GUWAHATI, March 1: In the wake of the recent killing of Assam PWD and forest minister, Nagen Sharma, by the ULFA, the state government on Tuesday ordered the transfer of both the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Nalbari district where the minister was killed. Official sources here said that the DC, AK Bhutani, was transferred as joint secretary, agriculture, while the SP, A J Baruah, was transferred to Dhubri district. Bongaigaon DC, Biswaranjan Shamal, replaced Bhutani and Sonitpur district SP, I Y V Krishnan, was promoted and posted as Nalbari SP. Agriculture joint secretary, R K Das, was transferred as DC, Dhemaji district, while the present incumbent was posted as DC, Bongaigaon district. A J Baruah replaced Dhubri SP, Shibu Prasad Bora, upon his retirement on Tuesday, the sources added. (Press Trust of India; The Indian Express; New Delhi; 2 March, 2000)

Guwahati, March 2: Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta here on Thursday said that he was ready to resign from his post if it could put an end to terrorism and violence in the state and could usher an era of lasting peace and prosperity to the people. Obviously upset over the indifferent attitude of the Congress party, that has demanded resignation of the Assam chief minister in wake of the killing of a state minister, Nagen Sarma, in a bomb blast on Sunday, Mahanta said: "I have no hesitation to resign, rather I would be glad to do so if they (the Congress), who are demanding my resignation, give a guarantee to the people that the extremist organisations will immediately shun the path of violence and return to normal life." In an obvious reference to the Congress party Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said: "But before I tender my resignation, I must be convinced that it will really happen. I throw an open challenge to all those who are demanding my resignation that they come out with public announcements giving assurances to the people that extremists organisations would immediately shun the path of violence, the moment I resign." He said: "I am announcing this with full responsibility and firm conviction. "Let them also obtain similar public announcements from extremist organisations giving guarantee to the people to the said effect and I will resign. "I am giving them seven days time. If they can do it, then I am prepared to resign," Mahanta said. While rejecting the charges of the Congress Mahanta said: "If they can not do it, then these so-called leaders should give up public life and stop making such silly and irresponsible remarks on such vital matters affecting the interests of the state and people." In the same breath chief minister said: "You are aware that my government is making determined efforts to free the state from violence and terrorism. Not only this, the party and government have to pay a heavy price for its uncompromising stand against terrorism." He quoted the recent incident of Nagen Sarma's brutal killing by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants in a landmine blast as a price that the state is paying in its relentless pursuit to bring the militants to book. He reiterated that such mindless killing and attacks cannot detract the government from its avowed goal - creation of an atmosphere of peace and prosperity. "The state government would never succumb to any pressure in its relentless pursuit of peace, even if it means more sufferings and sacrifices," said the Assam chief minister. "Even after this, if somebody makes accusations against me for being responsible for terrorism and violence, then such charges can only be made out of sheer personal or political ill-will and not due to any genuine concern for the good of the people," he said, while pointing out that the Congress itself is known for creating terrorism in the country. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; Guwahati; 3 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 2: Following the brutal assassination of state public works and forest minister Nagen Sharma at Nalbari on Sunday, the security forces in Assam are hot on trail now hounding the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) men. As many as five hardcore ULFA men have been killed in two different encounters by security forces in the past two days, two of them in Guwahati city and the other three in Nalbari district. In Guwahati, the two militants who died in police encounters have been identified as Gagan Das alias Rahul Das and Gopesh Deka, both stated to be members of the dreaded 'volcano unit' of the banned organisation. According to information available with the security forces, some volcano unit members are responsible for the minister's death. In Nalbari district, which still has a good concentration of ULFA militants, security forces bumped off three rebels in Nilpur village under Ghograpar police station on Tuesday night. It was in Ghograpar that the ULFA had killed three policemen two weeks proceeding the murder of Sharma. Meanwhile, the Assam government has shunted out Nalbari district magistrate Ashish Bhutani and superintendent of police Apurba Jivan Baruah. The state government on its part has also appealed to the media not to publish statements issued by the banned ULFA. (Express News Service; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 3 March, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 2: At least ten policemen were injured when a group of tribal women, suspected to be collaborators of National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) militants, attacked them at Khutamara village of West Tripura district, police said on Monday. The incident occurred when the policemen were returning after arresting a man, who had allegedly sheltered a group of NLFT ultras, on Tuesday night. The women attacked the police party with batons and other lethal weapons, besides brickbatting them in which ten policemen, including the officer-in-charge of the Jirania police station, were injured. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd, the sources said. The militants, who had allegedly planned to attack security personnel, managed to escape, the sources added. Meanwhile, police and Assam Rifles arrested six collaborators of different groups of insurgents from various parts of the state since Tuesday. In separate incidents, two small traders have been kidnapped by the armed insurgents in West Tripura district. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 3 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 3: Tea executives working in Barak Valley tea gardens of different companies have been living under constant fear of attack from gun-toting extremists ruling the roost there. The location of these tea estates along the inter-state boundaries has been a curse for these tea executives as extremists belonging to different outfits after striking at these gardens can easily go back to their sanctuaries on the other side of the inter-state boundary. As a result the security forces are also facing difficulty to neutralise these militant outfits including the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) and Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) which have been operating with advantage of terrain on their side. Another problem is that most of the gardens are members of Tea Association of India (TAI) which is yet to deploy Assam Tea Plantation Protection Force (ATPPF) in its member estates. Some of the garden managements have engaged private security agencies from outside the state to safeguard tea executives. But these private securitymen have been no match for the militants who continue to strike in these gardens at will. Sources informed that the state police is not happy with the role played by the managements of these vulnerable gardens in helping it to check unabated activities of extremists outfits jeopardising the security to the life of tea executives and their families. Police is not happy because it suspects that in case of kidnapping of tea executives the managements of tea gardens resort to direct negotiations of ransom with militant outfits keeping the police and other security forces under dark. The police is informed when a tea executive is kidnapped and subsequently when he is released or killed by the militants. But what happens during the intervening period is not informed to the police by the tea garden managements making it difficult for the police to check the activities of ultras. For example, on February 16 this year a garden assistant of Martycherra TE estate was abducted and released on February 25. Two executives of Bhuban Valley tea estate were abducted by militants on February 1 last and later released on February 14 last. The management-in-charge of Amranagar tea estate was abducted on December 1 last year and was released later. Assistant manager of Binnakandy tea estate was abducted on November 6 last year and later set free by the abductors on November 14. In all these cases of abduction police was informed about the incidents and subsequent release of the executives by militants. But, as usual police was not informed what transpired between the garden managements and the abductors during the period of captivity of the executives. It is obvious, militants abduct tea executives for ransom only. So for the release of these abducted executives the ultras must have been paid undisclosed amounts. But the managements are not willing to provide the police with details so that recurrence of such incidents could be prevented. Since October 1995 till date as many as 47 incidents occurred in Barak Valley gardens where militants abduct, attack or rob tea executives and their family members. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 4 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 3: That terrorism in the Northeast particularly Assam has come to be closely linked with illegal infiltration problem and that insurgency can no longer be considered a cottage industry but has assumed the entity of a corporate giant with business interest spread over several countries, have emerged as the latest facets of terrorism in the country. These were some of the observations arrived at a two-day seminar on "Terrorism: An unending malaise", organised by Indian Council of Social Science Research and attended by top security experts, sociologists, economists and bureaucrats. The fact that New Delhi has now started paying keen attention to what goes on in the Northeast and to the views of the intellectuals from the region and experts in the field becomes apparent from the turnout in the seminar which was attended by several top bureaucrats of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Consider this scenario when the stock markets in South Asia recently crashed, one of the biggest losers was not any corporate or investment giants but the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) faction which lost over Rs 100 million. Presenting his paper entitled "Economics of Terrorism", Ajoy Sahni of Centre for Conflict Management, said that unlike in Jammu and Kashmir, profit motive has overtaken ideology in militancy in the Northeast leading to a growth of a powerful lobby. Giving an example of kind of illegal funds generated in Assam, Sahni said illegal trade of PDS quota in the state generate Rs 60 lakh per month. Virtually, the entire PDS quota of the state is diverted to the open market by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and ex-ULFA. Similarly 70 per cent of funds for the rural development goes into the coffers of the ULFA. The collusive arrangement arrived at which in other words means the nexus between the underground outfits- bureaucrats- police do not want the current arrangements to be disturbed. The speaker also opined that under the circumstances, the development approach taken by the government cannot work as a preventive measure. Suggesting that the government should adopt new strategy to tackle the new scenario, he said that the government should explore the possibility of disturbing this dynamics by hitting the profitability of the outfits. But he cautioned, any intervention will have to be well planned. Sahni conceded that border trade route between the Northeast and its neighbouring countries should be opened up. The other facet of terrorism in the region that came to focus was the issue of illegal infiltration. Presenting his paper on "Infiltration and insecurity in Eastern and Northeastern India," eminent professor Jayanta Kumar Roy said that the impact of migration in other parts of the world is not exactly comparable to that of infiltration from Bangladesh to Northeast and Eastern India. Criticising the vote bank politics indulged in by the political parties, Roy said in 1993, the senior Congress leaders of the Northeast states reported to their party high command that intelligence agencies of Bangladesh and Pakistan were in collision to destabilise the region. They pointed to the use of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International by Pakistan's Inter Services. Intelligence (ISI) to fuel subversion in India. Moreover hundreds of officers of the Bangladesh Army were being trained in Pakistan for cross border operations, the Congressmen reported. As against this, the preference for politics of votebanks was carried to an extreme by former Assam chief minister late Hiteshwar Saikia. Fifteen Pakistan backed Muslim fundamentalist organisations were active in Assam, specially among infiltrators since 1987. Late Saikia pledged to drive out infiltrators from Bangladesh when he was in the Opposition, but after he become the chief minister, he forgot this pledge and his political postures amounted to a denial of the menace of infiltration, Roy said. Presenting his paper, Editor of Guwahati based The Northeast Daily, Wasbir Hussain, said that it needs to be realised that economic deprivations caused by both region's difficult location as well as Centre's lack of perceptive planning for more than four decades since Independence have contributed to make the region what it is today an area of constant turmoil. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 4 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 4: The Army and other security forces operating in Assam, have decided to intensify operations against the insurgents following the killing of the PWD and forest minister, Nagen Sarma. This was disclosed by the general officer commanding (GOC), the 4 Corps of the Army, Lt Gen DB Shekatkar. Talking to The Assam Tribune here today, Lt Gen. Shekatkar, who is the operational head of the Unified Command Structure in the state, said at least 10 ULFA and two NDFB militants were killed in different parts of the state within three days from the killing of the PWD minister. Shekatkar pointed out that the government and the security forces, as a goodwill gesture, allowed the militants to come overground and offered them safe passage to enable them to visit their relatives and friends. "But by killing the minister the ultras have abused the goodwill gesture. A good will gesture cannot be an one-way traffic and under the present circumstances, we have no other option but to intensify the operations against the ultras", Shekatkar said. The GOC said that the killing of the minister was very unfortunate and all out efforts are on to apprehend the militants involved in the killing. He said that by killing an elected representative of the people, the ULFA has abused the democratic rights of the people and the protest marches, strike calls etc in against the killing would further alienate the ultras. He said that the killing of the minister was a desperate bid by the ULFA to make their presence felt and a communication gap enabled them to carry out their plan as the police was not aware of the travel plan of the minister. He also revealed that the police has requested the ministers to take care as the ULFA, which is pushed to the wall, would look for soft targets. Though Shekatkar said that the security forces have decided to intensify operations against the militants, at the same time, he said that efforts to bring the insurgents back to the mainstream would continue as "after all they are our own brothers. The Assamese are a peace loving people and the misguided youths are sons of the society. I believe that it would not be too difficult to bring the ultras back to the mainstream". The GOC said that the ULFA is having trouble both in Bhutan and Myanmar. He said that a large number of the ULFA militants want to come out of the camps and the leaders had to confiscate their weapons. There is every possibility of infighting among the cadres of the outfit, he added. He further revealed that the ULFA recently had some trouble with the NSCN (Khaplang) and the ULFA has been asked to vacate their camps in Myanmar. "The time is fast running out for the ULFA and if they do not come out soon, they would be in serious trouble" the GOC warned. Commenting on the present strength of the ULFA, Shekatkar said that according to information available with the security forces, about 2,200 militants are in the camps in Bhutan and about 500 are in Myanmar. He said that not all the boys who have joined the ULFA, are anti-nationals as a fairly large number joined the outfit only to earn money. "Recently we apprehended a youth who came back from the camp in Myanmar. During questioning, the youth told the security personnel that he went to Myanmar only because he was told that he would be able to make some money. Only after going to Myanmar, he was aware of the reality and managed to escape", he added. He also revealed that the ULFA is facing a financial crunch and directed the rank and file to launch a massive extortion drive all over the state. Shekatkar squarely blamed the insurgents for the backwardness of Assam and pointed out that if the insurgents remain active, the image of Assam would take a beating and no industrialist would like to come to Assam to set up industries. Under such circumstances, the youths of Assam would be the worst sufferers as the employment avenues would be blocked, he pointed out. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 5 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 5: Assam minister of state for power and veterinary Hiranya Konwar had a providential escape when United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants attacked him in Upper Assam's Sibsagar district on Sunday, official sources said. The minister was returning after attending a family function at Deoguri when ULFA militants lobbed a grenade and indiscriminately fired on his vehicle near Moran, the sources said adding Konwar's security guards also retaliated. There was no injury to anyone belonging to the minister's convoy. His vehicle was however damaged in the attack. The police has launched a massive search operation to nab the ultras who fled under cover of darkness. Sunday's attack came close on heels of the killing of PWD and forest minister Nagen Sharma and four others in Nalbari district last Sunday. (Press Trust of India; The Indian Express; New Delhi; 5 March, 2000)

