Insurgency North East: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2013

a day after a man was killed during the blockade by a non-Rabha group protesting the election to the RHAC, officials working closely with the State Election Commission said the panel had no option but to go ahead with the poll this month, reports The Telegraph on November 1. Any U-turn at this juncture could only worsen the situation, they added. The officials admitted that the prevailing situation in the council area was worrying but the commission was not thinking about rescheduling or cancelling the poll. Read less...

Chang Khulei Setshang (CKS), the apex body of the Chang community along with all the frontal organizations and all tribal leaders of Tuensang (District) town have condemned the alleged “abduction” of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) education ‘kilonser’ (minister) Kewongkhum Yimchunger from Tuensang town by some NSCN-Khole-Kitovi (NSCN-KK) cadres. In a joint meeting held November 1 at CKS hall Tuensang to discuss the alleged “abduction” October 29, the house condemned the incident which “destroyed” the peaceful atmosphere of Tuensang. Read less...

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, on November 1, said that the Government would have to keenly scrutinize the talks offer made by the pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) groups before convening a ‘dialogue’ to end the prevailing stalemate, reports The Shillong Times. “The Government needs to examine whether all the pressure groups are willing to have a dialogue,” Sangma said. Read less...

Manipur Home Minister, G. Gaikhangam, on November 1, had rejected the idea of imposing president’s rule in the State, after a series of bomb blasts left 10 people dead in two months, reports The Shillong Times. “It is something absurd and unbecoming to demand president’s rule. The situation does not warrant imposition of Article 356, as the government is tackling the situation,” Gaikhangam said. Read less...

Naga National Council/Federal Government of Nagaland (NNC/FGN), Phom region ‘authority’, on November 1, ‘arrested’ two persons near Local ground in Longleng District for possessing 720 tablets of banned Spasmo Proxyvon (SP) drugs worth INR 36,000 on the black market. The two were identified as K.Ngamtok Phom and his wife I.Khamlong Phom. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered a bomb weighing 3 kilogram from a bus, coming from Gossaigaon of Kokrajhar District, at Tamarhat of Dhubri District on November 1, reports The Telegraph. Read less...

SFs arrested two militants belonging to IK Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS), identified as Nimol Islary and Sankhang Narzary, from Ouguri in Chirang District on November 1, reports The Telegraph. SFs recovered a grenade, a 7.65mm pistol and five live rounds of ammunition from them. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports on November 2 that a total of 115 registered cases, arrest of 76 pro-ILP activists including three under the Meghalaya Preventive Detention Act, and estimated loss of over INR 310 million due to damage to property, has, so far, been the outcome of the two-month long ILP stir, with no hope of a quick end to the impasse. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports on November 5 that as many as 10 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested by the Police in different locations in South Garo Hills and East Jaintia Hills while they were trying to infiltrate into the State. On November 1, during vehicle checking at Siju (South Garo Hills), Police arrested six Bangladeshi nationals, identified as Sopon Sangma (29), Kalon R. Marak (25), Bishu Sangma (24), Romu Marak (20), Dilip Sangma (39) and Neten Sangma (25). Also, on November 3, Police arrested four Bangladeshi nationals, Muhammad Fanik Ahmed, Muhammad Abdul Basik, Muhammad Kabir Ahmed and Muhammad Mustafar Ahmed from Umtyra in East Jaintia Hills District. Read less...

the Supreme Court on November 1 issued notices to the Government of Assam, the State Election Commission and the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) in response to a writ petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council Act, 1995, reports The Assam Tribune. A division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justice Gyan Sudha Misra and Justice Pinaki Ghosh, after hearing the petitioner Umesh Tamuli and others decided to issue notices returnable within three weeks. Read less...

Unidentified persons abducted a businessman, Prasanta Dutta, from Narabari area under Kokrajhar Police Station in Kokrajhar District on November 1, reports The Telegraph. Read less...

a team of Imphal East Police commandos arrested a Progressive faction of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro) cadre, identified as Muhammad Abdul Wahid alias Sanathoi (26) from Khabeisoi near 7 Manipur Rifles (MR) Gate in Imphal East District on November 2. A mobile phone along with SIM card was recovered from him. Read less...

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED), planted near a drain at the crowded Thangal market complex in Imphal West District exploded on November 2, reports The Times of India. There were, however, no reports of any casualty .No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the incident. Read less...

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that all the explosives used in the last five blasts are of similar types, reports The Sangai Express on November 3. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested one person, identified as Atoshe Achumi (38), from Eros Lane in Dimapur District on November 2 afternoon, reports Nagaland Post. SFs recovered a Chinese hand-grenade and eleven live ammunitions of .22 calibre along with a Gypsy without registration number from the arrested Persons. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered a 1.5 kilogram bomb packed in a tiffin box from the bus stand area of Golokganj town of Dhubri District on November 2, reports The Telegraph. Read less...

Sixteen years after the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) signed a ceasefire pact with the Government of India, and after several rounds of peace parleys, the collective leadership of the NSCN-IM now feels that Indian leaders have exhausted their political will to take forward the peace process or bring it to a conclusion, reports The Sangai Express on November 3.A reliable source informed that the NSCN-IM leadership put up some concrete proposals sometime back before New Delhi to bring a solution to the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process. Although the proposals were put up more than a year back, GoI still maintained they have been examining the proposals. Read less...

the Anakarbi Adhikar Suraksha Mancha (AASM), an association of Non-Karbi people, demanded the Government to discuss the issues of non–Karbis in the tripartite talks which will be held on November 6 between State, Central Government and the Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State (JACAS), reports The Sentinel on November 3. Read less...

the Assam Public Works (APW), a non-governmental organisation, had announced its decision to move the Supreme Court challenging a few clauses of the Bodoland Territorial Council Act, reports The Assam Tribune on November 3. ‘President’ of the APW Abhijit Sarma on November 3 said that about a plan to move the apex court by December 20 challenging several clauses of the BTC Act, including clause 4.7.“We also propose to demand exclusion of those villages from BTAD where the population of the Bodos is less than 50 per cent,” said Sarma. Read less...

United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has alleged that the recent series of bomb blasts which targeted civilians, particularly the Yaiskul bomb blast which claimed three lives besides injuring many others were carried out by the Indian military, reports The Sangai Express on November 3. Read less...

a combined team of Imphal East commandos and 40 AR, Canchipur arrested a cadre of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), identified as Konjengbam Ibungo alias Bocha alias Indrasham alias KK Nganba alias Khomba (30) while conducting a search operation at Isheikha on November 3. Read less...

On November 3, the rebel groups signed an 11-point draft framework agreement during a four-day Laiza peace conference in Kachin State to declare a countrywide ceasefire, calling for a political talks with the Government and discussed establishing a federal union system in Myanmar. But the NSCN-K, on November 5 said it would never be part of such peace deal, which would sell out Nagas’ right to sovereignty. “We will never be part of the group as we are for sovereignty,” said a senior kilonser (minister) of the outfit, Wangtin Naga. He said other ethnic rebel groups were now seeking solution within the ambit of the constitution of Myanmar, which could never be accepted by the NSCN-K. The outfit was not seeking a solution within a federal system but full sovereignty for the Nagas of Myanmar and India, he added. The Naga outfit had signed a ceasefire with Myanmar on April 9, 2012, but talks have not been started. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested four Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants, identified as Prodinstone D. Marak, (22), Rongrak M. Sangma (21), Bhimsingh R. Marak (21) and Donald R. Marak, (24), from 12 mile area under Tura Police Station in West Garo Hills District on November 3, reports The Telegraph. SFs recovered an AK-47 rifle with 26 rounds of live ammunition, a carbine with three magazines, a 9mm pistol with two magazines, a 7.65 pistol with three rounds of 7.65mm ammunition, three Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) s and other incriminating materials from the militants. Read less...

Seven people were killed and 10 others seriously injured when suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants fired on a group of people at Gendapara village under Agia Police Station in Goalpara District on November 3, reports Zee News. The killed civilians were identified as Bholanath Rabha, Amarendra Rabha, Jayanta Rabha, Puran Rabha, Kalpanath Rabha and Lulu Rabha, who died on the spot. Another person reportedly succumbed to injuries on November 4 (today). Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that a combined team of Thoubal commandos and 40 Assam Rifles (AR) personnel conducted a search operation at Ngariyan Hill in Thoubal District on November 3 and arrested one ‘Sergeant Major’ of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), identified as Laishram Manisana Singh and recovered one 7.65 mm Automatic pistol loaded with three live rounds from him. Read less...

the Special Court, which was set up by the State Government to try Inner Line Permit (ILP) agitation-related arson cases, has issued a directive asking the concerned department to issue notices to all the pro-ILP groups to respond to various charges, reports The Shillong Times on November 4. An official source said that notices will be served to all the pro-ILP groups shortly for the loss of property, both public and private, during their agitations demanding implementation of ILP. The State Government in its petition filed on October 15 before the special court headed by First Class Judicial Magistrate R Rymbai mentioned that there was a loss of over INR 31 crore during the agitation of pro-ILP groups. Read less...

The State Government has stepped up vigilance and tightened security in the wake of a series of bomb blasts in Imphal during last week, reports The Times of India on November 3. Read less...

A Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militant, identified as Sangthil Areng (23), was arrested with the help of the people of Puthimari, under Mancachar Police Station in Dhubri District on November 4, reports The Telegraph. Areng allegedly came to meet businessmen to collect extortion money for which the GNLA had sent letters a few days ago, a police source said. Read less...

asserting that Government of Manipur (GoM) seeks to project a picture of social harmony through Sangai Festival in contrast to the reality of “social divide” on communal line in Manipur, the United Naga Council (UNC), on November 4, has reminded Naga people of Manipur to stay away from the State sponsored Sangai Festival and other such programmes. In continuation of the public statements and directives of July 1, 2010 Naga People’s Declaration, the UNC reiterated that no frontal organisations, tribe organisations, range and village level organisations and individuals belonging to the Nagas should associate with or accord recognition to the unmandated Manipur District Councils (MDCs) who defied the Naga people’s call not to participate in the imposed Autonomous District Council (ADC) election of 2010, which has been declared null and void. Read less...

Benedict Areng, ‘president’ of the Kamrup-Goalpara District committee of the Garo National Council (GNC) and a convenor of the Garo-Ajanajati Sanmilita Sangram Samiti (GASSS) condemned the Gendamari incident and made an appeal to all concerned not to link the incident with the ongoing agitation of the Garo and non-Rabha people of the RHAC areas, reports The Assam Tribune. Read less...

Chief Minister (CM), Tarun Gogoi on November 4 asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to beef up security measures and called for deployment of Army in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas, reports The Sentinel. CM, Tarun Gogoi also asked four State Ministers to rush to Gendamari area of the RHAC following yesterday’s incident of gunning down of seven villagers by suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants. Read less...

in an emergency meeting held at the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), decision was taken to use the Border Security Force (BSF), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) against the militant organisation United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA), reports The Sentinel. Joint Secretary, Union Home Ministry, Sambhu Singh, ruled out the possibility of the involvement of the Assam based militant outfits in the incident; Sambhu Singh told reporters that Meghalaya based militant outfit was behind the incident, “Our reports indicate that UALA militant might have carried out the attack,” “In the meeting, it was decided to intensify the operation by the Central security agencies against all militant organisations,” said a top government official who was present in the meeting. The UALA is a new faction formed after split with the parent Breakaway faction of Achik National volunteer Council (ANVC–B) group. Read less...

the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU) has blamed the State Government for the killing incident in Goalpara, reports The Assam Tribune. The ARSU also doubts the sincerity of the State Government in holding the three phase RHAC elections scheduled for November 13, 16 and 25. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that a sit in protest was staged on November 4 at Major Khul (Imphal West District) to denounce the series of blasts that occurred in the State since October 18. Read less...

the State Government has asked the Army to launch counter–insurgency operation in Goalpara District, reports The Sentinel. Authorities have clamped night curfew along the Assam-Meghalaya border in the District and rushed additional Security Forces there, adds The Telegraph. Curfew will be in force from 7pm to 6am in a 2 kilometer radius along the 100 kilometer inter-state border in Goalpara District. These steps are taken following November 3 incident of gunning down of seven villagers by suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants. Read less...

