Assam Timeline 2017

March 27

A 24-hour bandh (shutdown) called by the NCHIPF seeking bifurcation of the Dima Hasao District, crippled life across the Hill District. Addressing the media in Haflong, NCHIPF working �president� S Zemi and �general secretary� Vairinsingh Verte said that the bandh has been called seeking bifurcation of the Hill district between the Dimasas and the non-Dimasa ethnic groups.

March 28

The ULFA-I, in an open letter, signed by its �chairman� Abhijeet Asom, reacted on the Dalai Lama�s upcoming 12-days visit to North East India from April 1. In the letter, the militant group expressed their concern that his visit might deteriorate the fragile relationship between India and China which will ultimately bring sufferings to the people of Assam. In the letter, the militant group also mentioned the �Nan Zang (southern Tibet)� or Tawang as an �occupied territory� and appealed to avoid anti-China statements.

A coordination committee of 13 apex bodies of different groups of communities living in Dima Hasao District staged a protest against any move to create 'Nagalim' (greater Nagaland) by carving out a territory from the Hill District of Assam. Nagalim is the purported objective of the NSCN-IM, consisting of all the Naga-inhabited areas of neighboring Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and some portions Myanmar, which it considers to be the rightful homeland of the Nagas.

March 29

BSF troops arrested a suspected Bangladesh National Army militant, Mohammed Raju (30). Raju is a resident of Maijkandi in Jokiganj area of Bangladesh. Police sources said he entered Karimganj illegally through the Gojukata border area. He was handed over to Karimganj Police.

The �general secretary� of the ULFA-PTF militant, Anup Chetia, opposed the proposed bill for granting citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis in Assam during a meeting at Silchar of Cachar District. He said, �We oppose the decision of the Indian Government to grant citizenship to Hindus from Bangladesh. This is a blatant threat to the demography of the state.� The militant leader further pointed that there are more than 1.5 crore Hindus living in Bangladesh and the Indian Government must start diplomatic talks with its Bangladeshi counterpart.

March 30

Two militants of NDFB-IKS, identified as Lukash Narzary alias Langfa and David Islary, were killed following an exchange of fire with a joint team of Indian Army and Police at Simlagri under Amguri Police Station in Chirang District. One Insas Rifle with 10 rounds of live ammunition, one 7.65 revolver with three rounds of ammunition and one Chinese grenade were recovered from the killed militants.�

The Karbi Anglong District administration held discussions with the leaders of various social organisations and senior citizens at Diphu Circuit House on militant organizations� �quit ultimatum� served on Bengali and Hindi-speaking communities and how to defy it. Three militant outfits, KLO, NLFT and PDCK had on January 2, 2017 issued �quit notice� against the Bengali and Hindi-speaking communities to leave Kamatapur, Karbi Anglong and Tripura by March 31, 2017. SP Dr GV Siva Prasad assured the oganisations of maintaining law and order in the District. He revealed that Police personnel need to be deployed at some interior hamlets. Meanwhile, he said that required number of armed forces will arrive within 24 hours. He sought the cooperation from all sections of people to prevent untoward incidents.

March 31

The Indian army recovered three live grenades from a grocery shop at Boko in Kamrup (Rural) District. According to the report, an Army team along with a State Police representative launched a search operation at the shop and during the course of the search a lady entered the shop and lobbed a grenade at the army team, which, however, did not explode. On further search, two more UBGL-type grenades were recovered. The owner of the shop along with the lady has been handed over to Boko Police for further interrogation.

April 1

Activists of AASU and 29 other �indigenous bodies� took out a protest rally against granting citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindu migrants and further demanded immediate implementation of the Assam Accord, in Guwahati in Kamrup (metro) District. The protest programme was also supported by a number of other organisations, including Sadou Asom Karmachari Parishad, All Assam Lawyers Association and Central and semi-Central government employee bodies. This apart, Purvottar Marowari Sanmilan, Purvottar Hindustani Sanmilan, Purvottar Marwari Yuba Mancha, Purvottar Hindustani Yuva Samaj and All Assam Bhojpuri Parishad also extended their support to the cause and took part in the demonstration. The protesters, representing all the tribes and communities of the State, unanimously voiced their opposition to granting citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshi migrants, coming to Assam after the cut-off date of 1971, arguing that the proposed amendment in the Act would put a huge burden of illegal migrants on Assam.

April 2

SFs in an encounter killed three militants of the UKDA in Jullian village under Manza Police Station of Karbi Anglong District. Another militant was injured during the encounter. A joint operation was launched by the troops of 15th GR and the Assam Police team led by Karbi Anglong Additional SP at the remote area in Singhasan hills based on intelligence input about the presence of a militant group at the area. One M-16 rifle, one 7.62 mm rifle, two hand grenades and large quantity of live ammunition were also recovered from the killed militants.

In a fresh attempt to nudge Myanmar to launch a flush out operation against the militants of the Northeast, India reduced the allotment to its Aid to Myanmar programme significantly and allocated INR 225 crore only this Year (2017-18). In the previous year, (i.e. in 2016-17) India sanctioned INR 400 crore to Myanmar but the indifferent attitude of Myanmar over the issue of Northeastern militant groups disappointed India and this time India has clearly shown its displeasure over the issue, claims the report.

April 4

One Bangladeshi immigrant, Iraj Ali (son of Isub Ali) who had migrated to Assam after 1971, and was illegally residing in Langia village under Dhing Police Station in Nagaon District was arrested. The arrested person was declared as foreigner by the Nagaon District FT on an unspecified date. After his arrest, Iraj Ali was sent to the Foreigners Detention Camp in Tezpur, the sources added.

Diphu based youth organizations- People for People and United Hills Development Organization have rejected the threat of PDCK to Bengali and Hindi speaking community to leave the Karbi Anglong District. The militant group has earlier warned the Bengali and Hindi speaking community residing in Karbi Anglong to vacate the autonomous District within March 31, 2017 failing which they would face grave circumstance. Addressing a press conference at the office of the Ex. UPDS, the leaders of both the organisations termed PDCK demand as unjustified. There is no necessity of any kind of violence to protect the right of the sixth scheduled tribes of this place as the Constitution of India has made ample provision under sixth schedule to defend the right of the tribal, added the leaders.

One militant of the NSCN-K, identified as Nawang Konyak (38), was arrested by the Indian Army from Namtola area of Assam-Nagaland border in Charaideo District. A Chinese grenade, two bottle bombs, some fuse wires and two mobile phones and many other items were recovered from the arrested militant.

April 5

Authoritative security sources in the Union Home Ministry claimed that China has roped in militant groups of North East to launch a proxy war against India. The source further claimed that the recent statement of ULFA-I, on March 28, against the visit of Dalai Lama in Assam was dictated by China. Also, asserting that China was not interested in organizational strength of ULFA-I, the security sources said that China intends to intensify its proxy war against India in the North East through the separatist groups.

April 6

ULFA-PTF �general secretary� Anup Chetia said that peace talks with ULFA-I, led by Paresh Axom (Baruah), is only possible if the Union Government� comes forward for a dialogue process. However, the leader declined to comment when asked if he has received any indication from Paresh Baruah for the peace talks. The ULFA �general secretary� also expressed concern at the alleged �apathetic attitude� of the Central Government towards the peace talk process with the ULFA-PTF.

April 7

The ULFA-PTF observed their 37th �raising day� of the organisation at Kakopothar designated camp in Tinsukia District. Apart from the ULFA-PTF leaders, AJYCP president Biraj Talukdar, convener of Gana Mukti Sangram Samity Lu Chun Gohain, advocate Nekibur Zaman and several others prominent people attended the meeting. The speakers criticized the Central and State governments on the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Bill. On the other hand, the All Assam Surrendered ULFA Samittee warned of an agitation if its demands were not met. The group, consisting of former undivided ULFA cadres who had surrendered between 1992 and 2014, held a meeting on the occasion of the �raising day� and adopted several resolutions. The members unanimously agreed to press for their demands which include provision of interim relief, monthly stipend, lifting of pending court cases, granting of sovereignty to the State, imposition of inner-line permit and granting of ST status to the six communities of Assam.�

Twenty four Karbi Anglong based tribal organizations have jointly called for a 36 hours Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong District bandh (shutdown) starting from April 10, 5 a.m. till April 11, 5 p.m. The bandh has been called in order to pressurize the KAAC and Assam Government to enact the Representation of Peoples Act 2017, to make Representation of Peoples Act rules 2017 and prepare KAAC�s voters list on the basis of the new act. The organizations have also demanded that the election to the KAAC should be on the basis of the new voters list, which would be prepared by KAAC after amending the old Representation of Peoples Act. The tribal organizations have also filed a PIL (no 9/2017) in the Gauhati High Court against KAAC.

April 9

SFs based on intelligence output, had launched an operation and busted a NDFB-IKS transit camp in the in the thick jungle along Khungkhora Jhora Nala under Rangijhora under Amguri Police Station of Chirang District. During the search, one SLR rifle along with one magazine, 37 rounds live ammunition, one modified carbine with one magazine, three SBBL guns and two grenades were recovered.

Security sources said that the ULFA-I had started a drive to recruit youths from the upper Assam Districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh by engaging linkmen. According to the sources, around 15 youths from the upper Assam Districts have been taken to Myanmar recently for training. But the exact number of the fresh recruits is yet to be ascertained. Sources also said that some of the bids of the ULFA-I to recruit youths have been foiled following arrest of the linkmen of the outfit, while, a few new recruits were also nabbed before they could be taken to Myanmar.

Replying to a question by MP Krupal Balaji Tumane, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir revealed that insurgent activities in the Northeast along the Indo-Myanmar border saw an increase compared to the Indo-Bangladesh border in the last three years. According to the report, during the period from 2015 to March 31, 2017, terror activities along Indo-Myanmar border increased alarmingly in view of insurgents groups shifting their bases from Bangladesh to territories within Myanmar and China. According to the Minister, during this period, 10 encounters took place in three North Eastern States - Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Even though no casualties were reported in these encounters, a total of 11 suspected rebels were arrested. In Assam along the Indo-Bangla border, three encounters were reported and four militants arrested in 2015. No such incident was however reported in Assam along the Indo-Bangla border in 2016-17. On the other hand, the Indo-Myanmar border has been witnessing steady rise in insurgent activities during the period with as many as 206 encounters reported between militants and security personnel spread across four Northeastern States Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. While 18 security personnel lost their lives, 32 insurgents were killed in these encounters. A total 337 rebels were arrested from the international border in the four States during this period. Among the four Northeastern States sharing Myanmar border, maximum number of encounters took place in Arunachal Pradesh. As many as 81 encounters were reported in that State where three security personnel and 13 militants were killed. During this period, 114 suspected insurgents were arrested. Even in 2017, 13 encounter cases have been reported till March in Arunachal along the border with Myanmar. Union Minister Ahir said the Central Government of India in tandem with Northeastern State Governments has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration. This includes strengthening of border management, multi-tiered deployment along the international border and Line of Control, synergizing intelligence flow to check infiltration and pro-active action against terrorists.

Police arrested three extortionists, identified as Joydeep Chakraborty alias Babul (20), Rahul Sah (20) and Aman Verma alias Biki (24), who demanded money from a small tea garden owner by impersonating ULFA-I militants at Doomdooma in Tinsukia District.

The APW, a rights body in the State, claimed that the ULFA-I might try to create trouble in the Government's project of dredging the Brahmaputra. On April 4, 2017, the Centre had signed a MoU with the State Government to dredge the Brahmaputra and construct a national expressway on its bank. The APW president Abhijeet Sharma said, "The Brahmaputra dredging project has upset the Chinese authorities who try to assert their rights over the river that flows down from Tibet. Paresh Baruah, being a Chinese agent, may try to lead a proxy war in the State in a bid to create hindrance in the project." The organisation further alleged that the April 15-17 scheduled visit of Chinese envoy to Assam, Luo Zhaohul, is part of 'a greater design of China' in the region and urged the Central Government of India to cancel it.

CM Sarbananda Sonowal was assured by the PM Narendra Modi that the sealing of the international border (India-Bangladesh) is one of the top priorities of the Central Government of India and he would instruct the Ministry of Home Affairs to take up the matter on a war footing.

UPRF (Zogam Army), an ethnic Kuki militant outfit having its base in Singhason hill range of Karbi Anglong Autonomous District, has decided to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream. Expressing its keenness for coming over ground, Johnson Kuki one of the 'leaders' of the group, on behalf of the UPRF through a press release informed that the organization has decided to join the mainstream in response to the call of Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal who has invited insurgent outfits to 'come to table for talks.' "The UPRF (Zogam Army) has full faith on the government of Assam led by Sarbananda Sonowal hence have decided to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream," the statement said. The UPRF has also directed all its units and cadres to stop 'regular routine operation in their areas' and remain inside their camps till the peace process completes. The UPRF has requested all civil societies to extend support to the peace process for the greater interest of peace and harmony in Karbi Anglong.

In a meeting with the former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Chinese Ambassador Luo Zhaohui said that China is not harboring ULFA-I or any other militant group from the Northeast and that the Dalai Lama should not have 'meddled' in the Sino-Indian affair.

SFs arrested one person, identified as Sangsar Boro, and recovered 12 hand grenades from his possession in Hortola village under Darrangamela Police Station in Baksa District.

Preparations for the upcoming KAAC are underway even though Assam State Election Commission is yet give formal notification concerning poll schedule. The polling to the KAAC is expected to be held during the last part of May, 2017.

One unidentified militant of ULFA-I was killed by 7 Madras Regiment of Indian Army near Dirak Charali in Tinsukia District. Two 7.65 pistols and a fake driving license in the name of Pulin Dutta was recovered from the killed militant. However the proper identity of the militant is not yet known. The encounter took place when the militant tried to run away by firing from a vehicle during a checking by the search team of the Indian army.

