GUWAHATI, July 16: In yet another massacre by tribal guerrillas of Karbi Anglong in the hills of Assam left at least 10 non-tribals, including five children, dead near Hambren. The heavily armed militants surrounded two small hamlets in the hills of Karbi Anglong and opened indiscriminate fire that killed three men, two women and five children of two families. All the deceased were non-Karbi. The administration suspects the hand of the United Peoples Democratic Solidarity militants. More than 50 non-Karbi villagers in the district's Hambren sub-division have been killed so far. The UPDS came into existence in March 1999 when two militant outfits, the KNV and KPF, decided to join hands. Their political demands are not yet known. 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 government officials. The state administration is yet to take any effective measures to check the ongoing violence against the non-tribals of the hill districts. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, three ULFA militants and a police commando were killed in an encounter with the police near Sarthebari in Lower Assam's Barpeta district on Saturday night. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; New Delhi; July 17, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 16: After intensifying the presence of the Army on the international border with Assam, the National Assembly of Bhutan has directed its security forces to check the General Engineering and Reserve Force and Army vehicles passing through the national highways of Bhutan, especially near the areas where the militants had their camps. Suspecting that drivers of these trucks operating for the GREF and Indian Army are also hand-in-glove with the militants, the National Assembly passed this resolution during its current session. The resolution, which was also published in Royal Bhutan government's news bulletin Kuensel, has charged that some GREF and Army drivers were suspected of carrying rations and supplies for Bodo and ULFA militants. The proposal was introduced to start a system of checking GREF and Army vehicles in Bhutan. "It is noted that GREF trucks and many military trucks pass through checkpoints without being checked," a report in the news bulletin published on Saturday said. "It is possible that some of the drivers of the GREF and Army vehicles are carrying supplies for the militants." The members of the Bhutan's Assembly felt that it had become necessary to check Indian Army vehicles at checkpoints because of the implications on the peace and security in the kingdom, if such vehicles carried ration supplies for the ULFA and Bodo militants. Acknowledging the contribution of GREF to their kingdom, members of the National Assembly of Bhutan pointed out that the checkpoints at Phuentsholing had reported that their greatest problems came from not being allowed to check GREF and Army vehicles because non-nationals were reported to have been travelling to and from Phuentsholing in these vehicles. This problem has been compounded by the tendency of the illegal workers to flock to Dantak camps whenever immigration officials set out to check work sites, the Kuensel report added. Meanwhile, armed Bodo militants assaulted several policemen in the Bhangtar sub-division of Samdrup Jongkhar in Bhutan last week after surrounding them and firing shots into the air. In view of such sporadic incidents the Bhutan government has decided strengthen the presence of the police force in the area. The work for the construction of the Royal Bhutan Army camp in Bhangtar is in progress. Sources indicated that RBA troops would move in to strengthen security in the area as soon as it is completed. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; New Delhi; July 17, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 16: At least 12 persons including one policeman and three militants were killed in three separate incidents in Karbi Anglong and Barpeta districts since this morning. However, according to agency reports 14 persons were killed. Police sources said here that after a brief lull, the militants belonging to the United Peoples' Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) struck again in the Karbi Anglong hill district in the wee hours today, killing at least eight persons including four children. Police sources said that a group of about five to six heavily armed UPDS militants opened fire at the residence of one Radha Mohan Chowhan at Talihal village under Kheroni police station at around 3.30 am, killing a baby and a woman on the spot. The same group of militants then opened indiscriminate firing at Langpar village under the same police station. At least four persons, one woman, one eight year old girl, one six year old boy and a three year old boy were killed on the spot. Later police recovered two more bodies from the area. Police sources did not rule out the possibility of recovery of more bodies from the area. It may be mentioned here that the militants belonging to the UPDS had launched an operation to drive out the non-Karbis from the Karbi Anglong district about a couple of months back. So far mainly the Nepali and Bihari communities have become the targets of the UPDS militants and according to information available, a large number of families have fled to the Nagaon district from the Kheroni area of Karbi Anglong in the face of attacks by the militants. The police operations in the district have been affected by shortage of force and the difficult terrain, police sources said here. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 17, 2000)

SHILLONG, July 16: Alleged rampant extortion of truckers all along the National Highway 44 stretching from Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya to Beltola in Assam has driven the victims to the Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong seeking his intervention. The Coordination committee of the Hynniewtrep Truck Owners and Drivers Association and Jaintia Hills Truck Owners Association in a joint petition have urged the Meghalaya Government to adopt urgent steps to combat the 'menace of extortion' on the highways. SL Khyriem, President, Joint Committee of the HTODA said: "The scourge has become not only an eye-sore but is affecting the reputation of the state as well." He regretted that the truckers are facing extortions almost as a daily routine despite the fact they are carrying coal-as movers of the state economy. The extortion begins in the coal mining areas itself. At Lad Rymbai in Jaintia Hills, no truck can move without paying a sum of Rs 50 per truck to a self-styled NGO for providing a so-called "security protection". The fee collected under the name of "S D Coupon" is still continuing, Association sources said. The district authorities acted recently to bring to stop another point of extortion at Eighth Mile and Ialong in Jaintia Hills. Describing an instance of 'official extortion', the petition alleged that at the municipal toll gate at the entry to Jowai, the truckers are forced to pay up Rs 20 though a receipt for Rs 10 only is issued. Even the Jowai Police fleece Rs 20 for entering the town even during relaxation of 'no entry' restrictions on heavy vehicles. At Mookyndor, police intervention stopped forcible collection of Rs 20 from each trucker by a so-called NGO under the guise of carrying out welfare of the truckers. But the police action led the NGO to adopt ingenious techniques to continue their extortions. A vehicle was stationed near the dismantled office of the NGO to resume operations till date. Citing another instance of 'official extortion', the Association alleged that officials posted at a DMR office at Mookyndor illegally collect Rs 40 from each truck without issuing any receipt. The truckers have no respite as "a group of ghost-like people appear at Mawryngkneng and force truckers to part with Rs 20 each." Again at Maklyngngat in East Khasi Hills, a group of unknown people start their extortion duty from 4 pm onwards. As the truckers enter the state capital here at Laitkor, a group of so-called "Transport Enforcement Personnel" extract Rs 20 from the truckers. Another batch of so-called Enforcement Personnel collect Rs 50 from non-tribal truckers and a concessional rate from the tribals at Mawlai Mswiong here as the trucks exit. At Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district, DMR officials 'collect' another Rs 40 from the truckers. All public vehicles including trucks are asked to pay additional Rs 10 for passing through the PWD Byrnihat bridge. The "toll bridge" collection has ceased recently. Before the truckers enter Assam at Jorabat, they are asked to pay Rs 50 at daytime and Rs 100 at night time. As they enter Assam, another Rs 50 per truck has to be shelled out at the Assam Police outpost, truckers charged. The woes of the truckers are not yet over. Further ahead at Khanapara, where the Guwahati Municipal collection gate is located, the truckers are to pay Rs 300 which is shown in six separate slips of Rs 50 each. Thereafter, at the Beltola coal storage areas, he has to pay Rs 300 again against which a receipt of Rs 10 only is issued as parking fee! (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 17, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 16: Sunday's massacre of 10 non- tribals in the hill district of Karbi Anglong was not unexpected, but there was little the police could do to avert it. It was the eighth massacre since April, and the third this month, and the total number of known victims now stands at 50. Almost all the victims were either Bihari, Nepali or Bengali. As in the earlier cases, Sunday's massacre too is attributed to the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), formed on May 22, 1999 by the merger of two earlier militant groups, the Karbi People's Front and the Karbi National Volunteers. According to a police headquarters spokesman, a group of UPDS militants attacked Telihal village at about 3 am on Sunday where they shot and killed Rajesh Saha and Dal Bahadur Thapa. One Punam Saha received gunshot injuries and was later admitted to a hospital. The militants then proceeded to Langparpan village at about 5.25 am and shot and killed eight more people, of whom two were women and four children aged between one-and-a-half years and six years. The affected villages fall under Kheroni police station of Hamren sub-division of Karbi Anglong district. Harmen, which falls under western Karbi Anglong district, has been the scene of five of the eight massacres till date, the others occurring in Bokajan sub- division in the eastern part of the district. Two other sub-divisions, Diphu and Baithalangso, have not been affected so far. The series of massacres have been interpreted as ethnic cleansing by the UPDS, as the tribal population of Karbi Anglong district is worried about the large- scale infiltration of non-tribals. This would seem so, as most of the victims, barring three or four non- tribal Assamese and Karbis, are Biharis, Nepalis or Bengalis. An odd fact is that no Bangladeshi Muslims have been killed so far, though the district is swarming with them. But this may change. The UPDS has denied it is carrying on ethnic cleansing. It says that it is carrying on a "resistance campaign against demographic aggression on the Karbi people," and against "environmental and ecological destruction" carried out by non- Karbis. "Violence, hatred, genocide and ethnic cleansing are not part of our agenda," said one militant leader. The CPI(ML) controls the Autonomous District Councils of both Karbi Anglong and adjoining North Cachar Hills district through its frontal organisation the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), which also occupies all five seats from the two districts in the Assam Assembly and has two seats in Parliament, one each in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The UPDS is opposed to the CPI(ML)/ASDC and is aligned with the Congress which is in opposition in the two hill districts. The political factor cannot be ruled out in the massacres, as elections to the state assembly and the district councils are due next year. Significantly, in another statement issued last month, the UPDS had warned of more bloodshed and violence in Karbi Anglong against an alleged nexus of the ruling CPI(ML)/ASDC with the police and CRPF. (Utpal Bordoloi; Deccan Herald; Bangalore; July 17, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 16: Jail staff working at the Imphal Central Jail have resolved to refrain from performing their normal duties inside the jail from July 18 onwards as a protest after a jail duty officer was assaulted by some undertrial prisoners today. According to reports, Lance Naik S Biren Singh was badly assaulted by some prisoners belonging to the PREPAK today at around 8.30 am, and had to be evacuated to JN Hospital. According to representatives of the All Manipur Jail Executive and Followers Association, Biren was set upon by the PREPAK under trials after he declined to bring back a tape recorder, belonging to a PREPAK NSA detainee, one Joychandra, which had earlier been given to another jail officer for repair. The Association spokesmen, who disclosed that there had been several earlier incidents of assault by inmates of jail staff, said they have resolved to refrain from normal duties inside jail if no action has been taken by the higher authorities till noon on July 18 in connection with the incident. The Spokesman said medical staff as well as cooks would join the boycott. They also resented that there has been no reaction from the higher authorities so far even though the IG prisons, SP jail and additional SP jail have been apprised of the incident. (E-Pao; The Sangai Express; Imphal; July 17, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 17: In another major breakthrough a police team arrested a top ULFA militant suspected to be the linkman with Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence at Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Sources said that the police team acting on specific information conducted a raid at Vellore and arrested the top ULFA militant Hasan Ali who happens to be the member of the ULFA's central committee. He was also the chief of the Chaur Development Committee of the outfit and was mainly doing liaison work among immigrant population to which ULFA has of late started using as their hideouts in the state. He is suspected to have been in Tamil Nadu on special mission to explore the possibility of nexus with the LTTE militants. Sources indicated that his arrest was a major setback to the outfit's future plan to spread its tentacle and link in other parts of the country. The police sources said that Hassan Ali among a few Muslim members of the ULFA's central committee had also visited Bangladesh several times and is believed to have been maintaining link with the ISI agents. He was produced in the court at Vellore on Sunday and was likely flown to Guwahati on Monday for further interrogation, the police sources said. Ali had gone Vellore about 10 days before and was staying in a rented cottage. The police team led by Dhubri district police in co-ordination with Tamil Nadu police picked up Ali on Sunday. Senior police officers when contacted were quite tight-lipped about the arrest though they confirmed the report on strict condition of anonymity. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; New Delhi; July 18, 2000)