TURA, March 4: Top technical officials posted in the three districts of Garo Hills have been bearing the brunt of militancy for the last few years, and while many fear to move out of their homes, there are others who in spite of being posted to this region, have failed to turn up for fear of abduction. Many top technicians have made an exodus from the region due to this fear. Even the largest public sector undertaking in this region, Coal India Limited, has witnessed this phenomenon. The state Irrigation department due to this problem failed to have any officer taking posting or attending office there from the rank of executive engineer and above. The largest number of incidents has been reported from the East and South Garo Hills districts, which are well-known militant bastions. Engineers totalling seven and belonging to departments such as Telecom, PWD, PHE, and Irrigation have fallen prey to the Garo Hills-based militants. One of the hardest hit was Coal India Limited, whose project engineer, KC Tiwari, was abducted from the project site at Nagalbibra in South Garo Hills. Tiwari had to allegedly pay about Rs 30 lakh, although the initial demand of the militants was Rs 1 crore. The latest to fall victim is Public Works Department (PWD) executive engineer PK Bhaiya, who was picked up from Nangapa in East Garo Hills on February 23 while returning from Shillong to Williamnagar. He was subsequently released the next day allegedly on the assurance to pay up. The first abduction of a technical officer took place at Damas in July 1998 when the executive engineer of PHE, Asish Dutta, was picked up while inspecting a site. He was released after a long ordeal. Four months later an engineer of the Irrigation department had a miraculous escape when there was a bid to abduct him from his residence at Tura. There is a sense of insecurity everywhere for the technical officials posted here in this militancy-prone region resulting in their movements being restricted. The police and paramilitary forces have been continuing combing operations but unless something dramatic takes place, this region will lack development due to absence of technical officials who are just too afraid to venture into this region. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 5 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 5: Bogged down by the killing of a cabinet minister, the Assam government has started intensifying its counter-insurgency operation in different parts of the state by launching a fresh propaganda campaign to alienate the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres from the society. This was disclosed when the state government here on Sunday released a booklet titled Who Killed Them And Why to the media containing the lists of civilians and security forces killed during last 17 years in the insurgency related violence. The booklet that contains the names and addresses of 657 civilians who had been killed by the militants since 1984 also included 253 security personnel who lost their lives during the counter-insurgency operation in the state. Though, the ULFA was formed in 1979, its first offensive was recorded in 1984 when the militants killed Bishnu Barik of Chabua in Upper Assam's Dibrugarh district and it was the only offensive in a year followed by three killings in 1985. The booklet, published by the state government, points out that sub-inspector Putl Borah of Namrup in Dibrugarh district was the first police personnel who fell to ULFA's bullet in 1986. It also includes the names of state PWD and forest minister Nagen Sarma who was killed in a powerful landmine blast on Sunday last. Meanwhile, the state government has also suggested the media not to carry any statements of outlawed organisations, which thrives on the oxygen of well-orchestrated publicity in the media. Though, it had hardly any visible impact on the local media as the day chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta made this appeal, most of the language dailies carried the statement of ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah who spoke to them over telephone. The state home department sources did not rule out the possibility of clamping a ban on media in near future from carrying the press statement of outlawed organisations. The Union home ministry had also launched a similar campaign in 1998 apparently to alienate the outfit from the common people. In a hard-hitting booklet titled Bleeding Assam, the home ministry had listed the various acts of omission and commission committed by the outfit. The report had the details of the various extortion, kidnappings and killing carried out by the ULFA in Assam over the last five years exposing the true character of the outfit. It had also the details of the various foreign links that the outfit has established in order to carry on its campaign of terror. The state government's effort to intensify the counter-insurgency operation has become more significant in view of the budget session of the Assam assembly starting from Wednesday where the Opposition Congress and a section of dissident MLAs of the ruling party are planning to rake up the issue of law and order and may press for the resignation of the state government. (Manoj Anand/Rahul Das; The Asian Age; New Delhi; 6 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 5: The ongoing efforts by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to broker a lasting peace agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) received a jolt recently following the raid on the banned outfit's building at Dimapur (Nagaland) by Assam Rifles, which is controlled directly by the Union Home Ministry. To add to the embarrassment of New Delhi, it is being claimed by North Block that the raid led to the rescue of six innocent people who were "kidnapped and badly tortured" by the militant group. Assam Rifles' action late last week comes close on the heels of the latest round of talks which the Prime Minister's emissary K Padmanabhiah held with the NSCN leadership in Europe. Home ministry officials, though willing to part with the information, have come out with barely sketchy details of the incident. For one, none of the allegedly tortured persons has been shown to the media -- as is the regular practice in such matters. Even their names and identities are not disclosed. The incident, point out observers, has all the potential of derailing the peace talks. So far, NSCN has not reacted to the "raid", but eyebrows are already being raised over what really happened at Dimapur. Sources close to Padmanabhiah, however, were quick to point out that under no condition would New Delhi accept the inhuman treatment of innocent Naga people by any outfit -- but these ought to be authenticated first. Giving details of the raid, home ministry officials maintained that the six people were kidnapped by NSCN(IM) and "kept blindfolded with their hands tied, in the locked room of the outfit's torture cell at Dimapur. They were subjected to regular torture and even denied sufficient food." The alleged victims, all belonging to Sema, Konyak and Lotha tribes, also included a Nagaland police constable, it is held. They were picked up for petty offences like drunkenness, it is claimed. The search operation in the building also reportedly yielded two AK-rifles and ammunition, along with 288 bottles of liquor. The detection and exposure of the "torture cell", say senior North Block officials, "reveals the evil face of the NSCN(IM) as well as its gross violation of human rights. The outfit has projected itself as the champion of the Nagas in the national and international fora but the fact is that they are indulging in barbaric and inhuman crimes against their own brethren." (Ajay Suri; The Indian Express; New Delhi; 6 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 6: Seven militants of Garo National Front (GNF) today lay down arms before the deputy commissioner, Kamrup, DN Saikia at a surrender ceremony organised by the district police at Muga Farm near Boko. Official sources informed that the GNF militants were active in South Kamrup area. The militants deposited one hand-made muzzle loading gun, one. 303 rifle with four rounds of ammunition, one 12 bore SBBL gun, two SBBL gun and two hand-made SBBL guns. The Boko MLA Jyoti Prakash Das was also present in the surrender ceremony which was attended by several top district administration officials. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 7 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 6: Five more innocent civilians fell prey to the killing spree of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) when the militants waylaid a police vehicle at Borgora Majuli about seven kilometre away from Sadiya in Tinsukia district late last night. Altogether eight persons including two policemen and a militant were killed in the incident. The incident occurred when a police team from Sadiya police station was coming back from a place called Borpukhuri after rescuing a girl who had eloped. The boy, with whom the girl had eloped, his mother and sister and the girl's father were travelling in the police vehicle which was ambushed by the militants. Police sources informed that around 9 pm yesterday one person had come to Sadiya police station and lodged a complaint that his daughter had been taken away by a boy. A team of police personnel comprising a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector, one unarmed constable, a driver and five jawans of Assam Police Battalion along with the father of the girl went to Borpukhuri area and rescued the girl from the residence of one Hiranya Gohain. While returning to Sadiya along with the rescued girl, the boy, his mother and sister and the father of the girl, the police party was ambushed at Borgora Majuli. All the five civilian inmates in the police vehicle along with the unarmed constable Mohan Sonowal and ASI Nilambor Duorah were killed in the militants' strike. One of the ULFA militants was also killed in retaliation by the policemen. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 7 March, 2000)

