GUWAHATI, September 30: Senior Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader and Assam revenue minister, Zoii Nath Sharma, today had a narrow escape while four other persons including a personal security officer (PSO) were killed and at least eight others injured when United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants fired at an AGP campaign party at Dholpur Chapori about 14 kilometres away from Sipajhar in Mangaldoi district. According to a top police source here, two militants hiding in a nearby jute plantation launched an attack on the minister and his party travelling in two engine boats along a stream connecting the Chapori. Four persons were killed on the spot even as the minister had a miraculous escape. The assailants used AK-47 rifles. After abduction and subsequent killing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Dhubri Lok Sabha constituency, Pannalal Oswal, this was the second major attack on prominent political leaders in the state during the run-up to the forthcoming polls. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 1, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 30: It was an attack by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) backed by a frustrated political force, said the revenue minister, Zoii Nath Sarma, who had a narrow escape this afternoon. Talking to The Assam Tribune from the Mangaldoi circuit house late this evening, Sarma said that around 11 am, he along with about a hundred AGP workers and supporters had gone to the Dhalpur area to attend a meeting in two engine boats. Over a thousand workers joined the AGP at the meeting. Later in the afternoon, they boarded the boats again to cross the Garukhuti-Moranadi river to come back to Sipajhar. In the boat, he left his usual seat to talk to his supporters when three boys sprayed bullets on the boats from the bank of the river killing one policeman on the spot. Three others also fell to the bullets, he said. "I was immediately pushed down by the securitymen who also fired back at the militants. After about an half-an-hour long encounter, two policemen received injuries while one of the militants was also hit and then the militants fled from the scene. I was saved only because I left my usual seat to talk to the AGP workers in the boat," Sarma said. He said he was not hit by any bullet but he received injuries in his leg in the stampede. Though Sarma refused to name the political force behind the attack, he said today more than a thousand Congressmen joined the AGP while only a handful of persons attended the meetings of the Congress in that area. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 1, 1999)

AGARTALA, September 30: The tiny state of Tripura will go to polls for two Lok Sabha seats on October 3 amid boycott calls by insurgent outfits and a beefed-up security cover, according to official sources. All major political parties have expressed their concern at the increasing militant activities in the state and urged the Election Commission to take effective measures for conduct of free and fair polls. The National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) in its call to the people (of Tripura) said they did not want elections under "the Indian government as they wanted to secede from the country and form a sovereign State". The outfit also threatened people with dire consequences if they exercise their franchise. Another major insurgent outfit, All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), which wants to push out people entering the state after 1952, said that majority of voters were 'refugees' from erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh and they would form 'a refugee government.' The director-general of police, KTD Singh, said the Centre had agreed to despatch 30 companies of additional paramilitary forces for conduct of peaceful elections, far lesser than the number demanded by the state. He also expressed concern that the ultras might step up their activities as a large chunk of forces would be withdrawn from the remote hilly areas for deployment in the booths. Singh said all possible measures had been taken to keep the situation peaceful. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 1, 1999)

AGARTALA, September 30: Two Army helicopters have been pressed into service to keep vigil on the movement of insurgents in Tripura while the Election Commission has appointed ten more election observers to oversee the counting process, official sources said here today. Police said the two helicopters were pressed into service to watch the movement of insurgents and added these would also help in quick action in case of any strike by the ultras during the October 3 poll. State election sources said that earlier the Election Commission appointed six observers to oversee the total election process in the state and that ten more observers were appointed by the Commission yesterday to oversee the counting process. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 1, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 1: Militants struck once again in the state before the polls killing one securityman, even as campaigning for October 3 election to 13 Lok Sabha seats here came to an end this afternoon. A policeman was killed when Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) blew up a police vehicle near Boithlangsu in Karbi Anglong district at 1.30 pm. The killed policeman was identified as Jitul Gogoi, a personal security officer to the zonal police officer. Two police officials including the zonal police officer and the officer-in-charge of Boithalangsu police station had a miraculous escape when the improvised explosive device (IED) planted by KNV ultras went off under their vehicle. Police sources in Diphu claimed that no one was injured in the incident. Massive combing operations have been launched to nab the ultras in the area . The KNV, Karbi People's Force (KPF) and Dima Halong Daogah (DHD) militants, active in the hill district, had threatened to disrupt elections in the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) ruled Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts. The threat from the ultras even compelled the ASDC to demand for firearms licenses to villagers in the hill districts to protect themselves against the ultras. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 2, 1999)

