GUWAHATI, May 16: Recent recovery of audio cassettes of the speeches of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen activist Maulana Masood Azar from different parts of the state unearthed the dangerous designs of the Islamic militant outfit to create serious communal tension in Assam. Police sources said that the audio cassettes were distributed in different parts of Assam to incite communal tension and some such cassettes were recovered from Nagaon, Goalpara and Silchar. Sources said that the main persons involved in the distribution of the cassettes are yet to be identified. Sources said that the speeches of Maulana Azar were delivered in the Gulshan Iqbal area of Pakistan just after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. But as Maulana Azar became a well-known figure after he was released by the government of India in exchange of the hostages of the Indian Airlines flight from Nepal, which was hijacked, the Islamic militant outfits started to capitalise on the name of Azar and started to distribute the cassettes of his speeches in a bid to incite communal tension in Assam. In his speeches, Maulana Azar gave some highly provocative communal statements, which if allowed to be distributed freely, can cause trouble for the state in the days to come and it is high time the security forces act swiftly to check distribution of such provocative statements. In the first cassette, Maulana Azar dwelt at length on the demolition of the Babri Masjid and alleged that the United states or the United Nations never saw the plight of the Muslims. In the speech, he repeatedly called for jehad against India. Interestingly, he also criticised the Pakistan government and said that Islamic laws were not followed in that country and Mujaheedins were harassed by the Pakistani government. He also alleged that Iran and the United states were investing billions of dollars to create enmity between the Mujaheedin groups of Afghanisthan for their own interest. In the second cassette recovered by the security forces, Maulana Azar also repeatedly called his followers to get ready for jehad against India. He gave his reasons for leading a jehad against India and claimed that India would be disintegrated into pieces. The Harkat-ul-Mujahideen man also directed his anger against Pakistan and said that Pakistan was coming in the way of the jehad. He called upon the people to help the Mujaheedins and said that they have to beg for money from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The highly provocative speeches proved the designs of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in Assam once again. It may be mentioned here that the designs of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen came to the forefront last year after the arrests of four agents of the Pakistani agency and a number of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants from different parts of the state by the security forces in a series of operations. During that period, the police also nabbed a number of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants who were trained up in Pakistan. Though it was believed that the arrests of the ISI agents and the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants thwarted the designs of these groups, from the recovery of the cassettes, it has become evident that such groups are still active in Assam and immediate steps need to be taken to foil their designs and anti India propaganda. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 17, 2000)

AIZAWL, May 16: Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) today released two Mizo captives abducted by the outfit after keeping them in captivity for more than a month, Mizoram home minister Tawnluia said here. Announcing the news in a pres conference, Tawnluia said that the two captives - Lalchhanhima, junior engineer and Jolly Lalawmliana, section officer, both working in the state public health engineering department - were received at Mizoram-Tripura border village of New Kawnpui by the state police this morning. Detailed programmes for reception of the released duo would be chalked out by the five-member committee of ministers on security and related matters, he said. He expressed gratitude to the three church leaders - Rev Lalsawma, Rev AK Dawi and elder Lalramthanga - who successfully held talks with the Reang/Bru outfit. Tawnluia also thanked the people of Mizoram, political parties, NGOs and churches for cooperating with the government and maintaining restraint. "I also expressed my sincere thanks to the BNLF militants for releasing the two Mizos unconditionally," he said. One of the three church leaders, Rev Lalsawma, said no ransom money was given to the outfit to secure the release of the two Mizo captives. "We told the top leaders of the BNLF including 'chief commander' Solomon Prafulla and 'commander of the Tornado operation' Blong Buraha that rich people or companies may pay ransom, the government never pays," he said. He also said that they impressed upon the militants not to repeat "making business out of the blood of their fellow human beings" (kidnapping for ransom) as it is against the law and the Gospel. Although he did not want to specify the place where they met the 'chief commander' of the BNLF, he indicated that it was inside Bangladesh where the outfit has its hideouts. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 17, 2000)

