09/03/2006: "Another blast in Dimapur Kuknalim.com"

Another blast in Dimapur Kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, Sept 2:: It was the fourth blast directed against a shop in Dimapur when unidentified miscreants tossed a crude explosive device at M/s Gurbachans Radios...

dealing in various domestic appliances and electronic goods at the Nyamo Lotha Road(old Church Road)Saturday at around 2.20 p.m.Two persons sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. They are out of danger sources said.

Eyewitness accounts disclosed that three persons were seen in a suspicious manner at the door of the shop just before the blast. Sources disclosed that two non-locals proceeded towards Bata Charali side,while local went towards the New Market after which the explosion took place.

The two persons who sustained injuries have been identified as Santosh Kumar Gupta, an auto driver who was injured on the right temple and abdomen and Manik Gurung who was injured in the neck. SDPO Dimapur V. Peseyie and SDPO Niuland Vesuprah Kezo rushed to the spot and conducted investigation. Police suspect that the crude bomb was hurled with intent to scare the proprietor and staff of the shop. They also did not rule out extortion as a probable reason.

According to sources, goods worth Rs. 209760 were damaged by the blast.

It may be recalled that the first such attack was on April 22 at M/s Orchid; the second on May 29 at M/s Plaza and the third on August 12 at M/s Krishna Trading Co. at Naharbari.

So far none of those responsible for the blasts have been identified or arrested
Blast condemned

The NSCN-IM has condemned Saturday's blast and said the act was shocking and cowardly and persons responsible for it should be brought to book at the earliest.

CAO, UT-1 (NSCN-IM) P Kihoto Yepthomi termed as "devilish design" the perpetrators who might be intending to popularize their organization through such acts and called upon the citizens of Dimapur to cooperate with the UT-1 NSCN-IM authorities in nabbing the culprits.

The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and Dimapur Naga Students' Union (DNSU) have also condemned today's bomb blast in the heart of Dimapur. NSF in a press release said bombing of business centers has become very frequent in Nagaland, especially in Dimapur, and added that such acts have created fear psychosis in the minds of people.

"The Federation cannot imagine possible reason that could have influenced them to indulge into such inhuman acts and calls upon the law and order keeping agency to beef up security measure to guarantee safety of the citizens," it added.

DNSU said the market place was not a place for committing barbaric crimes and called for total cessation of "heinous crimes" that endanger the lives of innocent public. The Union also appealed the authority concern to take precautionary measures to make the market place safe.
(NPN)
NBCC prayer points for Peace Day Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, SEPT 2 (NPN): As in the past, to commemorate the cease fire agreement between the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN)with the Government of India on September 6,1964, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has come out with prayer points for the Ceasefire/Peace Day which falls on the day, according to Director of Peace Affairs(NBCC) Rev.L.Kari Longchar.
In a press communiqué, Rev.Kari urged upon the Christians to "cry in true repentance with contrite hearts to God with pertinent prayer points," and to "register our thirst for peace."
Recalling the qualities of the Naga national workers in the past who "were near to the heart of the people as they were non-violent,sacrificial,united and kind to the public,"Rev.Kari lamented that the present day national workers led "strange lifestyle" that made them "an object of derision."
He appealed to all Nagas to pray for a "spiritual transformation" to take place in the lives of the national workers.
He however pointed out that while it was easy "to blame underground people only, the overground elements are adding fuel to the division of the Nagas. Corruption and social evils abound in public life." He urged for prayer for repentance of public their leaders to shun the path of corruption and wicked devices so that these leaders would honour God and serve their people.
Rev.Kari also blamed the Church leaders for having failed in their prophetic ministry which allowed the society to decay. He pleaded for a prayer for a mighty revival to visit church leaders so that "healing, peace, truth and justice should be generated from their lives."
Other prayer points of the Peace Affairs of the NBCC include-turning away from the Naga predicament of division, hatred, violence, killing and self-destruction; prayer for all Naga national leaders to discover God's will in their lives and His purpose for the Nagas and asking God's forgiveness for misuse of the slogan "Nagaland for Christ" under which killing, extortion and evil practices which have invited the wrath of God upon the Nagas. Urging the Nagas to praise God for His unfailing love and to beseech God for divine healing on the Nagas, the NBCC added "If we surrender ourselves to God, He can make us a new people of peace."
Quit Notice and the Deeper Issue By: Charles Chasie
The sharp polarization that has been happening in our society for quite sometime is an issue of grave concern for all of us. Now, with the “quit notice” issued by NSCN(K) to the Tangkhul community in Nagaland, the polarization seems to be taking a turn for the worse. Instead of coming closer, we seem to be drifting further apart. Why is it that whatever can go wrong in our situation keeps going wrong?

