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04/27/2007: "NSCN blames Centre for clash OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

NSCN blames Centre for clash OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, April 26: Two days after blaming “vested interests” for the April 22 arson in Dimapur, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) yesterday squarely accused the Centre and its “systematic divide and rule policy” for the riots.
Sumi youths went on a rampage in Dimapur’s Tangkhul Naga Colony in Purana Bazar in retaliation to the torture of three youths allegedly by NSCN (I-M) activists.
Some of the top NSCN (I-M) leaders live in the disturbed colony.
The incident has triggered panic among l ocals in the area and dented claims of Naga unity.
The ministry of information and publicity of the outfit said in a statement last night that the incident demonstrated the Centre’s policy to weaken the Naga people’s aspiration for sovereignty.
The outfit said “incitement of tribalism and kindling ethnic cleansing” sentiments within the Nagas have been instrumental in Delhi’s proxy war to subdue the Naga political movement.
“The systematic assimilation into Indainised mindset through grants-in-aid, employment, and other assurances has hypnotised ignorant Nagas, who don’t identify themselves with their own ethnic cultures and history today,” the statement said .
The NSCN (I-M) said adverse elements have manipulated the incident and turned it into a community issue.
It also questioned the district administration’s failure to control the situation.
“The arbitrary administrator’s authority, authenticity and responsibility become questionable.”
But the Nagas will stand their ground resolutely against all divisive elements, the outfit said.
“Nagas are committed to peaceful resolution by respecting and honouring India’s interests but not at the cost of our inalienable birthrights. It is up to India to prove its honoured commitments to peace,” the release said.
The secretary of the collective leadership of the NSCN (I-M), Samson Jajo, said the leaders have discussed the Purana Bazar incident.
Jajo, however, said the NSCN (I-M) would not play any role to defuse tension, since various NGOs were already at work to reconcile the warring parties.
Both Sumi and Tangkhul tribal Hohos have termed the incident as “unfortunate” and decided to disown anybody who tried to incite communal tension in the future.
Sumi Hoho president H.S. Rotokha also said some people were trying to separate the two tribes by fanning communalism.
Naga leaders have discussed the causes of the ethnic violence and were trying to reach a consensus regarding its resolution.
“And I think it can be resolved,” Rotokha said.
Ceasefire with NSCN(K) extended for one more year By Sanjay Kumar Daily India News
New Delhi, Apr 26: The ceasefire between the Central Government and National Socialist Council of Nagaland was extended for one more year here on Thursday. During a brief meeting between the Home Ministry officials and the NSCN(K) representative, the deal to extend the ceasefire for one more year was signed.

"First we entered into a bilateral agreement with the Indian government in 2001. For further extension of the ceasefire agreement we met in New Delhi today," said Kughalu Mulatonu, a senior NSCN (K) functionary.

When asked about the recent violation of the ceasefire agreement by the group, the NSCN(K) leader denied any such happening.

"Ceasefire really got extended for one more year. Unlike the NSCN(IM) group, we don't blackmail the government for the extension of the ceasefire for three months or six months or nine months and come to Delhi. When we come to Delhi we come for the extension of one year and go back," said Kughalu Mulatonu.

On the recent bloodshed between two factions of the Naga groups, Mulatonu justified it saying that there was no ceasefire with NSCN(IM), which he calls is a terrorist group having links with the Islamic terrorist organizations.

"The ceasefire exists between the Government of India and the NSCN(K), secondly there is no ceasefire between the NSCN(IM) and the NSCN(K)".

NSCN(K) leader said peace is not possible in Nagaland unless and untill sovereignty is granted to teh state and teh state is rid of the "terroist" elements.

"Until and unless we do away with the terrorist living on the Naga soil, how can people have peace, how can people have peace, restore peace. We are fighting the terrorists to bring peace in Nagaland and give peace to Nagaland", uttered NSCN(K) functionary.

He termed the ongoing peace process between the centre and the NSCN(IM) as an hogwash and a futile exercise.

"If people can't solve one problem in ten years, if people can't spell out the contours of the talks even after more than fifty rounds of talks then what people of Nagaland should expect from them", Mulatonu said.

