SOMEWHERE IN NAGALAND, June 19: A separatist tribal guerrilla group in Nagaland has threatened to call off an ongoing ceasefire if the Centre does not lift the ban imposed on the outfit. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland, led by factional leader SS Khaplang, fighting for an independent tribal homeland, said informal contacts have been established between the rebel leadership and the Indian government for preparing the modalities for peace talks to end 52 year of insurgency in the region. "Lifting of the ban on the NSCN apart, we want the proposed ceasefire agreement to be extended to all tribal Naga-inhabited areas covering parts of Nagaland, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur so that our people can move freely without being harassed by Indian soldiers," Kitovi Zhimomi, the self-styled "prime minister" of the NSCN Khaplang faction, said at Oking, the mobile headquarters of the outfit somewhere in Nagaland. "Otherwise we shall be forced to review our decision for a cease-fire," he added. The outfit had announced a cease-fire in April with a view to ending tribal insurgency in Nagaland, which has claimed an estimated 50,000 lives. The truce would become effective only after the signing of an agreement between the rebel leadership and the government. "We want New Delhi to adopt a sincere approach to solving the Naga political problem. This is the first chance for the Indian government this new millennium to hammer out a peaceful settlement to the 52-year-old insurgency movement in Nagaland," the rebel leader said. (Syed Zarir Hussain, India Abroad News Service; The Times of India; New Delhi; June 20, 2000)

AGARTALA, June 19: Separatist National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) militants suffered a severe setback early last week as a crack commando team of Bangladesh Army shot dead 11 rebels at remote Tanglaikantla in Sajek hill range. This is for the first time Bangladesh Army carried out such a big offensive against the North East militants in their territory. Tanglaikantla camp of the NLFT is located in the remotest part of Kanhgracherri and there is no village around its almost 150 km radius. Intelligence reports here said, Bangladesh Army commandos of 203 Brigade located at Khagracherri carried out the operation. They sneaked into Tanglaikantla area stealthily on foot mainly at night so that the NLFT militants were not alerted. On Monday night the military encircled the camp and at the first light on Tuesday morning cracked down on the NLFT. The militants were taken by utter surprise and before they could resist, were overpowered. While eleven NLFT militants were killed in the shootout some seven or eight might have escaped the dragnet. It is not yet clear whether all the 11 slain militants were shot dead in the ensuring gun-battle. There are reports that they were gunned down after surrender as the military did not want to take them back and face all paraphernalia of civil proceedings. Having taken photographs of the killed militants, their arms and destroyed camp the bodies were burnt down there itself. Reports say that Bangladesh Army's action against the NLFT militants came as the Northeast rebels of late established links with the United People's Democratic Front of CHT led by Praseet Kshisha. The UPDF in CHT is opposing the peace accord between Bangladesh government and Shanti Bahini. Kshisha accuses Santu Larma of betraying the cause of the Jumma people and there are efforts on the part of the UPDF to renew 'armed struggle' against Bangladesh authority again. Reportedly the IPDF sought NLFT's active help including training in guerrilla warfare and supply of weaponry in exchange the Chakma organisation offered safe haven for the Tripura militants in the CHT. The attempt of revival of Chakma militancy in CHT with the help of NLFT worried the Bangladesh government and the order came straight from Dhaka to destroy the camp forthwith. As the Bangladesh Army would have to face the burnt of Chakma militancy if it really begins again, the military did not waste time and carried out the operation against the NLFT. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 20, 2000)

