IMPHAL, Apr 12 : The banned Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has submitted a memorandum to the secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan for the second time for the decolonisation and removing the alien racist regime in Manipur and enlist it in the list of the non-self governing territories of the United Nations and restoration of independence and sovereignty of Manipur. The 142-page memorandum also includes 13 different geographical maps of Manipur and its neighboring areas. Besides, it widely covers the background of the Manipur's history. It contains the Genealogy of Manipur Kings right from The Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (33-154 AD) to King Bhodhachandra (1941-1955 AD). Apart from other topics, the photographs of three leaders, Rishang Keishing, Wahengbam Nipamacha and Chungkhokai Doungel are also clearly printed in the memorandum calling them Mongoloid leaders. The memorandum also covers the photographs of India's President and Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee under the name Aryan-Dravidian India's leaders. Talking to reporters somewhere in Imphal today, the spokesman of the department of Communication and Publicity of the RPF said that the memorandum has been handed over to the secretary General of the UN during its General Assembly Session held at New York by one of the representatives of the Front. He further stated that the same copies of the memorandum were also distributed to the other members and representatives of the United Nations during the General Assembly. One of the representatives of the UN reported to have given assurance on bringing up the memorandum to the proposal committee of the United Nations to take up necessary actions, the spokesman added. He further said that other representatives of the UN also showed their willingness to extend their support to the cause. (Yakairol; Imphal; April 13, 2000)

IMPHAL, April 13: Thousands of people and a number of family members and relatives of the PLA activists who were killed in the tragic Kodompokpi incident offered floral tributes at the newly inaugurated Martyrs' Memorial site in the, Cheiraoching today. In spite of the Sessions Court's order issued yesterday that allowed the friends and near and dear ones of the slain activists to pay tributes, the police commandos allowed only the relatives to enter the memorial site today. The memorial site was closely guarded by the personnel of the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police. Many women who came to pay their respect in traditional dress were denied access to the site. As done every year, the memorial stone erected in the name of the slain activists was destroyed yesterday. But this did not deter the family members from offering floral tributes. Those who were denied access to the site had to contend themselves with offering floral tributes at the Martyrs' Memorial site which was recently opened nearby. In this case, the police decided not to intervene and let the people do as they pleased. It is worth mentioning that the president of the Poirei Leimarol Apunba Meira Paibi Lup had petitioned the Sessions court yesterday praying for permission to the people to offer floral tributes at the site. The Sessions court had also directed the state to allow the people to pay respects and maintain law and order in the area. Meanwhile, Inspector General (Law and Order), Romenkumar in a press release had stated that according to the ruling by the Gauhati High Court under WP (C) No 375/99 on April 12, only close relatives of the nine slain members of the PLA activists would be allowed to pay tributes. The release also sternly warned any one obeying the appeals of the PLA would not be spared but viewed as a lawbreaker. No one should light candles nor should pay tributes at the Cheiraoching, he had warned. (Yakairol; Imphal; April 14, 2000)

IMPHAL, April 14: Many memorial constructions of departed PLA members at different places were dismantled between the night of April 12 and 13 last by suspected security personnel, reports said. The memorial construction of (L) Langpoklakpam Chandra Singh, father of the MoS (minister of state) for Higher Education, Dr. L. Bheigyachandra, at Pishumthong Ningom Leirak Machin was also destroyed. The unknown persons also pulled down the memorial sites of *PLA's Surjaboro and Inaobi at the mouth of Pishumthong Ningom Leirak. The memorial constructions at Naorem Leikai Lairembi Lampak and Gourashing Khongnang Makhong were also destroyed. The face of the memorial construction at Singjamei Super Market was smeared with Mobil oil while the fencing around it was completely dismantled. Meanwhile, a strong force of Manipur Police, Assam rifles and CRPF had thrown a tight security ring around the memorial site of PLA's Martyrs atop Cheiraoching hill at Chingmeirong yesterday. However, thousands of people had paid homage to the great leaders, another report said. The day before yesterday, H. Imocha, DC (Imphal West) imposed restrictions to the entry and gathering of many people within the radius of 10 metres around the memorial site under 144 CrPC. Only the members of the families of the PLA martyrs and their relatives were allowed to pay homage at the memorial constructions. However, the restrictions disallowed their gathering at the area. Their entry was allowed one after another by the security personnel. The police maintained a register of the relatives of the ten PLA martyrs who would be allowed to pay homage at the memorial site, the report added. Thousands of people have also offered floral tributes at the memorial constructed by the Manipur Martyrs Memorial Committee, the report stated. (Sangai Express; Imphal; April 15, 2000)

SIVASAGAR, April 16: Fratricidal fighting has broken out between the Khaplang and Isak-Muivah factions since April 13 in places like Walting, Tiru and Takumpatha near the Assam-Nagaland border. NSCN(IM) had suffered heavy casualties, reports said. Hundreds of people from affected places in Nagaland were taking shelter in Abhoipur Reserved Forest in Sivasagar district. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 17, 2000)

DIMAPUR, April 16: Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir said that any ceasefire with NSCN(K) has to be comprehensive, but first the outfit must work out the modalities of the ceasefire. Talking to newspersons here yesterday, the Nagaland Chief Minister said that there should be designated zones where armed militants should restrict themselves. For a positive outcome of the peace process, all the militant groups should have a ceasefire among themselves. The primary task now was to stop factional killings. "They should stop killing each other before any dialogue begins," he said adding that for a lasting solution of the Naga problem, views of all sections of Nagas should be taken into consideration. On the role of the state government, he said, it would act as a facilitator and a bridge between those underground and the Union government. (UNI; The Asian Age; New Delhi; April 17, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 16: Tripura police averted an ethnic conflagration as they could unearth a desperate plot hatched by the Pakistani intelligence service ISI to foment communal violence in the state. Natunbazar police on Friday carried out special operations in remote parts of South Tripura district and rounded up two Muslims and one Christian. The arrested trio were instigating tribals in interior areas to launch ethnic violence in non-tribal-dominated villages. Police believe that the two Muslims, Abdul Hussain of Lebacherra and Rahid Mian of Ekcherri and Binoy Reang of Mangal Singhpara were briefed by the ISI to carry out a hate campaign against the non-tribals in tribal areas and instigate the innocent tribals to launch communal violence before the TTAADC elections. Police had prior information about the campaign and accordingly launched a search operations for the trio. When they were arrested the three men also divulged the names of 41 others who were involved in the hate-campaign. Police were looking for them. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 17, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 16: Security forces raided a hotel in Dimapur town, arrested ten NSCN(IM) cadres and seized two pistols and some incriminating documents from their possession on Thursday. According to a press release issued by 64 Mountain Brigade, the NSCN(IM) held illegal trials in the hotel. During the search, the security forces saw a mock trial in progress under a self-styled judge where 'accused' Sunil Das, a worker in a gas agency, was tried for 'stealing' LPG cylinders. Four civilians were also present at the 'hearing'. The release said the NSCN(IM) had been blatantly taking the law into its hand and grossly violating the ceasefire ground rules. Sunil Das and three others were brutally beaten up to obtain confessions, it said. Charging the NSCN(IM) with forcing its writ on the common man, the security forces warned that it would not remain a mute spectator to such activities but assist the civil administration in the maintenance of law and order. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 17, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 17: The unilateral ceasefire declared by the NSCN(K) may change the militancy scenario in the Northeast. The NSCN(K) ceasefire has upset coordination among the militant outfits in the region that had resolved to fight under a joint banner, the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front. The front had also passed a resolution recently that any decision on peace talks will be taken jointly by the six members of the organisations. Disclosing this here on Monday, highly-placed police sources told The Asian Age that a top political leader from Assam played a crucial role in persuading Naga leaders for the ceasefire. Sources indicated that the NSCN(K) initiative has sent an indication to the banned ULFA and the NDFB in Assam that they may have to do some rethinking on their stand. With another underground outfit showing its readiness to talk, the Centre is watching its implications on the ongoing peace process in Nagaland as the Isak-Muivah faction has expressed its reservations on joining the peace process, sources said, adding that an exercise to find out some way out of this embarrassing situation has already started. The NSCN(K) has a strong base in neighbouring Burma where it runs training camps for different Northeast militant outfits. The move to join peace talks may also be a setback for the militant outfits in Assam as most of them rely on the Khaplang faction for arms, ammunition and training. The change in attitude of militant outfits in the region is being attributed to the mounting pressure of the masses that in general are fed up with the violence. This has not only affected development but has also spoiled the future of a generation of youth in the Northeast. Recently, the Bodo Liberation Tiger entered into dialogue with the Centre for finding a peaceful solution to the Bodo problem. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; New Delhi; April 18, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 17: Three jawans of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) were today killed and 16 others injured in a landmine blast triggered by suspected militants of All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) at Sonaicherri in West Tripura district. The incident occurred when a security convoy of the SDPO of Khowai drove over the landmine planted by the ultras, inspector-general of police Selim Ali told reporters here. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 18, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 17: A joint team of police and CRPF arrested a senior Baptist church activist with huge amount of explosive materials. The explosives were meant for NLFT militants. The former Baptist church secretary of Noagaon Baptist mission at Dharmanagar Nagman Halam was picked up by Dharmanagar police station staff and 18 battalion CRPF and recovered huge explosives, gelatine sticks, detonators. Halam confessed that he was acting as conduit for militants. The Baptist Mission Church activist's involvement came to light when police rounded up two NLFT militants Dongir Halam and Naisuram Halam on Saturday from Panisagar police station area. Many political parties and even Left Front ministers, including chief minister Manik Sarkar, have openly expressed their suspicion about Baptist mission's involvement in the Tripura militancy, particularly with the NLFT. On August 8 last year, NLFT extremists kidnapped four senior RSS pracharaks from North Tripura district. They are still in militants' captivity. The RSS had organised countrywide agitations and sangh leaders like Rajendra Prasad and K Sudarshan straightway accused Baptist mission of master minding the kidnap. The NLFT has already circulated its diktat that no Hindu and only Christian rituals would be allowed in tribal areas. The NLFT dominated by Christian leaders in several occasions destroyed Hindu puja pandals and beheaded statues of Hindu deities like Durga and Saraswati. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 18, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 17: Tripura witnessed total bandh today in protest against the massacre of 12 non-tribal villagers at Khas Kalyanpur on Saturday night by NLFT militants. The bandh was called by ruling Left Front and all Opposition parties. Reports from all over the state said bandh paralysed the normal life with vehicles staying off the road and shopkeepers downing their shutters. Attendance in government offices was nil. Tripura Board of Secondary Education has postponed the ongoing Madhyamik examination to April 19. Police said security arrangements were intensified and there is no report of any untoward incident. UNI adds : While the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Front, Opposition Trinamool Congress, the BJP, the TUJS and the Janata Dal (United) have called for a dawn-to-dusk statewide bandh, the main Opposition Congress has given the call for a 24-hour bandh. Prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr PC have been promulgated in strategically important places in the state as a precautionary measure. These would remain enforced till further orders. Police said that para-military and state security forces intensified their anti-insurgency operations following Saturday's massacre, which claimed 12 lives and injured seven at Khas Kalyanpur in West Tripura. The ultras, belonging to ATTF, also set on fire many houses. While the ruling parties are demanding additional security forces from the Centre, the Opposition has called for the bandh, demanding imposition of President's rule in the state and recall of state Governor Prof. Siddheshwar Prasad, besides Central intervention in the state's affairs. Saturday's massacre came a fortnight before the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) election, slated for April 30 and May 3. Khas Kalyanpur village, where this year's biggest militant strike occurred, falls under the TTAADC areas. Police said the state's two militant outfits -ATTF and NLFT, who have given a vote boycott call, stepped up their violent activities after the announcement of the TTAADC elections earlier this month, killing at least 22 people since then. (Correspodent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 18, 2000)

