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10/13/2007: "UN intervention sought on Nagas’ political rights The Morung Express"

UN intervention sought on Nagas’ political rights The Morung Express

Dimapur, October 12 (MExN): Mokokchung reaches out to the United Nations to intervene in South-East Asia’s longest political conflict, the Indo-Naga political conflict, and impact a permanent settlement. The Concerned Citizens’ Forum of Mokokchung in a letter addressed to the UN Secretary General prayed that the United Nations direct the Government of India to recognize the Nagas’ political rights under the principles of the UN Charter of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights.
“The Indo-Naga political conflict is the longest political problem in Asia needing intervention of the UN and many others. We sincerely hope that a permanent political settlement should be arrived at of the present political talk with Government of India” the CCF letter appealed. “What the Nagas want is to live in their homeland free from domination of India, a Hindu country and Burma, a Bhuddist country. We strongly wish that we should be allowed to be safeguarded by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as declared by the UN General Assembly on 12th September 2007.”
CCF prayed that the UN direct the Government of India to recognize the Nagas’ political rights under the principles of the UN Charter of Indigenous Peoples’ Rights.
The Nagas are a distinct ethnic stock of Mongolian race that migrated to the present compact areas from South East Asia and beyond, the forum explained to the Secretary General. The Nagas came through the present Myanmar crossing Irrawady and Chindwin rivers. The Nagas are now settled between India, Myanmar and China occupying an approximate geographical area of 1, 20,000 sq. kms, with a population of over more than 3.5 millions.
“We are neither Aryans, nor Dravidians by racial stock and origin unlike the Indians. We are not Hindus nor Muslims nor Buddhist by religion. As a distinct race, the Nagas remained unconquered and un-administered by any foreign power right from time immemorial but now compelled to live under the domination of India and Myanmar” the forum asserted.
The forum highlighted a gist of the Nagas’ history: British occupational forces invaded the Naga homeland from 1832. In 1866, they carved out a district in the Naga territory and termed it as ‘Naga Hills District’ and placed the same under Assam’s province. “In this way, the British Government divided the Naga population and displaced them in different territories for their own administrative convenience” the forum explained. The British Government on their departure handed over that district to the Government of India without the consent of the Nagas. Further, the Government of India divided the Naga population and territory into different Indian states.
“This gave a turning point to Naga tribal nation, forming into a distinct group of Indigenous People of the world today. The Nagas declared Independence on 14th August 1947, followed by National Plebiscite conducted on May 16, 1951 whereby 99.99% voted in favor of Naga Independence” the forum maintained. Further, in1953, under the neo-colonial design, the prime ministers of India and Burma Jawaharlal Nehru and Thakin Nu (Unu), further divided the Nagas and shared their territory and population between them putting an “imaginary international boundary” against the wishes of the Nagas. Then, following the 16-Point MoU signed by “certain un-mandated section of people” in July 1960 and subsequent enactment of Nagaland Legislative Act of 1962, a puppet Indian state was strategically installed.
“Out of 62 indigenous Naga tribes, only 16 tribes were included within the puppet state of Nagaland under Indian Union. The rest of the Nagas are forced to live in three other Indian states i.e. Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Majority of the Nagas are in Myanmar side occupying a larger geographical area of the Naga territory, now under military Junta rule” the UN was informed.
Due to installation of Indian state in December 1, 1963 and signing of the Shillong Accord under duress in November 1975, more problems have cropped up dividing the Nagas, it explained. “Throughout the decades, Government of India had been playing divide and rule policy using RAW and state agencies creating different factions amongst the Nagas. Nagaland has been experiencing suppressive iron hand of the Indian Army vis-à-vis a strong Naga resistance struggle against Indian Army and Burmese military Junta.”
The Government of India also imposed various draconian Acts upon the indigenous Naga people such as (i) The Assam Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous Districts) Act 1953, (ii) Assam Disturbed Area Act 1955, (iii) The Armed Forces (Special Powers Act 28) of 1958, its Amendment of 1972, (iv) Nagaland Security Regulation Act 1962. The Assam Disturbed Area Act of 1955 was re-imposed with effect from March 31 in 1995 in Nagaland. Countless people were massacred by the Indian Armed Forces; Naga villages were grouped, kept them in concentration camps; villages including properties and Naga forests turned to ashes in India-occupied Naga homeland.
The forum informed the UN that “the Naga indigenous people are still under such draconian rules which are a direct violation of human rights; In Burmese occupied Naga homeland also, Nagas are suffering in the hands of Burmese armies ever since 1953, now under military junta rule for more than four decades of confinement in Burma.”
