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02/09/2007: "NSCN-K arms seized OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

NSCN-K arms seized OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Feb. 8: Security forces have recovered large quantities of explosives and arms and ammunition from National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) activists in Arunachal Pradesh. The propaganda wing of the Naga outfit said security forces, acting on a tip-off, raided Saching village in Changlang district last night.
The Khaplang group’s ministry of information and publicity said two security personnel were gunned down in the encounter. The army also shot one self-styled “sergeant major,” Khamning Pangmi. The firing lasted for an hour before the militants were captured. While the outfit claimed to have lost only one cadre, official sources said the casualty could be higher. Security forces later recovered 75 kg of TNT from the site of the encounter.
The NSCN (K) also alleged that the jawans “tortured” five innocent villagers and molested a woman for sheltering militants. The outfit strongly condemned the army’s action and the alleged molestation of the woman. The propaganda wing of the outfit also accused the army of collaborating with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah).
“The NSCN (K) is aware of the nefarious collaboration between the Indian army and the NSCN (I-M),” it said,urging security personnel to “respect the sentiments of Naga people”.
The Khaplang faction’s truce is confined to Nagaland only, unlike the rival group. The army has been directed to smoke out activists of the Naga outfit outside the state. A.Z. Jami, NSCN (K) kilonser (minister) for information and publicity, has urged S.S. Khaplang and Kitovi Zhimomi, general secretary of the outfit, to abandon the truce. “I have urged our leaders to abrogate the ceasefire to save our organisation,” Jami said.
According to official sources, the incident is a part of the operations to flush out NSCN (K) and United Liberation Front of Asom activists, who have sneaked into the country from Myanmar recently. Assam Rifles and the army have also sealed the Indo-Myanmar border to stop the fleeing insurgents. Several NSCN (K) activists have reportedly slipped into Changlang and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh

Naga cops die in Maoist zone - Bomb explodes while being defused OUR BUREAU The Telegraph
Raipur/Kohima, Feb. 8: Three policemen from Nagaland were among six killed in Chhattisgarh today when a bomb planted by Maoists exploded while being defused. The incident at Bhairamgarh, in Dantewada district, occurred a year after 11 India Reserve Battalion personnel from Nagaland died in two landmine explosions in the same area. The Naga community had then reacted with indignation at police personnel from their state being deployed in Maoist-infested areas. The Nagaland policemen who died in today’s incident were assistant commandant Savarto and sepoys Batti and Apang Chang. All three were members of a Nagaland Armed Police battalion. The other casualties were Chandrakant Markam and Poyam Mangu of Chhattisgarh police and their civilian driver Dinesh Baharia. A dozen people, mostly civilians, were wounded in the explosion. A two-day national conference on Maoist insurgency got under way in the state capital minutes before the incident. Official sources in Raipur said the bomb that killed the police personnel was detected during a combing operation that had been launched after a landmine explosion around 2 am. The target of the first attack was a vehicle carrying some Congress leaders of Dantewada. The passengers escaped with minor injuries because only the rear of the vehicle — a jeep — felt the impact of the explosion. When information about the incident reached the Bhairamgarh block headquarters, about 550 km south of the state capital, a police team was immediately despatched to the area. The team found a lunchbox packed with explosives at a spot between Boldi and Fundri villages, about 12 km from Bhairamgarh, around 9.20 am.
A senior officer of Chhattisgarh police claimed that the Nagaland policemen “acted carelessly” and did not disperse the crowd that had gathered at the site before trying to defuse the bomb. “In normal course, jawans defuse bombs either by firing a shot or other means from afar. They do not do it manually,” he said. But the acting inspector-general of police of Bastar range, who is a Naga, denied that the policemen from his native state were careless. T.J. Longkumer said a “technical error” resulted in the incident. “There were actually two bombs in a single lunchbox. While the jawans succeeded in defusing one, another went off while they were at it.”
A police officer in Kohima said the explosives might have been planted there to avenge the killing of nine Maoists by a team of Naga police personnel yesterday. The bodies of the three blast victims will reach Nagaland by Saturday. Naga security personnel deployed in Chhattisgarh have been consistently praised for their work in the Maoist-infested pockets of the Bastar region.
The Nagaland government intends to recall the 9th Nagaland Armed Police battalion by the middle of this year and replace it with the 11th battalion. Over the last two years, at least two dozen Naga police personnel on deputation have been killed by Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
Naga blues in Manipur's soul Rahul Karmakar Hindustand Times
Imphal, On Thursday, Manipur can witness what is termed as “surrogate polling” across constituencies that are geographically in Manipur, but “emotionally” in Nagaland, rather the greater Naga homeland. Some 6 lakh voters across 19 constituencies will decide the fate of 76 candidates, who include chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Speaker Maniruddin Sheikh (both Congress) and coordinator of the SPF government M Nara Singh (CPI). They will also decide if the Naga-dominated hills of Manipur eventually become part of the NSCN (Isak-Muivah)'s map of an "integrated Naga homeland". Nine of these 19 seats are in Senapati and Ukhrul districts, which along with Chandel and Tamenglong districts figure in the greater Nagaland dream. The pro-NSCN United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of Nagas in Manipur, has fielded six candidates to pursue the "integration issue outside and within the Manipur Assembly".