TRIPURA, April 18: Senior police and security officers rushed to Sonaicherri area in West Tripura district and Assam Rifles troops launched a massive manhunt to round up militants following Monday's ambush on a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) party. Security arrangements have also been beefed up in vulnerable areas to check communal violence and further fallout. However, reports from Kalyanpur, Khowai and Teliamura (Khowai subdivision) say the whole area is highly tense. Three persons were killed and 11 others injured when outlwed ATTF militants ambushed a police convoy in West Tripura district on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred even as the whole state was observing a dawn-to-dusk bandh in protest against the Khas Kalyanpur mayhem committed by NLFT militants on Saturday. The militant ambush was followed by ethnic violence last night in which one elderly tribal woman was burnt alive. A police party led by the subdivisional police officer of Teliamura, Bijoy Nag had gone to Shantinagar locality under Kalyanpur police station to select a site for Tripura State Rifles (TSR) post in this sensitive area. Nag was accompanied by officer in charge of Kalyanpur police station Manindra Debnath nd a TSR party. On their way back at around 12.30 pm at Sanaicherri, the police party was ambushed. ATTF insurgents perched on top of roadside hillocks opened fusillade of firing from automatic weapons, lobbed grenades and even blasted landmines. The landmines did not yield expected results as the militants failed to detonate them on time. TSR and district armed reserve police personnel at once retaliated heavily forcing the militants to flee. However, one TSR jawan was shot dead on the spot while two others succumbed to their injury in hospital. The SDPO and OC, among 11 others, were seriously injured in the attack. Police claimed at least three militants were also fatally hit by TSR's return of fire but they were carried away by their mates. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 19, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 18: The Hmar People's Convention (Democrats) militants have demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom for the release of the six employees of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO), held captive since March 31, a top state official said on Monday. In a one-page ransom note sent to NEEPCO authorities in Vairengte town last week, the ultras said the Shillong-based corporation has to pay Rs 1 crore or be ready to "sacrifice" the lives of its employees, the official said. NEEPCO authorities have handed over a copy of the note to the state government, the official said. Mizoram home minister Tawnluia, when contacted, told PTI the insurgents have not communicated with the state government. The six NEEPCO officials were abducted from the site of the 60-MW Tuirial hydel project near Saipum hamlet. Police said the abducted officials - one engineer, two drillers, two junior engineers and one grade four employee - were held at the outfit's hideout in Manipur's Kangreng Dawr. According to some reports, the HPC (D) demanded creation of Hmar Autonomous District Council comprising Hmar-inhabited area in the north-eastern part of the state. In January, HPC (D) chief Lalhmingthanga Sanate leaded with the Mizoram government for 'full implementation' of the July 27, 1994 accord signed between the state government and the erstwhile HPC. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 19, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 18: Suspected Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants raided a passenger bus and kidnapped two PHE department officials on April 15 near Saithah village, report agencies. Ultras torched the bus coming from Maaiara to Aizawl and kidnapped two officials, Lalchhanhima Je and Lalzawmliana Sa. A police team led by IGP and other civil officers from Aizawl rushed to the incident site from Aizawl and Mamit. While efforts to rescue the kidnapped officials were on, no progress has been made so far. The Opposition Congress and MNF (Nationalist) parties, while condemning the incident, also charged the ruling MNF ministry in the state for its failure to maintain law and order in the state. The Mizoram Youth Congress appealed to the kidnappers to release the officials early. The Congress alleged that the govt was not making any effort to secure the release of six NEEPCO officials abducted on March 31 from its work camp at Tuirial hydro-electric power project. Meanwhile, officers of the PHE department have expressed concern over the kidnapping of its employees and urged them for their early release. Meanwhile, the students body Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) on Monday demanded immediate release of two persons abducted by suspected Bru National Liberation Front - BNLF activists, a Reang militant outfit, on Saturday. MZP, in a press release issued here, condemned the abduction of the two by the militants and demanded that they be released immediately and no demand of ransom be made for their release. The students also urged the state government to ensure the freedom of the kidnapped persons before Good Friday (April 21). "If the hostages are not released from captivity after the deadline, MZP would take appropriate action to safeguard the interests of Mizos," the press statement said. Meanwhile, service between Aizawl-Marpara has been suspended following Saturday's torching of a bus by suspected BNLF militants, Mizoram Road Transport department officials said here on Monday. They said in December last year the Aizawl-Tuipuibari bus service was cancelled due to the same incident. "We have to ensure the safety and security of the employees, the passengers and the bus before operating on the routes again," they said. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 19, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 19: In a significant development, the Union government has directed the Assam government to strictly deal with any violations of law by the ex-ULFA members. This information was given to the members of the parliamentary standing committee attached to ministry of home affairs, that met recently to review the internal security scenario of the country. The matter was raised by several members from the state who wanted specific reply of the home ministry on the steps taken to control the ex-ULFA. In reply, the home secretary, Kamal Pande, asserted that there is no question of allowing surrendered ULFA militants to take the law into their hands. The committee has Drupad Borgohain, Jayashree Goswami Mahanta, Rajen Gohain, Rajkumar Wangcha, Jayanta Rongpi and SK Bwismutiary from the region as members. Significantly, it was subject of rehabilitation of the surrendered ULFA men that was the main purpose of the state Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's meeting the Union home minister, LK Advani, here last evening. Mahanta later told The Assam Tribune that he has urged the Union government to review the rehabilitation package for the surrendered militants. The scheme is found to be wanting in case of those who prefers to join services. The Chief Minister said it has been impressed that if the Centre manages to work out a suitable rehabilitation package there is a tremendous scope for more surrenders. The state government predicament mainly emanates from the urgent need to rehabilitate the 300-odd surrendered ultras who complete their year-long training this month. In absence of any firm proposal from the Union government side to absorb them in Central paramilitary forces, former militants are left high and dry. Mahanta claimed that the Union home minister has assured him that a meeting would be convened shortly to discuss the issue. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 20, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 19: A new militant outfit - christened 'Limitsung' - has been formed in Nagaland to "fight for their own separate home state outside India." Sources told The Northeast Daily here on Tuesday that the outfit, headed by one Sangtan, is reportedly operating from Tuensang and Mon districts of Nagaland. Though the strength of the new outfit is yet to be ascertained, sources said that the 'Limitsung' is recruiting cadres in and around the Tuensang area. The main base of the outfit is also in the same district, the sources added. The group is also reportedly collecting 'taxes' in the district. However, when contacted, Tuensang and Mon People's Organisation (TMPO) sources strongly denied the formation of such an outfit in these two districts. NSCN-K's TERMS TO GOVT: The NSCN(K)'s 'deputy kilonser for information and publicity affairs', Kughalu Mulatonu, on Tuesday strongly warned the members of the new outfit of dire consequences and said that his group would try its best to crush the new outfit. (Correspondent; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; April 20, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 19: Leadership of the outlawed ULFA militant outfit in Assam is in close touch with some officials of the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, minister of state for external affairs Ajit Kumar Panja said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday. There is also information suggesting that some ULFA leaders have procured foreign passports through fraudulent means, he said in a written reply. government has been taking up various security-related issues including cross-border terrorism and ISI's activities with Bangladesh, he said. The increasingly strident statements made by Pakistan leaders continue to underline Islamabad's active encouragement and sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, the minister said in reply to another question. Pakistan has continued to indulge in unprovoked firing across the line of control and international border in Jammu and Kashmir to provide cover to infiltrating terrorists as well as to attract international attention and seek third party involvement in India-Pakistan relations. He said government continues to highlight Pakistan's lack of restraint on nuclear issues, which was also reflected in "certain irresponsible" statements made by Pakistan during the Kargil conflict. (PTI; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; April 20, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 20: The external affairs ministry today backed Assam government's contention about links between the Pakistan embassy in Dhaka and the outlawed ULFA militants, confirming that several of the top leaders of the outfit including its chairman and commander-in-chief Arabinda Rajkhowa and Paresh Baruah respectively have procured foreign passports through fraudulent means with the assistance of the High Commission in Bangladesh. The confirmation comes at a time when the state government through the ministry of home affairs here has intimated the external affairs ministry that aided by the Bangladesh Army and a sympathetic Opposition party, rebels have started shifting their camps closer to Indo-Bangladesh border to mount fresh offensives in the state. Reports with the state government suggest that several camps have come up in the hilly terrains across the border closer to Garo and Khasi hills, highly placed sources told The Assam Tribune. Significantly, Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is scheduled to meet the external affairs minister, Jaswant Singh next week. It is learnt that the external affairs ministry is again likely to be pressurised to open dialogue with the governments of Bangladesh and Bhutan to check the activities of the militants in the country. The state government's contention about ULFA's free run of the country being that though the Bangladesh government is opposed to ULFA's activities, the army seems to supporting the rebel outfits as well as the Opposition party led by Khaleda Zia. Meanwhile, Mahanta today lashed out the Opposition parties of the state for criticising it for the failure of the Unified Command System. The Chief Minister's reaction came following sharp criticism of his government for the perceived failure of the system to contain the activities of the ULFA. "What the Opposition does not seem to realised is though the Unified Command System is headed by the state chief secretary, it is actually run by the Army and the Union government. So if they have any grouse against the system they should take their case to the Union government and not criticise Assam government for it," he asserted. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister had a meeting with the defence minister, George Fernandes, here last evening, to plead with him to absorb the surrendered ULFA militants who have completed the one-year training programme. " Fernandes has assured me that the army would recruit some of them," Mahanta said. Although the main purpose of the meeting with the defence minister was rehabilitation of the SULFA members, the anti-insurgency operations in the state also figured during the discussion. It was Fernandes who was instrumental in the having the Centre prepare a rehabilitation package for the surrendered ultras, last year. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 21, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 20: In a fresh move, Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) has reportedly deployed two 'additional wings' in south-east Bhutan to contain the activities of the ULFA and the NDFB. According to official sources, the additional wings have been deployed in Sarbhang and Gelekphu to gear up the existing forces. Sources further said that the ongoing militancy has affected the economy of the area hence royal government has decided to strengthen the present Army strength to check the movement of militants. "RBA has also set up more check posts in the area to block the supply of ration of the militant groups", the sources informed. Giving details about fresh deployment, they said that the royal government is facing problem from the Nepali community residing in the southern part of Bhutan as both ULFA and NDFB have started mobilising them to launch an armed movement against the king. The royal government is worried over the prevailing situation in the southern part, hence security has been beefed up in the area, they added. The royal government had enhanced the defence budget last year in view of escalating insurgent activities in various parts of the country. Sources further informed that to cope with the situation, the Royal Army has recruited 300 youths so that the insurgency problem could be tackled as early as possible. Commenting on the camps of the insurgent groups, they informed that altogether 30 camps are scattered in different places of the southern part, but RBA of late has intensified patrolling in the area to contain their movement. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 21, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 21: Lt Gen B Shekatkar, general officer commanding of 4 Corps, said today that the Army was trying to rope in the ULFA's grassroots-level workers, who were now deserting the outfit making their leaders toothless. There is no point in talking to the top leaders of ULFA to find a meaningful solution to the insurgency problem. Shekatkar told newsmen at the SoS Village at Barapani, about 20 km from here. He said while the people were showing their disenchantment with the ultras, many of the ULFA cadres had realised that their dream of achieving sovereignty would never come true. The largescale desertion would certainly weaken the backbone of the organisation and the leaders who were enjoying a very cushy life in foreign countries and always depended on the grassroot-level workers would lose their control, he added. Shekatkar claimed that the situation had now improved in the Northeast. Particularly in Assam with more militant groups either surrendering or willing to come to the negotiation table. Shekatkar also said the Army has not considered launching any military operation against ISI in the Northeast region, but is trying to make the people aware of ISI's motive to destabilise the country. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 22, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 20: Militants owing allegiance to the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) have abducted a teacher from a village near the Mizoram-Tripura border, even as the two abducted government employees, kidnapped last month, remained untraced. Police said five armed activists of BNLF, an outfit of Reang militants, on Wednesday stopped a car with five passengers and forcibly took away a teacher, working in Lunglei, and the car driver. They later released the driver but kept the teacher, who originally belongs to Vanghmun village in Tripura, police said. A combing operation was on to trace the abducted man. This was the third kidnapping incident in the state since March 31. While Hmar People's Convention (Democrat) insurgents had abducted six NEEPCO employees, on March 31, suspected BNLF activists had abducted two government employees since then. BNLF is the armed wing of Bru National Union (BNU), which demands creation of a separate autonomous district council for Brus in the western belt of Mizoram. In 1997, BNLF men visited Reang (Bru)-inhabited villages and informed the villagers they were about to attack the Mizoram police force, according to reports. Since then it had carried on a series of attacks on Mizoram policemen and state officials and took away arms including SBBL guns and ammunition. It had also served extortion notices on village council presidents of the western belt since 1997, the reports said. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 22, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 22: Mizoram police suspected the involvement of NSCN(IM) in the recent spurt of abduction in the state. Police on Friday said there was close relation between NSCN(IM) and Hmar People's Convention (Democrat) insurgents who had abducted six NEEPCO employees. HPC(D) insurgents abducted six NEEPCO employees on March 31 while suspected Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) activitists abducted two government employees on April 15 and a teacher four days later. In fact, the NSCN(IM) and HPC(D) jointly ambushed a police party and killed four of them in 1997, he said. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 23, 2000)