NEW DELHI, July 17: The Supreme Court today directed all the Northeastern states besides West Bengal affected by the illegal infiltration from across the border to respond to the updated status report filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), even as the Centre again reaffirmed its contention that the IMDT Act is a discriminatory piece of legislation. The MHA counter affidavit filed today, however, declined to specify any time-frame for repealing the controversial Act. The Ministry's response came in connection with a writ petition filed by the former All Assam Students Union (AASU) President, Sarbananda Sonowal. The Apex Court today admitted Sonowal's petition challenging the IMDT Act. Resuming the hearing on a petition filed by the All India Lawyers Forum for Civil Liberty, a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice of India, AS Anand, Justice RC Lahoti and Justice KG Balakrishnan asked the states facing the illegal immigration problem to respond to the MHA's revised status report on the issue. The court also wanted the orders passed by the Delhi High Court in a recent case involving the illegal Bangladeshi nationals caught by Delhi Police, to be placed in its court. Meanwhile, the writ petition filed by Sonowal was admitted and clubbed together with the Forums' PIL and he has been included as a petitioner in the case. He was represented by the former Attorney General, Ashok Desai. Meanwhile, the MHA in its revised Status Report said that it is of the view that the IMDT Act, 1983, in its application to the state of Assam alone is discriminatory. The proposal to repeal the Act is under active consideration of the Government. The Ministry further contended that one India Reserve Battalion for Tripura has also sanctioned. Proposal for creation of one IRB each for Manipur and Mizoram is also under active consideration. Meanwhile, the multi-purpose Photo Identity Cards scheme has run into fresh problems, with the MHA informing the Court that it has given extension to Tata Consultancy Services up to June, 2000 for submitting its report. An interim report of the detailed feasibility study on National Identity Card was submitted on April 26. However the report had several short comings and the TCS has been asked to address these while submitting their final report, the affidavit said. The MHA status report further claimed that it has sanctioned five floating Border Outposts (BOPs) for surveillance in the riverine sector of Indo-Bangladesh border. But the MHA has ruled out dereservation of the posts reserved for ex-serviceman only under the Prevention of Infiltration of Foreigners (PIF) scheme. The state had demanded reservation of the 1280 posts under the PIF scheme. The Government of Assam has informed us that the recruitment process for the remaining 442 vacant posts is in progress and the candidates are likely to be in position by December 31. The Ministry informed that the entire length of Indo-Bangladesh border and the additional projects of fencing of Indo-Bangla border is scheduled to be completed by March 2007. The Ministry further said that they proposed to set up designated courts to deal exclusively with the implementation of the provision of the Foreigners Act, 1946. Significantly, the state government's counsel, Vijay Hansaria today protested the delay in repealing the IMDT Act asserting that the centre has been repeating the same stand for the past one year, without setting any time-frame for scrapping the same. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 18, 2000)

AGARTALA, July 16: Dogged by severe criticism for its alleged hobnobbings with tribal miscreants in highly sensitive areas, the CRPF, the largest deployed force in Tripura, has undertaken a new strategy in counter-insurgency operations in the state. The basic idea behind the new strategy is to make the force more people-friendly. The commandants of the CRPF battalions on Saturday held a high-level meeting which was attended by the DGP BL Vohra and IG, CRPF George C Podipara to assess the effectiveness of the revised strategy in counter-insurgency operations. The CRPF IG said the new strategy is being implemented as per direction of the Union Home Secretary Kamal Pandey after his visit on June 7 and 8 last as well as from the state government. Podipara said, among others the new strategy includes further concentration of CRPF posts in vulnerable areas, assistance to the state government in carrying out development works and civic action programmes in places inhabited by poor people. The CRPF has also emphasised on maintaining cordial relations with tribals and non-tribals, especially in the mixed-populated areas. Podipara while addressing the press has detailed the problems the CRPF faces in the state and stressed that despite severe constraints in many ways, the force carries out its relentless operations against the militants and helps the state government in maintaining the law-and-order situation. However, he indicated, the force needs more up-to-date intelligence inputs to effectively counter militancy in the state. The CRPF does not have its own local level intelligence network as yet in Tripura. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 18, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 17: Assam Rifles and state police apprehended ten militants belonging to various outfits during the past three days from various places of Manipur, reports UNI. A defence release here said that seven of the arrested cadres were female and that of them, three were married. All of them were handed over to local police for necessary follow-up action, the release added. Based on specific information, Assam Rifles and state police conducted a joint operation at Nungshum village under Imphal West district. The apprehended included three People's Liberation Army (PLA) female cadres, including a self-styled corporal, four Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) activists and one Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) member. The following day, a female cadre of Zomi Revolutionary Organisation was intercepted by security personnel while she was travelling in a bus from Churachandpur, Imphal, carrying some extortion letters. Another KCP activist was apprehended with a 12-bore gun and ammunition from Yumnam Patlou village the same day in a joint operation of Assam Rifles and Imphal West district police commandos. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 18, 2000)

DIPHU, July 18: Incidents of violence continue to rock the Karbi Anglong Hill district as militants belonging to the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) gunned down at least six persons in the Baithalangshu area of the district last night. This was the second major incident of killing in the district within the last three days as 10 persons were killed in the Keroni area of the district on July 16 last. A group of suspected UPDS militants shot dead Basa Kro (aged 65 years) and his wife Lisha Terapi (55) from close range at Karoigaon village under Baithalangshu Police Station at midnight yesterday. Their daughter Longik Kropi (25) received bullet injuries and was shifted to Nagaon Civil Hospital for treatment. The UPDS militants later killed Kheru Singnar (55) and his wife Amphu Kramsapi (50) of the nearby Khamjam village under the same police station. The militants then took away Hemari Tokpi (63) and his son Ranjit Tokpi (18) from their house and killed both of them at Belbari village under Kheroni Police Station. It may be mentioned here that Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta visited those areas yesterday and the killings took place only hours after his visit. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 19, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 18: Four personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and a jawan was injured in a well planned ambush laid by suspected Peoples' Liberation army activists at Lamtan under Loktak police station this morning at around 8.30 am. The underground activists took away a loaded self-loaded rifle and an indigenously developed INSAS rifle. A column of the 112 Bn CRPF consisting of 32 personnel on a road opening patrol duty along the Charoi Khullen road was fired upon by the suspected underground activists who waylaid the approaching column at Lamtanjar village. The assailants, numbering about 50 are armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons rained down bullets on the patrol party killing four of them on the spot and injuring one jawan. The source further said that the activists escaped towards the Chiroi Khullen hill. There is no report of casualties on the side of assailants. A caller who claims to be a spokesman of the Peoples' Liberation Army rang up The Imphal Free Press this evening claiming responsibility for the ambush. Meanwhile, local residents of the Village on hearing the gunfire fled their home to the neighboring Bishnupur Bazar and other adjoining villages. No civilian was however injured in the incident. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; July 19, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 19: Lt Gen Mahesh Vij took over the command of 4 Corps of the Army today from Lt Gen DB Shekathar. He will now be the GOC of 4 Corps as well as the operational head of the Unified Command structure, an Army release said. Lt Gen Mahesh Vij was born on February 3, 1944 at Trichinapally. He joined the National Defence Academy in June 1960 and was commissioned to 9th Battallion of the Rajputana Rifles in 1964. From 1981 to 1983 he commanded 7th Battallion of the Mechanise Infantry Regiment (I Dogra). In these 19 years of regimental service he attained vast experience of operating in varied terrain obtained in our country and also participated in 1965 and 1971 wars. He is a graduate of Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, attended higher command course at Mhow and also National Defence College, New Delhi. He continued to pursue his studies and finally was conferred with a PhD degree. He was also specially nominated to attend a course at Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare College USSR in 1983. Lt Gen Vij also has wide military experience in staff, by virtue of serving in important assignments like Brigade Major of an armoured brigade, Colonel General Staff of an armoured division and also Major General, General Staff of Central Command; and Chief of Staff of a corps. During his distinguished service career he had commanded an armoured brigade and a division of army's strike corps. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 20, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 19: The law-and-order situation in the Karbi Anglong hill district is deteriorating day-by-day as six more persons were killed in the ongoing ethnic clashes in the district last night. Police sources said here that a group of about 20 to 25 miscreants, suspected to be of Bihari community, armed with bows and arrows attacked a Karbi village No 2 Serapathar under Kheroni Police Station at around 2 am last night and killed six persons. Three others were seriously injured in the attack. Police sources said that those killed in the attack have been identified as Babu Ronghang (20), Dhongsingh Ronghang (30), Lonki Bey (32), Babu Ronghang (35), Budhu Ronghang (25) and Dili Phura (30). Those injured in the attack are Sai Ronghang, Babu Bey and Mahendra Ingti. Police sources said that the attack was in retaliation to the killing of a number of non-Karbis by the militants belonging to the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) in the last few months. Earlier, on the night of July 17, unidentified armed miscreants gunned down the parents of the UPDS Commander in-chief Willson Kro and the father and brother of the Deputy Commander in-chief of the outfit Mensing Tokbi. Interestingly, police is yet to ascertain the identity of those involved in the killing of the family members of the UPDS leaders. It may be mentioned here that the situation in the Karbi Anglong hill district started deteriorating after the UPDS, in its first anniversary celebration in March, resolved to drive away the non-Karbis and mostly the people belonging to the Nepali and Bihari communities were the targets. At least 60 persons have been killed in the district in the last couple of months alone and the difficult terrain as the shortage of security force also benefited the ultras. But of late, the non-Karbis have started to retaliate and there is apprehension that if immediate steps are not taken to control the situation, it may deteriorate futher. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 20, 2000)