IMPHAL, May 18: Six suspected activists of the banned PREPAK were killed in an exchange of fire with security personnel at Wangkhei area near here today. Some members of the security personnel were also injured in the encounter but their exact number was not yet known, official sources said. Official reports said a combined team of Manipur police commandos and Assam Rifles rushed to Wangkheimayum Leirak area, about two kms from here, following reports of infiltration of armed insurgents. As the police team reached the area, the activists opened fire from a branch office of the Manipur Sericulture department, sources said.The security personnel restrained fire because some Japanese officials, engaged in a Indo-Japanese sericulture project in Manipur, were reportedly staying in the area, sources added. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 19, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 18 : Six persons including an executive magistrate were killed when militants ambushed the convoy of North Cachar Hills deputy commissioner near Umrangsu around five pm this evening. Police sources in Haflong informed that deputy commissioner Tanu Singh escaped unhurt while six other persons including executive magistrate MK Gogoi were killed in the ambush. The driver of the DC's vehicle was also killed in the incident. Magistrate Gogoi was travelling in the same vehicle with the deputy commissioner. Four policemen travelling in the escort vehicle were killed in the attack by the ultras. Haflong police, however, failed to confirm the identity of militants involved in the attack. Police source further informed that the incident took place at a location between Dehangi and Samgbar under Umrangsu police station in the district. The DC was returning to Haflong after attending a public function in the area. Top police officials of the district rushed to the spot to launch a combing operation int he area. Details of the incident were still awaited as the incident took place in a remote area. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 19, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 19: Security has been beefed up in North Cachar Hills district and neighbouring Karbi Anglong following yesterday's militants' attack on the convoy of NC Hills deputy commissioner at Shangbar under Umrangsu police station. The director-general of state police, PV Sumant today rushed to NC Hills to take stock of the situation in the hill district. Meanwhile, combing operation is on in Umrangsu area under the supervision of the NC Hills superintendent of police following yesterday's tragedy in which six persons including an executive magistrate, MK Gogoi were killed. Alert has been sounded in neighbouring Karbi Anglong district also, according to police sources. Total twenty-eight non-Karbis were killed in Karbi Anglong last month as United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), an umbrella outfit of Karbi People's Front and Karbi National Volunteers (KNV)-militant went berserk in the district. Police suspects that yesterday's attack on NC Hills deputy commissioner was carried out by Dima Halong Dougah (DHD) which maintains a close relation with the NSCN-IM faction. The slain police personnel in yesterday's militants' attack were identified as Havildar Manoranjan Sharma (Nalbari), constable Rohini Chetia (Sivasagar), constable Jai Prakash Thakur (Uttar Pradesh), constable Rohen Basumatary (Dhubri). The civil driver of deputy commissioner's vehicle, R Sarkar was also killed in the incident. Bodies of slain persons were sent to their respective families after the post-mortem. All the police personnel killed in the incident were from Fifth Assam Police Battalion. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 20, 2000)

AGARTALA, May 19: Outlawed NLFT militants have stepped up their bloody offensives throughout the state while ethnic tension has risen to alarming heights. NLFT rebels shot dead six non-tribals at Bampur in South Tripura district on Thursday night. Another gang of the same outfit attacked a CRPF camp at the same locality to keep security forces confined to their barracks. Following the killings, Amarpur subdivision has become explosive once again. The rebels having splintered into three groups launched simultaneous offensives in a well-planned operation. One group ambushed a CRPF patrol party which was bringing three arrested militants. The extremists kept them engaged in the encounter while other group opened fire at their Bampur camp. As panicky non-tribals rushed out of their homes, extremists hiding around opened indiscriminate firing from their automatic weapons. Six were gunned down on the spot, while five more were hit by flying bullets. Among the killed are three women. Two injured are reported to be in a critical condition. Senior police and CRPF officers have rushed to the spot. In yet another incident, militants of the same organisation shot dead a women at Kalyanpur nine West Tripura district. One more was kidnapped. During the last seven days the militants carried out five major offensives in South Tripura and Dhalai districts. Altogether 27 persons were killed and several others were kidnapped by NLFT insurgents during the attacks. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 20, 2000)