The agenda is significant in the wake of Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio's "blessings" for the Naga homeland push through the "historic election". "We passed resolutions for integration in the Nagaland Assembly four times, it is time for similar resolutions in Manipur," he said. Rio had earlier rubbed Manipur the wrong way by granting permission to some 5,000 Manipuri Naga school students to appear for the Nagaland board exams. The exam, labelled the education route to NSCN (I-M)'s integration goal, began on Wednesday under tight security in Nagaland. Meanwhile, all the 11 UNC-backed candidates - five are in Tamenglong and Chandel districts where polling is in the third phase on February 23 - formed the United Naga Democratic Front (UNDF) on Tuesday to make the agenda apparent. According to UNC president KS Paul Leo, the idea behind backing Naga candidates was to within the have a force 60-member Manipur Assembly to "fight for the
NSCN (K) invites ONGC Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, FEB 8 (NPN): The NSCN (K) has said it would always open the door to the Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC) for exploration and extraction of crude oil in Shangpang (Tiru) under Mon district and assured to act as "custodian" to the oil corporation as long as it remained there. Deputy kilonser (Home) Y Wangtin Naga, NSCN (K), in a letter addressed to the ONGC chairman/MD, however, said ONGC has to provide all infrastructures within Nagaland, absorb educated Naga youth in the corporation besides "paying certain negligible percentage of royalty" to the NSCN (K).
"This friendly and generous approach must be taken as good gesture," the NSCN (K) added. The outfit also informed that it would not allow the ONGC to operate in other areas of Nagaland other than Shangpang. While informing that it had come to the knowledge of the NSCN (K) about ONGC's "strong intention for exploration and extraction of crude oil from Shangpang …since the last two years," the NSCN (K) regretted that ONGC had shifted the "original location ie. Shangpang (Tiru) to Champang, Dimapur," due to reasons best known to the corporation.
The letter also made mention about the reported demand of "5% royalty as taxes" made to ONGC by a Lt. Col. of Naga Army and presently working as general secretary, Konyak Region (NSCN).
Pol parties start ground preparation for bypolls Correspondent Nagaland Post
KOHIMA, FEB 8 (NPN): Three major political parties in the state, the Nagaland People Front (NPF), Congress and BJP have started ground preparation for the by-election to two assembly seats, slated for March 8. Speaking to the Nagaland Post, NPF spokesperson and general secretary Akang Ao said the party would field candidates in both the seats and disclosed that a clear picture would emerge only after the return of chief minister Neiphiu Rio and NPF president Dr. Shurhozelie from New Delhi.
Asked on the list of aspirant candidates the party has received so far, Akang revealed that for I-Dimapur-I A/C, NPF youth wing spokesperson Atomi Zhimomi who is also the son of Industries and commerce minister Khekiho Zhimomi, has emerged as forerunner for the party ticket.
For Tuensang Sadar II A/C, the party general secretary indicated that there are at least three to four ticket aspirants, but refused to divulge their names. A highly placed source in the NPF disclosed to Nagaland Post that though no final decision has been taken for Tuensang Sadar II, the party ticket aspirants include Mrs. Lakiumong, wife of the former MLA late Lakiumong, NPF associate press secretary W. Chuba Yim and Wongto. kang also said that NPF Party was yet to have formal discussion with its ruling coalition partner BJP on the issue.
He however said there should not be any question of "friendly contest" between NPF and BJP for both the seats" while hinting that the NPF might face a tough fight from the opposition Congress party in both seats.
A Congress leader, talking on condition of anonymity, said the party was almost certain to field former MLA Kejong Chang for Tuensang Sadar-II while for Dimapur-I, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Election Committee will meet on February 10 to decide the further course of action. Some political analysts have hinted that the Congress might set up former chief minister KL Chishi for the prestigious Dimapur-I AC. Meanwhile, state BJP general secretary Vikhielie Victor told this correspondent that whether the BJP would contest or not in the two seats would be decided during the BJP legislatures and office bearers meeting scheduled on February 10.
GPRN/NSCN (K) demands apology from Pro (Defence)- Nagaland Post Opinion
The GPRN/NSCN sharply reacts to the press write ups of the so called PRO of the Indian army, Lt. Col Nirupam Bharagava, alleging the NSCN of kidnapping of its cadre, a havildar of TA (Trouble Aggravator) Bn. from a bus station at Dimapur as carried in the local dailies of 7.2.2007.
We want to know, in the first place, whether the aggressor (Indian Army) have had a thorough investigation of the havildar's disappearance from the camp for hours together and made such wild accusations against the Naga People's Organization. The Indian army and GOI have all the means of investigative machineries. So, why not investigate the case properly and ascertain the cause of disappearance of the errant cadre?? The said havildar might have gone to rape some women or to commit theft or to the brothel house to satisfy his passion and then in order to escape the chastisement from his commanders he bluntly implicated the NSCN. Or he might have been instigated by some one to make such foul play seeing the volatile situation of Dimapur and Kohima. Under such circumstances, did the Indian army think proper to issue warnings to the NSCN? Do you think that the GPRN/NSCN will accept by laying low the phrases, "A stern warning" and "An appropriate action". Do the GOI and the Indian army think that NSCN is very happy for the cease-fire? Do you think that we are your bonded servants or slaves that you should dictate us??