JORHAT, July 19: After Tata Tea, it is now the turn of tea giant Williamson Magor to be in the news with the arrest of four of its officials today by the Jorhat Police following a top executive of the group offering direct help to a member of the banned ULFA. The incident has its roots in the 'Chief Secretary' of the Kakadonga Sakha Parishad, one Ratul Dutta alias Sangram Koch recently falling sick after a bout of malaria at an ULFA camp along the Assam-Nagaland border and having availed treatment on July 13 under Gajen Gogoi, employed by the Williamson Magor group at Mohbandha Tea Estate off Jorhat city. Incidentally, Ratul Dutta, died on July 15 even as he was shifted to the Mission Hospital here for further treatment. All along, the Manager of Mohbandha Tea Estate, Aswini Sarma had reportedly acted as guardian for Dutta, both at the tea garden and at the Mission Hospital. The incident culminated in the Jorhat Police today arresting estate Manager Aswini Sarma, doctor Gajen Gogoi, ministerial staff Haren Saikia and driver Gajen Bhuyan on charges of sheltering an ULFA cadre, besides offering medical assistance. However, the Jorhat SP's comments on the incident could not be gathered despite several phone calls as the former could not be contacted as he was not available. It may be recalled that Ratul's body had been handed over to his family members by cadres of the banned outfit at his Satriya Gaon residence under Pulibor Police Station on July 16. Meanwhile, in another incident on July 17, another ULFA cadre Ujjal Phukan alias Ranjan Borphukan of Karanga Phukanor Chuk surrendered at the Cinnamara police outpost as he was suffering from a protracted kidney ailment. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 20, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 19: A high powered central team led by former Union Home Secretary NN Vohra today reviewed the situation in Manipur with high ranking state officials in the context of escalation in insurgent activities. The nine-member Central 'task force on internal security' discussed the situation in the state with Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh soon after arriving in Imphal this morning by a special plane. The discussion covered issues related to law and order, the threat posed by the activities of the underground groups to India's internal security and help extended to the UGs by foreign agencies, according to official sources. The high powered team, apart from NN Vohra, includes former Manipur Governor, Lt General (retd) V K Nayar, former DGP (Punjab), JF Ribeiro, former advisor to Manipur Governor, BP vastava, Maj General (retd) CS Nungyal and MK Narayana, the team was accompanied by the joint secretary, NSC secretariat, Brijeshare and under secretary, MHA, RK Prasad. The team later met with chief secretary Rakesh, DGP DS Grewal, Commissioner (Home), DS Poonia, IG (L&O), A Romenkumar and IG (Intelligence), A Pradeep, 3 Corps Commander Lt General TS Shergil, GOC, 57 Mountain division, Major General Arvind Swami, CRPF IG Mohan Raj, and the IG, BSF at the state Guest House. The more than two hour meeting discussed in detail insurgent activities in the state, including the recent killings of ten civilians on June 25, yesterday's ambush on CRPF, and extortions from police by ultras. The team also called on Manipur Governor Ved Marwa at Raj Bhawan here before leaving for Guwahati at around 5 pm today. Official sources also disclosed that a ten-member task force on border management will also be arriving in Imphal tomorrow. The team will visit Moreh and Ukhrul to take a first hand look at the border security and management in the state. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; July 20, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 19: The United National Liberation Front, UNLF, has once again sought the forgiveness of the families of the victims of its mistaken ambush on a Tata Sumo passengers on June 25 in which ten people were killed. In a press released by the central Committee of the organisation, the UNLF said as much as it is an incident which the bereaved families will find difficult to forget, it will also leave a scar that will not easily heal on the UNLF. Explaining the circumstances that led to the unfortunate attack, the UNLF said it had laid an ambush on the vehicle mistakenly identifying it as a vehicle in which security forces were travelling in civil dresses. The release said it had prior intelligence that such a vehicle was passing their way and was waiting for it when the unfortunate vehicle arrived and was mistaken for it. Swearing all humility, the UNLF begged forgiveness, and prayed to the concerned parties not to play into the hands of Indian Intelligence agencies trying to drive a wedge between the UNLF and the people. The release asked if it could as a mark of its repentance, make some offering for the peace of the soul of the deceased. If the bereaved families allow the party this, it will treat itself as fortunate and forgiven for its grievous mistake, at least to some extent, the release said. The release said further investigation is on into the incident, and when enquiries are over, the party will, in keeping with its tradition, mete out suitable penalties to all found guilty. The report of the findings and action will be made known to the public when they have been accomplished, the release said. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; July 20, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 19: The recent spate of violence in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam during the past three days has once again exposed the explosive law and order situation prevailing in the two hill districts. At least 60 persons have lost their lives in the districts since April. And while in the first few incidents, the victims were either Nepalis or Biharis, the situation has drastically changed during the past two days with the Karbi tribals now becoming target of retaliatory attacks. The latest reports of violence have come from Serapathar village under Kheroni police station, where at least eight persons -- all Karbi tribals -- were killed late last night. A group of about 25 non-tribals, believed to be from the Bihari community and armed with bows and arrows, swooped on the remote village and killed six tribals while the villagers were asleep in their huts, reports said. Yesterday, six tribals, including two women, were killed and another injured in ethnic violence unleashed by armed non-tribals miscreants on Rongkori and Diclame villages. The recent round of violence started on Sunday with the tribal assailants -- under the banner of the United Democratic People's Solidarity (UPDS) -- gunning down 10 Bihari and Nepali settlers, most of them engaged as agricultural labourers. But two days later, it was the turn of Karbi tribals to bear the brunt of the on-going violence with as many as six of them falling to the bullets of the assailants. In April alone, as many as 33 persons were gunned down in the Karbi Anglong district, which included two under Diphu police station, 12 in the Dhansiri reserved forest, 11 near Baithalangsho and eight near Bokajan. And in all the incidents the victims were either Bihari or Nepali. Similarly, in adjoining North Cachar Hills, the other hill district of the state, the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) has been indulging in killings in a big way, the most significant incident being an ambush on May 18, which took the life of a young magistrate and four policemen. The Deputy Commissioner had a miraculous escape. At least four armed groups were active in the two hill districts, according to intelligence sources. The UPDS and DHD apart, the other two are Karbi National Volunteers and Karbi People's Front. And, it is now out in the open that the NSCN(IM) has been waging a proxy war in the two hill districts, which are strategically located adjacent to Nagaland and Manipur. Intelligence agencies say that the NSCN(IM) are working hand-in-glove with at least two of the above-mentioned outfits and were carrying on extortion drives in a big way in both Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills. The developments have also been given a political colour with the Congress and Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) blaming each other for allegedly instigating militant groups. The ASDC is the ruling party in the autonomous councils in both the hill districts. And that apart, the situation has been further worsened by a major rift within the ASDC, which incidentally is affiliated to the CPI(ML). ASDC leader Jayanta Rongpi, a three-time member of the Lok Sabha, has been facing a rebellion with another senior member Holiram Terang calling him corrupt and anti-people. (Samudra Gupta Kashyap; The Indian Express; New Delhi; July 20, 2000)

NEW DELHI, July 19: The Army is slowly readying for a major operation to dislodge the ULFA insurgents from their camps in Bhutan now that the kingdom's Parliament is speaking about forcing them out. Sources said the operation has to be "well thought out as it will be difficult to surprise the insurgents". More important, it will have to be a joint operation along with the Royal Bhutanese Army. "Patience is the key. We have to remember this is an operation in another country. A botched operation will be a major embarrassment," an official said. The terrain and the defensive positions of the insurgents ensure that several major issues are considered. First, the Bhutan government has apparently said the operation should finish off the ULFA camps, now about 30 km inside Bhutanese territory. This means the insurgents can't be allowed to flee either north or towards Arunachal Pradesh. That means additional troops will be necessary to block all escape routes. The ULFA insurgents, said officials, are very well-armed, having received new weaponry from the Pakistani ISI. "We seized some weapons in mint condition. There were rocket-launchers, Kalashnikov rifles, sniper rifles, LMGs and grenades. There are about 1,100 ULFA activists there, including 500-600 men trained by the ISI in Bangladesh. The NSCN(K) have also helped in the training," officials said. There is very little possibility of gaining complete surprise, so well-located are the camps, just at the edge of the plains, in the hills at a height of 5,000-6,000 feet. As a result, a "softening up" may be necessary, sources said. The softening up could mean the use of mortars and possibly, artillery. But the operation now hinges on the complete assent of the Bhutanese government and there is hope that King Jigme Singe Wangchuk is coming around to the idea. The ULFA began moving into Bhutan about a decade ago, occupying villages abandoned by the Nepalese in south Bhutan. Initially, the Bhutanese government did not mind the ULFA occupation for the ultras didn't create any trouble. "It was almost as if there was a tacit understanding between the ULFA and sections of the government," senior officials said. Slowly, arms began to flow in and also, money. Insurgents, chased by the security forces in India, would move to safety in Bhutan. (Srinjoy Chowdhury; The Statesman; Calcutta; July 20, 2000)

CALCUTTA, July 20: Five suspected ULFA militants were arrested and several documents and more than Rs 4 lakh recovered from them here yesterday. Police said the ultras were held from a house of the posh Park Street area in Central Calcutta when they were planning some subversive activities. Besides documents and mobile phones, cash amount of Rs 4,61,900 were recovered from them. The arrested persons were Nagen Chaliha, Bitupon Deora, Sanjib Goswami, Diganta Phukan and Dhrubajyoti Gogoi. All five were remanded to police custody till August 3. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 21, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 20: Suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants shot dead one assistant manager of a tea garden in the Doom Dooma area in Tinsukia district this afternoon. Police sources said that a group of three ULFA militants, aimed with AK-47 rifles shot at PK Chaturvedi of the Shankardev tea estate. He was rushed to hospital where he was declared dead, sources said. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 21, 2000)

