February 19

A suspected NLFB militant, identified as Ajoy Roy (20) was arrested along with one handmade pistol, six hand grenades and two blank cartridges from Darrangamela in Baksa District along Indo-Bhutan border.

February 20

A militant belonging to NSCN-K, identified as Tabroi Konyak was arrested near a tea garden on Sonari-Namtola Road in Charaideo District.

February 21

ULFA ‘general secretary’, Anup Chetia met the family members of deceased ULFA cadres in Bakaliaghat in Karbi Anglong District and said that a ‘Martyrs’ Trust’ would be set up by them and soon a museum in the name of deceased ULFA members would also be constructed. The families appealed to him to make them a part of the ongoing talks with the Government of India. The ULFA leader said that the outfit had urged the Government of India to start search operation for ULFA cadres who went missing after the anti-insurgency operation in Bhutan. 

The ULFA leader held a meeting with the ceasefire groups of militant organizations like KLNLF, former DHD, UKDA and KRA. The chairman of the KLNLF, P Dilli said that they also would like to form the ‘Martyrs’ Trust’ with the ULFA. During the meeting, Thong Teron, general secretary, publicity secretary, Rejak Dera of KLNLF, former DHD leader Pranab Nunisa, Alex Kuki, general secretary, UKDA and Bruce Kuki, leader of KRA were present.     

February 24

Six Assam villagers were wounded when they were attacked by unidentified Naga militants near Holonguri along the inter-state border in Jorhat District. According to sources, six Assamese villagers, who had gone to collect firewood in the Dessoi Valley forest, were held captive by Naga militants and assaulted brutally. The victims belonged to the tea community. Two of the critically injured, identified as Karma Karmakar and Manoj Mirdha were shifted to Jorhat Medical College & Hospital for better treatment. Senior Police officers from the District headquarters rushed to the spot and are also learnt to have communicated with their counterpart in Nagaland seeking assistance in nabbing the culprits. “We are in touch with Nagaland police.  We have also identified one miscreant and his details have been shared with Nagaland police,” Titabor SDPO Kulen Deka said, adding no arrests have been made so far.  “Security measures have been beefed up to avoid escalation of the situation,” he added.

February 25

A joint team of Army and Police arrested three NDFB-IKS militants, identified as Bhubneswar Boro (36), Sarjib Basumatary (27) and Lepho Boro (30) from Barimakha village near Mochalpur in Baksa District. Two AK-47 rifles, one 9mm pistol along with ammunition were also recovered from the militants. The three militants were involved in extortion, arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti-national activities, Army official said.  All three militants were handed over to Barbari Police for further investigation.

Two ADF cadres, identified as Budu Tudu (29) and Mirjan Kisku (23), were arrested from Mandaria under Gossaigaon Police station in Kokrajhar District.

Condemning the NDFB-IKS for demanding extortion of INR 20, 000 from a journalist of a vernacular daily and member of the central committee of JAFA Babu Rava, the federation urged the militant outfit to stop harassing journalists. In a statement condemning the incident, JAFA said that the NDFB-IKS even took away the bike of the journalist after threatening him with arms in their hands. It also condemned the Police inaction as four days have passed since the incident, but not a single arrest has been made so far.

February 26

Police arrested three suspects, belonging to NDFB-IKS, identified as Sanjay Brahma, Nerswn Brahma, and Ramen Basumatary, from Tipkai Harjhora village in Kokrajhar District and recovered INR 36,500, two cellphones and a wallet from their possession.

SF personnel arrested a cadre of the MTFA, identified as Samsul Haq, from Kadamguri in Kokrajhar District.

Police recovered of a large number of IEDs from a stronghold of the banned GNLA in East Garo Hills of Meghalaya. Assam Police believes that the presence of such a large number of IEDs at this juncture in Garo Hills area of Meghalaya definitely looks ominous for the poll-bound State.  DGP Assam, Mukesh Sahay said that any threat to the upcoming Assam Assembly elections will be seriously dealt by the Police, which is also geared up to tackle communal forces ruthlessly. “Threat, either from militants or any other source, will be seriously dealt with,” Sahay said. “In the past, there have been instances of candidates having financial dealings with militants. This time such instances will be treated as terror offence under the UAPA,” the DGP said.

Reacting to the press release issued by IGAR-N and published in the local, regional and section of the national dailies on January 26, 2016, with regard to the some northeast insurgents involved in narco-terrorism, Independent faction of ULFA-I expressed dismay that their organization was named as being involved in the “cultivation and trade of opium in Kachin province of Myanmar”. In a statement, ULFA-I ‘Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary’ ‘Captain’ Arunudoy Asom objected and refuted the statement.

Five days after he was abducted, a trader of the Lamajuar area in Karimganj District, identified as Abdul Kalam (52), was rescued by the Police. Kalam was abducted by a gang of armed assailants on the midnight of February 21, from a place near Janakibazar in Hailakandi District, when he was returning home in a car. Six persons, including two women, were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the abduction. They were identified as Afsalur Haque, Safrul Islam, both drivers, Faruq Ahmed, his wife Saleha Begam Talukdar, Bahar Uddin Laskar and Hafiza Khanam Laskar. Karimganj SP PR Kar said that more persons might have been involved in the incident. A hunt is on to nab the rest.

February 29

A team of Army personnel from Deumornai Army camp along with Assam Police launched a joint operation and arrested five cadres of NDFB-IKS, identified as Ringchar alias Mukang (20), Ranchai Baro alias Birkhang (20), Shaumangcha Baro (23), Jugchar Baro and Ajoy Haloi from Gurihati village under Khairabari Police station in Udalguri District. One 2.22 pistol and four live ammunition were also recovered from the militants.

Army carried out operations in the Goalpara District and arrested an ULFA-I militant, identified as Bhukan Nath. A 7.65 mm pistol, live rounds and a magazine were recovered from him.

A delegation of ULFA leaders, led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, met Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi in his office in New Delhi and reviewed the progress of their ongoing talks. It was decided that the formal tripartite meeting of ULFA leaders with the Home Secretary and representatives of Government of Assam will be held in the middle of March, a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

March 2

Chirang Police arrested an NDFB-IKS militant from Rangijhora Kherdanda area under Amguri Police Station in Chirang District. The arrested militant has been identified as Charchil Islary (32). Police official said Charchil was involved in various cases of extortion and abduction and was a close associate of NDFB-IKS ‘finance secretary’ B Doimalu and other top leaders of the outfit based in Myanmar.

March 4

The ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ of the KLO identified as Dibankar Barman alias Anupal alias Jabarjung alias Raghav, was killed by SFs at Siljan Kakrikola area in Kokrajhar District. BTAD Inspector-General of Police L.R. Bishnoi said that depending on inputs about the presence of some KLO rebels in the area, a joint operation was carried out by the Army and Assam Police where the rebel leader received serious bullet injuries in the gun battle. Later, he succumbed to his injuries. Two other militants managed to escape, Bishnoi said. A 7.65mm pistol, two fired cases of 7.65mm pistol, three live rounds of 7.65mm, eight fired cases of 7.62mm pistol and a grenade were recovered from the slain militant, who was wanted in many cases of abduction and extortion.

District Police arrested an ULFA-I militant, Hiren Gogoi, and his accomplice, Hemkanta Changmai, from Tinuskia District, and recovered a number of incriminating documents from them.

March 5

Based on specific information, Army and Nalbari Police launched a joint operation and arrested a linkman of NDFB-IKS from Barajol village in Nalbari District. The arrested linkman has been identified as Gajen Boro (27) Narayangaon village under Ghagrapar Police Station in Nalbari District. Gajen was involved in extortion, arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti-national activities. One 7.65mm Pistol along with four live rounds and one magazine of 7.65mm Pistol were recovered from him.

March 6

Army and Police in a joint operation arrested a militant of the NDFB-IKS in Nalbari District. The arrested militant has been identified as Khomin Boro (30), a resident of village Dalbari under Barama Police Station in the District. The arrested militant was involved in extortion, arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti-national activities, Army official said. One 7.65mm pistol along with one magazine and three live rounds were recovered from him.

Police arrested another NDFB- IKS militant along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Biswanath District.  The militant has been identified as Chatu Narzary. A carbine and six rounds of live ammunition were found on him. 

Based on specific information, Army Camp Boko and Police launched a joint operation, and arrested one arms supplier from Bholkmari (South Kamrup) who was reported to be supplying weapons and ammunition to NDFB- IKS and MULTA militants.  The arms supplier has been identified as Mokshed Ali (42) of Bholkamari village under Chhayagaon Police Station in South Kamrup District. The arrested arms supplier was also reported to be involved in arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti-national activities and had been working with extremists for many years, Army official said. One .22mm pistol and one magazine along with four pistol ammunition were recovered from him.

Two ULFA linkmen, identified as Hiren Gogoi alias Rabin (24) and Hemakanat Changmai alias Jatin alias Pinku, both belonging to Deoghoriya village of Lakhipather under Digboi Police Station in Tinsukia District were arrested by joint forces of District Special Team and Digboi Police. According to sources, the arrest was made after the demand for fifty hunting boots were made by the rebels from a local businessman in Digboi which was meant for the banned ULFA faction.

Police recovered an automatic pistol with two live cartridges at Khaksi under Haluwating Police Station in Sivasagar District. According to reports, local residents of Khaksi area of Amguri TE saw a man roaming here and there and they informed the nearby CRPF camp immediately. When CRPF personnel reached the suspected man fled from the spot leaving a packet wrapped with polythene. An automatic pistol, two live cartridges, one torch light, one water bottle and one cigarette packed from the polythene bag.

Based on specific information, Army and Baksa Police launched a joint operation and arrested a cadre of the NDFB- IKS identified as Namal Boro (28), from Alagjhar village under Barama Police Station in Baksa District. The arrested linkman has been involved in extortion, arms smuggling and other nefarious and anti-national activities. One 7.65mm pistol along with one magazine and two live rounds were recovered from him. Namal has been handed over to Barama Police Station.

SFs seized a huge cache of weapons in separate raids in Assam. One 7.5 pistol, two magazines, 190 live rounds, three mobile sets, cash, ATM cards and other documents were seized from a mini truck at a check post near Azara Police Station in Guwahati city. The truck was plying from Dimapur to Goalpara. Two persons - Rafiqul Islam of Boko and Irakdau Sargyari of Tamulpur - were arrested from the vehicle.

Lumding GRP recovered a large quantity of ammunition from the Tinsukia Avadh-Assam Express at Lumding railway station in Nagaon District. The cache included 497 cartridges of various calibres.

The Khatkhati Police in an encounter killed a UPLA militant at Bokajan in East Karbi Anglong District. SFs conducted a raid in the Lalmati area along Assam-Nagaland border on being tipped off about the movement of some unidentified militants in the area and while the Police team was on move, the militant group opened fire and the column retaliated. After a thorough search, a bullet ridden body was found while others managed to escape under cover of darkness. A 9 mm pistol and a 7.65 pistol along with other incriminating documents were recovered from possession of the slain militant. The killed militant is yet to be identified.

A linkman of KLO was arrested from Simlubari village under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa District. Acting on intelligence input, a team of Police led by Tamulpur SDPO Ashif Ahmed launched an operation in Simlubari village and arrested one Indrajit Barman (24). Police sources said that a group of KLO militants along with a top leader of the outfit were taking shelter in the house of Barman in Tamulpur area.

Two militants of the ULFA-I surrendered before SFs in Tinsukia District after SFs launched operation against them. A group of UNLFWSEA and some other extremist organizations entered Upper Dihing Reserve Forest in Tinsukia on March 8. Police official said the group was a conglomerate of ULFA-I, PLA, KYKL, and NSCN-K and was led by self-styled 'Lieutenant' Prodip Gogoi alias Akon and their intention was to carry out subversive activity in Tinsukia before or after March 16, which is "ARMY DAY" of ULFA-I. On getting information Police, Army, CRPF and SSB jointly conducted search operation in probable hide outs, as a result of which two ULFA-I militants namely War Asom and Biman Asom deserted the group along with arms/ammunitions and expressed their willingness to join the mainstream. Two PLA cadres and one KYKL cadre are also suspected to have deserted the group.

The NIA submitted a supplementary chargesheet before the Special NIA Court in Guwahati (Assam) against three NDFB-IKS militants in connection with the killing of five Adivasi people at Pakhriguri village under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District on December 23, 2014. The accused are Amal Mushahary alias Aogoi, Kamakhya Daimary alias Kwnasong alias Konkor alias Kanta and Jeba Basumatary alias Jangsha Borgoyari alias Lambu alias Ziba Borgoyari.

SFs have traced the movement of a 16-member special hit squad comprising of militants from several rebel groups in upper Assam's Tinsukia District, and have sounded an alert as these militants are likely to attempt to disrupt the upcoming Assembly polls in Assam. "On March 8, a group of UNLFWSEA and some other extremist organisations entered Upper Dihing Reserve Forest, Tinsukia. The group was a conglomerate of Independent faction of ULFA-I, PLA, KYKL, NSCN-K," Assam Police said.

In a joint operation by Police and 168 Field Regiment of Army, one dreaded NDFB-IKS militant identified as B. Shumla was killed in Asrabari under Mazbat Police Station area in Udalguri District. One 7. 65 mm pistol, two rounds of ammunition and one 36 hand grenade were recovered from the killed cadre.

A joint team of Manja and Dillai Police recovered huge cache of ammunition from Serlongri Tisso Gaon under Manja Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. As per information, the joint Police team acting on specific information launched an operation at midnight at Serlongri Tisso Gaon about six kilometres west of Manja and recovered 36 hand grenades, 24 rounds of live ammunition of AK series, 10 rounds of live ammunition of 7.65mm pistol and other belongings from the village in the following morning.

Army and Assam Police in a joint operation arrested three NDFB-IKS militants in Chirang District. Acting on specific intelligence input, a joint team of Army and Police arrested one cadre and two linkmen with arms, ammunition and other war like stores in the District. The arrested cadre and linkmen were involved in extortion and unlawful activities, an Army official said in a statement.

March 21

A huge cache of explosives with 69 electronic detonators and wires were recovered at Pherighat in Lakhipur in Cachar District, in a joint operation of Police and CRPF. The recovery was made from a boatman accompanied by two women who were taken into custody. On initial interrogation, they revealed that they were coming from Borobekra in Jiribam in Imphal East District of Manipur.

March 22

Acting on a tip-off, the 14 Dogra Regiment of Army arrested two hardcore militants of the NDFB-IKS from Jaljali village under Rangia Police Station in Kamrup District. According to Army sources, the militants have identified as Durga Baro of village Bonguri, Tamulpur under Baksa District and Umesh Daimary of Gandhibari village. One sophisticated pistol, two grenades and four live cartridges were recovered from their possession.

Janagram Tudu, an overground worker of NSLA, was arrested from Kashiabari in Kokrajhar District. A pistol and live round was recovered from him.

March 24

A JMB operative, Asad Ali alias Asadullah, an associate of Bardhaman blast (October 2, 2014) accused Sahanur Alom was arrested while trying to cross over from Bangladesh at Sutarkandi in Assam's Karimganj District on March 20. An official source told that the fugitive was arrested in an operation led by Karimganj SP Pradip Ranjan Kar on basis of a tip-off. Ali, who hails from Kaplabari village in Mukalmua Police Station area of Assam's Nalbari District, is known as Moinul Islam and Ismail Hussain within the organisation. Confirming Ali's arrest, Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay said that he was one of the six JMB activities of the state who went underground after the arrest of Sahanur and other members of this group.

40th Field Regiment of Army and Udalguri Police in a joint operation arrested a hardcore NDFB-IKS militant. The arrested militant has been identified as Mukuta Boro alias B Mwsagra of Chinakona village under Khoirabari Police Station in Udalguri District. Rakesh Roshan, SP of Udalguri said huge quantities of arms including one factory made 7.65mm pistol, four grenades, three fuse wires, 20 7.65 live rounds of ammunitions were recovered from the possession of the militant.

Indian Army and Kokrajhar Police arrested three KLO cadres who were on their way to attend a training camp at Myanmar. Ranjay Barman was arrested from Maktaigaon in Kokrajhar District, while Hitesh Roy and Shibu Prasad Choudhury were held at Maurigaon in Morigaon District. Two rifles, one pistol and few rounds of ammunition were recovered from the arrested cadres.

The NIA sleuths will interrogate JMB activist Asad Ali alias Asadullah, who was arrested by Assam Police while he was trying to cross over from Bangladesh to India at Sutarkandi in Karimganj District on March 20. The accused is close to Burdwan-blast accused Sahanur Alam, who was charge sheeted by the NIA in the case. An official source said, a team of NIA officials will come from its Calcutta office and interrogate the JMB member to ascertain if he had any role in the Burdwan blast.

Two Bru (Reang) militants were killed in an encounter with the Police in Ramshantipur locality in Hailakandi District. Two persons, who had been abducted by them, were rescued. Police and CRPF personnel launched an operation in the District near the Assam-Mizoram border to rescue the two persons who had been abducted from Silchar in Cachar District on March 25. They are yet to be identified. The officer said three other militants were arrested during the operation.

Based on continuous inputs of insurgent activities over last two weeks in Karbi Anglong District, the Army carried out extensive area domination, and recovered a hideout with large cache of arms and warlike stores and neutralised it in Disama Reserve Forest. The cache includes six country made rifles, two pistols, eight grenades, detonators and huge quantity of explosives.

Two militants of KPLT, which is opposing the upcoming Assembly polls in Assam, were killed in an encounter with a joint team of Police and the Army at Borpung Terang village in Karbi Anglong District, ahead of the April 4 voting in the area. The slain militants were identified as 'commander-in-chief' Sajong Bey and 'general secretary' Mukrang Bey of the outfit. The Police have recovered one AK series rifle and one 9 mm pistol along with some assorted ammunitions from the slain militants. The insurgents exchanged fire with the joint Police and Army team at Borpung Terang village under Chokikhola Police Station. The KPLT had issued threats to media persons recently after journalists at a meeting in Diphu Press Club unanimously decided not to publish the extremist outfit's press releases calling for bandhs opposing the voting scheduled in the District on April 4.

Based on specific information on movement of an NDFB-IKS cadre received from Army Intelligence Unit, a team of Indian Army and Baksa Police launched a joint operation and arrested a cadre of NDFB-IKS from Rampur in Baksa District. The rebel has been identified as Samar Ramchiary alias B Bathaou of Nutan Sripur village under Mushalpur Police Station in Baksa District. "The cadre was actively involved in at least six cases of extortion in last six months and was pivotal in NDFB (S) activities in the area," Defence PRO Suneet Newton said. One 7.65mm pistol along with five live rounds of 7.65mm, one no 36 hand grenade and INR 8050 were recovered from the arrested cadre, he said.

Based on specific information, Army launched a joint operation with Bongaigaon Police and arrested one RNLF cadre from North Salmara in Bongaigaon District. The arrested militant has been identified as Sunil Rabha alias Chinese. The individual joined the group in 2005 and was trained in Parbatjhora in Kokrajhar District. One 7.65mm pistol with magazine, some live rounds, one letter pad of RNLF and some currency were recovered from his possession.

April 24

Army and Rupshi Police arrested a Muslim Fundamental Organisation cadre, identified as Zahidul Islam, of Gobindapur village of Barpeta District, at Rupshi under Kazigaon police station in Kokrajhar District.

April 25

The Bodo Sahitya Sabha (BSS), a literary body of the Bodos, demanded of the Government of India to take stern action against the Muslim fundamentalist organizations operating in BTC region of Assam before the situation takes an ugly turn. The Sabha submitted a memorandum to the UHM Rajnath Singh via e-mail demanding action against the fundamentalist operatives in the region.

April 26

Gorchuk Police arrested a youth, identified as Jitumoni Deka who demanded INR 25 lakh from the guardian of a Royal Group of Institutions (RGI) student in the name of IM in Guwahati. Jitumoni has been working as a peon at RGI. He demanded the cash from Ghanashyam Gogoi, the guardian of an engineering student, on April 16. A case has been filed in Gorchuk Police station in this regard. Investigation is on. 

A farmer, identified as Afazzudin Ahmed (45), was shot dead by suspected ULFA-I militants in Barpukri village under Kalaigaon Police Station in Darrang District.

April 27

A senior leader of the ULFA-I, identified as ‘sergeant major’ Rongmon Asom alias Mecuri was killed in an encounter with Army at Talpathar village in Tinsukia District. Acting on specific input, the army conducted a search operation at the village on April 25. On April 26 night, Rongmon came into contact the Army team and was killed in a fierce close quarter battle on April 27. An AK-81 assault rifle along with a magazine and some other items were recovered from the spot. Rongmon was active in upper Assam since a long time. He was actively involved in killing/extortion activities in the area.

Acting on a tip-off, Manja Police arrested three persons from Khanbomon Hill black topping under Manja Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. The Police also recovered an old .22 rifle from their possession. The arrested persons have been identified as Babu Sing Timung, Bikram Ronghang and Adin Chonglong. Adin Chonglong had come to buy the gun from them.

April 28

Eleven persons, mostly from the Hindi-speaking community, were injured when a suspected IED exploded in Devi Pukhuri Paanchali of Tinsukia District. The explosion occurred in a garbage bin in front of a shop owned by one Upendra Yadav around 7.40 pm. "Of the injured, three are critical while six had minor injuries. All the injured were rushed to Tinsukia civil hospital," a local resident said. One of them was shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. "All of them are out of danger," DGP Mukesh Sahay said.

A crude bomb exploded in front of the main gate of a tea manager's bungalow at Padumoni estate in Tinsukia District around 2 am. There was no casualty in the attack. ULFA-I is suspected to be behind it.

Police said Podumoni tea garden owner Vivek Agarwal had received an extortion demand from the ULFA-I last year, but he reportedly did not pay up. The attack in the town this evening is seen as retaliation to the killing of a senior ULFA-I cadre in the District on April 27. SFs had gunned down ULFA’s ‘self-styled sergeant major’ Rongmon Asom alias Mekuri, during a search operation at Talpathar village of Tinsukia District on April 27.

A UPLA militant, identified as Black Dimasa alias Sumesh Hojai, was arrested by the Army from Haflong in Dima Hasao District. Black Dimasa was wanted for several criminal cases, including the abduction of a 12-year-old minor boy Abinash Shah from Diphu on July 25, 2012. The Police are looking for two other persons, Rahim Ali and Raju Rai.

The Home Department has given its nod to setting up of the first ever full-fledged foreigners’ detention centre in the State (Assam) for those facing deportation to their respective countries. The need for finding separate camps for the declared foreigners was felt as most of the jails are overcrowded.

April 29

Alleged jihadi forces in lower Assam Districts are trying to establish links with arms smugglers of Nagaland and Myanmar to gain direct access to the underground market of sophisticated arms. This came to light during an investigation of the growth of jihadi forces in the state following the arrest of 29 alleged militants across the(BTA) in recent times, report said. So far, Police recovered two AK-47 assault rifles from their possession besides a few country-made fire arms. Questioning of the arrested cadres revealed they were befriending gunrunners in Nagaland and Myanmar. Police teams had recovered eight handmade AK-47 lookalike rifles in a raid earlier.

Bura Bhai (already arrested) and two others from West Bengal were imparting arms and physical training to recruits at Daukhanagar and Amguri camps. The AK series rifles were bought for this purpose from the Nagaland side. Besides, some local clandestine arms makers are also helping with a few handmade arms," sources said. The two 'cadres' from the neighbouring state of West Bengal are now on the run, along with seven other suspected members of a jihadi module.

BTAD IGP LR Bishnoi said the module follows the same training programme as that of the JMB. Though State Police have not commented officially on the possible nexus between this module and other militant outfits of the region, sources said some gunrunners in the Barak Valley are helping these modules get access to the clandestine arms market in Myanmar. Illegal arms allegedly enter the country through the borders of Nagaland and Manipur from Myanmar. These travel to Assam through Dimapur and reach rebels in the state and in Meghalaya. In recent years, Assam has witnessed a steep rise in cases registered under the Arms Act. Official records point out that, 492 cases had been registered under the Arms Act in the State in 2010. This rose to 592 in 2015.

DGAR, Lieutenant General Harminderjit Singh Sachdev said that India and Myanmar have started joint border patrolling in some stretches of the “unfenced border” between both the countries. “In some places (joint border patrolling) it has started but not fully. The patrolling has not started all over, but in some specific areas. They (Myanmarese Army) also come and we also go there (Myanmar),” Sachdev said on the sidelines of investiture ceremony of the Assam Rifles. India has been urging Myanmar to take action against the rebels which include Manipur-based UNLF, PLA, KYKL, PREPAK; Assam-based ULFA and the NSCN-K operating from Sagaing division and the Chin State of Myanmar.

May 1

The Police recovered two dead bodies in different places of Kokrajhar District. The first body was recovered in the forest areas of Badrampur village in Kokrajhar District. Later, the body was identified as Ashinta Basunatary, who was missing since April 22.

On the other hand, the Police recovered another body from Padmabil area under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District. The body was identified as Bishnu Boro (42). Sources from Podmabil village said Bishnu Boro was allegedly killed by a group of unidentified assailants. The assailants crushed his head with a stone and hung the body in a bamboo grove near his house. Police lodged two cases and started investigation in this connection.