We are free people of a sovereign nation. We are the legitimate sons of the soil. You are foreigners and aggressors to our home and hearth. We are not scared of your threats. We have been fighting for the last six decades against the 50 lacs-strong Indian army and 20 lacs- strong Myanmarese army. Fighting is not unseen or unheard thing for us. We never ever had aggressed or encroach against the land of Indians. But you are committing naked aggression against the land of the Nagas. You are violating the political, economic and civil fights of the Nagas. You are violating the term of the cease-fire. Do the GOI and its army understand how many NSCN cadres have been killed, how many have been captured and put in jail and how many of our arms and ammunitions have been forcibly seized during the current cease-fire?? Remember that the almighty had already cursed your army and your country. Suicides of your cadres and fratricides among the Indian army personnel is a daily occurrence. Do you think that it is a good sign for you?
Therefore, the GPRN/NSCN demands unqualified apology from the PRO or the Indian army for their irresponsible utterance and outburst of madness without proving the case or the incident, otherwise, this act of the Indian army will remain as a deep wound in the cease-fire agreement between the GOI and the NSCN. The errant havildar should also be immediately court martialled.
Secretary, MIP, GPRN, NSCN (K).
NSCN-K arms seized Nagarealm.com
Kohima, FEB08 : Security forces have recovered large quantities of explosives and arms and ammunition from National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) activists in Arunachal Pradesh. The propaganda wing of the Naga outfit said security forces, acting on a tip-off, raided Saching village in Changlang district last night.

The Khaplang group’s ministry of information and publicity said two security personnel were gunned down in the encounter. The army also shot one self-styled “sergeant major,” Khamning Pangmi. The firing lasted for an hour before the militants were captured. While the outfit claimed to have lost only one cadre, official sources said the casualty could be higher. Security forces later recovered 75 kg of TNT from the site of the encounter. The NSCN (K) also alleged that the jawans “tortured” five innocent villagers and molested a woman for sheltering militants. The outfit strongly condemned the army’s action and the alleged molestation of the woman.

The propaganda wing of the outfit also accused the army of collaborating with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah). “The NSCN (K) is aware of the nefarious collaboration between the Indian army and the NSCN (I-M),” it said,urging security personnel to “respect the sentiments of Naga people”. The Khaplang faction’s truce is confined to Nagaland only, unlike the rival group. The army has been directed to smoke out activists of the Naga outfit outside the state. A.Z. Jami, NSCN (K) kilonser (minister) for information and publicity, has urged S.S. Khaplang and Kitovi Zhimomi, general secretary of the outfit, to abandon the truce. “I have urged our leaders to abrogate the ceasefire to save our organisation,” Jami said.

According to official sources, the incident is a part of the operations to flush out NSCN (K) and United Liberation Front of Asom activists, who have sneaked into the country from Myanmar recently. Assam Rifles and the army have also sealed the Indo-Myanmar border to stop the fleeing insurgents. Several NSCN (K) activists have reportedly slipped into Changlang and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh. [telegraphindia]
Rejoinder to ‘staking students career’- Nagaland Post Opinion
The philosophy of Khaplang camp resurfaces with their declared 'struggle for the liberation of the Indian imposed Nagaland state' which was clearly enunciated in the press write-ups that appeared through the local dailies under the caption 'Staking students career, the last political straw' on February 7, 2007. The NSCN/GPRN is struggling for the emancipation of more than 47 Naga Tribes spread in-between the boarders of Myanmar and India. We are against alien subjugation, aggression, occupation and arbitrarily imposed vivi-section of the Naga country.We are fighting against the occupying nations and telling them to leave us alone as we were independent since time immemorial. Through the course of the Naga people's struggle, almost every Naga family has suffered in some way or the other. We have contributed and sacrificed much in some way or the other for our national cause which has been going on for more than half a century now. We do not accept arbitrarily imposed artificial boundaries within Nagalim. We are fighting against aggression upon our identity and our land. Thousands have sacrificed their lives for the Naga national cause. Even today we are proud to have many among us who are ready to sacrifice the same for our sacred and dear cause. The Khaplang camp proclaims that they are fighting for the Sovereign Naga nation on one hand. They indulge in all kinds of anti-peace activities under the guise of nationalism on the other. How far does their works correspond to that of Naga national liberators? Do not they profess divisionism and communalism? If the Indian Army personnel whom they abducted at Dimapur was not an Anal Naga but had been from some other tribe he would surely have been killed. They may wash their hands but there is none else to blame for this incident because others have no such foolish motives or intentions. Today, with the Yaruiwo Isak Chishi Swu's proclamationof 'Peace & Reconcilliation throughout Nagalim, the Khaplang camp is trying to exploit this declaration. Instances like- the employee of popular Bakery, Dimapur was shot at in the midst of thronging customers on the evening of 6th February 2007. One Khaplang cadre was arrested by Nagaland Police at Dimapur while in the act of anti-social acts recently.