The Telegraph reports that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), led by S.S. Khaplang, will not be part of the ongoing peace process between the Myanmar Government and the ethnic rebel groups. Altogether 17 ethnic rebel groups are holding talks with the representatives of Myanmar Government in the two-day meeting at Myitgyina, the capital of Kachin State that began on November 4. Read less...

a day after GNLA militants gunned down five police personnel, the State Police have asserted that operational commanders are looking at fresh strategies to tackle militants. Additional Director General of Police (DGP), SK Jain, said that the Police are collecting details of the incident that led to the death of five police personnel.Also, Governor KK Paul, on November 5, condemned the brutal killing of five Police personnel in South Garo Hills. Home Minister Roshan Warjri, while mourning the loss of lives of the men in uniform, has asserted that the Government will deal with this incident in the strongest measure. Read less...

the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) on October 5 alleged that the militants were backed by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Pakistani agents, reports Times of India. The AATS, an umbrella organisation of Assam's tribal communities, claimed that foreign elements are on a mission to create 'unrest' in the state by creating tension among various ethnic groups for their vested interests.Earlier, State Governor, JB Patnaik on November 6 said the elections to the RHAC will be held as per schedule and the government will ensure its smooth conduct, reports The Assam Tribune. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Patnaik said, ‘The government will ensure that the elections are held. If needed, additional forces will be sent.’Further, a team of four State Ministers, that has been assigned the job of looking after the RHAC matters, visited Goalpara and the RHAC areas on November 5, even as the AATS called for Army operations against the militant outfit GNLA and stern action against all the militant groups, reports The Assam Tribune. The team of Ministers included Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nilamani Sen Deka, Rajiv Lochan Pegu and Rockybul Hussain. AATS ‘general secretary’ Aditya Khakhlary also alleged involvement of the ISI of Pakistan in the RHAC violence, claiming that at its instance the GNLA has been trying to unleash a reign of terror in the Autonomous Council areas. Read less...

the anti-foreigner movement in the State is set to get bigger with pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) groups announcing State-wide ‘road-blockade’ for three nights from November 5 (today) despite requests from several quarters to the agitating groups as well as Government to settle the issue through negotiation, reports The Shillong Times. The road blockade would be effective in all the eleven Districts of the State from 8 pm to 5 am, informed Khasi Students Union (KSU) president Daniel Khyriem in a statement issued on November 3. Read less...

The Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra (INPT), a political party in Tripura on November 5 demanded uniform empowerment of all Autonomous District Councils (ADC) in the North Eastern Region for all-round development of tribals, reports The Telegraph. INPT would submit a memorandum comprising a five point charter of demands including uniform empowerment of the tribal councils, to the Prime Minister and Union home minister in the last week of this month. Read less...

the Indigenous People's Forum (IPF), an organization of non-Dimasa tribal communities of Dima Hasao district which called a 48-hour bandh since 5 am on Monday, has brought down the strike duration to 24 hours, reports Times of India. A spokesperson of IPF in Haflong, the headquarters of Dima Hasao, said in response to an appeal of the administration and considering the inconvenience caused to common people, the duration of the strike was brought down. Now, the bandh will come to an end at 5 am on November 5, instead of November 6, as announced earlier. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that Garo Hills Police suffered one of its biggest casualties in its fight against militancy with five State security personnel killed in an ambush laid by a heavily armed group of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in remote South Garo Hills Districts in the morning of October 5. Armed GNLA militants believed to number over two dozen ambushed a Police gypsy with five occupants that was proceeding from Baghmara to Tura in West Garo Hills. Police informed that the militants lobbed two grenades from atop a small hillock onto the vehicle when one of the grenades reportedly exploded, damaging the vehicle and bringing it to a halt while militants perched on higher ground opened up in a hail of fire on the five occupants of the vehicle. The militants took away three AK rifles and a carbine machine gun from the slain Police personnel along with a sizeable number of ammunition. Three of the deceased belonged to 3rd MLP Battalion and have been identified as Havildar Dondiram Marak, Constables Bipul Rabha and Marshanstar Nongdhar. Another of the deceased, identified as Constable Rakki Ch Sangma belonged to South Garo Hills District Executive Force (DEF) while the driver of the vehicle who was also killed in the ambush was Driver Lekichyne Ryngklem of the Fire and Emergency Services wing.The attack comes a week after the GNLA militant ‘chief’ Sohan D Shira had threatened retaliation in a big way for the Police raid on his private residence at Chachatgre village, 3 kilometres from Williamnagar town, on October 27. That operation yielded INR 334,000 Indian currency, 63,000 Bangladeshi taka along with a powerful satellite phone together with IED bombs, claymore mine boxes and more than three dozen explosive detonators. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that the State Police have constituted an internal inquiry into the killing of five Policemen by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in South Garo Hills on November 5. Informing this on November 7, Director General of Police (DGP) PJP Hananman said the inquiry would be conducted by Heimonlang Nongpluh, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range). Read less...

Independent faction of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA-I), ‘ sergeant’ Rameswar Koul alias Karan Asom surrendered before Dibrugarh District civil and police administration on November 6, reports The Sentinel. The surrendered militant deposited one AK –81 assault rifle, two magazines and 59 rounds of live cartridges during the surrender ceremony. Read less...

Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) militants shot dead an employee of Public Works Division (PWD), Kangbura Phangcho, at Merabhati locality near Chokihola of Bokajan in Karbi Anglong on November 6, reports Nagaland Post. Read less...

Police arrested two Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) cadres, identified as Kuiluanang Panmei (23) and Ganglanang Gangmei (36) from a house at Tharon Thangmeiband in Imphal West District on November 6, reports The Sangai Express. Read less...

suspected GNLA militants, on November 6, abducted a coal merchant, identified as one Gopal Sharma from Rongjeng area of East Garo Hill, reportsThe Shillong Times. Police suspect that the trader might have been abducted for ransom. Read less...

the ‘president’ of the All Rabha Students’ Union (ARSU), Tonkeswar Rabha, demanded deployment of the Army along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary in the run-up to the polls, reports The Telegraph on November 7. The RHAC elections will held in three phases on November 13, 16 and 25. Read less...

The Hindu reports that one migrant worker from Punjab was killed and six others were injured in a twin bomb blast in the night of November 6 at Pallel Lamkhai in Thoubal District. Sources said that suspected militants activated two powerful bombs around 10.40 pm near the shacks where migrant workers engaged in the construction of a private house were sleeping. Lalit Kumar from Ambala died on the spot and six other labourers, all from Silchar in Assam, sustained serious injuries. Police rushed to the spot late in night. However no arrest has been made. Police have beefed up security measures to avoid further such attacks. The blasts occur two months after one such shack of migrant workers was attacked killing 9 and injuring 11 others. Read less...

the non-Rabha organisations have softened its stand on continuation of their demands for exclusion of 91 villages from the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) areas before the ensuing polls, reports The Assam Tribune. The above move has in fact given tacit approval to the initiatives taken by the State Government in this regard for settling the issue following a meeting between the Minister for Cooperation and Border Area Development, Siddique Ahmed and Non-Rabha Coordination Committee (NRCC), Garo National Council (GNC) and Garo National Union (GNU) held at the District Commissioner (DC)'s office conference hall on November 6. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports on November 7 that Garo Hills Police have identified the two main masterminds of the attack on a Police party killing five Police personnel at Kolapara in South Garo Hills Districts as the garo national liberation Army (GNLA) new ‘action commander’, identified as T Sangma alias Hebil who had made a daring escape from the Tura Jail on the night of August 17 and the Chokpot ‘area commander’ identified as one Jangjang. Both of them led the ambush party in the morning of November 5 in which five police personnel were killed in indiscriminate firing while on their way from Baghmara to Tura to bring back an under-trial prisoner (UTP) for court hearings. “Both Hebil and Jangjang were present at the encounter site after they were dispatched from the GNLA camps with a large force of around 25-30 armed cadres,” said highly placed Police sources from Garo Hills. Read less...

The Times of India reports that Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has stressed the need to understand the genesis and actual position that Nagas are facing today. Addressing a consultative meeting on Article 371 (A) at Kohima on November 6, Rio said the 16-point agreement was the outcome of Naga People's Convention (NPC), but when the agreement is with the Central Government, such a consultative meet has become necessary. Stating that the Centre was trying to put pressure to take away the rights of the Nagas, Rio appealed to the people of Nagaland to remain united. Read less...

BSF personnel deployed on the Indo-Bangla border in South Garo Hills District seized weapons and communication equipment that was being ferried across from the neighbouring country destined for a Garo militant outfit in the night of November 7. The items seized included a 9 mm carbine machine gun with two magazines and six live ammunition, a top of the line Italian made 7.65 Petro Barreta pistol and a Chinese 7.65 mm pistol along with seven live rounds and a wireless set with signal booster. Some of the other items recovered were four pistol magazines, two mobile handsets, three high quality imported sports boots used in jungle terrain and ten numbers of radio set water proof items. Read less...

Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pynshngaiñ N Syiem, on November 7, urged the State Government to initiate dialogue with the 13 pro-ILP pressure groups saying “The adamant attitude of Government (on holding talks with the agitating groups) is going to have serious ramifications.” “I am afraid that many youths would be compelled to join the underground outfit since Government is not ready to listen to their grievances,” Syiem said. The KHADC CEM’s concern assumes significance in view of the recent statement of the Khasi Students Union’s (KSU) Mawlai Circle where it had stated that the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) publicity secretary had offered the NGO leaders to join the outfit. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested two Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) cadres, identified as Arun Kumar Tonjam alias Amudon (17) and Naocha Singh Maibam alias Lanchenba (21) from T Minou area of Chandel District. Read less...

SFs arrested two militants of Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT), identified as Tongluru Tisso and Jorjam Railsom Rongfar, from Hamren and Diphu areas in Karbi Anglong District on November 7, reports Times of India. SFs recovered a .22 pistol and three rounds of live ammunition from the duo. The arrested militants were. Police said the duo were close aides of KPLT ‘chairman’. Read less...

the Breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteer’s Council (ANVC-B), on November 7, has made serious allegations about the presence of a ‘mole’ in the State Police who informed the GNLA militants about the movement of the five police personnel, who were killed in the ambush. In a statement, ANVC-B alleged that that the movement of Police escorts was specifically informed to the GNLA. The ANVC-B said that the attack has given a glimpse of accessibility of GNLA into Police activities, which is not going to prove safe in the long run. Read less...

the joint operation launched by Assam and Meghalaya Police, along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Army, against two Garo militant outfits, Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and the United A'chik Liberation Army (UALA), are also targeting the Independent faction of United liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I), reports Times of India on November 8.Further, according to reports shared by the Meghalaya Police with their Assam Counterpart during the high level meeting held in Guwahati on November 6 identified the names of three United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) militants, AG Momin, Rakman Momin and Nishan Sangma, responsible for Goalpara killings on November 3, reports The Shillong times. The mastermind of the attack is UALA ‘chairman’ Norrok X Momin, alias Singbirth Marak. “Parts of Goalpara district are traditionally a stronghold of UALA and there are indications that someone is using UALA as a mercenary as the outfit does not have any ideology,” the Meghalaya Director-General of Police (DGP), PJP Hanaman said. Read less...

the road blockade called for three nights called pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) groups passed off peacefully on November 7 without any untoward incidents. The Government is yet to invite the agitating groups for dialogue though the latter had expressed their willingness to talk. Read less...