IMPHAL, May 19: During the past 24 hours, commandos of Imphal West and East district police have arrested at least 13 underground activists including 11 cadres of the banned UNLF from different parts of the state. In a major crackdown, five UNLF cadres were arrested from Kwakeithel Lamdong in Imphal West district on Wednesday night at 9.30 pm along with a dark-green NV Select bearing the registration No CH-03/9884 in their possession. The arrested undergrounds were identified as Athokpam Joychandra of Wabagai Part III, Moirangthem Raju of Umathel Mayai Leikai, Nongmaithe Chalamba of Tera Loukham Leirak, Potsangbam Maniroton of Haobam Marak Ngangom Leikai and Khundrakpam Lalngamba Metei of Jiribam Kunjabon. Three other UNLF cadres identified as Meisnam Rajen of Tangjeng Phura Makhong, Salam Jiban of Thanga Lawai Sabal Leikai and Laishram Shanti Kumar of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai were also arrested from Singjamei Yumnam Leirembi Lampak on Thursday at 10 am by the Imphal West district police commandos. Another team of the police commandos attached to the Imphal West district police also apprehended another UNLF cadre from the house of one Wangkheimayum Nabakishor Singh of Tera Loukham Leirak in Imphal West district on Wednesday at 9.30 am. The arrested cadre has been identified as RK Manglemsana Singh of Jiribam in Imphal East district. On the same day around 9.30 pm, a UNLF member identified as Thongam Kanba Meitei of Singjamei Thongam Leikai, who was staying in a rented house in Koirengei area, was arrested by the commandos of Imphal West district police. In yet another operation, a commando team of the Imphal East district police led by SP L Kailun arrested one PLA activist and one UNLF cadre from the adjoining areas of the Wangkhei Laishram Leikai during a search operation on Thursday morning. The search operation was conducted from 3 am to 7 am on Thursday, a police spokesman told The Assam Tribune. The arrested PLA activist has been identified as Konsam Ajit Kumar of Wangkhei Laishram Leikai while the UNLF cadre was identified as N Sanatomba of Wangkhei Durga Puja Lampak. The team of Imphal West also arrested a KCP cadre, S Thouba, from Singjamei area. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 20, 2000)

AGARTALA, May 21: Nineteen Bengalis including 10 women were killed in the biggest massacre this year at a makeshift evacuee camp, located in a school building, at Kalyanpur in west Tripura on Saturday evening. Later, in a related incident, suspected NLFT rebels shot dead at least three Bengalis in an attack at Kalyanpur on Sunday. With this, a total of 35 people have been killed in ethnic violence since Saturday. Armed with shoot-at-sight orders, the para-military Assam Rifles and other forces continued staging flag marches in the violence-hit areas. Top police and civil officials have also been camping at Kalyanpur. Though the massacre in the school building at Baghber in west Ghilatali, less than 1 km from the Kalyanpur police station, occurred between 5 and 6 pm, the police could not confirm the incident till midnight. Police sources blamed CRPF personnel deployed there for not doing much to prevent the massacre and not giving accurate information to the police. Informed sources said 20 heavily-armed NLFT rebels, backed up by about 30 tribal youths, attacked the evacuee camp from three sides. The rebels first lobbed grenades into the school premises and then opened indiscriminate fire from automatic weapons. The camp inmates first took shelter in the primary school after their houses were gutted. The rebels attacked them with sharp weapons. Nineteen Bengalis including 10 women died on the spot. It was not known how many people sustained injuries. Sources in Kalyanpur said only seven bodies were shifted at night while the rest lay unattended all over the school premises. The police started shifting the bodies this morning. At about 12.30 pm, state's acting-Chief Minister Anil Sarkar said bodies were still being recovered from the area. Police officials confirmed the killing of 19 people only in afternoon. The massacre created tension in Kalyanpur and its adjoining areas. Curfew, which was clamped on Kalyanpur yesterday, was extended to Teliamura. Both the places are under indefinite curfew, the state director-general of police KTD Singh said. In an apparent sequel to the Baghber incident, suspected NLFT rebels shot dead three Bengalis at Ratia-Durgapur area in Kalyanpur at about 11 am. Unconfirmed reports put the number of dead at five. Thereafter, the rebels also set fire to several houses. Personnel of the Tripura state Rifles (TSR) rushed to the area and the exchange of fire lasted for over an hour. The killings started after an attack on a passenger jeep by suspected United Bengali Liberation Force (UBLF) militants in which five tribals were killed and eight injured. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; May 22, 2000)