JORHAT, July 20: The four Williamson Magor Group officials, who were remanded to judicial custody yesterday for links with the banned ULFA, were today interrogated by the police from 6 am to 4 pm. The quartet, including Mohbandha Tea Estate Manager Aswini Sarma and Gajen Gogoi and the two employees namely mechanic Haren Saikia and driver Gajen Bhuyan had allegedly provided help to an ULFA man, one Ratul Dutta who died of malaria last week. Ratul had arrived at the tea estate on July 13 after having contacted the disease at a camp of the outfit inside Nagaland The sub-divisional magistrate here had ordered their remand yesterday. A case No 54/2000 under non-bailable Section 120 B (waging war against the state), 121 (criminal conspiracy) under the IPC and 10/13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, had been registered against them at the Pulibor Police Station here. A top-ranking member of ABITA, of which Mohbandha TE is a member garden, today said "the police has not filed a case against the company but only against the arrested four as whatever they have done were in their personal capacity." Similarly, a leading tea planter of the district remarked that "though the incident will definitely cast a slur on the industry, the ground realities are such that it is not always possible to sit in judgement." Earlier, yesterday industry sources had claimed that Ratul was treated at the particular tea garden hospital, but 'unknowingly'. However, all along the estate manager Aswini Sarma is alleged to have acted as guardian for Ratul, both at the tea garden and subsequently at the Mission Hospital here. Back in 1997 too, the tea industry was rocked by allegations of its nexus with militant groups when a senior manager of Tata Tea, Brojen Gogoi was arrested for providing medical assistance to a lady ULFA cadre, one Pranati Deka. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 21, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 20: In the second of a series of reviews of the state situation by high-powered teams from the Centre, another 7-member task force on boundary management landed in a special BSF aircraft and held meetings with state authorities today. The team is led by the former Union home minister, Madhav Godbole as chairman. The other members of the team are: ML Mehta, T Ananthachari, Vice Admiral (retd.) AR Tandon, DVLN Ramakrishna Rao, Chinmoy Chakravorty and Lt. Gen (retd. VK Sood). They were accompanied by a number of officials, including IG(R) BSF, VN Rai; coordinator NSCS, Cabinet secretariat Col Sheonan Singh; and under secretary MHA, Sanjiv Jindal. Upon landing in Imphal the team called on the Governor, Ved Prakash Marwah, before beginning their hectic schedule of meetings with state civil as well security officials separately at the state guest house, Sanjenthong. Today's discussions on the policies to be adopted for the up- keep and security of the border, also centred around the needs and ways to control insurgent activities as well as drugs and narcotics trafficking along the Indo-Myanmar border, a reliable source said. The meeting also discussed strategies to be adopted to pave a way for a better relationship with neighbouring Myanmar so that a better and coordinated border management can come into effect, the source said. The discussions will continue tomorrow morning after the Central team has visited the border areas at Moreh and the Ukhrul district. The same afternoon they will depart for Dimapur by helicopter, the source said. After visiting some other Northeastern states, the team will return to Imphal on July 23 and proceed on to New Delhi from here, the source said. Among the state officials who met the team were the chief secretary, Rakesh, DGP DS Grewal, commissioner (home) DS Poonia, commissioner (industries) director planning, special secretary (home) and police SPs. From the security forces, the commander 57 Mountain Division, Maj Gen Arvind Sharma, 9 Sector commander, Brig Sabarwal, DIG BSF, besides NAB and NCB officials met the visiting Central team. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; July 21, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 20: In the aftermath of Tuesday morning's ambush on a CRPF patrol party near Lamdan village under Loktak police station, in which four jawans were killed, several residents of Lamdan were tortured and a housewife was raped by CRPF personnel intent on revenge yesterday, the village authorities have allleged. Apart from the rape, two women of the village, a mother and a daughter, were also badly molested, they charged. According to a press statement issued by the chairman of the Lamdan village authority, yesterday evening at around 5:30 pm a group of CRPF personnel, led by assistant commandant D Biswas descended on the village and started assaulting the villagers indiscriminately. A number of villagers were also taken up to the CRPF camp where they were subjected to further torture. According to the press release, two women of the village, Kakhudunlu, 40, wife of Achong, and her daughter, Namthanchunglu, were badly molested by the CRPF men. A housewife of the village was also raped by CRPF personnel by holding her father-in-law and husband at gunpoint, the press release further alleged. At least 13 villagers sustained injuries as result of the CRPF brutality, out of whom 11 had to be hospitalized. They were identified as M Fujain, 37, son of the village chief, M Garipou, 50, M James, 18, O Achung, 49, D Lungjangpou, 18, Ph Adin, 25, Mrs Kuchunglu, 49, Miss Thanliangli, 17, Phom Bahadur Nepali, 49, of Tokpa village, and his son Dilipkumar Nepali, 19, K Gaiku, 30, K Gaipong, 30 and P Adim, 42. The press statement strongly condemned the CRPF atrocities, and has demanded that the state government and the higher authorities of the CRPF punish the guilty CRPF personnel. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; July 21, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 20: The manager of a tea-estate, belonging to a major group, alongwith two doctors, have been arrested by the police at Jorhat in Upper Assam on Wednesday for allegedly extending medical and financial aid to a senior ULFA leader earlier this month. The three include the manager and medical officer of Moabund, a prestigious plantation, belonging to the Williamson & Magor Group. The three had allegedly provided assistance to Ratul Datta, a senior leader of the ULFA's Upper Assam wing, who was suffering from Malaria and had subsequently died last week. According to G P Singh, the superintendent of police, Jorhat, the executive and the doctors had not only provided medical-aid to the deceased ULFA leader, but had even provided him with accommodation. The ULFA leader who is stated to have contracted the disease while in a camp inside Nagaland, had arrived in one of the tea-estates on July 11, where he was offered treatment, Singh said. The SP also said that the manager of the garden even personally escorted Ratul Datta to the Jorhat Christian Mission Hospital, two days later. On July 15, his body was handed over to the family by a group of boys, supposedly belonging to the ULFA, the SP added. The arrest of the three tea-plantation officials incidentally came within two weeks of Lt Gen DB Shekatkar, GOC of the Army's Four Corps (who is also operational chief of the counter-insurgency operations in Assam) telling The Indian Express that the ULFA had renewed its nexus with the tea industry. It was only in 1997 that Tata Tea, a major player in Assam's Rs 2500-crore tea industry, was found extending medical facilities to ULFA cultural wing chief Pranati Deka. This also led to the unearthing of information about a meeting Tata Tea officials had with ULFA armed wing chief Paresh Barua in Bangkok the same year. (Samudra Gupta Kashyap; The Indian Express; New Delhi; July 21, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 20: The central committee of the banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has clarified that the unfortunate incident on June 25 at Leingangpokpi near Jiribam divisional headquarters occurred while its armies were lying in wait to ambush a team of Indian armed force. The banned UNLF has issued a press clarification in this regard. In the statement, the central committee said the UNLF received information that a group of Indian Armymen in civil dress was coming towards Jiribam in a Tata Sumo on that day. Following the information, a group of its armed cadres were waiting at the area to ambush the team. But due to some mistake, the unfortunate incident took place, it clarified. Expressing that it was not a case of giving capital punishment but a mistake on the part of the cadres, the UNLF appealed to the bereaved families of the victims to pardon the party. It also appealed to the people of the state not to succumb to the designs of Indian intelligence agencies to drive a wedge between them and the UNLF. The statement further said that necessary actions as per the policies of the outfit will be taken after getting the whole truth behind the incident and the action initiated by it will be announced. Sharing the grief and sorrow of the bereaved families, the UNLF has sought the permission of the bereaved families to donate something in the name of the victims as an act of atonement. If this is accepted, then UNLF will consider that it has been pardoned. In the meantime, a combined team of the Bishnupur district police and commandos have conducted a search operation at the site of the July 18 ambush on a CRPF party at Lamdan in Bishnupur district and recovered six bombs planted by the assailants. Police sources here said the police team recovered three bombs from the site at 10 am on Wednesday while three others were recovered at 10.30 am. The bombs include grenades, mortar bombs and Chinese-made bombs, police said, adding that all the six bombs were defused by the bomb experts. It may be mentioned here that four personnel of 112 Bn CRPF including one sub-inspector were killed in an ambush carried out by the armed cadres of the banned Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) on Tuesday morning at Lamdan. One CRPF personnel was also injured during the attack. After conducting post-mortem at the RIMS morgue, the dead bodies have been despatched for their respective hometowns. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 21, 2000)

AIZAWL, July 20: The Mizoram police on Wednesday said the July 12 raids on refugee camps in Khedacherra area of North Tripura was done following reports that some Bru ultras were taking shelter there, reports PTI. Stating that the raids were carried out after prior information to the Tripura police, the Director General of Police of Mizoram M Tumsanga said at least two of the persons arrested from the camps in Khedacherra were involved in illegal activities like enrolling Bru youths in BNLF and torching of a bus near Saithah on April 15. "Our boys launched massive combing operations along the Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border areas in search of Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants in the wake of the killing of seven policemen on June 30," he said. The dgP said Tripura police had not lodged any formal protest with the Mizoram counterparts on the raid on refugee camp and "we will give formal reply to them if and when they lodge a formal protest". The Mamit district SP gave prior information to police authorities in Tripura before the July 12 raid, the DGP claimed. An official spokesperson had, however, said in Agartala on July 16 that the Tripura police had made a strong protest with the Mizoram police. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 21, 2000)