MANGALDOI, April 22 - Gurmit Singh and Sukhbinder Singh, Army jawans of 6 Sikh Regiment of Tangla were arrested on charges of rape and the former was sent to Mangaldai jail, police sources said. It is alleged that both Gurmit and Sukhinder raped a woman of village Centipara under Tangla PS on April 13 last in drunken state. A case No 18/2000 was registered in this regard. Army and police officers visited the place of the incident and assured the local people of legal action against the accused if the guilt is proved. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 22: Assam on Saturday asked Bhutan not to provide shelter to separatist guerrilla groups from the region. Assam Chief Minister P.K. Mahanta said Bhutanese authorities should come up with firm policy decisions to drive out all Assamese militant groups holed up in well-entrenched bases inside the Himalayan kingdom. The flushing out of militant cadres from the kingdom would help the fight against violent insurgent groups, he said. "Bhutanese authorities should take steps to dismantle all militant camps and drive the rebels from their territory," Mahanta said. At least 4,000 cadres of the outlawed ULFA and more than a thousand tribal Bodo militants from Assam are based in camps in southern Bhutan, official sources said. Militancy in Assam has claimed more than 10,000 lives during the past two decades, while hundreds of others have been maimed for life. Mahanta said Bhutan apart, militants from northeastern India were taking shelter in adjoining Bangladesh and Myanmar. "The Bangladesh government has assured Indian authorities they would cooperate in busting militant camps in their territory. But we are yet to get a positive response from the governments of Bhutan and Myanmar," Mahanta said. A top government official said some of the ULFA militants that surrendered before authorities earlier this year had claimed that Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk visited their central headquarters several times last year. "During interrogation, surrendered militants said the Bhutanese king visited the ULFA headquarters in southern Bhutan on at least three occasions," the official said. The Assam government has urged the federal government in New Delhi to take up the issue of northeastern rebel groups operating from bases across the international borders with its counterparts in Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. "Unless rebel camps are busted in neighbouring countries, insurgency will show no signs of relenting," Mahanta said. He said Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was aiding and abetting separatist insurgency in the frontier states. "We have arrested a number of ISI operatives in Assam and it is now well established that ULFA is being funded, sponsored and aided by Pakistani agents. This is a serious threat to India's national security," the chief minister said. (India Abroad News Service; The Times of India; New Delhi; April 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 23 - The Centre has denied the NSCN(IM)'s allegation that the former is responsible for tardy progress in the political negotiation. In a statement from the Union government, it was pointed out that the accusation was factually incorrect and a deliberate attempt to mislead the people. Hamstrung by growing indiscipline and internal dissension, it smacks of the frustration of the organisation. The NSCN had earlier in a statement said the Union government and its various 'agencies' were responsible for the lack of progress in the political negotiation, and accused the government of being insincere and unable to manage its contradictions. It has implied that each agency of the government is in conflict with the other and that each having hijacked the peace process is seeking to establish its dominance over the other. Nothing can be farther from the truth. All the agencies are but instruments of the state working together . (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 24, 2000)