LUMDING, May 21: The people of Lumding (Nagaon district), Barlongher, Langcholiet (Karbi Anglong) and Manderdisa and Hatikhali (NC Hills) have expressed their concern over the activities of extremist outfits like KNV (Karbi National Volunteers) and DHD (Dima Halong Daoga) who are being backed by the NSCN. Several victims have alleged that extortion, kidnapping and other antisocial activities being carried out in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts and in the border areas of Lumding. The extremists reign supreme here, using Lumding as their base from where they can take refuge in any of their underground camps. The authority concerned has lent a deaf ear to the problem. The people allege that the administration is virtually in the dark about the happenings in those border areas. The corruption, extortion, kidnapping and killing of innocent people for money, were highlighted recently by Hiranya Kumar Bhattacharjee of BJP. It may be noted that the militants of this border area are being backed by the NSCN and are thriving on money collected from the innocent people. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 22: Widespread opposition against the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2000, commonly known as 'super TADA' is gaining ground in Assam. After different organisations of the state including the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Northeast Students' Organisation, Manab Adhikar Parishad, Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad etc opposed the proposed Act, the lawyers of the city joined hands to prepare a comprehensive document to oppose the proposed Act. Former All Assam Students' Union (AASU) president Sarbananda Sonowal took the lead in bringing the prominent lawyers together in this regard. He convened a meeting of some of the prominent lawyers of the city at the Swahid Bhawan here yesterday to discuss the legal implications of the 'super TADA'. The meeting was attended by Jatin Choudhury, Anil Bhattacharya, Ranjan Gogoi, Hrishikesh Roy, Niloy Dutta, HRA Choudhury, Aroop Borbora, Pratap Deka, Deba Kanta Kakati, Pranab Pathak, Ramesh Barpatra Gohain, Kamal Agarwal, Nekibur Zaman and DJ Bora. The meeting, after discussing the legal implications of the proposed Bill, formed a four member committee to prepare a draft report on the 'super TADA'. The lawyers will meet again on next Sunday to finalise the report. Talking to this correspondent here today, Sonowal alleged that the central government once again kept the Northeast region of the country out of the decision making process. He said that the Law Commission organised two seminars in December and January last to have discussions on the proposed Bill but no one from the NE was invited to attend the seminar. He said that he had given a representation to the Law Commission on April 5 against the proposed Bill. "I met the Law Commission chairman on April 20 and requested him to take the views of the people of the region before finalising the Bill. The Law Commission chairman assured me that they would visit the region but the commission submitted the draft Bill to the Centre without taking the views of the people of the region," he added. The former AASU president said that he met the Union home minister LK Advani on May 5 and opposed the proposed Act. The Union home minister told him to submit a report giving details of the reasons for opposing the proposed Act. He said that he decided to bring the prominent lawyers of the state together to prepare a comprehensive report on the legal implications of the super TADA. Sonowal pointed out that the central government was forced to withdraw the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act after nation-wide outcry against the Act. But now the central government is trying to replace the TADA by a similar 'draconian Act'. He expressed apprehension that the Act would be misused frequently by the government. Sonowal said that he would also hold discussion with the organisations who have already opposed the Act to prepare a comprehensive report on the political implications of the 'super TADA'. Both the reports would be submitted to the Union home minister soon, he added. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 23, 2000)