Kheroni, July 20: Karbis and Biharis are fleeing Kheroni in Assam's Karbi Anglong district following ethnic violence, which claimed 23 lives in the past week. Member of Parliament Janayant Rongpi and legislator Holiram Terang went to the spot Friday to pacify the Karbis, who are in a minority. Superintendent of Police Anil Phukan, who has been camping here along with deputy Inspector-General of Police (central western range) Dilip Bora, said the situation was tense and there was mistrust between the two communities. The killing of six youths in Thesso Ranghing by Biharis, in the presence of the police, heightened ethnic tension on July 10. "The Biharis encircled the village and called the police from Jenkha. The police called out the youths one after another and instigated the Biharis to kill them. At least, two of them died of bullet shots," alleged Honsing Terang of the Karbi Students Association. According to Bora, the clashes were a result of a changing demographic pattern in the area. The Biharis, who opened the forest areas of Karbi Anglong for cultivation in the early fifties, are in a majority in the Hamren sub-division growing sugarcane. The Karbis resent the Biharis' economic clout. "The common Karbi is peaceful. However, the United People's Democratic Solidarity, which has around 50 boys armed with self-loading rifles and AK-47s, is responsible for most killings of Biharis, including in Langparpan where 11 people were killed," Bora explained. According to Terang, the July 17 killings were the handiwork of the government. "These were in retaliation for the Langparpan killings. Family members of UPDS leaders in three villagers near Kheroni were eliminated. This further complicated the issue," the legislator said. Bora admitted, "We are yet to find the miscreants. But it is apparent that the killings were organised," he said. Although there have not been major incidents for the last two nights, everyone is apprehensive of another round of retaliatory killings, especially after the slaughter of the UPDS leaders' kin and the six youths. Fleeing Biharis are transferring valuables to safer points around Kheroni. "The killers have not spared even two-year-olds. Some of us will return, but the women, children and, more importantly, the grain will be kept at Kheroni Tiniali," said Jugnu Chauhan who was leading a caravan of 11 bullock carts. Such caravans were common on the Jenkha-Kheroni road on Thursday despite the district police authorities organising peace committee meetings all over the vast but thinly populated district. (Mrinal Talukdar, United News of India; Rediff; http://www.rediff.com; July 21, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 21: At a time when the Centre is talking about to bring in revolution in the information technology, one of its important wing, the Army, has not only been opposing the expansion of cellular networking in the Northeastern states but have also asked to withdraw the pager services from the region. Expressing apprehension that militants may use these services, the 4 Corps Army Headquarters has asked the ministry concerned not to grant permission for the expansion of the cellular networks in the region, including Assam. This has left the cellular operators high and dry, even as their petition to the Union government pleading for its intervention in to the matter has failed to draw the attention. The Reliance Telecom, one of the two operators granted licenses to run cellular services in the Northeast was intending to spread its networks in the Upper Assam districts of the state and the curb imposed by the Army is likely to affect the ongoing process. Sources said that the Reliance Telecom has already advanced work to make services operational in Upper Assam's Jorhat and Dibrugarh districts. Interestingly, security circles in the state are not opposed to the idea of allowing the cellular networking in the region only on the pretext that militants may use it. A senior police officer who did not want to be quoted said ultras are now using the satellite phones and powerful wireless communication network. This equipment of highly-advanced technology is capable of providing communication facility between Bangladesh and their camps in Bhutan so it cannot be a ground to impose curb on cellular networking. The apprehension that the militants may misuse the cellphones and proximity of Bhutan and Bangladesh where they have major operation bases do not hold much weight because the militants already are in possession of highly-advanced telecommunication equipment. The Northeast forum of MPs has also strongly opposed the Army bid to curb cellphones and pagers. The president of the forum in a memorandum recently to the Union home and defence ministry had sought their intervention, as communication is must for the development of the region. The decision is likely to affect rural telephone networking in the region that is facing hardship due to lack of necessary infrastructure. There are only two cities Guwahati and Shillong in the entire region that has cellular networks. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; New Delhi; July 22, 2000)

JORHAT, July 21: The court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) here today rejected the bail applications of the four Mohbandha Tea Estate employees, working under the Williamson Magor Group, including a manager and a doctor, who are accused of helping a deceased ULFA militant, one Ratul Dutta, both financially and medically. The court order stated, "as the investigation was in its initial stage, hence the bail pleas have been rejected so as to facilitate smooth conduct of investigation". The court added that "though the nature of the crime was serious, but the police was yet to substantiate their case with enough evidence against the accused". Only yesterday, defence lawyer Rintu Goswami while speaking to the Press claimed that the police case was very weak and would not stand scrutiny in the court. Even if we assume that the charges levelled by the police are true the sections under which the quartet are booked are not applicable, barring R/W 10/13 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He further termed the role of the police as very confusing. The accused in the case, including manager Aswini Sarma, doctor Gajen Gogoi, mechanic Haren Saikia and driver Gajen Bhuyan were yesterday grilled by the police for 10 hours before being again remanded to judicial custody. According to legal sources, the defendants could under the circumstances appeal before the district and sessions court or straight away move the high court if they so desired. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 22, 2000)

DHAKA, July 21: A Dhaka court has begun hearing of a case against Anup Chetia, general secretary of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for illegal possession of foreign currencies, reports PTI. Chetia and his two associates were produced in the designated Dhaka court today amidst tight security. If convicted the accused may face death sentence or rigorous imprisonment between two to 14 years. The prosecution lawyer Mohammad Jahangir told the court that investigation report, the chargesheet and subsequent deposition by government witnesses established the charges against the accused. Judge M Humayn Kabir of the Fifth Assistant Metropolitan Session Judges' Court in Dhaka heard the argument from the prosecution side and fixed August 1 as the next date for hearing of the defence side. Chetia, who is also facing trial for possessing a sophisticated satellite telephone illegally, was awarded six years' rigorous imprisonment and fined 6,000 taka (approximately Rs 5000) by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court in Dhaka on October 25, 1998 for his illegal stay in Bangladesh. Chetia and his associates Babul Sharma and Laxmi Prasad Goswami are now lodged in the high-security Dhaka central jail. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 22, 2000)

NEW DELHI, July 21: The Centre is willing to open a dialogue with the outlawed ULFA only if the outfit suspends all operations in the state. This was conveyed to a delegation of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials here today. But what came as a surprise to the AJYCP members led by its president and general secretary, Dilip Patgiri and Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee was the offer by the MHA, to the students body, to take an initiative in mediating between the Union Government and the ULFA. The delegation had called on the MHA to officials to submit a memorandum to the Union Home Minister, L K Advani. However, the AJYCP leaders said that they are sceptical about the offer and are not interested in taking any initiative to mediate with the ULFA and would not go beyond making an appeal to the outfit to shun violence. This, Bhattacharjee said, was mainly because of the fact that the Centre and state governments have been ignoring them and had never bothered to take them into confidence. For that matter, the response of the Centre has been very lukewarm and have never made any serious attempt to open dialogue with the underground outfits in Assam. All their efforts at consensus building remains confined to political parties and other organisations have never been made part of the process, the leaders lamented, adding that the same was the case with Assam Government also. Meanwhile, they claimed that the Additional Secretary, Northeast in the MHA, PD Shenoy conveyed to them that the Centre would be willing to open negotiations with the ULFA, if they suspended all operations in the state. Although there is nothing new in the offer, what was surprising was the timing, as the Centre off late has been hardening its position vis-a-vis ULFA and appeared more inclined for sustained military operations. In their memorandum to the Home Minister, they demanded preparation of the National Register of Citizenship, opposed the propose Prevention of Terrorism Act, among others. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 22, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 21: Worried by the recent Bhutan Government move to launch a full scale Army operation against the ultras, the leadership of the banned ULFA has geared up its security. The ULFA camps which are located at Deothang, Koipani, Sarbhang and Samdrup Jongkhar areas of Bhutan are being equipped with powerful landmines keeping in view a massive operation. The leadership of the rebel group is understood to have directed Pradyut Gohain to increase 'arsenal power' of the seven battalion located at Sukhni area. The self-styled Captain Gohain along with 40-odd soldiers are guarding the seven battalion in the aftermath of the Royal Government's move. It is learnt that the self-styled Captain Banning Rabha has been entrusted with responsibilities of providing security to the General Head Quarter (GHQ) located at Deothang. But, for the leadership main problem is that lower-level cadres are completely demoralised following the Bhutan Government's decision. According to official sources, who are closely monitoring the situation after the development, informed that the movement of the cadres have been restricted and leaders have kept close watch on them so that they cannot escape from their camps. "Earlier the cadres were allowed to go for shopping, but nowadays they have been asked to remain in their respective camps," sources stated. Sources further informed that the insurgent group has suffered a setback after surrender of Lohit Deuri. Deuri who was instrumental in cementing the relation between ULFA and the Royal Government during 1991, but after his surrender the relation has suffered a jolt, they said, adding that Lohit procured a huge cache of arms and ammunition through an international agency before his surrender without informing senior leaders. It may mentioned here that when the Royal Government had asked the ULFA leaders to quit Bhutan during 1996 in the wake of spurt in militant activities in southern part of Bhutan, immediately a delegation of ULFA led by Lohit Deuri held a series of discussions with the Government seeking more time till an alternative arrangement was made. But, of late, the Bhutan Assembly passed a resolution authorising the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) to launch a full scale operation. Sources said that although RBA has intensified operation along the bordering areas of the country, its strength is too small to match the gun power of the insurgent groups who are taking shelter in different camps. Sources further said that recently RBA personnel and ULFA members were involved in a clash and they (ULFA) snatched away the radio sets from the RBA personnel leading to a turmoil situation in Samdrup Jongkhar. But RBA has deployed more companies in the area to keep strict vigil. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 22, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 23: Many women's voluntary organisations operating in this trouble-torn state have strongly condemned the "barbaric acts" committed by the personnel of the 112 Bn CRPF at Lamdan village in Bishnupur district on Wednesday evening. Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur has expressed serious concern over the rape and molestation of a Lamdan housewife in front of their family members and urged the concerned authority to take up stringent action against the involved personnel without delay in the interest of the women community in the state. Condemning the act, the president of the Meirai Paibi Lup Hijam Kombi has demanded immediate dismissal of the involved culprits from the service and punishment according to law. Naga Women Union, Manipur also castigated the "cowardly act" of the CRPF men on the innocent housewife of Lamdan village after the PLA ambush on a patrol party of the CRPF. Leader of the Naga Women Union, Aram Pamei said raping a innocent housewife in front of her father-in-law is nothing but violation of human dignity in public in a barbaric manner. Drawing the attention of the state authority, Aram Pamei has urged to book the culprits as per the Constitution of the country. The Zeliangrong Women's Union, Tamenglong district and Zeliangrong Students' Union, Tamenglong, also condemned the excessive atrocities committed by the 112 Bn CRPF personnel at Lamdan village on Wednesday evening. The Zeliangrong bodies have demanded immediate action against the involved personnel and put the guilty jawans under suspension from their service. The powerful All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) in a hard-hitting press statement said that the time has come for all to come out and rise as one against the atrocities of the security forces. Coming down heavily on the state authorities from their failure to protect the citizens, the statement said that India is a signatory to various international treatise and agreements but the plights of the people of the Northeast suggest that government treats the people as aliens in their own country. AMUCO said the acts of the CRPF is nothing short of terrorising the people as a whole. All Manipur Meirat Paibi United Action Committee, Meira Paibi Welfare Association Kangleipak (MEPWAK), the All India Students Federation, Imphal East and Bishnpuur district council also condemned the incident. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 24, 2000)