TIN BIGHA, April 23: Union home minister LK Advani today said that some militant groups active in the Northeast had bases in Bangladesh but the neighbouring government was trying to restrict them. Visiting Indo-Bangladesh border at Tin Bigha corridor here, Advani said India had sufficient ground to believe that many extremist groups were operating from Bangladeshi territory. The Centre would raise the issue during discussion with the Bangladeshi home secretary, scheduled to make a two-day visit to New Delhi next week. The home minister expressed satisfaction over the smooth transfer and maintenance of Tin Bigha corridor to Bangladesh, leased out on June 26, 1992. He said the Bangladesh government was persuading India to keep the corridor open for few hours as against six hours a day at present. The present arrangement was quite satisfactory but still India was ready to discuss the issue during the home secretary level talks, Advani said. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 24, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 23: Mizoram government is planning to revamp the police force to tackle the subversive activities of insurgent groups from neighbouring states and foreign countries, state chief secretary HV Lalringa has said. Lalringa, who also holds the portfolio of Home, told PTI here on Friday that the state government, besides modernising the police department, is also planning to 'organise and activate' local populace in border areas to act as 'deterrent' for terrorist activities. He said both the people and the government were finding themselves 'vulnerable' to such acts like abductions by the ultras and the government 'has to find a way to deal with it.' Stating that Mizoram, which is in close proximity with insurgency-torn states like Manipur, Assam and Tripura and has 707-km-long international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh, has witnessed a recent spurt of abductions, Lalringa alleged these were being done by insurgents from outside the state. 'We are taking steps to ensure that we would not be troubled again in future by these elements from across our borders,' he said. The government has also set up a committee of ministers under the chairmanship of state home minister to take up 'security and related matters,' he added. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 24, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 23: Tribal guerrillas burnt down the houses of state Cooperative minister Niranjan Debbarma and another CPI(M) leader in Tripura on Saturday night. Police said the NLFT rebels set afire Debbarma's house at Jampuijala in West Tripura. The minister and his family members were not present in the house during the attack of the militants. In another incident, the ultras also torched the house of CPI(M) leader Upaharan Jamatia at Sarbang in South Tripura and severely beaten up one of his sons. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 24, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 24: Bhutan foreign minister Jigmi Y Thinley will have official talks with external affairs minister Jaswant Singh tomorrow during which the issue of Assam militants belonging to ULFA and Bodo groups operating from the Bhutanese territory will come up. Thinley will also call on Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Human Resource Development minister Murli Manohar Joshi and meet minister of state for external affairs minister Ajit Panja. Jaswant Singh had assured Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta that he will take up the issue of militants operating from the Bhutanese soil last week. The National Assembly has already passed a resolution authorising the government to cut off supply lines of the militants. During his talks here, Thinley will exchange views with Indian leaders on issues of bilateral and regional interest and review bilateral relations. Thinley has been in India since April 17, along with his wife, Riny Dem, at the invitation of Jaswant Singh. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 25, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 24: Highly placed Assam government officials today confirmed that the King of Bhutan Jigme Singhye Wangchuk had recently visited ULFA camps located in Bhutan and had breakfast with the militants there. "We have definite proof that the King visited ULFA camps located in Bhutan on several occasions and had long discussions with the militants. He even had breakfast with the militants on at least three occasions," said the official on condition of anonymity. The ULFA had set up several camps in Bhutan to impart training to their cadres in the past several years, but this is the first time the Bhutanese government has been accused of directly supporting and sheltering the militants. The startling revelations are reported to have been unearthed following sustained interrogation of some ULFA militants arrested recently. The official added that the militants have the patronage of the Bhutan government and are able to carry out their operations without any major bitches. All this information has been forwarded to the Union government for taking up the issue at their level, he added. "The state government has expressed serious concern over the issue and has asked the Centre to take up the issue with Bhutan so that ULFA camps located there are dismantled and the militants flushed out," said the official. On Saturday, Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had expressed concern over the involvement of the Bhutan government with the militant outfits of Assam, particularly ULFA. Briefing journalists after a trip to Delhi, Mahanta had stated that the response of the Bhutan government to requests of dismantling the ULFA camps had been very unsatisfactory. "Militants are being imparted training by Pakisan's ISI in camps located in Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh, he said. The Assam Chief Minister added that the Butan government was openly aiding and sheltering ULFA militants. ULFA ISSUE TO FIGURE IN TALKS: The presence of the ULFA and Bodo militants and their flourishing camps within Bhutanese territory is likely to come up for discussion during talks between the Bhutanese foreign minister Lyonpo Jigmi Y Thinley and Jaswant Singh tomorrow. Thinley, who is on an official tour of India, arrived in New Delhi this evening. An external affairs ministry spokesman however said there was "no link" between the forthcoming visit of the Bhutanese foreign minister and the quotes ascribed to the Assam Chief Minister. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; April 25, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 24: Two Indian Air Force helicopters have been pressed into service to intensify the ongoing counter-insurgency operation to ensure peaceful election to the 30-member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) slated for April 30 and May 3. Official sources today said jawans of the Quick Reaction Task Force had been airlifted to North Tripura's Kanchanpur yesterday to flush out the guerrillas. The situation was reported tense there following the militants' attacks and ethnic violence there in which nine people were killed, the officials said. The ultras also burnt down many houses of the non-tribals on April 19. The Quick Reaction Task Force was constituted by selective Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans, whom also provided special anti-insurgency training. At least three helicopters would be used before and during the TTAADC election to supervise the anti-insurgency operation as well as fast movement of paramilitary and poll personnel, sources added. The Union home ministry had provided 20 additional companies of CRPF to strengthen the security in view of the coming election, the sources said. The state government earlier had demanded additional 55 companies of paramilitary forces to conduct peaceful polls. Meanwhile, the government has directed the security forces to maintain a strict vigil on the situation in view of the escalated violence before the election. The rebels have so far killed 33 people, mostly non-tribals, and kidnapped many after the announcement of the TTAADC election during this month. A CPI(M) candidate for poll Mangal Debbarma has been missing since Saturday from here. Police launched a search operation to trace the leader, whose wife and a minor child were kidnapped by the ultras recently. The CPI (M) sources said that the banned NLFT guerillas earlier had threatened Debbarma to withdraw his candidature from TTAADC polls. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 25, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 24: The security forces has served an ultimatum to some underground factions in Nagaland's Mon district bordering Assam to vacate the area by Thursday next. A defence release issued by the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (north) said a large numbers of militants of NSCN(K) and NSCN(IM) were present in Upper Tiru in Mon district and involved in clashes and fratricidal killings which were against the spirit of ceasefire. The security forces have warned all the factions to vacate the area and move to their designated camps by April 27 next, after which they will launch operations to clear the area of unauthorised camps, the release added. Meanwhile, tension continued in Upper Tiru area following presence of armed cadres of the rival factions of NSCN and their reinforcements. On April 13, one NSCN(K) cadre was killed and another injured when both the factions engaged in a gun-battle. Some villagers reportedly fled away from the villages fearing factional clashes in the area and took shelter in a reserved forest inside Assam, official sources said. PTI adds : Senior officials of Nagaland government here said that they have no information about press reports on the death of 45 persons and uprooting of 4500 people from 15 villages near Tizit, due to ongoing factional clashes between the two NSCN warring Naga militant groups during the last two weeks. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 25, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 24: Bhutan's foreign minister Jigmi Thinley is on his first official visit to India. The visit is important as Bhutan remains one of New Delhi's closest allies. Its geographic location and proximity to China make Bhutan pivotal to India's overall security concerns. Successive Indian governments have made it a point to devote time and energy to keep ties with Bhutan in good working order. The foreign minister arrives in New Delhi on Monday after a visit to Chennai and Bangalore. He will begin his formal meetings with Indian leaders on Tuesday. Besides calling on President K R Narayanan and Prime Minister Vajpayee, he will hold talks with external affairs minister Jaswant Singh over lunch at Hyderabad House. He will also meet minister of state for external affairs Ajit Panja. Assam has a major problem with Bhutan. The state government claims that separatist groups operating in Assam like the Bodo rebels and insurgents of the ULFA, have long used Bhutan's thick forests as a sanctuary, a place to slip across to evade the security forces. The AGP government as well as the Congress before this, had taken up this issue with the Centre, but say no action has been taken by Bhutanese authorities. It is a measure of India's excellent relations with Bhutan that this has not resulted in a diplomatic stand off. Instead, despite the complaints of the state, New Delhi has made it a point to work out the problem amicably. This issue is likely to come up in discussions between the two ministers. Thinley is not meeting either home minister Advani or officials of the home ministry. Asked about Assam chief minister's complaint that Bhutan has actively encouraged the rebels, a spokesman of the ministry of external affairs said :"The National Assembly of Bhutan has taken a resolution last year to cut off supplies to the militants. We are satisfied with that decision.'' This implied India was not going to make an issue out of this. The accent is on private closed door co-operation to tackle the problem. (Times of India News Service; The Times of India; New Delhi; April 25, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 25: Top Army officials' claims in the media about achieving a breakthrough with the banned NDFB for talks is likely to jeopardise the channels cultivated by various agencies to persuade the outlawed organisations for "secret" talks in Assam. Disclosing this to The Asian Age here on Tuesday, highly placed state government sources said the claims by the Army that they would hold a meeting with NDFB leaders in the next two or three days may adversely affect the other existing channels of talks with the leaders of the banned outfits at the highest level. Citing past instances when several process of talks were sabotaged, sources who played a crucial role in persuading the Bodo leaders to hold talks said that the ceasefire agreement with BLTF was possible because of all the formal and informal parleys between the two groups which were kept confidential till the signing of the peace agreement. Expressing surprise over the Army's remarks to the media on mere "feelers" from the middle rank NDFB leaders, sources said, "If the Army received feelers, they should go ahead for talks but before any formal meeting, media briefings create doubt and it may have an adverse impact on the other channels being established after a month long exercise." He pointed out that after the breakthrough with the BLTF, a sincere effort was on to persuade the other militant outfits for talks. The process that was yet to materialise received a severe jolt on Tuesday when the general officer commanding of the Army's 4 corps, Lt Gen DB Shekatkar, publicly announced that they had received "feelers" from middle-rank NDFB cadres for talks that may be held in a day or two. Sources said that such a revelation creates impression that the process of talk is aimed at dividing the organisation, he added. Stressing the need for restrain on the part of the security forces, sources said that if someone gets feelers, it should be kept a secret. "If the problem of militancy is tackled, credit would go to the security forces jointly so one should not try to sabotage the process of dialogue," he said. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; New Delhi; April 26, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 25 - After the Union government initiated talks with Bodo militant outfit BLTF, the middle level leaders of the other Bodo militant outfit NDFB are feeling left out and they have sent feelers expressing their desire for talks, said the general officer commanding the 4 Corps of the Army, Lt Gen DB Shekatkar. Talking to The Assam Tribune over telephone from the Corps headquarter in Tezpur, Shekatkar, who is the operational head of the unified command structure in Assam, said that the middle level leaders of the NDFB are now feeling frustrated and have sent feelers expressing their desire for talks. He revealed that some NDFB ultras spoke to him over telephone and said that the government has been talking only to the BLTF and NDFB militants were being ignored. He said that a few middle level leaders of the NDFB would come to meet the Army soon and "we have assured a safe passage to them. As soon as we come to know about their demands, we would forward the same to the state and the Union governments," He, however, admitted that it is too early to say whether a cease fire would be announced with the NDFB as was done in the case of the BLTF. But at the same time, he pointed out that opening of channels for talks with the NDFB is a very positive sign and it might lead to restoration of peace in the Bodo dominated areas of the state. He also expressed the view that the middle level leaders of the NDFB, who have sent feelers, must have the blessings of the top brass of the outfit. Reacting to reports that a few BLTF men were killed by the Army after they came out of hiding soon after declaration of cease fire, Shekatkar said that district level meetings are now being held regularly to minimise the misunderstandings. He said that the security forces have asked the BLTF ultras not to move around with weapons and not to run around when challenged by the security forces as under such circumstances, it would become very difficult to identify a BLTF man. He also expressed the view that the BLTF must have reached some sort of understanding with the NDFB as members of both the outfits have stopped targeting each other. TALKS WITH ULFA : Commenting on the possibility of holding talks with the ULFA, Shekatkar expressed the view that if the top leaders of the ULFA continue to ignore the repeated pleas of the government to come to the negotiation table, it would be better to initiate dialogue with the middle level leaders who are suffering in the jungles of Bhutan and who are willing to come forward for talks. He alleged that the top leaders of the ULFA are not too keen to resolve the problem through negotiation. He said that the top leaders of the militant outfit are totally under the grip of the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and they are not in a position to come forward for talks. He also claimed that the top leaders of the ULFA no longer enjoy overall control over the rank and file of the outfit and if they continue to ignore the appeals for talks, it is better to ignore them. The 4 Corps GOC said that the ULFA would have problems in maintaining the camps in Myanmar after the Khaplang faction of the NSCN decided to announce a cease fire for a peaceful solution of the problem. He said that after the Khaplang faction of the NSCN comes forward for talks, the ULFA would not receive support from the outfit and it would be impossible for the ULFA to fend for themselves in Myanmar. He revealed that according to information available with the security forces, the ULFA along with the NSCN(K) suffered setbacks in the recent operations by the Myanmar Army against the ultras and at least seven to eight ULFA men were killed in the operations. When asked about the ULFA's presence in Bhutan, Shekatkar said that the ULFA is still maintaining camps in Bhutan but at the same time, he said that the people of Bhutan have started to defy the ultras. However, he refused to comment on the attitude of the Bhutan government towards the ultras. Shekatkar revealed that some more middle level leaders of the ULFA are in touch with the Army and they may come overground soon. However, he admitted that it would be difficult to provide jobs in the security forces to all the surrendered militants as the qualifications required cannot be relaxed and persons having criminal records cannot be absorbed in the security forces. "Rather we should try to provide the surrendered ultras with other meaningful avenues of sustenance like forming of cooperative societies," he added. SITUATION ON THE HILLS : Commenting on the recent spurt of violence in the hill districts, Shekatkar said that if the situation deteriorates, the Army might move into Karbi Anglong district to launch operations against the insurgents responsible for the killings. He said that the situation in the NC Hills district improved considerably after the posting of a brigade of the Army in the district. (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 25, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 25: Representatives of Bru (Reang) community belonging to Mamit district of Mizoram, who had gone to "make efforts to secure the release" of three abducted Mizos from the captivity of the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) ultras, returned without meeting the militants, police said on Monday. The delegates comprising leaders of Bru-inhabited villages in the western belt of the state, returned late last week, they added. The Bru community leaders have decided to send another delegation to meet and negotiate with the militants, who are hiding either in Bangladesh or Tripura jungles, police said. Meanwhile, 'rescue committee' members of the Central Young Mizo Association (YMA) and leaders of the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or 'Mizo Students' Federation,' who had also visited the places where abductions took place on April 15 and 19, had also returned to Aizawl. Condemning the recent spate of abductions, state home minister Tawnluia, a former Mizo National Front (MNF) activist, said the "MNF never resorted to kidnapping during 20 years of insurgency and such acts should be condemned by all right-thinking people." (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 26, 2000)