The Governor of Assam and Nagaland PB Acharya expressed his grave concern over the recent increase in atrocities on religious minorities in Bangladesh. He said that the killing of minorities, especially of Hindu origin, in Bangladesh, should be stopped. The Governor stressed that the friendly relationship between the two neighbouring nations be strengthened and that no untoward incident should be allowed to take place to hinder this relationship. The Governor also urged that strong action, as per law, should be taken against the perpetrators of violence and crime on minority religious people. Several people including, foreign nationals, bloggers, human rights activists and university teachers were hacked to death in the last one year in Bangladesh. In most of the cases, al Qaeda or the Islamic State (IS) have claimed responsibility.

May 2

ULFA-I ‘chief’ Paresh Baruah probably celebrated his 59th birthday on May 1 “on the run,” as the UMHA said. The ULFA-I chief is constantly moving to avoid arrest and possible extradition. Joint Secretary, UMHA (in-charge North East) Satyendra Garg said that Paresh Baruah, according to intelligence input, has always been on the run, after he fled Bangladesh some years ago. “He doesn’t remain in one place now, he keeps on moving,” Garg said. Reports say Baruah is hiding in the jungles of Ruili in south-western Yunnan Province of China. Contrary to media reports, Garg referred China as a “friendly nation” indicating that the ULFA-I chief would not be given refuge in their territory.

If on one hand the combined forces of Assam Police and the Amy are busy targeting and eliminating cadres of militant outfits active in Assam such as the ULFA-I and the NDFB, on the other hand, intelligence and Police sources disclosed about recruitment being done by the banned ULFA-I, especially from the Upper Assam Districts, and this time the banned organization is using social media like Facebook as a powerful tool to attract new faces and talented youths with an high IQ rather than the conventional method of one-to-one personal contact recruitment.

May 3

Six cadres of AANLA, including its ‘Commander-in-chief’, identified as Dilip Nayak alias Anand Nayak (41) were arrested with arms from Jilango village under Bakulia Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. The other five arrested cadres are Mahadev Gour, Somon Gour alias Rahul Gour, Kanakeram Gour, Uttam Munda and Riten Munda. Two 9 mm pistols with magazines, four 7.65 mm pistols with six magazines, two hand grenades, eight rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 28 rounds of 7.65 mm ammunition were seized from the hide out of the militant group.

May 4

The Central Government was urged to take strong measures to tackle the activities of Islamic militancy in Assam before the situation gets worse. BJP MP Bijoya Chakravarty said in the Parliament that JMB activities in Assam came to the notice of authorities after the Burdwan blasts in West Bengal (October 2, 2014), as militants from Assam were involved. The JMB is active in at least 65 districts of Assam and West Bengal. In Assam, the JMB is active in Baksa, Kokrajhar and Goalpara Districts. The BJP MP said that arms and ammunition were procured from Nagaland and Myanmar. The situation in the area is not normal and that is why arms and ammunition can be procured easily, she said. At least six persons were taken into custody from Barpeta District for their alleged involvement in the Burdwan blast in West Bengal in 2014. Preliminary investigations had revealed that the arrested persons were part of a module operating under the patronage of JMB.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary told the Rajya Sabha that there is, currently, no intelligence input to indicate that terrorists are making efforts to set up terrorist training camps in the hinterland of the country. However, during investigation of certain earlier bomb blast cases, it was noticed that IED-related training was imparted by leaders of some of the organisations to their cadres at various places in the country. In order to counter terror activities, there exists close and effective coordination between intelligence and security agencies at the Centre and the State levels. The Multi Agency Centre has been strengthened and reorganized to enable it to function on 24x7 basis for real time collation, analysing and sharing of intelligence with other intelligence agencies and States, which ensures seamless flow of information between the State and the Central agencies. This has resulted in busting of many terror modules in the country.

A class XII student of Jorhat based AR Public School, was abducted from Tezpur Mission Chariali in Sonitpur District in Assam by a gang of unidentified assailants.

May 5

Border guards of Assam Police and unidentified assailants from Dimapur exchanged gun-fire near Monglamukh border Police outpost in Karbi Anglong District. Police said that the firing began around 8 p.m. and the alert personnel on duty retaliated. However, no casualties were reported. Border patrolling has been intensified with additional reinforcement sent to the area.

Police arrested an unidentified militant belonging to UPLA from Tengkeralangso under Boithalangso Police Station in Karbi Anglong District.  A 7.65 mm pistol along with 10 rounds of live ammunition and some extortion notes were also recovered from his possession.

May 6

The villagers in Karbi Anglong District expressed anger against extortion by militants and the constant threat they face from them. On four occasions in April, villagers in the District refused to pay money to rebels. Locals of remote Metargaon village in East Karbi Anglong caught and beat a militant and handed him over to Police on April 26. The person was a linkman for a rebel outfit and was trying to extort money from the villagers. Earlier, three such incidents were reported from Rongiongphong, Jinglagso and Cheklangso villages of Karbi Anglong on April 11, 14 and 18, respectively. In all three cases, the villagers confronted the rebels and refused to pay extortion money. Confirming the incidents, an Army source said, "Locals are fed up with gun-culture here."

Relentless operations by SFs have decimated rebel outfits like KPLT. "Because of Army operations, money is drying up for militants and they are now targeting remote villages for extortion," the source added. Locals, who already suffer from acute poverty and unemployment, are fed up with such atrocities. Last year, locals of Sirajuli village in Sonitpur District overpowered and apprehended a militant. A peaceful assembly election, where the Army helped civil administration maintain order, also showed that the militants' influence has declined.

May 7

Army launched a joint operation with Chirang Police in Nagdalbari area of the Chirang District and arrested one ADF cadre, identified as Lakhiram Murmu. Lakhiram Murmu is a local trained cadre of ADF and was involved in carrying out extortion activities in the area. One Pistol and three live rounds were also recovered from him.

Army and Kokrajhar Police launched a joint operation and arrested a militant of NSLA-AT, identified as Junas Mardi alias Joyking Mardi from Guruphella village in Kokrajhar District. He was involved in numerous cases of extortion, money collection and providing administrative support to the banned outfit. One rifle along with one live round of ammunition was recovered from the terrorist.

The Court of Foreigners Tribunal of Nalbari District sent two Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in the district to the detention camp in Kokrajhar District in the past one week. In the first case, the tribunal identified one Ramani Das, owner of Badya Bhandar of Nalbari Thana Chowk as a Bangladeshi national on April 29. Das had failed to produce valid documents regarding his citizenship despite repeated notices by the court. After a few days, another woman Chandra Banu alias Barbala Char under Mukalmua circle was picked up on May 6. The woman had also failed to submit valid documents in support of her citizenship. The documents produced in the NRC application were also found fake. The court directed the Nalbari Police to hand over the woman to the BSF to keep her in the detention camp of Kokrajhar District.

Central Government is implementing a scheme in the northeast for surrender-cum-rehabilitation of militants. Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) that the objective of the scheme was to wean away the misguided youth who have strayed into the fold of militancy and bring them to the mainstream. He also said “Surrenderees are paid monthly stipend upto INR 4,000 for a period of 36 months and an immediate grant upto INR 250,000 is kept in a bank in the name of each surrenderee as fixed deposit for a period of 3 years.” Eligible persons under the scheme are initially lodged in a rehabilitation camp where they are trained in a trade/vocation of their liking or befitting their aptitude. The eligible surrendered militants would also be given the opportunity for applying in the State police/Central Para Military forces. Impact assessment of the policy would be done every year to ensure corrective measures in the scheme provided.

May 8

The Police and CRPF, in a joint operation, arrested an armed assailant, identified as Prabin Moran alias Dipu (35), from his residence at Inthem Naga Pathar village under Pengeree Police Station in Tinsukia District. A .22 pistol with 7 rounds of live ammunition were also recovered from his possession. However, Police could not establish his link with any extremist organization yet.

May 9

ULFA-I, led by Paresh Barua, joined the public tirade against drug menace in Assam by warning action against the drug mafia. A statement purportedly emailed by the militant group to media houses in Guwahati, urged the people to provide information about drug users, peddlers and traders, based on which the rebel group would take action.

A joint team of the Army and the Police arrested two cadres of the NSLA, identified as Joseph Hembram (35) and Sushil Hembram (26) from Pokihaga village under Gossaigaon Police Station in the Kokrajhar District. Two country-made guns and two cartridges were reportedly recovered from their possession. Sources also said Joseph Hembram was a cadre of the ACMA before he joined the NSLA.

May 10

A NSCN-R cadre, identified as Kamlin Boro (27) was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Kawlibhangi village under Tangla Police Station of Udalguri District. Reportedly the cadre was travelling from Tangla to his native village Kawlibhanga in his Pulsar bike when assailants who came in a motorbike shot dead the cadre near his residence from point blank range. The cadre succumbed to his injuries with three bullets injuries in the head, heart and stomach. The assailants immediately fled from the scene. Meanwhile, Police rushed the spot at about 4.30 pm and recovered the body. Two empty cartridges of 9mm bullets were also recovered from the spot.

At least 43,000 Bangladeshi nationals, who entered India on valid documents, have vanished during the last four years, whereas only 19,995 could be deported during the same period, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju. Revealing this, Kiren Rijiju said in a Rajya Sabha reply that the highest number of 24,364 disappeared in 2011, while 6,761 was deported the same year. Last year (2015), only 116 Bangladeshi nationals disappeared, while 474 were deported.

The illegal immigrants fall into two categories: foreign nationals who have entered India on valid travel documents and found to be overstaying, and foreign nationals who have entered the country without any valid travel documents. A number of Bangladeshi nationals who came to India on valid travel documents have been found to be overstaying after expiry of their visas, he said. “There are also reports of Bangladeshi nationals having entered the country without any valid travel documents. As entry of such Bangladeshi nationals into the country is clandestine and surreptitious, it is not possible to have accurate data of such Bangladeshi nationals living in various parts of the country, he said.

May 11

Army and Assam Police, in a joint operation, busted an NDFB-IKS camp and killed a cadre of the outfit, identified as  Birbal Islary alias Banjai in the dense Ripu Reserve Forest in Lalbhita area in Kokrajhar District. The slain cadre was known to be close to NDFB-IKS leader Bidai and was involved in numerous cases of extortion, money collection, providing administrative support to the banned organisation and other subversive activities. The slain militant was also involved in December 23, 2014 massacre. One AK-56 along with a magazine and 30 live rounds were recovered from the slain militant.

Dhola Police arrested four youths, identified as Bhaskar Moran (27), Durgeswer Hazarika (33), Raman Borpatragohain (24) and Ajoy Moran (27) on charges of extorting money in the name of ULFA-I in the wee hours. One pistol and live ammunition were recovered from them.

May 12

India and Bangladesh began a five-day dialogue in Dhaka (Bangladesh) between border guarding forces over a host of security issues, including drug trafficking and cattle smuggling across the over 4,000-km frontier the two neighbours share. A 21-member delegation led by BSF Chief KK Sharma on May 11 reached Dhaka to hold the talks at the Pilkhana-based headquarters of their counterpart BGB. The 23-member Bangladeshi delegation is being led by BGB Chief Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed.

The situation along the Indo-Bangla boundary has improved after the two sides signed an agreement on exchange of border enclaves. The Indian team, including officials from the UMHA and border enforcement agencies, will discuss measures to further enhance security along the border and brief the BGB delegation about measures put in place to completely stop instances of cattle smuggling and other illegal substances across the boundary. Indian delegation sources said that the BGB is expected to raise the issue of bringing about a complete halt on border killing incidents and suggest enforcement of some strict security protocols by both the sides to achieve this goal. “A host of issues relating to activities of Indian insurgent groups suspected to be operating from the other side, smuggling of fake Indian currency, drugs and other banned items will be discussed,” they said.

Army in a joint operation with Bongaigaon Police arrested four militants belonging to the MTFA, identified as Ismail Ali, Mohidul Islam, Mouizinur Ahmed and Saiyyuddin Islam from Abhyapuri area in Bongaigaon District. Three pistols, three mobile phones and other warlike stores were also recovered from them.  They have been involved in cases of extortion and kidnapping, sources said.

May 13

A cache of gelatin sticks and detonators were recovered from a cruiser that was coming from Jiribam towards Silchar at Lakhipur in Cachar District at around 5 pm. During the vehicle checking on NH 37 in Phulertol area at Phulertol point, Police found packets of around 1 kg which contained 5 gelatin sticks and 2 detonators from a cruiser. Two persons from the cruiser, Nazrul Laskar (28) and Mofiz Uddin (27) were taken into custody for further investigation. The two accused will be presented before the Court.

The Myanmarese Parliament approved a decision to join the BIMSTEC Convention on cooperation in combating international terrorism, transnational organised crime and drug trafficking. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) includes Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal. Myanmar's Deputy Home Affairs Minister General Aung Soe told: "BIMSTEC can increase cooperation with the international community and promote the country's stability and security. It will benefit the nation and the region".

May 14

Though Bangladesh is no longer a preferred route for the militants and criminals to bring in weapons to the Northeast, the porous international border with Myanmar is still a major worry as sophisticated weapons are still being brought into the region through that route and security agencies suspect that Dimapur in Nagaland is the hub of clandestine arms dealers. Highly placed security sources said that at one point of time, the militants used to bring in weapons to the Northeast through Bangladesh, but that has almost stopped in recent times as the security along the international border has been intensified, while the present Government in that country has also launched a crackdown against those involved in such arms smuggling.

But the porous border with Myanmar remains a cause of concern as militant groups as well as criminals are still bringing in weapons to the region through that country. The arms smugglers mostly use the Nagaland-Myanmar and Manipur-Myanmar borders to smuggle in weapons. Dimapur is still suspected to be the main hub of arms smugglers in the region from where the smuggled weapons are sent to the other states of the region. According to information available with the security agencies, one AK series rifle costs around three lakh rupees in the clandestine market, while a pistol costs around one lakh to 1.50 lakh rupees depending on the quality. One grenade costs around 30 thousand rupees.

May 15

Police and CRPF, in a joint operation,  arrested ‘Chairman’ of the KPLT, identified as Arabh Terang from Balipathar Sencho Bey Village under Bokajan Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. He was involved with many extortion cases in different areas of Karbi Anglong.

May 16

Morigaon Police arrested an unidentified cadre of TLA, identified as Babu Phangso from Nallie in Jagiroad in Nagaon District.

In a joint operation, Police, Army and COBRA arrested a cadre of KLO, identified as Vikram Barman (22) from Bajugaon area under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. He was involved in a number of money extortion cases and provided logistic support to the militant outfit. A country-made rifle and live bullet were recovered from his possession.

A militant belonging to NSCN-IM, identified as Yimso (a resident of Half Nagarjan in Dimapur, Nagaland) was arrested by Police from Lahorijan Market under Khatkhati Police Station in  East Karbi Anglong District. A .22 pistol along with magazine and a mobile phone was recovered from him.

May 17

At least three people were injured after suspected militants lobbed a grenade at a shop in Nagaon District. The blast took place two days ahead of the counting of votes in Assam. Police said that lesser-known outfit TLA has claimed responsibility for the blast. According to Police, the incident took place at Raha Chariali after two motorcycle-borne men lobbed the explosive at a shop. "Three people who were around the shop received injuries during the incident and they have been shifted to a local hospital immediately," Police said.

Pushing for a comprehensive approach in dealing with illegal influx, the NESO asked the Centre Government to update the NRC in other north-eastern States in the lines of Assam, with 1951 as the base year. An executive body meeting of the eight constituent students’ bodies of the NESO also asked the Union Government to realize the region specific needs of the Northeast, in its policies related to education, economy and security. NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa, while addressing the media in Guwahati, said that the NRC update in Assam was a welcome move, but other States facing similar problem of illegal migrations and its daunting impact on economy and socio-cultural fabric, must get a similar measure to protect the indigenous tribes and communities.  “Union Government was yet to take up the specific issues of the North East in a desired way. For a clear picture on the penetration of illegal migrants in the region, the NRC must be updated in other NE States, with 1951 as the base year. We also demand total repeal of the draconian Armed Forced [Special Power] Act (AFSPA),” he added.

The NBCC said that the India-Bangladesh border will be fenced within the next three years. The NBCC, which is executing the project along the Indo-Bangladesh international border in the North-East, has been building fences for the last 15 years, said the chairman-cum-managing director, Anoop Kumar Mittal. Referring to the fencing project, the CMD said that there was no issue with the technical part and they have been using the latest fencing technology in the North-East.

May 18

The NIA filed a chargesheet against five NDFB-IKS militants including their ‘chairman’ Songbijit Ingti Kathar and ‘SS Army Chief’ Bishnu Goyari in the terror attack at Narsingbari in Baksa District in BTAD on May, 2014, which had killed three persons. The top leaders of NDFB-IKS were charge-sheeted for the first time by NIA in a terrorist act case. The five hard-core terrorists of NDFB-IKS, evidence revealed, had planned the ghastly terrorist attack in the night of May 1, 2014 on innocent villagers of Narsingbari village in Baksa District.

Those named in chargesheet are - Songbijit Ingti Kathar alias I K Songbjit (Chairman cum Interim president of NDFB-IKS), Bishnu Goyari (SS Army Chief), Binod Mushahary alias Batha (SS Deputy Army chief), Lankeswar Boro and Santosh Khekatary. They have been charged for murder, criminal conspiracy, waging war against India, Explosives Act, UAPA, Arms Act among other sections. The accused persons are evading arrest and wanted in the case, said NIA. "Till date, NIA has arrested total 61 terrorists of different ranks of NDFB (S) in connection with eight cases entrusted to NIA for investigation, pertaining to the terrorist attacks upon innocent people of different communities in Assam in the month of May and December of 2014. With this charge-sheet against five accused, the number of NDFB (S) cadres charge-sheeted by NIA till date stands at 60," the agency said.

May 20

An NDFB-IKS cadre, identified as Ubram Narzary, and an overground worker of the outfit, identified as Uresh Narzary, were arrested from Balamguri in Chirang District.

The new BJP-led Government in Assam will give top priority to finding a permanent solution to the problem of infiltration of illegal migrants from Bangladesh into the north-eastern State, BJP leader Sarbanand Sonowal said. "The sealing of borders with Bangladesh will get top priority," Sonowal, who was elected BJP legislature party leader, said in an interview. He said the issue of "identity crisis" in Assam vis-a-vis bona fide citizens of India and infiltrators from Bangladesh was a matter of concern. However, infiltration had come down "after an agreement with Bangladesh", said Sonowal. The focus of the new Government will also be on maintaining law and order in the state and creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

Sensation prevails in Pratapkata area under Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar District following the alleged recovery of cow's head in a Hindu worship centre. Sources alleged that miscreants put a cow's head in a Hindu worship place on May 22-night at Bhaban Nagar near a Shiva linga. The miscreants also allegedly chopped off the head of the Kali Devi in a Shani temple situated near the Shiva linga on the same night. The incidents drew sharp reactions from the local people. Sources added that the local people informed the police and they took away the head of the cow and buried it near a small stream about 100 metres away from the temple.

Police and Army, in a joint operation, arrested a ULFA-I cadre, identified as Akon Moran alias Jitu Bora from a hideout in Tekeri in Tinsukia District. Moran was accused of various criminal charges including extortion, kidnapping, and theft and providing arms to his fellow cadres. The sources informed that his activities were mostly confined to Tinsukia District and Sadiya in particular. The SFs recovered a 7.6 mm pistol and seven rounds of live ammunition from the possession of the ULFA-I cadre.

ULFA-I said the allocation of land by the BTC to yoga practitioner Ramdev is an anti-Assam move. In a statement released to the media, the outfit said it had come to know that the council was almost through with the process of handing over 3,800 hectare of land to Ramdev. "The move of Hagrama Mohilary, one of the leaders of the Bodos, to hand over the land to Ramdev was sad and anti-Assam in nature," said the statement signed by the ULFA-I 'president' Abhijit Asom.

Chirang Police and Indian Army arrested a cadre of NDFB-IKS, identified as Saneswar Brahma from Hauliyapara area under Panbari Police Station of Chirang District. One 7.65 mm pistol with three rounds live ammunition was recovered from him.

SFs arrested one NDFB-IKS linkman, identified as Hebol Basumatary (36) from Dhaligaon Bazar in Chirang District. One Passion bike bearing registration no AS-26-5553 and INR 20,000 was recovered from his possession. Upon preliminary interrogation it has been learnt that the money was collected through extortion and the linkman was given the job of sending the money to Myanmar-based leaders," the SP Sankarbrata Rai Medhi said.

The special designated TADA court in Guwahati acquitted the ULFA founder 'general secretary' Anup Chetia in three cases registered against him under TADA. This includes the sensational murder case of Surrendra Paul that stunned the country, shook up the tea industry and led the State to President's Rule in the 1990s. Chetia, along with five others, including the outfit's elusive 'commander in charge' Paresh Baruah and 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, were accused of the killings. With Chetia's acquittal, now the lone accused in the case is Paresh Baruah. Rajkhowa and others were already acquitted in the case on the 'benefit of doubt' in 2012. The other two cases in which Chetia was also given a breather included the sensational murder cases of city-based businessman and former president of Kamrup Chamber of Commerce Girdharilal Harlalka in 1988 and the killing of three persons, including the wife of a top cop and a personal security officer, at Chabua in Dibrugarh District in 1989. Chetia has been facing trials in all the pending cases after he was handed over to India by Bangladesh.

The Union cabinet gave its approval to the introduction of bills in the parliament to grant scheduled tribe status to Bodos living in the hill District of Karbi Anglong and Karbis living in the plain areas of Assam. The Union cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved the introduction of two bills in the parliament for certain amendments in the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in Assam, Tripura, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, and for the identification of new communities in Puducherry. A central Government statement said Boro, Boro Kachari and Bodo, Bodo Kachari and Karbi (Mikir) communities were found eligible for their inclusion in the scheduled tribe list in the bills. Community leaders said names of the communities from Assam mentioned in the bills are, in popular parlance, referred to as Bodos, dwelling in the hills, and Karbis, living in the plain areas.

Indian Army conducted an operation and arrested two suspected JMB cadres, identified as Imran Hussain (32) and Mujammil Azan (35) from Parmaiguli village in Tezpur under Mahabhairob Police outpost in Sonitpur District. However, according to reports, after the arrest of the two fundamentalists, Mujammil Azan tried killing himself by cutting his throat. He was immediately rushed to the Kanaklata Civil Hospital in a critical condition. Though details are awaited regarding the entire incident, sources informed that the two accused are the mastermind of various unlawful activities, including the recent robbery case of popular singer Zublee Barua's sound system.

Later, it was confirmed that the two arrested jihadis were members of a Muslim fundamentalist group, JMB, Assam, that has been carrying out subversive activities in the greater Pachmile area since the last several years. Army sources informed that following grilling of a jihadi, Imran Hussain, the Army conducted a search operation at his residence and recovered two guns, five mobile phones having contact numbers with militants based in a foreign country, one Tablet and letterheads with the heading, 'Jamat-ul-Muzahiddin, Assam, Sonitpur district committee.'

City Police arrested a couple, identified as Khanin Swargiari and Roushmi Boro for their links with the NDFB-IKS from Guwahati. Dispur Police said the two were cadres of the rebel outfit and had already confessed to having links with top leaders of the outfit. "They were providing shelter to rebels and passing information about various police activities to NDFB (S) linkmen. Investigation will throw light on their other possible subversive activities if any," a Police source said. The couple was involved in several extortion activities in the city, too, a Police source said. "Khanin has criminal records and the duo has been extorting huge money since 2013 for the outfit," a Policeman added.

In a major breakthrough, the joint team of AR and Police rescued Praful Kumar Tiwari, resident of 12 Kilo, Umrangso in Dima Hasao District, who was abducted by a group of unidentified armed assailants near 15 kilo where he runs a small shop. After an exhaustive search operation of 48 hours, the joint team of AR and Assam Police launched another search operation in which they successfully rescued the victim safely from the clutches of the kidnappers. In the attempt to ensure safety of the victim, however, the SFs could not arrest the kidnappers.

SFs arrested a cadre of KLO, identified as Madhusudan Barman alias Hakau (22) from Maktaigaon in Kokrajhar District. A rifle and a live round were recovered from him. Sources said the arrested militant was involved in numerous cases of extortion, money collection, providing administrative support to the banned organization and other subversive activities.

Three suspected JMB cadres, identified as Md Mohiruddin Sheikh, Md Mafidul Sheikh and Md Rojob Ali Patowary from Chirang District in lower Assam. They were reportedly fresh recruits of a 'jihadi' module which has been trying to widen its operation in lower Assam, report said. A senior Police officer at Kajalgaon in Chirang said the three were part of a module that set up training camps in lower Assam. "The three persons were arrested during multiple raids at Aamguri and Daukhanagar last evening," the official said. Mahiruddin participated in a physical training camp at Amguri while Mafidul and Rajab participated in a training camp in Daukhanagar. The three were on the run, he added.

The police have so far arrested 32 people from different parts of lower Assam in connection with the busting of the training camp at Daukhanagar in September 2015. The Police have a list of 36 people involved with this module.

One NSCN-R cadre, identified as ‘Razou Peyu’ Hokuto Ayemi was killed by unidentified assailants at Green Land hotel in Mariani (near Nagaland border) in Jorhat District of Assam. However, the NSCN-R on May 31 asked both the NSCN-IM and NSCN-KK to make inquiry regarding the “cold-blooded killing” of its cadre.