For more than two decades, the two Naga factions have been engaged in fratricidal battle. Recently, the NSCN(K) has issued "quit notice" to the Tankhul community, a tribe the leader of NSCN(IM) Thuingaleng Muivah belongs to.

So far, more than hundred lives have been lost in the factional clashes. Last week, a Tankhul locality was burnt down by the rival faction.

Sumi, Tangkhul bodies for reconciliation Thangkhul.com
Topic: North East News DIMAPUR, APRIL 26 (NPN): The Sumi and Tangkhul communities have resolved to "forgive and forget" the April 22 incident at Wungram Colony, Dimapur, and to rebuilt and strengthen the relationship between the two tribes. A joint meeting of the Sumi community of Purana Bazar and Tangkhul community of Wungram Colony, under the aegis of Western Sumi Hoho (WSH) and Tangkhul Hoho Dimapur (THD), held Thursday afternoon at WSH office also resolved that any future conflict and misunderstanding that might arise between the two communities, should be settled by leaders of the two communities "but should not at any cost communalise the issue."

A joint press release issued by WSH president Hokiye Yepthomi, Tangkhul Hoho president S Joseph, GB, Purana Bazar, Khenito Awomi and GB, Wungram Colony, Sunny Hungyo informed that in the meeting, both the communities further appealed to the general public to desist from any anti-social activities that might hamper the "fabric of Naga society." The three resolutions were unanimously agreed upon by members of both the communities during the meeting in the presences of Western Sumi Hoho and Tangkhul Hoho Dimapur officials, after the two sides admitted and accepted the "mistakes and forgiveness of one another." After a series of deliberations on the April 22 incident by all members present in the meeting, the Tangkhul community of Wungram "admitted the mistakes committed by the Tangkhul boys to the Sumi boy and sought apology and forgiveness," the release said. Likewise, the Sumi community of Purana Bazar also expressed "profound and heartfelt regret to the huge damage done on Wungram Colony and sought apology and forgiveness," it added.
AR cautions NSCNs on ULFA Correspondent Nagaland Post
SHILLONG, APRIL 26: The Assam Rifles has cautioned Naga insurgent outfits including the NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K) not to extend any support to the ULFA in the wake of offensive operation against the latter in Assam.
"'We have warned both the factions of the NSCN not to provide any shelter to the United Liberation Front of Asom in the state," Inspector General of Assam Rifles (North) Maj Gen K S Sethi told reporters here today while admitting that the ULFA maintained a close link with the NSCN (K).
Asked about the presence of the ULFA cadres in Mon and Tuensang districts of Nagaland, the IGAR said, "there is no large scale movement of ULFA in the districts. Whenever we got any information of their presence, the Assam Rifles have acted against them." Sethi also denied the presence of other militant groups from Manipur and Asom operating in Dimapur, the commercial hub centre of Nagaland. Terming the allegations and counter-allegations by both the NSCN factions against the Assam Rifles, he said the Assam Rifles had remained neutral to both the warring factions.
On the recent arson at Wungram colony in Dimapur, the IGAR said the incident was purely a law and order situation. "Two columns of 31 Assam Rifles were already at the spot, but the district administration did not ask us to swing into action," he said.
Meanwhile, Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh today said Myanmar has assured India to flush out Indian insurgents operating from its soil.
"In our last visit to Myanmar, we had made some breakthrough with the junta agreeing to flush out Indian insurgents," Singh said on the sidelines of the two-day high level Assam Rifles Commander's Conference, which started here today.
He, however, refused to divulge further details It might be mentioned that for decades, insurgent groups like the ULFA, NSCN (K), UNLF, PLA, PREPAK, KNA and others have set up their operation bases and training camps in Myanmar's mountainous region between the Arakan range and the Irrawady. India shares 1,664 km of border with Myanmar.
Our reflection- Nagaland Post Opinion
The Naga National Council (NNC), which was a political body and the national institute, compromised itself conditionally into Indian state union under the infamous Shillong Accord, and entered into peace/transit camps. This sell-out betrayal of trust reposed upon them by the Naga people through the 1951 May 16 plebiscite hammered the final nails on its coffin, and the subsequent entry into transit peace camps.
Delving into the dawn of fratricidal killings, the accordists may explain why they had to kill so many innocent Naga people who denounced the treacherous Shillong Accord. It was the birth of NSCN that the Naga political aspiration was resuscitated and rescued. Today it is through the efforts of the NSCN that the uniqueness and political situation of the Naga people is acknowledged by India. It is through the NSCN that we have embarked into a formal unconditional political dialogue with India at the highest level, in a third neutral country.
Today, as the talks have reached a crucial juncture, the adversaries are out to undermine the legitimate rights of the Nagas through incisive divisive stratagems. Hence, yielding to the manifestations of our enemy's policy of divisionism or surpassing beyond all domestic matters, defending our inherent identity and rights will determine our spirit of nationalism. When any social issue crops up in between individuals among Nagas, which is sinisterly manipulated and diverted into tribal lines by adversaries to disintegrate the Naga family i.e. the political aspirations of the Nagas, Thomas should try not to incite communalism in tune with antagonists' desire as such incidents/issues are purely social problems not associated to any tribe in particular but the individual perpetrators and victims involved, and the concerned authority who executes the customary laws of the Nagas, under whose jurisdiction a crime or offense takes place. The NSCN does never harbor divisive elements but aims at strengthening Naga brotherhood bonds and in safeguarding the integrity of our nation and hence, associating divisive elements to the NSCN is unfounded. Let us reason with rational conscience and extend positive contributions than search for destruction avenues to create communal dissentions and discord. Our actions today will mould out future destiny and so we have to prudently cultivate positive mind-sets with vision for a better and brighter tomorrow. Following the maxim "to err is human, to forgive is divine". Let us give our past mistakes a healing touch and take civilized approaches than spawning hatred, division and vengeance in between brothers of a family.
MIP, GPRN, NSCN-IM
Myanmar to crack down on Indian rebel bases Times of India IANS