SIPAJHAR, October 1: The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)'s bid on the life of the revenue minister, Zoii Nath Sarma, yesterday has proved to be counter-productive. For, instead of sending the chill through the spines of the people, the bid has galvanised the voters' resolve in the assembly constituency areas of Mangaldoi, Dalgaon and Sipajhar, to exercise their franchise defying the ULFA's call to boycott the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for October 3. This resolve of the voters, who are fuming against the ULFA for its gunning down four people, including one police personnel, near Dhalpur Chapari under Sipajhar Police Station yesterday afternoon, was manifested in the way people received the cortege of the three AGP supporters at about one thousand spots on the NH 52 today. At every place, thousands of people with the signs of mourning writ large on their faces and tears rolling down their cheeks, received the cortege of Wahab Talukdar, Aminul Haque and Chandi Nath. They paid floral tributes to the deceased and many of them cried being unable to remain composed. Many of them also declared their resolve to exercise the franchise this time defying the ULFA's diktats. A spontaneous bandh has also been observed all along the NH between Mangaldoi and Sipajhar from this morning in protest against yesterday's incident. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 2, 1999)

AGARTALA, September 30: The outlawed insurgent outfit National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) is hell-bent on launching a series of bloody attacks on non-tribal-dominated villages on October 15, the day 50 years ago the princely of Tripura merged with the Indian Union. Reports said that the war council of NLFT, at a meeting on September 6, decided to protest against the "historic treachery" to tribal people of the state 50 years ago in a "befitting manner". The NLFT has chalked out a plan to launch bloody offensives in non-tribal settlements in at least 10 places. Hit squads of the outfit have already been campaigning in tribal villages telling them to be prepared for a major spell of violence on the "black day". The NLFT believes that the merger was the beginning of the doom for the tribals in the state and the date, October 15 holds a great emotional value. The bloodbath they are planning will enhance their mass appeal, feels the NLFT leadership. Apart from that, Christian leadership of the organisation finds the day convenient for one more reason : Durga Puja, the most important festival of Hindu non-tribals starts from October 16. Strategically also security arrangements during this time are likely to be slack after hectic election measures. It is reported that NLFT's organisational secretary Joshua Debbarma alias Jogendra Debbarma is personally monitoring the preparations for "black day" strikes. Meanwhile, the 16 block development officials and six RSS organisers kidnapped from Birasimile in Dhalai district are still in militants captivity. All of them have been taken to a camp across Indo-Bangla border which is run by a hardcore NLFT militant, Hebel Koloi. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 2, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 2: At least five security personnel and a worker of the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) were killed in pre-poll violence in the state since this morning. Police said that four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and a civilian driver were killed in a powerful bomb blast in Tinsukia district this evening. Sources said that a joint team of the police and the CRPF personnel, who were on a routine patrolling duty, was ambushed near the Pengeri-Kathalguri reserve forest at around 5 pm today by suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants who triggered off a powerful explosion under the Dibru river bridge. The vehicle, in which the security personnel were travelling, was completely destroyed in the explosion, killing four CRPF personnel and the driver on the spot. A CRPF jawan, an assistant sub-inspector of police and a home guard personnel were seriously injured in the blast, sources said. The security personnel were travelling in two vehicles and the first vehicle crossed the bridge safely, while the explosion took place as soon as the second vehicle climbed the bridge. 9 CRPF men injured in blast: At least nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured when suspected ULFA militants triggered off a powerful blast under their truck at Baharghat under Ghograpar police station in Nalbari district this evening. Police said the CRPF personnel were coming back to their base after dropping off a polling party. The condition of five of the injured CRPF personnel is critical. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 3, 1999)

IMPHAL, October 2: Two Army jawans were killed and two others seriously injured when activists of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) ambushed a security convoy at Henglep area, about 75 km south of here, this morning. Officials said that the security personnel were going from Singmun Lamkhai to Henglep area for Monday's polling for election to the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency when the militants attacked. The Army personnel fired back and the encounter lasted more than one hour. A spokesman of the UNLF told PTI that the Manipur People's Army (MPA), the armed wing of UNLF, launched the attack on security personnel and took away a powerful AK 56 rifle from Army personnel. This was the first major attack on security personnel engaged on election duty, sources said adding that heavy security reinforcements from nearby posts rushed to the spot for combing the area. The UNLF activists, waging an armed struggle for separation of Manipur, escaped to nearby thick jungles, reports said. Today's ambush was the second in the last one week. Last week, armed militants had killed in an ambush four Assam Rifles jawan s and injured three others at Thanlon area in the same district. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 3, 1999)