BINAGURI (West Bengal), April 25: Tea planters in the Dooars region of North Bengal are worried not because of plummeting tea price in the international market but of recent spurt in militancy, reports UNI. Insurgent groups from North-east, like the ULFA and the Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation (KLO) in Dooars tea belt, have shaken the planters. The tea industry is now planning to raise a private protection force on the line of the one in Assam. Planters maintained that the law-and-order situation has been deteriorating fast in the region, having more than 275-odd established tea gardens. Loot of garden remittance in broad-day-light on the National Highway 31 passing through the heart of the tea belt, abductions, demand of huge ransom, theft of gardens' property like green tea leaves, costly irrigation implements and even fence wiring had become a regular phenomenon. The Kamtapuri activists, spearheading a movement for a separate state in North Bengal, were in league with the ULFA militants. The Kamtapuris, in exchange of arms and money, provided shelter to the ULFA, operating from camps situated in the jungles on the Bhutanese side, hardly 15-20 km north of Central Dooars. The first reported ULFA-Kamtapuri armed operation was the kidnapping of tea garden owner Roshan Lal Garg from his Latabari tea estate in Central Dooars in July 1999. It was the first time that militants in North Bengal used sophisticated arms like AK-47s. Two Kamtapuri leaders had been arrested in this connection after Garg was released. Garg's family had to pay a huge ransom to buy his release in February this year. secretary of the Tea Association of India (TAI) North Bengal branch DN Gupta told UNI that the law-and-order situation in the Dooars tea belt had deteriorated remarkably. And if the militant activities were not checked at this juncture, it would go out of hand, even as the state, civil and police administration were very serious on the issue. The TAI, having 60 tea gardens as members in the Dooars and the Tarai region of the Himalayan foothills spread throughout the three North Bengal tea districts of Darjeeling, Japlaiguri and Cooch Behar, had instructed all member gardens to avoid travelling after nightfall and also make heavy security arrangements to accompany garden remittance an workers pay vehicles. Gupta said, "We are negotiating with a private security agency, manned by senior retired police and Army personnel, to form the special security force for member gardens. We have urged the district administration to make sufficient security measures to curb militancy at this stage." Though several member gardens had been receiving extortion demands, they were reluctant to inform the association fearing retaliation by these organisations. The TAI secretary said the industry had approached the state government and the district administration to keep constant vigil and intensify police patrolling of the national highway 31 and set up new police stations or outposts of existing ones, particularly in the vulnerably areas. "We have also requested the authorities to equip the security forces (police) with modern arms, vehicles and communication systems to meet the challenges from the ultras." Though the district administration refused to acknowledge the growing insurgent activities publicly, privately they admitted that the situation was grave in the region. With the ULFA, based in jungle camps across the porous Indo-Bhutan border, there had been a sudden spurt in armed operation by the ULFA-Kamtapuri combine. Intelligence officials said in November 1999, ULFA and Kamtapuri activists looted a railway cash counter near Siliguri. A week later, one KLO and two Kamtapuri Peoples Party (KPP) leaders were arrested. Though the KPP leaders maintained that the organisation had no links with the banned KLO, intelligence officials believed otherwise. Meanwhile, Intelligence sources said the arrest of two Kamtapuri leaders in the first week of March had thrown further light on the Kamtapuri-ULFA nexus. They were reportedly guiding new recruits to militant training camps in Bhutan. West Bengal police described the arrest as the biggest catch in the recent times. Police seized 9-mm Chinese-made pistols from the duo. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 26, 2000)