The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has strongly protested the fresh demand raised by the Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) for a new state based on areas under the Autonomous District Council (ADC) and on land allotment within ADC areas, describing the demands as “fissiparous and divisive”, reports The Telegraph on November 8. IPFT ‘president’, Narendra Debbarma announced a programme of to press for a separate state based on ADC areas which encompass 68.10 per cent of the state’s total geographical territory. “We will undertake a relay fast from November 11 to 14 to press for the demand for a separate State. We will continue the agitation until our demand is met,” said Narendra Debbarma. He termed the ruling CPM as “anti-indigenous people” and opposed the state government’s scheme of allotting land and constructing houses for non-indigenous people within the ADC area. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that Police bomb experts safely retrieved a hand grenade from an Imphal-Guwahati passenger carrier from North AOC in Imphal East District morning of November 7. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that Security has been tightened along the unfenced 64-km-long border near the tri-junction of Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh in the State’s Mamit District ahead of the November 25 Assembly polls, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ashwani Kumar said on November 7. He said that patrolling by Central para-military force personnel has been intensified in the area as the Bangladesh and Tripura sides were frequently used by North East insurgents for crimes like abductions and extortion. As many as 94 polling stations, especially those on the borders, have been identified as critical and special watch and measures have been ordered. There are a total 1,126 polling stations in Mizoram. Read less...

the State Police claimed that it had got some leads into the attack in South Garo Hills District while however refusing to divulge further saying it would hamper the investigation. Read less...

The Times of India reports that a powerful bomb exploded in the heart of Manipur capital complex at Thangmeiband area in Imphal West District on November 7 but no casualty was reported, Police said. Read less...

The Times of India reports that in the wake of the gunning down of seven Rabhas in Assam on November 3 and the subsequent killing of five policemen in Meghalaya on November 5 by Garo militants, vigil has been stepped up along the porous India-Bangladesh border in the Garo Hills to preempt cross-border movement of the militants. "While the BSF has tightened vigil along the Indo-Bangla border to nab the militants, who might try to sneak into the other side, Police and paramilitary forces have launched a massive search operation to nab the culprits," a senior Police official said. Read less...

Meghalaya Police is said to have had intelligence reports about a possible attack by GNLA militants just days before the carnage in which five policemen were killed, but drew a blank when it came to the site that was going to be targeted, report The Shillong Times on November 9. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports that Dimapur Police, on November 8, arrested five persons on charges of abduction and also rescued a victim abducted by the same persons from Seithikiema Basa in Dimapur District. In a press statement, Dimapur Police identified the five accused as Roland Poumai alias Romeo; Salunu Poumai, Paruatomba; Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) ‘assistant officer’ Bavie Poumai, Paruatomba, Dahar Poumai (25) and Mariam alias Sentisenla Poumai (30). The police rescued one abducted person who was kept in captivity for one week by the accused. One 9mm pistol (country made); five 9mm live rounds; five mobile handsets; three iron chains; two locks; one car and camouflage dress (two shirts and one long pant) were seized from the possession of the abductors, said the Police. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports that Dimapur Police, on November 8, arrested five persons on charges of abduction and also rescued a victim abducted by the same persons from Seithikiema Basa in Dimapur District. In a press statement, Dimapur Police identified the five accused as Roland Poumai alias Romeo; Salunu Poumai, Paruatomba; Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) ‘assistant officer’ Bavie Poumai, Paruatomba, Dahar Poumai (25) and Mariam alias Sentisenla Poumai (30). The police rescued one abducted person who was kept in captivity for one week by the accused. One 9mm pistol (country made); five 9mm live rounds; five mobile handsets; three iron chains; two locks; one car and camouflage dress (two shirts and one long pant) were seized from the possession of the abductors, said the Police.The arrest and the rescue followed after a complaint lodged by the victim’s relative at Diphupar police station on November 1, 2013. The family had been receiving ransom calls or INR.400000 for his safe release, said the Police. Read less...

Police on November 8 rescued a Bank manager, Mujibur Rahman (28), and arrested eight people, including a woman in this connection from Lumpi in Karbi Anglong District, reports Times of India. Rahman was abducted on November 2 from Boko in Kamrup District. The abductors were demanding a ransom of INR 10 million for Rahman's safe release. The abduction was carried out mainly by Priyotoma Basumatary, and her husband Dayal Das, who is a Ranjan Daimary faction of NDFB (NDFB-RD) militant. The other arrested persons were identified as Bijoy Chandra Boro, Avinash Das, Dambaru Bhattarai, Niranjan Borkotaki, Prasanta Rabha and Monoranjan Rabha. Police recovered four hand grenades from them. Read less...

Principal of a private school, abducted by suspected Kuki militants allegedly on ransom demand, was released in the night of November 8, an official source said on November 9, according to Nagaland Post. Principal Madan Kumar Limbu of Rose English High School, Kanglatombi of Senapati District was abducted by the suspected militant November 5. After taking principal hostage, the abductors allegedly demanded INR 50,000 from the school authority for his safe release. A highly reliable source said the after negotiations by school authority, the ransom was reduced to INR 40,000 for his safe release. However, whether the amount has been paid or not could not be confirmed from the source. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from the railway track at a spot between the Dudhnoi and the Krishnai railway stations in Goalpara District on November 8, reports The Assam Tribune. Read less...

SFs arrested two IK Songbijit of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) militants, identified as Daimalu Daimary (25) and Simang Basumatary (20), from Chapaguri and Amguri area in Chirang District, reports The Sentinel. SFs recovered one .9 mm pistol, two round bullet and one magazine had been recovered from them. Read less...

the All India Garo Union, Shillong (East Khasi Hills) region, has denied any nexus with United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) militants, reports The Shillong Times on November 9. In a statement, the All India Garo Union said that the Union does not have any links with any of the anti social elements. “The A.I.G.U is not a political group but only works as a social group for the peace and harmony of the state and have not given any statement against the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council elections”, the Union said. It also condemned the killing of seven innocent villagers in Goalpara (Assam) during the festival of Diwali. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that suspected Breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC-B) militants, who entered from the porous Bangladesh border, shot dead two Border Security Force (BSF) constables and snatched away their INSAS rifles at around 10.20 am on November 8 near Kaithakona outpost in South West Garo Hills District. The slain BSF constables have been identified as Sushish Biswas and Papu Kumar Yadav. The fresh killing comes at a time when security had already been beefed up after the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants killed five policemen in the same district on November 5. A BSF official said that inputs suggest that it was the ANVC-B militants who were involved in the attack. However, the ANVC-B was quick to react denying its role in the killing of BSF personnel while asserting that GNLA militants were involved in the crime. According to the ANVC-B, the GNLA is not alone but is being backed by foreign elements including ULFA. Read less...

a militant of the IK Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) was killed in an encounter with Security Forces (SFs) at Baligonga area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur District on November 9, reports Times of India. SFs recovered a pistol, a hand grenade and some live ammunition from the slain militant. Read less...

according to the ‘Publicity Secretary’ B Naijab of Ranjan Daimary faction of NDFB (NDFB-RD), NDFB-RD has never been involving in any kind of hateful honey traps since October 3, 1986 as claimed by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anand Prakash Tiwari, reports The Sentinel on November 10. Naijab further said there was no NDFB member by the named Doyal Basumatary alias Doyal Das who married one Priotoma Basumatary. “It’s a smooth policy of envious Assam Police in order to generate various obstructions in between NDFB [NDFB-RD] and the Government of India and blame NDFB”, Naijab said adding that it has no involvement in anti–social activities violating the ground rules as the formal suspension of operation agreement is going to be signed shortly. Read less...

Chief Minister (CM), Tarun Gogoi said he suspects possible links between the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) and Garo militant outfit UALA, which killed seven Rabha villagers near the Assam-Meghalaya border in Goalpara District on November 3, reports Times of India. CM, Gogoi said on November 9, "I can't say we have established it (the HuJI-UALA link) as we do not have evidence, but I am not ruling it out." The Shillong Times adds, CM, Tarun Gogoi saying, “Several insurgent groups have become active along the inter-state boundary. The security forces have ascertained that the killing of seven persons in Gendabari village in Goalpara last week was the handiwork of the UALA. The GNLA has also stepped up its activities on the Meghalaya side close to our districts,” Gogoi said. “It is a matter of concern for us particularly because the area is close to the Bangladesh border,” the CM said. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports that Security Forces (SFs), arrested one person, identified as W Tachangkhum Yimchunger (28) with one .22 mm pistol, two .22 live rounds and one magazine in an operation at Blue Hill area, Dimapur District on November 9. According to special branch Dimapur, during preliminary interrogation, the accused “voluntarily” stated that he has procured the seized arms and ammunition from Tuensang (District) at INR 15, 000 and was to sell it at INR 20,000 to one unidentified non-local. The arrested accused is in Police custody and investigation in on. Read less...

New Delhi has said that Myanmar is not at all interested to take action against the northeastern militants based in that country, reports The Sangai Express on November 10. “We have approached them several times but we did not get any strong response from Myanmar,” said Joint Secretary in the Union Homer Ministry (UHM) Shambhu Singh in Delhi. The statement is first such open declaration made by New Delhi about the present status of any possible military operation against northeast-based militants in the neighbouring country.Several northeastern militant organizations, including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the Songbhijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB–S), the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and several Manipur–based militant organisations have their camps in the dense jungle of the Kachin region in northern Myanmar. Read less...

NSCN-IM accorded warm welcome to ‘Captain’ identified as Pitovi Aye ‘home comer’ from NSCN-Khole-Kitovi (NSCN-KK) who recently joined into “main stream” under the collective leadership of Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, reports Nagaland Post on November 9. According to NSCN-IM, Pitovi has asserted that NSCN-I-M was the “only true platform for the cause of the Nagas as a whole.” Read less...

NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K) has warned “other Naga political groups to be cautious while expressing political words” (NSCN-K) especially the “Isak-Muivah group” whom it accused of “anti-Naga attitudes and actions” to “annihilate other Naga political groups”, reports Nagaland Post on November 10. It alleged that NSCN-IM signed the cease fire in 1997 with the Government of India to destroy NSCN-K. It also said that since NSCN-IM was no longer fighting for Naga sovereignty, it has no right to collect ‘taxes’ from Naga country and “ACAUT should not be afraid of half surrendered group”.Nagaland Post reports that ACAUT, on November 9, said the October 31 “public awareness rally” was an outcome of the felt need to gauge public mood on the issue of “unabated taxation and illegal collections” levied by the Naga Political Groups (NPGs) and Government agencies/departments respectively. In a statement, ACAUT media cell said that the Naga people were “tired of the present state of affairs” and pointed out that verdict for change was “crystal clear.” Given the circumstances, ACAUT said it has taken to task all the three entities responsible for the welfare and security of the Naga people- NPGs, the Government of India and the State Government. Read less...

SFs arrested a National Santhal Liberation Army (NSLA) militant, identified as Jala Murmu, from Saraibil area of Gossaigaon sub–division in Kokrajhar District on November 9, reports The Sentinel. The NSLA cadre was nabbed along with one 7.65 mm pistol, four live rounds of bullets, one magazine and two mobile handsets. Read less...