AGARTALA, October 2: The Tripura government has denied the charge levelled by the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS)'s Delhi unit chief, Satya Narain Banshal, that the government is turning a blind eye to acts of terrorism in the state. Banshal had alleged in Delhi recently that activists the National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT), who had kidnapped four RSS leaders from Dhalai district in the first week of August last, were carrying on terrorist activities with the active indulgence of Baptist churches which the state government has ignored. The government in a press release here yesterday said that the charge was baseless and that the efforts of the state government in tackling militancy in the state in general and attempts to rescue the abducted RSS workers in particular are known to all. Massive combing operations involving various security forces were launched under the supervision of the inspector-general of police, Selim Ali, immediately after the abduction and the BSF was alerted, it claimed. An Indian Air Force helicopter was put into service to locate the abducted persons and their captors. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 3, 1999)

IMPHAL, October 3: Twenty-nine persons including 14 security personnel were killed by militants in Tripura and Manipur today. Eighteen persons, including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deputy commandant and seven jawans, besides ten civilians, were killed and eight others, including another CRPF deputy commandant and officer-in-charge of a police station, injured when armed militants ambushed security personnel at two different places in Manipur. The security personnel and some of the civilians killed were on duty for tomorrow's polling in outer Manipur parliamentary constituency, official sources said. Militants killed 11 persons including six CRPF personnel and injured seven others during polling in Tripura turnout today. Police said seven persons including four CRPF personnel on poll duty were killed in an ambush by National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) ultras at Tuishakma in Dhalai district. Two persons were killed and three others including a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan injured when militants fired at a booth at Durgadhan in West Tripura district. One inspector of CRPF and a lance naik were killed and four jawans were injured when underground militants attacked a poll party at Iswarchandra Roajapara at disturbed Dhalai district, CRPF sources said. (Agencies; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 4, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 3: Several incidents of violence and ballot paper snatching marked the polling day for the 13th Lok Sabha in the state today resulting in the death of five policemen. In an early morning attack, suspected militants gunned down three policemen belonging to the 1st Assam Police Task Force (APTF) and two Home Guard jawans at Hahchara LP School polling station near Rupasi under Barpeta Road police station falling in the Kokrajhar Lok Sabha constituency in Barpeta district. Police sources said the militants were waiting for the party of poll and security officials struck at 5.50 am though no polling official was attacked. This resulted in immediate postponing of polling in that centre. Besides, no voters turned up to cast notes in five polling station, in and around this station. An encounter between a group of about 10 ULFA men in fatigues and policemen ensued when the militants tried to snatch ballot papers and ballot boxes in the Pateswari polling station in Dibrugarh this morning. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 4, 1999)

SHILLONG, October 4: Two ULFA militants were killed in an encounter between the police and ultras belonging to the banned outfit at Mendipathar Bazar in East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya yesterday. Two civilians were also killed and another injured in the crossfire. The East Garo Hills district superintendent of police, PR Rapthap, said over telephone from Williamnagar that a group of ULFA extremists numbering six had come to Mendipathar in search of a former ULFA activist holed up in the area for sometime. On spotting ex-militant moving around in Mendipathar bazar yesterday evening around 6.45 pm they called out at him. He immediately started running for his life. The ultras fired at him but he escaped. Hearing the gunfire, a police team rushed to the spot and engaged the militants in an encounter. Two ULFA militants were killed on-the-spot at Mendipathar bazar. (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 5, 1999)

IMPHAL, October 4: An estimated 25 to 30 per cent polling was reported from Outer Manipur Lok Sabha constituency today amidst reports of intimidation of voters, snatching of polling materials and encounters between National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) militants and security forces. Official sources said except in Thoubal and Churachandpur districts and two sub-divisions of Jiribam and Kangpokpi, the voter turnout was reported very low in other districts such as Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel. Between zero to about 3 per cent polling was reported from Ukhrul, Senapati and Tamenglong districts, sources said adding turn out at the Naga-inhabited areas was 'very very low'. About 60 per cent polling was recorded in Thoubal district followed by about 50 per cent turnout in Churachandpur district. The director-general of police, L Jugeswar Singh, and central election observers had to rush to Senapati district following reports of large scale looting of polling materials by activists of the NSCN(IM), the sources said. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 5, 1999)