AGARTALA, May 22: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in New Delhi yesterday afternoon and demanded deployment of Army and additional paramilitary forces to contain the ethnic violence, which claimed 45 lives so far. The Prime Minister had earlier assured the Chief Minister that the Union government would send three battalions of Army to the state to check militancy. But no Army was despatched and only two columns of Army had been sent before the recently held Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council election. Later these were also sent back to Assam. Official sources told UNI here that the Chief Minister was accompanied by state's finance minister Badal Chowdhury and chief secretary V Thulasidas. However, details about the Prime Minister's discussion was not known immediately. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar went to New Delhi on Friday last to attend the Inter-state Council meeting and meeting of the Chief Ministers of Northeastern states. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 23: The United Peoples' Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) -- a rebel group-- has asserted that it will continue the "resistance campaign" against the environmental, ecological degradation and demographic aggression on Karbi people. The outfit also blamed the security forces and the CPI-ML for the "countless extra-judicial killings" in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar hill districts. The organisation's mass relations secretary, self-styled Lt. Leen Timung, said in a press release that the environmental and ecological issues of the districts are at stake and it was very difficult to assess the reasons and ground behind the resistance campaign. Quoting a statement of the GOC 4 Crops Lt Gen. DB Shekatkar, where the officer had said that the Karbi people have become apprehensive of losing their identity because of large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh and Nepal, the UPDS said: "One can easily assess how the demography is being transformed due to the influx of alien people." The outfit - which is believed to be involved in a number of killings in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills in the recent past - has however, denied of being involved in any ethnic cleansing in the two districts. It claimed that "violence, hatred, genocide and ethnic cleansing" were never in its agenda. Referring to the various violent incidents taking place in the hill district, the organisation alleged that the police along with the armed forces and the CPI-ML have committed countless extra-judicial killings against the indigenous people and the UPDS vowed to fight against such excesses. "Therefore, our resistance campaign is not against certain communities like the Nepalis or the Biharis. Communal tension is not in our agenda. Nor, ethnic cleansing is our target. Our resistance campaign is against environmental, ecological law offenders and collaborators or agents of the Indian state machinery/CPI-ML nexus." It also appealed to all sections of people not to encourage communal and reactionary forces. (Staff Reporter; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; May 24, 2000)

BAGHBER (Tripura), May 23: Sixty-year old Nityananda Debnath is a broken hearted man today as he had lost his two sons and daughter-in-law last Saturday night when a group of armed tribals attacked his village. "It was about 9 PM when we heard the sound of fire from the eastern side of the village. We become alert and when we were sure that they (armed miscreants) were coming to our village we started fleeing towards the western side of the village," Debnath said. "But they had encircled the entire village and shot dead my two sons and pregnant daughter-in-law before my eyes. I was lying on the paddy field," he broke into tears. "I have no intention to live as my two bread earning sons are dead and there is no body to look after me". At least 21 people were massacred in the village on Saturday night and altogether 44 people died at Baghber and in neighbouring villages since Friday last. Nirmal Dev, another villager said, "It was like Jalianwala Bagh scene with the armed miscreants encircling the entire village and indiscriminately firing which killed 21 persons on the spot". The villagers complained that a CRPF patrol team had patrolled the area some ten minutes before the incident but did not turn up to resist when the ultras attacked the village. They demanded immediate setting up of a camp of Tripura state Rifles (TSR) in the village. Villagers said armed ultras also blew up two school buildings by hurling grenades. Makhanlal Sarkar (55), whose only son is missing since the attack in the village alleged that the tribal miscreants deliberately attacked Bengali dominated villages in the area to drive out the Bengalis from the locality. Many villagers here and in neighbouring villages complained that their agricultural produces were being harvested by tribals even as an indefinite curfew remained in force in Teliamura and Kalyanpur police station areas. additional superintendent of police, Pradip Pal who is camping in the area said said tension continued to run high at the violence-hit areas but there has been no outbreak of fresh clashes or attacks. He said 19 tribals, who were involved in looting and setting afire of the houses deserted by people in the wake of ethnic strife, were arrested from different parts of Teliamura and Kalyanpur on Monday. A team of visiting journalists saw villagers carrying their entire households on carts and hand-pulled rickshaws on way to different schools and government buildings serving as temporary shelters. The inmates in different camps feared attacks in the camps as they felt the security was not adequate there. The insurgents can strike here because security arrangement is poor. We are spending sleepless night here, said Dipan Ghosh, a inmate of a camp at Thapidayap senior basic school. (PTI; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; May 24, 2000)