Today, Government of India has recognized the uniqueness of Naga political history and its situation but instead of taking concrete political decision, India is playing delay-tactics to divide the Nagas further. This is the actual state of affairs on the Indo-Naga political conflict, it lamented. The CCF also expressed immense happiness and gratitude to the UN Secretary General and the UN General Assembly for taking initiative in the right perspective on the rights of the Indigenous People of the world, like the Nagas. It also acknowledged the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the World on 12th September 2007 in the Report of the Human Rights Council. “We, on our own behalf and the Nagas in general, express our thankfulness to all concerned who stood behind us in recognizing and accepting the legitimate rights of the indigenous peoples of the world” the forum acknowledged. The letter was appended by CCF president Supong Longchar, Secretary B. Namo and executive member Bur Longkumer.
Centre, NSCN (IM) resolve to find honourable solution Naga talks back on track Nagarealm.com
New Delhi [PTI] : Giving a fresh impetus to the ongoing Naga peace process, the Centre and the NSCN (IM) on Wednesday resolved to expedite their negotiations to find out a peaceful and honourable solution to the six-decade-old insurgency problem in Nagaland.
In a meeting held here, both sides resolved to work in close coordination to find out an "amicable, peaceful and honourabl" solution to bring peace into the north eastern state.
"The discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere. Both sides exchanged their views very frankly. The substantive issues also figured in the talks," an NSCN (IM) spokesman said.

The Naga outfit's general secretary Thungaleng Muivah is understood to have told the government team, led by Union Minister Oscar Fernades, that "NSCN (IM) is committed for peace. Therefore, the government should work for an honourable solution".

The issue of recent clashes between NSCN (IM) and its rival faction also figured in the discussion and the group asked the Centre to "control" the members of Khaplang faction for maintaining peace in Nagaland.
Both sides agreed to meet again soon, possibly later this month or early November.

Muivah, who has been camping in Dimapur ever since his return to India from Europe in December last year, is likely to leave the country again. NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu has already left India. Both the Government and NSCN (IM) on July 31, decided to extend the ongoing ceasefire indefinitely "subject to progress of peace talks" between the two sides. Apart from Fernandes, Union Ministers Prithiraj Chavan and S Regupathy and Centre's interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah took part in the meeting while eight top leaders represented the NSCN-IM.

Nscn abhors deception and hypocrisy- Nagaland Post
No hypocrisy and pretension will take the Khaplang group far enough and they cannot hoodwink the Naga people in the name of a force that stands for the Naga political aspiration. Making occasional noise, courtesy the local papers does not justify its existence. The signing of Cease fire with the Govt. of India neither makes any sense to retrieve its fallen image as betrayer to the cause. The Khaplang group who even failed to identify the Naga's root as an indigenous people cannot be expected to know anything other than terrorizing the Naga's own people on tribal line and other pretext.
The dictionary meaning of terrorist activities stands closest to the activities of Khaplang group. With its political vision sold out to the Govt. of India through the manipulative hands of RaW, MI etc the Khaplang Group has been taken down to the level of a mere paper force as far as its claim as a political force is concerned. The Khaplang Group's stand on not going for political talks with the Govt. of India is correct in more than one reason. One important reason is the master's control of its utterance or statement on Naga issue. Logically, the other reason is the nonexistence political issue with the Govt. of India.
Any comment on Naga political issue by Khaplang is a mere game to serve as a counterforce against NSCN. This is the way designed by Intelligence forces and unfortunately Khaplang group is a living testimony of the worst in the hand of Indian Intelligence forces against NSCN. In the backdrop of these highly dubious criminal practices and non-sens-ical presence of Khaplang forces in Nagalim, the NSCN put its foot down not to allow Khaplang group to have any designated camps in any parts of Nagalim.
The Govt. of India is also to be blamed by diluting the many mearting of Ceasefire by signing ceasefire with the very group under its manipulative control. To drive home the point further the Nagas should remember the words of Khaplang who shouted in declaration- "our enemy is not India but NSCN".
MIP, GPRN, NSCN (I-M)
NSCN (K)-Centre CF talks The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 12 (MExN): Officials from the Union home ministry and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) will meet in New Delhi tomorrow to streamline the existing ceasefire ground rules and also the setting up of designated camps in Nagaland.
