Region on maximum alert, Ministry of Home Affairs sends a separate advisory for Assam
By Ratnadip Choudhury
Arabinda Rajkhowa
Guwahati, Aug 12 : The Northeastern states, especially Assam, Manipur and Nagaland have been put on high alert as 12 insurgent groups joined hands to boycott Independence Day celebrations. They have also called for a general strike on 15 August. The security establishment has been asked to take measures to ensure peaceful celebrations.
The joint statement issued by the United Liberation Font of Asom (ULFA) on behalf of the 12 banned outfits read: “India Government is trying to lure the people and the freedom fighters as well in the name of Peace Talk to the so-called Indian mainstream. We have experienced futile promises of India Government in Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, etc. and present process of Peace Talk in Assam and Nagaland is nothing but dilly-dallying to our struggle of national self-determination.” (sic)
Apart from ULFA an ‘anti-talk’ faction led by Paresh Barua, 11 other outfits that have also called for the bandh. Intelligence reports revealed that ULFA’s Commander in Chief Paresh Barua united the major terror outfits of the region. Apparently, they were using either the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) or NSCN(K) , somewhere near Taka in Myanmar as the General and Command headquarters of all these outfits. The joint statement also targeted outfits in the region which were not against having talks with the Indian government.
Intelligence sources added that the Chief of All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) Ranjit Debbarma has also joined Paresh Barua and SS Khaplang in Myanmar base. Debbarma earlier escaped from Bangladesh where the Sheikh Hasina government had launched a crackdown against Northeast Indian rebel outfits in the country. He moved to Hanoi from Bangladesh.
Assam has been specially alerted about possible attacks by Barua as a separate advisory has been sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The targets are security forces, crowded places, or Government buildings. Earlier, rebels have boycotted Independence Day and Republic day celebrations so the security forces are taking no chances this time around. DGP Y Joykumar Singh, Magalia state DGP and Nagaland state DGP told TEHELKA that there will be increased security. The Northeast Frontier Railway is planning to cancel all trains in the region on August 15. Airports and bus stations are also on high alert.
Ratnadip Choudhury is a Principal Correspondent with Tehelka.
rantadip@tehelka.com
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