Condemning the incident, the NSCN-R said the Naga national movement is not a personal issue or business that some individual or group can use it to do away with any Naga life. The NSCN-R requested the NSCN-IM to inquire into the incident from their workers as well as the public whether the claim that the ‘killers’ are from the NSCN-IM command is true or not.

Police recovered an IED planted under a bridge at Dirak Chariali on NH 52 under Kakopathar Police Station in Tinsukia District.

An NDFB-IKS linkman, identified as Alfrat Basumatary (22), was arrested by a joint team of SFs from Auguri under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District. A pistol with two live rounds was recovered from him.

Though the level of violence involving militants in Assam came down drastically in the face of relentless counterinsurgency operations, the security and intelligence agencies recently came across disturbing inputs on the attempts by militants to go for recruitments in at least four Districts. Highly placed security sources said that the ULFA-I recently started making efforts to recruit youths from upper Assam Districts and according to information available, a few boys have already joined the outfit. On the other hand, the NDFB-IKS, the leaders of which is lying low after the outfit suffered major setbacks in the operations by Police and SFs, is trying to recruit cadres from the Districts of Kokrajhar and Chirang.

Sources revealed that both the outfits are now not in a position to create major trouble in the State. The ULFA-I tried to push in a few cadres to upper Assam districts on the eve of the elections to create trouble, but they failed to do so, while, the NDFB-IKS leaders are totally on the run and their strength came down drastically in the last two years. However, the outfits are trying to recruit youths not to use them as "armed cadres" but to use them to indulge in extortions. The leaders of the outfits are calling up middle men and sympathizers requesting them to provide boys who are willing to join the outfits. The ULFA-I leaders have been making efforts to extort money from upper Assam Districts and called up a number of tea garden owners and managers, contractors and other businessmen. But they do not have cadres on the ground to collect the demanded amount. On the other hand, the NDFB-IKS leaders called up a number of Government officials but security sources said that so far, there is no report on whether anyone paid money as per the demand of the militants.

Police arrested two cadres of the NSCN-R, identified as Pianthong Sitiji and Solangthong Ekan, while they were collecting money from trucks from the market at Purana Laharijan under Khatkati police station of Karbi Anglong District.

Police arrested two cadres of the NSCN-R, identified as Pianthong Sitiji and Solangthong Ekan, while they were collecting money from trucks from the market at Purana Laharijan under Khatkati police station of Karbi Anglong District.

May 31

Based on specific information, Army launched a joint operation with Assam Police in general area of Hatogaon in Dhubri District and arrested two GNLA linkmen, identified as Julius Sangma and Malceng Marak. One Pistol with magazine, two mobile phones and seven SIM cards were recovered from the arrested linkmen, an Army official said.

June 1

Morigaon Police arrested one person, identified as Abdul Wahid along with .22 pistol and six live bullets at Pub-Rangadoia under Mikirbheeta Police Station in Morigaon District.

Four militants belonging to KLO, identified as Mridul Ray (25), Dhananjay Ray (27), Kanak Ray (22) and Konujeet Ray (19) were arrested by a joint team of the Army and Police from various places in Kokrajhar District.

Police arrested an NDFB-IKS recruiter, identified as Tarun Narzary, from Guwahati Railway Station at Paltan Bazar in Kamrup District. Narzary hails from Bijni of in Chirang District.

A NDFB-IKS recruiter, identified as Bikram Muchahary, was brought from Dimapur in Nagaland by a team of Guwahati City Police. Muchahary hails from Sonitpur town.

June 2

City Police Commissioner Mukesh Agrawal said that the NDFB-IKS was "targeting" Guwahati to set "up an extortion network". The commissioner's warning came in the wake of the arrest of two suspected NDFB-IKS "recruiters" who were involved in demanding money from people here using the outfit's letterheads. "We have reports that the NDFB (S) is attempting to form a network here, but we have already launched our operations and spoilt their intent to a great extent," Agrawal said.

Assam Governor PB Acharya, in his customary address to the members of the State Legislative Assembly, said that security, good governance and development for all will be among the top priorities of the Government. The Governor said, “We will do our best to give a clean, efficient and responsive administration, and will strive to ensure that our delivery system works with full accountability and complete transparency in all the areas of governance. “All the initiatives of my Government will be geared towards bringing Assam to be one of the State on the top of the list in development,” he said.

The BJP-led NDA Government ordered complete sealing of Assam’s border with Bangladesh by June next year (2017), fulfilling an electoral pledge of BJP within a week of assuming power in Assam to check illegal immigration from the neighbouring country. UHM Rajnath Singh issued the order at a high-level meeting attended by top Home Ministry officials in New Delhi. During the meeting, the UHM directed that the Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam should be sealed completely,” a Home Ministry official said.

June 3

The 4.5-kilometre-long India-Bangladesh border in Assam's Karimganj town area will be single-fenced, said BSF Director General K K Sharma. The BSF chief's visit is significant as it comes at a time when both the Centre and the State Government have announced that Assam's border with Bangladesh will be sealed within one year. During his visit to this part of India's border with Bangladesh, the BSF chief informed that the international border along Karimganj on the banks of the Kushiyara will be fenced soon. The fence will not be erected 150 metres away from the zero point of the border in line with international norms. Instead, fencing work will be carried out by the banks of the Kushiyara that separates the international border in this part of the country. This is to ensure less suffering of residents on the Indian side, he added.

The peace talks between the Centre and several militant outfits in the northeastern region are moving positively and peace would be restored in the whole region soon, UMHA Joint Secretary Satyajit Garg said. “The Central government has been holding peace talks with several militant outfits in the northeastern region. The talks are progressing positively,” he said. After meeting Tripura Chief Secretary Yashpal Singh and State Police chief K Nagaraj, he said: “Peace talks are going on with the NSCN-IM, ULFA and many other militant outfits of several North East States.” The official said the government is hopeful that with the positive outcome of the on-going peace talks with the extremists’ groups, absolute peace would be restored in the entire northeastern region soon. “Government’s policy is to hold talks with the militant groups that shun violent activities. The Centre is closely observing the situation in the North East and bordering areas,” Garg said.

“Tripura and Mizoram are the most peaceful States in the North East India,” he said, adding that northeastern states are in a strategic location adjoining five countries – China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. “India’s strategies for China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and other neighbours are different. For India, Myanmar is located in a significant position,” said Garg.

June 4

Police arrested one NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Janak Brahma along with a pistol and ammunition from Kokrajhar District. 

A NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Sobhaigo Mushahary was arrested by the Police from Chirang District. The arrested militant was in close contact with top NDFB-IKS leaders and was providing them crucial logistics support and early warning of troops' movement. Both these terrorists were involved in extortion activities and other subversive activities, report said.

June 5

Army and Police in a joint operation in the thick jungles of Kakulong in Chirang District of Assam busted a camp of NDFB-IKS militants. According to reports, while no militant was in the site, a large number of items were recovered, indicating presence of terrorists not long ago. A rifle, some gun powder, clothes, sling shots, utensils and rations were recovered from the spot. It is also suspected that some insiders from the Police Force might have tipped them off, report said.

June 6

Defending the imposition of the controversial AFSPA in the North East, the Army said there was no recent case of misuse of the law in the region. “In the Eastern Command, during the time I have spent here, there has not been a single incident which has been reported where AFSPA has not been used for the right reason,” Eastern Army Commander, Lieutenant General Praveen Bakshi said. He said if there was any breach of AFSPA, it was dealt with firmly by the army. “If the army is required to handle insurgency, we require AFSPA. If we don’t have AFSPA, our hands are tied and we cannot do our job. It is an enabling provision and not a draconian provision,” he said.

Acting on specific inputs, a joint team of SFs comprising Police, CRPF and AR cracked militant’s attempts to regroup and float DHNA by arresting eight suspected militants, identified as Pankaj Phukan, Chandra Mohan Rajbangshi, Mrinmoy Choudhury, Junesh Hojai, Parthajit Thaosen alias Ashit Thaosen, Pabitra Batari Debashis Rajowar and Binod Langthasa from different locations of Cachar District. SFs first took into custody Pankaj Phukan and his interrogation led to the arrest of others. According to a top Police officer, these militants who were earlier linked to ULFA, SULFA and DHD joined hands together under the banner of DHNA with the sole purpose of extortions, kidnapping for ransom, loot of ATMs and other criminal activities. Some among them have been involved in criminal activities earlier in Dima Hasao District. Though some arms and ammunitions have been recovered from their possession, Police officer is confident of recovering heavy arms and for which they will be subjected to sustained cross-examination.

Gauhati High Court (in Guwahati) ordered an inquiry into the alleged pitiable living conditions in four BTAD relief camps sheltering victims of the 2012 ethnic violence. A division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Suman Shyam passed the order, directing the registrar (vigilance) of the high court to visit these camps and submit a report on their condition. Of these four camps, three are in Chirang District while one is in Kokrajhar District.

June 7

Acting on specific information, Police arrested a linkman of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Rajen Narzary (28) at Shantipur village under Kachugaon police station in Kokrajhar District.

June 8

A joint team of Tamulpur Police and 21 Mahar regiment of Indian Army arrested one NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Deepak Boro alias B. Daithun from Kalakuchi village under Tamulpur police station in Baksa District. Police recovered two grenades, two hand-made bombs, one mobile hand set and some incriminating documents from his possession.

Based on specific input, Chirang Police and Indian Army launched an operation and arrested one NDFB-IKS cadre, identified as Sabian Mochahary alias Adam (27) from Amteka area under Amguri Police Station of Chirang District. “One hand grenade was recovered from him. This NDFB-IKS cadre fled away to Bangalore last year (2015) due to ongoing intensive CI operations. He was a close associate of slain hardcore cadres Ringsur Basumatary, Gundai, Jwnthwi and others,” the official said.

A joint team of Police and Army, in an operation, arrested a cadre of the NSLA, identified as Berenthius Hembrom (29) from Thakurpur village under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. He was arrested on the basis of CDR analysis and found to be involved in extortion from Grahampur VCDC chairman, Abraham Soren.  

The NIA Special Court at Guwahati convicted 18 members of the UNLF, including its chairman Raj Kumar Meghen, under various sections of the UAPA and the IPC for various offences, including criminal conspiracy of terrorist acts and waging war against the Government. The members of the outfit have been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment ranging from seven to 10 years for hatching criminal conspiracy of terrorist acts in Assam and Manipur and waging war against the Government of India. The NIA had submitted two chargesheets in the case, charging 25 persons for their involvement in terrorist conspiracy and waging war against the Government. Of these, 18 persons faced the criminal trial while the remaining seven are absconding.

The case relates to a search conducted on April 30, 2010 at a rented house in Guwahati in which two persons including Khundong Tomba alias Bikramjit, vice chairman of the outfit and Y Nabichand, another UNLF cadre were arrested and a laptop, three pen drives, one mobile phone, one wireless internet connection and INR 50,000 in cash were recovered from their possession. In the subsequent investigation, NIA and Assam Police arrested 20 more members of the UNLF, who were charged with hatching terrorist conspiracy in Manipur and Assam. It was alleged that the outfit had indulged in large scale extortion from Government officials, recruitment of cadres, purchase of arms and ammunition, for waging war against the Government.

The NIA also arrested UNLF chairman Raj Kumar Meghen alias Sanayama and a large number of digital articles like laptop and mobile phones were recovered from him and other cadres, which revealed financial dealings of the organisation as well as money trail of investments by the organisation.

Tinsukia Police arrested two linkmen of the ULFA-I, identified as Lakhyajit alias Akon Gogoi and Subhash Gogoi from Tinsukia District. The Police also recovered live ammunition and two mobile handsets from them. According to the Police, the duo was involved in several cases of extortion.

The Police arrested a linkman of ULFA-I, identified as Anupam Gogoi alias Baba from Kukurekhuwa in Tinsukia District.

June 9

An assistant engineer of the Assam State Electricity Board, identified as Jatin Dhekial Phukan was shot at by unidentified assailants in the Kahilipara area in Kamrup District. After being hit by a bullet, Phukan rushed to the GMCH on his own on his motorbike, where he was admitted. Although the Police claimed it to be a stray bullet, the source of the same is being investigated.

June 10

Four suspected linkmen of the NDFB-IKS were arrested from different places in the Kokrajhar District. Three of them, identified as Krwmdwo Basumatary, Sunsuma Basumatary and Bilipang Brahma, were arrested by Kokrajhar Police from Owabari village in the district while the fourth linkman, identified as Kundan Narzary, was arrested from neighbouring Bishmuri village. Three stolen bikes were recovered during the Owabari arrests, one of which was supposed to be handed over to an NDFB-IKS cadre on June 10. Kundan's call details reveal that he is in contact with cadres of the outfit in Myanmar. BTAD IGP L.R. Bishnoi said 40 NDFB-IKS linkmen have been arrested in the past three months, 30 from Kokrajhar District and 10 from Chirang District.

ULFA-I in a media communiqué expressed that each of its members were deeply saddened by the news of conviction of the UNLF of Manipur, Chairman, Raj Kumar Meghen alias Sanaiyama’s by another 10 years. It said that the Indian Government machinery in occupation is “scared” of the impact of Sanaiyama’s principle.

June 11

A KPLT militant, identified as Deven Tisso (22), was killed at Kollonga in West Karbi Anglong District in an encounter with Police. A 7.66mm pistol and four live cartridges were recovered from his possession.

Based on specific inputs from military intelligence, the Indian Army and Assam Police launched an operation and arrested a militant of LAEF, identified as Suparo Swargyari from the area of Deuripara near Goalpara in Goalpara District. One 7.65 mm pistol was recovered from the militant along with some ammunition. According to the militant, he joined the LAEF in 2014 and has been active in carrying out subversive activities since then.

Based on specific input, a joint team of Tinsukia Police and Army team conducted an operation at Wathoi Kailashpur and arrested a linkman of ULFA-I, identified as Jitu Dohotia (34), from the vicinity of Koriajan reserve forest in Tinsukia District. Later, Jitu Dohotia confessed to having been involved in the bomb blast in front of the residence of Vivek Agarwal, owner of Podumoni Tea Estate on the night of April 28.

June 12

Army and Police launched a major operation and arrested a linkman of NDFB-IKS, identified as Jibon Arjya from Kokrajhar District in the wee hours. This particular operation was launched on receiving specific inputs about a linkman who was extorting large amounts of money and preparing to send it to the Bidai group. Reacting swiftly, the Army launched operation and arrested Jibon Arjya, who was extorting cash to the tune of INR 1 lakh. The cash was recovered from the linkman along with a pistol and ammunition. It is alleged that the outfit was using it to threaten local businessmen and other people.

A meeting on peace and communal harmony was organised by the Udalguri District administration at Bishnu Rabha Kristi Sangha at the Udalguri town.

June 13

Two women cadres of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Ansuri Narzary alias Ansu (20) and Rekha Mushahary (18) were arrested from Kokrajhar District. Kokrajhar SP Sarma said Ansuri was arrested from Theka Bazar under Kachugaon police station in Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar District while Rekha was arrested from Bishmuri. "The two were arrested based on intelligence inputs about movement of the women cadres," Sarma said. The Police recovered INR 1 lakh and a mobile phone with SIM from Ansuri. The amount was extortion money collected from businessman, contractors and was to be handed over to B. Bidai, the ‘self-styled vice-president’ of the outfit, Sarma added.

Two NDFB-IKS militants, identified as Bharat Basumaraty alias B. Phunkhag and Dipak Daimary alias Dhunphang were arrested from Daisunguri in Kokrajhar District. Two 7.65 pistols and live bullets were recovered from them, the Police said. Both the militants were trained in Myanmar. Both of them were reported to have fled the area after the operation was launched against the outfit in the BTAD and returned recently to revive and strengthen the outfit, sources said.

June 14

A joint team of Police and CRPF busted an illegal gun and explosive manufacturing factory at No.2 Magurmari Char in Darrang District and arrested two persons in this connection. According to Police, acting on a tip-off the SFs raided the house and campus of one Hafej Ali and found the illegal factory. The SFs arrested two persons, identified as Kitap Ali and Ekambar Ali, both residents of Morigaon District, while they were manufacturing handmade arms. Police recovered a huge quantity of instruments and materials, including electric wires, iron ball-bearings used in cycles, nuts and bolts, sharp weapons, ammunition of handmade rifle, among others. However, the main accused, who also hails from Morigaon, managed to escape.

June 16

Myanmar and India vowed to cooperate on issues of border security and stability, sources with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Myanmar) said. The pledge came as Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi met Ajit Doval, the Indian NSA who is visiting Nay Pyi Taw as a special envoy of Indian PM Narendra Modi, report said. Their discussions also covered development of long-term advantages from road connectivity between the two countries.

Dibrugarh Police claimed to have unearthed an ULFA-I’s plan to carry out explosions outside the BJP District office in Dibrugarh town in Dibrugarh District, following the arrest of a cadre of the outfit. Police sources said that an ULFA-I militant, identified as Mamon Gogoi alias Biplob Asom (27) was arrested from a hideout at Betoni Sariali under Khowang Police Station in the Dibrugarh District. Nearly 700 grams of TNT, one detonator, one timer device, three battery cells and wires were recovered from him. Sources said during interrogation, the arrested militant, who hails from nearby Dulia Lahowal village, reportedly confessed to the Police that he was entrusted with a mission by the top ULFA-I leadership in Myanmar to carry out subversive activities like triggering blasts in Dibrugarh. The BJP District office at Amolapatty and a hotel at RKB Path opposite Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station were the targets, the sources said.

Dibrugarh SP, Bir Bikram Gogoi said that the arrested militant revealed that he was deputed by senior ULFA-I leader Arunodoy Dohotia (self-styled publicity secretary of the outfit based in Myanmar) to "execute the mission". The militant reportedly told the Police that he had joined the outfit last year and had undergone two months' training in the camp on making bombs and triggering blasts. The SP said they were investigating whether the hotel was the specific target or the police station opposite the hotel. He said the BJP's district unit office could have been selected by the outfit.

June 17

In a joint operation by the Army and Police, an ULFA-I linkman, identified as Rupjyoti Gogoi, was arrested from near Naharkatiya in Dibrugarh District. Altogether 11 extortion notes, two cell phones and a list containing the names of a few small tea growers were found in his possession.

June 18

In a joint operation conducted by Army, Dibrugarh Police and CRPF arrested three ULFA-I militants, identified as ‘self-styled sergeant’ Ritupon Borah alias Irfan Asom (23), Dipon Moran alias Prthiraj Moran, 'corporal' Nakul Rabha alias Bishal Asom (18) and one GNLA militant, identified as Saltiush N. Marak alias Chem (21) from Chetia Pathar in Dibrugarh District. The SFs recovered three .9 mm pistols, six magazines, 40 rounds of live ammunition and 2 BFDX BF 860 Chinese wireless radio sets from them. The militants confessed they were making transit halt at Chetia Pathar on their way to Arakan camp (1st Brigade), Myanmar from Tura (Meghalaya) on the orders of their deputy ‘commander-in-chief’ Dristi Rajkhowa and were waiting for their guide to take them to Myanmar.

June 19

Tamulpur Police arrested two ULFA-I linkmen, identified as Sukumani Das (34) and Manab Kalita from Tamulpur in Baksa District. According to Police, they had sent a demand letter to a businessman of Kaurbaha under Tamulpur police station by using the letter pad of ULFA few days ago. Later Police investigated the case following the complaint made by the businessman and nabbed the both from their house. According to the statement of Sukumani and Manab Mrinal Kalita, they worked in the forest department and had used the letter pad to demand money with the help of former ULFA cadres Gitu Kalita and Babli of Rangia. Police are trying to nab Babli and Mrinal. Police recovered letter pad of ULFA from the possession of Sukumani and Manab.

Two linkmen of NDFB-IKS were arrested in Kokrajhar District.

A general meeting of senior citizens and noted intellectuals was held at the Jorhat Press Club under the aegis of an alliance of the Anti-Influx Platform led by a Supreme Court advocate, Upamanyu Hazarika and Jorhat Bar Association advocate Rintu Goswami, against the grave issue of influx of illegal migrants that has already converted indigenous inhabitants into a minority in large parts of Assam.

They said, "The need of the hour is to apprise the present government about how by the year 2040 the indigenous Assamese people will become minorities in view of the continuing influx and the present drawbacks of the NRC update process through which many illegal migrants will get legalized rights to become Indian citizens. The Central Government in Parliament on July 14, 2004 had admitted about the presence of 50 lakh illegal migrants from Bangladesh in Assam. Union Home Minister Prakash Jaiswal had given details of about 20 per cent of the 2.61 crores of Assam population to be foreigners. As against this, in between 1985 to 2012 only 2,442 illegal migrants have been detected and deported (White paper of October 2012, Assam Government)."

Police arrested a cadre of ULFA-I, identified as Rahul Hazarika alias Laden Asom (24) from the Moran area of Dibrugarh District. A hand grenade and twelve demand notes signed by ULFA-I 'deputy commander-in-chief' Drishti Rajkhowa on the outfit's letterhead were also recovered from him. Dibrugarh SP Bir Bikram Gogoi said the cadre confessed that he arrived from Myanmar in December 2015 to carry out extortion activities in the district following Rajkhowa's orders. He had joined the banned outfit in 2013 and underwent arms training in Bangladesh in 2014.

In a joint operation, Army Lahoal Police arrested an ULFA-I militant, identified as Sagar Gogoi alias Feroz Asom (22) from Lohali Gaon under Tengakhat Police station in Dibrugarh District while he was moving towards Namsai District of Arunachal Pradesh via Tinsukia in order to reach Arakan camp of proscribed outfit in Myanmar. SFs recovered 14 rounds of live ammunition of 7.62 mm AK 47 assault rifle, five 9 mm pistols, 11 rounds 0.22 mm and two fired cases of 0.22 mm from the militant. The arrested militant later during interrogation had revealed that he infiltrated to the District from Dauki village in Meghalaya and was instructed by the 'commander-in-chief', 'self-styled Major' of ULFA-I, Dristi Rajkhowa to reach Arakan Camp in Myanmar through Arunachal Pradesh.

"The ULFA has faltered on many occasions in its struggle to achieve independence for the State of Assam as its method of struggle remained debatable, but the entire issue is still relevant even in the face of the changing times in today's world," said Anup Chetia, 'general secretary' of the ULFA. Addressing a gathering at the Kanaklal Baruah auditorium of the Assam State Museum in Guwahati on the occasion of the launching of his poetry collection, Karabandee, the top ULFA leader, who had been imprisoned at the Rajshahi Jail in Bangladesh for nearly 20 years, sought forgiveness from all the people who lost their kith and kin in the hands of ULFA cadres throughout the State. Lamenting that lack of an internal control mechanism among the various cadres of the outfit at different times led to many unfortunate and heart-rending incidents, including killings, Chetia remarked that the struggle for a sovereign Assam is at a crossroads now, though the concept has become somewhat misplaced.

Urging the intelligentsia, media and the common people of Assam to suggest and advise the outfit at this crucial period when the ULFA is involved in peace talks, the ULFA leader, who was among the few who gave birth to the armed struggle, stressed the need to relocate the movement in the context of the demographic and other crises currently plaguing the indigenous people of the State.

Government denied having agreed to a proposal of Naga insurgent outfit NSCN-IM of granting separate passport and flag for Nagas saying peace talks with the group was still continuing. "Government recognises the unique Naga history and is committed to it. Talks with NSCN-IM is going on. News of granting separate passport and flag are not true," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said in New Delhi. Rijiju's comments came in the wake of reports which suggested that the Government has agreed to NSCN-IM's proposal for separate passport and flag for Nagas.

The appearance of the flag of the GPRN/NSCN and banner on a cardboard written as Greater Nagaland area near Meghnarayan bridge at Maibang in Dima Hasao District of Assam raised several questions in the minds of the people of Dima Hasao. The local people of Maibang are of the opinion that they have been living in peace, harmony and brotherhood with the Zeliang Naga tribe since time immemorial, so it could be a handiwork of outsiders to disturb the peace in the region.

Two youths, identified as Jangshaw Brahma (25) and Birdaw Brahma (20) were arrested along with one 9 MM pistol, four rounds of live ammunitions and three mobile handsets in an operation conducted by Tamlpur Police at Barkhata under Tamulpur Sub-Division in Baksa District.

Tamulpur Police arrested a linkman of NDFB-IKS, identified as Manjay Boro from Kekerikuchi village under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa District. Police recovered an amount of INR 1.8 lakh from his possession. According to Police, Manjay Boro has collected money from a contractor of Nalbari District.

The pact for Suspension of Operations with the insurgent group, NDFB-P was extended by the government till December 31, 2016. A meeting of Joint Monitoring Group consisting of representatives of the Centre, Government of Assam and NDFB-P was held in New Delhi. The observance of agreed ground rules for suspension of the operations was reviewed. "After discussions, it was agreed to extend suspension of operations for a period of six months up to December 31, 2016," a Home Ministry official said.

Three persons allegedly involved in the brutal killing of two tea garden workers of Bhutiachang Tea Estate in Udalguri District surrendered before the court of CJM Gitali Rabha. Police identified the trio - Sunil Thakur, Kanchan Chauhan and Ajay Chauhan, as the prime accused in the killing and a case under section 120B/143/109/325/302/34 of the IPC was registered against them at Paneri Police Station in the District. The CJM court sent the trio to judicial custody.