IMPHAL, March 6: Armed militants attacked a Border Security Force party at Zulenphai in Churachandpur district of Manipur last Saturday, delayed officials reports said today. Reports said the militant belonging to banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) opened fire at the BSF personnel who were going to Tipaimukh area in the interior area of the district in connection with assembly poll duty. The securitymen also returned fire but no casualty was reported on both sides, reports said. Official sources said election to Tipaimukh assembly constituency (adjourned earlier following killing of a candidate) and repolling at 38 polling stations in Henglep constituency also in the district would be held on March 8. The BSF personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any election-related violence, sources said. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 7 March, 2000)

AIZAWL, March 6: Mizoram's Lengpui airport is vulnerable even after National Socialist Council of Nagalim's (NSCN) scheme to carry out a 'Kathmandu type' hijacking operation on February 25 to secure its supremo Thuingaleng Muivah's release from a Thai jail was accidentally nipped in the bud recently. An Intelligence official, who recently visited Lengpui airport to ascertain the security measures and test the alertness of the security personnel was dismayed by their laxity that facilitated him to move unaccosted inside the extremely sensitive and restricted access control system. The Intelligence official said a CRPF jawan sought to know his identity only after he had completed his scrutiny and was well outside the airport. The official informed PTI on condition of anonymity that Ranju Rangan, an imposter posing as a director of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation and arrested on February 15, has stated in his confessional statement to the police that he had found the access control system to be "vulnerable". (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 7 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 7: The Union government today said that stepped up violence in Assam by the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was the fallout of the crackdown on the outfit's bases in Myanmar following which a large number of ultras have sneaked into the state and its adjoining areas. An official spokesman of the ministry of home affairs and special secretary in charge for the Northeast, PD Shenoy today told newsmen that in the wake of the crackdown on the ULFA and the outlawed NSCN(K) faction in the neighbouring country, ultras have fled the country and taken shelter in deep jungles of Arunachal Pradesh, eastern Nagaland and North Cachar Hills areas of Assam. The security forces, including the Army, have stepped up combing operations in the region and counter-insurgency operations have been geared up in the area. During these operations as many as 26 hardcore militants were killed and 153 apprehended, Shenoy revealed. The recent spate of attacks in Assam was the fallout of the crackdown and the ultras are under tremendous pressure, he claimed, describing the actions of the ultras as the acts of desperation. During the last two years as many as 931 militants have surrendered before the Army and the Assam administration out of which 721 belonged to the ULFA. The ministry official also claimed that number of killings has gone down as number of civilians killed by the militants has gone down to 179 from 392 in 1998. As against this, the number of militants killed in the hands of the security forces since launching of operations under Unified Command has touched 551, while 4376 have been arrested. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 8 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 7: Assam ministers have been directed to stop night movement and reduce their public programmes as far as possible, official sources said here on Tuesday. Chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has been urged by senior police and civil officials in a meeting held after the attack on minister of state for Veterinary and Power Hiranya Konwar to direct members of his cabinet to stop travelling at night and reduce their public engagements. The ministers have been directed not to step out of the Dispur Capital Complex after sunset and not to accept any unscheduled invitation to attend any public function. The security agencies have also advised that not more than one minister should accept an invitation to attend any particular programme. Moreover, if the ministers are visiting their constituency, they should return to their residence before sundown, the sources said. The chief minister has directed the ministers accordingly and their security has been further beefed up following the killing of Forest and PWD minister Nagen Sarma and the abortive attack on Konwar, the sources added. (Press Trust of India; The Indian Express; New Delhi; 8 March, 2000)

CALCUTTA, March 7: G Grinder Muivah, a close associate of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) (Isak-Muivah) supremo T Muivah, has been arrested at the NSC Bose International Airport here, superintendent of police (airport) O P Gupta said today. Grinder, who was nabbed by the airport's Immigration Department after his arrival from Bangkok on Saturday, has been charged with planning to hijack an aircraft from Mizoram's Lengpui airport to secure the release of T Muivah from a Bangkok jail. He was also charged with stealing some sensitive documents from Aizawl and leaking them, Gupta said. According to Gupta, Grinder was arrested on the basis of a 'lookout notice' issued against him from Mizoram for planning to hijack the aircraft. After his identity was established, the Airport police contacted Mizoram police authorities who had sent two officials here. Grinder was produced yesterday at the sub-divisional magistrate's court in Barrackpore. The magistrate remanded him to jail custody till March 18. (Press Trust of India; The Indian Express; New Delhi; 8 March, 2000)

ITANAGAR, March 8: The ministry of home affairs has assured all assistance to modernise Arunachal police force, the Inspector General of Police said yesterday. The ministry had assured that more vehicles and upgraded weapons would be made available to the state soon to help it effectively tackle law-and-order problem, the inspector-general of police YS Dadwal said here. More police forces would be deployed for round-the-clock patrolling to check extortion, theft and robberies in the twin towns of Itanagar and Naharlagun, Dadwal said when asked about the steps to cope with the 'deteriorating law-and-order situation' in the two towns. On the possible entry of 'anti-national' elements in Arunachal, the IGP said strict vigil was being maintained at the check gates. Attention was also being given so that no complaint was received about any corrupt practice while carrying on checking of vehicle and inner line permits at the gates. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 9 March, 2000)