The present issue also, once again, clearly demonstrates that, in the Naga context, we all still continue to see and interpret happenings through the prism of tribes. This could be largely due to the fact that individual Naga identities are inseparably linked to clan, khel, village and tribe identities. And this cultural view continues to dominate our beings despite modern mannerisms, fashions and adopted attitudes. We may take the high moral ground of rationality and philosophical/ideological discourse when it suits us but this is what we all really still are. It is not practiced only by the people in the NSCN (K) but by all Nagas. We are all seen and we all look at other Nagas as part of our respective tribe identities. This trait quickly comes out and most visibly especially when we have our backs against the wall and no alternatives seem available. It enjoins on each of us the obligation to remember that we all carry individual responsibilities as well as collective ones to our communities and the larger society.

But let me first of all make clear my position on the ‘quit notice’ of the NSCN (K). In the early 1990s when the Kukis were told to quit Nagaland and this reached Kohima, I wrote in my newspaper (I was editor then) that this was wrong. For my stand I got into some difficulties but apart from a few friends there was no “squeak” of support from anyone. But I was at peace because I believed it was the right thing to do. I see absolutely no reason today to change my stand. The faults and mistakes of some cannot be visited on an entire community. And there are always good people in every community. At this point, for instance, I think of my senior friend and former colleague, Dr Tuisem Shishak, who launched and kept going, till retirement recently, the Patkai Christian College which we all know about. I do not think I would want him to leave Nagaland even from a purely selfish point of view, leaving aside larger considerations.

What gives me hope in the present case are the reports in the newspapers (having been away, I read about a week’s collection at one go) from NSCN–K’s leadership that innocent Tangkhuls will not be targeted. It shows that some re-thinking is going on. The NSCN (K) must rescind the targeting of the Tangkhuls as a tribe.
Equally, it is important to examine why the NSCN (K) may have been driven to this unreasonable and extreme step. Such examination is required not just for the sake of the NSCN (K) but for the good of the whole Naga society and so that no such mistakes will be repeated in future. Because of our given tribal context what each does or fails to do has consequences for us and for our communities. Likewise, the good that we do will be reflected on our communities too. The mindset extends from the personal to the community and national affairs. It is unrealistic and impractical to expect otherwise.

Let us consider our society. It is made up of a collection of disparate tribes, claiming to be a people and a nation, and have actually fought for so many decades for such aspirations, but now it seems to be tearing apart at the seams even before the contours of such national ambitions could be clearly mapped out. Tragically, instead of delving deeper into the actual malaise and design faults confronting us and dealing with the real mechanics of the Naga Car we want to build, we seem to have stopped at only imagining the shapes and colours of the final product. Unhappily for us, the Naga Car we want will first have to go through the visioning, designing, engineering, and production processes, and correcting any faults, before we can possess and drive it safely. Unless we are prepared to go through the long and difficult, even painful, processes required, the cost will be paid, as it has already been paid, and still being paid, in numerous more lives and may result in the ultimate sacrifice of our people-hood. What we are experiencing now are warning signs.

What has our society become today? We have reached a stage where no one can say anything to anyone anymore. Power and strength, and wealth as a means to achieving these, are the only things we understand, threats and intimidations are the only languages we speak, and deep suspicion has become the hallmark of our inter-personal relationship whether between individuals or between groups or parties. This is not a society, far less a nation, that can move forward and fulfill its God-given destiny. Permanent revolution and chaos are the only words one can think of to describe such a volatile state. A society at war with itself cannot be expected to grow and move forward. Neither can anyone help it.

