End Gun Culture in Nagaland

Kohima Jan 28: Nagaland Minister for Higher Education & Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna  on Wednesday called upon the Naga people to end the gun culture in the Naga society and to establish a peaceful atmosphere that would enable the all round development in the State.

Northeast Mass Militancy Platform

Samudra Gupta Kashyap looks at the resurgence of groups that have come together on a common platform.


In 1990, some of these groups — NSCN-K, ULFA, UNLF and Kuki National Army — had formed Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front, which is now defunct. Several armed rebel groups of the Northeast, having lain low for some time, have become active again after coming together on the newly formed United National Liberation Front of Western Southeast Asia. In 1990, some of these groups — NSCN-K, ULFA, UNLF and Kuki National Army — had formed Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front, which is now defunct. NSCN-K, which tops the list of constituents of the new platform, carried out the June attack in Manipur where 18 Army men were killed, while ULFA’s anti-talks faction, under pressure to match the other groups, killed two Hindi-speaking persons in Assam this week.

NSCN-K
Formed after the original NSCN split in April 1988, NSCN-K had entered into a ceasefire with the government in 2001, three years after the NSCN-IM had signed a similar agreement. But after waiting 14 years for a call for talks, it abrogated the ceasefire in March 2015 and renewed violent activities, killing at least 30 security personnel in a series of attacks in Nagaland, Arunachal and Manipur, most significantly in June when it attacked an Army convoy in Manipur.
Strength: 1,000, with most of its cadres based in Myanmar. Headed by S S Khaplang, it demands a sovereign Greater Nagalim comprising present Nagaland and adjoining areas in Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar.

ULFA-I
ULFA was originally founded in 1979 by Arabinda Rajkhowa, Paresh Barua and others. The breakaway ULFA (Independent) faction was formed by Barua in August 2012, a year after founder chairman Rajkhowa announced a decision to sit for peace talks with the government. On Tuesday, ULFA attacked a Hindi-speaking family and killed two. Assam police say Barua was under pressure from the newly formed platform to “perform” after the other constituents had already “achieved” major successes. Barua, whom Army and intelligence agencies describe as an illegal arms dealer in the subcontinent, has no inclination to sit for talks and continues to demand a “sovereign” Assam. But unlike NSCN factions or groups like NDFB-S, KLO and the Manipuri outfits, the ULFA does not have a definite map for the area it would like to “liberate”.
Strength: 240, with Paresh Barua as military chief and Abhijit Asom as chairman; most cadres based in Myanmar.

NDFB-S
A splinter group of the original National Democratic Front of Bodoland founded by Ranjan Daimary, NDFB-S is headed by Myanmar-based I Songbijit, a former “commander” of the outfit in 2012. Songbijit carries a cash award of Rs 10 lakh on his head. Killed over 100 in a series of attacks in Assam during 2014.
Strength: 270. It demands a sovereign Bodoland.

KLO
Kamtapur Liberation Organisation formed in 1995. Demands a Kamatapur state with 6 West Bengal districts — Cooch Behar, Maldah, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur — and four
of Assam —Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Goalpara.
Strength: 600; Chief Timir Das alias Jiban Singh is in Myanmar.

CorCom
Comprises six groups of Manipur — UNLF, Kangleipak Communist Party, Revolutionary People’s Front (which is the political wing of PLA), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and PREPAK (Pro), Formed in 2010, CorCom (Coordination Committee) coordinates closely with with NSCN-K and UNLFWSEA, intelligence officials say.

NSCN-K Gets Ready For Fight To The Finish

The insurgent group has been constructing bunkers at undisclosed locations along the Indo-Myanmar border. This was communicated to Myanmar during a Joint Consultative Commission meeting attended by foreign ministers of the two countries on Thursday in New Delhi.

By Abhishek-Bhalla



The home ministry has asked the PMO to ban the outfit. Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalan-Khaplang (NSCN-K), responsible for the attack on the Army that killed 18 jawans in March, is readying itself for a long-drawn-battle across the border in Myanmar fearing an onslaught by Indian and Myanmar forces.

The insurgent group has been constructing bunkers at undisclosed locations along the Indo-Myanmar border. This was communicated to Myanmar during a Joint Consultative Commission meeting attended by foreign ministers of the two countries on Thursday in New Delhi.

A note prepared for the meeting said that apprehensive of Myanmar Army movement towards the Taga-Lungmak area, NSCN-K instructed officials of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) to complete construction of underground facilities, possibly bunkers.

"They were also instructed to restrict movement of their cadres and store essential items," the note said. Following the attack, the home ministry has been pushing for NSCN-K to be included in the list of banned organisations under the anti-terror law. The home ministry has submitted an action plan to the Prime Minister's Office on how banning the outfit will allow law enforcement agencies to crackdown on it.

However, there is a view in the government that there could still be a possibility of peace talks with the group but home ministry which looks after issues related to insurgency in the North East is not in favour of any dialogue with them at the moment.

Soon after the attack, the Army carried out strikes in Myanmar targeting NSCN-K camps. Since then the forces have intensified operations against the rebel group.

With NSCN-K abrogating the 14-year-old ceasefire in March, its Chairman SS Khaplang and ULFA chief Paresh Baruah initiated the formation of an umbrella group named United National Liberation Front of West South East Asia.

India also took up the issue of NSCN-K cadres abducting young boys from villages in Nagaland along the Myanmar border for recruitment in the group. Mail Today had earlier reported that nine boys were abducted and made to cross the border for being recruited in the group. Sources said the group was also setting up new camps at secret locations in Myanmar after intelligence agencies were successful in locating the old ones.

Manipur Ambush Achitect Niki Sumi back in India

Indian special forces, backed by troops from the Assam Rifles, had attacked Sumi’s base at the village of Ponyo on June 9, the sources said, but the intelligence on his whereabouts was not precise

Few details have emerged on the circumstances under which Sumi succeeded in escaping the Ponyo camp, the key target of the raids conducted by the 21 Paracommando regiment on June 9.