GUWAHATI: Myanmar is set to begin a military offensive following New Delhi's request to crack down on rebel bases. New Delhi had asked Mayanmar to evict Indian separatists from its soil, said Indian officials said on Friday.

“The Myanmar army has promised to step up the fight against militants from our northeast states based in their country,” an Indian Army commander said on condition of anonymity.

Myanmar's decision to crack down on Indian rebel bases was made by Brigadier General Tin Maung Ohn who was leading an 18-member Myanmarese army delegation to India.

The Myanmar team, during the last five days, held extensive meetings with India's army and paramilitary commanders in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Assam.

“This is the first breakthrough, with Myanmar deciding to take proactive action against those (Indian militants) that already exist in their country,” Paramjit Singh, director general of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force engaged in anti-insurgency operations in the northeast, told reporters.

New Delhi has mounted pressure on Yangon to launch a military offensive against Indian militant groups – mainly the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).

The ULFA, a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland in Assam, is on the run since the Indian Army launched a crackdown in January after the group killed 80 people.

“The ULFA militants have sneaked into bases in Myanmar. If the military junta there launches an operation, it would be easier for us to deal with militancy here,” the commander said.

At least five major militant groups from India's northeast, where numerous tribal and ethnic groups are fighting for greater autonomy or independence, have training camps in the dense jungles of Sagaing in northern Myanmar.

“There are at least 20,000 guerrilla fighters in Myanmar belonging to various groups of the northeast,” said Kughalo Mulatonu, a rebel leader of the S S Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K).

The NSCN-K, a rebel group fighting for an independent tribal homeland in Nagaland, operates out of Myanmar with the outfit's general headquarters located in Sagaing.