AIZAWL, June 19: Two of the six NEEPCO employees, who had been released by the Hmar militants on Tuesday last after a 74-day captivity, were hospitalised for medical tests, official sources said here Sunday, reports PTI. Junior engineers Lalsanga and Lalrinkima were admitted to the Aizawl 0Civil Hospital. Doctors at the hospital said thorough medical check up was required as the NEEPCO men had gone through mental stress and trauma for 74 days under the captivity of Hmar People's Convention - Democrats (HPC-D) inside jungles in Manipur. Mizoram health minister Lalchaliana visited the two engineers at the hospital Saturday. The six employees were kidnapped by HPC-D ultras on March 31 from the site of the 60 MW Tuirial hydel project near the hamlet of Mauchar near Assam border. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 20, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 20: More than 2,000 non-Karbi families have deserted their villages from western Karbi Anglong hill district of Assam because of the increasing threat of rebel group, United Peoples Democratic Solidarity. The outfit that has procured sophisticated arms and ammunition with advanced communication equipment has created terror in the district by clamping self-styled taxes on non-Karbi villagers and the government officials. Disclosing this to The Asian Age on Wednesday, sources said that most of the non-Karbi villagers who started migrating immediately after two massacres last month have taken shelter in central Assam's Nagaon district. The UPDS militants had killed more than 20 villagers in Hambren sub-division of the district last month as they failed to pay the annual taxes while some villagers had decided to resist the threat of the militants. Ironically, the police and state administration has so far failed to take any initiative to build up the confidence of the villagers reportedly planning to form parallel-armed outfit to resist the militants on its own, sources indicated. Official sources while confirming the reports of ultras having sophisticated arms and ammunition said that some political forces have also played the nasty role in provoking these ultras. A villager said that UPDS militants have also warned the villagers to follow their directive during the elections. They have asked them only to allow the Congress workers in their areas. Sources said that not only villagers, even government employees are also paying taxes to the ultras very regularly. In some areas, where the militants have managed to forge an understanding with the villagers, the gaonburah (village headman) collects the money and hand it over to the ultras at the end of the month. Interestingly, the state administration is aware of these activities but is reluctant to take any action, sources said. They indicated that the UPDS had bases deep inside the forests and is getting arms through Bhutan and Bangladesh and is also providing shelter to the banned ULFA militants in their camps. The rebels had started harassing the Bodo villagers, but the Bodo Liberation Tiger threatened to retaliate in case of any offensive against them, sources said. The UPDS came into existence in March 1999 when the two militant outfits - KNV and KPF - decided to join hands and formed a joint group. However, their political demands are not known to the administration as yet. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; Guwahati; June 21, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 21: The Gauhati High Court today directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a status report on the investigation into the killing of Parag Kumar Das. A division bench of the High Court comprising Justice NC Jain and Justice D Biswas, after preliminary hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL), fixed July 26 as the next date for hearing of the case. Parag Kumar Das was killed in the Rajgarh area of the city on May 17, 1996 and the state government handed over the case to the Central Investigation Agency in 1997. Concerned over the delay in the investigation, Hiren Gohain, Mahendra Barthakur, Jahnu Barauh and Dilip Chandan today filed a PIL in the High Court today. (Law Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 22, 2000)

TAMULPUR (Nalbari), June 21: Tamulpur area near the Assam-Bhutan border was once considered to be a hotbed of insurgent activities but the sleepy town has turned out into an ocean of humanity as thousands of youths from all corners of Assam flocked to the town to participate in the recruitment rally organised by the Indian Army. This large turnout of youths proved the change in the attitude of the Assamese youths, who are now willing to join the Army. The special six-day long recruitment rally of the Army got under way here on June 19 to fill up 234 posts. Thousands of youths from all corners of the state flocked to Tamulpur to participate in the rally and Army sources said that they were expecting at least ten thousand participants. During a visit to the site of the rally, this correspondent found that bus loads of youths were still flocking into the area and all the roads were virtually blocked with cross-sections of youths of various ages. It was evident that the fact that Tamulpur area was a hotbed of militant activities, did not deter the youths from coming to the area to participate in the rally. The reasons given by the youths who have come to participate in the rally vary from their interest in serving the nation, wanting to join a secure job and some even said that it was better to join the Army than the insurgent outfits. Teenager Hemen Das is from Barpeta and he was an athlete. He studied up to Class X and did well in the physical tests of the rally. He said that he wanted to join the Army because he wanted a job. Subung Basumatary, a tough looking Bodo youth is from the Kalbari village near Tamulpur. When asked why he wanted to join the Army, he said "We are constantly under pressure from both the Army men operating in the area and from the militants. It is better to join one side and joining the Army is a better prospect." Subung was a football and Kho Kho player during his school days and he is still fit enough to complete the 1600 metre run in the rally with ease. He said that more than 700 youths from the Tamulpur area alone participated in the rally. Ramesh Kachari of Tangla in Darrang district wants to join the Army because he wants to serve the nation and 'joining the Army gives the best possible opportunity to serve the nation'. He had tried his luck in a recruitment rally earlier but at that time he failed to get a job. He feels that he is better prepared this time to take the tests. He also revealed that about five thousand youths had come from Darrang district to participate in the rally. A number of youths came a day before and they had to spend a sleepless night as they had no place to sleep in Tamulpur, which proved the urge of the youths for a job in the Army. Lalit Rabha from Khoirabari area of Darrang district said that earlier one youth from his village joined the Army and "I feel that if he can join the Army, I can do the same. Amulya Boro of the same district said, "I have not done well in education and joining the Army is the best possible option left to me. I cannot hope to get a job in the state government as I do not have the money to bribe anyone to get a state government job". Most of the youths participating in the rally are from the areas known to be the stronghold of the militants but they are of the view that they would not face any problem from the militants because of their desire to join the Army. Most of them are so desperate for a job that they are not bothered about the militants. The large turn out also proved the change of the attitude of the Assamese people in general as most of them said that their families had no objection to their attempt to join the Army and they were ready to work anywhere in the country. However, the fitness level of most of the youths left much to be desired as majority of them even could not complete two laps around an 800 metre track. Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding the 21 Mountain Division of the Army, Major General AS Jamwal said that the large turn out of youths was a very encouraging sign as it proved that the attitude of the people in general is changing. He said, "The large turn out will enable us to recommend holding of more such rallies in future." Brigadier ND Prasad of the Army brigade posted at Tamulpur said that the participants would first be put through physical tests and those who pass the physical test would be allowed to sit in the written test and medical examination. He is also satisfied with the large turn out and said, "It is much more than our expectation". (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 22, 2000)