By Praveen Swami

New Delhi | Published on:June 22, 2015 2:33 am

The insurgent commander alleged to be responsible for the ambush that killed 18 soldiers earlier this month has returned to Nagaland after escaping an Indian Army cross-border raid into Myanmar, government sources said.

Niki Sumi, chief of military operations of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), was sighted by intelligence services last week in the forests running along the border with Myanmar in Nagaland’s Phek, Kiphire and Tuensang districts.

Indian special forces, backed by troops from the Assam Rifles, had attacked Sumi’s base at the village of Ponyo on June 9, the sources said, but the intelligence on his whereabouts was not precise

“The government has been seeking the cooperation of Naga insurgent groups committed to the ceasefire with India to track down Sumi and his cadre,” a Ministry of Home Affairs official said. “We are confident that he will be found.”

Sumi, a one-time resident of Naharbari in Dimapur, was named by the Indian government as the key figure in the June 4 ambush, along with the finance chief of the NSCN (K), Starson Lamkang, and ‘Major General’ Neymlang.

Numbering an estimated 1,500 personnel, Sumi’s units are active in the eastern parts of Nagaland, as well as in the Tirap and Changlang districts of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. Its cadre are drawn from a welter of Naga clans — the Konyaks of both India and Myanmar, the Aos of Mokokchung district, the Phoms and Yimchungers of Tuensang district, the Angamis, the Semas, the Lothas, and the Pangmeis of Myanmar.

Few details have emerged on the circumstances under which Sumi succeeded in escaping the Ponyo camp, the key target of the raids conducted by the 21 Paracommando regiment on June 9. Based on briefings from Home Ministry officials, media accounts have claimed dozens — perhaps even over 100 — insurgents were killed.

However, subsequent assessments carried out by the Intelligence Bureau suggest actual fatalities in the two insurgent sites targeted by the Army may have been as few as seven, with a dozen injured.

The Indian government has made no official claim on fatalities, nor released photographs.

Photographs released by the NSCN (K) purport to show that the group responsible for the June 4 ambush returned to its base at Ponyo, though it suffered two fatalities in the course of the operation. The insurgent group has denied suffering fatalities in the cross-border operation.

NSCN(K) Operative Niki Sumi is Key Man Behind Manipur Massacre

By Namrata Biji Ahuja & Rajnish Sharma

Niki Sumi, the self-styled military adviser of NSCN-K, is said to be the brain behind the 4 attack on an Army convoy in Manipur

 

New Delhi, Jun 17 : The National Investigation Agency has zeroed in on four masterminds of the worst attack on the Indian Army on June 4, that was led by key NSCN(K) operative Niki Sumi, who incidentally is also in charge of the outfit’s military operations.

The plot was hatched in Myanmar, with intelligence sources saying Niki Sumi had escaped just hours before the retaliation by Indian Army special forces, who attacked his Ponue camp in Myanmar. Sumi is now learnt to be shifting base every 15 days.

In addition, the role of two other key NSCN(K) members, Neymlang and Starson Lamkang, is also being looked into. While Neymlang is said to be a military operational strategist, Lamkang looks after the financial resources of the terrorist group.

While the operation was carried out by the NSCN(K), it also got logistical support from local KYKL chief Oken, top sources said.

The NIA, with help from Central intelligence agencies, is conducting investigations into one of the worst attacks on the Indian Army in recent times.

It is also suspected that Niki Sumi has escaped to a high-security training camp somewhere in north Myanmar, where he is said to be under heavy protection of some Myanmar Army units as well as members of China’s People’s Liberation Army.

Indian Army in hot pursuit of terrorists behind Manipur ambush, enters Myanmar, kills 20 Northeast insurgents

New Delhi, Jun 10 : In a tough, well coordinated and surgically executed operation a few kilometers inside Myanmar, the Indian Army killed at least 20 terrorists belonging to Northeast insurgent groups who had ambushed a convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district of Manipur on June 4.

Sending out the strong message that Army will not hesitate to hot pursuit terrorists who challenge the Indian authority, Special Forces in coordination with the Indian Air Force launched a daring operation to neutralise insurgents near the Indo-Myanmar border. The operation began on Tuesday morning when troops engaged two separate groups of insurgents, one of which was along the international border while the other was based along the Nagaland-Manipur border.

While 20 terrorists have been killed and two camps of Northeast insurgent groups destroyed, the Indian side suffered no casualties.

The operations are still continuing inside the Myanmar border where Army commandos are hunting down other Northeast terror groups. While 20 terrorists have been killed and two camps of Northeast insurgent groups destroyed, the Indian side suffered no casualties.

In a rare press conference by a senior official, Additional Director General of Military Operations (A) Major General Randhir Singh assured the country that "any threat to our security, safety and national integrity will meet a firm response".

Major General Singh said that Army units got intelligence reports that more attacks were going to be carried out in the region and launched an operation to neutralise the threat.

"Following the attack on our security personnel on 4 June, 2015 in Chandel, Manipur, Indian Army has been on a high alert. In the course of the last few days, credible and specific intelligence was received about further attacks that were being planned within our territory. These attacks were to be carried out by some of the groups involved in earlier attacks on our security personnel and their allies," said the Major General.

"In view of the imminent threat, an immediate response based on intelligence, operations were conducted to counter these planned assaults. Early this (Tuesday) morning, the Indian Army engaged two separate groups of insurgents along the Indo-Myanmar border at two locations, along the Nagaland and Manipur borders. Significant casualties have been inflicted on them. As a consequence, threats to our civilian population and security forces were averted," he said.