A report of the UMHA said that the insurgency-related violence has continued to decline and the year 2016 witnessed the lowest number of insurgency incidents since 1997 in the State. The major militant outfits presently active in Assam are the ULFA-I and the NDFB-S. The ULFA and NDFB have been declared as unlawful associations under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Besides, the KPLT is also active in Karbi Anglong District. In Assam, there was a substantial decline in insurgency-related incidents in 2016. There were 75 incidents in 2016 compared to 81 in 2015. At least 51 insurgents were neutralised by security forces, while 366 insurgents were arrested. Security forces lost four personnel in these operations, the report said. In 2016, the number of civilian deaths went up to 29. During the period from 2014 to 2016, 873 cadres and linkmen of the NDFB-S were arrested with the recovery of a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from them and 50 cadres were neutralized in counter-insurgency operations. Meanwhile, the report said that the security situation in the North Eastern States, which has remained complex for quite some time due to diverse demands of ethnic groups and various militant outfits, improved substantially in 2016. The number of insurgency-related incidents in the region decreased by more than 15 per cent compared to 2015. In 2015, at least 574 incidents were reported as compared to 484 last year.

SFs arrested two unidentified persons and explosives recovered from them during a routine check at Sakheti in Kamrup District. 50 electronic detonators and 600 gelatin sticks were recovered from them.

SFs arrested a linkman of NDFB-IKS, identified as Pranjit Basumatary alias Tengna from Hakma village under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. One pistol was also recovered from the arrestee.

Around 100 naked youths from Karbi tribal community marched through the streets of Diphu town demanding KAAC to prepare fresh electoral roll before conducting election and alleged deprivation of their political rights by the Government. The naked demonstration was jointly organised by 24 tribal organizations. The 24 organizations, which represent the schedule tribes living in Karbi Anglong District, had been urging the KAAC to frame act and rules for preparing new voters list and for conduct of election of the council as enjoined by paragraph 2 (7), based on paragraph 20 of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India. "Because act and rules for the conduct of Council Elections have not yet been made, and because the obsolete and defective rules of 1951 are still used by the KAAC as well as the state government the non tribal emigrants have taken away political power of the schedule tribe guaranteed by the Constitution of India�hence the naked demonstrations," said a press release issued by the 24 organizations.

The annual report of the UMHA for 2016-17 revealed that the security situation in the Northeast had "improved substantially" during the previous year where insurgency-related incidents decreased by more than 15 per cent compared to 2015. "The security situation in the north-eastern states, which has remained complex for quite some time because of diverse demands of ethnic groups and various militant outfits, improved substantially in 2016.

The number of insurgency-related incidents in the region decreased by more than 15 per cent compared to 2015," the report said. In 2015, while there were 574 insurgency-related incidents, the corresponding figure in 2016 was 484. The report also said 2016 witnessed the "lowest number" of insurgency incidents since 1997. While casualties among SFs in the region declined from 46 (2015) to 17 (2016), civilian casualties declined in all states except Assam where it increased from 9 in 2015 to 29 in 2016. The report noted that while Sikkim, Mizoram and Tripura had no insurgency-related violence in 2016, there was considerable decline in incidents in Meghalaya (44 per cent) and Nagaland (43 per cent) compared to 2015. In 2016, Manipur accounted for about 48 per cent of total violent incidents in the region and Arunachal Pradesh experienced an increase in violent activities by 38 per cent, primarily on account of violence by the NSCN-K, the report stated. In Assam, insurgency-related violence continued to decline and 2016 witnessed the lowest number of insurgency incidents since 1997, it added. In 2016, Meghalaya witnessed a 44 per cent decline in the number of violent incidents. While there were 123 incidents in 2015, the figure declined to 68 in 2016.

The report stated that the number of civilian casualties decreased by 33 per cent compared to 2015. Further, while 25 militants were killed in 2015, the figure came down to 15 in 2016. Similarly, only 59 militants were arrested in 2016 compared to 121 in 2015. However, there was no casualty on the part of security personnel in 2016.

A top official source of Assam Police informed that the internal conflicts among the cadres of the ULFA-I and NSCN-K have increased in recent times. The source said that two top ULFA-I leaders currently based in Myanmar, who also known to be very close with Paresh Baruah, have recently contacted to a top official of Union Home Ministry and a top Assam Police official and expressed their desire to come main stream. "Conflict has been growing up in ULFA-I after its 'c-in-c' Paresh Baruah made several statements in favour of China and some leaders of the outfit had openly opposed it," added the source. In the same way, the source said that, several leaders of NSCN-K are also in touch with the Union Home Ministry. Supporting the point, the source also added that recently NSCN-K's deputy 'c-in-c' Niki Sumi and its 'army chief' Isak Sumi met European Union ambassador to Myanmar Roland Kobia and Indian ambassador to Myanmar Vikram Misri at an Indo-Myanmar bordering town in 'eastern Nagaland'.

Troops of Guwahati Frontier of BSF seized FICN amounting to INR 1,00,000 having denomination of INR 2,000 from the International Border under South Salmara District.

One militant of ULFA-I, identified as Madhab Jyoti Nath (23), was arrested by the SFs from Cherekapar area of Sivasagar District. A .22 pistol, 6 rounds of live bullets of AK-47 rifle, one mobile phone, INR 7,000 and other documents were also recovered from him.

SFs recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from Dipanjali Hills area along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur District. The recovered staff includes one 303 rifle, a gun, one pistol, one hand grenade, 50 rounds live ammunition and magazine. According to the SFs the recovered arms and ammunitions belongs to the militants of NDFB-IKS.

SFs recovered one hand made rifle and one silencer of 303 rifle, two AK 56 rifles, two 9mm pistols, 60 live ammunition and four magazines in Baksa District. SFs also arrested one person identified as Nirmal Basumatary in this connection. The person was suspected for rhino killing in Kaziranga.

A State-appointed committee on protection of land rights of indigenous people has estimated that 90% of the natives of Assam do not possess permanent land 'patta' (legal document for land ownership), while at least 8 lakh native families are landless. "In all of Assam, 63 lakh bigha (1 bigha= 14,400 sq ft) of Government land, including forest land, grazing ground and others, are under illegal occupation, while at least 7 to 8 lakh native families do not have an inch of land. Ninety per cent of the native people do not have myadi patta (permanent land settlement), they have either eksonia patta (annual land settlement) or are occupying government land," said, Hari Shankar Brahma, who heads the committee. According to an additional deputy commissioner of Nagaon District, about 70% of the land is owned by non-natives there, which is perhaps the only district where non-indigenous people possess such a share of land, Brahma said on April 30. The committee, formed in February, 2017 as per CM Sarbananda Sonowal's instructions, is expected to submit its recommendations on how to protect the land rights of the indigenous people to the government in June 2017.

Three militants of UPLA, identified as Bijoy Ingti, Karung Terampi and Loring Tron, were arrested by SFs from Moran Khelmati, under Moran Police Station, in Dibrugarh District. A .22 pistol, a 7.62 pistol, 13 live rounds and two magazines were also recovered from the arrested militants.

Citing frequent violent activities by insurgent groups, the Union Home Ministry declared Assam as a "disturbed" area under the AFSPA for another three months with effect from today (May 3). The Ministry said that the AFSPA in Assam has been extended for three more months on the basis of 75 incidents of violence in the state in 2016 that led to the killing of 33 people, including four security personnel. 14 cases of abduction have also been reported during the same period. There have been nine violent incidents registered in the State in 2017 in which four people, including two security personnel, were killed.

Joginder Singh (39), a rice trader and his daughter Rinky Singh (10), sustained minor injuries after unidentified militants lobbed a crude bomb at their residence at Milan Nagar in Tinsukia district.

Police arrested at least three persons and seized two counterfeit note-printing machines along with INR 420,000 of FICN, mostly in INR 2,000 denominations. In the first operation, Hamren Police seized a FICN machine from a clandestine location at Harlongjubi village in Karbi Anglong District and arrested two persons. "Special blank papers, used for printing the notes, were also seized from the printing press. The arrested persons were identified as Bajong Timung and Bidyaram Teran," Police sources said. At the same time, in a separate operation in Darrang District, police nabbed one Billal Hussain, along with a fake note-printing machine, from Ananda Bazaar village of Dhula. Police are quizzing him to nab others involved in the racket. "Inks and printers used for the purpose of manufacturing fake notes were also seized," added Police.

BSF DG K.K Sharma said that Bangladesh is no longer a safe haven for Indian insurgent groups. Sharma, who was addressing the media at the 8th annual medical conference at the BSF headquarters in the Shillong, said the few training camps and hideouts set up by Indian rebel groups, like HNLC and ULFA, in the neighbouring country have been destroyed by the Border Guards Bangladesh. On border fencing in the State, Sharma said BSF has taken up the land acquisition issue with the State Government. At the same time, he said the border sentinels will introduce high-end technology to detect intruders. "BSF is in the process of filling up the gaps along the border by technological solutions - installing intruder detection alert system that would go a long way in detecting infiltrators.

Indian Army recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from an unidentified militant hideout in Assam's Karbi Anglong District during an operation. The recovered staffs include three country made self-loaded rifles, five hand grenades, three SLR cartridges, one ammunition pouch and three combat dresses.

An unidentified Sub-Inspector of 156th battalion SSB and a suspected NDFB-IKS militant were killed, in an encounter, in the in the forests around Manas National Park in Chirang District. The SFs have recovered an INSAS rifle from the encounter site and efforts are being made to recover the body of the militant, an unnamed officials said.

SFs seized fake Myanmar Kyat worth five million and FICN worth INR 120,000 from Bhagabazar locality of Cachar District near the Mizoram border during a raid. SFs arrested a local resident named Raju Laskar (47) during the raid. SP (Cachar) Rakesh Raushan said the arrested man is being interrogated in the custody of Silchar Police. He added that the fake Indian currency were in INR 2,000-denomination notes. Earlier, in separate raids, fake notes of mostly INR 2,000 denomination were seized from different places of Cachar district, he further said. The man is being quizzed to find out the man's link with Myanmar, if any.

The Assam State Election Commission has announced that KAAC election will be held on June 12. The State Election Commission through a notification informed that the last date for filing of nomination to the 26 seats spread across Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong and Bokajan is May 19. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is May 22 and publication of the list of contesting candidates will be on May 22. The Gorkhas living in Assam have demanded indigenous status for the community.

The Gorkha Autonomous Council Demand Committee said that the Gorkhas have been living in Assam since ancient times and many have no link with Nepal and considering them as immigrants would be an injustice. It said Nepalis and Gorkhas are different communities but the Assam government considers them as one and deprived Gorkhas from getting indigenous tag. "For generations, our people have lived on this land. We have accepted its culture, language and customs. We are totally Assamese. We have no link with Nepal. But the government is not giving us indigenous community status," said Padum Boraili, 'vice-president' of the committee.

The State Government is exploring the possibility of revoking the AFSPA from certain Districts of the State which are currently free of insurgency. It is likely to be withdrawn from Districts like Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon, Morigaon, Majuli and Dibrugarh. However, it will not be revoked in Districts such as Tinsukia, Charaideo, Sivasagar and Chirang which border Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Meghalaya and the neighbouring country of Bhutan. ADGP-Special Branch Pallab Bhattacharyya said the State Government was likely to take up the matter with the Centre during the next review meeting on continuation of AFSPA in the State. Bhattacharyya said the phased withdrawal of AFSPA was raised at a meeting of the Unified Command held at the army's 4 Corps headquarters in Tezpur, but it could not be discussed in detail since the meeting was convened to review security for PM Narendra Modi who is scheduled to visit the state on May 26. The UMHA had recently extended AFSPA in the state for three months with effect from May 3 and the review meeting will be held before August 3, when the contentious act will expire in the state. Usually, AFSPA is extended for one year or six months. This was the first time it was extended for only three months.

One suspected Kuki militant, identified as Lamthang Hangsing (31), was arrested by SFs at Jwallien area in East Karbi Anglong District. Two country-made SLRs with 10 live bullets were also recovered from the arrested militant.

Sustained counter-insurgency operations against militants in the North-eastern region have hit the ULFA-I hard, forcing it to try combining forces with other militant outfits, says Mukesh Sahai. They are trying to put up a united platform to attack Government forces, the DGP added, while interacting with media persons recently. He further said that ULFA-I has been weakened but is still recruiting cadres. "We have information of a number of youths joining the outfit in recent times, some of whom we have nabbed. But the magnitude of recruitment is not like before. ULFA-I is led by Paresh Barua, who is opposed to the government's ongoing talks with the Arabinda Rajkhowa-led ULFA faction. Barua leads hundreds of heavily-armed fighters from his camps in China-Myanmar border and in Myanmar's Sagaing Division," he said. The Assam DGP added, "Stringent operations against NDFB-IKS are also going on in Sonitpur District, along with other probable sensitive areas in the State."

The Prakton ULFA Samanoy Samity Sammelon (Conference of Former ULFA Cadres), at Digboi town in Tinsukia District, accused both the Centre and the State Government of "doing little" to ensure proper rehabilitation of former militants of the ULFA. They criticised the Government for not having "comprehensive policy" in this regard.

Bangladesh has started sharing real-time intelligence on the activities of radical forces and its drive against the JMB with its counterpart in India, but Myanmar's poor cooperation on the insurgency front remains a matter of concern for New Delhi. Security sources said that the Union Home Ministry was constantly in touch with Bangladesh to foil any attempt by radical forces to cross over to West Bengal and Assam for shelter. Sources also said that Dhaka has launched a massive combing operation against its radical forces. Pointing out that Southeast Asian countries have agreed to bilateral cooperation in the fight against insurgency, Security sources said it was regrettable that Myanmar is yet to translate its assurances into a reality.

The special NIA court in Guwahati on May 15 deferred pronouncing judgment in the INR 10 billion NCHAC scam case till May 22. The premier investigation agency had taken over the case from State Police in 2009 to investigate a scam in which crores of rupees of government funds were siphoned to fund militancy activities in the erstwhile North Cachar Hills district (now known as Dima Hasao). The NIA had charge-sheeted at least 15 people in the case, including militant-turned-politician Jewel Garlosa alias Mihir Barman, former 'chairperson' of disbanded militant outfit Black Widow (BW)/ Jewel Garlosa faction of DHD-J, and its former 'c-in-c' Niranjan Hojai. However, Garlosa and Hojai were released to initiate peace talks with the Government in 2011. Currently they are active politicians for the ruling BJP and elected members of the NCHAC.