TURA, June 21: Garo Hills, particularly East and West, is virtually sitting on a time bomb, as the dangerous RDX explosive is gradually making its way into it as can be witnessed from Saturday's explosion. On Saturday, around 9.35 am, a police vehicle carrying CRPF personnel had a miraculous escape when suspected NDFB-ANVC militants detonated a powerful device through remote control at a place called Jangrapara, on the main road to Tikrikilla town bordering Assam. While no one was injured in the blast, a crater five feet long and four and a half feet deep was created in the middle of the road. This is the second explosion to have taken place in the history of the state, with first also occurring in Garo Hills. The first explosion of RDX took place at Borjora village in East Garo Hills on the border with Assam during the month of August last year. ULFA militants, while waiting in ambush for an Assam police vehicle that had passed through Borjora village, triggered a blast killing instead the second officer-in-charge of Mendipather police station, in East Garo Hills, along with his driver. The officer along with a group of state police personnel was passing through the road when the blast occurred. While the first explosion was done manually through the use of a long distance wire, the second explosion, on Saturday, was done through remote control as can be seen with the recovery of a sophisticated remote device. Tikrikilla and Bajengdoba areas have been worst affected due to the porous border with Assam. These two places also happen to be the most militancy affected places in the state. Tikrikilla happens to be a stronghold of the NDFB and the difficult terrain prevents police from effectively controlling the situation. To add to the problems is the presence of the international border, with Bangladesh which South and West Garo Hills districts share. It is a known fact that NDFB and ANVC militants cross over from Bangladesh into Garo Hills without any problem. Places such as Rongra, Baghmara, Sidbari and Chokpot in the south and Mahendraganj in the west are some of the well-known places which smugglers and arms dealers, along with militants use for crossing to and fro. What little the Border Security Force (BSF) seizes from smugglers are just the tip of the iceberg. To add to the problem is the presence of illegal immigrants in the plain belt areas of the west in large numbers who are known to have shady dealings with smugglers and others for even a paltry sum of money. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 22, 2000)

AIZAWL, June 21: A local court on Tuesday discharged Gapmkhi Muivah alias Grinder, nephew of NSCN (IM) chief Th Muivah, from the attempted plane hijacking case, reports PTI. In his one-page judgement additional district magistrate (judicial) KL Liana ruled that Grinder, who was charged under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and Anti-hijacking Act, was discharged from the liabilities of the charge supra. The court accepted the plea made by the investigating officer that the accused be discharged as he could not substantiate the hijacking charges. Grinder was arrested at NSC Bose International Airport, Calcutta, in March following the alleged confession of one Ranju Rangan, who was posing as director of civil aviation ministry. Rangan had allegedly told his interrogators that he was sent by Grinder to Mizoram's Lengpui airport to check possibilities of hijacking an Indian Airlines plane to secure the release of Th Muivah, now in a Thai jail for possessing fake travel documents. Grinder had admitted that he had acted as a "go-between" between the Centre and NSCN (IM) in the peace process and said he was not a member of the outfit or of any other. He had also said there was "no shred of evidence" against him except for the alleged confession by Rangan, who had denied in court that he had ever made the statement. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 22, 2000)