AGARTALA, October 4: Four persons have been kidnapped by ultras of the banned National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) from Palpara village under Takarjala police station of West Tripura district, police today said. A group of guntoting ultras clad in olive green dresses raided the village last night on the poll day and kidnapped four youths, they said. Police launched a search operation in the area. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 5, 1999)

BARPETA ROAD, October 5: Local people today took on armed militants and foiled an abduction bid by the ultras belonging to the Bengali Tiger Force (BTF). According to information available, a group of four BTF ultras tried to kidnap one prominent businessman, Moron Saha, from a paddy field near here at around 8 am today. But the people working in the paddy field cordoned off the militants and foiled the extortion bid. The local public nabbed two ultras - Bhubesh Barman and Ranjit Sarkar - and recovered two pistols and a grenade from them. They were later handed over to police. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 6, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 5: Despite strict vigil of the security forces, arms smuggling across the Indo-Myanmar border is posing a threat to the Northeast. These arms are brought to Dimapur by a militant group of Nagaland and then sold at higher prices in different parts of the region. This came to light following the arrest of one Abul Hussain by the Morigaon police. According to official sources, recently three bus services operating between Moirabari and Dimapur were suddenly closed down. On suspicion, the Morigoan police approached the bus owners and they came to know that Sun Valley Travel's Dimapur counter had closed down the services due to failure in paying a huge sum to one Ahat. The police immediately started investigation in Dimapur and found that during June last the bus owners - Mahboob and Sahidul - had purchased a huge cache of arms from Ahat, but as they did not clear the entire amount, Ahat had closed down the services. The official sources said that Abul, a close associate of Mahboob and Sahidul had been running the illegal arms business for the past couple of years in various parts of the Karbi Anglong, Nagaon and Morigaon districts. During questioning he revealed that he had supplied arms and ammunition to a number of organisations, the sources said, adding that initially he was concentrating on Tripura, but in view of growing demand of arms and ammunition, Abul had expanded the network in Dimapur. They also revealed that Abul had close links with the Muslim outfits and had supplied arms and ammunition to them. Following the unearthing of the gunrunning racket Morigaon police is keeping a strict vigil in Moirabari, Laharighat areas to contain arms business, the sources added. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 6, 1999)

AGARTALA, October 5: In a series of post-poll offensive outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) militants kidnapped five persons and injured at least 30 in separate incidents in West Tripura district. The villagers faced the wrath of the militants for defying their vote-boycott call in the parliamentary elections. At least 30 persons suffered injuries as the heavily-armed insurgents went berserk at Warreng Bari, Moglam Bari, Ampura and other interior parts of Khowai subdivision. The rebels stormed the tribal houses and checked the adults' fingers for ink mark. Whoever was found to have cast his or her vote was mercilessly beaten up. Even women were not spared. The militants supported by their overground and collaborators also stopped passenger buses and jeeps plying in the area at gunpoint to pick up voters. They were beaten up by rifles and assaulted in the middle of the road for defying the vote-boycott call. Meanwhile, ATTF militants in a preplanned attack, kidnapped five tribals from Tekrijala area. Among the abducted were two students. The students of the area staged demonstration for release of their mates. The militants also burnt down a house at Durgadhan Para last night. It is suspected that the insurgents might have been denied shelter by the houseowner during search operation following an encounter between ultras and security forces here. The militants attacked a polling station in the area in which two villagers died on the spot. TSR personnel retaliated heavily and foiled the extremist raid. West Tripura police superintendent Rajiv Singh said the personnel will be rewarded. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 6, 1999)

AGARTALA, October 8: The banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), which had given a call for poll boycott, have let loose a reign of terror on voters who exercised their franchise defying the directives of the ultras, police said. A group of ultras clad in olive green dresses, raided the house of one Dakshina Debbarma at Bachaibari under Khowai police station in West Tripura district yesterday and checked for the marks of poll-ink on fingers of the family members. They chopped off the hand of the house-owner as they spotted the mark on his nails. The ultras also tortured one Pranab Debbarma, a teacher of Mudibari school in the subdivision, on the same grounds. The injured were admitted to hospital. Police said, the ultras raided at least fifty houses at Padmabil, Manaicherra, Belcherra, Kalyanpur and Thakurbari villages in Khowai subdivision since the election was over and physically assaulted unspecified number of people bearing ink mark on their nails. According to reports reaching here, some voters were now using chemical substances to erase the marks while others were using nail polish for covering the ink mark. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 9, 1999)