Reviewing the security situation in the Northeast with chief secretaries and DGPs of the region in New Delhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh described religious radicalisation as a serious security threat and said if not checked in time; it could lead to terrorism. He also expressed concern over the proliferation of illegal arms in the region and asked the Police chiefs to launch organised campaigns against arms smugglers.

States in the Northeast have asked the UMHA to step up the presence of central intelligence and security forces in five contiguous Districts in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland adjoining Myanmar. These Districts, they said, have emerged as the hub of the last remaining militants in the region. "We have apprised the home minister of the security situation in the northeast and informed him that all militant activities are being controlled from Arunachal's Tirap, Changlang and Longding Districts, and Nagaland's Mon and Tuensang Districts," said a top security official who participated in the northeast security review meeting by Union home minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. "We requested him to increase the presence of central intelligence agencies and security forces in these districts," the official added. According to the UMHA report at the review meeting, the security situation in Arunachal Pradesh (the three districts) and Manipur remains a subject of concern, though relatively less than it has been in the past. These five districts also border as many Districts of Assam on the other side, including Tinsukia District, where the ULFA-I is active and has been carrying out strikes jointly with Meitei outfits of Manipur. "The biggest advantage of these five districts is their proximity to the NSCN-K-controlled areas of Myanmar and their highly difficult terrain, which makes patrolling a difficult task for security agencies," the official said.

One suspected militant of ULFA-I, identified as 'sergeant major' Rajesh Bora, was killed in an encounter with Assam Police at Sonaripara village in Udalguri District. A 9mm pistol, a grenade and INR 600000 in cash were also recovered from the deceased militant.

UPRF, a militant group, which has been operating in Singhason Hills of Karbi Anglong District, affirmed unilateral ceasefire with the GoI for six months starting from today (May 18). The militant group also appealed the Government to speed up a peace process.

SFs arrested a ULFA-I militant 'private' Bikram Chakma, during an operation, at Ledo (Tinsukia district Assam) near Changlang District, along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary. A .22 caliber pistol with ammunitions was seized from the militant. On interrogation, the cadre also revealed the whereabouts of an over ground worker of NSCN-K identified as Tara Chand.

SFs, in an encounter, killed a militant, 'commanding officer' of 3rd battalion Jwrimiya Muchahary alias M Jwrimin, belonging NDFB-IKS was inside Manas Reserve Forest in Chirang District. An M-16 automatic rifle, a .9 mm Beretta pistol, a large quantity of ammunition and other warlike stores were recovered from the spot.

Two Bru (Reang) militant outfits active in Hailakandi and Karimganj districts, BLAU, led by Rajesh Chorky, and UDLA, led by Dhanyaram Reang, are going to surrender before the Government soon. "While BLAU, which has its base in Mizoram too, has submitted a list of 85 cadres, UDLA has submitted a list of 140 cadres along with arms and ammunitions before the government agencies," said unnamed sources. "The process is going on for some time. Even UMHA had a plan to stage the surrender ceremony last March. But in the absence of a rehabilitation package the surrender was delayed", Hailakandi Superintendent of Police (SP), Pranab Jyoti Goswami. Goswami said the process of surrender, initiated by the AR authorities with full cooperation from the IB and Police, will be completed within two months.

A special court of the NIA convicted all the 15 accused in two cases related to siphoning off of government funds meant for erstwhile NCHAC [now renamed as Dima Hasao Autonomous Council] and diverting it to the coffers of the now disbanded militant group DHD-J. The head of the NIA's Guwahati branch, Debajit Hazarika, said the court convicted 13 accused in NIA case number RC-01/2009 and the other two in case number RC-02/2009.

Police arrested one Maoist militant, identified as 'area commander' Dulal Pegu from Amtenga village near Badulipar area in Golaghat District. Police also recovered a pistol (7.62 mm) and four rounds of ammunition from the arrested militant.

SFs arrested one linkman of the militant group UPRF, identified as Nahhau Guite (40), from Manja area of East Karbi Anglong District.

Former DHD-J leaders Jewel Garlosa and Niranjan Hojai along with former chief of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council Mohit Hojai were sentenced to life imprisonment, while the 12 other accused were awarded imprisonment ranging from eight years to 12 years in the first two cases of terror funding registered by the NIA.

Hundreds of people staged a demonstration in front of the deputy commissioner's office in Haflong in Dima Hasao District against the life sentences to Jewel Gorlosa and Niranjan Hojai. The protesters said the government had betrayed them after stating in the memorandum that all cases against the DHD-J members will be withdrawn. Former DHD-J 'chairman' Jewel Garlosa on May 23 had told reporters that they were "withdrawing the ceasefire" after the court order and that the peace process had failed. DHD-J has been disbanded after MoU with the outfit in 2012.

A person was killed in a blast at an OIL pipeline, around 500 meters from the oil collecting station at Dikom in Dibrugarh District. While ULFA-I claimed it had carried out the blast and the body was one of its cadres, Bobby Dohatia alias Palash Asom, Police maintains that it was caused in an attempt to pilfer fuel. "All seems to be buried under slush. On preliminary investigation, it appears to be a case of oil pilferage. However, after the claim by ULFA-I, the security agencies are looking at that angle as well," a source said.

Five CPI-Maoist cadres surrendered before the State Police. ADGP-Special Branch Pallab Bhattacharya said that the five extremists, including a woman, led by a wanted Maoist, Moina Dohotiya have come to the police "announcing their decision to join the mainstream with a desire to lead a normal life. A few more Maoists are still left and we are trying to bring them to the mainstream," Bhattacharya said.

SFs are in a state of alert in view of the PM Narendra Modi's visit to the State on May 26 to inaugurate various projects. Intensive security checks are being done across the State including Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Guwahati which have been put on high alert. A three-layered security cover has been put at all places the PM will be visiting. Anti-terror units have been deployed at various places. Special measures have been taken in Guwahati and Tinsukia where designated roads have been sanitized to upto two kilometres on either sides. "Policemen, special commandos and cops in civil dress have been deployed. More than one lakh people are expected to attend PM's rally. More than 2500 volunteers will be assisting the force in security and management. Anti-sabotage check has also been done," Hiren Nath, Guwahati Police Commissioner said.

Thousands of people staged a protest at Haflong town in Dima Hasao District to protest the life sentences to rebel leaders-turned-politicians Jewel Gorlosa and Niranjan Hojai and former CEM of the NCHAC, Mohit Hojai. On May 23, an NIA special court convicted all the 15 accused in two cases related to diverting government funds to the now disbanded DHD -J militant group. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to the PM Narendra Modi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and others through Dima Hasao deputy commissioner, requesting Modi to intervene into the whole matter and grant general amnesty to all the individuals.

AR arrested Timsay Pongner, a 'worker 'of the NSCN-IM, from Ledo town in Tinsukia District.

An Army trooper identified as Captain, Tripatprit Singh, and a civilian named Rupam Tigga (30) were injured during an encounter between the troops and suspected NDFB-IKS militants at Auxiguri in Kokrajhar District.

Assam Police sources said that they have received intelligence inputs from sources that a suspected ISI agent, identified as Mofudool Islam alias Ansar Uddin, has entered Assam via Nepal. ADGP-SB Pallab Bhattacharjee said the Police will take no chances in this regard, especially when relations between China and Pakistan have improved and a negative comment on Dhola-Sadiya Bridge was recently made by Beijing. Bhattacharjee further said that SPs and Police stations have been put on alert following the intelligence feedback.

The AKRSU- Pradip Ray faction has declared an agitation schedule for the coming days. Gokul Barman, AKRSU 'general secretary', said that according to their schedule, 'Ma Kamatapur Yajna' in every District would be conducted on June 8. "We have called for 36-hour long Assam bandh from 5 AM of June 12. We will conduct mass protest in Dighalipukhuri paar (bank) in Guwahati on June 23 and will stage railway blockade in Chirang and Bongaigaon on July 10. We will also conduct communal convention on August 6. And the last programme of this schedule is 100-hour long wheel stop from August 10," he said.

The UMHA has said that there has been a sharp decline in violence, extortion and attacks on security forces in the Northeast in the last three years. As per data available with the UMHA, only 484 such incidents were reported in 2016 as compared to 1,025 in 2012 and 732 in 2013. It further noted that the number of abductions have come down from 329 in 2012 and 307 in 2013 to 168 in 2016. Only 28 such cases were registered till March this year. However, the number of security personnel killed in Manipur shows an upward trend with 24 being killed in 2015 and 11 in 2016 as compared to 8 and 5 deaths in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The NDFB-IKS suffered a setback with more than 900 cadres being arrested and nearly 55 being killed in security operations, according to the UMHA note. The number of such incidents in Assam jumped to 50 in 2016 as compared to 21 in 2013, the UMHA note stated.

The number of militants surrendering saw a decline with 267 such surrenders taking place in 2016 as compared to 1,161 in 2012, as per official data. Arms recovery was not significant despite a crackdown as 698 arms were recovered in 2016 as compared to 1,856 in 2012. As many as 1,202 militants were arrested in 2016 as compared to 2,145 in 2012.

Of this, the highest number of arrests in 2016 has been made in Manipur (518) and Assam (366) while maximum abduction cases were reported from Nagaland (51) and Meghalaya (52).

SFs arrested a NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Dilip Rai, from Molandubi area in Kokrajhar District. SFs recovered one 7.65 mm pistol with magazine, ammunition in possession from him.

ULFA-PTF has expressed hope that appointment of Dineshwar Sharma as the new interlocutor will provide much-needed momentum to the ongoing peace talks between the outfit and the Government. The Centre has appointed Sharma - a 1976-batch Kerala cadre IPS officer who retired as Director of the IB on December 31, 2016. Sharma took charge on June 1. ULFA-PTF 'general secretary' Anup Chetia welcomed Sharma's appointment, describing it as a positive development for the ongoing negotiations between the outfit and the Government. "We hope with his appointment the peace process will gain momentum and help us find a permanent solution. We look forward to meeting him shortly," Chetia said.

An unidentified NDFB-IKS militant was arrested with arms and ammunition in Goalpara District. A .9-mm pistol, a magazine and two rounds of ammunition were recovered from him.

Police have picked up four youths from different parts of Gossaigaon for interrogation in connection to the abduction of Navin Joshi (50), manager of Maijonga Tea Garden in Goalpara District. An armed gang abducted Joshi on June 2 when he was on his way to Mornoi tea garden at Dingdinga in Kokrajhar District, along with his assistant Manohar Lal Sharma and his friend Pranay Debroy, who knew the route. The family has not yet received any call from the abductors.

UHM Rajnath Singh said that year 2016 witnessed the lowest number of insurgency-related incidents in last 20 years. "The year 2016 witnessed the lowest insurgency incidents in last 20 years. Such incidents reduced from 824 in 2014 to 484 in 2016. The number of incidents was 574 in 2015, which was the lowest since 1997, and further reduced in 2016. The number of civilian casualties in Northeast has also come down drastically in the last three years," said UHM Singh in New Delhi. "Sustained security initiatives during the last three years have brought peace and stability to the North-eastern region of the country after decades of insurgency," Singh added.

Police arrested two Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Mostaffa Ali (46) and Morzina Begam (37), from Borkur village in Darrang District. According to the Police, the couple is resident of Janiaghat area in Sherpur District of Bangladesh and they entered illegally into Dhubri District of Assam through the India-Bangladesh international border with the help of a section of cattle traders.

A ULFA-I militant, identified as Ron Asom alias Krishna Nath, surrendered himself before the Dispur Police in Kamrup (Metro). Police said Ron surrendered because of his prolonged illness. He hails from Tamulpur area of Baksa District. He joined the outfit in 2011 and was received training in Myanmar.

The State's Finance Department released a fund of INR 117 crore to continue the updating process of the NRC in the State. The NRC, which is being updated, based on the NRC, 1951, and electoral rolls up to the midnight of March 24, 1971, had missed the deadline of publication on March 31 after which Dispur set the December 31 deadline.

Three suspected militants, including a woman cadre of the UPLA, were arrested by SFs from Tingkhong in Dibrugarh District. They have been identified as Lozar Herse (20), Angsang Terong (23) and Anita Rajbongshi (26). One .22 pistol and 21 live rounds of bullets were also recovered from the arrested militants.

Chinese agencies are trying to launch a proxy war with India by using the militant groups of the North East region and some of these plans came to light after a militant leader of ULFA-I, named Ron Asom surrendered recently. Police sources further said that the inputs available with the security agencies indicate that the major militant groups of the region came into a common platform only after pressure from the Chinese agencies and now they have started operating together.

Police recovered 30 detonators, 30 gelatin sticks and 8m of fuse wire from two unidentified persons who were travelling in a bus at Banskandi in Cachar District. Police also arrested these two unidentified persons and investigation is going on.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs resumed the peace-talks with ULFA-PTF and two factions of NDFB in Assam. The two factions of NDFB are NDFB-RD and NDFB-P. Informing that former Director of Intelligence Bureau and newly appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma chaired the tripartite talks with ULFA-PTF in Guwahati on June 7, and security sources said that discussion with two factions of NDFB started on June 8.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that the peace agreement with the ULFA-PTF will be signed shortly. Rijiju said that the peace agreement with ULFA-PTF led by Arobinda Rajkhowa has almost finalized. "Apart from ULFA, Centre will sign peace agreement with the two faction groups of NDFB within short time," Rijiju said.

Police arrested a former student of GU, named Ritwik Saikia, from Dhakuakhana in Lakhimpur District for allegedly writing an open letter to 'c-in-c' of ULFA-I, Paresh Barua on Facebook.

Indian Army's special operation group arrested one militant of NSCN-K, identified as Wanging Konyak alias Khampai (31) from Namtola area of Assam-Nagaland border site under Charaidew District. Some live bullets of AK-47 rifle and one .38 revolver were also recovered from the arrested militant.

Director General of Assam Police Mukesh Sahay said that the possibility of ULFA-I 'chief' Paresh Baruah becoming the leader of the umbrella organisation of different militant groups of Northeast India (called United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia) is only a speculation. "The race has already begun among the top leaders of militant outfits of the northeastern region after the demise of NSCN-K 'chairman' SS Khaplang who also headed the umbrella organisation," Sahay said.

Following mounting pressure, a person named Imdad Hussain, who is alleged to have sparked communal disharmony among people in Silchar with his controversial posts and anti-religious comments in the social media, surrendered before the Police in Cachar District.