Speaking with The Morung Express today, Senior NSCN (K) Kilonser, AZ Jami disclosed that the main agenda will be about shifting of the Ceasefire Supervisor Board Office from Mon district to Zunheboto. He said that the present CFSB Office in Mon is located in such an interior place which is on the extreme side of Nagaland.
Kilonser Jami also disclosed that the NSCN (K) would be demanding designated camps in the districts like ‘Mon, Wokha, Mokokchung, Kiphire, Phek etc, in almost all the districts of the state’. Until recently, the outfit was setting up designated camps in Suruhoto, around 200km from Kohima and in Tizit town which is in Mon district.
The NSCN (K)’s side in the ceasefire talks will be headed by the NSCN (K) Kilonser and NSCN (K) CFSB Supervisor, Kughalu Mulatonu and two Deputy Kilonsers. However, the NSCN (K) general secretary, who is also reported to be in Delhi will not take part in the talks, Jami disclosed. Jami reiterated that there would be no political talks yet, as the rival group, the NSCN (IM) was engaged in talks with the Centre at present.
“Until and unless the Government of India winds up the talks (with the NSCN-IM) then there will be no political talks now. Let them finish their talks,” Jami echoed the NSCN (K) stand, which has been held firm by the faction for the past many years.
Jami alleged that the NSCN (IM) has accepted the Indian constitution though they are keeping it a tight secret. However, he said that the Naga people will reject the NSCN (IM) solution since it will be done under the previews of the Indian constitution.
Jami further disclosed that the activities of the NSCN (IM) cadres in the state would also be brought up for discussion. He said that the NSCN (IM) cadres are moving freely and openly in the civilian areas and interfering in the normal administration of the state with the state and central government remaining helpless.
Meanwhile, it has been reported in a national daily that senior Kilonser Kughalu Mulatonu has revealed that tomorrow’s talks would focus on ceasefire violation by the NSCN (I-M) and how to check activities that are detrimental to the ongoing ceasefire between the security forces and the NSCN (K). The truce is on since April 2001. ‘However, the NSCN (K) has said it will not allow any of the rival group’s camps to exist in any parts of Nagaland’ the paper reported.
NSCN-IM says no to rival camps in “Nagalim” The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 12 (MExN): The NSCN-IM says it will not allow rival faction NSCN-K to have any designated camps in, an MIP note stated, “Nagalim.” The NSCN-IM explained that this is in the backdrop of “highly dubious criminal practices” of the NSCN-K in “Nagalim.”
“The Khaplang group’s stand on not going for political talks with the government of India is correct in more than one reason. One important reason is the master’s control of its utterance or statement on Naga issue; logically the other reason is the non-existence political issue with the Government of India” the MIP explained. The outfit also stated that any comment on the Naga political issue by the NSCN-K is a mere “game to serve as a counterforce against NSCN.”
“This is the way designed by intelligence forces and unfortunately Khaplang group is a living testimony of the worst in the hand of Indian intelligence force against NSCN. In the backdrop of these highly dubious criminal practices and nonsensical presence of Khaplang forces in Nagalim, the NSCN put its foot down not to allow Khaplang group to have any designated camps in any parts of Nagalim” the MIP asserted.
The NSCN-IM also blamed the GoI for “diluting” the “many meaning of ceasefire” by signing a ceasefire agreement with a group under its “manipulative control.” With the NSCN-K’s political vision sold out to the Government of India through manipulative hands of “RAW, MI etc” it has been “taken down” to the level of “mere paper force” the NSCN-IM explained.
Politician accused in Rs 3 crore heroin haul in Nagaland Kohima, UNI Deccan Herald
Dimapur police apprehended nine persons, along with one kg heroin worth Rs one crore at the Khermahal area of Dimapur town, official sources said here today.
Acting on a tip-off, police arrested one Mantu Debnath (42),along with the contraband, and on his confession, the entire gang of nine were arrested yesterday, the sources said.
The accused included a politician, who had contested unsuccessfully as an independent candidate from the Bokajan Assembly Constituency of Assam.Later, he was arrested at Bokajan with the help of Assam police. Meanwhile, investigation was on to apprehend the other members of the inter-state smuggling gang, operating in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, the sources added.
NSCN (I-M) fund drive in Haflong Correspondent Nagaland Post
DIPHU, OCT 12: The N.C. Hills district in Assam has turned into a thriving ground for alleged extortion drives by various militants groups of the North-East with the NSCN (I-M) occupying centre stage.
It was learnt that the NSCN (I-M) by virtue of its cordial relation with the DHD (J), has chosen Haflong as a safe haven for collecting fund and according to highly placed sources, the organization has targeted an amount of Rs. 100 cores to be extorted from the hill district with the active cooperation of DHD (J).