Based on specific inputs, a team of Army, SSB and Chirang Police arrested a cadre of NDFB-IKS, identified as Jordan Narzary alias Jaolang, in a joint operation at Oxiguri village under Amguri Police Station in Chirang District. A 7.65 mm pistol, a grenade, a mobile phone and some incriminating documents were seized from Jordan, a cadre of 38th batch of NDFB-IKS. Though he was earlier arrested on March last year in Bangalore of Karnataka state, he was bailed out from jail on April 3. As per input, after coming out from jail he was in touch with senior cadres of NDFB-IKS and was secretly working for the organization and engaged in extortion and other subversive activities, said a top Police official.

A team of Kharupetia Police acting on a tip off recovered one 7.65 mm pistol made in Italy along with two rounds of live ammunition and an empty magazine from the rented house of one Bubul Choudhury (38) at Ghanasimalu village in Darrang District. Bubul who originally hails from village Kosolukhowa of Panigaon in Nagaon District has reportedly been practicing Ayurvedic treatment for last 14 years in the locality. In this connection Kharupetia Police has registered a case (No. 299 /16) under the sections of Arms Act. Meanwhile according to police the accused has confessed before Police that the certificate of Ayurvedic degree to be a fake one.

June 25

One person, identified as Rajiv Chasa (24) a resident of Dewan tea estate in Cachar District, was arrested for abducting a three-year old boy, Sun Kumar Hajam a resident of Labok tea garden, by Lakhipur Police. Rajiv abducted the baby in the midnight of June 5. Soon, people came to know about the incident and it was confirmed as a case of kidnapping when Rajesh received a ransom call. On the same day (June 5), the baby was found near a pan-shop near Silchar Medical College and Hospital. It has been informed that Rajesh has paid the ransom money.

June 27

In a joint operation of Army and Police, Dipak Basumatari (33) was arrested at Goreswar of Baksa District. Dipak is a resident of Chinakuna village under Khoirabari Police Station. A 9mm pistol with magazine was recovered from his possession. Dipak was reportedly involved in many extortion related cases in the name of NDFB, added Army and Police sources.

June 28

Chirang Police arrested two persons - Mathla alias Sunil Tudu (23), an ANLA ceasefire cadre and Biswanath Hembrom alias Chinese (31), an ACMA ceasefire cadre in connection with the attempt of abduction of one Raj Kishore Shah from Ghorsingpara under Runikhata Police Station in Chirang District on June 16. Mathla is from Podotola Amguri in Kokrajhar District while Biswanath is from Paschim Golajhar under Runikhata Police Station in Chirang. SP Sankar Brata Raimedhi said during interrogation the duos had confessed regarding their involvement in the crime and stated that the motive was abduction for ransom.

Police and the Indian Army, in a series of joint operations over last few days, arrested 11 cadres of the recently-floated militant outfit, Halam Tiger Force (HTF) from Umrongso in Dima Hasao and Larkercha village in West Karbi Anglong District along Assam-Meghalaya border, defence sources claimed.  The operation led by Major Rajneesh and Lieutenant Pratik also recovered two 9mm pistols, three 7.65 pistols, three rifles, one hand grenade and 40 rounds of live ammunition from the militants. The arrested militants confessed before the interrogators that the chief of HTF is camping in Manipur, sources further said. The unearthing and arrest of a majority of cadres of this outfit which has links with KPLT and UPLA; has been a major setback to the nexus between the outfits which have been involved in kidnapping, extortion and ‘tax-collection’, added the official.

Four linkmen of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Ram Tudu, Santosh Hembram, Mwikwm Mushahary and Jwisar Borgoary were arrested in a joint operation by Kokrajhar Police and Army from Pakriguri and Padmabil village under Serfanguri Police station in Kokrajhar District. One 7.62 mm pistol, one 7.62 mm country-made pistol and three live rounds of pistol were recovered their possession.

June 29

The NDFB expressed shock over the demise of Issak Chisi Swu, ‘chairman’ of the NSCN-IM at the Fortis Hospital in New Delhi on June 28. ‘The information and publicity secretary’ of the NDFB, B. Naijab said in a statement, “The NDFB salutes the departed soul of brave Issak Chisi Swu and pays homage to him.”  The NDFB leader conveyed deepest condolence to all the leaders and cadres of the NSCN-IM, the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul. He also hoped that the dreams of Issak Chisi Swu would be fulfilled.

July 2

Assam Police issued an alert across the State following the killing of 20 people by Islamic State (IS) militants at a cafe in Dhaka (Bangladesh), which is about 500 km from Guwahati via Shillong. Assam Police ADGP-special branch, Pallab Bhattacharya said, "We can't say anything about any specific threat, but we have issued an alert after the Dhaka incident. There are Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) modules still at large in the state though we have arrested many of their cadres."

An anti-migrant body in Assam on July 2 said that updating the NRC alone can't prevent the indigenous population from becoming a minority unless the BJP-led Government puts in place special legal measures to free the State from illegal Bangladeshi migrants. The Prabhajan Virodhi Manch (PVM), which mobilized the indigenous electorate through signature campaigns ahead of the assembly polls, said the BJP-led government should not forget that safeguarding 'jati, bheti and maati' (identity, homeland and land) was one of its main electoral promises which helped in consolidation of indigenous voters.

July 3

SFs arrested a cadre of NDFB-IKS, identified as Ristw Narzary alias Adaw from Rupnathpur area under Kachugaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. He was actively involved in extortion of money for the banned outfit as well deliveries of rations and other administrative stores, which includes medicine. A pistol, two round live bullets were also recovered from him.

In the wake of terror strike in Dhaka in neighbouring Bangladesh that left 20 foreigners dead, alert has been sounded in Assam and Tripura especially in the Districts having border with Bangladesh apprehending possible attempts of terror elements to cross over the border which has remained porous in many stretches till date. The Governors of Assam and Tripura told the BSF to tighten their vigil on the border with Bangladesh following the terror attack on Dhaka. Assam Governor, PB Acharya who visited the Sutarkandi border areas in Karimganj District of South Assam, held discussion with BSF officials. The governor has asked the BSF to keep “maximum vigil” along the winding border. Acharya also met officials of district administration, and also talked to Border Guards Bangladesh officials, a senior official informed.

In Tripura, Governor Tathagata Roy met BSF officials to take stock of the situation along the 856 Km long border with Bangladesh in the land-locked state. “We have apprised the governor about the steps taken along the India-Bangladesh border,” said BSF’s Tripura Frontier Inspector General JB Sangwan

July 18

Two cadres of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Mahindra Champramary alias Rankhw (22) and Bamansing Mushahary alias Gendra (60) were arrested by the joint team of Police and SSB in Chirang District.  One 36 hand grenade was also recovered from them.

Assam Police arrested two persons, identified as Nur Islam Mandal and Jaher Ali, in connection with a jihadi module in the state in Chirang District. Chirang Police claimed that the duo had participated in religious indoctrination, physical and arms training at Daukanagar in the District. Police had last year (2015) busted the Daukanagar training camp of an active Jihadi module and recovered arms and ammunition. "Nur Islam was personally recruited by Bura Bhai alias Aashiq, the key person for setting up the training camp for jihadis," said a Policeman. Bura Bhai is accused of having close links with JMB.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told the State Assembly that the State Government had accorded top priority to the NRC updating process and that the exercise would be taken to its logical conclusion in a foolproof manner. Earlier, replying to a question by legislator Pobindra Deka, who wanted to know whether a timeframe had been set for completion of the NRC, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the NRC would be completed ‘as soon as possible’ and that it was difficult to set a deadline because the exercise was a vast and sensitive one that also involved technicalities.

Even as the issue of large-scale presence of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam continues to dominate the State’s politics, the six detention camps in six Districts have in total a meagre 527 legally-detected illegal migrants as on June 30, 2016. A total of 902 declared foreigners and 27,252 convicted foreigners have been ‘sent back’ to Bangladesh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary stated in the Assembly.

In another written reply to legislator Ramendra Narayan Kalita, however, the number of deported illegal Bangladeshis (during the period from April 2001 to 2016) has been stated as 265, while the number of detected illegal Bangladeshis is 27,002. The detention camps are in the Districts of Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Jorhat. Stating this in the Assembly, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that there were no Indian citizens in any detection camp and that the camps had the required basic facilities. In the last five years, two detention camp inmates have died – one at the GMCH and the other on the day he was shifted to camp.

The Bangladesh cabinet made extradition easy with India as it accepted the proposal by which no evidence of crime is required between the two neighbouring countries for extraditing convicted or under-trial suspects. Unlike earlier, the new proposal allows extradition of the convicted and under-trial criminals merely if a court in any of the two countries issues an arrest warrant against them, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told reporters following a cabinet meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

According to clause 10/3 of the Extradition treaty with India, evidence alongside the warrant of arrest was needed to extradite such persons, report said. The proposal was moved after the Indian Government requested Bangladesh to make the extradition process easier. India wanted a "complex" section of the treaty "simplified", said Alam. The provision was brought in by amending a section of the existing Extradition treaty, which was enforced from October 23, 2013, between the two countries.

July 19

Mariani Police arrested two persons, identified as Along Tushiba and Warmo (both from Mokokchung District of Nagaland) along with arms including two German-made pistols and six rounds of ammunition from Sivasagar District.

An Assistant Teacher in Chanbecha Binapani Primary School under Demow Block Primary Education Office in Sibsagar District, identified as Umesh Rajbonshi received a letter in which unidentified assailants had allegedly demanded INR1 lakh from him.

July 20

An arms smuggler, identified as Babul Lahon was arrested along with recovered a 7.35 mm pistol with ammunition by the Police from an interior place under Garmur Police Station in Jorhat District. According to Police, with numerous cases of murder, extortion, honey trapping, arms smuggling, contract killing and possessing illegal arms, the wanted criminal was absconding since March this year (2016) after shooting and injuring 26-year Pinku Gogoi in the Chenijaan area of Jorhat on March 13.

An ULFA-I cadre, identified as Babul Dihingia alias Engineer, was arrested in a joint operation by SFs from Chepatoli gaon in Dibrugarh District. Police said they recovered two hand grenades from him and that he had sneaked into Assam to carry out subversive activities in the run-up to Independence Day. Dihingia is an associate of ULFA ‘publicity secretary’ Arunodoy Dohotia.

However, ULFA-I, in a press release, denied that Dihingia is a member. The outfit said Dihingia is Tinsukia SP Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta's man and it is only to show the outfit in poor light that Mahanta is trying to portray him as an ULFA cadre. Earlier, there were reports that Dihingia is a hardcore ULFA cadre who was trying to trigger a blast in Tinsukia.

A suspected MULTA cadre, identified as Karim Ali (16), was arrested by the SFs from the Beltoli area in Dhubri District. A country-made revolver was recovered from his possession. Ali allegedly confessed that one Rofiqul Haque of Sonamukhi gave him the revolver and told him to sell it for INR 30,000. In return, Haque offered to pay him INR 5,000, an Army source said. Ali was handed over to Bilasipara Police for interrogation. The District administration clamped Section 144 CrPC in Dhubri district fearing a breach of peace.

PDMB urged the Union Home Minister to take the initiative to expedite the peace talks with ceasefire groups of the NDFB and re-initiate tripartite talks with other Bodoland movement organisations for an amicable solution to the Bodoland issue. “We hope that once the political dialogue starts in a meaningful way, the NDFB (S) which has recently become a member of the UNLFW will also join the peace process,” said the PDMB, insisting that Chapter X of the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation Act, 1886, be enforced in true spirit with inclusion of this Act in the Ninth Schedule to clear the tribal belts and blocks from encroachment.

July 21

Based on specific inputs on the movement of few arms dealers in and around Makum and Digboi in Tinsukia District, Tinsukia Police arrested three persons, identified as Rahul Bora (25), Pantik Sonowal (24) and Kalyan Konwar (22) from different hideouts and recovered a .32 pistol from their possession recently.

Security agencies are on the alert to foil any attempt by jihadi outfits or other terrorist groups to create any untoward incidents in Assam and 52 cadres of the JMB have been arrested during the recent months from various locations in the State, stated Parliamentary Affairs Minister CM Patowary in the Legislative Assembly. Replying to a question, the Minister said that there is no specific input about entry of a group of Bangladeshi jihadis into Assam via the international frontier in Meghalaya but he added that the Unified Command structure in the State is prepared to deal with any situation. “The Unified Command structure is fully prepared to deal with any situation. As the India-Bangladesh border is not sealed, we have intensified long-range patrolling along the frontier,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister is personally monitoring the situation.

India is likely to take up the issue of growing jihadi activities in Bangladesh, when the Home Ministers of the two neighbouring countries will meet here on July 28. A delegation, led by Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, will be on a three-day visit to India from July 27, official sources said. The Indian delegation, which will participate in the talks, will comprise NSA, Union Home Secretary, Director General of BSF and Director General of Narcotics Control Bureau.

July 22

Fighting with their backs to the wall with depleting cadre strength due to relentless NIA action, Bodo militants threatened to target the agency's officers and their families. In a direction issued to its cadres, the leaders of NDFB-IKS have asked them to track NIA officers even in the national capital (New Delhi) and strike at the right opportunity, sources said. Following the threat, security has been tightened at NIA's Guwahati office while the agency has asked it officers to be extra vigilant while on the move. NIA's Guwahati office is the hub of its investigations against outfits like NDFB-IKS, NSCN-K, ULFA and the arrested cadres are brought there for questioning. Officials said that the NDFB-IKS's threat is a result of its frustration lately after 86 of its cadres were arrested in the last 2-3 years from Assam, 63 of whom have been charge-sheeted. A senior commander of the militant outfit, Pradip Brahma alias Pwler, was recently sentenced to life imprisonment by a Guwahati court.

ASP of South Kamrup Dr Sadique Ali Ahmed said that a major area domination combing operation has been going on along the Assam-Meghalaya border in South Kamrup District to foil any attempts by militants to create disturbance ahead of the Independence Day on August 15. The ASP said that the Police force of South Kamrup District has been conducting raids and picking up suspected persons as preventive measures.

The ANCC, a conglomeration of different Adivasi (tribal) organizations including militant outfits who are in ceasefire mode, staged a three-hour NH blockade at 31 (C) at Karigaon and Srirampur in Kokrajhar District on July 22 from 9 am to 12 noon demanding ST status and solution of problems of the militant groups who are under ceasefire with the Government. Some hundreds of activists of the Adivasi community from different parts of the region thronged the NH shouting slogans in support of their demands that included ST status and tripartite talks with the militant groups of the Adivasi like BCF, AANLA, STF, APA, ACMA and NSLA who are currently under ceasefire with the Centre for a long time.

July 23

Tamulpur Police arrested an NDFB-IKS linkman from Patkijuli village under Darrangamela Police out-posts in Baksa District. The arrestee has been identified as Luis Mushahary (39) and Police recovered 7 hand grenades from his possession. SDPO Ahmed said that Luis collated the grenades to supply to the NDFB-IKS.

Troops of Guwahati Frontier of BSF in a joint operation with Bogribari Police arrested one arms supplier, identified as Gaji Rahman (20) along with one 7.65 mm pistol, 10 rounds of ammunition, two magazines, one bike and a mobile phone with two SIM cards from Angarkati village in Kokrajhar District.

July 23-24

Based on specific intelligence inputs about an IED planted at Namrup in Dibrugarh District, a Police team launched an operation and arrested suspected ULFA-I linkman, identified as Lakhyajit Gogoi from Kamarchuk village in Dibrugarh District on July 23 night. Based on Lakhyajit's revelations, the Police recovered an IED, weighing about 3kg, around 10.15pm in the same day. "During questioning, Lakhyajit revealed that the IED was given to him by ULFA-I cadre Pradip Asom alias Akon, to plant it at a crowded market at Naharkatia town. He said two other bombs are also ready for detonation at Moranhat and Sonari," an officer in the state Police headquarters in Guwahati said.

Based on Lakhyajit's lead, Dibrugarh Police alerted their counterparts in Tinsukia and Sivasagar Districts and subsequently three other suspected linkmen of ULFA-I, identified as Sankar Gohain, Nirab Saikia and Haren Rajkonwar were arrested on July 24. The Police source said an operation was under way to arrest Pradip Asom and a few more ULFA-I linkmen who were out to trigger blasts ahead of Independence Day.

Tinsukia Police arrested one Anupam Chutia alias Suchan Asom for his alleged involvement in planting the IED near the platform of Tinsukia station. The Police said Anupam was an ULFA-I cadre and sent by Arunodoy to plant the bomb. He joined ULFA-I earlier this year (2016), the police said.

Intelligence inputs suggest that ULFA-I along with NSCN-K and NDFB-IKS, all members of the newly floated UNLFW, have been planning to strike in upper Assam Districts, which borders Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh on the eastern part of the State and provides the access to the bases of these outfits in neighbouring Myanmar.

Two cadres of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Jwngsar Basumatary alias Laudum and Phungkha Narzary, were killed in an encounter with SFs in Jharbari area under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District. According to Kokrajhar ASP Sreejit T, based on specific inputs about the movement of NDFB-IKS cadres in Jharbari, a joint operation was launched on Sunday (July 24) evening by Kokrajhar Police, 3rd Rajput Regiment of the Army and 210 CoBRA in the North of Jharbari area, where two cadres of the outfit were neutralized. The NDFB-IKS cadres opened fire on the operational party first and the party retaliated, killing two cadres. He also said that two 7.65mm pistols, five rounds ammunitions of 7.65mm pistols, four fired cases of 7.65mm pistols, seven 7.62 mm AK-47 fired cases, two Chinese grenades and a backpack were recovered from their possession.

The Commanding officer of the 3rd Rajput Regiment, Col IP Singh termed the killing as a major setback to the militant outfit which was trying to carry out subversive activities in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations. The senior officer said since January this year (2016), a total of 123 persons including 53 cadres of various militants group, 68 linkmen including four females and 13 sympathizers have been arrested. The arrested include 11 NDFB-IKS cadres, 13 NSLA cadres, 14 KLO cadres, 3 ADF cadres, one STF cadre, 3 MTFA cadres, 1 NLFA cadre, 1 ULFA cadre, 2 RVA cadres and 4 jihadis (Islamic Terrorists). As many as 10 rebels including 7 NDFB-IKS cadres, one each of NSLA and KLO were killed in encounters this year. Singh also said 13 sympathizers of NDFB-IKS have been apprehended so far.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said Assam and the northeast were vulnerable to terror attacks by jihadi militants because of their strategic locations and proximity to international borders. He said the region was put on high alert and adequate security arrangements were made as preventive measures. "Assam and the entire northeast are sensitive places. The region shares a major portion of the international border and so its vulnerability is high. It is also prone to jihadi activities. Steps have been taken and arrangements made to ensure the region's safety," said Rijiju.

Indian Army and Police in a joint operation arrested 'C-in-C' of UPLA, identified as Nikunja Kathar along with two cadres from Bardalong area near Kheroni in Karbi Anglong District. Kathar is a hardcore terrorist and has been involved in numerous acts of killing, extortion and kidnappings including the brutal killing of Nityananda Goswami, SP, West Karbi Anglong in June, 2014. He is an ex-UPDS cadre who was instrumental in raising, training and illegally equipping the rebel outfit UPLA.

Assam Police has a total of 72,118 sanctioned posts, of which 11,782 are lying vacant, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary in the Assembly. Of the vacant posts, 4,076 are under the process of being filled up. The vacancies include 20 posts of IPS officers and 114 APS officers. The State has 346 Police stations and 221 Police outposts, and these Police stations and outposts have a total of 62, 041 cases that are yet to be disposed off. The State currently has 107 IPS officers and 456 APS officers. There are pending cases against 17 IPS and APS officers.

The Minister, also said that the State Government had embarked on a Police modernization drive involving construction of buildings, purchase of vehicles and firearms, expanding dial-100 service, setting up CID cyber labs and other latest technologies such as CCTNS, etc., besides ensuring better police-public relations and gender sensitization.

Updating the NRC is the number one priority for the Government of Assam and an amount of INR 24,932 lakh is proposed to be released from the State Budget for the purpose. In his Budget speech, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that to have a fresh insight into the proper implementation the Assam Accord, the department will be revamped and made more robust. The Government will give priority to support and strengthen the functioning system of the Foreigners' Tribunals.

The UMHA alerted all the eight North Eastern states to maintain a maximum vigil to deal with any threat of jihadi activities in the region, a top official said. "The UMHA has requested all the eight North Eastern states to remain maximum alert to tackle any threat of jihadi actions in North East India, especially in Assam," the top official of Tripura Government's home department said quoting an advisory of the UMHA. The official also said that the UMHA also alerted the all central and state intelligence agencies to keep a close watch on the situation especially along the international borders'.

Police arrested two persons, identified as Papu Bora and Mrinal Neog along with a .756 pistol and cartridges from near Mariani police station in Jorhat District.

A 26-year-old youth from Silchar in Cachar District, identified as Afaz Uddin Laskar filed a case before the chief judicial magistrate, accusing a person of trying to send him to join the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. Afaz Uddin Laskar, a resident of Berenga, in his complaint mentioned that Maqbul Hussain Choudhury, imam of a mosque in Silchar, sent him to Saudi Arabia with the promise of a driver's job. When he reached Saudi Arabia he was taken to another person named Ibadur, who happens to be a resident of Karimganj District and has been living there for the past many years.

Army and Assam Police, in a joint operation, recovered an explosive from a remote village along the Assam-Meghalaya border, Nagaldonga, around 18 kms from Boko town in South Kamrup District. According to source, on the occasion of martyrs' day of ULFA, a group of militants planned to carry out an attack in Boko or Chaygaon town. However, Indian Army and Assam Police took immediate action and recovered the explosive.

The Centre Government ruled out the possibility of holding any dialogue with the Paresh Baruah led ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS. In a Rajya Sabha Question Hour discussion, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that with regard to the ULFA faction led by Paresh Baruah, there is no formal offer or anything because it is still engaged in anti-national activities. So there is no proposal of talks with this ULFA faction. "The gruesome killing of innocent people by the NDFB (Songbijit) on December 23, 2014, in Assam had led to an operation which was carried out jointly by the State and Central forces. We also got support of the Government of Bhutan. Therefore, there is no question of talks with the NDFB (Songbijit) because it has carried out mass killing of innocent people," Rijiju said. "We have already stated our position very clearly that the Government is not averse to talking to the militants, but the only condition is that they must abjure violence. Once they give up arms, they will be welcomed back to the mainstream," Rijiju added.

Rijiju said the Government, however, is in "a very cooperative mood" to allow groups which want to shun violence. He said that sometimes a group participates in the talks process but at the same time some of its members, through splinter groups, continue to indulge in undesirable activities. He said the Centre and the Assam Government have entered into suspension of operations agreements with certain insurgent groups of Assam, which include ULFA-PTF, NDFB-P, NDFB-RD and KLNLF. In addition, the Assam Government has entered into suspension of operations agreements with ACMA, BCF, KRA, UKDA, AANLA, STF, APA, KLO/KLA and HPC-D.

To a question related to Meghalaya, Rijiju said that AFSPA has been imposed on its border with Assam for upto 20 kilometres but added that the law has not been imposed in the Garo Hills.

The Centre Government admitted that illegal immigrants are able to enter Assam despite several checks and control measures taken along the international border. Since entry is clandestine and surreptitious, the number of illegal migrants cannot be ascertained, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju in a Rajya Sabha reply to a question by Dr Sanjay Sinh.

Even though there is no major terror threat along the India-Bangladesh border, border forces of both countries are maintaining a strict vigil, BSF and BGB officials said in Agartala. "There is no major problem along the India-Bangladesh borders. Trans-border crimes along these borders have reduced drastically. However, we are tightening the security along the India-Bangladesh borders," Additional Director General of BGB, Brigadier General Mohammad Habibul Karim said after a four-day BSF-BGB border coordination conference. "For better guarding of the borders, the Border Guards Bangladesh is setting up 35 new border outposts. We have a plan to set up 50 more such posts along the frontiers with Northeastern states of India to check trans-border movement of inimical elements. The new posts are being set up at those places that have remained unguarded for 40 years," he added.

India and Bangladesh signed an agreement amending Article 10(3) of the Bilateral Extradition Treaty between the two countries. The pact was signed in the presence of UHM Rajnath Singh and his Bangladeshi counterpart Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

The two sides also agreed on the necessity of signing a Repatriation Treaty to simplify and expedite the procedure of repatriation of each other's nationals. Both sides also agreed to undertake urgent action for the repatriation of released prisoners and victims of human trafficking. They further agreed on the need to immediately operationalise the Agreement on Combating Terrorism and Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking and expressed satisfaction over the signing of an addendum to the Bilateral Extradition Treaty of 2013 to further streamline the Treaty and to make it more effective.

Further, India and Bangladesh emphasized the need for speedy operationalisation of the bilateral MoUs - MoU between Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard for the Establishment of Collaborative Relationship to Combat Transnational Illegal Activities at Sea and Develop Regional Cooperation.

Both sides emphasised the importance of effective implementation of the Coordinated Border Management Plan to enhance cooperation between the border guarding forces of the two countries and to enable them to better monitor the identified vulnerable areas with a view to preventing criminal activities, irregular movement and acts of violence and loss of lives along the border areas.