The Khaplang cadres provocatively encroached and set up camp in the proximity of Mt. Gilead Camp of the Naga Army forcing Naga Army to chase them up to Saijang where two of their cadres died and one Naga Army personnel sustained minor injury recently. When peace is declared, instead of extending good-will gestures to strengthen peace and reconciliation the Khaplangs have been trying to exploit the situation with all provocative offensives. They are trying to vitiate the peace and beguile the populace with their claws of terror. As such responses in tandem with the desire of the desire of the Naga people?
The Khaplang have betrayed the Naga cause confining their proclaimed struggle to the State of India-Nagaland falling under the parameters of the Indian Constitution. The NSCN/GPRN does not recognize the Indian imposed state boundaries or their constitution. The Naga peoples' cause is not a new thing of today but a struggle to evict alien occupation and impositions. The Naga people were free people since time immemorial. The NSCN/GPRN is fighting for this God given freedom to us. The states of Manipur, Arunachal or Nagaland are recent creations arbitrarily imposed by India which the Nagas does does not recognize. Is the Khaplangs' definition of their support for Naga integration but against the Southern Nagas sensible? Are the Khaplang bankrupt in politics and policies which are leading them to victimize the innocent? There also seems to be incongruity and differences between Gen. Kholi, SS Khaplang and Kitovi in their manifestoes. When they claim that they are fighting for the statehood of India-Nagaland their Chairman Khaplang a Burmese Naga is across the international boarder in Myanmar. Does Kholi also know about this?
Let us be more sensible and come out of our egoistic cocoons and admit to facts and accept one another than waging bad blood amongst ourselves. We should all try and contribute to give peace a chance so that our wounds are healed. No matter what! Nagas are all of the same body. If one finger is hurt, the whole body suffers the pain. So let us all try to heal ourselves with love and reconciliation and healthily strive on ahead with the rest of the world. Issued by: MIP : GPRN, NSCN (IM).
Ukhrul, Senapati face elections today Naga Nation Newmai News Network
Imphal, February 7: In the first phase of Manipur polling, 6, 00,697 electorates domiciled in 19 Assembly Constituencies of Ukhrul, Senapati and Thoubal districts will decide the fate of 77 candidate fates including that of chief minister O.Ibobi Singh. The over 6 lakhs voters will exercise their franchise from 7 am till 3:30 pm. The first polling phase has identified 271 polling stations as hyper sensitive while 443 as sensitive polling stations, as per tentative classification of polling stations by the Chief Electoral Office. In the hill constituencies, other than independent candidates, political parties fielding their candidates are minimal in a fray except the Congress party putting up their 19 candidates in all the ACs for the first phase polling.
Meanwhile, following the dereliction committed by the polling personnel in Senapati, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Prem Singh has suspended 12 personnel including presiding officers, polling officers and a peon out of the 35 personnel assigned for the Assembly election duty at Tadubi AC, Mao AC and Karong AC. The erring personnel is said to have not been available at their residence nor has collected their monthly pay for the last few months. The DC has sought police help in arresting those polling personnel in case they fail to surrender or give evidences to substantiate their actions. Since yesterday polling materials including Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) along with security forces were already sent at their respective polling stations. There are some special arrangements for far flung remote polling station where only Shaktiman truck can reach such destinations. Keeping in mind difficulties of the terrain roads the election authority dispatch all the required materials and security personnel in advance.

The 6 ACs in Senapati district which is going for first phase poll today includes Karong AC having 55 polling stations with 48301 voters, Mao AC having 51 polling stations with 49337 voters, Tadubi AC-52+1 polling stations with 41549 voters strengths, Kangpokpi AC-33 polling stations with 29747 electorates, Saikul AC-43 polling stations with 35344 voters and Saikul AC have 45 polling stations with 38892 voter strengths.
Kill that barbaric instinct By Athan Muivah Article Sangai Express
With February 05 2007, as deadline, the recent 'Quit Notice' served over the Tangkhul community in the Nagaland by the Khaplang group has raised eyebrows among scores of right thinking people who find it hard to cringe at the thought of what such particular group had meant when it claims to be fighting for the cause of Nagalim. As the Ninth State Assembly election is round the corner, election fever grips many parts of the country. But in contrast, Nagaland still feels that looming of dark clouds in its sky with the outcome of torturing, maiming and killing of innocent people, whose lives would have otherwise been saved to exercise their voting right in a democratic country like India. Putting the entire land into rude shock, people regardless of their status would only discover themselves being dragged into pouring their emotions over possible dreadful events dramatised by merciless killers who have in them a short sighted view towards Nagalim.
Amid such eerie air, where do we people who are real masters of democracy sway - towards the State or Central machinery - to provide security, when both the machineries too that often merely wait and watch hoping violence would eventually vanish, have not become trustworthy? It's time we, with deepest conscience tackle things underlying our struggle to prevent ourselves from becoming an easy prey to a particular group or organisation, which is not rooted in the will of the people.