SFs arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Bijoy Boro alias B Bukruk, near Maharipara village under Goreswar Police Station in Baksa District. SFs also recovered one 9mm pistol along with six live rounds from the arrested militants.

Khango Konyak, who is the new 'chairman' of the NSCN-K, is likely to be the head of the UNLFW, which is an umbrella organisation of the militant groups of North East. Earlier it was expected that Paresh Baruah, the 'chief' of ULFA-I might be the head of the UNLFW. But dismissing speculations about his taking over charge of the UNLFW, Paresh Barua has backed the idea of 'next-generation leaders' coming forward to take charge after the demise of NSCN-K 'chief' SS Khaplang.

A joint team of Indian Army and Kamrup District Police arrested four militants of NDFB-IKS and three linkmen from Jalukbari area of the city of Kamrup Metropolitan (Guwahati) District. One 9mm pistol, five rounds of ammunition and a khukri (knife) were also recovered from them. The four militants were identified as Bidyaram Brahma alias B Madai, Pradeep Daimari, Gwmbwr Boro and Ansula Boro.

Five extortionists, identified as Dipen Moran, Mantu Moran, Anadi Asom, Rupantor Moran and Dipak Moran, who extorted money in the name of ULFA, were arrested by Police from Kordoiguri in Tinsukia District.

AR arrested a militant of GLA, identified as 'lieutenant' Rajesh Lama alias Ganesh Rai (31), from Ledo in Tinsukia District. A 9mm pistol was also recovered from the militant.

Troops of Guwahati Frontier of BSF, arrested one Indian national, identified as Sakiot Ali (35), with 1 country made gun, FICN worth INR 4,000 and drug (brown sugar) from his garment shop of Nalia Bazar, under Golokganj Police Station of Dhubri District.

June 18

Police and India Army, in a joint operation, arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Manik Boro alias B Maithai, in Nalbari District. One 7.65mm pistol along with two magazines and six 7.65mm live rounds were also recovered from the arrested militant.

The Indian Army and Police recovered 200 plastic explosives and 200 electric detonators from a bus heading towards Barpeta Road from Meghalaya at Patacharkuchi in Barpeta District.

June 19

SFs arrested a militant belonging to GLA, identified as �lieutenant� Babu Konwar alias Babu Gogoi, from Tinsukia District along with Arunachal Pradesh border. According to the Police the militant was involved in extortions and tried to establish influence of GLA in the villages in south Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

June 21

One businessman, identified as Guljar Khan (40), was killed when two motorcycle-borne unidentified assailants shot at him at Laluk Yuvanagar in Lakhimpur District. However, sources have ruled out involvement of any militant groups in the incident.

SFs arrested the �chairman� of the UPLF, identified as Garang Gajao, from Lahorijan area of East Karbi Anglong District. Police also recovered one .22 mm pistol and six live rounds from the arrestee.

Two persons, identified as Indrajit Mazumdar alias Bapun alias Tarzan Dimasa and Joy Mohan Phonglo, who were trying to �revive� the militant group DHD-A were arrested by AR and Police from Lumding station in Dima Hasao District. "The duo were set to revive the DHD-A, a militant outfit of Dima Hasao District, and disrupt peace by engaging in extortions and abductions before the election to the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, scheduled for mid-2018,"an AR officer said. The DHD-A's �c-in-c� David Kemprai alias Action Dimasa, is currently lodged in Guwahati Central Jail.

The 100-hour Dima Hasao District bandh (shutdown) called by the IPF affected normal life in the District.

June 22

SFs arrested three militants of AANLA, identified as John Xalxo, Amruss� Orang and Leius Orang, after an encounter at Naobandha village in Udalguri District. One .22 mm pistol with magazine, three rounds of ammunition, one 7.65 mm pistol with magazine and three rounds of ammunition, one 9 mm pistol with magazine and three rounds of ammunition and one shot gun were recovered from the arrested militants.

One militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Salen Basunatary alias B Sankhang, was arrested by SF from Serfanguri area in Kokrajhar District. A pistol, six round bullets along magazine was recovered from the arrested militant.

One person, identified as Bhaity Saikia, was arrested with FICN having face value of INR 6,00,000 of 2000 denomination at Bogababa Mazar in Dibrugarh District.�

In apprehension of possible law-and-order problems in the District, the District Magistrate of Kokrajhar imposed Section 144 of the CrPC in the District.

June 24

Unidentified assailants shot dead one civilian, identified as Hiranya Doley at Dekapam village in Dhemaji District. Though none of the militant groups has claimed the responsibility, yet the Assam Police suspected the hands of a small outfit named LDCM behind the killing. Police said that the militant group had earlier served Doley an extortion notice demanding a ransom of INR 200,000, which he did not pay. He was also warned by the group for taking initiative to facilitate surrender of cadres of an insurgent group before the Police.

Police arrested one person, identified as Moniul Haque and recovered 52 FICN of INR 2,000 and 32 FICN of INR 100 from him in Boko of Kamrup Rural District.

June 25

UHM Rajnath Singh assured CM Sarbananda Sonowal that the Centre is committed to deal with the problem of infiltration of foreigners, besides sealing the international border with Bangladesh to prevent further influx. CM Sarbananda Sonowal, accompanied by his media adviser Hrishikesh Goswami met the Union UHM at his official residence in New Delhi and discussed various issues relating to the State, including sealing of the international border, tribal issues, floods, etc.

SFs arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as Sudem Narjary alias N. Sujukhang Narjary (22), at Polasbari village in Chirang District. One 7.65 mm pistol, two magazines and five round 7.65 mm live ammunition were also recovered from the arrested militant.

SFs arrested one linkman of NDFB-IKS, identified as Birkhang Narzary from Jharbari village in Kokrajhar District along with INR 39,000. On his revelation, SFs also recovered INR 2,10,000 from the residence of NDFB-IKS's one of the wanted cadres Koninder Basumatary alias Komendar alias Khrao Khrao at Jharbari village. According to the Police the recovered money were extorted from different sources by the militants.

SFs arrested two militants of UPLA, identified as Jai Rajbanshi (32) and Ratul Boro (34), at Sohorikota village in Dibrugarh District. Two .22 pistols and 9 rounds of ammunitions were also recovered from the arrested militants.

Police recovered an AK-56 rifle along with 47 rounds of ammunition, a .303 rifle and ammunition from poachers identified as Mazibur Rahman and Jakir Hussain at a village near the Orang National Park in Darrang District.

One suspected linkman of MULTA,identified as Muslim Uddin Sheikh (52), was arrested in a joint operation by Indian Army and Police from Borkanda area of Bilasipara town in Dhubri District. SFs also recovered a pistol and two rounds ammunition from his possession.

Former Chairman of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and ex-member (MDC) Cary Marak, who 'disappeared under mysterious circumstances' and was presumed abducted, was 'released' at Agia village in Goalpara District. He had left Shillong on June 27 for Bongaigaon when he 'disappeared'.

The Police forces of various States of the Northeast Indian region may soon coalesce under an umbrella organisation to improve coordination and efficiency. A suggestion in this regard was reportedly made by Assam's DGP, Mukesh Sahay, at the 24th conference of DGs and IGs of Police of the Northeast region held in Guwahati on June 29. It was attended by Satyendra Garg, a Joint Secretary (Northeast) in the UMHA. Sahay said if the militants can have an umbrella organisation, the Police too can have it. He said it would ensure better coordination among the Police forces of the Northeast region. "Like one nation one tax, we can have one NE one NE police. We need to work on making this concept, encouraged by the Prime Minister, possible. We are eagerly looking forward to your recommendations on Nepol," Assam Chief Secretary Vinod Kumar Pipersenia said. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and DGP Mukesh Sahay also seconded the idea of 'Nepol'.

Police arrested three members of LDCM, identified as Amitab Patir (28), Satya Kumbang (34) and Kangkan Morang (30), from Moonmuni Chapori in Dhemaji District. A 7.65mm pistol and six live cartridges were seized from their possession. The trio was arrested in connection with the killing of INC leader Hiranya Doley, who was shot dead at his residence at Dekapam near Assam-Arunachal boundary on June 24.

Meanwhile, incidents of stone throwing was reported during the indefinite blockade of OIL and ONGC offices mainly located in the Upper Assam region imposed by the Tai Ahom Yuva Parishad. Six communities of Assam, which are spearheading the demand for ST status have called a series of protests, including a 24-hour Assam strike starting at 5am on July 3, railway blockade on July 11 and an indefinite economic blockade thereafter.

CM Sarbananda Sonowal, while addressing the India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue, said that combating the threat of terrorism should be a common goal for both the countries. "We have common enemies, problems and threats that have to be fought together. Poverty, terrorism and fundamentalism are our common threats and we have to combat them together. We have to ensure that our territories are not used by the forces inimical to both," CM Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Normal life was affected in several places across the State due to a 12-hour bandh (shutdown strike) called by Soi Jonogusthi Oikyo Manch demanding ST status. The bandh paralyzed the Upper Assam Districts of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat on the south bank of the Brahmaputra and Lakhimpur and Dhemaji on the north bank. In lower Assam, the AKRSU-H damaged some vehicles in Kokrajhar District and set a Maruti van on fire at Salkocha in Dhubri District.

The 10-hour bandh (shut down) called by the AAMSU in Goalpara District passed off peacefully. AAMSU had called this strike in protest against the firing at Kharboja in the District on June 30, in which a protester, Yaqub Ali (23), was killed and several persons were injured.

According to sources in the UMHA the Union Government is considering partially revoking the AFSPA from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in view of improved law and order in the two States. "The Centre is considering gradually easing out AFSPA from the two States and we have asked the State governments for their comments on the issue. We have got intelligence reports suggesting that several areas in the two states are free from insurgency," said a senior ministry official. The UMHA had extended AFSPA in Assam for three months with effect from May 3. Usually, AFSPA is extended for one year or six months and this was the first time it was extended for only three months. "In the past, the notification for extending AFSPA was issued for six months or more than that but now we are trying to reduce it to three months. We are now considering gradually withdrawing it from Assam and Arunachal," the official said.

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the draft NRC will be published by the end of this year and once the document is out, the State Government will approach the Bangladesh Government, through New Delhi, for a lasting solution to the foreigners' problem. Speaking during the valedictory session of the 8th India Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue which concluded in Guwahati, Sarma said the issue of illegal immigration is an area of serious concern for the people of Assam. He said that the issue of identification of aliens will be laid to rest once the updated NRC comes out. "The draft NRC will be out by end of this year. Then we will know the magnitude (of the problem). Then we will come to the government of Bangladesh, through the Government of India, for a lasting solution," Sarma said.

SFs arrested one militant of NDFB-IKS, identified as 'area commander' Ratan Boro alias B. Birfirlang in Darrang District. A 7.65 mm pistol and three rounds live bullets were recovered from the arrested militant. According to the SFs he was involved in various cases of extortion and abductions.

SFs arrested two militants of a newly formed militant group named NFFB from Goreswar in Baksa District. The arrested militants were identified as Kanak Boro (22) and Sukram Boro (38). The newborn militant group is unknown to the Police and investigation is going on.

Military Intelligence personnel arrested two persons from Sulur in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu for suspected extremist links with Assam based NDFB-IKS. One person was identified as Upen Basumatary, an NDFB-IKS member wanted in connection with insurgency activities. The other was said to be the brother of an active member of the NDFB-IKS. They had reportedly fled Assam following alleged involvement in terrorist activities and got employed in the company in Sulur.

In a statement, the ULFA-I rejected a call by a 'pro-swadeshi' organization to boycott Chinese made goods in Assam saying that goods from China have not made any adverse effect on the State and China and Assam are friends and not foes.

Director General of Assam Police (law and order) Kula Saikia reviewed the law and order situation in four lower Assam districts of Bongaigaon, Chirang, Kokrajhar and Goalpara.

Police have discovered the existence of a new militant group, named the NFFB - active in several areas in the BTAD in the State. The development came to light after Baksa Police arrested two cadres of the newly formed NFFB in the Goreswar area of Baksa District on July 5. The arrested militants demanded money from a person of the area and extortion note named former members of the militant outfit NDFB-IKS - B Dwthingra and B Dwansarang - as its 'chairman' and 'general secretary' respectively. After investigation, Police revealed that NFFB was formed in June this year (2017) and several former militants, breakaway faction cadres of NDFB-IKS and even criminals from Nagaland were found to be involved in the militant group.

In a statement, the ULFA-I alleged that the NEEPCO had caused the problem of flood in North Lakhimpur by releasing water of Ranganadi Hydel Project, and threatened the organisation to pay 'adequate compensation' to the affected people.

In an operation, Police recovered FICN of worth INR 340,000 and arrested three persons in this connection, identified as Jitumani Das, Chittaranjan Kalita, and Parameswar Kalita, from Saderi Nityananda under Patacharkuchi Police Station in Barpeta District.

A fake voter identity cards racket was busted in a joint operation by Police and BSF in Dhubri District. Two persons, identified as Sayed Ali (22) and Sahijul Haque, allegedly involved in the racket were arrested by Police and materials including laptop, printer and papers were also recovered from their possession.

GPRN during its 'joint council meeting' of 'steering committee', 'council' of kilonsers (Ministers) and 'heads' of 'departments' unanimously accepted the merger of Karbi Anglong (Assam) based militant group NRHPF with the NSCN-IM. In a press note, 'ministry of kilo affairs' GPRN, 'secretary' M. Daniel Lotha stated that 30 members led by its 'advisor', Keyhang Rengma (Joseph) 'chairman' Logusheng Rengma (Arhabe) 'vice president', Manong Rengma (Tennyson) and 50 cadres led by 'lieutenant colonel.' Rilugu (Kainito) 'commander-in-chief' along with 45 arms and ammunition joined the NSCN/GPRN.

SFs recovered FICN of INR 2,000 denomination amounting to over INR 1.8 million from the possession of three Mizo women at Abdullapur in Hailakandi District. The women, identified as Sanfantui Fanai, Giliani Fanai and Lalhakliana have been sent to the Police custody.