ULFA-PTF 'general secretary' Anup Chetia admitted that it was a mistake on its part to have killed social worker Sanjoy Ghosh in 1997 and killing of innocent people. Interacting with reporters at Guwahati Press Club in Guwahati, Chetia said that the killing of rural development activist Ghosh were "mistakes on the part of the ULFA". Ghosh of NGO AVARD-NE, along with a colleague of his, were abducted by ULFA on July 4, 1997 from the river island of Majuli where they were working for community health and development. His colleague managed to escape but Ghosh was killed. Chetia said that ULFA is also somehow responsible for the killing of journalist Parag Kr Das.

Taking on the JMB and Islamic State (ISIS) threat to Assam, Chetia said, "When I was in Bangladesh jail, I met some top JMB leaders there who had told me that they want to set up base in Assam. They even told that some JMB operatives were taking shelter in Assam."

ULFA-I and the NDFB-IKS are desperate to carry out strikes in Assam ahead of Independence Day. A Police source said both the outfits have not been able to carry out any major attack in the past several months, as a result of which they are now desperate to strike in a big way to prove their existence. Based on specific inputs that NDFB-IKS cadres were planning subversive activities at Laimoti in Chirang District ahead of Independence Day, an operation was launched by SFs, led by ASP (headquarters), Chirang, Tabu Ram Pegu, on the intervening night of July 28 and 29. NDFB-IKS cadre Pradip Narzary alias Thaigir Bedla (30), was arrested in that operation. During interrogation, Narzary confessed that he had concealed an INSAS rifle, which was looted from Territorial Army personnel in Kokrajhar District in 2014. "Based on his confession, the INSAS rifle, three magazines and 60 rounds of live ammunition were dug out from a pit shown by him. His interrogation is going on and the operation is continuing," the source said.

Three NSLA militants were arrested by SFs from Kachuabil in Kokrajhar District.

Satyendra Narayan Singh, ADGP, Assam, who has been camping in Tinsukia since the last few days, assured full security in Tinsukia District. At a press conference held at the Police Guest House, the ADGP claimed that the alert SFs foiled the attempts of a group of ULFA-I militants, who had sneaked into the State, especially upper Assam, to trigger blasts at public places to mark its ‘Swahid Divas’ on July 27. The ULFA-I may again try to carry out subversive activities in the run-up to the Independence Day on August 15, but the security forces are on high alert to foil their designs. There is no cause for panic on the part of the public, the ADGP added.

Police stations and outposts along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border under Margherita subdivision of Tinsukia District have been put on high alert following intelligence reports on the movement of NSCN-K militants along the border in the past few days.

The Myanmar Government has established contacts with its Indian counterpart expressing its desire to visit the foreigners detention camps in Assam where a number of Myanmarese nationals, caught for illegally crossing the border, are languishing. The team is expected to prepare a detailed investigation report concerning Myanmarese detained in Assam and subsequently take up the issue with the Indian government to facilitate their release. A letter in this connection is expected to reach the State Government through the MEA within a week’s time. At present, 29 Myanmarese nationals are lodged in detention camps in Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Silchar, Jorhat and Tezpur.

SFs arrested a militant belonging to the NDFB-IKS, identified as Phukan Borgoyari (22) from Bansbari in Kokrajhar District. A 7.65mm pistol, two rounds of live ammunition and a mobile handset were found with him.

NDFB-P appealed to tribal MPs to support and raise the issue of a separate Bodoland in Parliament. In a statement, S. Sanjarang, the outfit's information and publicity secretary, said the outfit has had 14 rounds of dialogue with the Centre on sovereignty. "Owing to lack of political will on the part of the Centre, the dialogue has not been productive," he said, adding that the ABSU has resumed its movement together with the NDFB-P. "Till now, five rounds of talks have been held with ABSU and its allied organisations but with no progress. The last one was held on the June 9, 2015," Sanjarang said.

He said the Bodo people have a distinct history because they were an independent nation and have a distinct identity with unique language and culture. "Not only that, their population is the biggest among the indigenous people of the region," he said. "Despite all these, the Bodo people have been repeatedly denied and deprived of their legitimate right to a state. This is a gross historical injustice." "Instead of granting statehood, the Centre attempted to console the Bodos by granting Bodoland Autonomous Council and later Bodoland Territorial Areas District (in 1993 and 2003), which practically are paralysed and impotent administrative set-ups, incapable of addressing the very fundamental questions of the Bodos and other indigenous people," Sanjarang said. The NDFB-P appealed to the MPs belonging to the indigenous community to raise the issue in Parliament so that the long-standing problem can be resolved to usher in permanent peace in the region.

August 2

The NDFB-IKS leader Kormeswar Basumithri (28) who was arrested by the Palakkad Police from a Kanjikode factory in Palakkad District of Kerala on July 28, will be taken to Assam. After the arrest he lodged in the Sub-jail in Palakkad.  ASP of Udalguri, Bedanta Prakash Barkakati, who is camping in Palakkad, said that there was a delay in getting clearance from the Director of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security as it was a weekend in between. Now that it has been cleared, Kormeswar will be taken to Assam. Kormeswar who was a member of the banned organisation, NDFB-IKS, was arrested from a factory in Kanjikode were he had been working for the last two months. It was the Assam police that had provided intelligence inputs to the Palakkad Police which led to the arrest.

The NDFB-IKS ‘platoon commander’, Kormeswar Basumithri (28) who was arrested by the Palakkad Police from a Kanjikode factory in Palakkad District of Kerala on July 28, was brought to Assam. Udalguri Police officially recorded his arrest on August 1.

SFs arrested four NDFB-IKS militants, identified as Monelal Brahma alias Naga (35), Amit Khaklari alias Takla alias Lantha (28), Sumbu Basumatary (24), and Rajib Narzary alias Goldum (27) from the Audang Bazaar area in Kokrajhar District in the wee hours. A 7.62mm pistol, a 7.65mm pistol, an AK-type gun, a .325 revolver, two live 7.62 pistol rounds, three .325 rounds, two 7.65mm rounds, two No. 36 hand grenades, three mobile handsets, one extortion note and INR 500 were recovered from the quartet. "They are locally-trained cadres and actively involved in extortion and in delivering rations to members of the outfit (at the Bidai camp)," BTAD IGP L.R. Bishnoi said, adding that their arrest will hit the Bidai camp hard.

Based on a specific input, Police and the Army arrested a NDFB-IKS cadre, identified as Sanjib Narzary alias Sanjit (39) from the Sijouguri area under Amguri Police Station in Chirang District. One 7.65mm pistol and four rounds of ammunition were recovered from him. A senior Police officer in Chirang said Narzary was involved in the two gunfights between SFs and the rebel group on August 2014 in Laimoti and December 2014 in Selekhaguri (both places are in Chirang District). "He had received a bullet injury in the exchange of fire in August 2014. After the launch of ‘Operation All Out’, he ran away to Bangalore in 2015 and returned only recently to strengthen the banned organisation," the officer said.

A Myanmar-trained NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Mriga Daimari alias D. Mwnthai was arrested during a joint operation by the Army and Police in Dimakuchi area of Udalguri District. A 7.65mm factory made pistol, one magazine, five live rounds of ammunition and a grenade were recovered from his possession.

North Lakhimpur District administration is on alert as Independence Day draws to a close. The Police officials are checking vehicles and two wheelers on a regular basis.

August 3

Assam Police recovered a powerful IED weighing around 1.5 kg from Torani Reserve forest adjacent to Goyal Tea factory located along the Pengaree Bordumsa road in Tinsukia District. The SP of Tinsukia, Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said that the IED must have been kept in the jungle by unidentified assailants to terrorize people on the eve of Independence Day.  Mahanta urged the people to remain vigilant and cooperate with the local Police. Meanwhile, security has tightened and combing operation has been intensified in the entire belt.

August 4

A self-styled ‘area commander’ of UPLA, Angjok Teron was arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Army and Hamren Police inside general area of Bhoksong under Baithalangso Police Station in Karbi Anglong District. One 7. 65 mm country-made pistol along with 3 live rounds of ammunition and a large number of documents belonging to UPLA were recovered from him.

August 5

Fourteen civilians have been killed after suspected NDFB-IKS militants opened fire at a weekly market at Balajan Tiniali in Kokrajhar District. SFs in the area have killed one of the militants. Fifteen civilians have also been reported injured in the incident. An AK-47 has been recovered from the militant who was killed after an intense gun battle that lasted about 20 minutes. Additional forces have been rushed to the spot, even as other terrorists are being pursued by SFs. Apart from opening fire on the market, the militants also lobbed a grenade that ravaged three shops. Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay has said the attack was carried out by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit), or NDFB (S). Defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel S Newton said, "We suspect there were at least three militants and one of them have been killed. Army is searching the area for the other militants."

Ledo Police and Army in a Joint operation arrested a NSCN-K militant from Ledo area of Margherita Sub Division in Tinsukia District. The arrested NSCN-K militant has been identified as Nange Gunje alias Johny who belongs to Finbiro of Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. A pistol and live ammunitions were recovered from his possession.

August 6

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in a statement in Guwahati said, that the State Police has laid its hands on some vital information which prove direct involvement of NDFB-IKS in Friday’s (August 5) Kokrajhar violence that claimed the lives of 14 civilians. The CM said the involvement of other groups with NDFB-IKS would also come to light soon.

UHM Rajnath Singh in a meeting with senior officers of the UMHA gave strict instructions to the forces operating on the ground to intensify operations against the militants. UHM Singh reiterated the Centre’s stand on the issue and asserted that there would be no talk with the NDFB-IKS, which is involved in killing of innocent persons. Singh also expressed his displeasure over the fact that despite launching a full-scale operation against the outfit in December 2014, the outfit still has the capacity to come out to an open market area in broad daylight to kill innocent people.

August 7

Police arrested an All Assam Revolutionary Army (AARA) ‘commander’, identified as Bipul Bora alias Tutu Baruah (36) from Biswanath Chariali town in Biswanath District. Two live ammunitions, one leaflet of the AARA (a newly-formed militant group) and one mobile phone were recovered from his possession. The militant was arrested when he was about to open fire from his weapon at people, according to District SP Ankur Jain. Bipul is prime suspect in the Narayanpur blast near higher secondary school on May 5, 2016 and was wanted by Police in Lakhimpur District and also suspected to be involved in many extortion cases, Jain added.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the militant attack site at Balajan Tiniali Market in Kokrajhar District and said strong action would be taken against the banned NDFB-IKS outfit and "none would be spared" for the killing of 14 people. Sonowal said, "No matter how strong the militant group is, our government will take strong action against it. All those connected with the killing will be hunted out and brought to book". "Whatever evidence has been collected so far show that NDFB (Songbijit) is behind the killings. All the security forces are coordinating the search operations and none will be spared," he said. "It is the prime duty of the government to protect the people and their property. All will be given protection, I assure," the Chief Minister added.

The strategic group of the state's unified command structure ordered Counter-Insurgency (CI) forces to go all out in eliminating the NDFB-IKS, the group linked with Friday's (August 5) shootout at the market in Kokrajhar District. The strategic group comprises the Army, State Police and state Paramilitary Forces. It met at Kokrajhar and was chaired by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

DGP Mukesh Sahay said that the slain NDFB-IKS militant, whose body was recovered, would be identified by DNA test as his parents were unable to recognize his body as they had not seen him for the past 8-9 years. Earlier on August 6, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the slain militant has been identified as Manjoy Islari alias Maodang, a commander of the outfit.

The Kokrajhar Deputy Commissioner Madhu Prasad Sarma said that the killers were believed to have come from Pakriguri on the Indian side, about 10 km from Bhutan border.

A delegation of the ULFA-PT led by its ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa visited Kokrajhar and urged the Government to ensure the safety and security to the lives and properties of the people of Assam.

August 15

A series of five bomb explosions triggered by suspected ULFA-I militants rocked Charaideo and Tinsukia Districts of Upper Assam on August 15 as the State celebrated the country’s Independence Day. Police said that there was no casualty or injury in any of the explosions.

One blast was reported at an abandoned place beside an interior road at 7.40 a.m. under the Tengapukhari outpost in Charaideo District, SP A.P. Tiwari said. The militants had apparently placed the bomb under the ground.

The other four explosions were reported from Tinsukia District. An IED went off near Indira Gandhi School in the Laipuli area on the outskirts of Tinsukia town in Tinsukia District at 7.15 a.m. This was followed by another blast in line No. 6 of Badlabhata Tea Estate in the Doomdooma area where the third IED was set off at Masuwa, officials said. The fourth one exploded at Gamtumati in the Philobari area.

Tinsukia, which shares a border with Arunachal Pradesh, has been targeted by ULFA-I in the past few months. Militants “sneak” in from their Myanmar-based camps. Tinsukia ASP (headquarters) Lamhao Doungel said the IEDs were of low intensity. “We have launched an operation against them,’’ he added.

The ULFA-I hoisted its own banner and flag in the Moronigal area of Mariani in Jorhat District. Strung on two poles, the ULFA banner was planted at Morongial Pathar under a tree with the words ULFA Zindabad and Hindi baaxi hoshiyar (Hindi speaking people be careful). The flag with the rising sun was planted on the side of the Assam-Nagaland border road at Moronigal, about 28km from Jorhat town bordering Mokokchung District of Nagaland. “It must have been planted after we had completed our patrol at 4am,” an Assam Police constable stationed at the Border Observation Post said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the State Government plans to complete the NRC update by 2017. The day also saw the NRC authorities announce the best performing districts, revenue circles and seva kendras in the ongoing process. “To take our national commitment to its logical end, we are on a mission mode to complete the NRC update by 2017. Our government is committed to safeguarding the interests of every ethnic community, tribe and race,” Sonowal said in his Independence Day speech, at Guwahati.

The NRC authorities have completed verification of 97.34 per cent of the 68.08 lakh application forms received. A total of 5.88 crore supporting documents were received along with the applications and of them 4.45 crore documents have been verified and 2.51 lakh documents were sent to other states for verification. “With a view to prevent illegal influx through the porous border once and for all, sealing India-Bangladesh border is high on our priority list. We will fortify the barbed-wire fence along the border. The department of border areas development will be renamed border protection and development department to give more teeth to it,” the chief minister said.

CEM of KAAC, Tuliram Ronghang,  has reiterated the demand for statehood of Karbi Anglong and called for implementation of 244 (A) of the Constitution of India. Speaking on the occasion of the official 70thIndependence Day celebration at KASA stadium as chief guest, Tuliram asserted that Karbi Anglong with a total area of 10,434 Sq Km was much larger than several states in the country, including Goa and Sikkim, but was receiving mush less financial allocation from the centre merely because of the difference in the political status.

The CEM, however, made it clear that the youths associated with extremist organizations like KPLT and UPLA must shun violence and come forward to pursue the cause of statehood peacefully and democratically like the UPDS and the KLNLF.  He said that if the KPLT and UPLA shunned violence and embraced peace, the KAAC would extend help. Tuliram also highlighted the achievements made by the KAAC under his leadership and also the plans and programmes chalked out by the BJP Government under Narendra Modi and the chief minister of the state Sarbananda Sonowal.

August 16

UHM Rajnath Singh held a high-level review meeting on Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, and instructed security officials to restore peace and normalcy in those states. The instructions came after Singh was briefed by top officials on the prevailing situation in Kashmir and the infiltration bid along the LoC in the Uri sector in the state and a series of blasts that rocked Assam in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations. The meeting was also attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, chiefs of intelligence agencies and other top civil and security officials, sources said.

Reviewing the overall security scenario in Assam, the Union Home Minister instructed security officials to tighten vigil in the State. Suspected militants exploded five bombs in Charaideo and Tinsukia districts as the State was celebrating the 70th Independence Day on August 15. At least 11 factions of militant outfits in the Northeast, including the ULFA-I, the NDFB, GNLA and others had called for a shutdown on August 15.

Tezpur Police arrested a cadre of ULFA-I, identified as Dilip Das alias Bogai from the house of Tulshi Das at Teleria under Bebejia Police Station in Sonitpur District where the militant was sleeping.

August 17

An NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Swmkwr Khaklary alias Saikhlong was arrested from Ai Poali village in Chirang District. One 9mm pistol with two live rounds of ammunition and a grenade were recovered from his possession.

Highly placed security sources said that the investigation into the five blasts that took place on the Independence Day, led to the disturbing fact of the ULFA-I using school students to plant the bombs. Two boys – one in Class IX and the other in Class X – were arrested following an intelligence input and during questioning, the students admitted that they were asked by the militants to plant the bombs.

Giving details of the events, sources said that the school students, both of whom belong to Number 4 Kakojan village under Philobari police station in Tinsukia District, were taken to a nearby forest by one ULFA-I man, who belongs to the same village, on August 10. Sources said that four ULFA-I men met them in the forest. They sat down under a tree and the ULFA-I men persuaded them to plant the IEDs fitted with timers in different places.

Sources said one ULFA-I man, Rupam Asom, was the brain behind using the school students to plant bombs and till now, the police and security forces are not aware whether the senior leaders of the outfit approved such a plan. As the school students picked up by the police are juveniles, they will not be tried in normal courts for the crime they had committed and they would be tried in special juvenile courts. Sources pointed out that in the past, the ULFA-I had used linkmen, couriers and even common criminals to plant bombs. But this was for the first time, the outfit used school students for such jobs.

August 18

The NDFB-IKS militants killed a couple in Chirang District at around midnight for allegedly being in possession of the outfit’s extortion money. Police and Defence sources said a group of seven to eight militants of NDFB-IKS came to the couple’s house at Shantipara-Sulekhaguri village night and tied their limbs before killing them with sharp weapons. Before being killed, the couple was beaten up in front of their children who ran out to their neighbours’ houses in fear, local people said. The deceased man was identified as Buta Benga, an overground worker of the outfit, who was in possession of extortion money totaling INR 45 Lakhs which belonged to NDFB-IKS dreaded leader Bidai, the sources said.

On December 22, 2015 in a joint operation by Army and Police, INR 5.48 lakhs were recovered and repeated attempts have been made to ascertain the whereabouts of the balance amount, they said. Benga, who was in jail, was released on bail in the last week of March and was under constant threat from the group for the balance money.

The NIA arrested a ‘section commander’ of NDFB-IKS, identified as Arkulash Musahari from the Batasipur area under Dhekiajuli Police Station in Sonitpur District. He was involved in several anti-social activities, including killing and burglary.

Police recovered a pen pistol, five live cartridges and two blank cartridges from a pork outlet of Sirajuli town under Borsola Police Station in Sonitpur District. Police have taken into custody the pork outlet owner for interrogation.

Categorically refuting the allegations of Assam Police regarding employing two students of Kakojan in Tinsukia District of Upper Assam for planting bombs on and before Independence Day, the ULFA-I termed it as a ‘drama’ initiated by ADGP and SP Tinsukia and a ‘conspiracy’ by a lobby of Hindi-speaking people of the State to promote their cause and hide their weakness to counter the revolutionary act of the organization protesting the Independence Day celebrations. The ULFA-I in a press communiqué strongly criticized the entire episode as a drama, claiming that it did not employ the school-going children in any of the acts of sabotage carried out so far.

ULFA-PTF leader Anup Chetia met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at his office chamber in Guwahati and submitted a memorandum enlisting various demands of the organisation including rehabilitation of the surrendered cadres. Chief Minister Sonowal assured the ULFA-PTF leader that his Government would sincerely consider their demands. Minister for Agriculture Atul Bora was also present during the discussion.

SFs arrested ULFA-I linkman, identified as Bitul Moran from Kakojan village under Phillobari Police Station in Tinsukia District. Tinsukia SP Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said that a five-member ULFA-I group involved in the attack on Hindi-speaking people in Phillobari on August 5 and the serial blasts, took shelter in Moran's house. Mahanta said the linkman also introduced the two arrested school students to the outfit. The Class IX and X students, aged 15 and 16 respectively, were "brainwashed" into planting the bombs by the group. The boys had planted five bombs in different areas in Tinsukia district, of which four exploded on Independence Day. The two are now in an observation home in Jorhat.

August 19

Three cadres of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Raikhoo (platoon commander), Gothal (section commander) and Aranga, were killed in a joint operation by Police, CRPF's Cobra battalion and the Army at Mainaoshree Paharpur under Rangapara Police Station in Sonitpur District. “Search operations are on to apprehend four other cadres who managed to flee," Sonitpur SP Sanjukta Parashar said. Rangapara Police Station officer-in-charge Jatin Borah said Aranga was from Kokrajhar while the two others were from Sonitpur District, which borders Udalguri District in BTAD.

Report said that a small camp used by the militants was also busted and from the spot three pistols with eight rounds of live ammunition, two grenades, five mobile handsets, besides one receipt book were also recovered.

August 21

Tinsukia Police arrested four militants of the NSCN-IM and rescued an engineer who was abducted from Deomali of Arunachal Pradesh. According to Police sources, the highway patrol team of Tinsukia Police during a routine check spotted a suspicious vehicle in Tinkonia in the town and brought all occupants to Police Station. On questioning, it was revealed that out of five persons four were NSCN-IM militants, including a minor and the other was the abducted engineer Lova Yekar. A pistol and nine rounds of ammunition were recovered from their possession. The three NSCN-IM militants barring a minor have been identified as Phoren Ramwa alias Nagato Sumi, ‘self-styled sergeant’, Jayway Moanchan, ‘self-styled chairman’ and ‘area commander’ of Nokte region residing at Hebron camp and Kamri Ymc alias Yumchunga, ‘self-styled sergeant major’ while the minor has not been identified.

According to the statement of Phoren Ramwa, who resides in Laptambasti in Tirap of Arunachal Pradesh, they abducted Lova Yekar, an engineer from Deomali from whom the NSCN-IM militants demanded INR 300,000 as ransom. Not satisfied with his offer of INR 10,000, Phoren and his accomplices, brandishing a pistol, dragged Yekar out of his government quarter. While travelling to Dimapur via Tinsukia, the militants fell into Police dragnet.

After maintaining that insurgency is on the wane in the North-east, the Centre has conceded that Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya continue to account for the bulk of insurgency-related incidents in the region. In a report, the UMHA described Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim as peaceful. In Arunachal Pradesh, barring a few incidents, there was a general atmosphere of peace, the report said. The year 2007 proved to be the most violent year in the last nine years with the northeastern states recording 1,498 violent incidents in which 498 civilians were killed and 79 security force personnel lost their lives. In comparison, last year 574 violent incidents were witnessed in the region in which 46 civilians and equal number of SF personnel were killed, the report said.

In Assam, barring a few incidents of violence, the security situation has improved since early 2010, with minor variations from year to year, the report said. The SFs were able to contain activities of insurgent groups and the situation improved remarkably in 2015, the report said, adding, peace talks with various insurgent groups in Assam are continuing. The report said that sustained counter-insurgency (CI) operations are continuing against the NDFB-IKS group. During the period from December 26, 2014 to January 9 this year, 584 members of the NDFB-IKS were arrested and a huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered. At least 24 militants were also killed in these operations, the report said.

In order to curb infiltration, smuggling and other antinational activities from across the Indo-Bangladesh border, the government has undertaken the construction of fencing along this border. The target date for completion of the project is March, 2019, the report said, adding, accordingly measures have also been taken along the Indo-Myanmar border to check illegal activities.

August 22

The ULFA-I for the first time in its history, released a video of abducted Kuldeep Moran, son of Tinsukia Zilla Parishad vice president and BJP leader Ratneshwar Moran, to demand a ransom of INR 1 crore. Kuldeep was abducted from near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border on August 1. The ULFA-I militants on August 22 released a video footage of the abducted youth and later demanded a ransom of INR 1 crore from Sadiya BJP MLA Bolin Chetia. Sources said releasing the video to media was aimed at creating pressure on the persons concerned and panic among the people. 

The video showed Kuldeep appealing to his family, BJP legislator from Sadiya constituency Bolin Chetia and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to secure his release by paying the outlawed outfit. The video shows a terrified Kuldip surrounded by five armed and black masked youths. He pleads for his life and talks about his failing health, expressing fears of getting killed in any crossfire between militants and SFs.

Kuldip’s father, however, has expressed his inability to pay the ransom. “They (ULFA-I) have demanded Rs 1 crore for the release of my son Kuldip. Forget about Rs 1 crore, I cannot even pay Rs 1 lakh. I can only request the kidnappers to release my son without any condition,” said Ratneswar Moran.

The ULFA-I has suddenly become active in upper Assam areas and launched an extortion drive, while, in another disturbing fact, a number of members and linkmen of the NDFB-IKS, who were arrested during the crackdown launched against the outfit in December, 2014, have been released on bail because of the police failure to submit the chargesheets on time. Highly placed security sources said that in recent times, the ULFA-I has started sending messages on mobile phones of businessmen and tea gardens owners and managers demanding money, while, some even received Whatsapp messages on their mobile phones.

Police arrested a suspected worker of NDFB-IKS, identified as Paulina Basumatary (22) from No. 1 Nandipur village in Kokrajhar District.