AGARTALA, July 23: Seeking to avenge the massacre of over 100 of its activists recently, the Bru National Liberation Front yesterday mowed down 12 National Liberation Front of Tripura rebels at Saikarbari in Tripura's Dhalai district. Sources said a group of NLFT rebels had just sat down for breakfast when heavily-armed Bru militants raided their hideout in the thickly-wooded Saikarbari area. Twelve of the NLFT men were killed on the spot, while eight escaped by jumping into a gorge behind the camp. Caught unawares by the sudden raid, the NLFT rebels could not put up a semblance of a fight, the sources said. The Bru rebels took away some sophisticated weapons and a sizeable quantity of ammunition from the hideout, they added. A clash between the two outfits was on the cards after NLFT militants massacred over 100 Bru rebels at Thangnan in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. BNLF chief Suryamoni Reang, who was taken hostage by the NLFT on July 12, is still being held captive at a camp in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Sources said yesterday's retaliatory attack could be the beginning of a major conflagration between the BNLF and the NLFT. The two outfits were "friends" till the massacre in Bangladesh. The Reangs, for whom the BNLF is ostensibly waging war against the state, are likely to be the biggest losers if fratricidal clashes continue. A group of NLFT militants has reportedly already sneaked into the Taichhama area of North Tripura district to target the Reang population, including refugees staying in six relief camps. Apart from the NLFT, the Reangs could be targeted by tribal outfits which want them to return to Mizoram. Security has been beefed up in the area, particularly in the relief camps. The BNLF, fighting against "oppression of the Reangs", severed ties with the NLFT following differences over language and religion. The NLFT had insisted that the Reangs accept the Kokborok language and convert to Christianity. However, the Bru outfit said the Reangs would stick to the Kokbrua dialect and their original religion, a mishmash of Hinduism and animism. Sources said the massacre in the Chittagong Hill Tracts was the NLFT's way of making it clear that all other militant outfits in Tripura were subservient to it and would have to comply with its diktats. (Sekhar Datta; The Telegraph; Calcutta; July 24, 2000)

AGARTALA, July 23: NLFT militants kidnapped four Garo villagers and beat up several people in remote Khedornal village under Natun Bazar police station in South Tripura last night. The four abducted Garos were CPM activists. Police sources said the militants raided Khedornal at 7 pm, herded the villagers to a nearby field and indiscriminately beat them up. The rebels apparently "punished" the villagers for maintaining ties with non-tribals and going to the Natun Bazar market. The three injured were admitted to the Natun Bazar hospital. The four abducted persons have been identified as Korbuk block panchayat secretary Krittibas Marak and labourers Indhistar Marak, Sanjit Marak and Raju Marak. Village committee chairman Sachindra Marak was also abducted, but released later. (Correspondent; The Telegraph; Calcutta; July 24, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 24: A court of inquiry has been ordered by the CRPF authorities to investigate into the allegation of rape of a woman by two CRPF personnel at Lamdan village on July 19 last according to an official source. The source said the Director General of Police, Manipur has already been requested by the CRPF authorities to arrange to get DNA test conducted of the blood and semen of the victim, her husband and the alleged rapists. The sources further said the police authorities have also been requested by the CRPF to visit the latter's headquarters at Loktak to carry out necessary investigation. However, it said the CRPF has failed to hand over the alleged rapists to the Bishnupur police till now. In the meantime, another source also said that Bishnupur police has started conducting the necessary investigation after conducting medical examination of the victim. On the other hand, official sources said of the CRPF has also said it had, in the past incidents taken stern and appropriate disciplinary actions on its personnel involved in any crime which are against the interest of the people. Referring to the sodomy case of June 5 last, it said the personnel involved were immediately suspended and subsequently imprisoned and dismissed from the service after judicial trial. It also promised that suitable action will be taken up on those personnel as per report of the court of inquiry, the source said. Meanwhile, all Naga Students' Association, Manipur, Zeliangrong Union, Zeliangrong Women Society has condemned the rape incident and questioned the intention of CRPF jawans even though the ambush had occurred 33 hours ago. The Union had appealed to the DGP, Manipur to dispense justice and to brook any complacency in this matter from any subordinate officials including the IGP, CRPF to prevent any re-occurrence of such unwanted incidents in future. The Union also appealed to the general public to extend full-cooperation to make the statewide general strike on July 26 next a grand success. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; July 25, 2000)

AGARTALA, July 24: Suspected All-Tripura Tiger Force militants attacked Autonomous District Council member Budhu Debbarma and three of his aides at Chebri in Tripura's Khowai sub-division yesterday. Another group of militants abducted two traders from Samcherra near Dharmanagar town in North Tripura. Police sources said Debbarma, who is from the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, was heading for Tulasikhar from his home constituency of Champahaor when a group of rebels waylaid his vehicle. The Tiger Force rebels took Debbarma and his three aides, including his guard, to a nearby jungle and beat them up, the sources said. The militants fled after snatching a service revolver from the autonomous council member's guard. Debbarma had gone to his constituency to meet the persons injured in an attack by United Bengali Liberation Front militants on Saturday. Prior to his visit, a mob had gheraoed the additional subdivisional officer and the block development officer of Khowai in protest against lack of security in the area. Twelve tribals were seriously injured in the bomb attack by the UBLF near Chebri on Saturday. The incident led to clashes between tribals and non-tribals in the area. Several tribal families fled their homes in apprehension of violence. In another incident, the police recovered the body of a non-tribal youth from east Jambura village under Khowai police station yesterday. The slain youth, identified as 17-year-old Subal Debnath, had been abducted from his house at east Ganki last week. Two more persons, both traders, were taken hostage by militants yesterday. While Babul Saha was abducted from a jeep heading towards Datanbari from Tirthamukh, Jyotirmoy Chakraborty was whisked away from his house at Jamcherra near Dharmanagar town. (Correspondent; The Telegraph; Calcutta; July 25, 2000)