"Indian Army is in communication with the Myanmar authorities on this matter. There is a history of close cooperation between our two militaries. We look forward to working with them to combat such terrorism. While ensuring peace and tranquility along the border and in the border states, any threat to our security, safety and national integrity will meet a firm response," the officer added.

The ambush on the 6 Dogra Regiment convoy, which was being deinducted from the area, was carried out by terror groups active on the Tengnoupal-New Samtal road between Paralong and Charong villages at about 9 AM, about 80 km from Manipur capital Imphal.

The army truck carrying soldiers and fuel was first hit by a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) following which the terrorists used rocket propelled grenades and automatic assault rifles to pin down the soldiers resulting in the heaviest casualty suffered by the force in over three decades. Eleven other soldiers were injured in the ambush.

Naga insurgent outfit Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-A (NSCN) along with Manipuri outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) claimed responsibility for the attack on the convoy.

Several Northeast terrors group have their camps in Myanmar and they routinely cross the porous border to enter Indian, and target security forces and civilians. After carrying out an attack, the terrorists slip back into Myanmar.

China and Pakistan have been using and arming the Northeast terror groups to foment trouble in the region.

Khaplang, In The Eyes Of An Indian Naga

The NSCN-K’s first ceasefire meeting with the Myanmar authorities, to which Baruah refers in order to glorify S.S. Khaplang and criticise the Indian government, was at Hkamti on April 9, 2012.

Nothing can be farther from the truth than equating the NSCN-K with Myanmar in the context of India’s engagement.

Sanjib Baruah’s ‘The Nagas of India and Myanmar’ (IE, May 14) speaks volumes about his scholarship. But there are many Nagas like me who have firsthand experience of the issue, particularly the recent developments highlighted by the article.

The NSCN-K’s first ceasefire meeting with the Myanmar authorities, to which Baruah refers in order to glorify S.S. Khaplang and criticise the Indian government, was at Hkamti on April 9, 2012. The meeting was undoubtedly a red letter day for the NSCN-K. The Myanmar government organised a fantastic cultural evening, followed by a gala dinner. The ceasefire agreement was drafted and signed by none other than Kilonser Wangtin Naga and Kilonser P. Tikhak, leaders of Baruah’s “yet-to-be-named group of former NSCN-K members”. Our group has aptly been named NSCN-Reformation.

Notwithstanding Myanmar’s hospitality, the initial political concessions did not reflect the mature political acumen touted by Baruah. The Myanmar authorities wanted to restrict Naga areas to only four towns. But we managed to get the main ceasefire office at Hkamti and asked for sub-offices in all towns. The Hkamti office was demanded to ensure that at least this town remained within Naga areas. We also asked Myanmar to immediately demarcate Naga areas, so that Naga areas that had gone to the Kachins and Shans could be brought back. Unfortunately, Khaplang had done little to prevent Naga areas from going to other communities. So much for his “ideological worldview” and “ideological commitments”.

The two Naga leaders from the Indian side, Wangtin Naga and P. Tikhak, expelled by none other than Khaplang himself, fought with the Myanmar authorities for these rights. These two were the architects of Khaplang’s authority in parts of Sagaing Region. Was it not a reflection of their commitment to a pan-Naga political and social identity? For us, the concerns of our brothers and sisters in Myanmar were as dear as those of our brothers and sisters in India. Both Khole Konyak and Kitovi Zhimoni parted ways with Khaplang, though these two leaders had stood by him and did not consider him a “Burmese Naga”.

Who, then, broke this bond? Who divided the Nagas into Myanmarese and Indian? Who gave the identity of “Indian Nagas” to us? Who betrayed the Naga cause? The answer is Khaplang. Khaplang exploited both leaders, who knew English, to ink the historic agreement with Myanmar only to enjoy its fruits with his Myanmarese brothers. When it came to a similar ceasefire with the Indian government, he opposed it tooth and nail. When it came to political dialogue with India, Khaplang wanted to wait for talks with the NSCN-IM (the Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah faction) to fail. Khaplang did not have any stake in a political settlement with the Indian government. This was political opportunism at its worst. Khaplang is answerable to the Nagas of the world as to why he has created Nagas within Nagas.

Khaplang is a fatherly figure (baba) in Naga society, and Nagas respect their elders. But one should deserve and inspire that respect through actions, not fear. Regarding Wangtin’s statement “to my great baba as no son has any bad intention towards his father”, he was not talking about the post-split period, but the one prior to it, when he tried to convince Khaplang to take into consideration several problems faced on the Indian side. But Khaplang turned a deaf ear to his pleas, thinking Wangtin was doing so only for his own benefit. That’s why he clarified that a son can never have any bad intentions towards his father. His pleas were meant to save the organisation from sinking because of the backbiters. Ultimately, it culminated in the current state of affairs. Therefore, it was not at all an apologetic statement as made out by Baruah.

As regards Khaplang’s influence on the Indian side, a few incidents of violence by fugitive followers don’t prove his influence. Indeed, the rising public resentment against violence and the call for non-cooperation speak against it. Sooner rather than later, the truth will prevail. There is a pantheon of Naga leaders who have sacrificed themselves at the altar of the Naga cause. Khaplang does not even merit a mention.

His protection to other Indian insurgent groups in Myanmar is not because of his influence. It is a marriage of convenience. Other groups take advantage of his ceasefire with Myanmar to seek refuge, while Khaplang takes “protection money”. As regards whether India should learn from Myanmar on how to deal with Khaplang, whether Indian security forces have the capacity to contain the NSCN-K, whether Myanmar will extend a helping hand by not allowing Khaplang to use its soil, and whether India can solve the Naga issue only by talking to the NSCN-IM, it is for the Indian government to ponder. In any case, nothing can be farther from the truth than equating the NSCN-K with Myanmar in the context of India’s engagement.