SFs arrested a youth, identified as Mukta Baro with a grenade at Khairabari of Udalduri District on November 9 evening, reports The Telegraph. The youth was trying to threaten the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC)’s Executive Member (EM) in charge of food and civil supplies Lwmsrao Daimary in his residence. Read less...

some persons tried to set ablaze the office of the Rabha museum at Bhalukdubi in Goalpara District on November 9, reports The Sentinel. The office was partially damaged the office and the fire was doused with the help of local people. Read less...

strongly condemning series of IED bomb blasts that had rocked public places in Manipur leaving innocent people killed or injured, Naga Women’s Union (NWU) has said such inhumane act was a gross Human Rights violation, reports Nagaland Post on November 10. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that over one thousand people participated in the ‘political awareness’ programme organised by Makuilongdi, Zeliangrong Region, Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) at Tamei headquarters, Tamenglong District on November 9. At the end of the event, four declarations were issued which include ‘to continue supporting the Indo-Naga peace talk; not to extend co-operation nor encourage any factions or factionalism; appreciation to the ‘Government of the People's Republic of Nagalim/NSCN’ (GPRN/NSCN), for the recognition of all the regions of Zeliangrong and; to fully support the Makuilongdi Zeliangrong Region and the ‘Naga Government.’ Read less...

unknown persons on November 9 set ablaze to Husdoba panchayat (local level self-governing body) office under Lakhipur Police Station in Goalpara District, reports The Telegraph. Read less...

a day after Thoubal Police claimed to have succeeded in arresting an accused in the Pallel (Chandel District) blast incident another accused identified as ‘lance corporal’ of Progressive faction of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro), Angrung DS alias Arun Maring alias Khununglakpa was arrested by Thoubal Police from Kuraopokpi on November 11. According to A Ghanashyam Sharma, Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Kakching (Thoubal District), Angrung was carrying three IEDs, similar to the ones seized from the another accused, Modarshim who was arrested on November 10, and ten detonators covered in a blue carbon paper inside a plastic carry bag. Besides, a mobile handset with SIM card was seized from his possession, the SDPO said. The arrested man is reported to have disclosed that the blast on November 6 was carried out with his accomplices identified as ‘lance corporals’, Sharat Singh and Biky, who got training under the instruction of Thoudam Jiten Singh, a ‘Captain’ of PREPAK-Pro with an intention to kill and drive out non-Manipuris from Pallel area. Read less...

as the stalemate over the Inner Line Permit (ILP) issue continues, the pro-ILP groups have , on November 10, declared fresh agitation with night road blockades from 8 pm to 5 am on November 12 and 15. Read less...

maintaining that PREPAK-Pro has nothing with the Pallel bomb blast which claimed a civilian and injured some others, the outfit remarked that what the Thoubal commandos claimed through media about the blast was nothing but exposure of State excesses, reports The Sangai Express on November 11. Read less...

Police recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from Dudhnoi in Goalpara District on November 10, reports The Telegraph. Read less...

saying that it has received information about some people collecting money from the public in their name, the CorCom (six valley based militant groups) has categorically stated that the six constituent parties have never sought or collected donation in the name of CorCom, reports The Sangai Express on November 11. Those people reportedly seeking or collecting money in the name of CorCom are all impostors and they have no relation with the CorCom. Read less...

SFs were warned about the game plan of militant outfit United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) to target Rabha people to create disturbances in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area before the elections to the Council five days prior to the November 3 incident, reports Read less...

The Assam Tribune on November 10. Security agencies received an input that members of the UALA had hatched a plan to kill a few Rabha persons to create disturbances in the area. The input also stated that the UALA would target Rabha people in the Goalpara East Assembly constituency area. According to the input, the plan was to target a few Rabha people so that the people belonging to the Rabha community can be instigated to retaliate to result in disturbances in the area which will lead to the cancellation of RHAC elections. Sources also revealed that an office bearer of the Assam unit of the Garo National Council (GNC) was involved in instigating the UALA to indulge in the killings of innocent Rabha people. UALA militants on November 3 shot dead seven civilians (mostly Rabha tribals) in Goalpara District. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that one progressive faction of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro) cadre, identified as Modarsim DS alias Naphal reportedly involved in the Pallel (Chandel District) improvised explosive device (IED) blast of November 6 has been arrested by Thoubal commandos during a cordon and search operation at langol Khunou on November 10. Modarsim disclosed that he collected four IEDs from Khudei Khullen and brought them to his house about two months back under the command of his younger brother Angrung DS and Thoudam Jiten. The IEDs were meant for targeting non-locals in Pallel area as a part of CorCom’s attacks on non-locals, said Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Yairipok, K Meghachandra. About one back, three IEDs were taken away by his brother Angrung DS and they were exploded at Pallel on November 6. Apart from arresting Modarsim DS alias Naphal, Police have seized an IED weighing about four kilograms from the house of one Morungoham on the disclosure of Modarsim, informed the SDPO. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports on November 11 that Contrary to the BSF’s assessment that suspected ANVC-B cadres were behind the attack which resulted in the killing of two of the border guards’, the ANVC-B on November 10, claimed that the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) perpetrated the violent act in retaliation to the seizure of the latter’s weapons by the BSF recently. According to ANVC-B, the GNLA cadres who attacked the BSF men on November 8 had a plan to drop the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres to receive the arms consignment which was seized by the BSF a day before.”The ULFA cadres had helped GNLA in the South Garo Hills ambush which resulted in the death of five policemen,” ANVC-B publicity secretary Doang D Shira said in a statement. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has assured its counterpart Border Security Force (BSF) of full cooperation in arresting the militants involved in the killing to its two guards on November 8 by suspected breakaway faction of Achik national Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) militants. The assurance came from BGB during a sector-level meeting which was held at Bagli (South West Khasi Hills District) international border on November 10. The meeting decided to maintain a better co-ordination between the two forces while acting against militants. BSF and BGB are also conducting joint patrolling along the priority patches of the 443 Km Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya sector. Read less...

Unidentified gunmen shot dead a former cadre of disbanded Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), Moniram Narzary (42), near the R N Dey Cinema Hall in Kokrajhar town in Kokrajhar District on November 10, reports The Assam Tribune. Read less...

Unidentified militants set ablaze a school and partially burnt down another in Goalpara District on November 10, in the run-up to the three-phase Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) elections from November 13, reports The Telegraph. Sources said unlike in previous days’ incidents in which schools were being torched, these schools were not being used as polling centres in Goalpara District. Read less...

Workers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) dug out as many as 386 empty cases and two live cartridges of .303 guns of the Bangladesh Liberation War from the field in the Srimanthapur area in Seepahijala District along the Tripura-Bangladesh border on November 10, reports Times of India. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have taken custody of the cartridges. Read less...

Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura’s (IPFT), a tribal political party in Tripura, on November 11 began a 72–hour hunger strike demanding a separate State following the Central Government decision to create Telangana, reports The Sentinel.“After the 72–hour hunger strike, our leaders and members will go to New Delhi to launch an indefinite hunger strike there, starting on December 10,” Budhu Debbarma, ‘vice president’ of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura’s (IPFT), told reporters. Debbarma said the party wants the central government to create a separate state out of Tripura by upgrading the Tripura Tribal Autonomous District Council (TTADC). Read less...

Minister, Siddique Ahmed , in this regard, said, “The Chief Minister will be meeting non-Rabha groups very soon once he gathers all details from the welfare of plain tribes and backward classes and revenue departments on the issue. I met the Chief Minister on November 7 and also today on the issue." Ahmed also said the welfare of plains tribes department has already excluded 10 villages having 100 per cent non-Rabha population and 22 villages with over 50 per cent non-Rabha population in Goalpara District.“The revenue department now has to issue the notification for exclusion,” Ahmed said. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports on November 12 that two AK 56 Assault Rifles and huge quantity of ammunition were recovered by 21 Assam Rifles (AR) from a safe-house in South Point (west) of Zunheboto (District) town. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports that Security in Manipur has been alerted to keep a vigil on intrusion of Rohingya Muslims affected by recent communal unrest in Myanmar. Around 4200 Rohingya Muslims affected by the recent communal unrest in Myanmar have allegedly intruded to India illegally through Bangladesh, at least 400 of them have entered into Manipur, sources said. Police and its agencies have been put on alert to keep vigilance as their presence might cause law and order problems in the state as many civil organizations are currently campaigning against illegal migrants in connection with their demands for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State, a highly placed source said November 11.The report of entering of illegal migrants into the state was amidst the ongoing campaign against illegal migrants staying in the state by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), a joint body of several hills and valley based civil organizations demanding introduction of ILP in the state. As part of its ongoing campaign, JCILPS, on November 11, submitted a memorandum to the Manipur Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) urging the later to exclude non-Manipuris from the electoral roll of Manipur and not to allow inclusion of new entry of non-Manipuris to the electoral roll. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested four persons, identified as Raju Timung (26), Rakesh Terang (25), Jensing Hansey (20) and Rakesh Terang (27) from a hideout under Dillai Police Station in Karbi Anglong District on November 11, reports Nagaland Post. SFs recovered one foreign made pistol was recovered from their possession. Police has accused the arrested with kidnapping of Vipin Rai a teacher of Dillai High School on October 23. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Goalpara district on November 11, which was later defused by the Army’s bomb experts, reports The Shillong Times. Read less...

the frequent detection of crude IEDs in the RHAC area in the last couple of days has forced the SFs to believe that these explosives were prepared locally, reports Times of India on November 12. Besides sealing the possible routes of ultras in the area, security forces have launched a search operation to trace and flush out miscreants who are fuelling disturbances in the run up to the first-ever council polls. Read less...

the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Jaintia Hills District Unit has condemned the brutal killing of five Police personnel by the GNLA at South Garo Hills on November 5, reports The Shillong Times on November 12. Read less...

The Non-Rabha organisations last week held a meeting with State Border Area Development Minister (also Goalpara in-charge), Siddique Ahmed to convey their demands. Siddique Ahmed assured them that he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and come up with a solution within a few days. “Even five days after the meeting, there is no information or solution. Therefore, we will go ahead with our public curfew and road blockade from November 12 to November 25,” said Nazrul Islam, ‘general secretary’ of the Non-Rabha Co-ordination Forum (NRCF). The Non-Rabha Co-ordination Forum and the All Assam Non-tribal Students’ Union (AANTSU) have been jointly observing “civil disobedience” movement in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts demanding exclusion of 91 non-Rabha villages of Goalpara and 65 from Kamrup from the council. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that unidentified miscreants lobbed a hand grenade inside the premises of RK Momon Singh, Loan Manager of Imphal Urban Cooperative Bank (IUCB), located at Uripok Laikhurembi Leikai in Imphal West District on November 11. Police retrieved the unexploded grenade later. Read less...

The Sentinel reports that in a major breakthrough, Police rescued National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) General Manager, Anil Kumar Agarwal after 51 days of captivity in the night of November 11 at Maldang area near Bhalukpong in Assam–Arunachal boundary, Police said. Agarwal was rescued in healthy condition from a dense jungle at Maldang after a fierce encounter which broke out between National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) rebels in which, four Police personnel including Sonitpur Superintendent of Police, P Kalita sustained minor injuries when splinters of a grenade hurled by the rebels hurt them, sources said. Agarwal, who was the project head of Twang hydro power project, was abducted on September 21 by militants of the Songbojit faction of NDFB (NDFB-S). The rebel outfit had demanded an amount of INR 200 million as ransom for release of Agarwal, sources added.Assam Police, on November 12, said no ransom was paid to the NDFB-S to secure the release of abducted NHPC general manager Anil Kumar Agarwal, adds The Telegraph. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that suspected militants, numbering 15, barged into a village market near Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills District and abducted three non-tribal traders at gunpoint on November 11. The abducted traders are Dulal Roy (50), Manik Roy (40) and Abdullah Ali (40). Police suspect involvement of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), which is known to operate in that area and has been behind several kidnappings in the past. The area is also a familiar route used by militants to cross from Garo Hills to neighbouring Assam. Read less...