NALBARI, April 26: In an unprecedented order, the deputy commissioner of Nalbari district Biswa Ranjan Samal has directed the PWD (Roads) to clear all bamboo groves on both sides of Hajo-Nalbari road from Nalbari to Bijulighat to avert any possibility of attack by insurgents. The PWD labourers have started clearing the 50-feet high bamboo groves along both sides of the road. The police is also extending a helping hand in this drive following altercation of a few owners of the groves with the PWD workers. According to sources, the deputy commissioner also held up the pay bill of the employees of Nalbari PWD sub-division due to the delay in clearing the groves. The sources further claimed that the Army has asked the deputy commissioner to get the groves cleared so that operations against the insurgents in this area considered to be a bastion of the ULFA, could be carried on smoothly. The bomb which killed PWD and forest minister Nagen Sarma and four others was remote controlled from deserted bamboo groves of Bahjani area and the killers had managed to escape from the spot under their cover. The move of the deputy commissioner has invited strong criticism from a cross-section of people of the district. A large number of bamboo and other trees of the locality, will be destroyed at a time when the nature clubs and Social Forestry department have taken up several ambitious schemes for plantations on both side of roads they said. The people have urged the deputy commissioner to review his order. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 27, 2000)

KOHIMA, April 26: At least three NSCN(K) ultras were killed and another was injured when the rival faction attacked them at Mon town in Nagaland on Sunday, official reports said here today. The security forces had served an ultimatum to the underground factions in Mon district to vacate the area by Thursday and move to their designated camps, after which the security forces would launch an operation to clear the area of all unauthorised camps. Earlier on April 13, one NSCN(K) activist was killed and another injured in a clash between the rival factions of the NSCN in the Tiru valley. Meanwhile, the Mon district administration had formed a committee to assess the situation following intermittent factional clashes in the Tiru valley. The committee reportedly met the deputy commissioner of Mon and discussed the relief and rehabilitation measures for the three villages in Tiru valley. Official sources said the administration was taking measures to ensure steady supply of essentials in Tizit and surrounding areas. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 27, 2000)

NEW DELHI, April 27: Bhutan says that it wants the hundreds of Indian militants from the ULFA and the NDFB who have settled in camps on its southern fringes to leave - but that it simply does not have the resources to push them out. "We want them out, they came without any invitation but there are limits to what we can do," says Bhutan foreign minister Jigmi Thinley. Thinley says at least two meetings between senior Bhutanese government officials and ULFA leaders, including military wing chief Paresh Baruah, asking them to leave have yielded no result. Bhutanese officials say that ULFA cadres used to move about southern Bhutan with an open display of weapons. This show of force has since reduced and the militants are largely in their camps, said to number about 12. Thinley said the government has tried to crack down on local people supplying goods and food to the rebels by using a National Security Act which enables security forces to detain such persons for a year without trial. "But there are limits to what we can do, we have limitations," the minister stressed in a conversation on Wednesday. In the last meeting with Baruah, the Bhutanese government was reportedly told that ULFA was in no hurry to move and that it could contemplate leaving after one-and-a-half years. However, officials with access to intelligence information say that at least 200 ULFA cadres had quietly slipped across to the mountain fastness of northwest Burma bordering India's Northeast. Yet, this still leaves another 300 cadres from ULFA and a much smaller number from the Bodo group in Bhutan. Both groups are heavily armed and Bhutan has made clear that it has no intention of taking them on militarily. Asked about reports in the north-eastern media that top Bhutanese officials had visited the ULFA camps, Thinley remarked that his country was not interested in doing anything that harmed Indian interests. But he and others stressed that the problem was essentially an Indian one and needed to be politically resolved between India and ULFA. A former Indian foreign secretary who was present at the meeting remarked that India's problems had a way of spilling over into its neighbours and creating fresh difficulties for them. It is worth noting that the areas in Burma where some ULFA cadres had taken shelter were once the strongholds of SS Khaplang, the chairman of a major Naga insurgent group, the NSCN(K). But Khaplang's forces have apparently been thrown into disarray by a swift military strike against their headquarters a few weeks ago by the Burmese Army, and some of the ULFA and Manipur militants who were in his camp also have suffered casualties, Indian officials said. It is significant that Khaplang's call for a long-term cease-fire and negotiations with the Indian government followed this assault. Khaplang is the second major Naga group to seek discussions with New Delhi in a bid to resolve a bitter conflict that has caused much bloodshed in the Naga Hills since the 1950s. The bid for talks by the Nagas is likely to increase the pressure on ULFA, already isolated from the Assamese population in the Brahmaputra Valley, to also come to the negotiating table. Khaplang wants a lifting of the ban on his group before talks can be held. The other group is led by Thiungaleng Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu and has been negotiating with India since 1997 despite the ban on their faction. Muivah has been in a Thai prison since last January on charges of entering Thailand on a false passport, jumping bail and trying to leave the country. It is the first time that Muivah has been held in jail in his 36 years as an insurgent figure. His trial was scheduled to begin on Thursday in Bangkok; it is also the first such court trial that this skilful and legendary leader of the Nagas has faced. (Sanjoy Hazarika; The Asian Age; New Delhi; April 28, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 27: The Tripura government has brought all the polling and police personnel, deployed for the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections on April 30 and May 3 under the cover of Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy. Official sources said on Thursday that this policy would provide an insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh to a person who while on election duty died or was permanently disabled. This step was taken in view of the rising militancy in the state, the sources pointed out. About 5000 polling personnel has been deployed for the TTAADC election. The personnel, appointed for the interior areas, started their journey from Thursday to their respective destinations. Helicopters would be used for ferrying polling and security personnel to polling stations in remote areas as well as for aerial surveillance to supervise the security arrangements. state DGP KTD Singh said elaborate security arrangements have been made to conduct the elections freely and peacefully. The Union government has provided an additional 20 companies of paramilitary forces for the purpose. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 28, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 27: Mizoram government on Wednesday decided to consult Opposition parties to reach a consensus in solving the abduction crisis in the wake of the demand of Rs 50 lakh as ransom by the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) for the release of three kidnapped Mizos - two government employees and a teacher. A meeting of the state Council of Ministers and ruling Mizo National Front legislators decided that recognised Opposition parties would be taken into confidence to resolve the problem, official sources said. The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga, discussed the present situation and the ministers and MLAs were informed about the militants' demands. BNLF militants, in a faxed message to home minister Tawnluia, fixed May 2 as deadline for payment of the ransom, besides sending separate ransom notes to the families of the abducted persons, the sources said. Two employees of PHE department were kidnapped by BNLF men from a government bus at Saithah hamlet near Mizoram-Bangladesh border on April 15 while the teacher was abducted near Mizoram-Tripura border village of New Kawnpui four days later. BNLF demanded Rs 15 lakh each from the families of two government employees and Rs 10 lakh from that of the teacher. The ultras also demanded a 'road tax' of Rs 7 lakh from the owner of the vehicle that ply between Aizawl and Tripura from which the teacher was abducted. Meanwhile, the 'rescue committee' formed by the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA), an NGO, told the newly formed five-member ministerial committee on security matters that the state government has to strengthen the police forces. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 28, 2000)