This article has been written by MIP, Secretary, NSCN-Reformation, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland.

its worst. Khaplang is answerable to the Nagas of the world as to why he has created Nagas within Nagas.
Khaplang is a fatherly figure (baba) in Naga society, and Nagas respect their elders. But one should deserve and inspire that respect through actions, not fear. Regarding Wangtin’s statement “to my great baba as no son has any bad intention towards his father”, he was not talking about the post-split period, but the one prior to it, when he tried to convince Khaplang to take into consideration several problems faced on the Indian side. But Khaplang turned a deaf ear to his pleas, thinking Wangtin was doing so only for his own benefit. That’s why he clarified that a son can never have any bad intentions towards his father. His pleas were meant to save the organisation from sinking because of the backbiters. Ultimately, it culminated in the current state of affairs. Therefore, it was not at all an apologetic statement as made out by Baruah.
As regards Khaplang’s influence on the Indian side, a few incidents of violence by fugitive followers don’t prove his influence. Indeed, the rising public resentment against violence and the call for non-cooperation speak against it. Sooner rather than later, the truth will prevail. There is a pantheon of Naga leaders who have sacrificed themselves at the altar of the Naga cause. Khaplang does not even merit a mention.
His protection to other Indian insurgent groups in Myanmar is not because of his influence. It is a marriage of convenience. Other groups take advantage of his ceasefire with Myanmar to seek refuge, while Khaplang takes “protection money”. As regards whether India should learn from Myanmar on how to deal with Khaplang, whether Indian security forces have the capacity to contain the NSCN-K, whether Myanmar will extend a helping hand by not allowing Khaplang to use its soil, and whether India can solve the Naga issue only by talking to the NSCN-IM, it is for the Indian government to ponder. In any case, nothing can be farther from the truth than equating the NSCN-K with Myanmar in the context of India’s engagement.
This article has been written by MIP, Secretary, NSCN-Reformation, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/khaplang-in-the-eyes-of-an-indian-naga/2/#sthash.oKMPgOam.dpuf

its worst. Khaplang is answerable to the Nagas of the world as to why he has created Nagas within Nagas.
Khaplang is a fatherly figure (baba) in Naga society, and Nagas respect their elders. But one should deserve and inspire that respect through actions, not fear. Regarding Wangtin’s statement “to my great baba as no son has any bad intention towards his father”, he was not talking about the post-split period, but the one prior to it, when he tried to convince Khaplang to take into consideration several problems faced on the Indian side. But Khaplang turned a deaf ear to his pleas, thinking Wangtin was doing so only for his own benefit. That’s why he clarified that a son can never have any bad intentions towards his father. His pleas were meant to save the organisation from sinking because of the backbiters. Ultimately, it culminated in the current state of affairs. Therefore, it was not at all an apologetic statement as made out by Baruah.
As regards Khaplang’s influence on the Indian side, a few incidents of violence by fugitive followers don’t prove his influence. Indeed, the rising public resentment against violence and the call for non-cooperation speak against it. Sooner rather than later, the truth will prevail. There is a pantheon of Naga leaders who have sacrificed themselves at the altar of the Naga cause. Khaplang does not even merit a mention.
His protection to other Indian insurgent groups in Myanmar is not because of his influence. It is a marriage of convenience. Other groups take advantage of his ceasefire with Myanmar to seek refuge, while Khaplang takes “protection money”. As regards whether India should learn from Myanmar on how to deal with Khaplang, whether Indian security forces have the capacity to contain the NSCN-K, whether Myanmar will extend a helping hand by not allowing Khaplang to use its soil, and whether India can solve the Naga issue only by talking to the NSCN-IM, it is for the Indian government to ponder. In any case, nothing can be farther from the truth than equating the NSCN-K with Myanmar in the context of India’s engagement.
This article has been written by MIP, Secretary, NSCN-Reformation, Government of the People’s Republic of Nagaland.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/khaplang-in-the-eyes-of-an-indian-naga/2/#sthash.oKMPgOam.dpuf

NSCN Rebels Kill 8 Indian Paramilitary Soldiers

The Assam Rifles personnel also fired back and one underground militant was killed while some others were injured in the ensuing encounter, they added.

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Guwahati, May 4 : Eight soldiers, seven of them belonging to the Assam Rifles, were killed when two vehicles of 23 Assam Rifles battalion were ambushed by the NSCN(K) in Mon district in Nagaland on Sunday. While three soldiers were killed on the spot, five others died later.

Sources in Assam Rifles in Kohima said the two vehicles, one a water-trailer and the other a Tata 407, were on their way to collect water from a natural source nearly four kms from their camp location in Mon district when they came under NSCN(K) attack. While the first vehicle was blown off by powerful IED explosion, the heavily armed militants who were positioned on vantage uphill locations sprayed bullets from AK-series weapons on the second vehicle.

The eight soldiers who were killed included seven of the 23 Assam Rifles and one jawan from the 164 Territorial Army Battalion. There were altogether 18 persons including the two drivers in the two vehicles. The incident occurred at around 2:45 pm on Sunday between Chaklangshu and Tobu in Mon district, nearly 390 km east of Kohima.

The surviving soldiers however retaliated, in the process killing at least two NSCN(K) militants, the sources said. While one uniformed body of an NSCN(K) militant was recovered from the spot, the militants managed to remove another militant who was seriously wounded and probably killed, the sources said.

Sunday’’ was the second major attack on security forces by NSCN(K) in the past few weeks. The NSCN(K) had killed two Gurkha regiment jawans in Tamenglong district in Manipur on March 21.

The outfit had called off its 15-year old ceasefire with the Union government on March 28.

No talks with militant outfits indulging in violence, says Rajnath Singh

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal wave at the crowd during the closing ceremony of the 19th National Youth Festival in Guwahati on Monday.

Guwahati, Jan 13 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Monday that there will be no talk with any group involved in violence. Expressing concern over the growing insurgency, Singh said that the nation was passing through a critical phase and sought cooperation of the youth in tackling the issue.