In the course of any struggle in this world that stands for the entire nation, mistakes although undesirable creep into it, are erratic elements that could not be totally avoided and usually leave behind a long trail of miserable memories. Now standing in the mirror of those memories, what is important is, to examine ourselves how do we fathom the past mistakes in the interest of our struggle that has witnessed the loss of thousand lives and properties in the hands of the enemies. At any cost, is it justified to put our trust upon few people with shared interest and whose disillusionment often leads to the extent of killing innocent boys like Shimmei Singnaisui in the failure to find his father who was said to be the target? Such barbaric act truly conforms to the purpose behind serving a 'Quit Notice' over a particular community to which the victim belongs, and it could be seen as an alarming threat to our democratic set up.
In fact, so much as they were in the past, the Nagas are still lovers of democracy. It may be recalled that during the World War II, the Nagas gave maximum help to the forces of democracy in defeating Japan. Field Marshall Slim thus in his book, Defeat Into Victory, rightly say: “The gallant Nagas whose loyalty, even in the most depressing times of the invasion, had never faltered. Despite flogging, torture, execution and the burning of their villages, they refused to aid the Japanese in any way or betray our troops. Their active help to us was beyond our praise... they guided our columns, collected information, ambushed enemy patrols, carried our supplies and brought in our wounded under the heaviest fire, and then, being the gentleman, they were often refused all payment. Many British and Indian soldier owe their lives to the Nagas, and no soldier of the 14th Army who met them will ever think of them, but with admiration and affection”.
In one stage, the present negotiation between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India, being in itself not an attempt to form a mere state within the Constitution of India, it calls for containment on the rising impatience of the people by understanding the process of negotiation to the core. In many media platforms, the collective leadership of National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN), had clearly stated that the crux of the present talks is not of a solution within the Constitution of India. But the Nagas establishing with India, a 'Special Federal Relation', which is termed as a federation between the two entities on the basis of the 'Unique history and situation of the Nagas' which was officially recognised by the Govt of India.
Unfortunately, the Govt of India fails to come out with a concrete proposal even after more than fifty rounds of political negotiation. The Indian state has no policy for the so-called Northeast India and understanding of the complexity of the problems. The only policy it has is 'counter-insurgency', which means that the Indian State is undermining and making an attempt to muffle the issue of people's integrity and their movement in the region, leaving their genuine grievances unattended. In the case of the Naga movement too, although the Indian Govt had officially recognised the Nagas' unique history, there still appear many hurdles. The main pitfall is that when the process of political negotiation quests for the touch of political people assisted by lawyers, it is being handled by shadowy men of intelligence agencies which are involved in turf wars and not thinking of the future of either Indian or Naga people. Thus, the whole political sense is being over-ruled by the intervention of intelligence agencies and results in a myopic view of everything.
A positive response to the call of 'Third Party', involvement in the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue, the peace process today seems to be in the right track in view of the duo's keenness to work on a 'framework' by respecting each other's Constitution with the Dutch NGO, Kreddha as the facilitator.
The people should thus wholeheartedly endorse such move to examine and dissect the main hurdle, and hammer out a suitable solution, so that the present dialogue does not stretch long.
For a nation that takes pride in imbibing the spirit of democracy since time immemorial, in this present world that has witnessed the fall of Nazism and Fascism, it's a great shame to give way to the time-to-time intrusion of false propaganda and conspiracy theory. Let us remember that under the able leadership of the NSCN, the Naga national movement has taken a new turn with the Indo-Naga conflict being brought from military confrontation to the political negotiation. Though the support of various international organisations and communities, churches and many other support groups from different countries including India, the Naga struggle has now reached the threshold of a final solution.
At this crucial stage, the mass should understand that such gruesome act of threatening and killing innocent students by targeting a particular community is a silly attempt to dampen the spirit of Naga nationalism. Thus, whichever organisation or group they may belong to, the killers should now rather abstain themselves from such a narrow politics and prove their claim to be fighting for the cause of Nagalim. Only then will they win the trust of the people!
80 % vote in Manipur phase I poll Sushanta Talukdar and Iboyaima Laithangbam Voting by and large peaceful in 19 constituencies in three districts
Khangabok: Braving a downpour, 80-82 per cent of the voters exercised their franchise in 19 constituencies in the first phase of the Manipur Assembly elections on Thursday. Polling was peaceful barring incidents of disturbances by underground outfits and group clashes in four booths in Senapati district. The highest polling of 85 per cent was recorded in the Naga-dominated areas of Senapati district, while in Thoubal district it was 70 per cent and in Ukhrul district 63 per cent. Total voting figures from far-flung booths were awaited. Complaints of rigging and booth capturing in some Naga-dominated areas of the hill districts of Senapati and Ukhrul were lodged but additional Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Singh said there was no such official report.
Congress demands repoll The Congress demanded a repoll in the Tadubi constituency in Senapati district, from where Power Minister Farncis Ngajokpa is seeking re-election. In a complaint, it alleged that cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) had captured a majority of the booths and rigged the poll in favour of the United Naga Council (UNC)-sponsored K. Raina.
In his report to the Election Commission, the Additional CEO said no vote was cast in four polling stations in Senapati district as villagers there decided not to vote, while in another station in Ukhrul district no voter turned out. In the Kuki-dominated Kangpokpi constituency in Senapati district, underground elements disturbed polling in one booth but it was resumed after a small break. Polling was stopped also in four other booths in the district following clashes between groups of voters. In all, 16 electronic voting machines were replaced in the three districts.