Top Army officials are of the view that though militancy is on the wane in the State, there is need for identifying the areas where insurgency can erupt again. Further, according to the officials the present location of the Army deployment can also be reviewed considering the fact that some areas of the State have become peaceful.

India has yet again underscored the need to flush out the Northeast-based militants operating from Myanmar. Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Defence Services, Senior General U Min Aung Hliang is currently touring India and he called on PM Narendra Modi and several other ministers in New Delhi. He also called on Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, besides Army chief General Vipin Rawat. According to official sources, the visiting Senior General briefed the PM about bilateral defence and security cooperation. The Prime Minister appreciated the close cooperation between the armed forces of India and Myanmar.

The NIA filed a charge-sheet before the special NIA court, Guwahati in connection with a case registered in 2013 against self-styled 'chairman' of ULFA-I Abhijit Asom alias Dr Abhijit Barman alias Dr Mukul Hazarika, `c-in-c' of the outfit Paresh Baruah and one arrested cadre, Joydeep Cheleng alias Gagan Hazarika accusing them of waging war against India. The NIA chargesheet against Hazarika has formally confirms that he leads the banned outfit. Hazarika, who hails from Samaguri in Nagoan District in central Assam, is currently settled in London. Hazarika was identified by one of his bodyguards, Joydeep, who is under arrest. The NIA chargesheet against Hazarika has paved the way for Government of India to seek his extradition from UK.

The BGB has denied the presence of North East-based militant camps in the country. Addressing a press conference in Shillong after the culmination of the talks with the BSF officials, BGB Additional Director General (North East region) Mohammad Zahid Hasan said Bangladesh has zero tolerance towards anti-social elements and the country's leadership maintains a tough stand against insurgent groups. "These (presence of insurgent camps) are mere perceptions� We will firmly act if there is any," Zahid said. BSF had raised the issue of presence of outfits like GNLA, ULFA-I and HNLC in Bangladesh territory and sought stringent action against them. Earlier, IG of BSF (Meghalaya frontier) PK Dubey reiterated that there are no regulated militant camps in Bangladesh which existed 10-15 years back and there is coordinated action between the border sentinels of the two countries.

July 18

SFs arrested two militants of NFFB near the Guwahati Railway Station in Kamrup (metro) District. The two cadres were identified as Jona Basumatary (35) and Deepak Choudhury (40).

State Government has urged the Union Government to involve the Indian Army�s Corps of Engineers in completing the remaining fence work on the Assam-Bangladesh border.� In a memo to the UMHA, the State Government has requested that the Corps of Engineers be used not only in finishing the remaining border fencing work, but also involve the agency�s expertise in repair of the fence damaged by erosion, floods, etc.

July 19

Security Forces arrested four cadres of a fledgling militant outfit, Sangjuta Sadhin Asamiya Sainya (United Independent Assam Army), were in Baksa District. The four, identified as Hitesh Kalita, (35), Mintu Singha, (37), Hitesh Bezbaruah (40) and Munindra Patowary (33), were arrested from Chenigaon village, about 85km from here.

July 20

The AASU told the H S Brahma Committee that Dispur should prepare a new land law, ensuring that land rights in the state are given only to "the people who have been living in Assam before 1951". The State Government had formed the Committee on Protection of Land Rights of Indigenous People, with former Chief Election Commissioner Hari Sankar Brahma as its chairman, on February 6, 2017 to suggest measures, including modification in the Assam Land & Revenue (Regulation), 1886, other land laws, government policy and land policy for ensuring protection of land rights of indigenous people in the State.

ULFA-I �commander-in-chief� Paresh Baruah aka Paresh Asom issued ultimatum to the Central Public Sector Undertaking , NEEPCO to either rehabilitate the flood affected population of Lakhimpur District or face dire consequences. Baruah last week had asked the PSU to rehabilitate the affected people after which NEEPCO said that the unprecedented flood in Lakhimpur district is not due to release of water from Ranganadi but due to incessant rain in Arunachal Pradesh. In the current wave of flood, 11 persons have lost their lives in Lakhimpur District.

State Government has told the UMHA that it will not recommend withdrawal of the AFSPA of 1958 from a few areas, at least till August 31, because of the possibility of subversive activities by the ULFA-I.

Easy availability of FICN in Assam and Mizoram has set alarm bells ringing among the security agencies in New Delhi. According to the UMHA statistics, fake notes with a face value totaling INR 650,800 were seized and detected in Assam in the last six months alone. �It�s really shocking that within such a short time � from January till June this year � fake notes worth INR 650,800 were seized in Assam,� said a senior MHA official. Similarly, INR 5,501,500 fake currencies were seized in Mizoram. The highest amount of fake currency has been seized in Delhi during the same period.

Easy availability of FICN in Assam and Mizoram has set alarm bells ringing among the security agencies in New Delhi. According to the UMHA statistics, fake notes with a face value totalling INR 650,800 were seized and detected in Assam in the last six months alone. �It�s really shocking that within such a short time � from January till June this year � fake notes worth INR 650,800 were seized in Assam,� said a senior MHA official. Similarly, INR 5,501,500 fake currencies were seized in Mizoram. The highest amount of fake currency has been seized in Delhi during the same period.

July 21

NSCN-R has reportedly launched an extortion drive in the tribal villages of Cachar and Dima Hasao Districts. The letters have been delivered to the village headmen of a number of villages in Joypur, Fulertal, Hmarkhawlien of Cachar and Jinam valley areas of Dima Hasao. The outfit has demanded a sum of INR 7 lakh from each of the village headman. In the letter they have asked us to collect the money from villagers and hand them over within two months', said a headman. We are helpless, because the villagers are too poor to give the money. We are passing sleepless nights', he said. Sources said the armed men have been handing over the extortion notes since June.

July 22

SFs, in a successful joint operation, DHD-N former �commander of Umrangso region� Mondesh Langthasa, from village Dibarai in Dima Hasao District. On being interrogated, Mondesh Langthasa admitted that he was involved in extortion in Hathikali and Umrangso. He also revealed the name of another person, Resley Langthasa alias Lambu, was also involved along with him and Resley is in possession of one AK-47 rifle and ammunition provided by Mondesh Langthasa. The two cases linked to the accused are- five armed miscreants snatched INR 150, 000 in Hathikali from Anil Das, manager of a saw mill on April 28, 2017. On May 10, 2017, five miscreants armed with one AK-47 looted INR 645,000 in 8 Kilo village of Umrangso from the staff of Ram Kamal Warisa (owner) - Abdul Kalam and Sonu Pradhan.

Karbi militant outfit UPLA lauded KAAC CEM Tuliram Ronghang for his speech delivered during the 58th foundation day of KSA on July 21 where he raised the issue of a separate State of Karbi Anglong.

SFs, in an operation arrested a cadre, identified Taya Labung (36), of NDFB-S in Balidonga village of Biswanath District. One live hand grenade was also recovered from his possession.

The Committee for Protection of Land Rights of Indigenous People of Assam has expressed the view that illegal migration is the greatest threat to the security and identity of the indigenous people of the State.

Police, in an encounter, killed a militant, Janamon Basumatary (35) alias Jalar alias Jagdaw, belonging to the NDFB-S at New Basbari area in Kokrajhar District. A sub-inspector named Ramcharan Rabha also sustained minor injuries during the encounter. The Police recovered an AK-series rifle, a magazine, 15 rounds of ammunition, a hand grenade and a mobile phone from the encounter site.

Police arrested suspected ULFA-I linkman Ananta Saikia (38), from a rented house in Bahona on the outskirts of Jorhat town.

The Committee for Protection of Land Rights of Indigenous People of Assam in its interim report stated that unrestrained influx of Bangladeshis, coupled with massive transfer of land facilitated by a corrupt bureaucrat-politician nexus, has led to alarming land alienation among indigenous communities. This in turn has threatened not only the safety, security and very identity of the indigenous communities, but also the very entity of Assam and its entire geographical stretch stated the report.

Police arrested a NSCN-K cadre, John Kimsing (23), from Naliapool of Dibrugarh town in Dibrugarh District.

Police arrested eight militants of NDFFB in Chirang District. The arrested militants were identified as Ajoy Daimari, (24), Nizira Basumatary (25), Raja Daimari (19), Francis Basumatary (23), Sudem Narzary (25), Biswajit Narzary (40) and Biswai Basumatary (24).

SFs arrested two militants of the NDFB-IKS, identified as Ranjit Daimari (29) and Prakash Bodo (24), from Roumari Reserve Forest under Moran Subdivision in Dibrugarh District.

Police arrested one NSCN-K cadre, identified as Pong Gong Konyak, from Janki Pathar at Sonari in Charaideo District close to Assam- Nagaland boundary. Police recovered one .22 pistol with two rounds of live ammunition and a bottle grenade from his possession.

Police have intensified the counter-insurgency operation in chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal constituency, Majuli Island in Majuli District. SP Baibhab Nimbalkar on July 31 said that night patrolling was on in full swing and the police are keeping a close eye on suspicious persons. He said the Police and CRPF have jointly started patrolling by foot, boat, and vehicles in the district. "We are using boats for search operation. Majuli is important from political and religious points of view as both domestic and international tourists visit the island. So, we are not ignoring the threat perception," Nimbalkar said

Security agencies have stepped up vigil after receiving intelligence inputs indicating the possibility of terror strikes by ULFA-I in Dibrugarh District in the run-up to Independence Day. "We have intelligence inputs that the ULFA-I may try to target Dibrugarh town ahead of Independence Day. Use of car bombs by the militants also cannot be ruled out but we are fully prepared to thwart any kind of threat. Counter-insurgency operations have been intensified in the border areas. We are checking every vehicle and two-wheeler at all entry and exit points of the town. Night patrolling is being conducted in all the major roads and streets," said ASP-Headquarters Surjeet Singh Panesar.

The publication of the draft NRC is likely to miss the December 31 deadline and probably be released in March next year.

BSF arrested a Bangladeshi citizen, Abdul Wahid (46), along with some documents, from Karimganj town in Karimganj District. An Aadhaar card, panchayat documents, ILP for Mizoram and three mobile phones were recovered from him. During interrogation, he told the BSF that he is a resident of Jokiganj in Sylhet district of Bangladesh and came to India four years back with the help of a tout. He has been working as a labourer since. On the Aadhaar card, his name has been written as Abdul Kalam.

The Union Government extended the disturbed area under the AFSPA for one more month, citing various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB, and others. "The Union Home Ministry also declared Meghalaya's border areas adjoining Assam consisting 20 kilometre belt, and three districts in Arunachal Pradesh as "disturbed" under the AFSPA for two more months with effect from August 3 to September 30. In separate gazette notifications, the Home Ministry said entire Assam has been declared "disturbed" under the AFSPA with effect from August 3 till August 31. The three districts of Arunachal Pradesh - Tirap, Changlang and Longding - and areas falling within the jurisdiction of 14 Police Stations in nine other Districts of the State were also declared as 'disturbed' with effect from August 4 to September 30. The 14 Police Stations fall under the Districts of Papumpare, West Siang, East Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, East Kameng, West Kameng, Namsai, Lohit and Lower Subansiri.

The NIA arrested Sankhang Basumatary, a suspected cadre of NDFB-IKS here for his alleged involvement in the December 23, 2014, massacre of Adivasis at Pakriguri village under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

Prithviraj Narayan Dev Mech, a descendent of Bodo king Chikra Mech has twice received threats allegedly from the NDFB-S which accused him of working against their demand for a sovereign Bodoland. The Prithviraj, who was "coronated" as the prince last year, lodged an FIR at Kokrajhar Police Station on August 8 following text messages from a person, identifying himself as B. Mithinga of the NDFB-S, a militant outfit, the day before.

DGP-law and order Kuladhar Saikia and ADGP-Special Branch Pallab Bhattacharya reviewed the law and order scenario in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Charaideo Districts of Upper Assam. The meeting was held taking into account a possible ULFA-I's threat before and during Independence Day celebrations. Sources said this year Dibrugarh district is on the ULFA-I radar. Intelligence agencies recently warned that an ULFA group, led by a 'captain' Henry, may carry out remote-controlled IED blasts in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts targeting security forces and oil installations. ADGP Kuladhar Saikia said additional forces would be mobilized in the sensitive districts in view of the threat.

The NIA served NBW of arrests against ULFA-I's London-based 'chairman' Dr Mukul Hazarika and 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, who is believed to be based in Myanmar. Two teams of Guwahati office of NIA took the NBWs to the native home of Hazarika at Samaguri in Nagaon District and Baruah's at Chabua in Dibrugarh District.

SFs arrested person named Anowar Hussain and recovered two China-made grenades from his possession at Mazbat area in Udalguri District.

Seven armed militant formations called a 12 hour shut down strike on August 15, in the entire North East India, which they term as WESEA to ban celebration of Indian Independence Day. The total ban on the celebration of Indian Independence Day was made in a joint statement signed by 'publicity secretary', HNLC, Ksh Laba Meitei, 'president', KCP, Jiban Singh Koch, 'chairman', KLO, N.Oken, 'chairman', KYKL, B..R Ferengga, 'general secretary', NDFB-S, Sengphui Borok, 'organizing secretary', NLFT and J K Lijang, 'chairman', PDCK.

The GRP has arrested a Tripura based militant from Badarpur Railway Station in Karimganj District. "During a routine checking, the GRP personnel arrested the militant identified as Naresh Chakma, (34), at Badarpur railway junction on Saturday. Over 600 cartridges were recovered from the extremist," a Tripura based police official said.

A fierce gun battle broke out between suspected ZUF cadres and suspected NSCN-IM cadres at Namdailong village at Lakhipur sub-division of Cachar District. There were no reports of any casualty. During the gun battle, NSCN-IM cadres destroyed a kitchen, an office and a prayer centre of NNC/FGN.

Police arrested six suspected Bangladeshis from Churaibari in Karimganj district. They arrested foreign nationals were identified as Jalal Ahmed, 55, Amir Hossain, 29, Abdul Ahad, (25), Abdul Sabbur (25), Nurul Amin (19) and Rashid Ahmed, (14).Police sources said they were arrested around 8.10pm from a bus that was going from Agartala to Guwahati. The bus was stopped by the Police at Churaibari on the Assam-Tripura boundary. The arrested foreign nationals hail from Kutupalong, a village in Cox's Bazar District of Bangladesh.