Apparently refering to the recent acts of violence in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam that left over 80 people dead, Singh said: “I must make it clear that there is no place for violence in a democracy. Doors for negotiated settlements are open only for the groups that do not indulge in violence. The government cannot remain a silent spectator to any acts of violence.”

Singh asked the people of the northeast, particularly the youth, not to allow any form of violence and insurgency to take place in the region. Saying that there is no disconnect between the northeast and the rest of the country, the minister said, “If Kashmir is India’s crown, the northeast is its strong arm.

If any foreign force makes any attempt to cause harm to the nation, this strong arm will give a befitting reply,” he said.

Terming unemployment as a major problem, Singh said the Centre has sought cooperation of the state government. The Centre’s ‘Make in India’ initiative was one such initiative that would help create huge job opportunities for the youth and wean them away from digressions, he said.

Complimenting the participants of the National Youth Festival, the minister also asked them to follow the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, who he said had taught that the whole world was a family. The country’s youth were capable of transforming India into a global superpower, he said.

Manipur Rebel Outfit Pulls Out Of Peace Talks

Imphal, Oct 15 : The United Revolutionary Front (URF) which signed a ceasefire agreement with the Manipur government has pulled out of peace talks.

The group which had denounced the state government's current surrender policy now wants back the arms and ammunition it deposited while signing the peace pact. Deputy chief minister Gaikhangam said the state government would discuss the matter with the Centre.

A conglomerate of around five factions of the underground Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), URF had signed the tripartite "Suspension of Operation" agreement with the state and the Centre a few years ago.

The outfit's total cadre strength is over 400 and nearly 130 of them including its leaders lived in their designated camp at an Assam Rifles complex in Loitang Khunou in Imphal West, sources said. The outfit left the camp a few days ago, they added.

In a statement, URF chairman Lanheiba Meitei said the outfit has no faith in the policies of the state and the Centre. Anybody who surrenders to the government using the name of the outfit and its armed wing, Manipur Army (MA), will be killed, he warned.

The outfit threatened to attack members of the ruling Congress if the state government stages a "surrender drama" with a 'fake' URF.

The outfit will launch its "valley operation" soon under "army commander" Loyangamba Meitei, he said.

Gaikhangam, who also holds the home portfolio, said on Monday, "I don't want to comment on this issue. We will consult the Centre." He added that URF's move betrays its frustration with the ceasefire rules.

Militant Camps Still in Bangladesh, Claims Tripura Chief Minister

RAB’s operation on Jun 4, 2014 yielded arms at the seven bunkers atop hillocks inside Satchharhi jungles of Habiganj, about three km from the Indian border in Tripura.

Militant camps still exist across the border in Bangladesh, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar alleged on Monday.

He said this while addressing a large gathering of the elite Tripura State Rifles (TSR) personnel and the members of their families at a blood, eye, and body donation programme at the battalion headquarters in Tripura's Agartala.

Sarkar has been praising the present government in Bangladesh, saying it is friendly towards India and has acted against Northeast Indian militant groups using Bangladesh territory as their launching pad.

But he added several camps of Tripura militants still existed across the border.

“The problem of insurgency has not yet been entirely solved. They have been weakened and cornered, but not totally uprooted.”

He said 19 to 20 camps still existed in Bangladesh. Of the two Tripura militant groups - NLFT and the Tiger Force – the former was still ran camps in Bangladesh, though with a depleting cadre strength.

According to him, there were no records any camp of the banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) in Bangladesh at present.

The Chief Minister said the militants were trying to achieve a revival in Tripura and hamper development work.

Sarkar praised the TSR for its counter-insurgency operations in the state.

Tripura has an 857-km border with Bangladesh, of which more than 90 percent has been already fenced.

Myanmar To Act Against Northeast Militants

Nay Pyi Taw, Aug 25 : Promising all possible support to India's fight against terrorism, Myanmar has said it will bust training camps of North East militant groups on its soil if India provides specific inputs about their existence.

Asserting that his country will never allow any terror outfit to use its soil against India, Myanmar's Information Minister U Ye Htut said his government will cooperate "fully" with the new Indian government in cracking down on militant bases, if there was any.

"If India gives exact information about the location and other information (about the militant training camps), then Myanmar is ready to take action against them," Htut told PTI in an interview.

Myanmar, considered one of India's strategic neighbours, shares a 1,640 km long border with a number of North Eastern states including militancy-infested Nagaland and Manipur.


India has been raising with Myanmar the issue of several North East Militant outfits having training camps in that country and it was taken up again by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her visit here recently.

As per Indian security agencies, militant outfits like United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K), Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) have bases in Myanmar.

"That area is mountaneous. Our policy is not to allow any outfit to use Myanmar territory to attack any neighbouring country. Now we are trying our best and in recent months we captured lot of illegal arms along the Indian border," Htut said.

Acknowledging India's concern on the issue, he said the Myanmar government was keen to have better cooperation between militaries of the two countries to address the "problem".

"We will work more closely military-to-military to solve the problem. We will welcome if India shares information on movement of terrorists," he said.

Asked whether Myanmar will allow Indian security forces to carry out operation inside its territory to bust the militant camps, he said his country's foreign policy does not allow such action.

Seeking improvement in ties with India, Htut said Myanmar welcomed initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to enhance relationship with the neighbouring countries.

Emphasising on the need to have connectivity, he said Myanmar specifically favours road link from India to Thailand and India to China's Yunnan province through Myanmar.

China has also been favouring opening road link to connect Yunnan province through Myanmar to Kolkata as a economic corridor.

Myanmar, India and Thailand have already been working on the trilateral highway.

The highway - from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand, via Myanmar - was conceived at the trilateral ministerial meeting on transport linkages in Yangon in April 2002.

Htut said there was huge scope for expansion of cooperation between India and Myanmar in sectors like trade, tourism, infrastructure and Information Technology.