AIZAWL, March 8: G Grinder Muivah, close associate of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) (Isak-Muivah) supremo T Muivah, was being brought to Mizoram after his recent arrest at the NSC Bose international airport, Calcutta, to face charges of attempted hijacking, a senior police official said. The 38-year-old Grinder, who claimed to be a close relative of NSCN(I-M) chief T Muivah, had been arrested on Saturday after he alighted from a Bangkok-Calcutta flight. The Mizoram police has registered criminal cases under provisions of Anti-Hijacking Act and Indian Penal Code at Aizawl police station against Grinder and his accomplice Ranju Rangan who was allegedly sent by the former to Mizoram's Lengpui airport and arrested here on February 15, the police official told PTI. Rangan in his confessional statement to investigating agencies said a plot to hijack a plane from Mizoram had been hatched by Grinder and other NSCN(I-M) activists in New Delhi to secure the release of Muivah who had been detained in Thai jail for possessing fake travel documents, the official said. Rangan told his interrogators that he was sent by Grinder alias Phungrei Khai Muivah to reach the Lengpui airport as NSCN(I-M) "may have to launch Kathmandu-type operations," the official said. The superintendent of police (NSC Bose airport) OP Gupta said in Calcutta that besides the hijack attempt charge, Grinder was also charged with stealing some sensitive documents from Aizawl and leaking them. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 9 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 8: Recent terrorist attacks, including the killing of a state minister notwithstanding, tea planters in Assam appear more confident about the security situation in the state with the formation of the plantation protection force. No manager of a tea garden covered by the force has been killed or kidnapped by the United Liberation Force of Asom (ULFA). Nor have any of these gardens received extortion notices from ULFA, said PK Bhattacharjee, adviser to the Assam branch of the Indian Tea Association. But, on the flip side, it is too expensive for tea gardens to take the cover of this force. It costs about Rs 5 lakh a year to maintain the force in a tea garden. According to Bhattacharjee, this pushes up a garden's cost of production of tea by Re 1 a kg. This, perhaps, explains why only 105 of the 850 big tea gardens in Assam are covered by the force. Most tea gardens, particularly those that are individually owned or belong to small companies, cannot afford to dish out the money for the force. For managements of the 30,000-odd small tea gardens, seeking cover is beyond their imagination. The 105 gardens which have taken this "security insurance" belong to the large tea companies such as Williamson Magor, Tata Tea and Goodrick. The plantation protection force was set up under a memorandum of understanding signed by the ABITA and the Assam government in the wake of frequent killings and kidnappings of tea garden managers by the ULFA as well as extortion of money from the gardens by the militant outfit. The personnel of the force are recruited and trained by the state government. In all, a battalion of 22 armed security personnel are deployed in each tea garden taking the cover of the force. They are under the command of the state's director-general of police. The gardens taking cover or the companies that own them have to pay the state government for protection. Bhattacharjee refuted charges that the force was not effective and asserted that it has instilled confidence among tea planters in whose gardens they have been deployed. "Two years ago, we used to fear attacks from ULFA militants," he said. But kidnapping of tea garden managers and serving of extortion notices on them by ULFA has not happened in gardens in the Brahmaputra Valley where the battalions are positioned. Bhattacharjee and other tea industry executives sought to belie the fears of many that violence by ULFA militants in Assam was turning away many prospective candidates for managerial jobs in tea gardens. "We receive 7,000 such job applications a year from people outside the state," said a senior executive of Williamson Magor. But kidnappings were increasing in Cachar and Lower Assam in the Barak Valley area where Bodo militants are active, the ITA adviser said. It definitely makes more sense to seek security cover than pay protection money, according to him. "In any case, why should we have initiated the move to set up this force if we wanted to give in to extortion demands," he said denying that the tea industry ever kow-towed to the militants. Moreover, many extortion notices were found to be fake ones, apparently served by criminal gangs claiming to belong to ULFA. Tea planters have gathered the experience to decipher a fake notice from a genuine one, he said. In the case of fake ones, there is usually no follow-up action by those serving them, he said. (Kshaunish Sarkar; The Statesman; Calcutta; 9 March, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 8: The Tripura government has raised a special task force to fight escalating militancy in the state. The special task force personnel were earlier selected from the Tripura State Rifles battalions for special training to combat insurgency. The first special task force batch has already completed its training in Nagaland. The passing out parade of special task force personnel took place here yesterday. The chief minister, Manik Sarkar, said the task force would soon be put in operation. He said the militants were enjoying backing from certain external agencies. They have their training camps in Bangladesh. The ultras were getting funds and arms supply from these agencies beyond the border. A senior police officer said the special task force personnel have been adequately equipped with modern weapons, wireless sets, bullet-proof equipment and night-vision devices. All had been trained in counter insurgency, jungle warfare, anti-hijacking, bomb detection and disposal and other anti-terrorist activities, he said, adds UNI. The special task force personnel would be given additional incentives with the objective of keeping their motivation level high. These incentives include extra increments, insurance coverage of Rs 5.5 lakh, a monthly allowance ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500, full pay to the dependent family in case of death and permanent invalidation, free medical treatment, cash rewards, out-of-turn allotment of government quarters and relaxation of eligibility conditions for promotions. Three more special task force units would soon be deployed in counter-insurgency operations, being carried out by Assam Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force, Tripura State Rifles and state police. The constitution of the special task force was one of the many steps taken by the Tripura government to combat militancy. (Statesman News Service; The Statesman; New Delhi; 9 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 8: Killing of civilians in the Northeast has declined considerably following counter-insurgency operations in Assam, the Union home ministry claimed on Tuesday. It said the number of civilians killed in Assam had drastically come down to 179 in 1999 from 392 in 1998. However, the recent attacks on ministers and government officials in the state were "an act of desperation," an official spokesman of the ministry said on Tuesday. In addition to the sustained pressure in Assam, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) had been under tremendous strain because of the recent operations against them in Myanmar by the Myanmarese army, he said. During the past one month 26 hardcore militants were killed and 153 apprehended. Since the operations began in 1997, 551 militants have been killed and 4,376 apprehended. In the last two years, 931 militants have surrendered, 721 of whom belong to ULFA. In December 1999, the state government offered safe passage to militants wanting to visit their homes. There was a considerable response and 323 militants availed themselves of the facility. Since these militants had defied their leaders in opting for the facility, most of them decided not to return to their camps. (The Times of India News Service; The Times of India; New Delhi; 9 March, 2000)

AGARTALA, March 9: Polarisation of militant groups on political lines is complete with banned insurgent outfits becoming increasingly active in influencing outcome of ensuing elections to the Tripura Hill Areas Autonomous District Council. The banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) came down heavily on the National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) recently for the latter's "anti-tribal stance". The ATTF has accused the NLFT of indulging in factionalism in underground ranks. The ATTF, which was for so long identified with the state's Leftist forces, has denounced NLFT's move on uniting hill regional parties apparently to check split of anti-Left Front tribal votes in the coming polls. The ATTF has raised question on legitimacy of "NLFT's all-out struggle for saving Tripura hill people's socio-economic and cultural identity". Chaba, the mouthpiece of the Tripura People's Democratic Front, which claimed to be the political unit of the underground ATTF, made it a point that if NLFT's struggle was for a "sovereign people's republic of Tripura", then why it was giving so much importance to the outcome of the hill areas autonomous district council polls? The ATTF vehemently criticised the NLFT for its "pro-Church stance", forcible conversion of innocent hill people in backward areas and involving tribal youths in a "misguided armed struggle". The ATTF mouthpiece said, it was the TNV supremo, Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl, who was wielding his influence over the NLFT's ranks. "It is due to the worsening infighting over leadership in the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura - the political unit of the NLFT - Hrangkhawl is yet to take over as the IPFT chief, the Chaba said. The NLFT last week organised a meeting of tribal villagers at Hadrai in the Baramura hill region in West Tripura. The speakers there warned the people only to vote for the IPFT contenders. (Statesman News Service; The Statesman; Calcutta; 10 March, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 9: The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) said today that it had already signalled to the Centre that it wants a political dialogue. No positive response, however, had come from the Centre. Speaking to The Statesman over the phone, an NSCN-K official, Kughalu Mulatonu, said the outfit came forward with the idea of holding talks with the Centre for a solution to the Naga political problem. (The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, had recently discussed the Naga problem. "If he keeps his word ... he is welcome," the NSCN-K official added.) Asked if a condition would be put forward to the Centre before a dialogue begins, Mulatonu said he could not place a condition, adding the matter would certainly come up for discussion in the forthcoming NSCN-K meeting. Mulatonu, however, said that the NSCN(K) is likely to have a "bilateral ceasefire with the government of India". Asked if NSCN-K has any consultation with the Indo-Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF), of which the outfit was a constituent, before inclining to have a dialogue with the Centre, Mulatonu said the IBRF is, now, non-existent. He added that any constituent group of the IBRF, willing to enter into a political dialogue with the government of India, could not be disturbed. Besides, the constituent groups would not encroach upon other's right to self-determination. The NSCN(K) official said the outfit could not force other constituent or like-minded groups to follow them. The official said though the IBRF remained defunct, the groups still maintained its friendly relationship - specially on political, social and economic issues. The NSCN(K) also said the defunct body would be reorganised soon but it would be only after the meeting of the leaders of former constituent groups of IRBF. (Statesman News Service; The Statesman; Calcutta; 10 March, 2000)

SHILLONG, March 10: Meghalaya chief minister EK Mawlong has said that the government will take stern steps to contain insurgency in the state, report agencies. Speaking at a meeting held to condole the killing of a policeman by suspected militants here on Wednesday, Mawlong said the government would adopt all measures to ensure that peace and stability returned to the state. Condemning the attack on policemen, Mawlong urged the police force to act firmly against culprits indulging in such heinous crimes. Meanwhile, the police said that the underground Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) was responsible for Wednesday's incident which took place at Mawkhar area of Shillong, in which one policeman was shot dead and another critically injured. Four HNLC activists had fired on the police patrol party and the police has launched a massive combing operation to nab them. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 11 March, 2000)