IMPHAL, April 22: In view of the large-scale extortions and collection of illegal tax from the drivers of the Imphal-bound trucks by the suspected armed militants, most of the drivers have started to halt for the night well within the Assam territory instead of Dimapur, sources here said recently. Sources further said that another factor is that the Manipur government has opened a number of Excise offices from Imphal to Mao on National Highway 39 with the result that there is an inordinate delay in transportation. The trucks, therefore, reach Dimapur (Nagaland) late in the evening from where the drivers rush towards the Assam territory. Reports also revealed that the drivers of the Imphal-bound trucks usually halt at Dimapur to catch some sleep. But during their stay there the suspected Naga militants and common criminals harass them in all forms. It is also reportedly learnt that the police personnel also venture out in civil dress to demand their pound of flesh. Sometimes the armed militants force the drivers to transport commodities for them. Common criminals under the influence of cheap country liquor manhandle the drivers, abuse them and threaten them. In order to avoid such incidents, the drivers sleep in the Assam areas. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 28, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 28: Surrendering before the authorities well over a year ago, a group of surrendered militants, belonging to the NDFB and the BLTF did not know what to do next. This, despite the vocational training, in different trades, imparted to them in the rehabilitation camps. Politics has come to the rescue of the group which feels that it is the best opportunity for them to "work for the welfare of the people". AGP president and Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta this afternoon welcomed a 40-member group of former militants to the party fold at the party headquarters here saying that their joining the party will strengthen it. "The strengthening of the democratic process is necessary for the development of the state and the AGP has been consistently working for this" Mahanta said before personally welcoming each of the former militants in traditional style. Speaking on behalf of the group of 37 former NDFB and three former BLTF members, Kanta Kumar Daimari told the gathering consisting of the media and party members, including ministers, that his group has "complete faith on the party president and the principles and ideals of the party". "We had realised that armed struggle will never fulfil the aspirations of the people", Daimari said about the reason why his group had decided to come overground. He said after their formal surrender, they were "groping in the dark" trying to figure out a way to "serve the people". The AGP has come to their rescue by offering them an avenue. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 29, 2000)

SHILLONG, April 28: The police today claimed to have established irrefutable links between the Khasi Students Union and the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), a militant outfit which is sought to be banned by the Meghalaya government. Highly placed police sources here said that the link between the two has been established following the interrogation of three top KSU leaders who were arrested at Dona border outpost on the night of April 26 by the BSF while attempting to cross over into Bangladesh without valid documents. The three KSU leaders have been identified as Gilbert Khongwyr, KSU Vice President, Kammon Shallam, Organising secretary and Shabor Wanshaibor Rani, Assistant Publicity Secretary. One David Lamin, a local guide was also arrested along with them. The police said that three others accompanying them escaped but the police have identified two -Eden Lamin and Bab Deng as HNLC ultras. The arrested persons were handed over to the Meghalaya Police yesterday. On being produced before the court today, they have been remanded to five days police custody. They have since been charged under Sec 12 of the Passport Act, Customs Act and 120 (B) of IPC. Meanwhile, a special interrogation team from the Special Branch headquarters here have rushed to Jowai to grill the arrested persons. The sources claimed that the KSU leaders have already cracked under the intense interrogation and have confessed their links with the HNLC. They confessed that they were going to Sadichera, a Khasi village in Bangladesh and believed to be a HNLC stronghold, to attend the Wyncliff Syiem Memorial Football Tournament organised by the HNLC. Late Syiem was an exiled Khasi leader who died in Bangladesh. Among the items seized from the KSU leaders were KSU souvenirs and magazines, 77 number memorial shields, audio cassettes and CDs (17 Nos.) and T-shirts and 'dharas' (22 pieces). (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 29, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 29: The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi said the party was not averse to allow former militants of Assam into its fold if they want to join Congress. Talking to newsmen here this morning Gandhi said those former militants who have joined the mainstream by abjuring the path of violence, were welcome to join Congress, if they wish so. "We have done it earlier, so why not in Assam if the situation demands," she added. When asked about her opinion on recent ceasefire agreement signed between the Centre and the BLTF, Gandhi said any effort to find a solution to the vexed Bodo problem must involve all the Bodo groups including the NDFB. She added that solution to the Bodo tangle could not be reached through peace talks with only BLTF. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 30, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 29: The Union home ministry has alerted the state government about the possibility of the banned ULFA trying to assassinate state revenue minister, Zoii Nath Sarma in the immediate future. State agriculture minister Chandra Mohan Patowary is another person most likely to be attacked by the militants. In a communication to the state government a couple of days ago, the Union home ministry urged that the warning be treated as "most immediate", sources told The Assam Tribune. The attempt on Sarma will be made between Duni and Hatimuria areas under the Sipajhar police station in Darrang district, the communication specifically mentioned. According to the sources, the ULFA's decision to kill Sarma was taken during the celebrations of its Raising Day on April 7 in Bhutan and the operation has been code-named "Operation Green". They also informed that Patowary's name figured in the hit-list prepared for the operation. The sources said that keeping in mind the warning, the state government has tightened the security ring around the two Ministers, not willing to take a chance. The sources said that according to confessions made by a recently nabbed ULFA cadre, five bombs had already been earmarked to kill Sarma even before Operation Green was launched. Two of the bombs were recovered by the security forces before they could cause much damage- at Jaljali on December, 1999 and at Nij Sipajhar on March, 2000. Three of the bombs are yet to be traced the sources said. Even earlier, during the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, a group of ULFA members had tried to ambush Sarma's convoy but the timely arrival of the Army foiled the attempt. More recently, in September 30, 1999, another attempt was made on the Revenue Minister's life though he escaped. Four persons were killed in that attempt, the sources added. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 30, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 29: The Army has recently busted a racket in which more than Rs 1.17 crore was siphoned off by the Haflong PWD (Roads) Executive-cum-Superintending Engineer, A B Das, in connivance with a few others. A part of the money is believed to have gone to the hands of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the militant outfit, Dima Halam Daogah (DHD). According to a detailed press statement received from the Army along with supporting documents, Das had handed over a large part of this money to one Imdad Ali of Lanka who has links with both the ISI and the DHD. The Army discovered the scandal when on April 21 it started investigations into the alleged funding of the two illegal organisations through siphoned money. A search of the PWD office at Haflong on that day revealed that Das had been regularly seeking and obtaining substantial portion of the funds allotted to him for various works from the contractors for himself or the militant organisations. Das was missing when the investigations started, the release said, and the scrutiny of the documents in his office showed that a total payment of over Rs. 1.17 crore was made hurriedly in a very short spell of time to phoney contractors/firms who have not done any work in the North Cachar Hills District. Moreover, the payments were made in 31 different bills of equal amounts of Rs 3.8 lakh each. A total of Rs 1.5 crore was released to the PWD in February for development work, the release mentioned. It said investigations have revealed that a well worked out method was employed to siphon away the money. In the first method, where work was actually done, the contractor was asked to return 20 per cent of the money paid to him. In the second method, fictitious bills were passed and the contractors were instructed to return 80 per cent of the amount to Das keeping the rest for themselves. The release further said that five local contractors were questioned and Rs 8.09 lakh of the Rs 11.7 lakh paid to them were recovered. It went on to say that the reason why the Army entered the investigations was to check the out-flow of siphoned money to the outlawed organisations. The case has since been handed over to the local police officials for further investigations, the release stated. It added that funds meant for developmental activities in the district are being "grossly misused" under the blessings of the executive members of the Autonomous Hill Council. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; April 30, 2000)