Myanmar had earlier pledged that the junta would not let Indian rebels operate from its soil. The country last year launched a military operation against the NSCN-K, killing at least a dozen rebels and overrunning several of their bases. India and Myanmar share a 1,640-km long unfenced border, allowing militants from the northeast to use the adjoining country as a springboard to carry out hit-and-run guerrilla strikes on Indian soldiers. The rebels say they are seeking to protect their ethnic identities and allege that the central government has exploited the resources in the region rich with mineral, tea, timber and oil. Over 50,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in the northeast since India's independence in 1947.
Myanmar soon to launch an offensive to evict Indian separatists
Guwahati, India, April 27, IRNA Islamic Republic News Agency
Myanmar will soon launch a military offensive to evict Indian separatists from its soil following New Delhi's request to crackdown on rebel bases in that country, Indian officials Friday said.
"The Myanmarese army has assured us to step up the fight against militants from the northeastern states based inside their country", an Indian army commander said requesting not to be named.
Myanmar's decision to crackdown on Indian rebel bases was made by Brigadier General Tin Maung Ohn who was leading an 18-member Myanmarese army delegation to India.
The Myanmarese team during the last five days held extensive meetings with Indian army and paramilitary commanders in the northeastern states of Nagaland and Assam.
"This is the first breakthrough with Myanmar deciding to take proactive action against those (Indian militants) that already exist in their country", Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, director general of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force engaged in anti-insurgency operations in the northeast, told journalists.
New Delhi has mounted pressure on Yangon to launch a military offensive against Indian militant groups, mainly the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF).
The ULFA, a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland in Assam, is on the run after Indian army launched a crackdown in January after the group killed about 80 people.
"The ULFA militants have sneaked into their bases in Myanmar. If the military junta there launches an operation it would be easier for us to deal with militancy here", the army commander said.
At least five major militant groups from India's northeast, where numerous tribal and ethnic groups are fighting for greater autonomy or independence, have training camps in the thick jungles of Sagaing in northern Myanmar.
"There are about 20,000 guerrilla fighters in Myanmar belonging to various groups of the northeast", Kughalo Mulatonu, a senior rebel leader of the S.S. Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), said by telephone.
The NSCN-K, a rebel group fighting for an independent tribal homeland in Nagaland, operates out of Myanmar with the outfit's general headquarters located in Sagaing.
Myanmar had earlier pledged that the junta would not let Indian rebels operate from its soil.
Myanmar last year launched a military operation against the NSCN-K killing at least a dozen rebels and and overran several of their bases. India and Myanmar share a 1,640 kilometer (1,000 mile) long unfenced border, allowing militants from the northeast to use the adjoining country as a springboard to carry out hit-and-run guerrilla strikes on federal soldiers. The rebels say they are seeking to protect their ethnic identities and allege the federal government has exploited the resources in this mineral, tea, timber, and oil-rich region. More than 50,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in the northeast since India's independence in 1947.
New China-Burma road open Myo Gyi Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
April 27, 2007 - The near 100-kilometre new road connecting China and Burma was opened yesterday. Known as the Ledo Road , portions of it dates back to World War II.
Officials from the two countries, local ethnic leaders and representative of Kachin Special Region I and II attended the inaugural ceremony of the road held in Karpaiti, Kachin. The road stretches from Tengchone in Yunan province in the extreme south-western region of China, to Warshaung in Kachin state, Burma . The 96- kilometre asphalt road which cost 200 million Yuan has been under construction since 2004. Road building equipment from Yunan and 6,000 Chinese workers were on the job. By Chinese standards the road is in the grade II category.
A trip along the old Warshaung Road, not negotiable in the rainy season, took eight hours. Along the new road it will take only three hours from Tengchone to Warshaung.
The ceremony was attended by the Chinese delegation led by the vice-governor of Yunan province while the Burmese delegation was headed by the commander of Northern military Command General Ohn Myint. The road is a part of the 225 miles Ledo Road constructed in 1941 by Western Allies to connect Kuming, China and Ledo in Assam, India for sending supplies to the Chinese as an alternative to the Burma Road which was cut off by the Japanese in 1942. It was renamed Stilwell Road i n early 1945 at the suggestion of Chiang Kai-shek because it was built on the directions of General Stilwell.
B’desh to crackdown on Indian rebels Staff Correspondent Sentinel
SHILLONG, April 26: Bangladesh has assured New Delhi that it would not allow Indian separatists to use its territory to carry out anti-India activities, said PK Mishra, Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Asom-Meghalaya frontier.
“The BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) assured us that no Indian separatist would be allowed to operate from their soil,” Mishra who returned from Chitagong today after a four-day high-level biannual border coordination meeting, told The Sentinel over telephone from Agartala.
“We have asked them to take strong action against Indian separatists and destroy 176 camps and hideouts located inside Bangladesh,” the BSF commander said.
“BDR has launched a crackdown against Indian militants in Bangladesh. They (BDR) had never before been so cooperative and transparent,” Mishra said.
He headed a 15-member BSF delegation to the meeting with BDR deputy director general SM Golam Rabbani leading the Bangladeshi side.
“A list of 72 wanted Indian insurgent leaders and 79 sympathisers residing in Bangladesh were also handed over to the BDR delegation for taking immediate appropriate action,” the BSF official said.
Frontier guards of the two countries agreed in the meeting to step up border patrolling and ensure more confidence building measures (CBMs) and share information about insurgents and criminals.
Mishra, however, said border fencing works could not be completed in 235 patches along the border with Tripura, Asom, Mizoram and Meghalaya following objection by the BDR.
“Due to terrain problems and markets and government establishments falling within the 150 yards from the border, fencing had to be constructed close to the border lines. We have convinced the BDR that the fencing is not a defence protection, it is only to curb movement of militants and criminals and check infiltration.”
Regarding illegal cultivation of Indian land by Bangladeshi nationals at Harinagar and Kinokhal of Silchar in Asom, BDR was requested to instruct Bangladesh farmers not to forcibly enter Indian territory.
“The leader of the BDR delegation made a mention of killing of unarmed Bangladeshi nationals by BSF and Indian nationals,” the official said. BDR also requested the BSF delegation to allow Bangladeshi officers get specialized training in India. Meanwhile, the matter of two abducted kids from Shillong — Harsha and Sachit — was also taken up during the meeting.
Myanmar hints tough action against ultras Staff Correspondent Sentinel