CM Sarbananda Sonowal asked the NBCC and CPWD to immediately seal 48.11 Kilometer (km) porous areas of the India-Bangladesh border on a war footing at a high-level meeting in New Delhi. Sarbananda Sonowal also asked the BSF to use proven technology to intensify its vigil and put a spanner into the alleged influx and smuggling from across the border. During the meeting, NBCC and CPWD pointed out that of the 48.11km unfenced border between Assam and Bangladesh, fencing of 13.38km would be completed as soon as the floodwaters recede. However, erecting a fence on the remaining areas involves enormous challenges as a nearly 3km stretch, particularly in the Silchar sector, is full of deep gorges. They said the Silchar sector has 61 gaps, Dhubri 31 and others two and altogether INR 26.92 crore was required to plug these gaps.

Altogether 11 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by a joint patrolling party of Assam and Tripura Police recently at Churaibari (North Tripura District of Tripura and Karimganj District of Assam) inter-State border. Police recovered a sizeable amount of Indian and Bangladeshi currency notes, mobile handsets, fake medicine-making machines and some valuable documents, etc from their possessions. According to sources, Jalal Ahmed, Nurul Amin, Amir Hussain, Abdul Sabur, Abdul Ahad and Mohammad Rashid of Sylhet in Bangladesh entered India by crossing Sunamura international border in Tripura, while the other five Bangladeshi nationals, namely Mujib Shek, Ujjal Shek, Babul Haldar, Najrul Shek and Mintu Baidya were arrested by Dharmanagar Police.

The Police intensified operation along the bordering areas to prevent entry into the Bangladeshi nationals into the Indian territory. "During the flood, they (Bangladeshi) try to enter the Indian territory in quest of their jobs and accordingly, we take strict vigil along the border," Police sources said.

SFs arrested two OGW of NSCN-K, identified as Wangnong Ronrang and Chankap Mossang from Jagun in Tinsukia District. Six extortion letters, two mobile phones and three SIM cards were recovered from them.

Police arrested Abhisek Rai alias Mithu for his alleged involved in manhandling Moon Bora, a SULFA militant from Panigaon area of Nagaon District. The incident took place inside a business establishment at Kalibari in Panigaon area of Nagaon District on August 22 when five former militants, led by Bora, went to M/s Das Enterprise, a tractor dealer, to collect "donation for flood relief". A group of traders there roughed up Moon Bora, accusing him of extortion. While Bora was arrested on August 22, his four friends were arrested on August 23 on the basis of a complaint filed by Das Enterprise. Tension still prevails in Nagaon town for the third day following the incident adds.

Nagaon District administration withdrew the case that was registered against former SULFA Moon Bora and others in Nagaon Police Station after incident of assault involving a group of businessman on August 22.

Several organisations in Assam took out a rally over the "assault" of a ULFA-PTF member by some traders at Kalibari locality in Nagaon town amidst a 12-hour general strike in Nagaon District. Demanding immediate release of the five former ULFA members arrested on Tuesday in connection with an alleged extortion bid, groups like the AASU, AJYCP and ULFA-PTF participated in the agitation, seeking action against those involved in "assaulting" Moon Bora and four others. ULFA-PTF leadership, led by 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, joined the rally at Nehrubali in Nagaon town where they resolved to launch an agitation to secure "immediate and unconditional" release of the five ULFA-PTF rebels."If needed, we will float yet another armed organisation to safeguard the rights and sentiments of the people of the state," Rajkhowa said. "Assam will yet again be covered in blood."

Altogether 300 militants belonging to UDLA-B and BRAU based at Ramnathpur village in Hailakandi district are likely to lay down their arms and join the mainstream in coming months, Anurag Tankha said that he had held discussions with the top leaders of two Bru outfits on August 26 at Circuit House and they have agreed to lay down arms. IGP Anurag Tankha said that they have already initiated the peace process with the outfit.

A Myanmar-trained ULFA-I cadre, Swadhin Saikia alias Jyotish Asom, was arrested from Duliajan town in Dibrugarh District. A 7.65 mm pistol, six live rounds of ammunition and INR 8,000 were seized.

A ULFA-I cadre, Naba Kanta Baruah alias Baroo Asom, was arrested after he surrendered before the Superintendent of Police, Sadiya, in Tinsukia District.

The training camps operated by the dreaded Paresh Baruah faction of the ULFA-I in Myanmar house more than 500 militants. All this was revealed by a militant who surrendered to the security forces on August 27.

The Pradip Ray faction of AKRASU has declared an agitation schedule for the coming days. AKRASU announced for 48-hour long Assam bandh (shutdown strike) from 5 AM of September 6, 100-hour long wheel stop from 5 AM of September 14 and 10-hour rail blockade on October 13. AKRSU is demanding separate ST status for Koch Rajbongshis and a separate State of Kamatapur.

AFSPA was extended for six months starting from September 1. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP-Special Branch) Pallab Bhattacharya said, "This is for the first time in Assam's history that the state government has on its own extended the term of the Act for six months from September 1."

Dilip Nunisa, former 'chairman' of disbanded DHD-N expressed serious concern over the delay in rehabilitation of DHD cadres due to the 'indifferent' attitude of both the Central and State Governments. DHD-N signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the Union and State government on October 8, 2012 in New Delhi.

Police have registered a case against ULFA-PTF 'leader' Jiten Dutta for alleged racial abuse and treason. Dergaon Police in Golaghat District registered a suo motu case against Dutta under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against the government of India) of the Indian Penal Code.

ULFA-I asked two CPSU, NEEPCO and NHPC to quit the region or face "military action." "While NEEPCO's 405-MW Ranganadi Hydel project caused such havoc, it is easily understood what disaster is in store in NHPC's 2000-MW Lower Subansiri project. It will wipe out the entire downstream area. Hence both companies should shut down their operations in this (Western South-East Asia) region. Otherwise ULFA-I will carry out a military action against them," the statement signed by 'Major' Arunoday Asom, 'assistant publicity secretary' said.

ULFA-I warned of "armed action" if 22 model colleges, named after BJP ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, are not renamed after prominent personalities of the state within six months. In a statement e-mailed to the media here, the ULFA-I asked State Government to remove names of all "outsider Indians" from various educational institutions and rename the same after eminent sons of the soil within six months failing which it would take `punitive' action against those institutions if they fail to comply.

ULFA-PTF 'leader' Jiten Dutta in connection to the Nagaon assault case, called his 'fight' a 'battle' to save the identity of Assamese people. This comes a day after Dergaon police registered a suo motu case against ULFA-PTF 'leader', charging him with racial abuse and Sedition. Dutta said, "I am fighting for our identity and existence, which are in danger. If the government slaps cases against me during the struggle to save the identity of Assamese people, I am least bothered."

The Pradip Ray faction of the AKRSU alleged that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is giving only assurances about holding tripartite talks and lacked action. "Sonowal had assured us that tripartite talks would be held in August. He has failed to do so and even the earlier talks did not bear any fruit. Hence, we will no longer believe his words and continue our agitation till our demands are met," AKRSU president Pradip Ray said.

The 48-hour long Assam bandh (Shut down strike) called by AKRSU, Pradip Ray faction) from 5 am on Wednesday for the demand of separate Kamatapur state and ST categorization of Koch- Rajbongshi community affected normal life in Bongaigaon.

Two Central Public Sector Undertakings, NEEPCO and NHPC have sought security cover from Assam Police after ULFA-I asked them to close operations in the state within six months and threatened to launch armed action after the time period,

ULFA-I 'vice chairman' and 'chief of staff', 'major general' Paresh Asom has rejected Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's offer for facilitating the peace process and to join the main stream, saying "we only follow the revolutionary stream that will lead to an Independent Asom."

The Hiteswar Barman faction of the AKRSU took out a rally at Barpara Public Field in Bongaigaon District to seek support for their demands for a Kamtapur state and Scheduled Tribe status."We are ready to take up arms if the Government does not consider our issues seriously," said the AKRSU's 'president', Hiteswar Barman.

Altogether 41,033 people, declared as foreigners by Foreigners Tribunals in Assam, have gone missing since 1985, according to data available with the State Government. The data reveals that between signing of the Assam Accord in 1985 and June this year, 484,381 cases were referred to Foreigners Tribunals and 86,489 people were declared foreigners. Of these, 29,663 were pushed back and 71 deported to Bangladesh, while 833 are lodged in detention camps awaiting expulsion and 41,033 remain untraced.

SFs arrested 'publicity secretary' of KLF, Lummilen Bey, from Sukhanjan village in Karbi Anglong District.

SFs busted a hideout of the Meghalaya based HNLC and arrested five militants at multiple locations in West Karbi Anglong District. Huge cache comprising two G3 rifles, one 303 Rifle, one 7.62 mm pistol, one single barrel gun, 10 kilograms explosive, 40 detonators, 66 live rounds and other war-like stores were recovered. The arrested militants were identified as Badhu Bey (38), Pop Yedoh (42), Polin Nongrom (53), Besterwen Hanse and Donboik Marbanean (28).

A tea estate supervisor, identified as Sailyo Dahotia (40) was abducted by a six-member armed group, suspected to be ULFA-I militants, from Dihingia tea estate in the Kathalguri area in Tinsukia District. The incident occurred around 6.30pm near the office of the tea garden on September 28 while other employees were busy with Durga Puja festivities. Police said ULFA-I had served an extortion notice, demanding INR 1 lakh, to the proprietor of the tea estate Rajib Phukan three months ago. Despite repeated intimidation and threats over telephone, Phukan refused to cough up the money. Meanwhile, on the basis of his complaint, Police conducted a couple of raids to nab the ULFA-I members suspected of being involved in the extortion bid.

The ceasefire agreement signed by the NDFB-P with the Centre is nearing completion of 12 years, but the NDFB-P leaders have firm belief that they will have a separate state of "Bodoland" one day. Leaders of the NDFB-P on October 3 raised the statehood demand again while addressing their cadres at a conclave organised on the occasion of the 31st foundation day of the outfit at Kumguri designated camp in Serfanguri in Kokrajhar District of Assam. Over 600 cadres of the outfit are lodged in this camp which was set up in 2006. Two other camps are at Borbori in Baksa District and Sapekhaiti in Udalguri District in which around 400 cadres are staying.

Police sounded a high alert across the State, especially in Districts bordering Bangladesh, in a bid to curb infiltration of Rohingya refugees into the State. The move comes after the arrest of three Indian touts from Sonapura in Sipahijala District of neighbouring Tripura on October 3, who had helped Rohingya refugees gain illegal entry into the State.

Plans to hand over Relief and Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Departments to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) by December 31 was finalised at a review meeting between the Union and Assam State Government and Bodo leaders.

Five ULFA-I and GNLA militants were arrested during an operation carried out recently by Meghalaya and Assam Police. The two ULFA-I militants were identified as Simanta Rabha and Kusha Rabha of Rongjuli area of Goalpara District and were arrested from the same area. The GNLA cadres are Pillar Sangma, Philip Sangma and Nobin Sangma, the trio was arrested from Williamnagar in East Garo Hills. The modus operandi was such that GNLA Overground Workers would identify potential victims, in this case coal dealers and other businessmen, in the Nangalbibra-Jadigittim coal region of South Garo Hills and they were directed to deliver the money in Assam.

The 48km India-Bangladesh riverine border on the Brahmaputra in lower Assam has become the focal point of vigil by the Border Security Force (BSF) to prevent possible infiltration by Rohingya refugees from Myanmar via Bangladesh.

The 12-hour railway blockade from 5 am to 5 pm demanding the early creation of Bodoland state and ensuring political rights to the Bodos living outside the proposed Bodoland area by the ABSU, NDFB-PTF and PJACBM paralyzed the movement of train services in the Northeast.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has set a deadline to complete the fencing of India-Bangladesh border by March 2019. Disclosing this, a top unnamed Government official said on October 11 that the government has sanctioned the order to fence 3,326 Kilometre (km) of the 4,096 km long India-Bangladesh border.

An accountant of a Kopili tea estate, Kedar Nath Jha (45), was allegedly abducted by unidentified persons while he was returning to his home located at 15 kilo area under Umrangso Police Station in Dima Hasao district.

A ULFA-I cadre, Dharmendra Moran alias Mukti Axom, surrendered before Tinsukia Police.

Several organisations, representing nearly 40 lakh indigenous Muslims of Assam urged the State Government to constitute a committee for their inclusion in the NRC 1951, as original inhabitants.

An unidentified man fired at and injured the manager of a tea leaf factory in Jorhat District. According to police, a youth wearing a helmet came to the factory office of Bohniman Pvt Ltd at Cinnamara and demanded all the cash the manager, Mulchand Prajapat, had with him. When Prajapat stood up to gather the money to give to the youth, he shot at him and fled.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in lieu with the greater Nagaland issue said that the Government is committed to protecting the territorial integrity of the State,

At least 17 Adivasi organisations in Assam will block National Highways at several places on October 25 in support of their demand for Schedule Tribe status and dialogue with five militant groups that are in ceasefire since 2012.

The Dao Division's Army Camp arrested two cadres of NSCN-U in Charaideo District. The arrested individuals were resident of Wakching village in Mon District of Nagaland, and reportedly involved in arms dealing. The troops recovered one Chinese made .22mm auto pistol, one Thailand made .22mm pistol along with 5 .22 mm rounds and one mobile phone.

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal asserted that 'not an inch of Assam land' will be affected by the 'Naga Framework Agreement' and asked people of the State not to be apprehensive."You need not be apprehensive. I can assure you that not an inch of Assam land will be affected. The State's territorial integrity will be intact," he said.

Sadiya Police arrested two youths, identified as Biswajeet Gogoi and Vikash Parit for allegedly running an extortion racket from Kakopathar town, 42km from Tinsukia town in Tinsukia District. They were allegedly extorting money in the name of 'Asom Freedom Fighters'. The Police said this hints at the emergence of a new outfit. Sadiya SP Prasanto Changmai said, "We were working on inputs of extortion calls made to local small traders at Sonpura. The investigation prompted us to believe in the involvement of local youths. We got the mobile number from which the extortion calls were made. On Wednesday [November 1], we arrested Biswajeet from outside the house of one Dhonti of Kakopathar. Dhonti fled from the backdoor. Biswajeet took us to a local computer shop from where we seized letterheads of Asom Freedom Fighters. The police seized the computer and arrested shop owner Vikash." A search is on for their accomplices.