IMPHAL, October 8: The Manipur chief minister, Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh, today said the state government would review the law-and-order situation in the wake of the rise in insurgency. The state government had also informed the Centre about the stepped-up activities of underground activists in Manipur, Singh told reporters here. Singh said the Cabinet expressed concern over recent incidents of ambushes on security personnel by armed extremists. Referring to last Sunday's ambush of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy at Tonsen Lamkhai in Thoubal district in which 10 civilians were killed, besides CRPF personnel, Singh said the state government had already ordered a probe into last Sunday's incident. Some organisations had alleged the CRPF opened fire on the passengers of a bus after the ambush which the CRPF commandant here denied stressing that the 10 civilians were killed in crossfire. On the recent snatching of arms from security personnel by Naga insurgents, Singh said the government had taken a serious view about the incident and would consider taking any action against the security personnel after getting complete reports whether they had given arms "without any resistance." (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 9, 1999)

AGARTALA, October 8: Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan s and police personnel rescued two kidnapped government employees from militants' captivity following fierce gunbattle with extremists. Rescued Raju Chhetri and Subinay Debbarma were kidnapped along with 15 other block development officials by National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) militants from Manu in a broad daylight raid on September 6 last. A manhunt by security forces was launched to round up the militants and rescued the kidnapped officials. After one month, the first break- through was achieved yesterday when a source tipped off Manu police station with specific information that the NLFT ultras were seen with two hostages near Kanehanpura. A posse of TSR and DAR personnel set off for interior Kamarmara village in Kanchanpur at the wee hours. The policemen surrounded the specified hut at the hillock-top covered by thick bushes from all sides. As the jawans advanced an extremist sentry at once opened fire from his automatic weapon. He was immediately joined by his other comrades. The police retaliated heavily from all sides. The fierce encounter lasted for more than half an hour. The militants escaped from the spot leaving their hostages behind. They were rescued by the jawan s. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 9, 1999)

KOHIMA, October 10 - The Union government has further extended suspension of Army operations against the underground National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) in Nagaland for six more months with effect from October 16, but issued warning to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) against violations of ceasefire rules. An Army release said here today that the suspension of operations would continue till April 15, 2000. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 11, 1999)

IMPHAL, October 10: The Democratic Revolutionary People's Party (DRPP) has urged the President, KR Narayanan, to review the home policy of the Centre towards Manipur claiming that the military campaign to contain insurgency in the state is counter-productive. A memorandum was also submitted to the President in this connection by the DRPP secretary, RK Anand, alleging there have been rampant human rights abuses by security forces in the state in the name of the counter-insurgency operations. It also urged the President to intervene and establish the rule of law in Manipur. The memorandum also cited a many instances human rights abuse committed by the security personnel, particularly the CRPF against innocent civilians. Describing the Tonsen Lamkhai incident as unfortunate, the DRPP said setting up of human rights commission and institution of enquiries have failed to check recurrence of such incidents. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 11, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 11: Five Boro Liberation Tiger (BLT) militants were killed and the body of a kidnapped tea executive recovered following a police operation at Baghmara village under Barpeta Road police station in Barpeta District early this morning. Police sources here informed that the recovered body was identified as that of tea executive Priyankar Pujari who was kidnapped from Fatemabag Tea Estate in Barpeta district. He was kidnapped about a month back by BLT militants. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 12, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 12: In a bid to contain growing militancy, the Bhutan government is likely to hold talks with the leadership of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) by the end of this year. The Bhutan government held two rounds of discussion with leaders of the militant group and during the discussion the ULFA had agreed to reduce its cadres in Bhutan. Highly placed official sources disclosed that the Bhutan government is worried over the growing militancy in the country and laid stress on early solution to the insurgency problem. The sources said during the second round of discussion the leadership of the ULFA had sought time to shift its camps scattered over bordering districts of the country. "Despite assurance made by the ULFA leaders, they are yet to come forward to shift their camps as a result of which, the Government has decided to hold talks for an early solution," the sources said. They also informed that the Royal Bhutan Army was keeping strict vigil on the bordering districts to prevent entry of militants into the capital. The sources stated that the government had already constituted a high-powered committee headed by the home minister for the proposed discussion with the outfit. "This time the government is likely to give an ultimatum to the militant group to vacate the soil, as militancy has hampered the developmental activities of the country," they said. Meanwhile, security forces have intensified activities along the Indo-Bhutan border in view of the latest development in border. Night patrolling has been activated after the development, the sources said. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 13, 1999)