Mr. Singh said no repoll was ordered. In Ukhrul district, there were reports of snatching of an EVM in the Marwa polling station in the Phungyar constituency. Polling could not be held in a booth in the Kakching constituency in Thoubal district owing to a technical snag in the EVM.
Ibobi optimistic In Thoubal district, heavy polling was witnessed in most of the constituencies, particularly in Khangabok and Thoubal from where Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is contesting. Coming out of a polling station in the Khangabok constituency, he told The Hindu that he was hopeful of the Congress getting an absolute majority and forming a government on its own for another term.
His rival Laishram Jatra of the Manipur People's Party (MPP), who had won from Khangabok twice, Mr Jatra, is equally hopeful of wresting the seat. "I am sure to get a landslide victory." he said.While in the Naga-dominated areas it was the Congress versus the UNC- backed candidates, in the 10 constituencies in Thoubal district the fight was essentially between the Congress and the MPP, both promising the voter to protect Manipur's territorial integrity. The MPP focussed also on the demand for withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958, while the Congress harped on the stability factor.
Mr Ibobi Singh is the first Chief Minister to have completed the full five-year term in Manipur. The UNC said the candidates backed by it would take up in the Assembly the cause of integration of Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur with Nagaland. There are 60 constituencies in the State, where two more phases of the election remain to be held.
A reclusive lawyer with a penchant for politics Man to watch- Radhabinod Koijam SEKHAR DATTA The Telegraph
Imphal, Feb. 8: He is an oddity in a world of publicity-seeking politicians. Elections or not, Radhabinod Koijam prefers to keep a low profile, his reclusive character becoming more obvious when the media is around. But make no mistake, this canny politician knows how to compensate for not being a media darling. Cloistered in his palatial home at Thangmeiband, in the heart of Imphal West town, the septuagenarian politician meticulously plans his political moves, evoking awe among his devoted supporters and keeping rivals on their toes. A sudden hush among his mumbling band of workers seated in the outer drawing room confirms Koijam’s arrival .
Plonking on his favourite sofa, he settles down for a chat with The Telegraph, dwelling on the past and the future in measured tones. “I would have won the last Assembly polls in 2002 easily, but for the mass uprising on June 18, 2001, when 14 people were killed while agitating against the extension of the Centre’s ceasefire with the NSCN (I-M) beyond the borders of Nagaland,” Koijam recalls. He explains that people turned against politicians in general during the last poll.
What about his prospects this time? “Nobody is going to win against me this time and I am sure of this,” he says. A Mumbai-trained lawyer, Koijam established a practice in Nagaland and continued for a while before throwing it all away for politics. He contested the Thangmeiband seat in 1980 as an Independent candidate and was elected. Koijam joined the Congress later and retained his seat in the next two elections. Going from strength to strength, he was made deputy chief minister in the Rishang Keishing government in 1995. He had to wait another six years to reach the pinnacle of his career. In 2001, after the fall of the Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh government; he became the chief minister. The burden of governance and keeping his flock together, however, weighed Koijam down. “The government collapsed within three months. How could one satisfy so many conflicting ambitions?” Koijam asks, undoubtedly wiser after the experience. But even during the three months that he held the reins of power, Koijam showed that he had it in him to hold his ground on key issues. He took the bold decision of addressing the problem of insurgency by unilaterally declaring a ceasefire with all armed outfits active in the state, much against the wishes of the then government at the Centre.
“Delhi was against the ceasefire but I acted with a clean conscience for the benefit of the state. However, my government collapsed,” he recalls, reminding this correspondent that he remains the only chief minister to have ever taken such a step. He lost the next elections, but his passion for politics took him first to the Samata Party and then to the Nationalist Congress Party in September 2005. The NCP split over his entry as some members of the core group never wanted him in their midst. As the new president of the NCP, Koijam started building the party’s base block by block. The NCP has fielded 28 candidates this time, including five in the hill districts, and is aiming to win at least 15 seats.
“In the outgoing House, NCP had three MLAs, but this time we are going to win at least 15 seats and we will be a major player in forming the government,” predicts Koijam. In Thangmeiband, which has 853 more female voters than males, Koijam has one distinct advantage: the Nagas comprise a sizeable section of the electorate and are inclined to vote for him. In comparison, his main rivals — sitting BJP legislator Meinam Bharat and Congress nominee Waikhom Jyotin — are lightweights. Apart from the fact that his wife is also a Naga, Koijam has carefully built and maintained the image of a moderate on the sensitive ethnic questions that have triggered a divide between the hills and the valley. His basic opposition to the “vivisection of Manipur” and support for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act remain unchanged. “The act must go in the interest of the people and Manipur’s territorial integrity cannot be sacrificed at the altar of individual political ambitions,” he says.
Blast in Guwahati ahead of National Games Times of India

GUWAHATI: A blast occurred at the Kamakhya railway station on the outskirts of the city on Friday morning barely hours before the inauguration of the 33rd National Games.