Tinsukia town in Tinsukia District of Assam is being used as transit route and corridor by NSCN-IM militants from Hebron Hq of Dimapur (Nagaland) to Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh since the past several years, said Phoren Ramwaone, arrested NSCN-IM militant currently in Tinsukia Police custody who was involved in recent abduction case of a Deomali-based Arunachale engineer. Phoren revealed that the two school children arrested in the kidnapping case and currently lodged in Juvenile home Jorhat, were sleeper cells and it was a common practice to lure school children from Naga dominated areas of Arunachal Pradesh, particularly Nokte and Wancho, in return for just INR 3,000 – INR 4,000 and to transport them to Hebron camp for training, who in later stages are inducted into either civil or military wing of NSCN-IM and in an average 5-6 children are picked up from Lohit and Longding Districts annually.

Myanmar gave an assurance that it will not allow any insurgent group to use its territory against India. "Myanmar leadership assured that they will not allow any insurgent groups to use any territory for action against India, (that) they all recognised is a friendly country which has stood by people of Myanmar and they look forward to a very productive partnership with India as Myanmar continues on its journey of peace, progress and development," India MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

The assurance comes in the backdrop of certain insurgent groups from northeastern states using Myanmar for launching attacks against India. The Indian Army had carried out a major operation against these groups in June 2015 along the India-Myanmar border. Another such operation was launched few days back.

August 23

Four suspected Bangladeshi militants were arrested from the Neelam Bazar area in Karimganj District. SP (Karimganj) PR Kar said Police have recovered a Bangladeshi passport from them. "We are interrogating them and likely to get more information about their movements," added Kar. A team of special branch will arrive from Guwahati for questioning them. According to reports, five suspected militants had crossed the border in Meghalaya on August 14 and took shelter in a rented house in the Kaliganj area.

A man, identified as Nasiruddin Sheikh was detained by Guwahati Police while allegedly clicking photos of sensitive sites in Kamakhya temple in Nilachal Hills in Kamrup District. Police said the man clicked as many as 177 photographs including toilets and car parking area of the temple with his mobile phone camera. “We apprehended him for taking pictures of prohibited areas within the temple complex. He took certain photographs which other visitors do not normally take,” said an official of Kamakhya Police outpost. Intelligence agencies on earlier occasions have warned that Kamakhya temple is in the target list of Islamist terrorists. Security in Kamakhya temple was beefed up in July 2016 following suspected entry of five people from Bangladesh through Meghalaya to Assam.

Assam Police sought the help of their counterparts in Nagaland to ensure the safe release of Kuldeep Moran, a BJP leader's son who was abducted by ULFA-I militants from Arunachal Pradesh on August 1. Assam DGP Mukesh Sahay said that they had alerted their Nagaland counterparts about the possibility of ULFA-I rebels holding Kuldeep captive somewhere along the Nagaland-Arunachal Pradesh border. Earlier, assistance had been sought from the Arunachal Police.

August 24

Assam Police and the Army killed a KPLT militant in a joint operation in Karbi Anglong District. The militant is yet to be identified. The SFs recovered a 9 mm pistol, ammunition, fired cases and a hand grenade from the site of the operation. "Based on intelligence, a joint operation was launched in the Nalbarigaon area of Karbi Anglong district on Tuesday (August 23) night. At around 4am, the rebel opened fire and was killed in the ensuing gun battle," said defence PRO Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton.

In the midst of sensation created over the arrest of four Bangladeshis and two Indian linkmen from Balia border of Karimganj District on August 23, and reports about their being involved in recruitment drive for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Anurag Agarwal, IG, Southern Range, said, “It is too early to come to any conclusion about ISIS links. We are investigating all aspects and angles. Everything will be clear after that”. Of the six arrested, five were produced before the CJM Court of Karimganj. There has been much sensation in the bordering areas of Karimganj following the arrests. According to a Police source, the Bangladeshis and the Indian linkmen were arrested while disposing of a dead body identified as that of Izzat Ali of Sylhet of Bangladesh.

ULFA chief Paresh Baruah, said that the BJP member's son whom they are holding captive was not abducted for ransom. Kuldip Moran was picked up for `trial' for passing information to the Army, which resulted in the killing of his men, he said. Baruah contacted media houses from an undisclosed location and insisted that his group had not made any ransom demand. "Kuldip is safe. We kidnapped him because he was an Army informer and was keeping a close watch on the movement of our cadres in Arunachal Pradesh," Baruah said. "He will be tried by our court. If found innocent, he will be released. Reports suggesting we demanded ransom are false.'' Kuldip's father Ratneshwar is a panchayat (village level local self government institution) level functionary. Baruah's statement came as Assam Police stepped up operations to rescue Kuldip from Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang District. Police suspect the abduction may have been carried out to pressurize the government for negotiations. Ratneshwar Moran had said the rebels demanded INR 10 million for releasing his son.

August 26

The Khatkhati Police in Karbi Anglong District thwarted a bid to smuggle a loaded 10 wheeler truck which was hijacked from Dhubri in Assam-West Bengal border. As reported, the truck loaded with mustard oil was on its way to Tinsukia from Delhi. The owner of the truck reportedly lost contact with his driver after it entered Assam through Srirampur border. The truck was fitted with a GPS navigation device which alerted the owner that it has changed its course towards Dimapur from the Numuligarh junction in Golaghat District. The truck was later recovered from the parking lot of a fuel station in Assam-Nagaland interstate border. “We have arrested a person viz. Aamir Hussain from the truck. However, two other fled from the spot seeing the police team”, said the investigating officer. The shocking revelations made by Aamir in custody led Police to the recovery of a body from Kanchanjuri area under Bagori Police Station in Nagaon District. The body is believed to be of the driver Mukesh Jadav who had been killed and his face burnt with acid to conceal identity by the unidentified assailants.

In a joint operation launched by Indian Army and Police recovered an IED weighing around three kilograms along with detonators from a house at Notun Dewsar village under Boko Police Station in Kamrup District. Later Assam Police bomb experts defused the IED. Police arrested one Amir Chand from his house in this connection.

The movement of a group of militants between the age group of 25 to 30 in the foothills of Bhuvan in Cachar District created a sense of panic in the area. According to sources, the group of around 20 militants with their faces covered with black clothes and equipped with arms and ammunitions descended down from the forested area of the hill, taking the inhabitants by surprise. They were then seen moving downwards towards the Bhuvandar Tilka, a nondescript village, and then advanced towards the plantation areas of Binnakandie tea estate. On being informed, Lakhipur Police immediately launched an operation with the help of 27 AR, 147 CRPF and a contingent of sub divisional Police in and around the areas down the Bhuvan hills where the militants were spotted. According to the ground information, the militants in jungle-fatigue were talking in broken Hindi, creating the impression that they are from some tribal outfit. It is suspected that the group might have been in hunt for some operation to fill in their coffers.

August 27

Indian Army and Assam Police, in a joint operation killed the ‘self-styled defense secretary’ of KPLT, identified as Chingengri Kronjang in Sering Ringa near Bordikharu under Dokmoka police station in East Karbi Anglong District. According to sources, acting on specific intelligence input, SFs launched the operation in Bheleu Ghat area of the District and later came in contact with the militants who opened fire in a bid to escape. An encounter followed in which Chingengri Kronjang was killed and the outfit’s ‘self styled commander-in-chief’ Moses Terang was arrested when he attempted to escape. Two 9 mm pistol, ammunition, cell phone etc. were recovered from their possession.

Extremist problem and bandh culture in Tinsukia District have crippled normal life and development in the District, said Sanjay Kishan, MLA of Tinsukia, in a largely-attended public meeting in Tinsukia. While rest of the districts of Assam, have progressed considerably, the Tinsukia District, on the other hand, was sinking day by day, said Sanjay Kishan.

According to sources in the State Home Department, 89 militants were killed in different operations in the last one and half year while 2,057 cadres of different underground outfits were arrested in the State. During the year 2015, 58 militants belonging to different outfits were killed in encounters with SFs. The SFs also arrested 1,449 cadres including many top militant leaders. This besides, 577 assorted arms, 15,515 rounds of live ammunition, 58 IEDs, 307 grenades, 143.84 kg of explosives, 2,979 detonators and cash worth INR 29,85,510 were recovered from extremist elements.

During the current year, 2016 (up to July 21), 3l militants of different outfits have been killed in encounters with SFs, while 608 cadres have been arrested. The SFs also recovered 290 assorted arms, 2,691 rounds of live ammunition, 101 grenades, 16 IEDs, 1,250 detonators and cash INR 17,47, 358 from extremist elements.

At a time when courts in Assam are weighed down with thousands of pending cases, a steep fall in the conviction rate related to cases of illegal arms possession has raised questions over the way investigations are being conducted in the State. Under the Arms Act, 1959, 1,642 cases were registered during 2012–2014 in various Police Stations across the State, but the rate of conviction is abysmal. The Police have failed to file charge–sheet in courts in 50 per cent of cases related to illegal possession of arms. In the last few years, availability of illegal arms and the use of the same have increased in the State, of which anti–social elements are taking full advantage. Though the Police have recovered several licensed arms in different parts of the State in the last few years, the availability of illegal arms is yet to be dealt with.

According to Government records, during 2012–2014, out of 1,642 cases registered, there were convictions in 61 cases; 86 persons were convicted out of 2,301 persons arrested. Out of 1,642 registered cases, charge–sheets in 891 cases were filed by the Police. In 2014, a total of 423 arms (322 unlicensed, 73 licensed and 22 other types of arms) and 3,279 ammunition were seized by the Police in different parts of the State. Due to non–filing of charge–sheets in many such cases, the persons involved got bail easily and now have a free run. In various police stations, according to records, 62,000 cases including possession of illegal arms and ammunition have been pending for long. 

August 28

The LFA-I raised alarm against the BJP-led NDA Government’s bid to grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain and Parsi `refugees’ who have come to Assam from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan till the year 2014 by bringing about an amendment (2016) to the Foreigners’ Act 1955. In a statement issued to the media ULFA-I termed it (to grant citizenship to refugees from neighboring countries) an attempt by the ‘occupational Indian rulers’ to create an atmosphere of communal hatred in the state where indigenous communities were already facing threat to their identity because of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. “By inducing ethnic and communal conflicts in the state, the shrewd occupational Indian State wants to ensure its permanent occupation of the state,” the ULFA stated in the e-mailed statement.

The ULFA-PTF sought 702 bighas (a traditional unit of measurement) of land from the Assam Government to set up projects through the PPP mode to create employment opportunities for nearly 1,500 of its cadres living in seven designated camps. ULFA ‘general secretary’ Anup Chetia, who joined the talks in January 2016, said that he proposed the public-private partnership model when he met CM Sarbananda Sonowal on August 18. "We have requested the chief minister to give us five government farms lying unused for years. If the government gives initial financial support, our members can not only revive the farms but also share the profits with the government. We hope the government will work out a model to generate employment for our members by engaging them into agriculture, pig rearing, goat rearing and other activities," he said. ULFA wants to develop four of the farms through the public-private partnership route and another mechanism is being worked out for a piggery and goat farm at Khanapara in Guwahati.

Chetia said nearly 1,500 ULFA members are living in designated camps in Kakopathar (Tinsukia), Moran (Dibrugarh), Jagiroad (Morigaon), Nalbari, Tihu (Nalbari), Sipajhar (Darrang) and Goalpara since 2010, when the group engaged in talks. The designated camps have been named Asom Nabanirman Kendras. "Most of them are now dependent on the monthly stipend of Rs 3,000 from the government and are over 40 - so they have crossed the age-limit to apply for government jobs. Hence, we need to provide them with job skills for their rehabilitation. If the government gives us the land and supports us financially, we can generate employment for them and their families," said Chetia, one of the founding leaders of ULFA, was extradited from Bangladesh in December 2015 after spending 18 years in jail.

Sources said the dialogue with the ULFA-PTF was on hold as the Centre was working out the modalities for granting ST status to six more ethnic communities - Ahoms, Morans, Muttocks, Sutias, Koch Rajbongshis and tea garden communities. Chetia also urged Sonowal to increase the monthly stipend from INR 3,000 to INR 10,000 and make sure that the money is paid regularly and without delay. "The chief minister said the government is considering the increase in stipend but had not yet decided the amount," Chetia said. Sources said Dispur was taking time to increase the stipend as members of other rebel groups, such as the NDFB-P and Adivasi groups, were also demanding a hike.

AR arrested two persons, identified as Bijit Bhakta (30) and Mayur Kohn (28) along with pistol and three mobile handsets at Ulubari area in the connecting road of Thelamara and Missamari under Thelamara Police Station in Sonitpur District.

A militant of UDLA, a Bru (Reang) militant outfit active in the Barak Valley, was killed in an encounter with Police in Banglabhasha hamlet in Hailakandi District near the Assam-Mizoram border. The dead militant was identified as Hanuman Reang, a resident of Kanjiyala village in the area. A senior Police officer said a group of militants fired at SFs when the latter were out on a routine patrol in the jungles of south Hailakandi. Reang was killed by police in retaliatory firing.

Two other cadres, identified as Shaila Reang and Harendra Reang were arrested while the rest managed to flee. Police recovered an AK-56 rifle and 10 rounds of cartridge from the area. UDLA has been active in the Barak Valley area over the past decade and is mainly engaged in extortion and kidnapping and has been demanding autonomy for the tribal group.

Acknowledging that security interests of India and Myanmar were closely aligned, PM Narendra Modi said that both the countries have agreed to work together for safety and security of the people. Modi was addressing a joint press conference with the visiting President of Myanmar U Htin Kyaw at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. "The President and I agreed to work together for the safety and security of our people," Modi said. Stating that Myanmar is special for India, the Prime Minister said the neighbouring country holds a unique position in India's neighbourhood. It is a land bridge that connects India with Southeast Asia, he said. Confirming that the two sides discussed about security-related issues, the Prime Minister said that India and Myanmar agreed on the need to remain sensitive to each other's strategic interests and concerns and "actively cooperate to combat the common challenges of terrorism and insurgent activity in our region."

India is learnt to have conveyed its concern to Myanmar about the activities of the Northeast-based insurgents, which have bases inside Myanmar. India has for long been pressing Myanmar to launch a flush-out operation like those carried out in Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Following specific intelligence inputs about attempts of infiltration by 'jihadis', the Assam Police proposes to divert at least three companies of the central forces from the law and order duties to be deployed close to the international borders of Bangladesh and Bhutan. The move seeking a change in the concentration of forces was reportedly necessitated after the Assam Police headquarters in Guwahati received specific information about 'jihadi' elements trying to sneak in from across the border in Bangladesh to plan terror strikes in Assam. This is for the first time in recent years that such a move has been proposed by the Assam Police to fight cross-border terrorism and the UMHA too is being moved in this regard, top Assam Police sources said.

As part of the meticulously drafted exercise, these personnel would be strategically deployed in vulnerable areas and border outposts close to the international border once the decision gets the final nod. "The threat from the Islamic State (ISIS) and jihadi elements can no longer be overlooked. With various intelligence agencies feeding us with inputs of such infiltration, the border security has to be stepped up," sources pointed out, adding that the security scenario will be reviewed from time to time and as and when deemed fit, the forces would be diverted back to the respective districts.

Recently, many noted businessman, government officials and tea garden owners of the Jorhat District received extortion demand from the banned ULFA-I. The amount demanded ranges from INR 5 to INR 50 lakh. Besides, the extremist organization has of late resorted to the use of mobile phones for extortion in a complete shift of method of serving demand note on a ULFA pad. Notably, the extortion demand is learnt to be undertaken by ULFA cadres namely Jibon Asom and Abhizeet Asom. There are numerous cases of fake threats served to ordinary people and most of the time, prompt police action has brought to the light the involvement of local crooks who pose as hardcore members of the organization. Though most of the businessmen are reported to have got the demand through phone calls, in other cases government officers and tea garden officers have been served demand letters.

Activists of ABSU, NDFB-P and PJACBM staged a road blockade in support of their demand for a separate Bodoland, at Barama in Baksa District. Later ABSU also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar.

Activists of ABSU, NDFB-P and PJACBM staged a road blockade in support of their demand for a separate Bodoland, at Barama in Baksa District. Later ABSU also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar.

The Army arrested two persons with a 7.65mm revolver and six live ammunitions from Baburhat of Dhubri District.

A NSLA cadre was arrested from Mornai tea estate in Kokrajhar District.

The Kokrajhar Police arrested a KLO cadre, identified as Snajit Chandra Barman from Choutara under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

Eleven Bangladeshi nationals including two minors currently lodged in the detention centre in Silchar, will be deported back to Bangladesh soon, Cachar Deputy Commissioner S Viswanathan said. "The Bangladesh government has agreed to take back nine nationals of their country from Silchar detention centre and they will be deported after final clearance of the state government along with the two minors," he said.

Bangladesh suspects two top leaders of a reorganized JMB took secret refuge in neighbouring India to mobilise weaponry and financial support for the banned outfit to carry out the July 1 terrorist attack on a Dhaka cafe, according to reports. One of the two JMB leaders, Shariful Islam Khaled, is also blamed for hacking to death his liberal university professor, who was on the way to work, in April, 2016. Mamunur Rashid Ripon alias Jahangir and Khaled left for India in April, days after the murder of the Rajshahi University professor, the report said. "(Mamunur Rashid) Ripon and Khaled went to the neighbouring country in April and they have been hiding there since then," it quoted the Police's CTTC unit chief, Monirul Islam, as saying. He said Bangladesh has already informed India about the militants' possible stay in Kolkata in West Bengal.

Police arrested three youths of Bollagaon of Goalpara District for allegedly demanding INR 5 lakh from a trader of Krishnai in Goalpara District.

KPLT called for a 24-hour Karbi Anglong bandh on September 3 from 5 am as a mark of protest against the killing of its 'defense secretary', Sering Ringa by SFs.

Four NDFB-IKS cadres, identified as Thunkara Basumatary, Lengra Basumatary, Marchal Daimari and B Swr were arrested from Paharpur area under Chariduar Police Station in Sonitpur District. SFs recovered two grenades, one G-3 rifle, one 9 mm pistol along with live ammunition, several mobile sets and documents from the militant.

Peace talks between Myanmar Government and various militant ethnic minorities started at conference hall in the capital Naypyidaw in a bid to end decades of conflict that have claimed thousands of lives and kept the country mired in poverty. The summit is veteran democracy activist Suu Kyi's much-trumpeted effort to reshape Myanmar as a federal democracy following decades of oppressive military rule. The Nobel laureate has made bridging the ethnic fault lines that have fractured the nation since its mid-century independence a priority of her new government, which took power in March. "So long as we are unable to achieve national reconciliation and national unity, we will never be able to establish a sustainable and durable peaceful union," she told delegates.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is also attending the talks, described the gathering as a "historic" moment for the country following its transition towards democracy. "The long civil war has cost numerous lives and robbed successive generations of their dignity, tranquillity and normalcy," he said during a speech to delegates. "It is now clear that there can be no military solution to your differences." Few expect a concrete deal to emerge from the five-day talks, which are seen as the start of a peace process that could take years. Seventeen rebel groups have joined the talks in the capital, but others have not laid down their arms and some remain locked in combat with the military.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini urged negotiators to seek a "new path towards sustainable peace, equitable development and the wider consolidation of the democratic reform process". The US also backed the talks, calling it an "important process towards a lasting peace" in a statement from its Yangon embassy.

Dispur Police arrested a youth, identified as Lalrochan Pangante (27) along with a huge cache of explosives on GS Road in Six Mile area in the Kamrup District. Lalrochan Pangante, was arrested by Police while he was travelling in an auto-rickshaw from Khanapara to Guwahati Railway Station. The youth hails from Mahur in Dima Hasao District. "A total of 206 gelatin sticks and 800 detonators and some wires have been seized from him," said a Police official. Police said he brought the explosives from Manipur and planned to take it to Dimapur by train.

At least 11 militants belonging to different militant outfits were arrested during a multiple operations launched by Army, Police and other SFs in Assam during last 24 hours. Defence PRO Lt Col Suneet Newton said that the militants were arrested along with large cache of arms and ammunition in Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Sonitpur Districts of the state. He said of the 11 militants, five belonged to KPLT, four to NDFB-IKS and two to HSULF.

Five KPLT militants, identified as Jamson Kro alias Kronihang, Sohan Bey, Ranjit Tisso alias Archim, Ben Killing and Mohon Teron were arrested during a joint operation conducted by SFs in Borlangso and Taralangso areas of Karbi Anglong District, a senior Police official said. A cache of arms and ammunition were also recovered from their possession. The arms recovered include one AK-56 Rifle with 15 live rounds and one magazine, one .32 pistol with one magazine and two live rounds, two live Chinese grenades and two country-made guns.

Two militants of HSULF, a splinter militant group in Dima Hasao District, identified as Somesh Badosa and Diyunmukh Kemprai were arrested from in Karbi Anglong District. One 9mm pistol and one handmade gun were recovered from them.

Police arrested three persons, including two women, for their alleged link with the NDFB-IKS from Oxiguri in Baksa District. Police sources said based on a tip-off, Mamita Borgoyary, Poloti Mushahary and Kwmdwn Kachari, were arrested. Mamita is said to be sister-in-law of wanted NDFB-IKS leader B. Bidai. Police claimed to have recovered INR 5,000, which was extorted from a businessman.

Four persons, Abdul Hai (21), Sanidul Haque (22), Md Motleb Ali (18), and Azizul Haque (20), who were allegedly involved in extortion in the name of the NDFB-IKS, were arrested in Barpeta District.

KPLT called for a 24-hour Karbi Anglong bandh (general shut down strike) on September 3, in protest against killing of its 'defense secretary' during an encounter with Assam Police and SFs recently.

Chirang District Police in association Army arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Jayanta Musahary from Baikhungaon area on NH-31(C) under Dhaligaon Police Station of Chirang District. One pistol and one round live ammunition was recovered with his possession. He was in Bangalore in the past few days. During preliminary interrogation he disclosed that he was working with Ransrao in Biswanath Chariali prior to escaping to Bangalore," Chirang SP, Sankar Brata Rai Medhi said.

A senior cadre of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Agun Basumatary, a close associate of NDFB-IKS leader B. Biday was killed by Assam Police in Kokrajhar District. An AK 81 rifle, two grenades, a magazine, several round of live ammunition from the slain militant. ADGP L.R. Bishnoi said, "Based on specific information, three police teams laid three ambushes in and around Mainaopur area under Kochugaon police station in the district since Monday (September 5) night. The team led by me came face to face with two militants around 4.20 am (September 6). When we challenged them, they started firing at us forcing us to retaliate. Later, we could find one injured militant while the other one managed to escape," adding that although he was taken to the hospital immediately, doctors there declared him brought dead.

SFs in Assam said NDFB-IKS has set up camps in the neighbouring country; Bhutan. "We are now certain about some NDFB (S) camps in Bhutan. Their 'commander-in-chief' G. Bidai is also said to be hiding there," ADGP, L.R. Bishnoi, said, hours after a "hardcore cadre" of the outfit, identified as Agun Basumatary, was killed during an operation in Kokrajhar District that shares its border with Bhutan's Sarpang District. Although security forces had earlier suspected the presence of NDFB-IKS camps in Bhutan, they officially disclosed this for the first time.

The Guwahati city Police arrested a NSCN-K cadre, identified as Tobika Sumi alias Boni Mech (33) from Nabagraha in the Guwahati city in Kamrup Metropolitan District. The arrested cadre joined the outfit in 1996 and got training in Myanmar. He hails from Kuchiya Bil in East Dimapur in Nagaland. Along with the Police, sleuths from the IB and the NIA were also interrogating the cadre. The city Police is interacting with their Nagaland counterparts to know the background of the militant.

The Agia Police arrested a GNLA linkman, identified Sayed Saiful Islam (29) of Tukura village in Krishnai in Goalpara District. He was arrested in connection with a case related to serving of extortion letter to a businessman in the name of GNLA. Police was looking for Saiful who was instrumental in serving demand letters to some of the selected businessmen of the area. The GNLA, as part of their strategy, use local youths to identity their soft targets and serve demand letters in return of which the youths are paid scanty amount of money. The Assam-Meghalaya border areas have always been an extortion hub for the extremist groups.

Expressing concern at the unabated illegal migration, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju underlined the need for formal agreements and creation of joint mechanisms between India and its neighbours to ensure elimination of illegal crossovers, drug trafficking and infiltration. "Unless India's neighbours are made to realise that it was in the interest of both countries to stop infiltration and incursions, the security of countries will remain at stake," he said while delivering the keynote address at FICCI-India Foundation convention on 'Homeland Security-2016: Smart Borders Management' in New Delhi. Development and security go hand in hand and mere physical delineation of territories will not suffice, he said, adding that although India had fenced borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the Government was trying to make the security mechanism foolproof, drug trafficking, illegal crossing and infiltration remain the order of the day.

Previous Governments had adopted a "defeatist" attitude by not constructing roads in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh as they felt Chinese forces could use them, Kiren Rijiju added.

Chirang Police foiled an attempt by NDFB-IKS militants and their sympathisers to remit money obtained through extortion to their camps in Myanmar and arrested five persons in connection with this case. ASP, Chirang, Tabu Ram Pegu, said the accused had planned to transfer INR 40,000 to a bank account in Nagaland and from there human couriers would have been used to ship the money to the outfit's camps in the forests of Myanmar. "They tried to transfer the money from the Basugaon branch of the SBI yesterday (September 7) but could not do so because of link failure at the bank. They would have tried it again today but before that we arrested them and seized the money," he said. "The cash seized from them was part of Rs 60,000 that they had extorted from one Kumar Basumatary, a timber smuggler from the Khungring area of Chirang District, some days ago," ASP said.