The Naga national movement which first launched the process of our people-hood today seems to have become the single-most divisive factor in society. The present “quit notice” is also a direct political fall-out of the movement. Suspicion and fear, exclusiveness, assassinations, bitterness etc. have all led to the present state of affairs. The Angami too, the tribe to which I belong, have often been regrettably guilty of failing to be large-hearted enough and inclusive enough. Unless we correct these mistakes and unless we include everyone the Naga river of blood will keep flowing. Ours is a very small people and we need everyone. All of us but especially the leaders must ask themselves the kind of legacy, of peace and future or bitterness and hate, they want to bequeath their children.

We are all agreed that our society has become wounded and hurting badly. Wounds need healing, not further wounding. Clever stratagems and manipulations, however successful in the short-term will only wound further and entrench our already difficult situation, making it impossible. What our situation demands is a humble acknowledgement that things have gone wrong, that we have all played a part in allowing things to go wrong, and to do all we can to put right what we can. Explanations and justifications, and selective indignations, will only make things worse by adding insult to injury. Propaganda is a lot of energy wasted as by now, every Naga has already made up his/her mind about who is right and who is wrong and where his/her position should lie and will not effect too much shift in the minds of our people. What we have to effect is a shift from who is right to what is right for all Nagas. Only then will there be a corresponding shift in our situation from impasse towards solution.

As a senior friend keeps saying, life is about challenges and responses and what we are and what our situation becomes depend on the quality of our responses to the challenges confronting us. So long as we keep on reacting instead of responding adequately to the challenges before us, there will be no movement forward.

Let us also appreciate each other. Although we are all capable of the worst, there is also so much good in our people. I recall, for instance, Mr Wangtin Konyak writing a moving letter in the immediate aftermath of the killing of Ngampan Konyak, paying tribute to his leader and stating his feeling of hurt but also expressing forgiveness and declaring his resolve to work for the good of all Nagas. I did not see any response of appreciation in the newspapers. I, for one, regrettably failed to do so publicly although, without knowing him, my respect for him rose in my heart. Quite often, lack of appreciation hardens hearts and instead of lifting the spiral of positive attitudes in society creates situations that could, perhaps, otherwise be avoided.

After all the mistakes we have all committed, and also paid the price for them, we need to begin to sensitively listen to one another to begin again. When we stop listening to one another’s cries and appeals, we usually provoke the worst in each other.

What we desperately need in our situation is a respected neutral body from within Naga society to facilitate and translate our slogan of reconciliation to real healing. Perhaps, the Church is the only body left that can perform this painful but necessary task. But will we allow it? Our society is so riven and our thinking follows the path of anyone not for us being against us that making the worst possible interpretations of what anyone says has become the norm. Killings continue everyday that even condemnation of such acts has become routine and tiresome. We have become so de-sensitized and de-humanized. Without healing, it is doubtful if there will be solution. On the contrary, the chances are greater for further bloodshed and perpetration of more legacies of bitterness to take place.

It is also a fact that solution can only come from within Naga society. Outside help and support, however powerful and important, cannot assist us where we have refused to help ourselves. At most we will reduce their efforts to mere nuisance value, a peddling of our connections vis-à-vis the Government of India and other factions. This is not to underestimate or undermine the help outside friends can give but merely pointing out a fact. It is unfair to them also and I am sure they will be the first to agree. Only we can assist them to assist us. When we do not help ourselves no one can really help us.

The bell has been tolling for the Naga people for a long time now. Will we hearken to it late as it is and give a chance to mothers to dry their tears, hardened hearts to soften and become human again and for our children to dream about their future? Only we can provide the answer.
NSCN (K) flays 38 AR for "anti-truce activities" Nagarealm.com
DIMAPUR, Sep02 [NPN] : The NSCN (K) has strongly viewed the "anti-ceasefire activities" of the 38 Assam Rifles at Noni in Tamenlong district of Manipur and termed them as "strict violation of Naga laws according to the laws enshrined in the international laws." Lt. Col. Khamingkhu, 2 in-charge, 1st BN, Naga Army, GPRN, in a release issued here, stated that the Manipur and Indian governments had "blatantly failed to respect the laws governing the ongoing ceasefire between the NSCN (GPRN) and the Government of India by heinously subsiding the 38 Assam Rifles to adopt all forms of terrorism alongside the Isak-Khodao terrorists."