MOKOKCHUNG, October 12: Simmering tension has gripped this Ao tribe-inhabited Mokokchung district in the wake of the abduction of four office-bearers of Ao Senden, the apex Ao tribal council, by National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) activists. The NSCN(IM) demanded the resolution passed by the council, restricting the movement of armed cadres with uniform, be revoked and set a deadline of October 13 to do the same, Ao Senden sources said. The outfit "arrested" four officebearers of the Senden when a group of 20 representatives from the council went to meet the NSCN(IM) activists at their Watiyim camp on October 8 last. The NSCN(IM) reportedly summoned the Ao Senden officebearers, and when the council representatives expressed their inability to withdraw the resolution, four members were kept in its custody letting others to go. The sources also said the NSCN(IM) also informed about the "arrests" of four persons to the security forces stationed at Mokokchung, setting October 13 as deadline for revocation of the resolution. The Ao Senden on September 14 resolved that it would not allow the movement of armed cadres from any underground organisation in populated villages, and urged them to leave the villages under the Mokokchung district to ensure peace and tranquillity in the district which witnessed a series of factional clashes in last three months. But the NSCN(IM) took strong exception to the resolution because it restricted their movements in the district which was earlier dominated by NSCN(Khaplang), and in the pretext of the ongoing ceasefire, the former was desperate to increase its area of influence in this district, intelligence sources said. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 13, 1999)

AGARTALA, October 12: Outlawed militant organisation All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) continued its post-poll violence in the interior parts of the state. The militants last night brutally killed an aged couple at Mandai in West Tripura district. The couple was brutally hacked to death for casting their votes in the recently concluded parliamentary elections defying the militants' poll-boycott call. Police said that the armed insurgents stormed into Baisakh Debbarma's home and enquired whether he had cast vote. They checked his finger and finding the ink mark, hacked him to death. His wife Sakunti was also killed on the spot. The double murder caused high tension and panic among the villagers. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) claimed that the septuagenarian couple was supporters of the party's tribal wing, Tripura Upajati Ganamukti Parishad. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 13, 1999)

GUWAHATI, October 13: The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has called upon the new government at the Centre to take immediate steps to initiate dialogue with the insurgent outfits operating in Assam for a permanent solution to the problem of insurgency. Talking to this correspondent here today, the AASU general secretary, Amiya Kumar Bhuyan, said that in the interest of restoration of peace in Assam, the government of India should hold unconditional talks with the insurgent outfits. He said that Army operations could not solve the problem and the government should withdraw the Army and the black laws to create congenial atmosphere for talks with the insurgents. The AASU also called upon the Centre to announce a clear-cut policy for the solution of the problem of insurgency. On the foreigners issue, the AASU said that the BJP-led government at the Centre should fulfil its promise of solving the problem without further delay. Bhuyan demanded that the Centre should take steps to repeal the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunals) Act in the first session of parliament. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 14, 1999)

NEW DELHI, October 13: The government today issued a stiff warning to National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) against increasing violations of ceasefire, asserting that responsibility for any adverse consequences would lie squarely on the leadership of the militant outfit and its cadre. Strongly condemning the abduction of four Ao tribal leaders from Isurang Valley in Mokokchung district, the home ministry, in a statement here, said this was a "gross violation" of the ceasefire. The ministry directed the outfit to immediately release the abducted persons without any harm. It said the reported threat to execute the abducted persons including Mao Longkumer, general secretary of the Ao Senden, would be construed as a gross violation of human rights and jeopardise the ongoing ceasefire between the Government and the NSCN(IM). (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 14, 1999)

IMPHAL, October 14: Underground groups and a students' group have separately decided to call a "general strike" and an "eclipse day" in Manipur tomorrow in protest against the state's joining the Indian Union 50 years ago. The Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), formed by three underground groups in Manipur, has called for the general strike. A statement by the underground group yesterday had asked the people to observe what it called "black day" tomorrow to protest against the state's decision to join the Indian Union on October 15, 1949. Essential services including electricity, water supply and medical services, press and religious functions would be exempted from the purview of the general strike. The MPLF was formed sometime ago by United National Liberation Front (UNLF), Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) and People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) to jointly step up armed struggle for "liberation of Manipur". (Agencies; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; October 15, 1999)