WASHINGTON, March 10: The United States administration believes Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is fomenting extremist violence in the Northeast, possibly working through dissident groups with bases in Bangladesh, a senior official has said. "We believe the ISI is helping militants in Assam," the Washington Times quoted the unidentified state department official as saying. "Since they attack unarmed civilians for political purposes, the militants meet the classical definition of terrorists," the official said. Indian and Bangladeshi governments have stated that ISI agents in Bangladesh are training and arming ultras of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and other groups. To this charge, Zamir Akram, deputy chief of Missions of Pakistan Embassy here, said: "It is not unusual for India to blame the ISI for everything. It's impossible. What kind of a reach can ISI have in Assam?" He, in turn, accused Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of sponsoring terrorist attacks in Pakistan. "We have arrested people who, on interrogation, said they were paid by RAW to plant bombs in railway stations and markets." The Times also quoted a senior South Asian diplomat, not from India, saying that ISI has been infiltrated by Islamic militants working with fundamentalists in Bangladesh to launch attacks on India. Bangladesh Ambassador in Washington, KM Shahabuddin, was quoted by the newspaper as saying that Pakistani Intelligence has been operating terrorist cells in his country. But he also said these groups had been stymied by the Awami League government of Hasina Wajed, who is grateful for India's help to her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in the liberation struggle. "The present government makes it impossible for ISI to operate against India from Bangladesh - the President won't allow it," he said. (Desikan Thirunarayanapuram; The Statesman; Calcutta; 11 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 10: Assam governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha on Wednesday said the results of anti-insurgency operations in the state had been substantially affected because the militants were getting shelter and support from neighbouring countries of Bhutan, Burma and Bangladesh. In his address to the assembly on the opening day of its budget session, Sinha said the anti-insurgency Unified Command's operations were also affected as it does not operate in the neighbouring Northeast states. "We urge the Union government to take effective steps to ensure that support to insurgents from outside Assam is neutralised without any further delay," he said. Stating his government was concerned about the killings and kidnappings by militants, the governor said more than 800 civilians were killed in militancy-related incidents during the last three years. Pointing out that the identity of the killers and kidnappers could not be ascertained in some cases giving rise to confusion in public mind, Sinha said the militants today were on the run and in desperation had started mindless attacks on ministers and their family members. (Press Trust of India; The Times of India; New Delhi; 11 March, 2000)

WASHINGTON, March 10: Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence agency is fomenting "extremist violence" in Assam and in the rest of the Northeast, said a "high ranking" state Department official quoted in a Washington daily. He said they were possibly working through "dissident groups" with bases in Bangladesh. In what was the first US confirmation of long-standing assessments made by the Indian government, the unidentified official was quoted as saying: "We believe that the ISI is helping the militants in Assam. Since they attack unarmed civilians for political purposes, the militants meet the classical definition of terrorists". Among the militant groups active, cited by the Washington Times include the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). It stated that terrorism in the Northeastern India was an indication that "Pakistan is working to spread discord" in the region. US acknowledgement of ISI's role came ahead of the impending visit by President Clinton to South Asia. However, the news report also cited Zamir Akram, deputy chief of mission at the Pakistan embassy here who said: "It's not unusual for India to blame the ISI for everything. What kind of outreach can the ISI have in Assam?" He also added: "We accuse the Indians of terrorist acts in Pakistan. We have arrested people who were interrogated and said they were paid by RAW to plant bombs in railway stations and markets". He said RAW agents were active in Karachi and that some Indian politicians have openly advocated terrorism against Pakistan as a "punishment" for its anti-Indian stance in Kashmir. Another 'non-Indian' South Asian diplomat was quoted as saying: "The ISI is active in Bangladesh and has a large number of fundamentalists in the organisation". He added that the "US state Department had been informed and requested to 'keep a watch' on their activities." US intelligence as well as secret service sources had been quoted in recent weeks as saying that they were concerned about Clinton's safety when he visits the region especially in the light of the fact that the ISI had been "infiltrated" by "anti-American" and "fundamentalist" elements. The Bangladesh ambassador to Washington, KM Shehabuddin was quoted as saying that Pakistani intelligence has been operating terrorist cells in his country but they have been stymied by the Awami League government. "The present government makes it impossible for ISI to operate against India from Bangladesh. We are careful about it. We are always opposed to fundamentalism. We want good neighbours". (Ramesh Chandran; The Times of India; New Delhi; 11 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 11: Though the Assam government believes that the problem of terrorism cannot be solved only through administrative measures, it is also not at all willing to remain a silent spectator to the violent activities of the terrorist groups, said chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the state assembly today. Mahanta, who was replying to the debate on the motion of thanks on the governor's address to the state assembly during the ongoing budget session, this evening, also said that the state government is not adverse to the idea of holding talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in any other country. But, such talks should be held within the framework of the Indian Constitution. The government is ready to provide full security to the outfits' leaders if they come forward for resolving their issues through negotiations. Claiming that a congenial atmosphere has been gradually developing all over the state to facilitate restoration of peace and enabling the common people to move about fearlessly, Mahanta alleged that due to the opposition from the top brass of the outfit its middle and lower-rung cadres are not able to return to the mainstream. He also said that though the strict measures of the government to resist the activities of the insurgent outfits have been causing some difficulties for the people in places, these measures are adopted considering the greater interest of the state. The connivance of the ISI with the insurgent outfits of the Northeast region has been posing a serious threat to the integrity, unity and sovereignty of the country, he said, adding, the state government has also been urging upon the Union government repeatedly to take up the issue of Indian insurgent outfits' taking shelter in foreign countries with the respective foreign governments. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 12 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 11: In a significant development, militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) today admitted that the outfit had series of dialogues with the government of India. In a release here today, Jwngblao Kochary, a cabinet member of the BLT, said that the political problems of the Bodos can only be solved through political dialogue. Ever since the government of India initiated dialogues with the organisation, the BLT has been maintaining peace without getting involved in any unlawful activity, the release said. The BLT pointed out that after a series of discussions, the additional secretary to the ministry of home affairs of the government of India PD Shenoy himself declared on January 10 last that the BLT was no longer a banned outfit and suspension of operation would be formally declared by the Centre very soon as agreed upon in the discussion held in New Delhi where representatives of the government of India and leaders of the BLT were present. The BLT said that the ongoing operations against the outfit in different parts of the state has created doubts on the sincerity of the Union government in solving the problems of the Bodos through discussion. 'The brutal killing of Sachin Basumatary, a district commander of the BLT in Karbi Anglong on March 9 once again proved the insincerity of the government of India,' the release said. The BLT alleged that the government of India has totally failed to abide by the terms and conditions as agreed upon in the meeting between the BLT and the government of India. The BLT also alleged that Sachin was not killed in any encounter as he did not have any weapon with him at the time when he was killed. The BLT also warned that if such incidents are not stopped immediately, the outfit would be forced to resort to 'every kind of violence and disruption activities.' (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 12 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 11: Taking cue from the Myanmar Army, the Bhutan government is learnt to have begun exerting pressure on United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and Bodo militants holed up in forests on the southern fringes of that land-locked country bordering Assam. Consequently, ULFA has been forced to shift a key camp near Phukapthong towards Tshelingkhar lying in northeastern direction near the Arunachal Pradesh border. According to an intelligence official, top ULFA leaders including commander-in-chief Paresh Barua had converged at the outfit's central headquarters in Bhutan from Feb. 15-18. The idea was to take advantage of the lack of coordination and cooperation among the constituents of the unified command and execute a series of strikes. Though it succeeded in killing Assam PWD & forest minister Nagen Sarma, the ULFA operations have been disjointed owing to trouble in Myanmar and Bhutan. "Over the past couple of weeks, leaders of the outfit have been too preoccupied with saving their hideouts in the two countries to plan their terror strikes," he said. An Army official said that ULFA was on the run in Bhutan and Myanmar. If the Bhutan offensive has forced ULFA to move from Phukapthong to Tshelingkhar, the joint operation by the Dimapur-headquartered 3 Corps and the Myanmar Army has made the militants move towards southwestern Myanmar bordering Chittagong Hills tracts of Bangladesh. The official said that a joint operation between Indian and Bhutan security forces to ferret out ULFA and Bodo militants was possible. "Given the tense south Asian atmosphere, carrying out operations inside Bhutan can give an opportunity to Pakistan or China to cry foul about Indian designs on Bhutan a la Sikkim. Hence the patience on our part," he said. (Rahul Karmakar; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; 12 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 12: The Union government is seemed to be bent on withdrawing the special category state status from Assam, said knowledgeable circles here. On the one hand, the Centre is mounting tremendous pressure on the state to sign an MoU on fiscal matters, on the other, it has been voicing its unwillingness to continue with the present rates of grants to the state, the sources said. The Centre has already made its intentions known to the state DRDA that it will extend only 75 per cent of the Central allocations to the Department as grants against the existing arrangement of 80 per cent. Moreover, moves are also on to reduce the cent per cent grants to various state departments like the flood control department, to 75 per cent, said the sources, adding, if succeed these moves will affect infrastructure development in the state in an irreparable manner. Assam was recognised as a special category state by the Union government led by the United Front under the premiership of Janata Dal leader VP Singh around 1989. The policy decision in this connection came into force around 1991. Since then the state has been receiving Central allocations in the form of 90 per cent grants and ten per cent loans. Earlier, 70 per cent of the allocations were treated as loans with the remaining 30 per cent reaching the state as grants, said the sources. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 12 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 12: Improvised explosive device (IED) continues to be a menace in several districts of Lower Assam and security forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations have decided to go on maximum alert to cope with the situation. According to official statistics, since 1998, altogether 64 persons including seven policemen have lost their lives and over 200 injured in IED blasts triggered by militants in seven districts of Lower Assam . The statistics also reveal that during the current year, 11 blasts have taken place so far, three in Kokrajhar, one each in Darrang, Dhubri, Bongaigaon and Goalpara, and four blasts have been recorded in Nalbari and Kamrup districts respectively. The three major militant groups -- United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and Bodo Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF) -- which are responsible for the blasts reportedly adopted the strategy to create fear psychosis among the people and to demoralise the ongoing unified Command operations. What is more alarming is that the militants have identified the areas convenient to detonate IEDs which are dilapidated roads and chain of hilly terrains. Moreover they (militants) can make good their escape into Bhutan after conducting operation with the help of porous border. Highly-placed official sources informed that most of the RDX are generally brought either from Pakistan or Bangladesh across the border with the help of agents. Several explosive seizures were made by security forces along the Indo-Bangla border during last year. Sources further said the agents of the inter service intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan have been providing RDX and other explosive materials to the militant groups on the entire Northeast to disturb the law-and order situation. "The agents are also providing IED training to the leaders of the insurgent groups in Bhutan as revealed by the arrested militants", they added. When asked as to why the militants preferred IED now-a-days instead of other weapons of violence and death, the sources expressed the view that the militant groups operating in the state have got sufficient explosive materials. Besides they can easily collect funds and recruit new cadres after conducting any blast because of fear psychosis and power of the guns. "Earlier BLT militants used to carry out IED blasts in several parts of Lower Assam , but now ULFA and NDFB are adopting the same strategy to display their strength", they added. They, however, said that in view of increasing blasts, security forces have intensified vigilance in several areas of Lower Assam to foil possible attempts. But the main problem is that, despite the elaborate security arrangements, the porous international border has remained a major hindrance, taking advantage of which militants sneak into the state to unleash violence. Considering the gravity of the situation, Army has requested the state government to repair roads in Lower Assam as early as possible so that militants can not plant any IED. (Surajit Khaund; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 13 March, 2000)