The series of arrests began with 22-year-old NDFB-IKS cadre Daukha Narzary alias Dopthai. He was arrested from the Sundari area under Sidli Police Station of Chirang District on September 7 evening during an operation launched on the basis of a tip-off. Narzary belongs to the 40th batch of NDFB-IKS cadres and was trained in Myanmar. Based on his confession, two linkmen, identified as Kwmtha Basumatary and Swrangsar Basumatary were arrested from Rangsaidam under Basugaon Police Station in Chirang District on September 7 night and INR 40,000 was recovered from them. "Further questioning of the accused persons revealed names of their other accomplices and multiple raids were conducted and two more linkmen of the outfit, Bhim Basumatary and Jwngdao Basumatary were apprehend from Kashikotra under Sidli Police Station around 1.30pm today (September 8)," the ASP said.

According to SFs, the NDFB-IKS has stepped up its extortion drive in the BTAD and adjoining areas though their cadres and linkmen as the outfit has been going through a major financial crunch. The militant group is using linkmen and sympathisers, mostly local youths belonging to poor families including girls, to carry out extortions. A Police source said the NDFB-IKS is using bank accounts of some persons in Nagaland to route extortion money to their Myanmar camps. "Certain percentage of the money is given to the bank account holder as commission," the source said. In order to avoid detection by the RBI, the funds are transferred in small amounts not exceeding INR one lakh.

The ULFA-I released Assam BJP panchayat leader's son, Kuldeep Moran, at the Indo-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh. He was abducted on August 1 and the militants had demanded INR 1 crore ransom. Earlier, ULFA-I leader Paresh Baruah said Kuldeep has been not been abducted for ransom, but to stand 'trial' for passing on information to the Army, which resulted in the killing of several cadres of the outfit in encounters.

Special DGP (Law and Order) Kuladhar Saikia in his tour to the Upper Assam Districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, disclosed that massive security operations would be initiated against the insurgent group like ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS or any other group in the State. "The security forces have been instructed to be strict against all those forces who have been trying to create an atmosphere of terror and fear among the people," he said. During his visit to Dibrugarh, Saikia interacted with the leading citizens and media persons at Police Reserve auditorium.

The AJYCP asked the Centre to resume peace talks with the ULFA and other militant outfits to help Assam restore permanent peace. It further threatens to launch a statewide agitation if the Centre fails to hold the peace parleys with the rebels afresh. In a statement issued in Guwahati, AJYCP president Biraj Kumar Talukdar deplored that neither Delhi nor Dispur has invited the rebel outfits to resume the stalled peace talks. The AJYCP leader said that the government would have to pay a heavy price if it keeps mum on the issue.

The NDFB-P expressed its dissatisfaction over the Centre's alleged lack of commitment in solving the Bodo imbroglio. Speaking on the occasion of its 28th martyrs' day celebration of the NDFB's western zone designated camp at Serfanguri in Kokrajhar, S. Sanjarang, the outfit's 'information and publicity secretary', said it was unfortunate that the peace dialogue had not been productive as a result of a lack of political will on the part of the Centre. He said the outfit had 14 rounds of dialogue with the Centre but there have been no progress in the last one-and-a half years of the BJP-led NDA Government. The talks were last held on June 9 last year (2015), Sanjarang said. He slammed the Narendra Modi Government for the lack of measures to resume talks with the organisation, whereas during the UPA Government, several rounds of negotiations were held and the Government had taken initiatives for a peaceful solution. He added that the BJP had assured them before the last elections of solving the Bodo issue but did not keep its word.

The Army's Red Horns Division and Police launched an operation in the Hatoka area of East Karbi Anglong District, and arrested two militants, including Binod Gowla, the self-styled 'deputy commander-in-chief' of NSCA. The operation was carried out based on information provided by the Army's intelligence unit, defence spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton said. A 7.65-mm pistol, grenade and ammunition were seized from the duo. The NSCA is a fringe outfit involved in extortion and unlawful activities.

In an operation by Army and Police, an NDFB-IKS cadre identified as Hwbtasad Brahma alias Darga alias Jathi, was arrested in West Daisamguri of Chirang District. A pistol and ammunition were seized from him.

The State Government has directed the Assam Police to step up efforts to trace the nearly 38,000 illegal Bangladeshi nationals of the post-1971 stream, who have been evading arrest. As per the new directives, the SPs of all the Districts will have to henceforth file a detailed monthly status report on the untraced infiltrators. The monthly report by the respective SPs must also carry the reasons behind the respective District Police's inability to catch the illegal immigrants missing from their respective areas of jurisdiction. "We want an improved synergy among all the 500 police units and task forces meant for tracking down untraced Bangladeshis. The baggage of 38,000 untraced illegal immigrants is a bit too much to carry," official sources said. The Home Department has also asked the law-enforcers to intensify search operation against the untraced infiltrators with improved intelligence sharing. It has also asked all the SPs to devise strategies to nab the illegal foreigners who are on the run, and, if necessary, put them on surveillance.

Assam Police rescued a 77-year old Arabinda Kumar Das, a resident of Shillong, who was abducted on July 25 last from Assam. According to sources, Das was abducted when he went for morning walk on July 25. Sampa Das, daughter of the abducted person received a ransom call from the abductors on July 26 who demanded an amount of INR 2 crores. On September 15, after a gap of 52 days, the victim was rescued by Assam Police while being taken in a van. One person namely Nurul Haque of Gamari, Ramkrishna Nagar in Karimganj who was with the victim had been arrested. No ransom was paid to the abductors.

In a series of multi directional and synchronized operations, Army and Police arrested eight cadres of KPLT including 'self-styled C-in-C' of a KPLT faction, Sunder Dera alias Rijak Dera, and recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition and incriminating documents from West Karbi Anglong District. The official said that during confrontation with the armed rebels, own troops exercised maximum restraint and upholding the principle of use of minimum force and no collateral damage arrested the hardcore militants. Arrested cadres also include an 'area commander' and 'vice chairman' of the group who were instrumental in coordinating extortion, kidnapping and recruitment of new cadres, said official. Four rifles including one AK-47 rifle, grenades, live ammunition, extortion notices and receipts were also recovered from the cadres.

"KPLT, which is in a state of disarray due to the recent successful operations by Security Forces (SF), has suffered a crippling blow," the Army official added. He said that the elimination of two hardcore KPLT cadres and apprehension of fourteen cadres in the past one month has left the outfit leaderless and completely disorganized.

Police arrested five newly recruited ULFA-I cadres from Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri Districts. ASP, Sonitpur, Fakrul Islam, said three cadres of the outfit, identified as Kishor Deka, Jayanta Deka and Pranab Deka, all in their twenties and from Harisinga in Udalguri District, were picked up from a Tinsukia-bound night bus at Tezpur in Sonitpur District. According to the Police, they were on their way to Myanmar for arms training. Based on confessions made by them during interrogation, another newly recruited ULFA-I cadre, Anjan Deka (31) was arrested from Bengbari village under Harisinga police station in Udalguri District and another cadre, Anil Borah alias Utpal Asom (31), who had joined the outfit in 2011, was also arrested from Tinsukia District.

Kokrajhar Police arrested six persons, identified as Aminul Islam, Md Bharul Islam, Md Sahidul Seikh, Md Amsar Ali, Tofiya Alom and Shahajan Ali along with one country-made pistol from Joypur in Kokrajhar District. They were demanding ransom in the name of the NDFB-IKS from local people.

Assam Police arrested a NDFB-IKS linkman, identified as Tefra Muchahary of Taijouguri village in Kokrajhar District.

Police arrested two persons, identified as Sujit Sen and Biren Tamuli for alleged extortion in the name of ULFA-I from Guwahati in Kamrup District.

The ULFA-I led by Paresh Barua launched a recruitment drive in the Sate to replenish its depleting strength. A Police source said that the latest recruitment was being carried out under the supervision of the outfit's 'operational commander' Nayan Medhi in Districts like Udalguri and Darrang, apart from its traditional strongholds of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar. "It came to light after the arrest of three newly-recruited cadres from a Tinsukia-bound bus at Tezpur on Thursday (September 15) night while they were on their way to the outfit's camps in Myanmar for arms training," the source said. The trio hails from Harisinga in Udalguri District.

Resentment is brewing in Jorhat after the banned ULFA-I served extortion demand to many noted Punjabi businessmen of the Jorhat District, besides the regular demand to other businessmen of the Marwari and Bihari community, tea garden owners and State Government officers. Notably, the demand has come from the 'chairman' of the ULFA-I, Abhizeet Axom, as depicted in the calls and text messages sent, asking contribution as party fund towards the cause of the ULFA movement. The other demand has come from Jibon Axom. A close study of ULFA reveals that every cadre from the bottom to the top hierarchy acquires a single and unique name which is neither transferable nor can be acquired by anyone else even for making calls for demand or sending press releases to the print or electronic news channels. The demand by the ULFA 'chairman' Abhizeet Axom has created terror and sensation among the community. A top source of the police has informed about numerous cases being registered across various police stations of the District with one in Mariani, Titabor, Teok and Jorhat Police station. The demand ranges from INR 5 lakh to INR 50 lakh. Allegations of low Police investigation and sense of insecurity have gripped the people.

SF and Assam Police engaged in counter-insurgency (CI) operation in Assam have mounted vigil against the proscribed ULFA-I which has started using social media like WhatsApp to send extortion demands to soft targets besides engaging linkmen or over ground agents to collect fund on their behalf. A senior Police official overseeing law and order in the State informed that the ULFA-I had resorted to extortion drive especially targeted at the tea estates in eastern Assam where tea executives live in remote, vulnerable areas. He informed that a senior executive of Santak Tea Estate in Sivasagar District was arrested two days back for making payment to a linkman as per extortion demand of the ULFA-I. The official said the outfit, of late, has started using social media to convey extortion demand to soft targets to escape detection by SFs. The Police become awake to the new modus operandi of the ULFA-I, which is led by fugitive 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua, in respect of carrying out extortion and preventive measures have been put in place.

The third convention of the Surrendered NDFB Welfare Association will be held on October 3 and 4 at the Bodofa Cultural Complex in Kokrajhar District, informed the vice-president of the association. A meeting of the association was held at the office of Bijni Primary SNDFB Welfare Association in Bijni in Chirang District recently where a reception committee for the convention was formed with Pulen Narzary as chairman. The committee was formed with Gojen Narzary as vice chairman, Samesh Basuamtary as convener and Bhaben Basumatary and Kamal Basumatary as joint conveners respectively. The meeting for the formation of the reception committee was chaired by the secretary of Bijni Primary SNDFB Welfare Association, Gojen Goyary. Former president of the SNDFB Welfare Association, Hebal Mashahary informed that the association was formed in 2005 to work for the welfare of surrendered members of NDFB and to address their problems. He said there had been only two conventions earlier. There had been no convention since 2008, he added.

Any incident of terror taking place in Bangladesh has implications for India as well, said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla during a visit in Agartala. "Although there is not sufficient evidence of cross-border terror activity, consequential effect of a horrific incident taking place in Bangladesh can be on India as well, as we share a long land boundary with that country," Shringla said. He, however, expressed satisfaction that the Bangladesh authorities have now realised that terror activities could take a serious turn in their country, and they have met with some success in dealing with the recent acts of terror on their soil. The Indian envoy said, "Ever since the Bangladesh SFs have taken some pro-active steps, the situation in that country has improved a lot. Bangladesh has been mobilising the people of all sections to deal with the situation emerging from the recent terrorist attacks." Referring to the Home Minister-level meeting held in July in New Delhi, Shringla said that India and Bangladesh would fight terrorism jointly, as agreed upon during the meeting, also because it is in their interests.

An NDFB-IKS linkman, identified as Bindo Muchahary, was arrested from Madya Bashbari under Karigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. He was active in collecting extortion money on behalf of the NDFB-IKS. One mobile phone and fake identity documents were recovered from him. Muchahary used to be in contact with cadres based in Myanmar and in the northern jungles of Kokrajhar. He confessed that he had been working as a linkman for the group.

An NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Rajib Basumatary alias Mirgang alias Merbang alias Mergom, who escaped from Police custody in July 13, was killed in an operation by SFs in the Labanyapur area of Kokrajhar District. According to the Police, a search operation was launched in the area based on a tip-off and subsequently an encounter took place and Basumatary was killed. Police sources said Basumatary was a senior NDFB-IKS cadre and an under trial, who had escaped from Police custody on July 13 at Choibari tea garden on the way to Kokrajhar District jail from the NIA court in Guwahati. A .22mm pistol, three live rounds of .22 ammunition, two 36HE grenades, and six cases of 7.62mm pistol ammunition were also recovered from him.

Lekhapani Police arrested three ULFA-I linkmen from Jagun area in Tinsukia District. Acting on a tip-off, Police arrested Sushil Gogoi and Sahabuddin Siddiqui from Jagun area and recovered 160 track suits and 70 sweaters from their possession. Again, Lekhapani Police arrested Dilip Phukan, a noted businessman of Jagun Parvatipur area, and recovered 30 track suits from his house. According to sources, under the direction of ULFA-I 'publicity secretary' Arunodoy Dohatia, a recruitment drive was going in Myanmar and youths belonging to the age group of 16 years- 24 years of Tinsukia District were going to Myanmar for ULFA-I training.

Tamulpur Police and Army in a joint operation arrested a youth, identified as Rahmat Ali (26) along with arms from Khandikar village under Tamulpur Police Station in Baksa District. One 9 MM pistol and one country-made revolver were recovered from his possession.

In one of the biggest operations in the fight against terror in the North-east in recent times, the Indian Army along with personnel of Assam Police killed at least six KPLT militants in a swift and surgical operation in the Nambar Reserve Forest in East Karbi Anglong District. On receiving specific intelligence inputs on the presence of a KPLT camp in the dense Nambar Reserve Forest, SFs launched a joint operation in the afternoon of September 22. On September 23, the Army troops found the camp with armed terrorists. On being challenged, the terrorists started indiscriminate firing on the troops, which resulted in severe gunfight in which four terrorists were killed. Taking advantage of the dense jungle, the other terrorists tried to escape, but they again came in contact with the Army men who were in hot pursuit of the fleeing terrorists. In the encounter, two more terrorists were killed. Altogether six KPLT militants including its two leaders were killed in the encounter.

According to reports, an Army jawan was also injured during the encounter and later the jawan was admitted to a hospital, said Debajit Deury, SP. The slain militants have not yet been identified, added Deury. One 7.62 mm self loading rifle, one Insas rifle, three pistols, two hand grenades, large number of ammunition, several sharp weapons, fired cases, solar panels and blankets, etc. were recovered from the slain militants, said the PRO of the Defence wing.

A youth, identified as Dipak Basumatari (32) was arrested while collecting extortion money in the name of NDFB-IKS at Rupakhat area on the outskirts of Tangla town in Udalguri District. According to report, the youth threatened a businessman of the town and demanded INR 2 lakh as extortion money. But later the businessman negotiated the amount to INR10,000. The youth was arrested by a team of Tangla Police led by SDPO)Bhergaon when he came to collect the money at Rupakhat area. A.32 pistol, three rounds of live ammunition and an unregistered gearless scooter were recovered from his possession.

Of late it has come to light that illegal check points have resurfaced at various strategic spots and are allegedly extorting money, particularly from the drivers of goods-laden vehicles travelling through the NH-37 across the Goalpara District and this menace is continuing right under the nose of law-enforcement agencies. Some minitruck drivers from Goalpara, who regularly commute along this stretch of the national highway alleged that they have now become the primary victims, as they have to dole out between INR 50 to INR 200 (between INR1,000 to INR 1,500 for bigger trucks and 12 wheelers) per trip to the extortionists at Salpara under Krishnai Police Station and then at Leyla and Dudhnoi, both under Dudhnoi Police Station falling under RHAC.

Police confirmed that the recovered Insas Rifle from the slain KPLT militants, who were killed in an encounter on September 23, was snatched from the armed bodyguards of MAC Narendra Killing when militants assassinated him at his residence in Balipathar back in 2011. A group of eight heavily armed militants swooped inside the residence of MAC Narendra Killing and opened indiscriminate firing. , MAC Killing was killed on the spot and two of Killing's PSOs, Darsing Rongpi and Manob Puran, sustained bullet injuries. Militants thereafter decamped with two 303 Lee-Enfield Rifles, one Insas Rifle and around 70 rounds of ammunition from the guards.

Former chief minister and founder president of AGP Prafulla Kumar Mahanta appealed to the Centre to provide special constitutional safeguards, modelled on the ILP system, in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, to protect the indigenous people of the State. The bill, which was tabled in Parliament on August 11, seeks to give citizenship rights to persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is currently being examined by a joint select committee of Parliament after opposition parties said it needed more scrutiny.

Six top JMB militants, including three of Indian origin, were arrested from Assam and West Bengal. Acting on a tip off, one JMB militant, identified as Jahidul S. alias Jabirul was arrested from Cachar District in Assam on September 24. Following his interrogation, Moulana Yusuf alias Abu Khetab and Shahidul Islam were arrested from Bashirhat, and Anwar Hossain Farook and Mohammad Rubel from Bagda road in Bangaon, both in North 24 Parganas District on September 25. "STF of Kolkata Police has arrested six Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh terrorists," Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, Visal Garg said. "These six are part of the top leadership of JMB," he said, adding five of them are named in the chargesheet filed by the NIA in the Khagragarh blast case in Burdwan District on October 2, 2014. Police recovered a laptop, mobile phones, SD cards, wires, detonators, a powder like substance and fake identity documents from them. "The powder like substance can be explosive. We will get it examined by experts," said Garg.

The arrested militants included Anwar Hossain Farook of Jamalpur in Bangladesh, who was the head of the JMB unit in West Bengal. Another arrested militant was Moulana Yusuf alias Abu Khetab from Mangalkot of Burdwan District, the second in command in JMB. The other four are Shahidul Islam, the head of JMB's North Eastern unit, Mohammad Rubel - an expert in improvised explosive devices - hailing from Jamalpur in Bangladesh, Abul Kalam from Barpeta District in Assam and Jahidul S. alias Jabirul from Bangladesh. Garg said the STF was keeping an eye on JMB activities and tracking those who had absconded to the northeastern or southern India hideouts.

Based on specific input, a joint team of Tangla Police and Army arrested one NDFB-IKS cadre, identified as Derhasar Daimari alias D. Daihang and another linkman, identified as Sarat Basumatari from Kahibari area under Tangla Police Station in Udalguri District. A .22 handmade revolver, four rounds of live ammunition, a dagger and eight mobile handsets were recovered from their possession. Derhasar Daimari is allegedly a hardcore cadre trained in Arunachal Pradesh. He was also allegedly involved in many anti-social activities along with extortion related cases in Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri Districts during the past couple of months, said a P source.

The close proximity between the Paresh Baruah-led ULFA-I and China came to the fore again when the faction asked the HYCP to withdraw its appeal to ban Chinese products in the State. The ULFA-I in a statement emailed to the media stated that the neighbouring China had been maintaining a historic and friendly relations with the people of Assam and would continue maintain the good relations in future too. "The people of consumer state of Assam who have been exploited by Indian traders, have the right to buy cheaper good (Chinese items) available in the market and no one should try to disrupt that at the dictation of the RSS and the BJP," the ULFA-I statement said.

The outfit further asked the president Balen Baishya and general secretary Dipankar Gohain of the state unit of HYCP to keep in mind Assam's historic ties with China and desist from making such appeal to the people of Assam acting as a stooge of the RSS and the BJP. The outfit further warned the two leaders of befitting action in case they dared to make such statement against Chinese goods in future. Security agencies in India often claim that the fugitive ULFA-I 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, who is suspected to have pitched camp in Myanmar, maintains a close ties with his contacts in China.

KPLT allegedly demanded a sum of INR 5.50 crore from D. Uphing Maslai, executive member of KAAC and warned him that he and his family along with his relatives would be killed if he fails to pay the ransom. The threat, which was send through a text message, also mentioned that his house would be blown up with a single detonation. Maslai has registered a case in Diphu police station and has sought legal protection from the Police.

Police arrested another JMB cadre, identified as Azizur Rehman from Gumrah village under Katigorah police Station in Cachar District. Police sources said Rehman, the owner of a cycle repairing shop, had given shelter to Jamirul Islam, an alleged JMB cadre, who was arrested by Kolkata Police, with help from their counterparts in Assam, on September 24. More than 45 people have been arrested so far for alleged links with JMB in Assam. Special DGP (Law & Order) Kuladhar Saikia said that Assam Police is very much concerned about growing jihadi activities in the State. He also stated that the Assam Police is in constant touch with Kolkata Police.

Assam Police conducted search operation at Thaisuguri village area under Kachugaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District and arrested a wanted linkman of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Sanen Brahma (27) early in the morning. One mobile handset was recovered from his possession. ADGP, LR Bishnoi said that Sanen Brahma had been working as a channel of communication between NDFB-IKS cadres and OGWs in that area and also used to provide information about the movement of SFs to NDFB-IKS cadres. He was reportedly engaged in arranging ration items meant for Bidai and his group. He had been also playing a very important role in siphoning off extortion money to cadres based in Myanmar through OGWs and sympathizers, he added. Bishnoi also said that the NDFB-IKS linkman had been making more than 600 calls to Batha and Myanmar-based Hanja NDFB cadre group and had collected money deposited in different banks in the District.

One person, identified as Babban Garh (40) who was under treatment at the AMCH after suffering bullet injuries fired by ULFA-I militants on August 12 evening at the Gabharubheti Bamun Gaon under Philobari Police Station in Tinsukia District succumbed to his injuries at the AMCH, as the death toll in the incident rises to three. Earlier, suspected ULFA-I militants on August 12 killed two persons, identified as Kishori Shah and Rajen Shah and injured eight others at Bahbon village in Philobari area of the Tinsukia District.

In what may be a major assault on insurgency in Northeast India, China has agreed to cooperate with India in identifying and apprehending ULFA-I 'chief' Paresh Baruah and other insurgent leaders who are believed to be seeking shelter in the frontier province of China of late. Disclosing that the issue of ULFA-I chief seeking shelter in China came up for discussion during a dialogue with his counterpart in Beijing, Joint Intelligence Committee chairman R.N. Ravi said that his Chinese counterpart suggested that they should send spotter to identify and apprehend the insurgent leaders who have holed themselves up in China's territory. Pointing out that secretary-general of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Mr Wang Yongqing is visiting India for a meeting with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh next month, R.N. Ravi said that some mechanism would also be worked out to flush out Northeast insurgent leaders operating from Chinese soil and to share intelligence in real time.

R.N. Ravi also said that India has shared information with China on how Northeast insurgents are using Chinese arms and explosives and inflicting violence in northeastern states. The ULFA-I chief has been living in Tengchong on the Sino-Myanmar border since he fled Bangladesh in 2009 after the Sheikh Hasina Government started a massive crackdown against Northeast rebel groups. Authoritative security sources dealing with insurgency in the Northeast said that Baruah has been operating from Tengchong on the Sino-Myanmar border, from where he is also in touch with a Chinese intelligence officer in Ruili and a woman from the Dai tribe. He was also found to have been visiting Kunming frequently to meet some Chinese intelligence sleuths. India has shared some more specific intelligence with its counterpart in China, security sources said, adding that ULFA-I chief may have been maintaining links with some lower-grade intelligence sleuths but Beijing was not patronising them as claimed by these fugitives.

As many as 25 blankets that were being transshipped to Myanmar-based camps of ULFA-I, were recovered and a woman, identified as Jina Halong was arrested at Jagun in Tinsukia District of eastern most Assam close to Myanmar border. Security sources informed that the woman was carrying the blankets to ULFA-I camps in Myanmar on being asked by one of the senior ULFA-I leader, Arunodoy Asom. Outfit has pitched its main camp and training camp in Myanmar jungles under the patronage of with Naga rebel group NSCN-K. The blankets were meant for ULFA-I cadres based in the neighbouring country in view of fast onset of winter in the area. The SFs have mounted vigil against the outfit especially in eastern Assam's bordering areas in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Sivasagar Districts in the wake of the outfit's recent strike on Hindi speaking people in remote part of Tinsukia district and reported extortion drive launched by it in the eastern Assam's tea belt.

During a meeting with the District Police chiefs, the District Deputy Commissioners and senior officials of the State Police and the civil administration in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called for geared up vigil against anti-national elements including Jihadis that have posed threat to the internal security of the country. He underlined the need for mounting vigil in river isles of Brahmaputra River where there is hardly any permanent Police post. It is suspected that Jihadi elements could take shelter in those unguarded river isles inhabited by suspected illegal Muslim migrants from Bangladesh. West Bengal Police's STF arrested three JMB cadres from Assam's Cachar and Buxirhat three days back raising the alarm in the State, report said.