ULFA Chief Out Of Myanmar For Treatment

ULFA Commander Paresh Baruah. (Photo: PTI/File)

Guwahati, Aug 1 : The security agencies have intensified its vigil on elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah who is suspected to have been in Thailand or Malaysia for the treatment of his prolonged ailment.

Disclosing that Ulfa commander was not in Myanmar for past few weeks, security sources said that the rebel group chief was maintaining link with his filed commanders in Myanmar, Bangladesh and Assam from his new location.

Informing that the Ulfa field commanders have been asked to make their presence felt by launching subversive activities in the run up to the Independence Day celebrations in Assam, security sources said that MHA was keeping a close watch on developments on insurgency fronts in Assam and other Northeastern states.

How Militant Leader’s Facebook Addiction Brought Meghalaya Police to Hideout in Bangalore

Rapiush Sangma

By Prakruti P K

Wannabe-MLA-turned-radical in search of a quick buck was dumb enough to leave a rich e-trail for the law to catch up

The city's reputation as the tech capital seems to have got to him. He could have even treated his affliction at the prestigious Nimhans which has started a centre for curing people of tech addiction.

But, alas for him, 36-year-old Rapiush Ch Sangma just could not wean himself away from his numerous smartphones or the computer. In his calling, it is a no-no; even stupid considering he put himself on Facebook openly, without hiding his identity.

Sangma is deputy chairman of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) — a banned militant outfit based in Meghalaya. Tracking his frequent FB postings and constant chattering from 10 smartphones, a four-month-long joint operation by Meghalaya and Bangalore police culminated at the doorstep of his hideout at Chandapura near Electronics City on Monday.

Though on the run for the past four months, Sangma is believed to have kept in touch with his subordinates in the outfit and controlled their activities through Facebook, where he frequently updated photographs and other information. He had last changed his profile picture on the networking site as recently as June 14, for which he had received 108 likes. All of which was rich pickings for sleuths hot on his trail. The militant leader finally landed in the police net based on calls from his 10 different mobiles and 20 SIM cards, along with his Facebook activity.

Becoming the second-in-command of a dreaded militant outfit, allegedly involved in numerous abductions, murders, and bombings, was not always part of Sangma's plan. Rapiush Sangma alias Rophul Syntang Marak actually holds a degree in Politics and English Literature from Don Bosco College in Tura.

Since his graduation, Sangma was employed as the village secretary of employment schemes under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) for Garo Hills. During his tenure, Sangma reportedly struck a rapport with the villagers, which in turn kindled his ambitions. He then made bold to contest the assembly elections held on February 23 last year on a ticket from the Samajwadi Party. Apparently, he spent obscene amounts of money for his campaign to get elected from the Rongjeng constituency.

But his political ambitions crash-landed after he lost the elections, securing only 1,604 votes and coming a poor fifth. Undaunted, Sangma changed tack and joined the GNLA in an attempt to make some quick buck and retrieve lost ground from the election defeat.

The GNLA is one among the alphabet soup of insurgent outfits operational in India's troubled North-east. Established in 2009, it aims to set up a separate 'Garoland' for the Garo people of Meghalaya. The matrilineal Garos are the second-largest tribe in Meghalaya after the Khasi. The GNLA has been involved in extortion, attacks, and bombings.

Meghalaya Police think they know why Sangma rapidly rose through the GNLF ranks. "Sangma is the only educated militant. His boss, Sohan D Shira, has not even completed class five. It was like a shot in the arm for the GNLA to have Sangma in their ranks, which is why he rose to second-in-command in less than a year of joining the outfit. More than anything, he hoped to get rich easily by organising and planning notorious activities," Meghalaya's Inspector-General of Police (Operations) G H P Raju told Bangalore Mirror.

He added that Sangma had been on the run for the last four months. "We have been tracking his movements since he fled Garo Hills in early 2014. He 'migrated' to Bangalore along with his wife and two children, and had been leading a lavish lifestyle in the city. Sangma had 'earned' enough and more money through extortion, kidnaps, and murder that he had been involved in since he joined the GNLA. All this money had been deposited in his father-in-law's bank account, and he has made substantial withdrawals in order to survive in Bangalore. We have contacted the banks from where he had withdrawn money to ascertain how many transactions he had made, and of how much," the IGP said.

The Meghalaya Police had been on Sangma's trail by keeping a tab of his very active Facebook account. A Facebook natural, he is on the social network since July 2010. From what can be made out, he has either disabled other people's ability to friend him, or he has exceeded Facebook's cap of 5,000 friends for a profile account. But regardless, some 295 people follow him in public.

While his public posts were mostly self-portraits or pictures of family events featuring his wife and children, police suspect he used the network to post private messages to his accomplices. Pictures were posted to his public profile at least every alternate day. And these updates used to receive at least a 100 likes on an average. His profile listed political thrillers as the kind of movies which interested him, while in music the choice was pop.

Sangma was staying in Bangalore on borrowed time ever since IGP Raju's team recently contacted the Bangalore City Police for specific help to nab him. Raju said: "It took all of seven days for us to finally pinpoint his location and nab him at Chandapura near Electronics City. He had the habit of shifting in and out of fully-furnished apartments every 15 days so as to not leave traces of his whereabouts. However, we were tipped off that he was last seen living in a plush flat in upscale Koramangala. And when we raided his home early on Monday, we seized 20 SIM cards bought from Meghalaya, 10 smartphones, one tablet, one laptop, and two ATM cards, along with some weapons and ammunition."

Looks like his constant Facebook updates while on the run finally led to his undoing. Before he totally turned off his public status updates, Sangma had posted this to his Facebook account on May 22 last year: "People are not looking for miracles, they are looking for the right direction."

Prophetic words. Sangma is headed in the right direction, when the law-enforcers will first produce him in a local court before handing him over to the Meghalaya Police.