SHILLONG, April 26: Myanmar has assured India of flushing out Indian insurgents operating from its soil, Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh said here today.
“In our last visit to Myanmar, we had made some breakthrough with the junta agreeing to flush out Indian insurgents,” Lt Gen Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the two-day high level Assam Rifles Commander’s Conference which started here today.
He, however, refused to divulge further details. It may be mentioned here that for decades, militant groups like the ULFA, NSCN-K, UNLF, PLA and PREPAK, KNA and others have set up their operation bases and training camps in Myanmar’s mountainous region between the Arakan range and the Irrawady.
Admitting that the issue of flushing out Indian militants figured prominently during the meeting with the Myanmar top officials, Lt Gen Singh said, “We appreciated past actions by the Myanmar government on the insurgents, the assurance given this time on matters related to Indian insurgents is no more ambiguous.”
He also said that they have specific information about the movement of the 28th Battalion of the ULFA on its soil. About the reports that fleeing ULFA cadres are being helped by the NSCN(K) in using Nagaland territory to sneak into Myanmar, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (Nagaland) Maj Gen KS Sethi said, “The movement of the ULFA in Nagaland is not as it is projected. Maybe in one and two’s, but not on large scale because we are also operating against the ULFA men.”.
“We have categorically told both the factions of the NSCN that we will have to open fire if their cadres are sighted with the ULFA,” he said.
ULFA wives withdraw fast-unto-death By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, April 26: The fasting wives of the six missing ULFA leaders have decided to withdraw their agitation after a written assurance from the Chief Minister to the effect that the State Government will try its best to solve their problems and sincerely look into the issue of missing ULFA leaders. Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today visited the women being treated at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital and handed them a letter of the Chief Minister assuring them of all cooperation from the government’s side on getting information on the ultras ‘missing’ since the Bhutan operation in 2003.
The fasting wives were shifted in critical condition to the hospital after they refused to take food as the government expressed concern about their deteriorating health.
Gogoi in his letter said that he ‘was deeply worried about the health of the women and their children’ and assured in the letter that the government would give information, if any, about their husbands.
It may be mentioned here that the Chief Minister gave such assurance verbally on previous occasions as well, but the agitating wives of the ULFA leaders did not pay heed to it. Meanwhile, 184 families of the victims of the ULFA violence will begin a two-day sit-in demonstration from today at the Last Gate demanding whereabouts of their missing kin.
ULFA free to talk about devp, not sovereignty: CM My team cannot be complacent: Gogoi By Wasbir Hussain Sentinel
GUWAHATI, April 26: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ruled out any immediate reshuffle in his ministry, but stated that there is no room for complacency in work among ministers and bureaucrats. He said that his party and Government were open to unconditional support from any political party, except ‘communal forces’.
In a lengthy interview to this writer ahead of completing a year in office next month, Gogoi said: “My Government’s aim is to improve Asom’s economy and deliver goods to the people. The work culture has improved to some extent but we cannot be complacent. This applies to me, my ministers and the bureaucracy as a whole.”
The Chief Minister said that the annual fund flow to Asom from all sources now stands at Rs 2,500 crore, and it has become a challenge to effectively spend it on projects. “The yearly fund flow to the State has increased manifold over the past decade or so, and with this the work load of the State machinery has increased a lot. We have to keep up to the challenge of changing Asom’s economic profile,” he said.