ITANAGAR, March 12: A group of armed Bodo militants looted Rs 70,000 from passengers of a Guwahati-bound bus at Karsinsa, 25 kms from here, late on Saturday night, police said on Sunday. The militants, in connivance with local miscreants, waylaid the bus on National Highway 52A and commandeered it to a nearby forest and robbed the passengers of cash and gold ornaments, they said. The bus, carrying 17 persons, was made to stop by two local boys, who had boarded as passengers, at Naubhanga river point, where four other masked miscreants armed with carbines, daggers and other weapons joined them. The gang then took the bus inside the forest before looting the passengers and disappearing into the jungle, police said. Receiving the information from the driver, police pressed its dog squad into service on Saturday night. All nearby police stations have been alerted and a combing operation launched to nab the culprits, they said. (Press Trust of India; The Indian Express; New Delhi; 13 March, 2000)

SILCHAR, March 12: Tea Association of India (TAI) had urged the state government to deploy Army in the northern part of Cachar district bordering Manipur which had become a hunting ground for Naga and Dimasa terrorists. The demand was raised at the annual meeting of the Barak valley chapter of TAI when JR Kothari, chairman of the association said the government should immediately intensify its security network. Meanwhile, two kidnapped tea executives had returned home unhurt while another abducted tea official was yet to be traced. Dinesh Choubey, assistant manager of Bhupan Valley Tea Estate and Sagarmoy Pujari, accountant of Didarkhosh tea garden, who were kidnapped by suspected National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) ultras on February 1 had been released by their captors. But, the whereabouts of Keshab Bhattacharjee, assistant manager of Maticherra tea estate who was abducted on February 16 by suspected Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) terrorists who yet to be ascertained. Recent spate of kidnapping had created a sense of uncertainty among the tea officials of the Cachar district, particularly those who were posted in the Lakhipur subdivision and Udharbond block in the northern part of the district. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 13 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 13: The government of Assam has set up a four-member action group headed by the state director-general of police to take steps to check the activities of the Pakistani Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) in the state. This was disclosed by the chief minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the state assembly today. Replying to a Zero Hour question by Dilip Kumar Saikia, the chief minister said that the government is well aware of the links between the insurgent outfits operating in the state and the Pakistani ISI. He said that the ISI has launched a three-pronged attack in the state - training and supply of arms to the insurgents, destabilising the age-old communal harmony in the state and launch of disruptive activities including blasts in oil pipelines, rail lines and passenger trains. Mahanta said that according to information available with the government, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has been maintaining links with the Pakistani ISI for the past one decade. He informed the House that the ULFA first established links with the ISI in Dhaka and the ISI also trained up ULFA cadres in Pakistan. He said that about 250 ULFA cadres have been trained up in Pakistan and one arrested ULFA leader himself admitted that he had taken groups of ULFA activists to Pakistan. The Pakistan High Commission in Bangladesh took active part in sending ULFA cadres to Pakistan under false names. He revealed that the ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua recently got a Bangladeshi passport by using the name K Kamrul Zaman Khan. He said that a number of ULFA activists are willing to come forward to solve the problems through negotiation but the ULFA has not been able to do so because of pressure from the ISI. The chief minister said that during the Kargil war, the ULFA and the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen gave similar kinds of anti-India statements, which proved that the ISI has been indulging in spreading anti-India feeling among the insurgents. He said that the ISI is also providing arms and explosives to the insurgents and the state police recovered several consignments of the RDX sent to the Assam militants by the ISI. The chief minister expressed serious concern over the activities of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen as well as other Islamic militant outfits like the MULTA, MULFA, Islamic Liberation Army of Assam, URPI, PULF etc. He said that on August 10 last, the state police nabbed four ISI agents in Guwahati and as many as 34 Harkat-ul-Mujahideen activists from different parts of the state. He said that the Union government has also initiated steps to check the activities of the ISI. Mahanta also called upon all sections of people of the state to cooperate with the government to prevent the Pakistani ISI from launching disruptive activities in the state. Replying to another question by Alauddin Sarkar (CPI), Mahanta said that the police has nabbed 101 activists of the MULTA. He revealed that 34 MULTA activists were arrested in Dhubri, 29 in Nagaon, 16 in Kamrup eight in Kokrajhar and one in Cachar. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 14 March, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 13: Arrested militants have conceded that the military junta in Myanmar inflicted a severe blow to the activists of half-a-dozen rebel outfits of the Northeast which had their training camps in the neighbouring country. Security forces recently apprehended seven such fleeing militants belonging to People's Liberation Army (PLA), People's Revolutionary Party of Kengleipak (PREPAK) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur at Tizit in Nagaland's Mon district and handed them over to Kohima police. Security forces also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the militants, who came over to Assam-Nagaland border area for "treatment from their northern Myanmar camps." All the arrested militants have been remanded to judicial custody here. Admitting that they had to resist "unexpected" offensive from the junta, the militants told newsmen here that the Myanmarese army destroyed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) central headquarters (CHQ) at Chumnu and was making move towards the general headquarters (GHQ) of the militant outfit. Police said six Manipur valley-based insurgents along with a guide were nabbed by the security forces when they sneaked into Nagaland. The militants also claimed NSCN (K) chairman, SS Khaplang, who was camping at the GHQ at the time of the junta's attack, decamped his shelter and sought refuge in the nearby jungles. All the cadres, who were camping at the GHQ, also scattered, they said, adding, some of them even entered into Nagaland. On the other hand, while the Home Ministry officials put the death toll of Northeast militants at over 25, NSCN (K) here claimed it had lost only six of its cadres while they killed over a dozen Myanmarese army personnel during the operation. Intelligence sources said most of the fleeing militants, mostly United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and NSCN (K) cadres, sneaked into parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. But they denied the reports that the operation inside Myanmar was a joint one by the government armed forces of the two friendly neighbours. But both the neighbours as a sequel to series of bi-lateral discussions over last one year decided to share intelligence to curb cross-border militancy, drugs paddling, smuggling and maintain proper border management. The arrested insurgents also told newsmen that as per information available to them the military junta launched three-phase operation against the ultra outfits. They said their camp was attacked by around 300 juntamen. The nabbed ultras also disclosed that at least 25 cadres, belonging to different rebel groups, were nabbed by the Myanmarese armymen, but fate of them were not known. The militants however refuted the security forces claims that they were arrested with arms and ammunition at Tizit, claiming they came over to Nagaland from Northern Myanmar for treatment. The Northeast militants infested Kachin and Sagain provinces of North-Western Myanmar bordering Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur, are dotted with myriad of Naga tribes, but humiliating poverty and lack of basic minimum facilities for human habitation have been providing safe refuge to Northeast militant outfits due to inaccessible terrain for the Myanmar military administration. The arrested militants also alleged they were meted out "third degree treatment" by the security forces during the interrogation without providing to them any medical treatment. Six militant outfits of the region, who were the members of now defunct Indo Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF), have been helping each other for conducting training camps at Myanmar, transhipment of arms and providing safe passage even as they do not interfere in each other's political decisions. Last week, NSCN (K) spokesman Kughalo Mulatonu said if his outfit wants to hold dialogue with the Centre, ULFA and others will not oppose such a decision, saying although the IBRF constituents have "some understandings on strategic issues" they will not come in the way of political move initiated by anyone. NSCN (K), ULFA, PLA, UNLF, PREPAK and UTNF were the members of the defunct IBRF formed in 1993. Recently NSCN (K) expressed its desire to sit in the negotiation table with the government of India on certain conditions, including lifting of ban on it along with Disturbed Area Act and Armed Forces (Special Power) Act from Nagaland. On the other hand, Adino Phizo, chairman of Naga National Council (NNC), the pioneer of Naga political movement, denounced the futile arms conflict in Nagaland and insisted on meaningful political dialogue between it and the Centre. Meanwhile, state police and security forces intensified their low-key operations in the state following the reports that hundreds of NSCN (K), ULFA and Manipur's valley-based militants entered into Nagaland in the wake of the severe blow they received at the hands of the military junta in Myanmar. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 14 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 13: Sonia Muivah, wife of an associate of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) leader T Muivah, has claimed that her husband Gapumkhai Grinder Muivah is not a member of NSCN (IM) and has been falsely implicated in a hijacking case to undermine the Naga peace process. The Calcutta police arrested Grinder Muivah this month. He was charged with planning the hijack of an aircraft from Mizoram's Lengpui airport in order to secure the release of NSCN (IM) general secretary T Muivah (currently lodged in a Thailand jail). Grinder Muivah, nephew of the jailed insurgent, was arrested at Calcutta airport soon after his arrival from Bangkok on March 5. According to a press statement, issued by Association For Protection of Democratic Rights, Muivah has claimed that her husband had flown to Bangkok with the permission of India's Home Ministry in order to try and secure the release of T Muivah. The top NSCN (IM) leader was arrested in Bangkok on January 19, on charges of carrying forged travel documents. Sonia has claimed that Grinder Muivah was actually helping the Indian government in peace negotiations between the Centre and the NSCN (IM). She also claimed that her husband was asked by the Indian government to help in the peace process, as he was T Muivah's nephew. However, Grinder agreed to help in peace negotiations, as every Naga family longed for durable peace, she said. In her statement, Sonia has recounted events that led to her family meeting one Ranju Ranganathan, while Grinder Muivah's brother-in-law was being treated for cancer. She said Ranganathan was having some relationship with Grinder Muivah's cousin. She has also spoken at length on the role of certain Union Home Ministry officials, who, according to her, were opposed to the peace process. The Manipur police arrested Ranganathan at Imphal airport in February even as he tried to breach the security cordon. In fact, it was Ranganathan's confession that he was part of a NSCN (IM) hijacking plot that led to the arrest of Grinder Muivah. Sonia claimed that her husband was now a target of an vilification campaign by the Indian intelligence agencies. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; 14 March, 2000)