The Telegraph reports that the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) has revealed for the first time that it has hundreds of members and several offices in foreign countries. Reiterating its stand on collection of ‘tax’ from the people, the group said it had to collect ‘tax’ from the Naga-inhabited areas of Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Myanmar to support its members in foreign countries. The outfit also warned the Action Committee against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) of Naga Council Dimapur, who had asked the people not to pay tax to the militants. The NSCN IM alleged that the ACAUT was hand-in-glove with its adversaries to undermine Naga nationalism and the outfit would never tolerate this. The NSCN-IM has a strong base in Bangladesh from where arms are supplied to the outfit’s camps in the region. It also has offices in the United States, Germany, Netherlands, China, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines and the United Kingdom. According to intelligence sources, the outfit spends thousands of dollars to maintain its offices abroad. “The peace process has been under way since 1997 and more than 83 rounds of talks have been held in different parts of the world. Socio-cultural promotion and political activism has been on through different channels,” an NSCN-IM release said. “Taxes levied are used for these reasons other than many classified areas of investment,” it said. The outfit’s annual budget has increased manifold as a result of heavy recruitment and procurement of arms from foreign countries, to over INR 1 billion per year. According to intelligence sources, there are nearly 25,000 NSCN members. The salaries of the members range between INR 2,000 and INR 15,000, according to their rank. Read less...

The Times of India reports that easy access to sophisticated firearms by Garo militants in Meghalaya has become a major cause for concern for the State Government. Though the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militant group was once believed to have sophisticated arms only, splinter groups in the West Garo hills are also getting these firearms easily nowadays. According to chief minister Mukul Sangma, the porous border has helped these militants groups procure weapons freely. "During several arms hauls by the security forces, we have found automatic sophisticated firearms from these militants. It proves that they (militants) have easy access to these weapons. We believe the arms are coming from the other side of the border. That's why, both the Centre and the state government have emphasized the need to strengthen the 'internal security' of the state on a priority basis," said Sangma.Security sources said that the Garo militants, including some small and splinter groups in Meghalaya, are currently armed with a large number of AK-47s, AK-74s, AK-81s, rocket launchers, Chinese grenades, Heckler and Koch rifles, Glock guns and US-made sophisticated pistols. "Though militant groups like United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I), National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) were providing arms to Garo ultra groups earlier, now the rebels have direct access to gunrunners from Myanmar and Bangladesh," said a Police official. The official added that the ULFA-I faction is also helping small groups like the United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) by providing them with firearms.The Shillong Times reports that the estimated loss till date due to the damages during the agitations of pressure groups demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) has gone up to over INR 500 milion with the recent assessment of over INR 210 million losses due to the destruction of BSNL stockyard. The East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said that as per the estimate, the total loss due to the ongoing agitations is over Rs 50 crore, which according to him would affect the overall development of the State. Read less...

coal traders in Borsora and Nongjri areas in South West Khasi Hills District are concerned over the activities of militants from Garo Hills and Assam which are demanding money ranging from INR 500,000 to INR two million, reports The Shillong Times on November 13. According to a coal trader who received a demand note of INR 1 million from the GNLA, it is not only the GNLA that is working together with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and are demanding money from the traders in the area but the Breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) is also operating and competing with the said militants outfits. In a letter sent by the GNLA to the trader, the militants warned him to ‘cooperate without failure’ and warned that any ‘thoughtless act’ (by the trader) would lead to serious consequences as ‘actions’ will be taken according to their (GNLA) law. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports on November 13 that dead body of one Ngampai Konyak, reportedly a cadre of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khole-Kitovi (NSCN-KK) was found killed at Tizit village in Mon District. The body, which bore no bullet marks, was suspected to have been beaten to death. The actual cause of his death was yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, Konyak Union (KU) Mon Head quarter, has vehemently condemned and expressed disapproval of the recent incidents of factional fight in Tizit area. In a press release, KU president, S. Manlip Konyak and general secretary Y. Hosea Konyak said that it was learnt one NSCN-Khaplang (NSCN-K) cadre identified as Yanlem was shot and injured by NSCN-KK on November 8 and on November 12, one NSCN-KK cadre identified as Ngampai was killed by NSCN-K. The union expressed “deep anguish and disapproval” of the incidents and strongly denounced any form of violence and killing among Naga brothers. Read less...

seven arm smugglers including two NSCN-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) cadres have been arrested by the Assam Rifles and seized a huge cache of arms from them in Dimapur District on November 12, reports The Sangai Express. The Assam Rifles said, based on specific input, operations were undertaken in various localities of Dimapur city namely, Burma Camp, Eros Lane, Dhansiri, Darogajan and Chumukedima. During these operations, an arms dealer identified as Sanjay Kumar who was in possession of eight pistols was arrested. Based on his information, some others involved in this racket were also arrested, including one NSCN-IM cadre named John Longthasa who had come to Dhansiri to sell one Berretta pistol and two magazines to Mr Sanjay Sharma, Mrs Mary in possession of one AK series rifle, one suspected lady cadre of NSCN-IM, Mrs Awon Angkang who was working with Mr Sanjay Sharma and Mr Rajesh Gupta, a relative of Mr Sanjay Sharma. Three other persons supporting the racket were also arrested from different locations. Read less...

taking a tough stand following the recent attack on Policemen in Garo Hills, the State Police have resolved to take down the GNLA within three months’ time through their modified drills and mechanisms. Inspector General of Police (IGP) in-charge of Administration and Operation GHP Raju, on November 12, said that the GNLA will be neutralized in the next three months with the Police department preparing to come up with strategized plans to take down the outfit. He also mentioned that the State is looking towards the Home Affairs Ministry for adequate manpower to contain the situation in Garo Hills. “We need the help of the CRPF and BSF personnel who are trained in jungle warfare,” he said adding that at present, the State has about six units of COBRA teams operating in the region. Terming GNLA as a ‘gang of dacoits’, he said, “the Northeast militant outfits have a set of ideologies, but GNLA does not follow any such ideology except killing and extortion.” When asked about the procurement of arms and weapons, Raju said that the weapons used by the GNLA are procured from Kokrajhar, Assam through the anti-faction of ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) smugglers from Dimapur, Manipur and Bangladesh who made it a flourishing business to supply arms to the GNLA. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that three militants were reportedly killed and one injured in a five hours fierce gun-battle between the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) cadres near Bhalok village in Tamenglong District in the afternoon of November 12. Bombs were also reportedly used in the encounter. Police source said that the three deceased belonged to the ZUF and added that one cadre of the NSCN-IM was injured. Meanwhile, the NSCN-IM has also claimed that the three deceased hailed from the ZUF. According to NSCN-IM leaders, the ZUF cadres launched attacks on the NSCN-IM cadres from two sides near the hill-lock of Bhalok village. Explosives were also used in the attacks. Due to the explosions, an NSCN-IM cadre was injured, said the NSCN-IM source.Officially, it has been confirmed from the Police about the shootout in Tamenglong District but it has not been confirmed officially the claims made by the NSCN-IM. Read less...

Border security Force (BSF) rescued a coal exporter, Janking Marak in the night of November 13 from the clutches of Garo national Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels near the India-Bangladesh border under Gausapara border outpost in South Garo Hills District. The coal exporter was rescued after the BSF troopers challenged four GNLA rebels while they were attempting to cross over to Bangladesh. The rebels fled the area leaving behind the exporter, who was blindfolded. GNLA rebels abducted Marak from his residence in South Garo Hills region on November 10. Meanwhile, Police are still clueless about the whereabouts of another coal exporter, Gopal Sharma, and three traders abducted by suspected GNLA rebels. Read less...

first phase of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) elections will begin on November 13 (today) in Goalpara and Kamrup Districts amid strict security arrangements, reports The Sentinel. The State Government has ordered Additional Director General of Police (DGP), AP Raut to station in Goalpara to keep the law and order situation under control. Altogether 73,871 voters will be participating in the elections to decide the fate of 30 candidates in 7 constituencies. Read less...

Garo National Council (GNC)-Assam State Zone strongly condemned the incident of November 13, 2013 at Tanti Village, (near Nabang) (Goalpara District) where 10 members of the Rabha Viper Force (RVF) hurled grenades upon the villagers and also fired more than five rounds at Tanti Village inhabitants, reports The Sentinel on November 14. RVF militants then abducted Eden Marak, son of Sading Sangam and Salmendor Marak, son of Henot Shira from the Tanti Village, and later came to know that they are hinted to Army stationed at Kukurkatta. “We have come to know from this that Assam Police and Indian Army is bent to harass innocent Garo people with hand in glove with the Rabha extremist and Assam Government has left the Garo people to die in the hands of Assam Police and Army officers, GNC alleged. Read less...

SFs arrested one suspected militant from a hideout, identified as Saidul Ali, from Amorajan locality in Karbi Anglong District on November 13, reports Nagaland Post. SFs recovered one 9 mm pistol, several fake identity and PAN cards from the accused. “He was planning to abduct a businessman from Sukanjan area of Bokajan town. We are interrogating him for more information,” said S. Roymedhi, Officer in charge of Bokajan Police Station. Read less...

the Dorbar Shnong (village level council), Mooksawan in its general meeting held on November 13 decided to boycott the District Council Election in Jaintia Hills if the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) went ahead with the new delimitation bill which bifurcates the village into two parts. Read less...

the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) has advised all Kuki people of Chandel District to refrain from attending the alleged concocted Kuki Peoples' Forum invitation regarding the 'Kuki-Naga Reconciliation Day celebration' to be held on November 16 at District Sports Complex, Christian Village of Chandel, reports The Sangai Express on November 14. Rather than following on their own tenet ‘Nagaland for Christ’, Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) has resorted to their usual subversive method to gain control of Chandel District through the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), which is unfathomably aligned to them. On this occasion they have fabricated ‘Kuki Peoples (Sic) Forum’ to organise ‘Kuki-Naga Reconciliation Day Celebration, the KNO statement said. Today, or whenever, if there is to be reconciliation of Kuki and Naga peoples: a) the two legitimate bodies, Kuki Inpi and United Naga Council must represent the two communities, Kuki and Naga; b) KNO and NSCN-IM must endorse the resolutions of peace and reconciliation passed by Kuki Inpi and United Naga Council, it stated. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports on November 13 that militant outfits, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), PREPAK, Progressive faction of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro) and United Nation Liberation Front (UNLF) have denied their hands in the assassination of Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) vice-president Haobijam Manisana who was shot dead by some unidentified persons on November 13. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that Police claimed to have arrested a militant belonging to Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), identified as Samukcham Thomba from near the Social Sciences department of Manipur University in Imphal West District on November 13. Read less...

unidentified miscreants fired three shots at the grocery of’ general secretary’ (Chirang District) of the All Koch Rajbongshi Student’s Union (AKRSU), Rajani Chaudhury, at Sundari under Sidli Police Station in Chirang District on November 13, reports The Assam Tribune. Read less...

A shoot-out between cadres of suspected Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and a rival underground group reportedly took place on November 14 at Ashang Khullen village under Kasom Block, Ukhrul District. The NSCN-IM claimed that one cadre of the rival underground group operating in the area has been killed on the spot. Detailed report of the incident was not available till the time of filing this report. Read less...

Holding the October 12 resolution of the All Tribal Contractors’ Association, Manipur(ATCAM) as “unacceptable” and with a “hidden agenda to hatch confusion and division among the tribal(s)”, the ‘office of the general accounts officer(OGAC), general headquarters(GHQ) Naga army of the NSCN-IM’ has reminded ATCAM of its moral obligation “ to immediately review” the resolutions “at the earliest , to avoid further denunciation lest ATACM be held responsible for any consequences out of this matter”, reports Nagaland Post on November 15. In a communiqué, OGAC referred to ATCAM’s resolution in banning lending of profiles or documents to sub-contractors subject to e-tender for 9th phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) 2013-14 and restricting ATCAM members against execution of contract works beyond their individual District without prior permission and knowledge of ATCAM president and secretary of respective district contractors’ association. Read less...