NEW DELHI, July 25: Assam Government owes a whopping Rs 45.62 crore to the various Central para-military forces currently engaged in anti-insurgency operations in the state. This information was tabled in the Lok Sabha today by the Minister of State for Home Affairs C Vidhyasagar Rao. Assam is among the handful of 18 states which owes a staggering Rs 980.37 crore to the various Central forces. Assam is the lone state from the region as other Northeastern states of Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram have been exempted from paying any charges. Assam is, being charged 10 per cent of the deployment cost since 1998, while 90 per cent of the cost is borne by the Centre. According to the available figures, Assam Government owes Border Security Force (BSF) Rs 1.75 crore, CRPF Rs 43.86 crore. These two Central para-military forces are currently deployed in the state. Meanwhile, in reply to another question, Union Home Minister LK Advani said that during the period 1999-2000 July there has been 262 incidents of violence in Assam, leading to death of 143 militants, and killing of 43 security forces personnel. A total number of 139 civilians also lost their lives during the same period, he added. He also added that the Assam Government as well as other Northeastern states have been advised by the Centre to take initiative to bring the militant group to the negotiating table. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 26, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 25: A handful of United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) militants with the help from NSCN(IM) rebels and ULFA have terrorised the non-Karbi populace in Karbi Anglong district especially in Hamren sub-division. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Dilip Kumar Bora during a recent visit to violence-hit Kheroni area in Hamren sub-division told this correspondent that there were only 50 trained "boys" in the UPDS a combined force of Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) and Karbi People's Force (KPF). They have received training from the NSCN(IM) and procured arms from Dimapur. The UPDS ultras are equipped with SLRs, US carbines and a few assault rifles. The KNV faction of the UPDS maintains a close link with ULFA which used to have a strong base in Boithalangchu area of Hamren sub-division. The highly mobile UPDS militants have not yet set up a base anywhere in the district although they have killed over 50 non-Karbis in the district since April this year. According to the DIG like any other tribal militants the UPDS ultras are used to a very hard life. These mobile group of ultras carry red rice along with arms and make a meal out of it with pumpkin leaves and boiled water as the need arises. They can spend night after at night tangi huts atop trees. Unlike cadres of ULFA, NSCN etc, UPDS ultras so far have not shown penchant for good food, fast two-wheelers, in-fashion dresses and shoes. As they maintain very low profile the UPDS ultras are well hidden among the common Karbi populace. Police, however, denies that the Karbi militants are being provided shelter in notified NSCN(IM) camps. Considering the rugged and inaccessible terrain in remote Karbi Anglong, the ultras can easily find out suitable hideouts in no time. Presence of only eight police station in entire Karbi Anglong covering over 10,000 square kilometre area, facilitates almost a free run for ultras in the district. After series of killings committed by UPDS recently, non-Karbis in remote Karbi Anglong are living under constant fear of the gun-toting militants who have vowed to purge Karbi Anglong of non-Karbi settlers including Biharis, Bengalis and Nepalis. Even in the heart of district headquarter town of Diphu, non-Karbi populace especially those from the trading community are not feeling safe. Extortion is going on unabated. Several non-Karbi businessmen in Diphu town told this correspondent that traders have stopped investing fresh fund rather many of them are contemplating to shift their business as the situation in the violence-hit district has turned for worse recently. However, Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) which is power in Karbi Anglong District Council, sees the hand of their political rival Congress behind the reign of terror unleashed by the UPDS among non-Karbi people in the hill district. The ASDC believes the Congress is trying to destroy its base among the non-Karbis by using Karbi militants. Senior ASDC leader and MLA from Boithalangchu constituency, Holiram Terang told this correspondent that, "The KPF faction of the UPDS is sponsored by Congress". However, he also admitted that many cadres of the KNV, the other constituent of the UPDS, were former "supporter" of the ASDC. (Bijoy Sankar Bora; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 26, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 25: The CRPF authorities have instituted a court of inquiry to investigate the alleged rape and molestation incidents of July 19 at Lamdan Rongmei village in Bishnupur district involving the personnel of the 112 Bn CRPF posted at Lamdan. A press statement issued by the Commandant (Admn) M&N Sector, CRPF said that the Director General of Police, Manipur DS Grewal had already been requested to make arrangements to get the blood, DNA and semen tests of the alleged rapists, the victim and the husband of the victim conducted. They have also requested the state Police department to come to the CRPF post as well as CRPF headquarters at Loktak to carry out necessary investigation. The press statement further clarified that the CRPF personnel involved in the sodomy case of June 5 at Bishnupur were immediately suspended from their service and jailed. After the CRPF Chief Judicial Magistrate conducted a judicial trial, they have been dismissed from service. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 26, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 26: Four women were injured in police lathicharge during the 14 hour general strike called by several organisations against alleged CRPF atrocities and rape at Lamdan. Barring this incident the bandh passed off peacefully. The women were enforcing bandh at Kwakeithel when a police team resorted to lathi charge to disperse them. They have been admitted to RIMS hospital. Normal traffic came to standstill except for the plying of a few two wheelers and others in emergency services in Imphal city due to the bandh. Schools, colleges, shops and other business establishments were closed and poor attendance were reported in Government offices throughout the city. Khwairamband Bazar and Thangal Bazar were also closed for the day. Shopkeepers downed their shutters during the strike at Jiribam. Educational institutions, markets and other public places were closed down in Bishnupur district. Government offices reported poor attendance in the district. In Thoubal, markets were open and normal business activities were carried out. However, passenger buses and other vehicles were off the road and few employees attended Government offices. The bandh did not have much impression in Churachandpur town. Meanwhile, the Manipuri Chanura Leishem Marup (MACHALEIMA) has condemned the incident and said that the people should stand up against such atrocities. (E-Pao; The Sangai Express; Imphal; July 27, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 26: Normal life was affected in Manipur today by the 14-hour 'general strike' called by various organisations in protest against the alleged rape of a woman by CRPF personnel - a charge denied by the security men, reports PTI. Official reports from district headquarters said markets, shops, business establishments and entertainment houses remained closed. Attendance in state and Union government offices was reported 'very thin', official sources said. Long-distance transport operators also cancelled the services. Fifteen organisations including Manipur Students Federation, Committee on Human Rights and All Manipur United Clubs Organisations called the strike beginning from 4 am today demanding punishment to culprits of "the rape of a woman and molestation of two others" on July 19 last at Lamdan village in Bishnupur district. They claimed the woman was raped in front of her husband and father-in-law, and another woman and her daughter were molested by security personnel during a search operation. CRPF authorities ordered a court of inquiry to probe the alleged rape and molestation by its personnel, CRPF said. The Commandant of CRPF (administration) had on Monday requested the police to come to the CRPF headquarters at Loktak under which the Lamdan CRPF post falls to carry out necessary investigation. The CRPF had launched a search operation at Lamdan following the killing of four of its men by ultras on July 18. The 112 CRPF Post Commander at Lamdan Debashis Biswas had said securitymen questioned some villagers during the search operation but denied that any woman was raped or molested. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 27, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 26: ULFA militants hiding in Nagaland have to ward off the security forces, waiting for them in Assam, and malaria, reportedly wreaking havoc in their camps. Two militants have already succumbed to the disease. Biplab Borthakur alias Amulya Barua, chief of ULFA's Dhansiri unit which looks after operations in Upper Assam, has died of malaria. Two unidentified persons brought his body to his Gorumora village home in Jorhat district this afternoon. A Jorhat police team later sent the body for autopsy. Ratul Dutta succumbed to malaria on 15 July on his way to the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. The manager and doctor of Moabund tea estate have been arrested for allegedly treating Ratul at the garden hospital and the Mission Hospital in Jorhat. A district police official said a close watch is being kept on hospitals and nursing homes where the ailing militants may come for treatment. Some ultras have left their camps in Nagaland and are seeking shelter in villages in Assam. The official said this was the right time to raid ULFA camps as the sick militants would find it difficult to flee. They would also not put up any worthwhile resistance. But such action is impossible because of the declaration of ceasefire in Nagaland. Any operation could create complications. The militants are not the only ones to be threatened by malaria, which claims 800 to 1000 lives annually in the Northeast. Security forces in the region, large parts of which fall in the tropical malaria zone, are badly hit as well. A study says 20 CRPF jawans died of the disease last year. The death rate (0.31 per cent) is considerably high. The study says the troops are prone to malarial attacks because of their mobility, which affects personal protection measures and the body's immune system. Ultras kill two: Suspected Dima Halam Daoga militants shot dead two persons and injured six others at Herengajao village, 40 km from Haflong in the North Cachar Hills district, this morning. Information available here said the ultras fired indiscriminately at shoppers at the weekly market. The injured have been admitted to the Haflong Civil Hospital where the condition of three persons is reportedly critical. (Dipankar Roy; The Statesman; Calcutta; July 27, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 27: The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is giving arms training to the militants belonging to the Kamatapur Liberation Army (KLA) in the headquarters of the 709 Brigade of the ULFA located at Kalikhola in Bhutan, police sources said here. Police sources said that Dhubri Police recently arrested the second in command of the 709 Brigade of the ULFA, self-styled Sgt Major Ananta Nath alias Rajiv Barman alias Bangkok and questioning of the militant unearthed vital information regarding the strength of the 709 Brigade of the outfit. Sources said that Ananta, along with Khitish Roy alias Raktim Bora and Rajen Roy were arrested at the Chagalia Check Gate during routine checking of vehicles when the militants were on their way back to Kalikhola. Sources said that during questioning, the second in command of the Kalikhola camp told the police that at least 20 militants belonging to the KLO were presently being trained up in the Kalikhola camp. However, only about 20 to 30 hardcore ULFA militants are living in the camp at this moment. Sources said that Lt Subrata Sarania is now the Commander of the Kalikhola camp. Other senior leaders of the ULFA, who are now in the camp include Edison Boro, Sgt Ramen Sarma, who is the medical incharge, corporal Marshal Barla, lance corporal Bhaskar Sarma, corporal Dhiren Deka and other. According to Ananta, the weapons kept in the camp include 10 AK series rifles, three United Machine Guns, four self-loading rifles, one carbine made in the United states, two nine mm pistols and two 303 rifles, police sources said. Meanwhile, Dhubri Police arrested one National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militant Rupak Sarma alias Tapan Rai alias Ingkhor Brahma at Golokganj. Police sources said that Rupak joined the NDFB under very unusual circumstances. His father owned a small grocery shop at Rupshi in Dhubri district and he allegedly sold liquor in his shop. He was threatened by the ULFA for that and he left for Bengal, while Rupak joined the NDFB for his survival. Sources revealed that Rupak was involved in extorting money on behalf of the NDFB. These days the NDFB uses non-Bodos to collect money from businessmen and government officials, police said. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 28, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 27: The IG CRPF, Mohan Raj, said that no CRPF personnel ever approached the house of chief of Lamdan village in which the chief's daughter-in-law was alleged to have been raped by CRPF personnel on July 18 in the wake of an ambush on a CRPF patrol. The IG was speaking at a press conference held at the Langjing group centre of the CRPF today. He however said that he was eager to have the DNA test done on the suspects to see if they match the DNA content of the blood and semen stained clothing of the alleged rape victim. Citing the instance of an earlier sodomy case involving CRPF personnel, he said the CRPF had taken up immediate action against the culprits and had the main accused imprisoned for 30 days after dismissal from service and the other who merely was the mute witness, jailed for 15 days. "In the present case, I am convinced that my men are not involved," he said. Asked about the motive of serious charge of rape on his men, he said it was likely to be out of grudge that the son of the chief of the village was picked up for interrogation by the CRPF. He also said that no villagers who were picked up on the day were beaten up as alleged. The commandant and the assistant commandant of the 112 Bn CRPF, the unit involved in the present controversy also defended the CRPF position that no personnel of its unit approached the alleged site of crime on that day. They said a search operation was conducted at the house of one Achung who brews country liquor. Apart from Achung, some other men, including the chief's son were picked as they were found loitering near the CRPF camp. Achung's house they said was a good distance from the site of the alleged crime. They said while these men were being detained at their camp for interrogation, agitated local women came to the camp to free their men but were stopped at gate. Later the arrested men were handed over to the women, they said. (E-Pao; The Imphal Free Press; Imphal; July 28, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 27: The Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Manipur and Nagaland Range M Mohan Raj has suggested the Manipur Police to conduct a DNA test to find out the accused personnel involved in the Lamdan rape case. Addressing the mediapersons this morning here at the conference hall of the CRPF Group Centre, Langjing, 5 km west of Imphal city, the IG M Mohan Raj admitted that "the most reliable method for finding out the accused personnel in this case will be the DNA test". He said that DNA tests could be conducted on all the jawans who took part in the search operation on July 19 along with the victim housewife and her husband. Denying the charges levelled by the villagers, particularly the family members of Lamdan chief, Mohan Raj asserted that "our people say that they never went to the rape victim's residence on July 19 evening." However, the rape victim and her husband claimed that she was raped by two personnel of CRPF belonging to 112 battalion during a search operation on July 19 evening, following an ambush on a patrol party of the CRPF on July 18 morning by PLA ultras. He even admitted, "I'm not fully convinced" in this case, saying that "We're totally for justice". (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 28, 2000)

BISHNUPUR, July 28: Eleven personnel of the 112 Bn CRPF who are allegedly involved in the July 19 Lamdan CRPF atrocities have given their statements at the Bishnupur police station today. The 11 CRPF jawans were brought to the Bishnupur police station by the 112 Bn CO Hem Raj. Their statements were recorded inside the office of the Bishnupur SP K Radheshyam. The CO had wanted it to be done at the CRPF camp at Loktak Project. SP Radheshyam, Additional SP and other officers of the Bishnupur and Moirang police stations were present during the interrogation. The CRPF personnel were later taken back to their camp by their CO. After the procedure, SP went to Imphal to submit the statement records to the IGP (Law & Order), A Romenkumar, sources here said. The CRPF CO Hem Raj reiterated their denial of rape charges. Meanwhile, reports said that personnel of the 112 Bn CRPF are hot on the heels of Lambouchung who is said to be a country brew seller. According to a group of lawyers who visited the village today, the jawans were repeatedly enquiring about the whereabouts of Lambouchung. Even his family and the villagers could not ascertain his whereabouts, they said. The villagers reportedly told the lawyers that the 112 Bn company commander Devasish Biswas asked Lambouchung to tell the Bn CO that he (D Biswas) was not among the personnel who entered the house of the village chief on July 19 when the alleged incidents took place. (E-Pao; The Sangai Express; Imphal; July 29, 2000)