Source: Bangalore Mirror

Assam: Top Cop Killed in Encounter with Militants

By Surabhi Malik

Nityanand Goswami killed in encounter with Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT).

Guwahati, Jun 6 :  A senior police official from Assam's Karbi Anglong district was killed during an encounter with militants last night.

Nityanand Goswami, the Superintendent of Police of Assam's Hamren police district, was leading three police parties in an operation against Karbi People's Liberation Tigers (KPLT) in a remote forest area of the district where they came face to face with a large group of the militants who opened fire on them.

The police team retaliated and in the ensuing encounter, Goswami and his personal security guard were killed. Their bodies were recovered this morning.

The KPLT was formed in 2011 to demand that an Autonomous Karbi State (AKS) be carved out of Assam.

It is a breakaway anti-talks faction of the ethnic insurgent Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF).

What Indian Forces Are Up Against

Tura, Jun 6 : Twenty kilometers off Paikan, the tri-junction where the road forks off to Tura, the army camp on National Highway 51 has an improvised operations room — a sort of a summer house within the compound of Kukurkata police station.

The small board on the wall next to a large operations map provides figures of the Dogra regiment unit stationed there: kills two; one of Ulfa and one of GNLA. Apprehends three of Rabha Viper Army, three of Rabha National Liberation Front, two of United Achik Liberation Army and three Ulfa.

Ask the personnel there what UALA is and pat comes the reply: they are a breakaway faction of the ANVC and are now a combination of Garo and Ulfa militants. These permutation and combinations of militant outfits are what the security forces are up against.

Two kilometres away is Berubari, the Assam-Meghalaya border, Paikan being 140km from Guwahati. Beyond Berubari, the state police, CRPF and BSF patrol Meghalaya, the state’s chief minister Mukul Sangma still quite certain that the army —and by the default the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act — isn’t still required to contain the insurgency that has come to plague his state.

Eighty kilometres uphill, at Tura, members of the Mothers’ Union have gathered at the deputy commissioner’s office to discuss a protest against the Chokpot incident. They are in agreement with Sangma but reject outright any suggestion that the ‘movement’ led by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) may have any patriotic motives whatsoever. “It is all about money. This is trouble that has been borrowed from militants in neighbouring states. Militants of Ulfa and NSCM (I-M) who for decades used the Garo hills as a corridor have now got Garo boys into this,” says a senior member of the union.

“Many people have received demand notes. The harassment is endless,” she says.

If the Ulfa targeted Assam’s tea industry as its main source of income during its heydays in the 1990s, militants of Meghalaya have had their coal mines to extort.

The targeting of common people also has to do with the green tribunal banning rat-hole mining in the Meghalaya — the main form of excavation in these parts where mines are privately owned — on April 17 this year. The industry, given the private ownership, runs reckless and offers only fudgy figures: Nangalbibra and Chokpot areas alone in South Garo Hills could have around 200 mines.

The only concrete figure, that for the financial year 2013-14 up to December last year: 37.61 lakh metric tonnes of coal was produced in Meghalaya. The total revenue collected on “major minerals” up to December last year was Rs 289.14 crore, according to government data.

The wealth the region offers has spawned a string of militant outfits, each a breakaway faction of the one before it, the extortion problem refusing to go away given the source of easy money.

The GNLA, for example, is a breakaway faction of the militant Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) that signed a peace accord with the government in July 2004. A second faction of the ANVC, headed by Rimpu Marak, saw its own breakaway, christened Asak, that is still active in the state’s coal areas with some 70 to 80 members it took away during the split.

Rimpu and his men, too, are active in the region. Norok Momin, a former member of the ANVC, then launched the United Achik Liberation Army (UALA).

The source of arms continues to be the same: from breakaway factions of militant groups in the neighbouring states of Assam and Nagaland where group after group has appeared only to see splits and splinter groups. Of those who have surrendered only some have deposited their arms with the government, while others have held onto them in designated camps or sold them to groups such as the GNLA.

At its wit’s end, the political leadership in Meghalaya is now banking on the church leadership to bring the militants to the negotiating table —under the umbrella of the ANVC, the mother organisation. “Talks will have to be held no matter what,” says a senior government official. That perhaps is the only way out of the morass that Meghalaya now finds itself in.

Bangladesh Seizes 100 Rocket Launchers Near India border

Dhaka, Jun 4 : Police in northeastern Bangladesh recovered a huge cache of illegal arms on Tuesday, including more than 100 rocket launchers, in a forest near the border with an insurgency-hit part of India.

A Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) commander in Habiganj district said they found the arms and ammunition at Satchhari forest range two days after launching a search following a tip-off.

"So far we have recovered more than 100 rocket launchers and several sacks full of ammunition and other military gadgets," RAB commander Shaminur Rahman told AFP.

"The arms and ammunition were hidden in five deep trenches in the forest. We've not completed our search yet."

The recovery comes at a time when the elite force, which has been described by New York-based Human Rights Watch as a "death squad", has been under fire over accusations that members were involved in the abduction and murder of seven people in April.

The RAB did not comment on who the consignment, one of the largest seizures in recent years, was meant for.

In 2004 10 trucks full of arms and ammunition intended for an Indian insurgent group were seized in the port city of Chittagong, the biggest-ever arms haul in Bangladesh's history.

India's remote northeastern region, which borders Bangladesh, is home to dozens of tribal groups and small guerrilla armies fighting New Delhi's rule.

Thai court orders extradition of NSCN arms deals ‘broker’

Willy was picked up by Thailand at India’s request last year.

In a significant breakthrough, a Bangkok court on Monday issued an order to extradite a Thai national and middlemen Willy Naruenartwanich, accused of brokering arms deals between Chinese suppliers and Northeast insurgent outfits, said officials.