Justifying the demand of INR 231.74 crore from14th Finance Commission (FC) beginning from 2015-16 for Policing and security related expenditure, Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar said the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) still has at least 19 hideouts in neighbouring Bangladesh, reports Times of India.CM, Sarkar said NLFT is trying to recruit new cadres and extort money for its revival. The militants have become weak and cornered but they are not totally uprooted. "I made it clear to 14th FC that insurgency in Tripura is contained but not eradicated though we have a remarkable success in dealing with militancy," said Sarkar."NLFT is still active in a few locations of the state and they are trying to disrupt the barbed wire fencing on the 130-kilometre long stretch in the south-eastern part along the Tripura-Bangladesh border," added Sarkar. He however, pointed out that All Tripura Tiger Force militants do not have hideouts in Bangladesh. Sarkar stated that the state's security related expenditure has increased to 16 percent of the total committed expenditure and the figure continues to rise for maintaining peace and fight against the insurgents. He said the present government in Bangladesh has taken action against the northeast militants using its territory, but still there are few more camps of Tripura militants there. Read less...

SFs on November 14 arrested two Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) linkmen, identified as Salmendrar Marak and Eden Marak, at Thanti hill area near Kachumari village in Goalpara District, reports Times of India. Read less...

State chief minister Neiphiu Rio, on November 14, claimed that Nagas were divided by “our adversaries” and urged the people to strive for unity as it was time that Nagas strived for peace, emotional, social and cultural and political integration, reports Nagaland Post. Read less...

Suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants abducted, Dilip Dutta Medhi (45), from Choto Matia area under Dudhnoi Police Station in Goalpara District on November 14, reports The Telegraph. Medhi is an officer of the Sericulture department of Meghalaya, posted at Resubelpara in North Garo Hills District. Read less...

Suspected militants belonging to the Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) abducted a trader, Papan Saha Parmanik (38), from Ramfalbil market under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District on November 14, reports The Telegraph. Read less...

the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), currently under ceasefire since July 2004 has expressed concern over delay on the part of the Government to release the monthly stipend of INR 3,000 each, which has been pending since March this year. “It is almost eight months now that our cadres are without stipend which made the lives of our cadres miserable,” the ANVC publicity secretary Arist Sangma said on November 14 while urging Government to release the same at the earliest. Read less...

The Independent faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) has started serving extortion notices on the tea planters of Dibrugarh and Sivasagar Districts demanding hefty sums from them, reports The Assam Tribune on November 15 . Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that Police, on November 14, ‘picked up’ one Khajin Haloi (38) for sending an SMS to the Newslive, a Guwahati-based TV channel, on November 13, saying there will be a bomb blast in Assam chief minister’s meeting in Guwahati (Assam). Haloi, who hails from Nalbari Koriabijoligat in Assam, was picked up from Rynjah in East Khasi Hills District. Police also recovered the phone which was used to send the SMS. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has warned the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) officials against continuing the eviction drives against tribal people even as it issued a fresh life threat on Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh. “The council issues strict warning to the employees of MUDA not to repeat such action in the near future or be ready to face the consequences,” the outfit’s publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in statement issued on November 14. Read less...

Day after the Kuki National Organization (KNO) advised Kukis against attending an alleged concocted reconciliation meet slated to be held on November 16, the United Kuki Liberation Front (UKLF), on November 15, appealed all to support and join the peace and reconciliation programme without any doubt and hesitation saying "We must forgive and forget the past so that peace and development visited us again." A statement issued by the Information and Publicity Secretary of UKLF, JM Thadou said Peace and Reconciliation meeting for the Kukis and Nagas of Chandel district is schedule to be held at Chandel so that real peace and normalcy is restored in the district which is in line with the teaching of the Holy Bible. Read less...

Imphal East District Police commandos and troops of 40 Assam Rifles arrested one KCP cadre, identified as Irengbam Brojen alias Michael, from Hiyangthang area in Imphal West District on November 15. One mobile phone along with a SIM card and one Chinese hand grenade were seized from his possession, said a press release issued by Imphal East SP. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports on November 16 that Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) terminated one PS Pavei, for brining “dishonor” to the NSCN by being involved in “criminal activities which are against the code of conduct enshrined in party rules NSCN.” A release by ‘cabinet secretary’ N L Raikham stated that in accordance to the gravity of the crime committed by the accused, the NSCN-IM has terminated PS Pavei from active service of the NSCN. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports that Dimapur District Police rescued an abducted businessman after a brief exchange of fire at a teak plantation in Tulazouma and also arrested one of the kidnappers, identified as one Akashe Shohe (26), on November 15. One magazine along with eight live rounds of M-20 pistol and two empty cases of 9 mm pistol were recovered from the scene. The arrestee revealed that he was Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Unification (NSCN-U) cadre and that on November 15, he along with three others - Akato, ‘Leacy’ of NSCN-U, Johnson, ‘lieutenant’ of NSCN-U and one Viloto carried out the abduction of the businessman. Dimapur Police, in a press release, said a complaint was lodged with Police by victim’s brother that some militants had abducted his brother. Thereafter, Police said victim’s brother reportedly started receiving ransom call from the kidnappers directing him to hand over INR 50,000 - which was negotiated down from INR 1,50,000 - for his brother’s safe release. Read less...

NSCN-IM Saramati regional authorities accorded a warm welcome to H. Itokhu from “SS. Khaplang faction” of NSCN, on November 1, who recently joined into “Main Stream”-NSCN-IM, under the collective leadership of Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muvaih. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered huge quantities of explosives and arrested two persons in this connection at Mandakat area under Baihata Police Station in Kamrup (Rural) District on November 15, reports The Shillong Times. The recovery includes explosives included two kilograms of Tri- Nitro Toluene (TNT), approximately five kg of Research and Development Explosive (RDX), 20 kilogram of Ammonium Nitrate, 64 detonators and 12 bundles of fuse wire. Read less...

The District administration in Goalpara and Kamrup (rural) is doing its best to ensure the second phase of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) polls on November 16 passes off peacefully, reports The Telegraph. The state election commission is hopeful of another impressive turnout. The overall turnout was 65 per cent in the first phase of polls on November 13. Goalpara District logged 70 per cent, while the turnout in Kamrup (rural) District was 60 per cent. Twelve constituencies in these two Districts, parts of which make the council, go to the polls on November 16. Though some non-Rabha organisations, All Assam Non-tribal Students’ Union, had opposed the council elections, the first phase saw non-Rabhas casting their votes after the Non-Rabha Co-ordination Forum (NRCF) withdrew their “public curfew”. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast planted at the office Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) damaged the main door, the doors of the president and Secretary of TNL and three other doors at Ukhrul (District) headquarters on November 15. There was no casualty. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that a truck was completely gutted by fire and a civilian, identified as Hari Lama, was injured after militants hurled a petrol bomb in the night of November 15 during the road blockade hours at Umdihar in Ri Bhoi District in the night of November 15. No untoward incident was reported from other Districts during the night blockade called by the pressure groups demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP). Read less...

Independent faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) has served with a demand for “annual donation” from next year to some tea gardens in Tinsukia and Sivasagar Districts, reports The Telegraph on November 17. Sources told that in a letter signed by the group’s ‘finance secretary’, Jibon Asom, on November 1, the group asked tea gardens to pay INR 5 million to the outfit while in an another letter, gardens have been asked to pay INR 1.5 million annually for its three gardens. “We, the ULFA do hereby ask you/your company to contribute a sum of Rs 50 lakh [INR 5 million ] for our just cause and hope that you will comply with our proposal as soon as possible,” the letter signed by Asom said. Read less...

Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) ‘clarified’ that the outfit was not involved in the assassination of Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) Vice-President Haobijam Manisana, reports The Sangai Express on November 17. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested four militants of the I.K. Songbijit faction of National Democratic front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) and a linkman along with arms, ammunitions and some incriminating documents during search operation in Chirang District, reports The Assam Tribune. SFs arrested a NDFB-IKS cadre, identified as Ranjit Basumatary alias B Rigigang (23), an ‘area commander’ of Panbari under Bijni Police Station, and a linkman named Bigrai Daimary (25) on November 16 from Tukrajhar under Runikhata Police Station in the District. Two grenades, three mobile handsets and three notebooks were recovered from their possession. Further, SFs arrested Bharat Basumatary (28), Projit Boro (23) and Martin Islary (26) on November 17 along with a pistol and a grenade from Dawkhadaba in Deushree area, near Indo-Bhutan border, under Runikhata Police Station in the District. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered cache of explosives during a raid in the hilly terrains of Digarkhal hills compound in Cachar District on November 16, reports The Sentinel. SFs recovered 10 PEK explosives, 10 non–electric detonator and 1 safety fuse from the site. Read less...

SFs arrested a Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) linkman, identified as Dayaram Rai (40), from NH–31 in Bongaigaon District on November 16, reports The Sentinel. Police said that the arrestee is very close to Jiban Singha, chief of KLO. Read less...

SFs arrested five militants of a faction of United Liberation Democratic Army, also known as Zakir Bahini, including its ‘chairman’ Dilwar Hussain Laskar alias Zakir, from Rangpur near Silchar in Cachar District in the evening of November 16, reports Times of India. The others arrested along with Zakir include Giyas Uddin Chawdhury, Alim Uddin Barabhuiyan, Champak Bru and Saifang Reang. Superintendent of Police (SP) Diganta Bora said the militants were waiting in a car for a railway engineer, who was supposed to visit his Nagatila camp near Silchar from Jiribam in Manipur in the evening. The engineer is engaged in the construction of the Jiribam-Tupul railway line. Read less...

The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) in a press release appealed to all concerned not to target non-local labourers, reports The Sangai Express on November 17. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that a combined team of Thoubal District Police commandos and troops of 40 Assam Rifles arrested two United People Revolutionary Front (UPRF) cadres on November 16. They were identified as Muhammad Imran Khan alias Kayamuddin and Muhammad Atou Rahman. One 7.65 mm calibre pistol, three live rounds, one wallet containing INR 500, one mobile handset with SIM card were recovered from Imran Khan, said a press release issued by Thoubal Superintendant of Police (SP). Read less...

The Shillong Times reports on November 17 that the United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) headed by Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin, following in the footsteps of other militant groups in Garo Hills that are seeking a separate ‘Garoland State’, has joined the bandwagon. The UALA in a press statement claimed that the outfit is also in support of a ‘Garoland state’ for the Garos. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that three unidentified assailants, suspected to be involved in Inner Line Permit (ILP) protests, set ablaze the owner of a tea stall at Bishnupur in Shillong (East Khasi Hills) city in broad daylight after pouring petrol on him on November 16. Bisheshwar Das (45), owner of Babua Tea Stall in Bishnupur, sustained 50 per cent burn injuries. One Mina Ram Joshi (70) sustained burn injuries on his hand while attempting to help the victim, while a 17-year-old girl identified as Mitilda Mallai Syiem, also sustained minor burn injuries. The fresh arson case occurred three weeks after the death of city trader Vikash Nandwal, who was also set ablaze inside his shop at Motphran. Read less...

The United People’s Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) ‘clarified’ that Ningombam Thoithoi Meitei alias Thoi (36) arrested on November 16 was a deserter who had snapped all connections with the outfit. Read less...

According to a delayed report, Assam Rifles (AR) personnel reportedly shot dead a Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland- Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) cadre in Arunachal Pradesh, November 17, reports Nagaland Post. According to L Gonmei, NSCN-IM ‘deputy kilonser’ (Zeliangrong Region), the deceased ‘Lance corporal’ Aron Gonmei of Zeilad Region from Tamenglong District was killed at Kharsang village of Miao subdivision, Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh on November 17. Read less...

Following claims by the Breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) that it had attacked a Garo national Liberation Army (GNLA) camp and injured three cadres on November 13 at a place called Rongmil Chiring in South Garo Hills, a special team of the Meghalaya Police was deputed to scout the area, but never came across any militant camp and instead found a small empty thatched room in a jhum field that was riddled with bullet holes reports The Shillong Times on November 18. A blood trail led to the recovery of a dog injured with a bullet wound. Read less...