AIZAWL, April 30: With only two days left before the deadline given by Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) ultras for payment of ransom in exchange for three abducted Mizos expires, there has been no sign of breakthrough in the crisis. The state government which refused to pay the ransom amount of Rs 50 lakh for the release of the hostages, asked the BNLF to release them unconditionally. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 1, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 30: Two hardcore ULFA militants, suspected to be involved in the killings of PWD minister Nagen Sarma and senior BJP leader Pannalal Oswal, were killed in encounters with security forces in two separate incidents since last night. An Army release said here this evening that an action group member of the ULFA, Bipul Das, who was involved in the IED blast, which killed the PWD minister Nagen Sarma on February 27, was killed in an encounter with the Army at Barkhulla village in Nalbari district early this morning. The release said that during a search in the village, the ULFA militants fired four rounds at the Armymen and tried to escape. However, he was shot dead in the encounter. Army recovered one .38 revolver and a few rounds of ammunition from him. The Army also arrested two other militants- Dinesh Chandra and Jiten Bezbaruah and recovered one IED on the basis of information provided by them. Meanwhile, one hardcore ULFA militant, Abdul Baten alias Mian Bhai, was killed in an encounter with the police at Asarikandi village under Gauripur police station in Dhubri district last night. Police sources said that acting on a tip-off, a police team headed by the DSP, Headquarter, Salimuddin Ahmed, launched an operation in the Asarikandi village at around midnight and Baten was killed in the encounter, while, three other militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness. One pistol was recovered from the militant. Police sources said that Abdul Baten was involved in the killing of Pannalal Oswal, the BJP candidate for the Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency before the last general elections. Baten, who received training in the camps of the ULFA in Bhutan, was also involved in several other cases and was proceeding to the South Salmara area to extort money when he was killed, police said. Our Bilashipara corres-pondent reports that Abdul Baten was also involved in the kidnapping of the project director of the Bongaigaon DRDA, Nilamani Mahanta in February last. The police has rounded up at least 15 persons from the Asari-kandi area for questioning after the encounter. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 1, 2000)

AGARTALA, April 30: Violence marred the first phase of elections to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) with militants resorting to booth capturing, snatching of arms and encounter with police in different parts of the state, official sources said here today. Police said a group of about six insurgents of the banned NLFT today raided the house of Rana Bahadur Debbarma, a ruling CPI(M) candidate from Kulai-Champahaur constituency in West Tripura district, at Anath Choudhurypara under Khowai police station this morning and snatched the revolvers of his two security guards. However, police said the candidate was unharmed. A group of insurgents of the banned ATTF opened fire at a booth at Padman Ohanpara under Kalyanpur police station of West Tripura district. The jawans of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and CRPF deployed there fired in retaliation. However, after a brief encounter the ultras fled. There was no casualty. Police said a group of about six insurgents of banned NLFT today stormed Ghantacherra booth under Kulai-Champahaur constituency with automatic weapons, overpowered the CRPF and captured the booth disrupting polling for about two hours. As the voters fled in panic, the ultras cast false votes, police said. Later SP, Dhalai, TB Roy rushed to the booth with additional forces and polling was restored. Meanwhile, insurgents of NLFT kidnapped five persons, including a nine-year-old girl, in two separate incidents on the eve of the polls in the state, police said. Police sources said NLFT rebels abducted four CPI(M) leaders, including a chairman of the village committee, Kolony Malsom, from Kalajhari under Ambassa police station in Dhalai district last night. The other leaders were, Birsen Chakma, Khuji Reang and Darshan Reang. Last night, in South Tripura's Baikhora police station area, a nine-year-old child was kidnapped by the militants as they continued to intimidate the voters. Senior CPI(M) leader Bijon Dhar told newsmen that his party had already lodged complaints with the Election Commissioner about the large-scale terrorisation, rigging, intimidation of voters by the cadres of Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) with the help of the NLFT armed militants. When contacted, Election Commissioner for the TTAADC elections Sudhir Sharma told UNI that he had received complaints from the CPI(M) about the poll rigging and was examining these allegations and sought reports from the returning officers and poll observers. However, he said that there was no cause for anxiety. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 1, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 30: Efforts are on to hammer out the differences brewing between ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and self-styled commander-in-chief Paresh Barua. Senior police officials here said incriminating documents seized from the apprehended ultras had revealed sharp differences between the two top leaders on the latest style and functioning of the banned organisation. They also stated that ULFA foreign secretary Sasha Choudhury was currently in Bangladesh and holding talks with Rajkhowa to bridge differences between the two leaders. They further said that Paresh Baruah was at present in Pakistan and holding talks with the military ruler there to chalk out a new strategy to step up their operation in the state. Rajkhowa and Barua might meet in their headquarters in Bhutan to resolve their differences. On the other hand, the ULFA had denied the report that there were difference between the two top leaders and alleged that it was a conspiracy of the government. Meanwhile, the Union home ministry had alerted the Assam government against the possibility of the banned organisation trying to kill state Revenue minister Zoii Nath Sarma, and Agriculture minister Chandra Mohan Patowary soon. (UNI; The Sentinel; Guwahati; May 1, 2000)

GUWAHATI, April 30 (IANS): Nagaland Chief Minister S.C. Jamir has charged a tribal separatist guerrilla group in the state with violating a ceasefire agreement it had reached with the Union government. Jamir said the outlawed NSCN faction led by Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu was taking advantage of the truce to terrorise and intimidate people. "The NSCN (Isak-Muivah) cadres move around with arms, kill, extort and intimidate people. This is a rampant violation of the ceasefire agreed between the outfit and the Union government," Jamir told India Abroad News Service. The NSCN has been waging a 52-year-long bush war for an independent tribal homeland. More than 25,000 people have died in the insurgency so far. After a series of peace talks in foreign cities, the Union government entered a ceasefire agreement with the Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN in August 1997. Since then, the government and the rebel leaders have held several rounds of peace talks. The last round was held in November at Bangkok. "There should be a workable ceasefire agreement instead of what is in force now. This acts of violation do not bode too well for ushering in an era of peace and hope in this troubled state," Jamir said. The insurgency situation in the frontier state, bordering Myanmar, has worsened in recent days despite the other NSCN faction, headed by SS Khaplang and Kitovi Zhimomi, announcing a unilateral ceasefire in early April and indicating that it is willing to hold peace talks with the Union government. "It is a real positive sign indeed for Nagaland with the NSCN (Khaplang-Zhimomi faction) agreeing to sit for peace talks. We are acting as a mediator between the militant group and the Union government with the firm hope that New Delhi will respond to their peace overture," the Nagaland Chief Minister said. The ongoing talks between the government and NSCN (Isak-Muivah) received a setback with the arrest of Thuingaleng Muivah, the outfit's general secretary, by Thai police in Bangkok on January 26 on charges of entering the country using forged travel documents. The NSCN has since refused to hold talks without its leader being released from jail. "Muivah has been charged under Thai laws and I do not think the Union government should intervene for his release," Jamir felt. "His arrest will not have any impact on the peace talks." (India Abroad News Service; The Sentinel; Guwahati; May 1, 2000)

KARIMGANJ, April 30: As a result of atrocities by a group of BSF jawans, nine persons of Fakirabazar village four km away from Karimganj town sustained injuries. It is learnt that a group of BSF jawans came to the village bazar and wanted the address of few traders of the village, but they were unable to get the address. Later, the jawans attacked the villagers and created panic. The incident occurred on April 22 morning. Leader of the District Congress Committee including AM Choudhury, MLA, M Dutta Choudhury, AR Choudhury, president District Youth Congress visited the village and held discussion with the villagers. They condemned the atrocities committed by the BSF. Later they met the DC demanding judicial enquiry on the incident and also demanding proper security in the border villages of the district. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 1, 2000)