It relates to an NIA case in which Anthony Shimray, a top NSCN (IM) operative, arrested in 2010 for negotiating through Willy for procuring huge quantity of arms and ammunition for his outfit. While issuing the order, the court has allowed 30 days time to the fugitive if Willy wants to appeal against order.

Willy was picked up by Thailand at India’s request last year. According to Shimray, Willy brokered significant arms deals between Chinese suppliers and Northeast insurgent outfits. The court order came after a team from the National Investigative Agency (NIA) presented evidence before the Thai authorities.

As per NIA chargesheet, Willy runs a spa business in Thailand and had emerged as a key figure during the interrogation of Shimray, who had bewildered Indian interrogators with the details of his alleged dealings. As per NIA, Shimray had reportedly told interrogators that Willy was his main interlocutor with Chinese arms dealers and had brokered a $2 million deal involving supply of around 1,000 firearms, including 600 AK-47s and ammunition.

The deal, according to the NIA chargesheet, was re-negotiated to $1 million. After a six-month investigation, NIA filed a chargesheet against Shimray and three others, including a foreign national, at a Delhi court.

Anup Chetia could not be extradited to India Now

By Syed Sajjad Ali

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir during the inauguration of the newly-built Integrated Check Post between India and Bangladesh at Akhaura Border in Agartala on Sunday.

First Integrated Check Post on Bangladesh border opened

Bangladesh will hand over extremists and criminals wanted in India in keeping with the extradition treat the two countries signed recently, Bangladesh Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir said on Sunday.

However, United Liberation Front of Assam top leader Anup Chetia could not be extradited now because he had mounted an appeal in the Bangladesh Supreme Court. “Anup Chetia has completed his term in jail for his illegal stay in Bangladesh. However, he has moved our Supreme Court against his possible deportation elsewhere, and the court is yet to settle the plea,” he told journalists after his Indian counterpart Sushilkumar Shinde opened an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Akhaura in Agartala.

This is the first ICP India has built on its border with Bangladesh. An ICP works at Atari in Punjab on the border with Pakistan. The ICP boasts modern infrastructure to facilitate better trade and immigration. India plans to open 13 ICPs along the border with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.

Bangladesh Shipping Minister Sahajahan Khan and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is indisposed, could not turn up for the function.

“The setting up of ICPs along India’s international border is a major infrastructure initiative, and I am confident that the ICP, which became operational today, will be a milestone in the improvement of people-to-people contact and cross-border trade with Bangladesh,” Mr. Shinde said in his speech at the function.

Dr. Alamgir said the ICP would usher in a new era in bilateral relations. He also referred to the role played by the people of Tripura in his country’s war of liberation.

Tripura’s Trade and Commerce Minister Jitendra Choudhury urged Mr. Shinde to approve establishment of eight haats (markets) on the zero line of the border and requested Dr. Alamgir to allow access to the Chittagong port, 75 km from Sabroom in south Tripura.

Mr. Shinde said sanction would be given for haats in Tripura as they were in Meghalaya. He appealed to Dr. Alamgir to allow more imports from the north-eastern India in general, and Tripura in particular, to end the trade imbalance in this sector. Records show Bangladesh exported goods worth Rs. 240 crore and imported products worth a mere Rs. 1 crore through the Akhaura border.

Talking to journalists, Dr. Alamgir denied the presence of any Indian militant group in his country.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stands firm on the issue; if there is any specific information given to us, we would immediately take action.”

GNLA Training Camps Thrive in The Jungles of Meghalaya

By Manogya Loiwa

 

Kolkata, Oct 22 : The guerilla training camps of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), fighting for a separate state, are thriving in Meghalaya's jungles despite a ban on the outfit.

Excusive photos of the camps, accessed by Headlines Today, show how the GNLA is meticulously training more and more militants to its way of life.

Headlines Today is also in possession of the slips GNLA militants use to extort money from locals and businessmen.

Formed in 2009 and banned in 2011 after a series of blasts and militant activities in Meghalaya, the GNLA is alive and kicking.

These training camps exist in dense forests of Garo hills.

Since its formation, the GNLA has been involved in killing, abduction, extortion, blasts and attacks on security forces.

The GNLA was led by a former police officer, Champion Sangma, and created trouble in Garo Hills district.

Several arrests have been made but these thriving training camps are evidence of the survival of these militants in several locations in the hills, making government's claims fall flat.

According to sources, GNLA has more than 300 militants.

In the forests of Garo Hills, GNLA members are being given all the necessary training in arms, map reading and walking in jungles with eyes covered with black clothes.

Though their Champion Sangma has been arrested, the morale of his organisation remains high.

Under the leadership of Sohan D. Shira, hundreds of GNLA members are obtaining training.

Sources also tell Headlines Today GNLA may carry out more attacks ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The outfit operates in the three districts of western Meghalaya.

Though its main area of operation was in East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, it has expanded its network in coal-rich West Khasi Hills too.

Dorengchigre village located in East Garo Hills is the GNLA heartland.

Also, a GNLA leader is reportedly in Bangladesh seeking the probability of setting up a base in Dhaka.

"GNLA has links with rebel groups in Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram and Bangladesh," said Sandhi Mukherjee, former inspector general, Intelligence Bureau, West Bengal.

"I feel the North-East Frontier Development Department Minister and all other responsible people should sit together and find definite means to do something quickly so that this doesn't go out of hand," Mukherjee said.

The extortion money gathered from locals and businessmen ensures smooth operation for GNLA.

Sources tell Headlines Today that the outfit uses this fund in procuring arms and ammunitions and carrying out militant activities in the region.

"It depends on how the government looks into it. There should be quick responses and reactions. It's still not late. I feel elected government of the state should take it up quickly with the government of India," Mukherjee said.

The government should involve people and create job opportunities in hilly regions for youth, Mukherjee said. "These are the basic problems for which agitations start."