Gogoi listed education, agriculture and health as his Government’s key focus areas. “We are doing well in all these three sectors, but there is scope for improvement. I have been telling my ministers and bureaucrats to upgrade skills,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the State has been receiving a lot of enquiries from potential investors in sectors such as cement, paper, hotels, jathropa cultivation etc. “We are confident Asom is going to be a major investment destination and we are happy that the Centre has come out with a new North-east Industrial Policy almost in the manner we wanted,” Gogoi said.
Asked whether investors would eventually shy away from the State in view of the security situation, the Chief Minister said: “The security situation is well under control and we are sincere about working out a negotiated settlement to the insurgency problem that we are faced with.”
The Chief Minister said: “I have said before that the Government cannot discuss on the ULFA’s demand for sovereignty because this is something which it cannot concede. The ULFA is welcome to enter into talks with the Government and have discussions on things like more autonomy for Asom or on anything that concerns the State’s overall development.”
Replying to a question on speculation in the media about a section of the AUDF wanting to join or back the Congress, the Chief Minister said: “We are open to any unconditional support from any party except communal forces.”
Manipur insurgency turning to terror : DGP Sentinel
IMPHAL, April 26: The nature of insurgency in Manipur has, as elsewhere in the North-East, shifted to acts of terrorism, extortion and coercion of the public, the Director General of Police, Y Joykumar said in a report on the achievements of Manipur police during the year 2006 and 2007 upto February as published in “Manipur Today”.
More than 20 underground outfits are operating actively in the state. Seven of them, including the feared People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Revolutionary Army of Kangleipak (PREPAK), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) etc operating actively in the valley areas were listed as unlawful organizations, as per a report of the union home ministry 2006-07 published recently.
“Differences of interests among underground outfits can assume a communal tinge since they are normally formed along the ethnic lines,” the DGP observed stating that due to competing social, economic and political interests among the various communities in the state, ethnic tensions and strifes often come to the fore without much notice.
As per the achievement report released on Khongjom Day, as many as 917 extremists belonging to various underground outfits were arrested and 116 extremists killed, while 182 assorted weapons were recovered along with 2006 assorted ammunition, 80 hand grenades, 11.4 kgs of explosive and 14 W/T sets. Apart from this police and security forces recovered Rs 5,05,512 from the UGs. During the period 91 persons, including extremists belonging to various underground groups, were detained under National Security Act (NSA) and 22 extremists belonging to various outfits surrendered to the government authority. Investigation of cases have shown a remarkable improvement during the period as altogether 2482 cases were disposed of, the report added. The achievement is in spite of the continued pressure on the state police to perform their duties, Joykumar said, stating that the state continues to be plagued with insurgency problems that have the propensity to disturb its security environment.
The porous Indo-Myanmar border has not only facilitated easy infiltration of the insurgents, but also helps in setting up of safe havens across the border where the outfits can train and regroup. The UGs are now in possession of sophisticated arms and weapons, IEDs etc which they use at will to terrorize the public and attack the security forces. The state police in spite of all these, with the help of the Army, Assam Rifles, Central Paramilitary Forces, has been able to restrain and curb the activities of the UGs, to a great extent. The thrust areas in the counter-insurgency operations remained neutralization of the UG groups and security of vital installations, the DGP mentioned. However, the DGP finally mentioned that overall security scenario, though improving, is still a matter of concern as the people in general continue to remain under constant threat from various UG groups operating in the state. (Agencies)