He alleged that relevant documents captured from the 'SS' Under Secretary Asing Lamkang of the Isak-Khodao terrorists were sufficient evidence of their links with the Assam Rifles, Manipur Commandos, Indian armed forces and Intelligent agencies. "Involvement in drug trafficking and opening of rehab centre, Dimapur are symptoms of whitewash and there is nothing serious behind the curtain", he said.
He also said the RPF (PLA), one of Meitie outfit, was also found "assisting Isak-Khodoa terrorists in Manipur and sharing extorted money with the Indian security forces and involved in numerous cases of human rights violations. "The so-called Manipur's Isak-Khodao-sponsored NGOs are advised not to interfere in the day-to-day affairs of the NSCN (GPRN) and Nagaland. The NSCN does not bother about the Nagalim people and just as it issued Quit Notice to Kukis, UNC and Lim Guards, they must surf in their own waters. Don't try to be as pests before the NSCN and invite pesticides", the release added.
The NSCN (K) asked the Naga Army in Shepoumaramth, Amamcht and Zeliangrong regions to carry out nationalistic duties more vigorously so that tomorrow's generation would not witness any "terrorists and terrorism in the Naga country."
"We have destroyed the Tangkhul men in our soil to create and lead independent lives in an independent country. Expel the Tangkul men the Naga soil for the sake of sovereignty and glory of the NSCN (GPRN) and future generations", the release added.
Solution on affiliation- Nagaland Post Column
Greetings to you all and a very warm love and regards to you. I am concerned the government of India as well as the state government of Nagaland and Manipur had been unable to resolve the issue of Nagas in the four hill districts of Manipur regarding affiliation of school. I am of the opinion that affiliation of school under NBSE by the four hill district of Manipur would be technically impossible as that would involve the administration of education under the government of Nagaland which would not be acceptable by government of Manipur. The government of Manipur imposing Metei administration of the government has denied the Nagas of their freedom of speech and expression. Constitutionally every tribe has the right to protect their custom and tradition which is guranteed by the constitution is deprived to the Nagas in the four hill district of Manipur.
Remedies:-
1.The government of India should accept proposal for setting Naga Board of School Education Manipur (NBSEM)
2. The NBSEM should be an autonomous board so that the administration of education is not deprived to the Nagas.
3. NBSEM should not be under the administration of Manipur/Nagaland government but an autonomous board directly administered by the ministry of human resource development.
4. Education of the four Naga Hill of Manipur should be taken as a top priority by the government of India. As education is the pillar of building a prosperous nation. The career of students' in the four hill districts of Manipur should be guaranteed by the government of India. Lastly I do pray that the government of India as well as government of Nagaland/Manipur would accept my memorandum for the welfare of the students' community.
T. Thonwalo, Naga, Social worker, Kohima, Nagaland.
CM to take up affiliation issue with HRD ministry The Imphal Free Press
imphal, Sep 2 : Manipur CM O Ibobi Singh along with state chief secretary and the BSEM secretary in-charge, S Budhachandra are scheduled to leave for New Delhi tomorrow.
Reliable souses said that they will call on the Union minister of human resources development, to discuss, among others, issues arising out of the demand for affiliation of private schools in Naga dominated hill districts of Manipur to the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education. The state team is also expected to meet the Union Home Minister to discussed the present law and order situation of the state. Regarding the law and order situation a high level meeting of top officials of the state police dept. is also convened this evening at the state police HQ.
Raising Day The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sep 2: The headquarters 9 Sector Assam Rifles widely known as HQ MP Range celebrated its 51st Raising Day with gaiety and fanfare.
The 9 Sector AR was raised on September 1, 1955 as joint headquarters at Tuensang, Nagaland and is the oldest sector headquarters of the Assam Rifles, said a release by the PRO, IGAR(S).