With a view to collect this staggering amount, a group of twelve sharp shooters of the outfit had already left for Haflong from Hebron camp in Dimapur, sources added.
The group is expected to work in collaboration with ‘Major’ Chimroy Foam, the Haflong based NSCN (I-M) leader and another Wilfredo, the area commander of Mahaur. Speculations are rife that the outfit might choose to eliminate some of the top ranking security officials of the district whom they consider as the main obstacle in accomplishment of their mission.
Meanwhile, due to the heavy onslaught of the security forces in Karbi Anglong in the aftermath the massacre of Hindi-speaking people, a group of the KLNLF militants have reportedly taken shelter in NC Hills, adding fuel to the already volatile situation of the district.
This came in to light after the arrest of one KLNLF activist along with arms near Haflong yesterday.
Meanwhile, PRO Defence, Nagaland and Assam, Lt Col Nirupam Bhargava, in a press release said the busting of a militant training camp inside Kaki RF area of East Karbi Anglong, about 10 km from Diphu, by troops of Army’s Red Horns Division on Thursday, have once again confirmed the nexus between NSCN (I-M) and KLNLF.
According to the PRO, a routine patrol of the Army hit upon the camp at around 5 p.m. when the militants were having their evening meal. However, sensing the advance of the Army patrol, the militants managed to melt away into thick jungles.
Some of the items recovered from the camp included 79 rounds of AK 47 ammunition, rucksacks, skipping ropes, combat dresses, political maps of Assam and North East, atleast ten pairs of shoes including jungle shoes, two Bibles, telephone directory, torches, blankets, bed sheets. Two cash receipt books of ‘Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim’ were also recovered, the release added.
Army alleges NSCN (IM)-KLNF nexus UG TRAINING CAMP BUSTED NEAR DIPHU The Morung Express
Kohima, October 12 (PIB) : The Troops of Army’s Red Horns Division busted yet another ‘terrorist camp’ inside Kaki RF area of East Karbi Anglong, about 10 km from Diphu confirming once again, the nexus that exists between NSCN (IM) and KLNF, stated a press note from Lt Col Nirupam Bhargava, PRO Defence Nagaland and Assam .
At about 1700 hours on 11 Oct, a routine patrol of the Army hit upon a training camp. The millitants were having their evening meal when, sensing the advance of the Army patrol towards their camp they managed to melt away into thick jungles leaving behind their plates laden with food, midway.
The camp consisted of three to four shelters. Out of these one was well furnished and probably belonged to a senior cadre of NSCN (IM), a new combat dress with insignias and collar dogs of NSCN (IM) were found. From what was left behind clearly indicates it was a KLNF camp where training was being conducted under a senior cadre of NSCN (IM). Some of the items recovered from the camp include 79 rounds of AK 47 ammunition, a motor cycle helmet, two cycles, an Acer Laptop carry case without the laptop, five Rucksacks, ten skipping ropes, eight dusters, five pairs of comb dresses, Political maps of Assam and North East, atleast 10 pairs of shoes including jungle shoes, 25 Liquid Dettol bottles, Two Bibles, Oxford Dictionary, a Satchel, telephone directory, candle packets, torches, blankets, bed sheets etc. Besides these, two cash receipt books of ‘Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim’ were also found.
The busting of the camp is a major achievement in the Counter terrorist operations of the SF against KLNF, in particular. In the last two months, this is the such camp which has been busted by the Army. Around a month back two KLNF cadres were killed in an encounter and two of their camps were busted. A transit facility deep inside Disama RF was busted only a fortnight ago. The KLNF cadres are on the run as one by one, all their strongholds are being raided by Army and cadres being apprehended.
Manipur newspapers closed indefinitely Correspondent Nagaland Post
IMPHAL, OCT 11: Print and electronic media based in Imphal resolved to cease work indefinitely from Thursday and staged dharna following fresh threats to media houses from factions of People Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK).
This is the second instance where media houses had to close down and suspend publication and broadcasting of news within the past two month due to the tussle within the militants group.
On August 1 last, Imphal based journalists suspended their services for five days and staged a three- day round-the-clock dharna in Imphal Keishampat in protest against threats from the factions of the militants group PREPAK over non-publication of statements released to the media houses for publication as news item.
Owing to fresh threats over the question of publication of a statement issued by a faction of the militant group, the publication of today's issue of newspapers was suspended by a resolution of the joint meeting of two bodies of journalists, the Editors' Forum and All Manipur Working Journalists Union.