HAFLONG, May 23: Acute shortage of security forces as well as poor infrastructure has severely affected anti-insurgency operations against the militants in NC Hills. There are only four police stations and eight police outposts in the entire district and even the outposts are unsanctioned. And altogether, there are only 16 sub-inspectors for all the police stations and none for the outposts. Besides, the outposts bordering Nagaland are also longer in existence as they had been abolished by the government. Army operations are currently on, but these are only temporary arrangements. Superintendent of police BB Chetri admitted before newsmen here on Monday that the strength of the police in the district is 'very low'. He said that establishing contacts with the PS and outposts often becomes very difficult as there are no telephone connections. Contact is mostly made through wireless sets, he added. Presently, one battalion of the 95 field regiment of the Army and five companies of the CRPF are assisting police in the anti-insurgency operations. On the other hand, there are reports that the DHD (Dima Halam Daugah) has an impressive strength. A senior intelligence officer told The Northeast Daily on condition of anonymity that the DHD has at least 100 members. He further said that their camps are mostly located in Bangladesh and some even in the district. But, it becomes difficult to locate these camps as they are 'mobile', he added. The poor infrastructure is also proving a bane to the operations. The condition of the roads are deplorable. The security forces have often to walk long distances on foot. For example, the distance from Halflong to Harengajao is about 45 K.M. But the road condition is so bad that it takes two hours to travel. (Anirban Choudhury; The Northeast Daily; Guwahati; May 24, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 24: In an unprecedented incident two undertrial agents of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan - Syed Fasiullah Husain and Javed Ullah alias Javed Walker - physically assaulted a photographer of a city-based daily in front of the court of the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) this afternoon. Significantly, the group of about a dozen policemen guarding the undertrials remained mute spectators to the incident and even tried to prevent photographers from taking photographs of the undertrials later. Narrating the incident, the victim Chandra Sekhar Sarma of Aji told The Assam Tribune that the incident took place at about 2.30 this afternoon when he was about to click photographs of the two undertrials just prior to their being produced at CJM's court. They suddenly broke away from custody of the policemen with their hancuffs on and manhandled Sarma. They also abused him in filthy language and threatened to smash the cameras. With no policemen coming to his rescue, Sarma had to retreat to a safer spot and the undertrials were taken inside the court. But again as they were coming out of the court after proceedings were over, police guards themselves physically prevented photographers from clicking photographs. However, as word about the incident spread, a crowd gathered at the spot ready to attack the ISI agents. Sensing serious trouble the police party along with the undertrials made a hasty retreat in a police van. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 25, 2000)

DHAKA, May 24: ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia and two of his associates, examined by Dhaka special tribunal judge on the charge of having unauthorised foreign currency, have pleaded 'not guilty' in the case, judicial sources said here today. Judge Humayun Kabir examined eight prosecution witnesses yesterday when the court fixed the day for examining Chetia and co-accused Babul Sharma and Laxmi Prasad Goswami. During the examination, Chetia told the court they were all innocent. He said they came to Bangladesh only to "save their lives from the Indian Army because they were pro-liberation forces of Assam." He said "I have already submitted a petition to the government for political asylum in Bangladesh." Chetia, who was awarded six years rigorous imprisonment by the chief metropolitan magistrate's court, Dhaka, on October 25, 1998 for illegal stay in Bangladesh and possessing forged Bangladeshi passports, and his two associates are now in the high security Dhaka Central Jail. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 25, 2000)