NEW DELHI., June 22: prime minister A.B. Vajpayee on Wednesday assured Northeastern states' chief ministers that the Centre will extend assistance to their states to tackle terrorism. He gave the assurance when the chief ministers of Northeast states called on him after their day-long meeting here and submitted to him a memorandum. The chief ministers focused on insurgency afflicting some of the Northeast states, taking a heavy toll of lives and affecting economic activity. They sought that insurgency be recognised as a "national problem" and the Union government take on the entire financial and other burden of combating it. The prime minister, according to sources, empathised with the chief ministers but pointed out that insurgency as a law and order problem was a state subject and therefore they had to shoulder the burden of tackling it. However, the Union government will render as much assistance as required in curbing insurgency, the PM told the chief ministers. The chief ministers of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura and the finance ministers of Meghalaya and Mizoram had converged on the Capital to discuss the issue. A prime minister's office spokesman said the meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, was also attended by Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha, Planning Commission deputy chairman KC Pant and senior government officials. The spokesman said the Centre has allocated to the police department a sum of Rs 285 crore for the purchase of weapons, arms, ammunitions, vehicles and hi-tech communication equipment to be spent by March 2002. Of this, an amount of Rs 99.01 crore has been spent. He said the government has sanctioned 14 Indian reserve battalions for Northeast states. Besides, one battalion each would be provided to Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram. (Times of India News Service and agencies; The Times of India; New Delhi; June 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 22: City police today filed charge-sheets at the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) here against the four agents of ISI along with four of their collaborators who were arrested last year. DSP D Deka of Panbazar range informed that charges have been framed against the accused under the provisions of the Sections 120 (B) 121/121 (A), 153 and 153 (A) of IPC and Section 14 of Foreigners' Act pertaining to three cases registered against them in Panbazar and Paltanbazar police stations and one by the special operations unit of Special branch. The Section 120 (B) pertains to 'criminal conspiracy' as well as treason against the country. The accused are - Javed Waker, Fasiullah Husaini, Qari Salim, Mohammad Akram, Mohammad Bilal Miyan alias Sheikh who was arrested by West Bengal police and brought here by city police recently, Mohammad Bilaluddin Ahmed, Mukit Ali Choudhury and Muslimuddin Ahmed. Among them, Javed Walker and Fasiullah were again booked under the National Security Act yesterday following Walker's success in getting his bail petition granted day before yesterday. Besides, two other ISI agents Quari Salim and Mohammad Akam have been sent to custody of Jammu and Kashmir police for further investigation. The chief judicial magistrate in the near future would examine the charges frammed and ask the accused to be produced in his court following which he would forward the cases to the special court for trial, Deka informed. He also said that it took more than 10 months to prepare the charge-sheets because of the vast nature of the cases. Bilal Miyan alias Sheikh was also involved in the hijacking of the Indian Airlines to Nepal on Christmas day last year. He later confessed to city police of helping at least 40 youths of ULFA to cross over to Pakistan. Another accused Muslimuddin Ahmed was a teacher of a madrassa in Krishnai of Goalpara. The four main agents of the ISI were arrested by city police last year in August when they entered the ANZ Grindalys Bank for exchanging currency. Quary Salim who is the chief recruiting agent of the ISI in the country was an active member of the Harqatul Mujahideen and started a business as a cover up of their subversive activities along with Bilal Miyan in Lucknow. They were in the state on a recruitment drive. It can be mentioned here that about a month back the ISI agents assaulted a city-based photo journalist while they were being produced at the CJM's court resulting in widespread condemnation. Bilal Miyan further confessed to city police that ISI authorities in Pakistan are ready to spend a big amount of money for release of their agents. Besides, a letter written by Fasiullah from Goalpara jail to the Pakistani High Commissioner was also recovered in which he asked the latter for arranging an amount Rs 3,00,000 for legal expenses. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 22: Militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is under pressure after facing several setbacks in recent months and if police records are to be believed, the top leaders of the outfit have not visited the state for years. Police sources said that according to reports available with the security forces, the commander-in-chief of the ULFA, Paresh Baruah has not visited Assam since 1995. He even did not visit the camps of the outfit located in Bhutan in the foundation day of the outfit for the last couple of years, sources said. Sources said that after senior leader Lohit Deuri came out of the outfit, the effective control of the outfit's camps in Bhutan is in the hands of the deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah. Sources also pointed out that of late, the militants who came down from the camps in Bhutan, were either killed or apprehended by the security forces and some of them even surrendered. However, the threat by the Bhutan government to use force, if necessary, to evict the camps of the ULFA from Bhutan, has not affected the outfit. Sources said that about 2,000 cadres of the ULFA are still in the camps located at Bhutan and some of the youths recruited by the outfit from the lower Assam districts have been sent to Bhutan for training. Sources pointed out that though the government of Bhutan had threatened to use force against the ULFA, the Bhutan Army is not strong enough to deal with the heavily armed militants. Sources further revealed that the youths recruited by the ULFA from the Upper Assam districts have been sent to the ULFA camp at Myanmar for training. Sources said that the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) is also lying low as after the Bodoland Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF) came forward for talks with the government of India, the Bodo people in general supported the move and if the NDFB indulges in large scale violence at this moment, the outfit would lose public sympathy. However, the General Officer Commanding the 21 Mountain Division of the Army, Major General AS Jamwal sounded a note of caution. He said that though the overall law and order situation in the state has improved and the insurgent outfits are lying low, "We cannot say that the outfits have been eliminated, only time will tell whether they would be able to recoup or not". Major General Jamwal also said that the large turn out in the recruitment rally of the Army held recently at Tamulpur proved that the mindset of the youths was changing. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 23, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 23: The executive member (agriculture) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Ram Singh Bey had a narrow escape when militants ambushed his vehicle near Koilamati under Borpathar police outpost at around 11.30 a.m. today. The Executive Member, escorted by a police team from Barpathar Police outpost, was travelling to Chakihola under Bokajan Police Station in Karbi Anglong district to attend a public function. The militants opened fire at his vehicle near Koilamati. The police escorting the Executive Member retaliated forcing the ultras to flee. No one was injured in the incident, police sources informed. The details of the incident was still awaited. Meanwhile, in a separate incident last night, one person was killed and at least ten houses razed to the ground when armed extremists attacked Cherapathar village under Kheroni Police Station in Hamren Sub-division of Karbi Anglong district. Police sources informed that a group of armed militants belonging to United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) set at least ten houses in the village aflame before opening indiscriminate firing. One person was killed on the spot due to firing while a woman was seriously injured. Three cattleheads were also burnt to death by the ultras. The village is inhabitated by people belonging to Bihari community. Sources informed that tension has gripped the area following last night's incident. It will be pertinent to mention that Kheroni area under Hamren Sub-division has become a hotbed of UPDS militants. Police has gathered information that most of the persons abducted by the UPDS ultras for ransom are kept in Kheroni area. During the last six months over 20 persons have been abducted by the UPDS militants in Karbi Anglong district. In June 16 last two persons were killed by the UPDS ultras in Kheroni area after they had failed to meet militants extortion demand. Of late, in the wake of growing activities of the ultras in the area, large number of non-Karbi villagers especially members of Nepali community, have fled their homes at Kheroni area to take refuge atLanka in Nagaon district. It is learnt that in interior villages in the hill district the UPDS militants has asked the people to support Congress party. It may be mentioned that the UPDS is a joint platform of Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) and Karbi People's Force (KPF). The KNV had fallen out with the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), which is in power in Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, after it had signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government regarding handing over of several departments. Since then the Karbi militant groups have been training their guns on ASDC supporters. In its recent general conference, the UPDS also vowed to target non-Karbis living in the hill district. During last several months scores of non-Karbis have been killed by marauding UPDS ultras in the district. The militants are enjoying the advantage of inaccessible remote areas in most parts of the hill district over the police and para-military forces, sources informed. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 24, 2000)