According to a statistics available with the UMHA, as many as 37 persons including nine Security Force (SFs) personnel were killed in the insurgency related violence in the Northeast region over the last seven months. Official statistics has revealed that 28 civilians and nine security personnel were killed in 204 insurgency related violence across the Northeastern States. As many as 57 persons were also abducted this year up to July 31st.

SFs are on their toes following reports of recruitment of youth by the insurgent outfits in the landlocked Northeastern States.

NSCN-K has served extortion notices to big-sized and mini truck owners'' unions of Charaideo district. Office-bearers of the unions on the condition of anonymity, told that the first notice was purportedly issued by the NSCN-K with a seal and signatures of a local commander and his subordinate (a ' 2nd lieutenant') stating to be of 'Konyak region ' and demanding INR 800,000 as 'income tax' was received on November 2 night. The 'notice', issued in the pad of NSCN-K/GPRN, ordered the mini-truck owners to pay INR 800,000 as 'income tax' for a three-year period, namely 2015, 2016 and 2017 to the outfit within one week.

Four legislators of the AIUDF have written to Assam Speaker Hitendra Nath Goswami, requesting a special session on the 2015 'framework agreement' signed by the Government of India and the NSCN-IM. The letter, signed by MLAs (Member of Legislative Assembly) Aminul Islam, Aziz Ahmed Khan, Suzam Uddin Laskar and Nijanur Rahman, was sent to Goswami on November 2. The MLAs requested Goswami to call a special session on the issue "as news has widely been spread by electronic and print media that a large section of Assam has been included in Greater Nagalim through the framework agreement".

Before this, the Assam Congress and peasant rights organisation Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti had also demanded a special Assembly session on the issue. The ATTSA on November 3 demanded that the Centre should make public the contents of the framework agreement. "The people of Assam are worried as the content of the framework agreement has been kept in the dark though Assam will be affected by it. We demand that the Centre make the contents of the agreement public," ATTSA general secretary Paban Bedia said.

Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Manipur had already approached the Centre on the issue while Assam was not doing anything to protect the territorial integrity of the state.

PDCK group has called for a 24-hour total bandh (shutdown) starting from November 7. In a press note, PDCK 'red army's 'chief of army staff', 'captain' David Mukrang alleged that the bandh has been called in protest against alleged "atrocity and torture committed against its 'functionaries', Raju Engleng and Logsing Teron, by Indian occupational forces."

Police arrested two NDFB-IKS militants, Ananta Boro alias Ankhwma and Kwrawmga alias Krawmshar Basumatary at Batachipur under Dhekiajuli Police Station in Sonitpur District along the interstate boundary with Arunachal Pradesh. The police recovered a pistol, 12 bullets along with a magazine and a mobile phone from them.

Guwahati city Police busted a FICN printing unit at house number 10 on Minaj Path at Sijubari under Hatigaon Police Station and FICN with a face value of INR 300,000. City Police commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath said the seized FICN were in denomination of INR 200, INR 500 and INR 2,000. The owner of the house, Sahida Latif Begum, has told the police that three persons, Jainal Ahmed (45), Azmal Hoque (31) and Jiabuddin Lashkar (30), had taken her house on rent six months ago but she had no idea about their illegal activities. "We are trying to track them down. We have learnt that the accused hail from Barak Valley and efforts are on to find their permanent addresses," a Police source said.

The ABSU, NDFB-PTF and the PJACBM staged a three-hour demonstration and blood signature campaign demanding early creation of Bodoland state and political rights to the Bodos residing outside the BTC region.

The AJYCP, ATASU and ATYP were among the organisations organised a sit-in in front of the Charaideo Deputy Commissioner's office as a protest against the framework agreement signed between the Centre and the NSCN-IM. These organisations were demanding the Centre to make the agreement public.

Police arrested a NDFB-IKS cadre, Swmkhwr Narzary alias N Sibilang (25), from Mwndarguri village under Amguri Police Station of Chirang District.

Police claimed that a group of well-equipped and trained NDFB-IKS militants, accompanied by a highly sophisticated arms trainer, had entered Assam with the "objective" of disrupting the NRC update process.

Police arrested one NDFB-IKS cadre along with an overground worker, Sukron Basumatary alias B. Saorailang (26) and Badam Goyari, from Dwimuguri village under Panbari Police Station in Chirang District. The Police recovered a pistol, 12 bullets along with a magazine and a mobile phone from them.

NIA arrested a NDFB-IKS militant, identified as Upen Basumatary alias Jathi alias Uasaobadao (41), who is a prime accused in the killing of at least 11 Adivasi villagers, including three minors, at Shantipur village of Kokrajhar district in December 2014. The militant was already lodged in the Kokrajhar jail in connection with other criminal cases.

The Indian Army arrested a suspected NSCN-K cadre, Khampai Konyak, from Sonari town in Charaideo District.

Police took ULFA-PTF 'leader' Jiten Dutta and seven others into custody for their alleged involvement in a case of arson at Bor-phukial sapori area of Tinsukia District. However, seven, including Dutta, were released on a personal recognizance (PR) Bond. Margherita Sub-Divisional Police official Debabrat Morang said, "

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the State's territorial integrity would not be compromised at any cost when a final peace accord would be signed by the Union Government with NSCN-IM.

SFs arrested two militants belonging to the ALA in a joint operation at Dudhnoi, in Goalpara District. They were identified as Silgrak Sangma alias Amar Thapa (Assam resident) and Changke R. Marak (Meghalaya resident). The police recovered a pistol and three bullets from the duo. "They came to Dudhnoi to abduct a person for extortion," the Superintendent of Police of Goalpara, Amitava Sinha, said.

State Police team seized several documents including electronic evidences related to the public meeting of JuH president Arshad Madani held on November 13 in New Delhi. JuH president Madani on that day had reportedly said that Assam would witness unrest if the NRC updating process excludes local Muslims.

Following reports of a group of NDFB-S militants having crossed over into the State, Police have sounded high alert in the BTAD.The group, comprising 11 members, reportedly entered the state a fortnight ago via Nagaland after crossing the international border from Myanmar. "Seven of them have already been arrested. A search is on for the rest. Police in Chirang and Kokrajhar districts have been alerted," ADGP special branch Pallab Bhattacharya said.

BSF personnel arrested two persons who were allegedly running a FICN racket in Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar Districts from Fekamari market under Deepchar border outpost. BSF seized FICN worth at INR 100,000 from the duo. The duo was identified as Mohammad Shah Alom, (34) and Mir Jamal (35).

A rally organised by the All Apex Bodies' Coordination Committee of Dima Hasao district in Haflong town saw thousands of protesters, protesting against any inclusion of any area of Dima Hasao District in the NSCN-IM proposed "Greater Nagalim"

In protest against the ULFA-I threat hundreds of tea workers of Shree Krishna tea estate blocked NH- 38 for over half-an-hour at Digboi-Tingrai in Tinsukia district. The agitation comes almost 48 hours after ULFA-I rebels attempted to kidnap the manager of the Shree Krishna Tea Garden and threatened to shut down the garden for failing to meet their extortion demands.

The TMPK has called for a 12-hour Assam bandh in support of 18 tribal organisations of Assam from 5 am to 5 pm on November 27 for demanding to stop eviction drive on the flood and erosion affected indigenous tribal areas.

ULFA-I has "courteously requested" McLeod Russell's Samdang tea estate in Tinsukia District to "contribute" INR 10 million to the outfit's organisational fund. Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta said on November 26 that the extortion note was sent to a garden employee through WhatsApp. The purported extortion note read: "Please accept our revolutionary greetings. You/Your company is courteously requested to contribute INR 10000000.00 to our organisational fund. Your cooperation in making this payment promptly will be greatly appreciated." The note is signed by ULFA-I 'finance secretary' "brigadier" Jibon Asom.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the strength of the ULFA, a separatist outfit, is "no more" and there is "no law and order problem" in the state."There is no law and order problem in the State and it is now a peaceful State... ULFA's strength is no more," he told reporters in Kolkata. Responding to a query about the reported incident of a Tea Garden being asked to contribute to ULFA-I's fund, he said: "This is misleading information. We have to see the situation in the entire State. "The state is peaceful. Why had investors invested more than Rs 6,500 crore in our regime so far in the state? Only single incident cannot justify. There is no such incident in the state... only WhatsApp message. Cyber activities sometime create confusion in the mind of people."

The CCTOA, an umbrella organisation of 19 indigenous communities, has called a 12-hour Assam bandh (strike) on November 29 (today) to protest the eviction in Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary in Guwahati by State Government authorities.

Demanding an early solution to the Bodoland issue, the ABSU has called for a 10-day economic blockade in January 2018. The student body has also announced a 24-hour national highway blockade in December 2017. "We want solution of the Bodoland issue at the earliest. We had organized several tripartite talks with the government but there was no result. We are dissatisfied with the lackluster attitude of the government towards the issue," said ABSU 'president' Pramod Boro.

Security has been stepped up in the vulnerable pockets like Digboi, Pengaree, Bordumsa, Kakopothar, Doomdooma and Makum following intelligence inputs stating the possible large scale sabotage activities, including abduction and extortion were being planned by the ULFA-I.

Suspected NSCN militants set ablaze five vehicles and a generator at Tikak west colliery belonging to North Eastern Coalfields close to the Assam-Arunachal border in Tinsukia District.."There were around 50 dumpers in service, four of which were parked at the workshop. Over 100 employees were in the mine and the workshop. They fired on diesel and water tanks, hit employees with the butt of their rifles and set on fire five vehicles and a generator. Four dumpers and a service van, valued at over INR three crore, were damaged," Mining in-charge of ANE Industries Private Ltd Balbir Singh said.."

The 12-hour Assam bandh (shutdown strike) called by the Coordination CCTOA passed off peacefully in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli in Upper Assam with vehicles remaining off the road. The protest was launched against the eviction of settlers at Amchang Reserve Forest who took shelter from Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli districts after losing their land to floods and erosion. The protesters shouted slogans like Tez dim, mati nidiu (we will give blood, not land)

The Conkorf, raised the demand for separate "Koch Hajo" state. This development comes after the demand for a separate "Bodoland" state to be carved out of Assam was raised by different Bodo organisations recently. According to the organisation, there is no historical basis of the demand for "Bodoland" as the ancient Bodo Kachari comprised Cachar and a part of Nagaland with Dimapur as the capital and not the areas that they are demanding as "Bodoland". Conkorf said in the BTAD, comprising Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang, Bodos comprise only 27 per cent of the total population.

The Supreme Court rejected the Centre's plea to extend the deadline for update of the NRC from December 31 this year to July 31, 2018.

Security Forces in an encounter killed ULFA-I militant "sergeant major" Rajan Deka alias Rajan Asom (44), at Khoirabari village Udalguri district. An AK-47 rifle, three magazines, three pistols, 74 live cartridges, eight mobile phones and INR 6,000 were recovered from the militant who carried a bounty of INR 5000,000 on his head.

Police arrested three NNC militants from Meherpur near Silchar in Cachar district. The cadres were identified as Sumgailung Gonmy, (19), Keirijin Kamai, (35), and Thuijinang Kamai, (26).

Twenty-eight posts of members of foreigners tribunals in Assam are lying vacant for the past few months. As a result, some members were given additional charge of tribunals where posts are lying vacant and this has somewhat slowed down the pace of disposal of cases."Even though the process of selection of members was initiated in July, the appointments could not be made as yet because of a legal tangle," an official source said.

The ANC announced a fresh agitation to demand ST status in Assam, beginning with a seven-hour rail blockade on December 19 when the winter session of Parliament begins. The convention is an umbrella body of 17 Adivasi organisations, including five militant groups in ceasefire. The secretary of the convention, Birsing Munda, said that its members would block tracks in Kokrajhar, Mazbat in Darrang, Rangapara in Biswanath and Bokajan in Golaghat districts from 6am to 1pm as part of their agitation. They demanded that the number of designated camps for members of the militant groups be increased from five which are not sufficient for more than 1,200 cadres. The organisations also demanded an increase in their monthly stipend of INR 3,000.

Chirang district police busted an NDFB-IKS. Chirang Superintendent of Police, said that on the basis of secret information about the movement of militants under the command of Batha in Ballambari Bagan Forest area near Indo-Bhutan border located at about 35 km north-west from Runikhata Police Station, a search operation was launched by Chirang Police.

The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is set to meet the CMs of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur on the issue of 'Framework Agreement' signed between the GoI and the NSCN-IM. Manipur Chief Minister, N. Biren Singh is likely to meet his Assam and Arunachal Pradesh counterparts Sarbananda Sonowal and Prema Khandu before the meeting with Rajnath Singh.

The UMHA Rajnath Singh on December 6 said that the Central Government is committed to secure all International Borders with all neighbouring countries. BSF soldiers arrested 87 Rohingya Muslims along the Indo-Bangladesh border since the beginning of the current year till October 31, of whom 76 were sent back to Bangladesh, said BSF Director-General K. K. Sharma.

Six ULFA-I militants, entered Kunapathar Tea Estate in Bordumsa in Tinsukia District and opened fire targeting the estate manager, after the authorities refused to pay extortion money. The attack came 23 days after ULFA-I initially demanded extortion money of INR 4 million from the estate authorities.

In protest against the alleged inclusion of Dima Hasao District in 'Greater Nagalim' AABCC, Dima Hasao has given a call for 24 hours rail blockade on December 12. The president and general secretary of AABCC stated that 24-hour rail blockade program would be organized on Dec 12 from 6 am onwards at Haflong and other parts of the District.

SFs arrested a militant of the ULFA-I, identified as Abha Deka, from Dillighat in Sivasagar District. One pistol, six live rounds and thirteen extortion letters were recovered from him. The arrested militant was reportedly involved in a firing incident in Dillighat in November 2015.

SFs arrested two unidentified ULFA-I militants from Kalaigaon in Udalguri District. One AK-56 rifle, one magazine and 18 rounds of bullets have been recovered from their possession.