There were, however, no casualties, police said. The blast occurred between the old and new buildings of railway station, which did not disrupt movement of trains, they said. The station was being used over the past few days to pick up a large number of sportspersons who had arrived here to participate in the Games to avoid the rush at the Guwahati railway station, police said.

A senior police official had received a phone call on Wednesday from a person claiming to be the ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua who said two programmable time devices had been planted on the railway track near the Kamakhya railway station. The caller had also said ULFA should not be blamed for any blast as it had withdrawn the Games boycott call. Following this, the six-km stretch along the railway tracks from Kamakhya station to Bharalumukh station, towards Guwahati, was dug up last night but no bombs or explosives were found, police said. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to inaugurate the National Games.
In the name of democracy Nagaland Post Editorial
Quite expectedly, the electioneering in Manipur in the run up to the first phase of the polling on February 8 was marked by intimidation, threat and various acts that are inimical to democratic expressions. Such anti-democratic acts cannot be accepted as these not only pose grave consequences on freedom but also expose the failure of the system in correcting the drift. Of serious consequences is booth capturing, a phenomenon that has totally hijacked the will of the people. Booth capturing is an electoral fraud, witnessed in those areas where armed party loyalists "capture" a polling booth and vote on behalf of the voters to ensure that their candidate wins. Booth capturing is suppression of the rights of voters and there cannot be anything worse than this poison on the will of the people. Manipur as well as Nagaland are perhaps two states where booth capturing has been rampant and wrongly accepted as part of the electoral process. It invariably puts these two states at par with the malpratices of dacoits of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other dacoit and criminal infested societies. Those who fool themselves about their popularity but afraid to have this tested, use such criminal tactics to win elections. The reason why booth capturing has not been discouraged stems from the fact that the electoral system has its many flaws. The main contributory factor is the government ruled by politicians who have been elected through this method and it is therefore not difficult to understand why booth capturing has been so much tolerated. In 1989 the Representation of the People Act, 1951 was modified to include booth capturing as an offence punishable by law and countermanding or adjourning any poll that was booth captured. The development of the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) was also intended to make it harder for booth capturers to stuff the ballot boxes with their votes by enabling a five-minute delay between each vote entered as against hundreds of votes in the same time using ballot papers (stamped by a group of 3-4). The EVMs also possess a "close" button which can be used by the polling officer to deactivate the machines. Despite this, booth capturing continues to happen. The role of state agencies in the process is paramount since the Election Observers deputed by the Election Commission of India can but only lean on. It is time that the Election Commission of India the undertake primary task of collecting information from various independent agencies in order to be well informed about the ground reality. This could prepare the ECI in taking counter measures to prevent any criminal offence against the will of the people. It is also incumbent upon the people to raise their voices against electoral malpractices and this call for a greater role and responsibility on society's various voluntary organisations. After all, democracy is not only about voting but also about how we conduct ourselves to obey and respect the laws of the land.
Political divide Sangai Express Editorial
Even as the fate of 77 candidates were sealed in 19 Assembly Constituencies spread across the districts of Senapati, Ukhrul and Thoubal in the first phase polling on February 8, two trends have clearly emerged which do not augur well for the largest democratic exercise in the world. One is the growing incidents of poll related violence in almost all the Assembly Constituencies and the other is the use of overt or covert threat under a well laid down political agenda. Both are challenges to the institution of democracy, but it is the latter that we find more disturbing for if left unchecked it has the potential to take the already tense situation to a higher plane. The hawkish stand adopted by the United Naga Council in projecting its candidates and the threat issued to other candidates that their movements and political activities may be restricted is something which cannot be divorced from the concept of Nagalim. It remains to be seen how effectively the UNC has been able to ‘influence’ the Naga people in choosing their elected representatives, but the message has already been rung out and that is, everyone should toe the line of what the UNC thinks is right and best for the people. The stand of the UNC this time is undoubtedly a sharp diversion from their stand, when they coined the extremely catchy phrase, “We want solution, not election.” The question therefore is what are the political compulsions that have led the UNC to take such a keen and direct interest in the election. One obvious point is to give some sort of a political legitimacy to the demand of integrating all Naga inhabited areas under one political entity and the other, and if we may add, more provocative reason, could be to ring out the message that the integration of the Naga people and by extension the disintegration of Manipur can be raised on the floor of the State Assembly.
Elections in India have always been associated with violence and the use of money and muscle power. Manipur is also no exception to this, but what makes the election to the 9th Assembly all that more crucial is the use of threat and diktats under a well chalked out political agenda. It also goes without saying that the political agenda pursued by the UNC will further polarise the political thoughts between the valley and the hill areas, especially the hill districts dominated by the Naga people. Such a polarisation of thoughts and ideas can only take the brewing tension and sense of distrust and dislike to greater heights and this is what we find worrying. The tragedy that such a political situation has created in the election this time is that no room has been created to take up other issues on which political parties and their candidates can be grilled and questioned. Such an environment has been created to the run up to the election that there has been no conducive atmosphere for candidates and political parties to debate on other issues which are equally important. So far the only issues which have been drawing the attention of the political parties and candidates are the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the territorial integrity of the State and integration of Naga inhabited areas. These are no doubt important issues, but the fact remains that by its very nature, these issues are emotive and hence political parties and candidates can escape public scrutiny by playing to the gallery without addressing the ground reality. This is the biggest tragedy of the 9th Assembly election. High on rhetorics and short on substance.