DIBRUGARH, June 23: It's almost a role reversal for the men in olive greens. From tracking and nabbing militants to launching a series of social uplift programmes where the sole beneficiary is the common citizen. As part of Operation Samaritan troops of the second mountain Division have completed several social welfare projects in the Dibrugarh district, where the Seventh battalion of the Eight Gorkha Regiment is currently deployed. That the social welfare projects have been received well by he civilian population is proved by the wholehearted support extended by them in the endeavour. Not that the anti-insurgency operations are not for the benefit of the common man, but there is a difference between a Samaritan's work and a soldier's. One is a do-gooder and the other the sentinel of national boundaries, in the strict sense of the terms. At Natunnagar near Moran today, the GOC of the Second Mountain Division, Maj Gen Ashok Chaki declared open a community fishery and a computer centre at the Moran Commerce College. Two thousand locals thronged the venue to witness the inaugural ceremony, braving a constant drizzle and a slippery and muddy one kilometre trek from the highway. There, at the behest of the army, locals earlier formed the Moran Social Welfare Centre, which has Thaneswar Konwar as the president. The Dibrugarh district administration gave the society a fourteen bigha plot to have a college, a fishery, a playground and a vocational training centre. Under Operation Samaritan, the 7/8 Gorkha Regiment chipped in with men and machinery to level the playground, dig a two-bigha pond and help construct the vocational training centre. Moreover, the army unit bore the full cost of a computer system installed at the college premises. Asserting that there is no ulterior motive of the army launching Operation Samaritan Maj Gen Chaki said this was part of the deferred forest culture of extending a helping hand in welfare activities. "The army, the air force and the navy are all part of the Indian society. Hence, we try to be of use to the civilian population to the extent possible" he said and added that the Assamese people "are no less patriot than anybody else in the country". He recalled the huge public turnout at Captain Jintu Gogoi's funeral near Golaghat last year, and said that the Kargil misadventure by Pakistan last year made the Assamese people reassert their Indian identity once and for all. Earlier, the GOC and several other senior army officials were accorded a warm ceremonial welcome at Natunnagar. The officials and the DC of Dibrugarh were led to the inaugural function site by Jhumuir and Bihu troops and a gayan bayon party. The guests were presented mementos by several clubs and associations of the locality and later entrained with a cultural presentation of kathi jhumuir and a bihu dance item. A highly appreciative Maj Gen Chaki gave away gifts to the cultural artists and the local ladies cricket team. Several other projects under Operation Samaritan will be commissioned in the Naharkatia and Borboruah areas of the district in the coming weeks, it is learnt. These include a market shed at Borboruah and a Computer Centre at the government High School, Naharkatia. The president of the Moran Social Welfare Centre, Konwar expressed the hope that one day, the Moran Commerce College playground will be developed into a stadium. Presently, efforts are on to lay a proper 400 metre race track and facilities for athletic events. (Ron Duarah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 24, 2000)

AIZAWL, June 23: The Mizo Zirlai Pawl (Mizo Students' Federation) on Thursday said Brus, who migrated to Tripura "on their own will", should not return to Mizoram unless and until Mizos, who had fled to Mizoram due to threats from Bru militants, can peacefully return to Tripura. The students' body said in a press release that its views would be forwarded to North East Students' Organisation (NESO), so that it could be incorporated in the NESO memorandum to be submitted to prime minister A B Vajpayee. A number of Brus had migrated to Tripura from Mizoram in the wake of ethnic tension arising out of the demand for a separate autonomous district council by the Bru National Union (BNU) in 1997, official sources said quoting recent reports. The Mizoram government contended that Brus left the state due to threats from Bru militants who "asked their own people not to be caught in the crossfire" during encounter with Mizoram police, the sources said. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 24, 2000)