AGARTALA, May 24: BL Vora, an IPS officer of the Tripura-Manipur cadre 1967 batch, took over the charge of the Tripura director-general of police yesterday. Official sources said Vora, the chairman of the Manipur Police Housing Corporation, succeeded KTD Singh who has been transferred to state Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development as its director-general. The sources said Singh, however, might not take charge of the Union government on deputation. The Central Administrative Tribunal had recently quashed the appointment of Singh as Tripura DGP saying his appointment was contrary to the Union home ministry guidelines. Singh, an IPS officer of the Tripura-Manipur cadre of 1974 batch was elevated to the post of DGP by the Tripura government on April 17, 1999. However, a division bench in the Agartala bench of the Gauhati High Court stayed the CAT order on April 26, sources said, adding that the court also accepted the appeal of the state government for hearing against the CAT order. The court asked the defendant to reply within eight weeks. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 25, 2000)

ITANAGAR, May 25: Three of the seven villagers, kidnapped by NSCN (K) activists earlier, have been released from captivity, police said on Wednesday. The three were released at Polong village, about five km from Borduria, on Tuesday, the sources said. The three villagers, who had been held captive since May 20, informed the police that the kidnappers were continuously asking about the camps of their rival NSCN (Isak-Muivah) faction, the sources said. However, four villagers including the cousin bother of a local MLA and former minister, are still in captivity, the sources said. A group of armed militants of NSCN(K) had raided Borduria village, located along the Indo-Mynmar border on May 20 and abducted the seven villagers. The village is about nine km from Khonsa, the headquarters of Tirap district. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 26, 2000)

IMPHAL, May 26: At least 14 activists were killed while 78 other were arrested by the police during this month, official sources said. Of the arrested, 11 were recommended for detention under the National Security Act (NSA), the sources said on Thursday. Police killed eight UNLF members and six PREPAK members in two different incidents. Altogether 25 PLA, 26 United National Liberation Front (UNLF), five PREPAK, eight KYKL (Toijamba facton), seven KCP, five NSCN (K) and one each of the People's United Liberation Front (PULF) and KYKL (Oken faction) were arrested during this month, sources said. One 9mm pistol, six AK-47 rifles, one M-21 rifle, one SLR, one .303 rifle, one UMG, seven rocket launcher bombs, large quantity of different types of ammunition and one walkie-talkie set were also recovered, sources added. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 27, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 27: The militant outfit ULFA today suffered a major setback as its self-styled assistant publicity secretary and central committee leader Swadhinata Phukon alias Kabiranjan Saikia was killed by police in a pre-dawn operation at Gendheli village of Garumara area under Pulibor police station in Jorhat district. In another incident six members of a Nepali family including two women were gunned down by unidentified gunmen at Pengeri in Digboi under Tinsukia district at around 1.30 am today. Sources in Jorhat informed that a team of police and CRPF personnel raided the official residence of officer in-charge of Upper Garumara mini-PHC, Manju Rani Devi at around 2.30 am today and apprehended the ULFA leader, Swadhinata Phukon. He was taken away blindfolded from the residence of Devi by the police party in a jeep to unknown destination. Later police claimed that the ULFA man was killed in an encounter. Sources quoting local people of the village informed that the ULFA leader had been staying in the official residence of Devi for the last two months under the name of Biman Bora. The villagers used to know that he was a research scholar of political science in Jadavpur University. He was also carrying an identity card in the name of Biman Bora. The maid servant of Devi said the police team interrogated the ULFA leader for about half-an-hour during the raid. The ULFA leader was heard to be requesting the police, "Give me a one more month of time". Meanwhile, when contacted by The Assam Tribune this evening the Jorhat district superintendent of police, G P Singh claimed that acting on a specific information that a top ULFA leadear would try to cross over the river Brahmaputra to Majuli and, a team of police and CRPF personnel laid ambush in Garumara area at night. The SP claimed at around 2.00 am a youth was spotted by the ambush party on a bi-cycle. When challenged by the police the youth opened fire and was killed in the ensuing encounter. He received two bullets. He was identified as ULFA's assistant publicity secretary Swadhinata Phukon. It was informed that a China-made pistol, three computer floppies and several letters and incriminating documents were recovered from the slain ULFA leader. According to the SP some of the letters contained 'interesting information' about the present state of affairs in the banned outfit. He, however, declined to divulge details. The computer floppies have been sent to police headquarters here for examination. Singh claimed that the tip-off was provided by a 'top ranking chap in ULFA'. Sources informed that Devi and three other persons Akon Bora, Jyoti Das and Nilakanta Bora were picked up by police for interrogation. It may be mentioned that of late Swadhinata Phukon was co-ordinating the propaganda operation of the ULFA and was the editor of outfit's mouthpiece Swadhinata (Freedom). He was the brain behind the ULFA website in Internet which was later hacked by security forces. He hails from Nagaon district and was 26 years of age. He has published a few books of poems under the name of Kabiranjan Saikia. Our Nagaon correspondent adds that Swadhinata Phukon alias Kabiranjan was born on February 3, 1974 at Khutikatia, Nagaon. He was a brilliant student. When he was in class VIII, he wrote a book Gyan Vigyanar Sarathi on general knowledge. In 1986 he published a book of poems title Rakta arati and later while with the ULFA published another book of poems Artanadar Anisha. He joined ULFA in 1993 while studying BA in Nagaon College. He was the only son in the family of Hem Saikia. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 28, 2000)