A team of Golaghat Police officials arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres from Chungajan area under Golaghat District. The arrested cadres were identified as Gojen Gogoi alias Rubul (29) and Basanti Bora Sonowal (30). ASP, Numal Mahatto said that Gojen Gogoi was a native of Chungajan Majgaon under Golaghat District and Basanti Bora Sonowal was a resident of Ratanpur under Chaparmukh Police Station in Sadiya in Tinsukia District. They are husband and wife. Further, he said that Gogoi actively participated in organizational activities in Upper Assam. He is closely associated with Maoist leader Aditya Bora who was arrested from Khakandaguri, Dergaon few days back and has links with Maoist leaders Pallab Borbora, Debojit Borgohain, Moina Dohotia, Uttam Nayak and Girish Bora. Gojen Gogoi joined the Maoist organization in the year 2011 at Baraghoria Sarupathar as executive member. He was involved in extortion, kidnapping and organized Maoist activities, Mahatto added.

Several social, student and women organizations of Tiwa community of Karbi Anglong District expressed serious concern over the incident of ransom demand and life threat allegedly issued by KPLT to D. Uphing Maslai, executive member of KAAC on September 26. Addressing a press conference, representatives of Tiwa Students Union, All Tiwa Women Association, Tiwa Cultural Society and Tiwa Youth Association said that Tiwa community as a whole have remained pro-active in raising the demand for an autonomous or separate state for Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao autonomous District and, as such, threat from a Karbi organization is most unfortunate. Tiwa bodies has stated that the threat to Maslai is a intimidation to the whole community. "We maintained good relationship with Karbi community since time immemorial. This is a case of political conspiracy. The group or person who is trying to divide us will not be spared and we request everyone to expose this divisive power," said Dominic Sakra, president of ATSU in presence of other 8 heads of Tiwa bodies. He further warned "if anything happens to Maslai, we will not keep silent." Assam Government will make all Police Stations in the State smart police stations in a phased manner, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said. A smart Police force is the order of the day and technology would be able to help the police to efficiently tackle law and order situations, Sonowal said at the Assam Police Day celebrations held at 4th APBN, Kahilipara in Guwahati. The chief minister also said Policemen must instill fear in the hearts of the antisocial elements and inspire trust and goodwill among the common people of the State. Honoring ten Police personnel with Chief Minister's medal for their outstanding performance, he said Assam Police should aim to become the best Police force in the country.

ULFA-I said that its top leader Drishtri Rajkhowa has not surrendered anywhere. In s statement, ULFA-I 'central publicity secretary' Aronodoi Dohotiya said that the rumour is baseless and that it was aimed at spreading false propaganda. Earlier, a section of media speculated that the top ULFA-I leader was preparing to surrender forcing the leadership to clear the position.

The Barpeta Police arrested three suspected jihadis, including two teachers and the fake father of JMB mastermind Jahirul alias Jeherul alias Jabirul, who was arrested by West Bengal Police and unearthed some vital information regarding the ongoing subversive activities in the State, said SP, Barpeta, Siladitya Setia. With the arrest of these three, identified as Abdus Sattar Mia alias Sattar Moulavi, Khalilur Rahman and Kazimddin, more links to Jihadi activities have been unearthed. The first two persons are teachers and the second one is the BLO of Chaparbari Polling Station while the third one is the impersonated father of the most wanted JMB activist. With this arrest, it came to light a few days back that Jabirul had enrolled his name in the voters' list of Sarukshetri Assembly constituency in Barpeta District in 2013 and 2014, acquired a school certificate and even vital documents like PAN. Jahirul went underground in the last part of 2014 when the NIA began to search him after the arrest of Sahnur Alam, the JMB mastermind in Assam. All the three were produced before the judicial magistrate, who remanded them to Police custody for one week.

NDFB-P celebrated the 30th foundation day of the organization at the designated camp of Western Zone located at Serfanguri in Kokrajhar District. The 'speaker' of NDFB-P, B. Benga alias Sunil Basumatary said the outfit was founded on October 3, 1986 with a view to liberate Bodoland and to regain the ancestral land of the forefathers of the Bodos who had been neglected and suppressed by the colonials. He said they entered into ceasefire with the Government of India in 2005 and joined the peace process to bring permanent solution through peace talks. He also said the GoI led by Narendra Modi was yet to re-start the dialogue with the NDFB for peaceful solution. Benga said the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre had assured them for solution of Bodoland issue through peace talks but after coming to power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not taken any proactive measures during his two years in power.

Ahead of Durga Puja and Diwali celebrations in the State, a senior Minister in the Assam Government appealed to the masses to avoid buying Chinese products. Minister for Education, Health and Finance, Himanta Biswa Sarma's statement comes days after the banned militant group ULFA-I warned a Hindu group for seeking a boycott of Chinese goods. "This Durga Puja people should avoid buying products made in China. Instead they should buy lamps, decorative lights and household utensils made in India," the minister said in Guwahati. Significantly, the minister's appeal also follows Beijing's declaration last Saturday that it has blocked a tributary of the Brahmaputra, to construct a dam for a major hydro-electric project in Tibet. It is not known if blocking the tributary will affect the volume of the Brahmaputra which flows across the length of Assam.

There has been a paradigm shift in the policy of the Government of India on the issue of dealing with terrorism and if any terrorist kills an Indian citizen, he will have be ready to face the toughest possible action. Highly placed sources in the GoI said, "gone are the days when terrorists attacked Indians and the government's response were mere statements condemning the attacks. From now on, if any terrorist attacks Indian citizens, he will have to be ready to face the strongest possible action. Even if a terrorist escapes to a foreign country after inflicting pain on any Indian citizen, he would not be able to escape unharmed." Sources said that the recent surgical operation was unique as for the first time, the GoI decided to launch such a major offensive to prove its point to the terrorists. The Government is ready to face any eventuality following the strike as all the possible scenarios of such an attack were thoroughly examined before taking the "calculated risk", which came off well. Sources pointed out that though India had earlier carried out such an operation in Myanmar, there was a major difference. The insurgents attacked in Myanmar by the Indian SFs were not getting any direct help from the Government of Myanmar, but it is now a well established fact that the terrorists in PoK were getting support from the Pakistan Army. Official sources further pointed out that the surgical strike was not against a country by the Indian Army, but was a clinical operation against terrorists using the territory as safe sanctuaries.

Sources also warned that following the change of policy of the Government, even if any member of militant outfits of the Northeast indulges in killing of Indian citizens and escapes to a foreign country, India would try its best to hit him in foreign land, if necessary. In the past, the Centre started talks with insurgents involved in large scale killings of innocents, but when the NDFB-IKS indulged in killings of innocents, the Centre made it clear that there would be no talk with the outfit and launched a full scale operation against its members. Similar situation would continue and no one would be allowed to go scot free after killing an Indian citizen, sources added.

A youth, identified as Safiqul Ali, who had sent an SMS to the PS of State Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for extortion, was arrested by the Police from the Bagorbori area in Guwahati in Kamrup District. Safiqul Ali, hailing from Kolgasia in Barpeta District on October 2 sent an SMS to N Sarma, the PS of Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asking him to pay INR 5 crore. The extortionist indirectly sought the cash from the minister as he had reportedly told the PS to tell the Minister to pay the cash as demanded by him. The extortionist also wanted the money to be handed over to him at a tea estate in Biswanath.

Strongly reiterating that all illegal migrants living in Assam would have to leave the State, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the interests of all genuine citizens will be protected by his Government at any cost. Speaking at a meeting organized by Nepali Sanskriti Suraksha Parishad at Rabindra Bhawan in Guwahati, Sonowal said the Nepalis are a brave and hardworking community which has made tremendous contribution to the formation of greater Assamese race. Allaying fears of the Nepali community, Sonowal said that the Nepalis living in Assam do not need to fear about their place in society, and they are as much sons of the soil as any other indigenous community of the State. Regarding the concerns raised by the community about NRC update exercise, the CM assured that the government is committed to protect the rights of Nepali people living in Assam for ages and it will not allow any vested interest group to create confusion in the minds of Nepalis about their right to citizenship of this great country.

A linkman of NDFB-IKS, identified as Satya Basumatary was arrested in Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District.

Police arrested two persons, identified as San MIyan and Nazir Ali in connection with the circulation of FICN at Attareekhat under the Dimakuchi Police Station in Udalguri District recently. According to reports, the duo tried to hand over FICNs amounting to INR 3 lakh to a trader.

Two cadres of NSLA, identified as Ram Mardi and Sulaiman Soren were arrested from Borobadha in Kokrajhar District. A handmade pistol, an AK-47, live ammunition and two mobile phones were recovered.

In a major diplomatic move to the Indo-Bangladesh repatriation process, the 10 Bangladeshi nationals, including two minors, who were detained at the Silchar Central Jail in Cachar District, will be deported back to Bangladesh through the international border at Karimganj on October 13. The Bangladeshi nationals will be handed over to the team of Karimganj Police and 133 Battalion of BSF and at 10 am, they would be handed over to the BGB officials, Police sources said. Terming this as a diplomatic success, Cachar Deputy Commissioner S Vishwanathan said this decision was expected to "reach us any moment since there were frequent talks between the Government of India, MEA and the Bangladesh Government."

Leaders of the ULFA and various intellectuals of Assam have made it crystal clear that Assam is not going to shoulder the burden of any Bangladeshis, Hindus or Muslims. A meeting called by the ULFA at Gauri Sadan in Guwahati on issues like citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis, deportation of foreigners staying illegally in the State and ensuring land rights of the indigenous people of the State, those present at the meeting vehemently opposed the government's move to provide Indian citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis. "If such a move is translated into a reality, the situation in Assam will simply boil," many of the speakers said, and added: "This government has violated the existing land Act." ULFA leader Arabinda Rajkhowa said: "We're opposing the decision which the government at the Centre is trying to impose on us. What steps we're going to take will be clear in the days ahead." The ULFA leader said that the organization would let the Centre know its decision on the move to amend the citizenship Act in their next round of peace talks.

Two persons were arrested along with FICN worth of INR 2 lakh from the Barpeta road area in Barpeta District. "One of them was identified as Ruleka Khatun. About 400 fake notes of Rs 500 were seized from them," a Police officer said. Sources said the two had confessed to procuring the fake notes from an agent in Bihar. They added that the duo had been asked to give the notes to some other agents. "In many cases, FICN racketeers are found to be involved in cattle smuggling and even funding militancy in the region. Investigation will reveal more details," the officer added.

Usually, a consignment of FICN worth of INR 1 lakh is smuggled into the state in exchange of INR 60,000 worth of real notes, report said. Thus, when agents supply these notes to the market, they get a flat 40% cut on every lot. The couriers, after acquiring the FICNs from their counterparts in Bangladesh or Pakistan, pump them into Assam. Later, a separate batch of couriers, mostly hired on low payment, circulate them in major towns of the state like Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Bongaigaon and various parts of the Barak Valley. Earlier, Assam Police sources had hinted at the involvement of JMB linkmen in FICN rackets in the region. "On several occasions, police have found a nexus between FICN couriers, JMB linkmen and cattle smugglers," a source said.

The AGP made it clear that those who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971 from Bangladesh should be deported to their country and the entire process should be done as per the Assam Accord. This was stated by AGP president and State Agriculture and Veterinary Minister Atul Bora on the occasion of the party's 32nd foundation day held at Sarupeta in Barpeta District. The AGP also indirectly opposed the move the Central government to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, which will pave way to provide citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh. Through the amendment, the BJP government at the Centre is planning to grant long-term visa to hundreds of religiously persecuted Hindu refugees from Bangladesh and other neighbouring countries.

Asserting that the Congress party will never allow the Centre to tinker with the Assam Accord, Assam PCC president Ripun Bora announced constitution of a committee under the chairmanship of former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to chalk out the party's strategy on the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016.

A reported plan drawn up by the ULFA-I led by Paresh Barua and other rebel groups, which are part of the ULFWSA, to carry out strikes in the North East has set alarm bells ringing in security circles across the region, Information about the plan has reportedly been gathered by intelligence agencies in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, where two major rebel groups - the ULFA-I and NSCN-K - have been very active for several years now. According to the agencies, outfits under the front have been assigned specific tasks. These tasks range from targeting SFs, carrying out subversive activities and abducting Hindi-speaking businessmen, said sources.

The intelligence report, which is learnt to have come from a Central agency, has said that while NSCN-K and ULFA-I would target SFs in eastern Arunachal Pradesh where India, China and Myanmar meet, PLA, ULFA-I and NSCN-K would carry out similar strikes on SFs close to the India-Myanmar boundary in Manipur. Likewise, ULFA-I, I.K. NDFB-IKS, GNLA and KLO have been assigned the task of targeting SFs close to the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya, while ULFA-I and NDFB-IKS would carry out similar strikes close to the India-Bhutan border in western Assam. Assam Police confirmed having received similar inputs.

An IED of around 2 kilogram was recovered from Birubari area in Guwahati in Kamrup Metropolitan District when children were playing with the explosive, a senior Police officer said. The children of one M Bhowmick were playing in front of their house at Sankarpur Hill area in the morning when they found the explosive object wrapped in jute ropes, the officer said. Bhomick said that he first thought it was a football made by children but upon finding it heavy he threw it inside the nearby forests, as his neighbours informed the Police. Bomb disposal squad personnel found within the handmade IED, a bottle filled with gelatin-like substance, glass shards and nails fitted with a detonator and safety key, the officer said. The bomb disposal squad safely detonated the bomb in the afternoon hours. Police are still investigating who was behind the act.

SSB and Pathsala Police arrested one person, identified as Jubed Ali along with FICN amounting to INR 50,000 at Kanduguri in Bajali subdivision of Barpeta District. SFs brought him to Pathsala outpost and registered a case against him and took him under Police custody for further investigation.

Members of AJYCP caught 11 suspected Bangladeshi migrants at Gogamukh in Dhemaji District and handed them over to Police. They were caught while on their way to Jonai.

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi sought a white paper from the State Government on the status of the NRC as the process has allegedly slowed down under the new dispensation, a view which was in sharp contrast to the one held by the NRC office in Guwahati. "Work on the NRC update has clearly slowed down under the new government. Several deadlines have been missed. We will seek a white paper from the government on the NRC status and, if required, will move the Supreme Court in this connection," Gogoi said. Gogoi said there were a lot of complaints and allegations about his Government delaying the process to protect illegal migrants. The 1951 NRC is being updated in Assam with the objective of, among others, detecting illegal migrants living in the State.

Two persons, identified as Altaf Hussain (19) and Sahad Ali (37) were arrested with handmade pistols and a mobile handset by Army jawans during patrolling on Gauripur-Rupshi road in Dhubri District.

Rowta Charali Police and Mazbat Police jointly busted an inter-state gang of motorcycle lifters by arresting five persons including one cadre of NDFB-RD from Rowta Charali in Udalguri District. The Police are also looking for angles of the involvement of the racket in supplying motorbikes to militant outfits.

A cadre of the NSLA, identified as Abraham Murmu (34) was arrested from Satyapur in Kokrajhar District. A 7.62mm country-made rifle along with live ammunition was recovered from him. The arrested NSLA cadre was reportedly involved in numerous cases of extortion, money collection, providing information and administrative support to the banned organization, besides being involved in various subversive activities.

Police recovered a crude bomb, weighing about 3.5 kilogram, from the house of Muhamad Abdul Samad of Kumguri in Kokrajhar District. He was later arrested by the Police.

KPLT through press information issued by its 'general secretary' Vojaru Hangjang announced that the organization has entered into a ceasefire agreement with GoI for a period of six months starting October 20, 2016 to April 20, 2017. "The KPLT has kept its armed struggle going in spite of all odds and difficulties, but now it has realized that the solutions to the problems can only be found through peaceful means. The KPLT has therefore come to a ceasefire agreement with the GOI and will now continue the statehood demand through peaceful means," said Hanjang. The general secretary has also appealed the people of Karbi Anglong to extend their support to the organization.

Meanwhile, Assam Police termed the ceasefire offer of the KPLT as "nothing new" and said the "only option" left before the militant group's leaders is to "join the mainstream". "The KPLT has prayed for a ceasefire pact with the government several times before. Years of anti-insurgency operations have damaged the militant outfit's organisational set up. Now, the only option left before its leaders is to come and join the mainstream, and the letter is an outcome of their frustration," said Karbi Anglong SP D. Deuri.

The ULFA-I joined chorus against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, as proposed by the NDA Government and warned `certain reactionary forces' that are out to derail the spontaneous protests by indigenous groups in the State against the Bill. The ULFA-I warned of dire consequence to `certain reactionary forces' who are allegedly conspiring to derail the protests that is gradually gaining momentum against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The ULFA-I stated that similar forces in the past had caused harm to indigenous communities when that had raised voices demanding protection of their rights. "The time has now changed and such reactionary forces will not be tolerated this time," the ULFA-I warned.

Four youths, identified as the central general secretary Krishnakanta Phukan and Mridul Dutta, Himadri Duwara and Mandeep Hazarika of Sanmilito Yuba Shakti Asom (SYSA), were arrested for treason by the Police from Dibrugarh District. The Police arrested them while they were staging a dharna on October 23 and for raising anti-Indian slogans and demanding independent Assam. On October 25, the Dibrugarh Police detained them with regard to the organization's alleged role in strengthening the base of Independent faction of ULFA-I in the District.

Two NDFB militants, out of three, were caught and roughed up by the public at Bakulguri village under Goreswar Police Station in Baksa District on afternoon when they had come to collect ransom from the chairman of the Bakulguri VCDC, Dilip Debnath. Sources said that three militants belonging to two factions of the NDFB came to the village on a collect their earlier demanded ransom of INR 1.5 lakh and INR 50,000 from Debnath. The militants stormed into the VCDC office room located near- his residence, met Debnath there and asked him to cough up the ransom. When Debnath refused to pay the ransom, the militants attacked him with a sharp dagger. Hearing Debnath's cries, some people who were working on the road the VCDC chairman's office, chased the three NDFB militants and managed to nab two them, while the third fled, firing in the air. The people roughed up the two militants and the bike belonging to the latter was burnt down to ashes. Later, Police arrested the militants who were identified as Ratan Boro (26), and Bimal Rajbongshi (22).

One cadre of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Subun Basumatari (22) alias Geraila was injured in a Police firing near Tangla town in Udalguri District. According to Police, two extortionists came on a bike to collect the amount demanded from Bhutiachang VCDC chairman of Udalguri. While one fled from the scene, the other fired at the Police, following which the Police fired one shot which hit the waist of the cadre while trying to run away. The injured was later taken to Tangla CHC and referred to GMCH for treatment, police said.

Udalguri Police launched a crackdown in the District against rampant extortion by NDFB-IKS cadres based on numerous complaints by businessmen, VCDC chairmen and contractors. Extortion notes are being served to reputed persons and people are living in the grip of fear and insecurity. When contacted, Police sources said that they had launched a crackdown on extortionist groups in the District and as a follow-up of their operation, a Police team arrested one at Hahini gaon under Tangla Police Station on October 27, few kilometers away from Tangla town.

Police arrested three persons, identified as Islam Uddin (30), Burhan Uddin (27), and Abdus Roy Tapadar (32) along with three pistols, 40 rounds bullets and five mobile sets from near the Karimganj deputy commissioner's office in Karimganj District.

Police arrested two persons, identified as Resim Teron and Rock Bey, along with arms during a search operation near the Diphu TV Centre in East Karbi Anglong District. Two 7.65 pistols and 39 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from them.

Police arrested a suspected ULFA-I cadre, identified as Ranjan Neog from AMC Tiniali in Dibrugarh District.

Chirang Police arrested a suspected NDFB-IKS linkman, identified as Ronen Basumatary (37) in Runikhata in Kokrajhar District. Cash INR 40,000 were found on him. Chirang SP Sankar Brata Rai Medhi said that he was acting as a courier in passing on money to the banned outfit. "He also provided duplicate mobile SIM cards to the rebel group. His shop in Bengtol Bazar was searched and 25 SIM cards and recharge vouchers have also been seized. Verification is being done for authenticity of the SIM cards and his status as a retailer. Detailed interrogation is on," he said.

A new militant "revolutionary organization" of the Karbi people calling itself the People's Democratic Council of Karbilongri (PDCK) was formed. A press release from the PDCK stated that the Karbi "had enjoyed sovereignty and independence since time immemorial in their own land without interference from alien rulers," but "have now become enslaved under Indian colonial exploitation, oppression and suppression." The statement informed that the "First Preparatory Congress" was held on October 17 and 18 during which a five-member Central Committee was formed to lead the organization under the leadership of Jeksai Kangtang Lijang as 'Chairman', Nongme Tungjang as 'General Secretary' and 'Captain' David Mukrang as 'Chief of Army Staff'. Stating its objectives, the PDCK statement maintained that it has been formed "to free our people from Indian occupation, colonialism, exploitation, oppression, and suppression."

"We shall establish a political system of democratic republicanism with an economic system built on empirical socialism to bring about a genuine egalitarian society, to promote real liberty, equality and fraternity and to establish respect for every socio-cultural ethnicity and the religions of our land," it added. Further citing the recent Assam Human Development Report which listed the Karbi people with the highest HPI value at 33.52, the PDCK held the Government of India as being "solely responsible for the lowest literacy rate and abject human poverty" prevailing among Karbi people. Stating that the Karbi and Dimasa peoples have been "fighting to revive their national pride and restore their lost freedom and glory" through various democratic organisations and armed outfits, the Council insisted that their movements "were never understood and respected by the colonial regime".

The new armed revolutionary organization, the statement maintained, "shall operate with advanced theory of revolution and with principles, ideology and policy based on solid and concrete foundation." It further expressed "full faith" in the UNLFW and stated that it will be "always ready" to abide by the rules and regulations of the Front. "We have come closer with several like-minded armed revolutionary parties, having similar principles and ideology, of our region like KCP, KLO, KYKL, NDFB, NLFT, NSCN, PREPAK, PREPAK-Pro, RPF and UNLF," it added.

The Karbi, an indigenous people of Sino-Tibetan origin of Mongoloid stock, speaking a Tibeto- Burman language, inhabit the Karbilongri, Dima Hasao (erstwhile United Mikir hills and North Cachar hills), some parts of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal, Assam and Sylhet division of Bangladesh, the PDCK statement claimed.

Police killed a militant belonging to NDFB-IKS and recovered a huge cache of ammunition in Chirang District. The ADGP, L.R Bishnoi, said based on information regarding movements of NDFB-IKS cadres with the intention of causing sabotage during Diwali, three checkpoints were set up on the Chirang-Kokrajhar boundary, at Salakati, Champa bridge on NH 31 (C) and Lahoti. "Around 10.30pm a red Tata Magic Iris without a number plate was coming towards Champa bridge from Sidli. The personnel signalled the vehicle to stop. However, it took a U-turn. When chased, two rebels got out of the vehicle and started firing. The Police retaliated and called for reinforcements. After their arrival, the area was cordoned off. A search operation found one of the militants lying with bullet injuries," Bishnoi said. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital. One 7.65 pistol, a magazine, two bullets, two empty cartridges, mobile phone and INR 3,000 were found in his possession, Bishnoi said. The other suspected militant managed to flee. An operation is on to apprehend him.

Guwahati City Police rescued a 25-year-old youth in the night, within a couple of hours of his abduction. Two alleged abductors, including a constable of the SSB, and a driver, were arrested in this connection. Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Hemanta Kumar Das said SSB constable Abdul Rahman and Sanjib Boro had abducted Raju Khan from Notboma area under Hatigaon Police Station in Kamrup District in a Hyundai i10 on October 29 night by posing as SSB officers. Boro, who is a civilian, impersonated a sub-inspector of SSB and was wearing an SSB uniform. According to the Police, the duo abducted Khan with an intention to extort money from him.

Assam remembered and paid tributes to the victims of serial blasts of 2008 on October 30, pleading to fight terror and ensure no recurrence of such dastardly attacks in the future. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited the blast sites at Guwahati and paid floral tributes to the deceased. Affirming his Government's commitment to ensure safety of all citizens, Sonowal urged the people to be united to defeat the violent forces who try to disturb peace. Top state government officials also accompanied the chief minister in paying tribute to the victims of the incident.

The Police suspect that NDFB-IKS leader, I.K. Songbijit formed the new Karbi militant group, People’s Democratic Council of Karbilongri (PDCK) in Myanmar. Karbi is his tribe but Songbijit was fighting for the Bodos all these years. Ever since the genocide (Adivasi massacre of December 23, 2014), he remained cornered among the Bodos because of his barbaric ways. The insurgent group PDCK, which he now heads, was raised in Myanmar last week.

The Police suspected that the outfit was formed with Karbi youths drawn from the NDFB faction where Songbijit once called the shot. “The formation of PDCK hasn’t happened in Karbi Anglong district. It was raised possibly outside India because according to Intelligence Bureau reports, he (Songbijit) was holed up somewhere in Myanmar. We have taken serious note of the development but as of now they don’t have any presence in the district,” Karbi Anglong SP Debojit Deuri said. Some Karbi youths had got recruited in the NDFB faction when Songbijit was heading it and the Police suspected that these youths helped him to form the new outfit.

Karbi Anglong, the homeland of the Karbis in central Assam, has seen the formation of many insurgent groups over the past three decades. All of these, except one, are lying low following their signing of ceasefire agreements with the Government. Deuri said Songbijit was trying to capitalize on the vacuum created by the ceasefire agreements. “He is definitely trying to cash in on the vacuum. In the past, all Karbi insurgent outfits were raised with the objective of securing statehood for the Karbis. This is for the first time that Songbijit’s group is talking about sovereignty. We have no doubt that it is backed by the NSCN-K ,” the SP added.