AGARTALA, June 23: Fifteen persons including 10 security personnel have been injured in a clash between villagers and CRPF in West Tripura while 14 persons have been detained in connection with the abduction of five passengers in South Tripura, police said. Irate villagers gheraoed a CRPF patrol at Chakmaghat and hurled brickbats at the jawans on Thursday evening, police said. The villagers alleged that despite being informed about the presence of two armed NLFT militants in a nearby jungle on Thursday, the CRPF did not take any action, police said. The jawans resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob, police said, adding, five villagers and 10 security personnel including an officer in the rank of DSP were injured in the clash. Meanwhile, 14 persons were arrested from Aloycherra and neighbouring villages in South Tripura district on Thursday in connection with the kidnapping of five persons by NLFT insurgents from two jeeps in the area, police said. A group of villagers gheraoed Manpathar police station demanding release of the arrested persons. Police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the mob. No one was injured in the incident. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 24, 2000)

NEW DELHI, June 25: Assam government has claimed to have cracked the modus operandi adopted by outlawed ULFA of transferring funds to its leadership alleging that the militants outfit has been sending money abroad through the diplomatic bags of the Royal government of Bhutan. This shocking piece of information along with relevant documents establishing the charge was passed on to the central government by the Assam government with a request that the central government take up the issue with the Royal Government of Bhutan highly placed sources told The Assam Tribune. Documentary evidence to the effect was also handed over to the external affairs minister, Jaswant Singh by the chief minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta when in called on him recently, sources said. According to evidence gathered by Assam government, it has come to light that ultras have been for quite some time now transferring funds from Thimphu to Bangkok using diplomatic bags. The bags or diplomatic pouches as they are also known enjoy immunity from security and custom checks. Assam government suspects that the funds transferred to the South East Asian country, a known sourcing point for several rebel outfits, may be used to buy weapons and for general up-keep of the ULFA leadership. Most of the ULFA leaders as well as those of other outfits of the Northeast including the NSCN (IM) are known to frequent the country and maintain operational set-ups in the country. Although the central as well as the Assam government know the Bangkok connection, what has come as a shock was the nexus between the rebel outfit and Bhutanese government officials, sources said that the central and Assam government agencies were still trying to figure out how the rebels managed such a feat and who are the Royal Government of Bhutan officials involved. Apparently, the state government came to know about it when it managed to nab one of a senior leader of the outfit recently from whose possession they recovered details of financial transactions. This along with the confession helped the security forces to piece together the latest modus operandi of the militant outfit to shift funds. For the Assam government though, it is but one more piece of evidence of the nexus between the Bhutanese officials and the outlawed ULFA. On earlier occasions also the state government had intimated the central government of unsavoury developments taking place in the Himalayan kingdom, sources said. The latest accusation is the second serious allegation levelled by the Assam government against the Royal government of Bhutan after the now-famous breakfast meeting between the king of Bhutan and the ULFA leadership. Meanwhile, chief minister who was in the Capital when contacted, confirmed to this newspaper that he had lodged a protest with the Centre about the latest development, arguing that it was one of the reasons why the North Eastern state chief ministers wanted the Centre to declare the insurgency problem as a national problem. With militancy being aided and assisted by neighbouring countries the states efforts to fight the militants are seriously handicapped, he added. Meanwhile, in their meeting with the prime minister, the North Eastern state chief ministers were reported to have suggested that Centre should now seriously think of launching joint militancy operations to flush out the militants, citing the success of such a crackdown in Myanmar. However, as far as militancy in Bhutan is concerned the central agencies are equally confused as the Assam government about the real intention of the Royal government of Bhutan. Though the government there has been sounding warning against the outfit from time to time, yet it has not done anything to show it means business. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 26, 2000)