IMPHAL, May 26: Altogether 18 militants belonging to different outfits of Manipur on Thursday laid down arms at the banquet hall of the First Manipur Rifles battalion in presence of the director-general of police, report agencies. The extremists surrendered M-20 rifles, AK-47 rifles, self-loading rifles, small arms and ammunition and wireless sets before state Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh. Of those, who surrendered, five belonged to the UNLF, as many to the PREPAK, three to the KYKL(T), two to the KCP, as many to the KYKL (Oken) and one to the PLA. Speaking at the function, Singh called upon activists to come forward and settle for a peaceful lie. Doors were always open for those, who opted to join the national mainstream, he added. Developmental works had suffered a lot for a long time due to the violence in the state and without peace, no developmental work could take place, the Chief Minister opined. Singh assured that all those militants who had given up arms and returned to the mainstream would be rehabilitated. The Chief Minister also distributed appointment orders to the 18 former rebels, who were appointed as riflemen and constable in the police department. The appointments were made under the rehabilitation scheme. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 28, 2000)

AGARTALA, May 28: The NLFT has disowned responsibility for the recent massacres in Kalyanpur and Teliamura areas of West Tripura district. A statement issued by Bekreng, chief of publicity wing of NLFT, on Friday said it was not involved in the killings at Teliamura and Kalyanpur and denied press reports that had blamed the militant outfit for the May 20 massacre. Earlier, the police had also said that NLFT insurgents were behind the massacre of 22 people at Baghber in Kalyanpur areas. The statement said the NLFT did not consider Hindu Bengalis as its enemy. Observers here felt this was a major shift from the earlier policy of the banned organisation. The NLFT had targeted the Hindu Bengalis and demanded that those who had entered Tripura after 1949 must quit the state. Meanwhile, the police said the Baghber massacre might be the handiwork of banned ATTF. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 29, 2000)

AIZAWL, May 31: Several attempts by insurgents groups to smuggle arms through Mizoram have been foiled, Deputy inspector-general (range) of Assam Rifles Brig Herwant Krishan said here Monday. Talking to reporters, Brig Krishan said that with Mizoram having more than 400 KM-long international border with Myanmar and border areas being difficult terrain, it is extremely difficult to prevent all the movements of insurgents groups in the border areas. "However, insurgents moved only in small groups and the presence of security forces along the border now deterred them," he claimed. He also said the Assam Rifles deployed on the border areas faced problems as Hmar People's Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) militants, who abducted six NEEPCO officials are yet to be outlawed by the Centre. Brig Krishan, who took over as DIG (R) here in January this year said parleys have been going on to implement shifting of Assam Rifles from the heart of Aizawl city to nearby Zokhawsang area. He said the Assam Rifles does not have any objection to shift to Zokhawsang as the master plan for developing the area is being prepared. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 1, 2000)