LAWNGTLAI, March 13: An insurgent group operating in southern Mizoram-Myanmar border had masterminded the loot at the State Bank of India branch here, police said. Rs 511 lakh was looted from the bank on January 17 and the police are hopeful of recovering part of the money and arresting the looters, the police said. Two of the robbers and their relatives had been arrested and about Rs 42 lakh recovered, the police said, adding nine dacoits are still at large in the thick jungles on the Indo-Myanmar border areas of southern Mizoram. The cash officer of the bank, now in judicial custody was suspected to be involved in the loot, the police said. (Press Trust of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 14 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 14: Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said here on Monday that Pakistani high commissioner in Bangladesh is taking active part in sending the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants to Pakistan for arms training by issuing them passports under fake names. Disclosing this in the Assam assembly, the chief minister quoting intelligence reports, said the self-styled ULFA commander-in chief Paresh Baruah recently got a Bangladeshi passport under a false name K. Kamrul Zaman Khan. Similarly, a large number of ULFA activists have been issued passports under false name through Pakistani embassy in Bangladesh, he added. Charging the Pakistan's ISI of fomenting violence in the Northeast, Mahanta said that the Assam police has recovered several consignments of the RDX sent to militants in Assam by the ISI operatives. Disclosing that state government has set up a four-member action group headed by the state director-general of police to check the increasing activities of the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence in the state, Mahanta admitted that situation was alarming as the reports suggest that the ISI operatives have recruited several Assamese youths to undertake arms training in Pakistan. He also informed that a large section of the ULFA leadership was willing to hold talks but the outfit has not been able to do so because of pressure from the ISI. He said that the outlawed ULFA has been maintaining close links with the ISI since last one decade. The outfit first came in touch with the ISI operatives in Dhaka and thereafter altogether 250 ULFA militants have been given arms training in different batches at the ISI camps in Pakistan. He said that this has also been established during the course of interrogation of an ULFA activist, who confessed to have led a team of ULFA operatives to Pakistan for training. Replying to a Zero Hour question by a ruling party member Dilip Saikia Sonowal in the Assam assembly, Mahanta said that the ISI operatives have launched a three-pronged strategic attack in the state - training and supply of arms to the insurgents, destabilising the age-old communal harmony and masterminding the disruptive activities including blasts in oil pipelines, rail links and passenger trains in the state. Mahanta said that assessment of the United states state department on the nexus between the Inter Services Intelligence and insurgent outfits of Assam, which was published in the Washington Post recently, vindicates his government's stand. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; Guwahati; 15 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 14: The Union government today disclosed that the talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has been deadlocked following arrest of the outfit's general secretary T Muivah and revealed that it has not initiated any steps to for extradition of the arrested Naga leader. Replying to a question tabled by Jitendra Prasada of the Congress, Union home minister LK Advani indicated the possibility of the arrested leader having connections with the Inter-Services Intelligence (IS) of Pakistan. Muivah has reportedly received support from Pakistan's ISI, he added. In reply to another question tabled by Holkhomang Haokip, the Union home minister disclosed that during the last three years till February, militants groups in the Northeast were responsible for 5527 incidents leading to killing of 3134 persons. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 15 March, 2000)

AIZAWL, March 14: The court of the additional district magistrate (ADM) on Tuesday granted bail to top Naga rebel Gapumkhai Grinder Muivah, who was recently arrested from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose international airport, Calcutta, for his alleged attempt to hijack an aircraft from Lengpui airport in Mizoram. While granting him bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, the court observed that Grinder was arrested on a statement made by the main accused in the hijack bid case who retracted on it before a magistrate on Monday. According to the ADM, the main accused K Raju Rangan retracted on his statement before the magistrate on Monday that Grinder was the one who had hatched the plot. The court saw no reason to further detain Grinder in judicial custody. K Raju Rangan had told a court on Monday that he made the statement under duress after he was tortured by the security agencies. The court also lambasted the prosecution for not following the set norms while pleading to reject the bail plea by the petitioner. (United News of India; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 15 March, 2000)

KOHIMA, March 14: Security forces have arrested a senior member of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) at Dimapur on charges of ceasefire violation and handed him over to police, Assam Rifles sources said here on Monday. HK Tuccu, 'deputy accountant-general of audit' of the underground organisation was picked up March 9 from the residence of his uncle K Chishi Swu, who is also a member of NSCN (IM) steering committee, the highest policy-making body of the outfit. Two pistols, 25 rounds of ammunition, a jeep, a cordless telephone and other articles were seized from the senior NSCN (IM) leader, who reportedly came over to Dimapur for medical treatment. But NSCN (IM) reacted sharply to the recent arrests of its senior functionaries, charging the Assam Rifles of provoking the outfit to dismantle the ongoing peace process in Nagaland. The outfit alleged that the recent actions of Assam Rifles was aimed at derailing the ongoing ceasefire between NSCN (IM) and the Centre. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 15 March, 2000)