Five Bishnupuri Manipuri organizations have called a 101-hours rail blockade in Barak Valley from December 21 to press for demands, including reservation of seats in the Assembly and Lok Sabha (lower house of Indian parliament),

December 11

ULFA-I militants �shot dead a local VDP President� Anteswar Mahanta� and his son identified as Karun� at Dirak-Hunjan village in Bordumsa in Tinsukia. Karun was a former President of Kakopathar AASU.� Tinsukia SP stated that� ULFA-I militant identified as Rupom Asom and his group were behind the killing.

December 12

Two NDFB-IKS militants were arrested at Jhalbari forest area in Kokrajhar District.� Two pistols along with a magazine and six ammunition were recovered from the militants.

Following December 11 killings, residents and organisations from Sunjan Simaluguri and nearby areas blocked National Highway 52 to protest the killings. AMSU called a 24-hour Tinsukia District shutdown on December 13. tea gardens such as Sri Krishna, Bogapani, Hollongabi in Digboi, MKB and Lalung in Bordumsa, and Samdung in Doomdooma have been alerted and additional security has been assigned to the tea estates.

IGP stated that four ULFA-I militants involved in the killing has fled to Arunachal Pradesh.

Following the intervention and assurance from the District administration, the 24-hour rail blockade was called off by AABCC. The rail blockade was called by AABCC in protest against the inclusion of Dima Hasao in �greater Nagalim and also the establishment of satellite council in Dima Hasao.

Indigenous Forum-Assam, a joint platform of over 30 organisations representing various indigenous communities, will try to build a consensus on the definition of indigenous people of the state at its first convention to be held here on February 12 and 13. Leader of the forum and� ULFA-PTF �general secretary� Anup Chetia said at the two-day convention, which will be held at the district library auditorium, an attempt would be made to arrive at a consensus on the definition of indigenous or Assamese people for implementation of Clause VI of the Assam Accord.

December 13

Normal life was affected across the industrial District of Tinsukia following a 24 hours bandh (shutdown strike) called by several student bodies of the state to protest against the killing of a father-son duo by ULFA-I.

Shutdown was called by AMSU with Districts of AASU, ATASU, AJYCP Moran Sahitya Sabha, Moran Jatiya Mahila Parishad etc extending support to it. While shops, business establishments, banks and educational institutions remained shut in Tinsukia, Margherita, Ledo, Doomdooma, Digboi, Bordumsa, Makum and Kakopathar towns, vehicles also remained off the road.

ULFA-I �publicity secretary� Arunodoy Asom alleged that the VDP official and his son were spying for SFs.

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal on December 12 stated that the state Police forces will be modernized.

December 14

A militant of NDFB-IKS was killed in an encounter at west zone in Dumbazaar in Kokrajhar. The militant have been identified as �sergeant major� Soheton Narzary. One AK 56, 219 rounds of ammunition, one detonator, one pistol and a hand grenade were recovered from the dead militant.

KMSSa peasants' rights body which has been leading a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, warned that the fresh move would trigger an Assam Agitation (1979-1985)-like situation if its demand for a rollback of the bill is not fulfilled.

SAJPPSP an organisation representing the family members of Assam Agitation martyrs, on December 14 threatened an agitation if the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 is passed in the Parliament.

December 15

DGP Mukesh Sahay stated that ULFA-I down but not out. He stated that �I don�t have a fair idea about its current strength, but then, strength does not lie in numbers but in lethality. I can say, however, that something which was pervasive all over the state at one point of time is today confined to pockets bordering Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland�. DGP also added that ULFA rebels were using corridors in Nagaland and Arunachal to sneak in and out of Myanmar and create mischief in Assam. He further stated that Chinese weapons including grenades are available with ULFA-I militants.

Talks with ULFA-PTF may come to a conclusion by 2018. Giving this indication, senior Assam police official Pallab Bhattacharya said that the much hyped peace talk is moving towards the right direction. An eight-member delegation of ULFA-PTF led by Anup Chetia and Arabinda Rajkhowa held a meeting with senior officials from Government of India (GoI) and state Government. Naga peace accord was also discussed in the meeting.

Dibrugarh District committee of ATASU staged a three-hour sit-in. 15 in Pepoltol Tiniali Duliajan in Dibrugarh District, demanding Scheduled Tribe status for the Ahom community in Assam and opening of the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) by completing its construction as it has been lying in an abandoned condition at Kacharipathar in Duliajan.

December 11 killing of father son duo in Tinsukia District was sharply criticized by various social organizations of Sivasagar. The killing was criticized by Manab Adhikar Sangram Sammittee a regional nonprofit human right organization as well as another NGO identified as Indian Patriotic Federation (Socialist).���

December 16

Two NDFB-S militants were killed in an encounter in a coal mine under Umrangso Police Station in Dima Hasao District. A .9 mm pistol was recovered from the encounter site. The Police also rescued the manager of a coal quarry, Mahendra Rai who was abducted by the militants on December 4 from an area under Muriap Police Outpost area of Meghalaya.

December 17

Two NDFB-S militants arrested from Sisubari forest inside Manas National Park in Chirag District. One rifle, a magazine and grenade were recovered from the arrested militants. The police said the duo were trained in the NDFB's camp in Taka in Myanmar and sent to Chirang recently.

Recent arrest of 10 NDFB militants has revealed that group of �mentors� sent from the outfit's Myanmar camps is carrying out a �fresh recruitment drive� in Assam.

Sources said the recruitment drive was launched to bridge the loss the outfit suffered because of the killing and arrest of several of its cadres since an operation was launched in December 2014. The group is targeting school dropouts and unemployed youths in Sonitpur, Biswanath, Udalguri, Baksa and Kokrajhar Districts.

The training camps and hideouts of Indian insurgent groups in Bangladesh have been reduced to "almost zero". "Whenever we have information about (infiltration by) insurgents from the northeastern states into Bangladesh, we share the information and immediate raids are undertaken (by Border Guard Bangladesh)," BSF Director-General K.K. Sharma said. "As a result, the number of training places and hideouts of these insurgents has been reduced to almost zero. I congratulate our counterparts."

If some Indian militant camps still exist in Bangladesh, they are of a floating nature, Sharma said, indicating that all permanent camps have been destroyed. The two border forces have since 2015 been conducting simultaneous and coordinated patrols of the frontier to check crime and insurgency. "The numbers of these (militants) used to be 150-200 every time a list was handed over. That situation has now changed and the (insurgents) are now on the run, without being able to stay put at a place on the other side

Seven hour railway blockade by tribals under ANC demanding their six-point charter of demands disrupted train services as parts of Northeast remained cut off for at least five hours. The supporters of ANC blocked trains at Kokrajhar, Mazbat (in Udalguri District), Rangapara (in Sonitpur District) and Lakhipathar (in Tinsukia).

The demands of the ANC are inclusion of all Adivasi groups or sub clans into the ST, providing land and land ownership documents to the tea tribe community of Assam, solution of problems of Adivasi armed groups currently under ceasefire through discussion in the political level, rehabilitation and land allotment to the tribals who were displaced due to eviction and clashes in Assam, renaming of tea tribe and ex-tea tribes as 'Adivasis' of Assam and to stop divisive politics over considering tea tribes as separate community. The protesters also demanded proper rehabilitation of more than 1,200 cadres of Adivasi militant groups who laid down their arms in 2012 and agreed for leave talks.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during a meeting with Assamese MP's stated that boundary of Assam will not be compromised for 'Nagalim'.

ADGP stated that intelligence inputs suggest that the ULFA-I is planning to step up extortion drive as their camps in Myanmar are facing a financial crisis. ULFA-I militants target tea gardens for extortion in Tinsukia district in Upper Assam, bordering Arunachal Pradesh which is used as a transit route to their camps in Myanmar.

AJYCP staged protest in all district and sub-divisional headquarters in Assam protesting against the government move to get the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

One individual arrested for extorting from a business man at Bamunimaidan area of Guwahati in Kamrup (metro) District. T he arrested individual was extorting in the name of a newly formed militant outfit, Lion Liberation Front of Assam. However, Police added that the existence of the outfit was not yet confirmed and interrogation of the accused was ongoing.

SSB Director General stated that 'We are raising a battalion at Yuksum in Sikkim, which will be deployed on the border. More BOPs are coming up on the eastern Sikkim border. He also added that SSB plan for entire Indo-Nepal and Indo-Bhutan border. At present there are 635 BOPs.

In view of latest incidents of militant activity by ULFA-I i n Tinsukia, several ethnic organizations of Moran community convened an emergency meeting. n a statement issued to the press, the Moran ethnic bodies expressed their concern at the victimization of people belonging to Moran community in recent times. The ethnic organizations also demanded that the militants stop the killing, extortion and abduction of Moran ethnic group.

An individual identified as Motiur Seikh was arrested at Laharighat of Morigaon District by a joint team of Assam Police and CRPF. A 9mm pistol, 4 rounds of ammunition and four mobile handsets were recovered from him.

Assam CM called upon on Paresh Baruah of ULFA-I to come back to the mainstream to help in the efforts for overall development of the state of Assam.

SFs arrested three militants of NSCN-K from Sonari town in Charaideo District. The militants have been identified as Zakhook Wangchow, Kangkopa Wangchow and Painam Wangnam. Two pistols and six rounds of ammunition were recovered from the arrested militants.

IB has found that some radical organisations, including Kerala-based PFI are making efforts to send messages to countries in West Asia about the ongoing updating of NRC. Sources said the agency had intercepted a few messages sent to West Asian countries linked to a campaign launched by some radical organisations against the ongoing updating of NRC.

India will move the UK under MLAT or prosecution of ULFA-I 'chairman' Mukul Hazarika alias Abhizeet Azom a doctor based at Billingham in UK. According to UMHA the UMHA would route the request through the MEA to execute a non-bailable arrest warrant issued against Mukul Hazarika. Hazarika along with ULFA-I 'chairman' Paresh Barua, were charge sheeted by NIA o n July 15 on charges of waging war against the State. According to the NIA, Hazarika is ULFA-I 'chairman' Abhizeet Asom, who hails from Kaxori gaon in Puranigudam under Samaguri Police Station of Nagaon District.

An OGW of ULFA-I Pradeep Borah and two others were arrested from Changmai gaon in Lahowal in Dibrugarh District. SFs also recovered. Demonetized denominations of INR 1,000 and INR 500. Police suspected that the recovered amount was a part of a cash stash of ULFA-I which could not be converted into legal money.

In recent times, several arrested ULFA-I militants have confessed before the Police that the outfit has been facing a severe funds crisis after demonetization. Faced with financial crunch, militant outfit has been trying to recover from their losses by indulging in mass extortion, targeting the business community and tea planters, especially in Upper Assam districts, taking advantage of their close proximity with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

Assam was the State with second highest abduction rate in India after Delhi, with almost 17 people being kidnapped daily in the state as of 2016. According to NCRB statistics, Assam Police have registered some 6,126 cases of abduction and kidnapping. There were at least 4,824 kidnapping cases which jumped up to 5,831 in 2015.

Over 90% of the victims were women. Out of the total 6,126 cases, in about 5,342 cases the victims were women or minor girls. Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary had informed the state secretariat that between 2001 and May 2016, some 46,461 cases of kidnapping were registered in the state. Though abductions by militant groups have declined, a constant increase has been witnessed in abductions for ransom by criminal gangs, including former militants.

Sources said the actual number might be even higher as not all abductions were reported to the police because of a lack of confidence in the administration. Though the State has registered high numbers of abduction cases, the recovery rate was found to be very low. Last year, the recovery rate of victims of kidnapping cases in the State was recorded at as low as 1.3% only. Records states that a total of 13,413 persons abducted in 2015 were yet to be traced. By the end of last year, the State Police had received reports of 19,541 persons going missing, out of which only 249 people were rescued during 2016.

SFs arrested NDFB-S female militant identified as Mainao Basumatary alias B Mijing. T he militant had undergone training in Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2013 for the 40th batch of NDFB-S and was reportedly over ground for fresh recruitment.

Three people were arrested from Dibrugarh District on charges of extortion and for assaulting a small tea grower. The arrested extortionists have been identified as Jumuruddin Ali, Rajib Urang and Sanjib Urang. Jumuruddin Ali is the president of VDP in Tinsukia District. According to Police, the group was demanding INR 2 million in the name of an insurgent group from the brother of the victim.

The 12 hour statewide strike called by ATASU brought life to a complete standstill in Upper Assam's Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Majuli, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur Districts. However, no untoward incident was reported. ATASU had called the strike to press for its demand for ST status for Moran, Muttock, Koch Rajbongshi, Tai Ahom, Sootea and the tea tribes.

KMSS adviser' Akhil Gogoi walked out of a district jail and vowed to launch a massive movement against the GoI to grant citizenship to the "Hindu Bangladeshis" by passing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.

With only days to go for the publication of the draft NRC bill, Assam s scheduled to publish one part of the draft NRC after midnight of December 31 which will be made available for the people of the state from January 1, 2018. The state has already received 30 companies of CAPF and another 50 companies are being sent to the state for deployment in the run up to publication of the NRC.

Assam DGP stated that operations against militants in the northeast region have hit ULFA-I adversely. He also urged Paresh Barua, the 'chairman' of ULFA-I and its cadres to return to mainstream. He also stated that ULFA-I recruitment was still continuing and stated that Police had information regarding newly recruited militants. He also stated magnitude of recruitment has reduced.

BPCA Assam-Nagaland held a peace and goodwill meeting at Darikial village in Nakachari under Jorhat District. The main aim of the meeting was to deliberate on the news about GoI's proposal of inking a final Naga peace accord and the confusion and fear in the minds of the people.

NRC was published featuring names of 1.9 crore Indian citizens living in Assam. The remaining 1.39 crore cases continue to remain under examination, scrutiny and verification. The part draft NRC was published in the presence of RGI who stated that the final draft in all probabilities would be published within 2018 itself.

Assam CM urged the people not to panic if some of them find their names missing from the first draft. He said no genuine citizens would be excluded from the NRC and there were provisions to submit claims and objections. "The government will extend all support.

DGP said 85 additional companies of paramilitary forces and state police personnel have been deployed. He stated that All district SPs have been asked to monitor the situation. Sensitive NRC seva kendras have been identified and security deployed accordingly."