JORHAT, July 29: In a first-ever incident of its kind in recent memory, two disciples of Uttar Kamalabari Satra in Majuli were arrested in the wee hours today for maintaining alleged links with the ULFA. The arrested disciples, Krishna Ram Hazarika and Holiram Bora, landed themselves in the soup as the police recovered an SBBL gun and a bagful of ULFA-related documents from their Satra premises. The police swoop comes in the backdrop of vital information being provided by the ULFA cadre Pinku Dutta alias Manoj Gogoi, during interrogation. The militant was arrested by the Jorhat Police while travelling in a Kamalabari to Neamati-bound ferry on Wednesday. However, when contacted over telephone, the Satradhikar of Uttar Kamalabari Satra, Kamala Kanta Deva Goswami, clarified that he was awe-struck by the incident, "Only after talking to the duo following the arrests did I come to know that the recovered gun and documents in question were in fact those left behind by a now-deceased ULFA cadre, one Arup, who was involved in the Sanjoy Ghosh murder case of 1997. However, Holiram was of a fire-cracker brand right from the start", the Satradhikar added 'though of course they were devoted pupils". Starting Thursday afternoon, a string of arrests were made by the Jorhat police whereby three PCO operators were apprehended along with another three locals for maintaining links with the banned outfit. The PCO operators in question are Bijoy Shankar Bora, Prabhat Nath and Akash Saikia. Bijoy hails from Majuli and works at a PCO in the Masarhat area here while Prabhat, who is from Barpeta, works for a PCO at Tarajan. Akash on the other hand operated a PCO near the ASTC terminus by the Solicitor Road. The police claim that the trio were liaising with the ULFA in maintaining communication links with comrades outside the district. Militants from Majuli too utilised the services of these PCOs, according to revelations made by Pinku before the police. Further, following leads provided by the held extremist, the police recovered some live ammunition from a deserted house in the Neamati area and also arrested three youths of the area yesterday - Pulin Saikia, Diganta Das and Naba Kumar Sarma. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 29: Normal activities in the two main Central jails in the state have been severely paralysed following resumption of the ceasework strike by the All Manipur Jail Executives and Followers' Association since Thursday. Normal distribution of regular items to the jail inmates has been cancelled. Even the cooks have failed to prepare the food for the jail inmates as they joined the ceasework strike. However, there are reports of a medical team and barbers attending at the Central Jail, Imphal. But it was not so in Sajiwa Central Jail, 12 km north of Imphal where the number of hardcore militants as well as the most controversial rapists and others have been lodged. As the jail executives and followers of the Sajiwa jail joined the ceasework strike, the necessary items were not distributed to the jail inmates. Jail employees said they resumed the strike as the authority had failed to look into the grievances and the problems faced by the employees. The employees had suspended the strike on July 24 following an assurance from the state authority that their demands would be fulfilled. Among others, the demands raised by the jail employees include appointing adequate jail warders, filling up of vacant posts of jail employees, providing adequate security to the jail warders, provide facilities to inmates as laid down in the jail manual and to stop pampering the prisoners at the cost of the employees. Assault of jail employees by the inmates have risen alarmingly and with the latest assault of a jail warder on July 16, the number cases of assault of jail staff by the inmates now stands at 47. The Home department has turned a deaf ear to their complaints. The staff are harassed particularly by undertrial militants, said the jail staff. Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged with the state police in connection with the assault of the jail warder. Following the filing of the FIR, the chief judicial magistrate has given the green signal to rearrest the PREPAK undertrials for the assault on the jail warder. However, due to the lack of adequate security cover and because of the fact that the inmates are under NSA, the police has not yet rearrested the NSA tetanus. Instead, the police has sought a final permission from the Home department to rearrest the inmates. According to police source, the jail authority has asked the police to get the due permission from the Home department before arresting the NSA tetanus. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 2000)

NEW DELHI, July 28: In what can be described as a major setback for Assam, the 11th Finance Commission has not given any special concessions to tide over its financial crisis resulting from fighting insurgency. While Assam, for that matter other insurgency affected north-eastern states were not shown any special favours, the same is not the case with Jammu&Kashmir and Punjab, as the two states were given enough support to sort out their financial mess. "Expenditure incurred on security by the state of Jammu and Kashmir prior to 1991, may be assessed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the state government and a debt relief to the extent of such expenditure may be provided to the state. As far as Punjab is concerned, a moratorium on the instalments of debt and the interest, relating to the special term loan only, due for repayment, may be given during the period 2000-05 it recommended. The expenditure incurred on security may be worked out by the MHA in consultation with the states of Punjab and the Ministry of Finance and to the extent the state is entitled for reimbursement on account of security related expenditure, the relief on debt may be given to the state after the period of moratorium is over and after adjustment of any waiver earlier given, it further suggested. Assam too like Punjab had sought a moratorium on repayment of Central loans, besides demanding a one-time sanction of Rs 500 crore to tide over of recurring financial crisis, of which there was not mention. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 2000)

JORHAT, July 29: The four Williamson Magor Group officials, who were arrested on July 18 for their alleged links with the banned ULFA, were yesterday granted bail against a surety bond of Rs 10,000 each in the court of the district and sessions judge here. The quartet, Mohbandha Tea Estate Manager Aswini Sarma, Gajen Gogoi, driver Gajen Bhuyan and mechanic Haren Saikia, were earlier denied bail in the Chief Judicial Magistrate's court and remanded to judicial custody by the Sub-Divisional Judicial magistrate here. The garden officials are alleged to have helped Ratul Dutta alias Sangram Koch, secretary of the outfit's Kakadonga Anchalik Parishad, both financially and medically. Ratul was suffering from malaria and had come to the tea garden on July 13 and availed treatment. He subsequently died on July 15. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 30, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 30: Four security personnel including a Lieutenant Colonel were killed while as many Assam Rifles personnel were injured in an ambush today by suspected militants near Mao bordering Nagaland on the National Highway 39, reports UNI. Police said the victims were Lieutanant Colonel PNT Nair, Havildar KL Singh, Havildar Hara Prabhu and driver TM Mathew. Four others who were injured in the ambush were hospitalised at Jakhama Army hospital of Nagaland. They were identified as Karna Bahadur, Asok Kumar, Dipak Singh and Hiran Kumar. Police said the militants ambushed when a column of Assam Rifles in three vehicles came towards Imphal from Dimapur. The ultras with sophisticated weapons volleyed a number of bullets when the vehicles of the Assam rifles was passing through a sharp curve of the road in between Tadubi and Chakuma of Mao area. This was the first ambush on the security forces by the underground in Mao area after signing of a ceasefire deal between the Centre and the NSCN(IM). (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 31, 2000)

GUWAHATI, July 30: Twelve bogies of a goods train carrying cement from Satna in Madhya Pradesh to New Guwahati were derailed in a powerful explosion on the railway line in between Rangiya and Ghograpar Railway stations around 5.10 am today. The engine of the train was also damaged in the blast. However, no one was injured, according to reports received here. Railway sources said that the powerful explosion created a crater of 10 metre diameter and five meter depth in the area and damaged 200 metres of the track, cutting off train communication between Guwahati and the rest of the country. Sources said that the repair of tracks started at around 11 am and it would take about 24-hours to complete the repair works. Though the identity of the insurgent outfit involved in the sabotage is yet to be ascertained, Army sources suspect the involvement of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants in the blast. Army sources told The Assam Tribune this evening that the militants triggered off the blast with a remote controlled device. Sources said that sophisticated explosive materials like RDX were used in the blast. Sources said that the Army and the police have launched a massive combing operation in the area to nab the militants involved in the blast. A number of persons have been rounded up for questioning in this connection. Sources also pointed out that this was the first major act of violence by the ultras in that area after the killing of the PWD Minister Nagen Sarma in February last. Meanwhile, Railway sources revealed that at the time when the blast took place, the nearest passenger train was the Guwahati bound Abadh Assam Express, which was scheduled to pass through that point at 5.40 am. Sources said that the security engine engaged for patrolling of the track passed through that point at around 3.40 am and another goods train passed through a little ahead of the ill-fated train. The Delhi bound Rajdhani Express, which left Guwahati railway station at 6 am was scheduled to reach the blast site at 6.45 am and it returned from the Agiyathuri station. The passengers of the Guwahati bound Abadh Assam Express, Kanchanjhungha Express and the Chennai-Guwahati train were transhipped to Guwahati by bus and the passengers of the Bangalore Express were taken to Bongaigaon by bus, sources said. Sources revealed that the Up Rajdhani Express, which was scheduled to arrive at the Guwahati Railway station at 8.30 pm was controlled at the New Jalpaiguri Railway station, while, the Guwahati bound Northeast Express was controlled at Alipurduar and the Dadar-Guwahati Express was controlled at New Coochbehar. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 31, 2000)

IMPHAL, July 30: The state Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh has stated that the United Front Ministry has urged the Central authority to raise five more companies of Manipur Police commando unit in the state to combat militancy effectively. Replying to a question by M Manihar, Opposition member and Congress MLA from the Wabagai Assembly constituency in Thoubal district on the last day of the ongoing Assembly session, the Chief Minister asserted that there was no policy of the government for the deployment of commando police forces in every district headquarters of the state. He, however, pointed out that considering the prevailing law-and-order situation and availability, altogether 493 commando personnel were deployed in the four district headquarters of the state. In order to overcome the unlawful activities in the four valley districts, a total of 221 commando personnel were deployed in Imphal West district headquarters, about 83 personnel were attached to the Imphal east district police station, 93 personnel were deputed to the Thoubal district police headquarters while another 96 personnel were assisting the police team in the Bishnupur district. Replying to another supplementary question, Nipamacha Singh promised that necessary police commando units would be deployed at the remaining police headquarters in the five hills districts after raising five more companies of commandos. The Chief Minister, however, admitted that there was no policy for establishing separate jurisdiction for the district commando at the moment, saying that" it would not be possible as of now". In another reply, Nipamacha Singh also assured that the vacant posts in the various jails of the state will be created soon after the lifting of ban on recruitment. He, however, denied that the employees in the various jails had not got promotion to their respective grades since 1982. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 31, 2000)

AGARTALA, July 30: Eight persons including five police personnel have been injured in a clash with villagers in North Tripura district, police said on Thursday. Hundreds of villagers from Machhmare village armed with lethel weapons gathered before Penchartal police station on Wednesday night demanding immediate release of two villagers who were arrested on Wednesday itself under National Security Act (NSA) on the charge of inciting communal violence in the area. After being refused to entry to the police station, the villagers stormed the building and ransacked it. Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans deployed in the police station resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob, the police said. Five police personnel and three villagers were injured in the clash and all of them were released after first aid from a local primary health centre, the police said. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; July 31, 2000)