GOLAGHAT, March 14: At a time when United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and Bodoland Liberation Tiger Force (BLTF) extremists have been continuing sabotage activities, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) group, too, has begun its activities in Assam. A separate operation group for Assam, already constituted by the self-styled Government of the People's Republic of Nagaland, is led by S Arik, the dreaded extremists of NSCN. The NSCN has been able to prove its domination in three districts of Barak Valley, namely Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj. Besides, the outfit has been carrying out extortion and other anti-social activities in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts. In Upper Assam, the NSCN has been extending its unlawful activities in Golaghat district but it is feared that within a short time it would extend its domination in other districts of Upper Assam. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 15 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 15: The ruling Asom Gana Parishad in Assam has dashed off a letter to the Bhutan embassy in New Delhi requesting it to take effective measures to flush out the hideouts of the Assam rebels from their territory. In what may be seen as a plea for granting permission to the Indian security forces for the joint offensives against the militants holed up inside Bhutan, the ruling Asom Gana Parishad has urged the Bhutan government to extend its cooperation to the Indian government in its counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast. Despite the Bhutan monarch Jigme Sigme Wangchuk's repeated assurances in the past that he would not allow his country to be used by anti-India forces, rebels of banned United Liberation Front of Asom and National Democratic Front of Bodoland continue to have free run in important border towns of Himalayan state. Samdrup Jhankar, which serves as entry and exit point for rebels based in camps inside Bhutan, is still hub of rebel activities because of porous border from both ends. The letter signed by Asom Gana Parishad general secretary Saidul Alam Choudhury has come close on the heels of a demonstration by the ruling party, members of Parliament and youths in front of the Bhutan's embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday. They had asked the Bhutanese ambassador in India to formulate a clear policy to check the movement of militants in their territory. Choudhury has alleged that some terrorist organisations were operating from various camps in Bhutan with the full knowledge of the Bhutanese government which violates the international tradition of peaceful boundary and is also a matter of great concern for the people in Assam. The rampaging United Liberation Front of Asom militants have been using the hill tracts of Bhutan adjoining international border as their hideouts. After committing offences, the militants frequently cross over to Bhutan for shelter. The United Liberation Front of Asom has at least two main camps - what they call the council headquarters and general headquarters - in the upper reach of the hills in Bhutan. In lower part they have a self-styled battalion headquarters. The rebels are also using Samdrup Jhankar as the base for ensuring supply and logistics to their camps at Sukuni, about 60 km from the border. The militants are reportedly using Bhutan-registered vehicles to carry rations, medicines and other requirements for these camps which house about six to seven hundred armed rebels. The ruling party, which lost senior minister Nagen Sarma recently, has also regretted Bhutan's attitude towards problem of the state. Choudhury while pleading for stern action to flush out the militants taking shelter across the border has pointed out that because of safe-passage given to ULFA militants in Bhutan, Assam has been paying heavy losses of precious life and property. (Manoj Anand; The Asian Age; Guwahati; 16 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 15: The Union government today formally announced suspension of all operations against the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT), even as the Union home minister, LK Advani ruled out unconditional talks with the outlawed ULFA, on the ground that the outfit has lost much of its support base among the people. The Union home minister's statement on the BLT made in both the Houses of the Parliament, preceded a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on insurgency in the Northeast, during the Question Hour. The discussion that lasted for over 45-minutes saw members belonging to various parties expressing concern at the unabated violence in the region and the role of the neighbouring countries Bangladesh and Bhutan in sheltering the militants and involvement of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). However, despite pressures from members mainly belonging to CPI and the AGP, to hold unconditional negotiations with the ULFA, the Union home minister refused to budge, asserting that any negotiations with the militants has to be within the four corners of the Constitution. "We will not discuss sovereignty and there is no point in giving illusions by inviting the militants for talks, thereby giving them some respectability," Advani shot back, when members urged to first invite ULFA for talks and then reject their demands. In his statement, the Union home minister said that the government of India is committed to the restoration of peace. The government has also extended an invitation to all militant groups to come forward for talks within the parameters of the Constitution. In pursuance of the offer, the BLT has suspended its operations against the Army and security forces. The BLT has also agreed to completely abjure the path of violence in both letter and spirit and not indulge in any violence, in case the government announces suspension of operations against it Efforts are also on to convince other militant groups in the Northeast to suspend their violent and unlawful activities and come to the negotiating table, Advani said. Earlier in the Upper House, in response to a question tabled by Dhrupad Borgohain, the Union home minister said that despite offer for talks from the Centre including the Prime Minister there has been no response from the ULFA, though talks with several outfits in Nagaland are continuing. When asked, what debars the government from inviting the ULFA for unconditional talks, Advani said that in the overall context, the government's stand is correct, as ULFA has been losing public support and the process of the militants coming back to mainstream has started. The Union home minister, also indicated the tacit support of the Centre the process of surrendering of the militants, though he admitted that creation of SULFA (?????) has led to several problems. But these things have both merits and demerits, he added. Conceding that SULFA (?????) problem has become a big issue, Advani in reply to a question by Arun Kumar Sarma, said that the process was started two years ago and in 1998, 227 militants surrendered; while in 1999, 970 of them surrendered in Assam. "The present approach of the Assam government has yielded positive results and we propose to continue in that direction," he said. Participating in the discussion, the deputy leader of the Congress party in the Rajya Sabha, Pranab Mukherjee, said that instead of engaging one militant group at a time in talks, the Union government should prepare a framework fixing the parameters for discussions. Mukherjee also stressed on equal importance to security and development, while dealing with insurgency in the region. In reply Advani said that a special cell in the Prime Minister's Office and the Northeast Desk on his ministry are jointly monitoring the implementation of the special packages for economic development, announced by successive prime ministers. When pointed out about assistance given by neighbouring countries to the militants, by a BJP member, T N Chaturvedi, the Union home minister said that the Centre was fully alive to the fact, adding that constant efforts were being made to see that the governments there cooperated with India. Replying to a question by Prakanta Warissa, Advani ruled out creation of greater Nagaland carved out of parts of Assam and Manipur. "There is no intention on part of the government of India, to take any steps to disturb the integrity of any state," he added. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 16 March, 2000)

GUWAHATI, March 15: Despite a series of operations by the security forces and surrender of several senior cadres, the banned National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) has stepped up its activities in various parts of the state. The outfit is trying to regain its strength by activating the district units which were severely affected by the 'Unified Command operations' last year. According to highly-placed official sources, the militant group has collected huge funds from several parts of Lower Assam forcing the security forces to review their ongoing operations. The outfit has collected Rs 20 lakh from Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Barpeta districts during the current year from the businessmen and the people having soft corner towards the organisation, the sources informed. They also informed that most of the funds are spent for procuring arms and ammunition and to send new cadres to impart training. The NDFB suffered a serious blow last year as its "Eastern Command" was cracked down by Army along the Assam-Arunachal border. After the combing operation several cadres of the militant group including senior leaders surrendered before the Army by laying down a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. Commenting on the sudden spurt in activities of the militant group, the sources expressed the view that the leadership has decided to charge up the cadres to carry out operations against the security forces. "Moreover the district-level cadres have been asked to shoulder more responsibility in launching operation and to recruit more cadres", the sources said, adding that in view of the prevailing situation security forces have been asked to remain vigilant to face any eventuality. They revealed that the Darrang unit of the militant group is monitoring the ongoing fund collection and purchasing arms and ammunition. "The unit plays a key role as most of the leaders belong to the Darrang district," the sources stated. Giving details about the strength of the NDFB, they disclosed that it is a well-organised militant group compared to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), having three battalions. "Although the leaders are now operating from Bhutan yet they have several camps in Myanmar. All these camps have been set up with the help of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), they said, adding that NDFB has established links with several frontal militant groups of the Northeast including the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur. Giving details about the weaponry power, the sources said that the insurgent group had recently procured a huge cache of arms and ammunition from an agency of Bangladesh. "Keeping in view the stepped up activities of the NDFB, we have scaled up operations in several parts of Lower Assam to contain them. But the main hindrance is that the cadres are still coming into the state taking advantage of porous Indo-Bhutan border", they added. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; 16 March, 2000)

NEW DELHI, March 15: The Centre has suspended its anti-insurgency operations against Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) in Assam with immediate effect. The truce is likely to pave way for a dialogue with the militant outfit. Making an identical statement in both the Houses of Parliament, home minister Lal Krishna Advani said the decision had been taken to create a congenial atmosphere for talks between the militants and the Centre so as to find a peaceful solution to the long-standing Bodo problem. The home minister said efforts were on to convince other militant outfits, which were active in the Northeast, to suspend their "violent and unlawful" activities. He reiterated the Centre's resolve to enter into peaceful negotiations with the outlaws, though within the parameters of the Indian Constitution. Advani informed the members that the BLT had suspended its operations against the Army and para-military forces, including the state police, following the government's offer . Referring to the history of militancy in Assam and its adjoining areas, the home minister said activities of various militant groups had seriously disturbed public order, leading to enormous loss of life and property, besides cessation of the economic development of the sensitive region. "The people are fed up with violence and they yearn for peace," he said. Advani said the BLT had agreed to abjure the path of violence in both letter and spirit and refrain from indulging in any unlawful activities even if the Centre announced suspension of operations against it. Seeking clarifications in the Rajya Sabha, Santosh Bagrodia (Congress) said the BLT was a small group while several bigger outfits were still active. He said the militants were getting shelter in camps in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh. The government, he said, should learn a lesson from Israel and take steps to "liquidate" the camps. Drupad Borgohain (CPI) said the Bodos were only keen to protect their ethnic identity, like several other tribal groups. He said there should be no division of Assam and the government could create autonomous councils to satisfy the demands of the people there. (Correspondent; The Hindustan Times; Guwahati; 16 March, 2000)