Since raising, the HQ 9 Sector has worked relentlessly to ensure peace and tranquility in the region besides reaching the masses with its civic action programmes for the upliftment of villagers by providing basic amenities in the area. Brigadier PK Kayastha, commander 9 Sector, in his address exhorted all ranks to work relentlessly in pursuit of excellence so that the foundations laid by the forefathers are strengthened and kept always at a higher edifice. All officers, ladies, JCOs and families participated in the events.
Kacharigaon and Kashiram Ao end dispute with ‘peace agreement’The Morung Express
Dimapur, Sept 2 (MExN): Kacharigaon Phevima Village and Kashiram Ao Sector have settled a boundary dispute and other matters between the two areas by signing a “peace and understanding agreement” September 1 at the Council Hall, Kacharigaon, Dimapur.
Kacharigaon Phevima Village was represented by its Chairman Vitho Zao, Head GB Pfuruya Yhoshu and Village Council member Mathovi Yhoshu while Kashiram Ao Sector was represented by its Chairman Temjen Jamir, Head GB Imsu Imsong and Village Council member Lipoklemba. The agreement stated that both the villages, located within Dimapur, share a common boundary but since it was not clearly defined and maintained, inconveniences and disputes arose. Taking serious view of this, both the villages deliberated on the matter and executed the agreement on September 1.
The agreement stated that both the parties shall be in possession of their respective land, physically occupied and on the basis of spot verification conducted by both the parties on February 22, 2005. The areas presently occupied by the Assam Rifles were claimed by both the parties. However, Kacharigaon Phevima Village “conceded and clarified that the village as a whole will not take responsibilities of any individuals after the execution of this agreement” according to the agreement.
In this regard both the villages have agreed that past altercations, differences and disputes which arose earlier in respect of the boundary is now settled amicably and declared that the agreement shall stand final and binding on both the parties, including its respective individuals and members of the village. Both the villages agreed to maintain peaceful co-existence and shall stand by each other “in times of peace and stress.”
With the signing of the agreement the two villages sought the cooperation from neighboring villages such as Aoyimkum, Senjum, Signal Angami and Razhuphe to strive towards unity. It was also agreed that the Court of ADC (J) Dimapur be approached after execution of the agreement to obtain consent decree in the pending case TS No.14 of 1981 on the basis of the said agreement.
2 Meghalaya girls rescued from Mumbai brothel Nagaland Post
SHILLONG, SEPT 2 (PTI): Two girls from Meghalaya were rescued from a Mumbai brothel by the state police, who arrested two persons, including a woman in connection with the incident, a senior police official said today. The police team led by Inspector U P Singh, officer-in-charge of Rynjah police station rescued the girls from Mira Road in Mumbai with the help of police there.
East Khasi Hills district police superintendent A S Rynjah said the two girls, who were kept in a Mumbai flat for flesh trade, were being brought here. The woman trafficker and her accomplice were also being brought here.
He said a complaint was received at the Rynjah police stat ion on August 24 last saying that two girls were 'enticed' by one woman to work as maid servants at Kolkata. But the woman later sent the duo to Mumbai and kept them in a flat. On receiving the information, a case under immoral traffic prohibition act was registered and the police team was sent from here to rescue the girl.
Meanwhile, the police carried out an anti-infiltration drive at Keating Road and Police Bazar area of the city. They also conducted a search at a hotel under construction in the heart of the town today. During the drive, 170 people were picked up. Out of them 99 were released after verification and 71 persons including 10 beggars were asked to go back to their hometown in Assam to enable them to produce valid official documents to support their claim of being genuine Indian citizens, police said.
Assam rail projects hampered by insurgency Nagaland Post
GUWAHATI, SEPT 2 (AGENCIES): In Assam, several key railway projects have been suspended after repeated bids by insurgent groups to extort money from contractors.
Extortion demands come to railway contractors in Assam almost every week. The demands are mostly from the Naga rebel group NSCN (IM) and the Black Widow group active in the North Cachar Hills of Assam.
In the last four months, there have been three incidents of violence.
The latest was on August 28 when an excavator was set on fire. Now contractors working on the multi-crore gauge conversion project between Lumding and Silchar say they have had enough.
"We want to suspend work in the Lumding-Silchar section because of law and order. There are so many insurgency groups giving notice and creating problems.
We can't fulfil their demands," said the association.
"On 28th one of our machines was burnt, extortion was made but no demand note was given. They burnt and threatened that next time they will kill us," it added.
At present this sector has a meter gauge rail which has been running since the 1890s. Some 20 construction companies from Assam and outside are engaged in converting the gauge.
It is one of the most challenging railway engineering projects involving 32 tunnels and more than 300 big and small bridges on a 171 km hilly stretch.
But due to militancy the project is running years behind schedule. "We have asked railways and home department but there's no response. So we have only two options -suspend work or under compulsion compromise with the insurgent groups," the association said. The Railways say they are equally helpless as they have limited forces and law and order is a state subject. So until the state administration takes notice this national Project may have to wait.
I’m not an Indian citizen : Anup Chetia By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Sept 2 “ I am not an Indian citizen. I am an Assamese,” said the ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia reacting to the demand by the Government of India for his extradition from Bangladesh. The militant outfit in a report in its monthly mouthpiece “Swadhinata” said that ever since his arrest in Bangladesh on December 21, 1997, Anup Chetia had been maintaining that he was not an Indian citizen but an Assamese.