SFs arrested three militants of Karbi National Liberation Army (KNLA), “group commander” Kerep Terang, Babu Sing Terang and Har Sing Tokbi, from Vishwanath Pathar village in Karbi Anglong District on November 17, reports Nagaland Post. SFs recovered one AK-56 assault rifles, one magazine with 20 rounds of ammunitions and 14 demand notes from the possession of the arrested cadres. Read less...

SFs on November 17 arrested a IK Songbijit faction of national Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS), identified as Mithinga Narzary (24), in Chirang district, reports The Sentinel. One Chinese grenade was recovered from him. Read less...

The Breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) has reiterated its claims of a violent clash with the Garo national Liberation Army (GNLA) in Rongmin Chiring of South Garo Hills and has refused to accept the Police version about shooting of an empty jhum hut and a dog, reports The Shillong Times on November 18. The ANVC-B issued a clarification saying that the Police version of the incident is not correct. The Police investigation dismissed the claims of the ANVC-B about any encounter and the investigation has instead indicated that it was a staged incident in which militants from the same group are accused of planting an old wireless set and a few empty ammunition shells to blame a rival outfit. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports on November 18 that the NSCN-IM has refuted to the claim made by the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) on the November 12 shoot out between the two outfits in Tamenglong District. Giving its version, the NSCN-IM, Zeilad Region, said no cadre of its outfit was killed in the Bhalok or Phalong village shoot out. It however reiterated that three ZUF cadres were killed and four others injured. From its side, there had been an injury incurred to one of its cadres, it stated. The NSCN-IM further claimed that one AK rifle, one Kenwood set, one pair of binoculars and 18 shells of lethod were recovered from the ZUF cadres who came to attack them at Phalong village. It also said no civilian was injured in the incident. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, on November 17, arrested one Indian Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) racketeer, identified as Shapharang Mastor, from Borsora, South West Khasi Hills. The FICN racketeer was arrested while he was trying to infiltrate into India from Bangladesh. FICN of face value INR 20,000 was recovered from him. Read less...

The United Naga Council (UNC), in a press release, stated that it is greatly disturbed by the violence among Nagas on November 12 at Phailong in Tamenglong District where three Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) militants were killed in a clash with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). The UNC also condemned the bomb attack at the office of the Tangkhul Naga Long in the Ukhrul town in the night of November 15. Read less...

A panel discussion programme on implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur was held on November 18 under the aegis of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) and it resolved that the State Government should adopt a concrete decision after tabling the issue of implementing ILPS as a Government resolution during the winter session of the State Assembly. Read less...

A team of 31 Assam Rifles personnel, arrested one NSCN-K cadre, identified as one Felix Lotha with improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 500 gms from Changka village under Wokha District. Read less...

Governor, Janaki Ballav Patnaik has expressed deep concern over inordinate delay in completion of the conversion of rail connectivity from Lumding to Silchar to broad gauge as well the slow progress of the East-West Corridor upto Silchar, reports The Shillong Times. The Governor on Monday held a meeting with high level officials of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and concerned State Government officials at Raj Bhavan conference Hall here on November 18. Read less...

In yet another arson-related case that occurred within 24 hours of the attack on a tea stall in Bishnupur locality of Shillong city, unidentified assailants hurled three petrol bombs at Sulleman Compound in Lumdiengjri locality where two of them exploded, in the morning of November 18. However, no casualty was reported. Read less...

Intensifying its movement in support of its long-standing demand for Constitutional safeguards for the indigenous people of the State, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on November 18 asked both the State and the Union governments to ensure supremacy of the local people in Assam, reports The Telegraph.AASU has also decided to carry out separate democratic movements on its various demands simultaneously throughout the State. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports that heavy exchange of fire between Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland –Khaplang (NSCN-K) and NSCN-Khole-Kitovi (NSCN-KK) took place at Amahator village on November 18. Amahator village is located 15 km away from Kiphire (District) town. According to the village council chairman, Thsisepi Sangtam, a group of NSCN-KK arrived at Amahator village in the afternoon but, on the arrival of Assam Rifles, the group left the village. However, in the evening, both the factions met in the heart of the village, which led to heavy exchange of fire between the two groups. No casualty was reported till the time of filing this report. Read less...

One person was arrested by Dimapur Police on the charges of extorting money from business establishments in Chekiye bazaar area in the name of the Naga National Council-Non Accordist (NNC-NA) on November 18. In a press release, Dimapur Police stated that the accused has been identified as one Yekheto Sema of NNC-NA. Police said, one booklet of ‘tax’ coupons numbering 50 leaves in the name of NNC-NA and extorted cash amounting to INR 1010 was seized from his possession. Read less...

Pro-ILP pressure groups have called for a fresh round of night road blockade from November 19-21 to be effective from 8 pm till 5 am. “We have unanimously resolved to hold these night road blockades during our meeting on November 17,” said All Jaintia Youth Welfare Organisation (AJYWO) president MH Dkhar in a statement issued on behalf of 14 pressure groups. Dkhar also said that the pressure groups would intensify their agitation once the various examinations in schools and colleges are over, unless the Government implements the ILP as per the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873. Read less...

SFs arrested two NDFB-IKS militants, Chandan Borgoyari (24) and Rahul Basumatary (24), from Chapaguri area in Chirang District on November 18, reports The Sentinel. A grenade was also recovered from the arrested duo. Read less...

The Manipur Naga People’s Front (MNPF) has claimed responsibility for the November 15 bomb attack at the office of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) in Ukhrul District. A press release issued by MNPF assistant publicity Thomas Numai said that the bomb attack was carried out to demonstrate MNPF’s disapproval of Artex as TNL president. Artex was elected as TNL president to serve the vested interests of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and create disunity among the Tangkhul community. MNPF said that the bomb attack was a warning to Artex. Read less...

The Megha-laya People’s Front (MPF), a conglomerate of Opposition parties in the State, on November 18, has decided to seek the intervention of Governor, K K Paul in view of the deteriorating law and order situation in the State. The conglomerate took stock of the law and order situation in Khasi Hills that stemmed out of pro-ILP agitation and the militants related incidents in Garo Hills. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that 12 persons, including a minor girl, were injured barely in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion on November 18 along National Highway-202 at Harkuikathe in Ukhrul District. The blast took place when a truck carrying around 50 Border Roads Task Forces (BRTF) labourers including women and children was moving towards Ukhrul. Most of the injured victims are from Jharkhand and Assam. This is the 7th blast within a span of two months. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF) has claimed that the bomb attack saying, it was carried out by a special ‘warfare’ group of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). “BRTF which functions under India’s Ministry of Defence, is a big spy force and on account of reports furnished by them many revolutionaries have been arrested and many camps destroyed”, claimed a press release issued by the outfit’s ‘department of publicity chief’ Bangkim. The attack was a part of PLA’s war to ‘liberate’ Manipur. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that a team of Imphal East commandos arrested a cadre of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-Khagemba), identified as Muhammad Ali Shah alias Aulad (45) from Thambalkhong in Imphal East District on November 18. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on November 18, said that “improper monitoring” of the activities of refugees, particularly Tibetans residing in Tawang and West Kameng districts, “pose a great threat to the tribal people of the state and the country”. A team of the apex students’ body of the state conducted a five-day tour of the two districts recently to assess the status of Tibetan and Nepali refugee populations there, an AAPSU statement said. “Some of the refugees are trying to obtain Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates through underhand processes,” AAPSU vice president and chairman of refugee affairs wing Likha Takar said in the statement. Read less...

With the pro-ILP agitation lingering in the State, Shillong (East Khasi Hills) Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent H Pala, on November 18, met Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to apprise him of the situation while urging the Centre to step up vigil along the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in order to ensure that the Hill State does not move into further turmoil and relapsing insurgency. Read less...

All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) ‘general secretary’ Aditya Khakhlary said that based on Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by AATS on illegal immigrants in the BTAD, be detected and deported, the Gauhati High Court, on November 19, directed the Centre and the State Government to file affidavits on the matter, reports The Sentinel. In the aftermath of the riots in the BTAD in 2012, a whole lot of people were displaced, but in the matter of rehabilitation the AATS had demanded that none should be rehabilitated without proper scrutiny of their nationality as the organization had suspected that many illegal immigrants were settled in the BTAD. The State government, however, went ahead with its rehabilitation plan without any such scrutiny. Read less...

Amidst tight security, Bru voters lodged in six relief camps of Tripura on November 19 exercised their franchise by casting votes through postal ballots from 7 am, reports The Shillong Times. Polling in the relief camps would continue on Wednesday if there was any voter who could not exercise franchise on Tuesday, Mizoram Joint Chief Electoral Officer H Lalengmawia said.“Polling was completely peaceful and conducted under tight security in the six relief camps – Asapara, Naisingpara, Hazacherra, Kaskau, Khakchangpara and Hamsapara in North Tripura District,” he said.The 11,612 Bru voters lodged in the relief camps were eligible to exercise franchise through postal ballots in their relief camps for the November 25 Mizoram polls.86 polling officials, including seven nodal officers, who reached the relief camps yesterday morning, conducted the polls under the supervision of one special observer and six other observers, he said. Earlier, polling party numbering around 100 officials, including 74 desk and seven nodal officers, on November 18 had left Mizoram for the six relief camps in the state to conduct polling for the Bru voters lodged there, reports The Shillong Times. Also, Mamit District Superintendent of Police (SP) Rodingliana Chawngthu told PTI over phone that around 45 Mizo Students Union (MSU) activists went to the border village of Kanhmun to make efforts to stop the polling party on November 18.Chawngthu said that he did not expect any problem as elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure the safe passage for the polling party. Further, the Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath recently clarified that the Bru voters were allowed to exercise franchise following a High Court order in 1999, reports The Shillong Times. There were 11,612 voters in the Bru relief camps belonging to three districts and spreading over nine assembly constituencies. Read less...

Claiming to have enough evidence to prove that most incidents related to ‘mob-justice’ against militant sympathisers are due to abetment by security force authorities, CorCom, the six militant group conglomerate said it will take befitting action against those involved in ‘mob-justice’, reports The Sangai Express on November 20. A statement issued by CorCom media coordinator H Poirei said launched specific investigation in the last 2-3 years into incidents of ‘mob-justice’ against militants sympathisers eventually unearthing clues that attacking houses of sympathisers to protest certain incidents were actually planned and the target finalised at security force camps located in the area of incidents. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports that Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) leaders, Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah left for Delhi on November 19 on the invitation by the Government of India (GoI) for another round of talk. Asked if the Naga people could expect arriving at a solution during the visit, Isak replied: “No, we do not expect solution this time but we will discuss.” When asked to explain, the reason why the talk has been scheduled after a long gap, Thuingaleng Muivah asserted that the “problem” was with the GoI and not with NSCN-IM. He said: “They have delayed on their own accord, we have been anxiously waiting for them but no they have taken so long a time, so it is a surprise to us.” Read less...

Security Forces arrested two militants belonging to the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang faction (NSCN-K), identified as Aman Konyak and Nahnga Ghangsa, from Longding District on November 19, reports Times of India. Arms and ammunition, along with cash, have been recovered from their possession, he said. Read less...

The 14 pro-Inner Line Permit (ILP) pressure groups have decided to defer the timing of the night road blockade from 8 pm to 9 pm on November 20 and 21 in view of the ongoing examination in the schools and colleges. Read less...

The Meghalaya People’s Front (MPF) has alleged that several politicians from the congress led ruling Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) coalition are maintaining links with the militant outfits operating in Garo Hills. Addressing a press conference on November 19, MPF spokesperson and United Democratic Party (UDP) leader, Paul Lyngdoh said “There are several instances which prove that there is a clear nexus between politicians belonging to the ruling coalition and Garo Hills-based militant outfits. On several occasions it is seen that militants get prior information about raids to be carried out by Police in their hideouts.” Read less...