IMPHAL, June 27 : In an unprecedented act of terrorism, some unknown persons opened indiscriminate fire on a vehicle killing seven persons on the spot. Two other victims later died in hospital. The incident took place at a place between Leinagngpokpi and Matokhong about 9 km from Jiribam police station in Jiribam sub-division bordering Assam, delayed report said. The vehicle, a Tata Sumo, was coming from Imphal towards Jiribam when it was intercepted by some unknown persons around 5 pm on Sunday. In the subsequent firing seven persons, including a woman, were killed on the spot. The four persons who were critically injured were taken to the community health centre, Jiribam. However, soon after admission two of the injured persons succumbed to the bullet injuries. According to a late report, two of the wounded persons are still surviving. Meanwhile, Manipur chief minister W Nipamacha Singh and agriculture minister A Biren Singh have strongly condemned the brutal killings. Organisations like Manipur Drivers' Welfare Association, Moreh-Imphal Jeep & Tata Sumo Taxi Service Welfare Association, All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup and Sangaiprou Naga Youth Organisation also have condemned the incident. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 28, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 29: The city police today busted the communication channel of the leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) kept inside the Guwahati district jail and arrested one jail employee, who was working as a courier of the ULFA leaders. The superintendent of police, Guwahati city, BJ Mahanta told The Assam Tribune this evening that police had information that the ULFA leaders kept in the jail somehow managed to maintain contacts with the other members of the outfit. Investigating into the case, the police today managed to trap Saruram Saikia, an instructor of the Guwahati jail, and arrested him today. He said that one letter written by the ULFA vice-chairman Pradeep Gogoi, who is now in Guwahati jail, was recovered from the possession of Saikia. Mahanta said that Saruram used to carry letters of the ULFA leaders from the jail to the cadres and vice-versa, and the ULFA leaders could maintain all their links in such manner. Saruram, who hails from Nagaon, stayed in a rented house in the Ambari Fatasil area of the city. It may be mentioned here that ULFA leader Babul Ingti was killed in the same house a few months back. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 30, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 29: The assistant foreign secretary of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Prasanta Bora, who was killed by the Army on June 24 last, had on several occasions, requested the chairman of the outfit to take steps to change the tactics to bring the outfit closer to the people. Bora, who was one of the very few top leaders of the ULFA to maintain close links with the masses all throughout, even went to the extent of questioning some of the decisions of the top leaders of the ULFA. Police sources said that there are reasons to believe that some of his colleagues from the armed wing of the outfit had tipped off the Army through some middlemen as the Army had pinpoint information about the whereabouts of the ULFA leader. Just before the late general elections Prasanta Bora wrote a letter to the ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa questioning the outfit's decision to call for boycotting the polls. He said that the military and organisational activities of the outfit were not satisfactory at that moment for various reasons. He expressed doubts on whether the boycott call would succeed at that moment. He said that at that moment the ULFA would not be able to implement the boycott call. Moreover, all political parties and organisations were gearing up for the polls and "our call would isolate them. We can not afford that. The decision to give a call to boycott polls should be reviewed." In another letter addressed to the chairman, the then assistant foreign secretary of the ULFA said that the situation was deteriorating for the outfit and publicity among the masses should be intensified. He said that threatening grassroot level workers of the political parties would only alienate the ULFA from the masses. He also said that the ULFA should organise a proper discussion on the tactics to be adopted by the outfit. In yet another letter to Rajkhowa, Prasanta Bora said that the outfit should examine its activities during the last two decades. He said that the mass base of the outfit were eroding and 'we have failed to unite all the ethnic groups. We also failed in our goal of bringing social reforms and launching a cultural revolution." He said that the misleading statements issued after the killing of Sanjoy Ghosh stained the image of the outfit. "The reports of top leaders staying in expensive hotels and nursing homes also stained the image and the grassroot level workers have to face questions from the masses. We have also failed to produce good workers to replace those killed," he added. Bora said that the Assamese people were not ready to accept the demand for secession and "till date we have not been able give proper definition of the political and economic status of Independent Assam. We are also not clear whether an Independent country surrounded by Indian states can survive." Bora farther said that the indigenous people of Assam are in favour of deporting the Bangladeshi nationals and if such-step is taken, it would be difficult for the ULFA to stay in Bangladesh. Police sources said that these letters were recovered after busting the foreign office of the ULFA at Burnihat as Prasanta meticulously maintained office copies of all the letters written by him to the top leaders. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 30, 2000)

IMPHAL, June 29: In a significant development, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the ministry of defence to pay a sum of Rs 1 lakh as interim immediate compensation to a rape victim, Laishram Ningol Nithoujam Ongbi Pramo Devi (29) of Keirenphabi in Bishnupur district. The commission took up the case under case number 4/14/98-99 on December 22 last year following a complaint lodged by one Laishram Krishnamohan of Keirenphabi. It may be recalled here that Laishram Pramo Devi was raped by an Armyman, Naik Rajinder Singh inside her house in presence of the her children on April 4, 1998. According to the complaint, the Army claimed the 'rape' to be only a molestation case. The complainant argued that the Army authority is trying to cover up the guilty person, Naik Rajinder of 6 JK Rifles. The Commission called for a report from the Defence Secretary and the Under Secretary. On the Commission's direction the Under Secretary of the defence ministry has sent a report stating there in that the Army took cognisance of the case suo motu on the incident. Later it was confirmed that Naik Rajinder was involved in the rape case and he was tried by a general summery court martial which concluded on January 1, 1999. Naik Rajinder was found guilty of attempt to commit rape and was awarded punishment to suffer imprisonment for five years and was dismissed from service. According to a reliable source received here, out of the total compensation amount, a sum of Rs 20,000 will be given directly to the rape victim in cheque form as an interim immediate relief, while the remaining amount of Rs 80,000 will be desposited in a nationalised bank near her native village and interest accruing thereon shall be paid to her every months, the source added. In order to look into the matter, the NHRC also directed the concerned authority to submit a progress report or an action taken report in this connection within four weeks. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 30, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 30: Three policemen were killed and two others injured when Dima Halong Dougah (DHD) militants ambushed the vehicle of the deputy commandant of Assam Police commando battalion and his escort vehicle at a place between Thanalambra and Dihangi in North Cachar Hills district at around 11 a.m. today. Police sources informed that the Deputy Commandant, N Goswami along with his family was travelling from Umrangsu to Haflong when he came under attack from the ultras. Although the police official and his family members escaped unhurt in the attack, three policemen travelling in the escort vehicle were killed. Two other police personnel suffered serious injury in the militant attacks. It is learnt that the ultras managed to snatch two AK-47 rifles from the policemen escorting the deputy commandant. Details of the incident were still awaited. The deputy commandant, Goswami has been camping in Umrangsu for sometime although the headquarters of his battalion is at Kahilipara here. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 1, 2000)