The report said that when India demanded his extradition from Bangladesh, his reaction was the same. The ULFA also maintained that if India and Bangladesh sign any agreement for extradition of prisoners of both the countries, its effect would not fall on the Assamese people.
Violence marks central Asom bandh From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
MORIGAON, Sept 2 – Sporadic incidents of violence marked the 36-hour central Asom bandh called by the All Tiwa Students’ Association (ATSA) and the Karbi Students’ union (KSU) at 5 pm today. The bandh was given in support of Sixth Schedule autonomy to the Tiwas.

Miscreants set ablaze an auto van near the GKB College, Morigaon, around 2-30 pm today. A kiosk was also burnt down. Earlier in the morning, miscreants set three motorcycles on fire at Barsila under Mikirbheta police station around 9-30 am. Tension prevailed in the area, where the Superintendent of police, Morigaon, together with security forces, rushed. Miscreants set ablaze the Maruti car of a junior engineer at Barapujia, in Nagaon-Morigaon PWD road.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened at Raha, Nellie and Jagiroad following incidents of stone-pelting on vehicles on the National Highway-37. While three persons have been arrested in Morigaon, four other arrested at Mikirbheta.
ULFA to Centre: Release leaders and talk in 48 hours By ANI
Guwahati, Sep 02 (ANI): Assam's rebel outfit ULFA has said that it will be ready to hold talks with the Centre in Dispur within 48 hours of the release of five of its leaders.
Peace talks came to a halt last week after a letter was sought from the outfit with details like the names of the outfit's negotiating members and the timeframe for the holding of the talks. The conditional demand for talks was made in the outfit's mouthpiece 'Swadhinata' or 'Freedom' where they have stated that there is no need for another letter, as their demands have already been made clear.
A ten-day suspension of operations by the army against the ULFA was announced by the Centre on August 13, with a 15-day extension added later. This comes to an end on September 7. (ANI)
No question of letter on talks, but we are serious, say ULFA By Indian Express
The outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) today dismissed New Delhi's request for a letter assuring the government that the outfit wanted to sit for talks, with its e-mouthpiece "Swadhinata" saying it was the ULFA which had made the first move to speak of shunning violence and solve the "Indo-Assam conflict" through peaceful talks.
The latest issue of "Swadhinata" also accused the government of holding back the proposed talk process "in the name of just one letter of assurance." The e-mouthpiece of the outfit came a day after peace facilitator Indira Goswami met Union home secretary VK Duggal and conveyed to him that the ULFA was firm on its demand for release of its five senior leaders from jail.
"Elections were held and a new government installed (in Assam) by telling us about talks. August 15 was observed without any incident. Now the Government of India is in no hurry to hold talks. That exactly is why it has come up with this issue of a letter of assurance," the editorial in the outfit's e-mouthpiece said.
The ULFA also accused the government of trying to dictate terms to compel it to come out for talks. "It wants ULFA to assure that it will come for talks within 15 days. It wants assurance on Arabinda Rajkhowa and Paresh Barua attending the talks. It wants us to agree on the date and venue as dictated by the government of India. And if we fail, the signal is clear; it (the government) will let loose its occupational forces against the peace-loving people of Assam in the name of operations against the ULFA," the e-mouthpiece said. The ULFA also accused the government of trying to forget the outfit's earlier assurance that it was ready sit for talks in Dispur itself "and that too in a 48-hour notice if our conditions are fulfilled".
Asserting that the ULFA was still "serious" about the peace talks, the outfit's e-mouthpiece said that the constitution of the People's Consultative Group (PCG) and the responsibility vested on it to negotiate with the government was by itself enough to prove its sincerity. "The constitution of the PCG and vesting responsibility on it to talk (to the government) on our behalf should be considered more serious and significant than a two-line letter," the e-mouthpiece said.
Buses stoned by agitating surrenderees The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sept 2: At least three inter-state passenger buses were damaged by surrendered undergrounds who were agitating against the Manipur government failure to absorb them in the state IRB units even though they had been selected by a special DPC as followers. Police arrested three surrenderees on the charge of causing damage to the vehicles and took them into their custody. The arrested surrenderees were identified as one Madal, Nur Hussain and Chuingampao currently staying at the dog squad quarters at the commando complex, North AOC, Imphal.