The National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) on November 19 ruled out any money transaction in getting back its abducted general manager Anil Kumar Agarwal “safe and sound.”, reports The Sentinel.“We did not give any money to the abductors [NDFB–IKS]. It was the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh government who helped us in getting back our official,” said NHPC Project Director, JK Sharma. The NDFB–IKS had reportedly demanded a hefty amount of INR 20 crore for the release of Agarwal. Sharma however said that the NHPC has asked both the central and State government to provide adequate security to its officials working in the northeastern States. Read less...

The Sangai Express reports that expressing grave concern over the series of bomb blasts in recent times, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, on November 19, speculated that subversive elements might be setting off bomb explosion out of frustration and to demonstrate their presence. He said, with insurgents unable to breach the tight security barricade in Imphal and greater Imphal areas or unable to engage Security Forces in encounters, disruptive elements might be carrying out the blasts for militant groups in the exterior locations just to create chaos in the society. Citing arrest of Progressive faction of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK-Pro) militants in connection with the Pallel (Chandel District) bomb blast case, he said interrogation of the arrested person is on to establish further proof about involvement of insurgent outfits in the blasts. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports on November 20 that as many as seven Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) cadres have reportedly fled from their liaison office at Tura youth hostel with a substantial number of weapons to form a new outfit called the A’chik Tigers Force (ATF) blaming the Government and the outfit’s leaders for turning a blind eye to their problems. The cadres reportedly fled under the leadership of Balsrang who happens to be the camp in-charge. Speaking to The Shillong Times, Balsrang said that seven of them abandoned the outfit on November 15 and decamped with five automatic assault rifles, seven pistols, ten hand grenades and four hundred rounds of ammunition from the armory of the ANVC. “We have been unhappy with the state of affairs in our organization. The government has not given us our stipend for the last eight months and have abandoned us,” said Balsrang, who has now taken the name of Dilchong Ioimingchi to lead the ATF. He also attacked the ANVC leaders for treating its cadres with disdain and blamed the leadership for the present crisis within the outfit. “We are no longer able to withstand the suffering and felt the only way was to return to the jungle and once again lead an armed struggle,” said the new militant chief. There is apprehension that more cadres of the group could follow in their footsteps as the new militant chief has revealed that it is wooing other disgruntled members of the ANVC to join their fold. This will be the third major split within the ANVC since its formation in the mid 1990s. The first split took place in 2009 with its former militant commander Sohan D Shira leaving the group to form his own Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). In 2012, the ANVC suffered another split when its spokesman Rimpu (Bernard) Marak alias Torik Jangning left the group to form the ANVC-Breakaway (ANVC-B). Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that a senior Block Development Officer (BDO) of Assam has been abducted by suspected Garo militants from the Assam-Meghalaya border in Tikrikilla region (West Garo Hills) in the evening of November 19. The BDO of Fakirganj Block in Dhubri district, Rashidul Islam, was heading for his home in Lakhipur town of Goalpara District (Assam) when as many as five heavily armed militants stopped his vehicle and took him away at gunpoint from the Assam side of the border. Security forces have launched a large operation in the area to rescue the official and police strongly feel the involvement of the Garo outfit, United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) which has been active on the Assam side of the border ever since elections to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) were announced. Read less...

The Shillong Times reports that an official from East Garo Hills, on November 19, said that the newly-formed Achik National Liberation Central Army (ANLCA) dropped an extortion note of INR 1.5 million each at the residences of the Gramsevaks (village development officers) in Williamnagar in East Garo Hills District through the villagers last week setting a deadline of November 17. The militant group in the extortion notes had also warned the Gramsevaks that if the money was not paid by them, they will face the consequences. Read less...

Tinsukia Police have tracked two Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) SIM cards, used by ULFA-I to make extortion calls to businessmen and tea planters in Upper Assam, to Manipur, reports The Telegraph. Tinsukia Superintendent of Police, P.P. Singh on November 19 said that the SIMs of cell phone numbers 9191709879 and 9191709873, from which several persons had received extortion calls in the name of Ulfa (I), had been found to have been procured from Manipur. He said both the SIMs, functioning under the CDMA (code division multiple access) technology, were used by Pabitra Moran alias Phanin Moran, a cadre of Ulfa (I).Moran is currently based at Pangsau pass in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district, which shares its borders with Assam and Myanmar. Singh said the police had asked people to ignore calls from these two numbers. Read less...

Troopers of the Border Security Force (BSF) along with Meghalaya Police team arrested GNLA militants, Prethy M Sangma and Dina M Sangma from Kimdegre area under South West Garo Hills, reports Nagaland Post on November 20. Read less...

Two Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants deputed to Tura in West Garo Hills to extort money and abduct an influential businessman have been arrested on November 19. The arrested militants have been identified as Goera D Sangma (27) and Sengsal R Marak (22). The two GNLA militants who had taken shelter in a house in Boldak A’ding, under Dobasipara Police outpost, were arrested just as they were passing through the main thoroughfares of the town to carry out their abduction. Security forces recovered two automatic pistols with six rounds of live ammunition and two mobile handsets. “They belonged to GNLA’s Baichung Momin command and had planned to conduct a series of extortion cases and abduct several prominent businessmen,” revealed District Police chief Mukesh Kr Singh. Read less...

Two militants of the Independent faction of United liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) faction, identified as Siddhartha Dahotia alias Agni and Ratul Bora alias Anupam, surrendered before Tinsukia Superintendent of Police on November 19 after fleeing from the outfit's base in Myanmar and crossing over to India, reports Times of India. They also deposited one AK81 rifle. Police said the two militants were among nine other militants, who tried to flee Myanmar and surrender in Tinsukia District but were ambushed by their own colleagues in the outfit and Baruah loyalists with the help of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) cadres. The duo said one member of the fleeing group was killed in the ambush and two others managed to cross the border but are still traceless. They added that they have no idea about the remaining four militants. Immediately after the two surrendered, ULFA-I ‘publicity wing’ issued a statement confirming the escape bid by nine cadres with one weapon. The outfit added that these nine cadres were moles planted inside the outfit by intelligence agencies. "Two of them managed to escape with one weapon but our special operation group nabbed four and killed three. The nabbed cadres have revealed that they were trained by government intelligence agencies and they got themselves recruited into the outfit by taking advantage of some loopholes in our recruitment drive. They were sent with two objectives-to loot our armory and leak information, " said Joy 'Asom', a member of the’ publicity wing’. Read less...

A stretch of Imphal-Moreh section of National Highway-2 was blocked, on November 20, by United Naga Council (UNC) bandh (shut down strike) supporters as the 48 hrs bandh on National Highways in Naga inhabited areas came into effect. Read less...

All Bodoland Minority Students' Union (ABMSU) has sought the Governor's intervention in the rehabilitation and compensation of 2012 BTAD riots victims, report Times of India. "People living in the BTAD areas are living under extreme inhuman circumstances that have deprived them of their basic human rights. Even after 16 months of the violence, the affected people are still uncertain about their future. Though the government had said that it would help restore normalcy in the area, it has not yet done anything significant. Hence, we seek the governor's help in this regard," said All Bodoland Minority Students' Union (ABMSU) ‘general secretary’ Lafiqul Islam Ahmed on November 20. Read less...

IK Songbijit faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS) on November 20 observed the Bodoland Army Day, an undisclosed location of the neighbouring country, reports The Sentinel. The Bodoland Army is an armed wing of the outfit. The ‘interim Chairman’ of the NDFB– IKS in an email said, “On October 26, 1989, to fight for a free Bodoland from subjugation and occupation, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland began military training of the first batch of Bodoland Army and after rigorous training of 15 days, the passing out parade was held on November 14, 1989. Thereafter, this day has been being observed as the Bodoland Army Day or Bodoland Army Raising Day. In 1984, a letter was written to the President, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) seeking support and help in their revolutionary struggle to liberate Bodoland. As a part of understanding between the NSCN [Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland] and NDFB, the NSCN had dispatched their military training instructors ‘2nd Lieutenant’ Tamreipam, ‘Sergeant’ Wangpam and ‘Lance Corporal’ Stone to the NDFB training centre in 1989 and the long–cherished wish of getting military training of the cadres in guerrilla warfare as fulfilled. So this Day historically is significant and an important day for the Bodo people and Bodoland”. Read less...

Nagaland Post reports on November 21 that NSCN-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), has directed all its authorities, officials, staff, rank and files of both civil and Army to strictly refrain from indulging in any sort of donation/contribution from individuals, organisations, institutions, offices, business establishments etc. during this festive season of Christmas and New Year. Read less...

Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), the UNC and All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) in separate press communiqués, on November 20, strongly ‘voiced against’ the recent bomb blasts in Ukhrul District. The NSCN-IM said that the recent bomb blast in Ukhrul District headquarters which was later owned up by Manipur based Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and their stooge like Manipur Naga Peoples Front (MNPF) who only knows the art of targeting the unarmed and innocent civilians deserved to be condemned by every peace loving community. Read less...

Rashidul Haque, in-charge block development officer of South Salmara Development block of Dhubri District, who was abducted on November 20, was released on November 21 at Gaibandha under Lakhipur police station in Goalpara District, reports The Telegraph. SFs arrested three persons, Sofiqul Islam, Hafizur Islam and Ashadul Rahman, in this connection. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) detected an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) from the entrance gate of Raas Mela held at Rasmela field Raas Mela in Kokrajhar town of Kokrajhar District on November 20, reports The Sentinel. One Abhijit Das, who claimed himself as the ‘Commander–in–Chief’ of National Liberation Front of Bengali (NLFB), a newly formed outfit, informed about the planting of bomb in the Raas festival at Kokrajhar. Das also claimed that the bombs planted in Jama Masjid at Bijni in Chirang district and Kamakhya–Alipurduar Junction was also carried out by their organization. Both the bombs were detected and defused by SFs. Commander–in–Chief’ of NLFB said that their intention was not to kill people but to warn the Government of their decision to take up arms to protest abduction and extortion in the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) adds The Telegraph. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) device with a timer from the passenger coach of Alipurduar-Kamakhya Inter-city Express at Kamakhya railway station in Kamrup District, reports The Telegraph. In addition, a person, identifying himself as Abhijit Das, “commander-in-chief” of National Liberation Front of Bengalis (NLFB), called up a Guwahati-based satellite news channel and claimed responsibility for planting the bomb, reports The Telegraph. Das claimed to have planted two more bombs in Chirang and Kokrajhar Districts in protest against the government’s alleged failure to check extortion and abduction of Bengalis living in Bodoland Territorial Administered District (BTAD) areas. The bomb in Chirang was detected near a fish market on November 20 and was defused. The Police have launched a search for the third bomb planted near Kokrajhar Post Office, as claimed by the group. Police sources said they had never heard of NLFB. Read less...

SFs arrested five extortionists on November 20 near the BTC secretariat in Kokrajhar town when they came to collect money from a grocer, reports The Telegraph. The extortionists had demanded INR 500,000 in the name of the IK Songbijit faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-IKS). Kundus Mondol and Boloram Debnath were arrested on the spot while Sunrata Barman, Prasanta Goswami and Kungkra Goyary were apprehended later. Read less...

State Police on November 21 confirmed emergence of the new armed group that had last evening claimed to have planted three explosives in the state and is probing its antecedents, reports The Telegraph.“We have come to know about the formation of a group called the National Liberation Front of Bengalis (NLFB) but we cannot say how organised it is till we make arrests. We have reports that this group was involved in planting the bombs yesterday and another a few weeks ago,” a senior police officer in Guwahati said. The official said it could be a bunch of youths, who were out to attract publicity and would gradually resort to extortion from traders in the BTAD in the name of giving them protection. Read less...