GUWAHATI, June 30: The brutal murder of Parag Kumar Das, executive editor of Asomiya Pratidin, a leading vernacular daily published from here, has remained a mystery even after the case was handed over to the CBI four months after it took place in May, 1996. With the probe apparently advancing at a snail's pace, the Guwahati High Court has now directed the central investigating agency to submit a status report on the issue on or before July 26. Das, also a front-ranking human rights activist, was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the heart of Guwahati when he had just picked up his five-year-old son from school on May 17, four years ago. While the state government, within three days of the murder, declared that it had identified the assassins and would bring them to book within 15 days, it had to subsequently hand over the case to the CBI in September the same year. According to the state government's announcements within a few days of the gruesome murder, it was a former ULFA militant called Sarbajeet Dhekial Phukan alias Dheki who was the main culprit in bumping off the journalist-cum-activist. Dhekial Phukan on his part was reported to have fled to Nepal soon after the murder. But with the passage of time, there was a series of allegations and counter-allegations that different parties like the ULFA, Army, Police or former militants could be involved in the murder, which not only created confusion, but also put the Mahanta government in a fix. The situation soon compelled chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to hand over the case to the CBI. The CBI began its investigations in early 1997, and over the past three years and more, interrogated a large number of persons, but no conclusion has been arrived at as yet. Annoyed at the inordinate delay as they called it, a group of prominent citizens including noted film-maker Jahnu Barua, Gauhati University professor Hiren Gohain, Asam Bani editor Dilip Chandan and well-known playwright Mahendra Borthakur filed a PIL in the Guwahati High Court, praying for the court's intervention to speed up the probe. It was in response to this PIL that Justice NC Jain and D Biswas of the Guwahati High Court last week directed the CBI to submit a status report on the investigations on or before July 26, when the matter comes up for hearing again. Meanwhile, the Asomiya Pratidin, of which Parag Kumar Das was the executive editor at the time of his murder, has alleged that the CBI was trying to protect a number of persons instead of indicting them. They, according to the newspaper, include the then Guwahati City SP RM Singh too. Singh, it may be recalled, had proceeded on leave soon after Das was murdered. (Samudra Gupta Kashyap; The Indian Express; Guwahati; July 1, 2000)

AGARTALA, June 30: In a new twist to the perennial problem of militancy in one hand and civil administration's indifference to their plights on the other, about 400 Bengali families of Kalyanpur relief camp on Thursday tried to cross over to Bangladesh for security and food. However, at the last moment the administration succeeded in averting the embarrassment. Reports reaching here from Kalyanpur said that resentment had been brewing for quite some time against the civil administration's reluctance to give relief to the camp inmates of Kalyanpur, which took a serious turn on Friday morning. Almost all the 419 Bengali families sheltered in the camp on Friday morning decided that as "the Tripura government failed to protect their lives from the hands of the militants and to give the hapless families relief in the camp", they'd better "leave the country forever and take refuge in Bangladesh". And accordingly, around 10 am on Friday, the families came out of their camp with whatever belongings they had and started their journey towards Bangladesh border. In the meantime, the civil administration came to know about the march towards Bangladesh and took initiative to avert the 'embarrassment'. At Hospital Choumuhani, CRPF resorted to a mild lathicharge to bring back the refugees to their camp. The BSF was also alerted to any attempt of crossover at any cost. Strict vigil was made and troops position was intensified along the likely routes. Meanwhile, the BDR on the other side of the border also came to know about the cross-over attempt and was put on high alert. The sector commander of the BDR rushed to Kalyanpur border and ordered his troops to open fire if the villagers really try to cross the border. Accordingly, the BDR personnel took positions along the border. After a while, SDO Manas Deb reached Kalyanpur and held discussion with the refugees. As the inmates started accusing the civil administration of indifference and scarcity of relief, Deb assured that form now on they would be paid Rs 100 per family per week. The refugees declined to take Rs 100 per family per week alleging it was too less to meet the requirements. Deb told The Assam Tribune over telephone that after long discussions it was settled that the administration would provide Rs 3000 per family per week until they return to their homes. One senior citizen of Kalyanpur commenting on Friday's development said, 'The refugees had earlier also tried the same. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 1, 2000)

AIZAWL, June 30: At least seven members of the elite anti-terrorist Hunter Force of the Mizoram Police were killed and four others injured in an ambush by suspected Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants along the Indo-Bangladesh border today. Officiating director-general of police AS Khan said in Mamit district, a group of 15 Hunter Force commandos were ambushed by BNLF. They fired from tree tops as if they were expecting them, said Khan. Senior police officials have left for the spot. All seven died on the spot. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 1, 2000)