The surrenderees had called an indefinite bandh on the national highways in the state from 6 am this morning protesting against the government`s negligence towards them . This morning the surrenderees smashed the wind shields of the passenger buses parking near the 2nd Manipur Rifles gate and in front of the Manipur Service Commission office near North AOC on the NH-39 for picking up passengers. The ill-fated buses bear registration no. MN01-1735 (Rajdhani Travels), MN01-1655 and MN01-1209 (both belongs to Assam State Transport Cooperation). Front windshield glass and side windows of the vehicles were destroyed in the stoning.

Eyewitness account said that passengers requested the agitators not to attack the vehicles, but their pleas went unheeded. Fortunately none of the passengers sustained any injury. Among the buses two were plying the Imphal-Guwahati route under the Assam State Road Transport Cooperation. Mention may be made that earlier, out of 83 surrendered militants, 46 of them have been selected as riflemen in the 4th IRB and obtained basic training for absorption to service. However, remaining 37 surrenderees who were to be absorbed as followers have still not been given their appointments. Demanding issue of offer forms and absorbing them in the service, the left out surrenderees had on August 31 announced their intention to launch an indefinite total bandh on the National Highways from this morning.
In the meantime, a spokesperson of the surrenderees has demanded the unconditional release of the three men arrested by the police this morning for stoning the passenger buses.

New rebel outfit in south Assam Nagarealm.com
Silchar, Sept.01 : A new rebel group, the United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA), has started operating in the south Assam districts of Karimganj and Hailakandi.
Police confirmed that the gang has already masterminded at least four kidnappings, all in Hailakandi, during the past four months. The rebel group is extorting money from farmers, teachers, traders and government officials living in rural areas in these two districts.

The group first attracted attention last month when it abducted eight farmers from Killarbag village under Katlicherra block in Hailakandi district.
The captives were, however, freed after eight days when the CRPF and Assam Armed Police launched an extensive raid in the jungles of Katlicherra block on the Assam-Mizram border.

According to police, UDLA is being led by a Reang duo, S. Moni, 30, and Manaraj Reang, 28. The small group comprises only 30 members. Apart from SLRs, it also has an AK-47 assault rifle. Another militant group, called the United Liberation Front of Barak Valley, has recently started operating in Karimganj. Led by one P. Apeto, this gang draws its cadres from the Reangs and Bengali Muslims. Both these gangs have come up when the most powerful rebel force in the Barak Valley, the six-year old Barak Valley Youth Liberation Force — led by Parameshwar Reang — is fighting a losing battle against the paramilitary forces. The outfit is also rocked by internecine quarrels. [telegraphindia]

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09/03/2006: "Another blast in Dimapur Kuknalim.com"