Patil to review Games security By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Feb 8 – The Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil is likely to review the security of the National Games just before the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, a phone call about the existence of a bomb planted near the Railway tracks in the city created panic among the police and security forces since last evening. Official sources said that though the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has withdrawn its call to boycott the National Games, no one is willing to take any chances and tight security measures are still in place. The Central Government has sent 20 additional companies of paramilitary forces to the state exclusively for the security of the Games, while, police personnel have been drawn from different districts for the security of the venues. Sources said that the Union Home Minister is arriving in the State tomorrow morning along with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi to attend the opening ceremony of the Games. He is scheduled to chair a meeting of the Unified Command at 2.30 pm at the Raj Bhawan here to review the security arrangements for the Games. The meeting will be attended by the Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, State Chief Secretary and senior officials of the Army, Police and paramilitary forces. The Home Minister will fly back to New Delhi along with the UPA chairperson after attending the opening ceremony of the Games. Meanwhile, panic buttons were pressed last evening after a senior police official received a call about the existence of a bomb planted near the Railway tracks. A caller identifying himself as the ULFA commander in chief Paresh Baruah claimed that two bombs fitted with programmable time devices were planted near the Railway tracks near Kamakhya. The caller also said that the ULFA should not be blamed if the bombs exploded as it had already withdrawn its call to boycott the National Games. The call created panic among the police and the security forces and the sides of the Railway tracks were dug up near Kamakhya to Bharalumukh all throughout last night. The digging operations continued till today, but nothing was found till the time of filing of this report.
The phone call also forced the security personnel to think about changing the plans for bringing in the players to the Games village and there were discussions about the feasibility of bringing in the players by road from Rangiya. However, the plan was later aborted, sources said.
Bodo state in 2 decades, says BTC chief From Ramen Kalita Assam tribune
KUMARIKATA (Nalbari), Feb 8 – Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief Hagrama Mahiliary today asserted that the BTAD area must get a separate state of Bodoland within the next two decades and for that the infrastructure of the BTC areas will have to be developed in a peaceful atmosphere. He said that the BLT leadership in its talk with the Central Government came down from its separate state demand only due to lack of infrastructure needs for a state.

Addressing the open session of the Bodoland Peoples’ Progressive Front’s (BPPF) Tamulpur district conference at Kumarikata, the BTC chief expressed the hope that the people of BTAD will succeed reaching the goal of a separate State without resorting to any agitational movement. “The state and Central governments will be compelled to allow a separate state when we achieve our development”, Mahilary added. He urged all sections of the people to join hands to build a model BTC with all-round development. Once a hardcore militant, Mahilary called upon all section of the people to maintain peace and tranquility for the development of BTC. Later, talking to The Assam Tribune Mahilary said that in order to establish peace in the region the BTC leadership has taken the initiative to facilitate talks between Central government and NDFB at the earliest. He stated that the NDFB leadership will submit the list of demands by March as required by the Central government. “Then there will be no hurdle in the talks between NDFB and Centre”. Mahilary further denied that there was any conflict between Bodos and Sarania-Kacharis over the ST status issue, stating that there was no community in the name of Sarania. The open session inaugurated by Emanual Mosahary, executive member of Education department of BTC was addressed by PHE Minister Rihan Daimary and BPPF general secretary Biswajit Daimary. In his address Biswajit Daimary said that after delimitation the BTAD will get 14 seats of MLAs and two seats of MPs which will speed up the development activities in BTC areas.
First phase of Manipur polls concludes 85 to 90 per cent voting recorded; Fate of Chief Minister, Speaker sealed Sentinel
Imphal, Feb 8: Polling in the first phase of assembly elections in Manipur ended at 3:30 pm today.
A high 85 to 90 per cent votes were cast in the first phase of the Manipur elections in 19 of 60 assembly constituencies in three districts of Ukhrul, Senapati and Thoubal today. Official reports said about 90 per cent polling was reported from Thoubal and between 85 to 95 per cent from Senapati and Ukhrul disricts.
Election department officials said the turnout was around 40 per cent at 1:30 pm and they were awaiting details from three districts of Thoubal, Senapati and Ukhrul where elections to 19 of the assembly’s 60 seats were held. Polling was by and large peaceful save for minor incidents, officials said. Voters who entered polling stations before 3:30 pm would be allowed to vote, they said. A Congress worker was injured in a clash with supporters of the Manipur People’s Party at Khangabok constituency in Thoubal district, they said. An EVM was snatched by unidentified persons from a polling station in Phungyar constituency, where Victor Keishing, son of senior Congress leader and former chief minister Reishang Keishing is contesting. The EVM was later replaced. The fate of prominent leaders including Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Speaker Manirudin Sheikh and former finance minister Chungkhokai Doungel, all of the Congress, and Manipur People's Party leaders L Tomba Singh and L Jatra Singh will be decided by today’s polls. The second phase of the polls will be held on February 14 in 29 constituencies and the third and final phase on February 23 in 12 seats. (PTI)