Media houses were forced to suspend publication as one militant group gave strong pressure not to carry any statement dispatched by other group even as the other group repeatedly threatened to attack with guns if their statement was not carried in the newspapers.
The statement released by a faction of the outfit was in connection with the 30th raising day of the PREPAK which was held on October 9 last.
It may be recalled that media persons had staged a round-the clock dharna at Keishampat for three days in the first week of August in protest against the incident where activists of the PREPAK (home department) delivered a wrapped bomb to the office of the Sangai Express while activists of another PREPAK faction intimidated other media houses.
The situation had arisen after one faction of the underground PREPAK prohibited the publication of a press statement issued by the one group, whereas the other group insisted on publication of the statement. The matter was settled after both the factions tendered apology to the journalist fraternity with an assurance that such incidents would not be repeated in future.
Mindsets in Delhi and north-east Nagaland Post
GUWAHATI, Oct 10: Despite the Centre’s avowed policy for development of the economically backward north east, the mindset in Delhi still viewed the region and its 38 million people as a buffer zone.
It came from the heart of union minister for Development of Northeast Region (DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar while delivering his keynote address at the ongoing three-day national conference on “India’s Look East Policy-Challenges for Sub-Regional Cooperation” being held at Guwahati.
Aiyar’s observation stemmed from the fact that 98% of its borders were surrounded by international borders while just 2% linked with the rest of the country.
He also said the people of the north east should also not use terms like “alienation” or “neglect” when investments in the region was compared with the rest of the country.
Aiyar said the Look East Policy had no meaning if the role of Myanmar was ignored. “You can't reach anywhere without going through that country specially to Southeast Asia and it makes our relations with them all the more important for the success of this policy as far as northeast is concerned."
Stressing on the urgent need to bring development to the states bordering neighbouring countries, Aiyar cited the example of Arunachal. He said people in Arunachal were watching the progress in Tibet Autonomous Region and wondered why the same level of development could not be achieved on this side of the border.
The DoNER minister however warned that the process of development in the region should be with a human heart and ensuring the human rights of the local people was not violated.
Perhaps, the most significant of Aiyar’s disclosure was the “Delhi durbar’ syndrome where politicians from the north east have yet to pick up the nuances of lobbying in the nation’s capital which invariably determines the fate of their projects.
He also emphasized on the need to focus more attention on other aspects for positive governance than merely on corruption, which he said was a global phenomenon.
On the role of DoNER and NEC, Aiyar said with a specialized minister for the region which has been setup with substantial budget there was need to have a relook at the role of the NEC in the region and the Secretary NEC has already submitted a paper on the same to him.
The DoNER Minister also informed that a high level meeting of the Northeast Chief Ministers would be held by October end, with senior ministers like External Affairs Minister, Home Minister, Commerce Minister and himself in Delhi to sort out some major issues and the international frontiers and its implications will also figure in a big way.

Passengers suffocate to death on N-E buses OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Agartala: Packed like sardines on inter-state buses, four passengers travelling from Guwahati to Agartala died of suffocation yesterday. Police detained Swapan Das, the driver of the bus in which three passengers died yesterday in the Kumarghat area of North Tripura. However, no action has been taken by West Agartala police station against the owner or driver of a bus in which a woman passenger was found dead. On Wednesday afternoon, an inter-state passenger bus belonging to Puja Travels, based in Guwahati, left for Agartala. The bus has a seating capacity of 35 but was crammed with 73 passengers, mainly brick kiln workers from Jharkhand.
Even though the bus was air-conditioned, many passengers had trouble breathing because of the overcrowding. When the overloaded bus reached Churaibari in North Tripura, some passengers started vomiting but the driver refused to stop. By the time the vehicle reached Kumarghat, at least 12 passengers had fallen seriously sick. They were shifted to Kumarghat hospital where three of them, Sato Maheli (19), Suraj Bekhora (18) and Ramprasad Bhagwat (18), all residents of Thanpur district in Jharkhand, were pronounced dead.
In the other incident, a woman passenger died of suffocation. Srima Debi (25) had left Guwahati for Agartala along with her son and husband on a bus belonging to Agartala-based Sherowali Travels on Wednesday. As soon as the bus entered the hilly region within Tripura on the Assam-Agartala National Highway, Srima Debi said she felt uneasy but the driver refused to stop the bus. She was declared dead after being taken to the IGM Hospital when the bus reached Agartala at 7pm. All four bodies have been sent for post-mortem.
Transport minister Manik Dey expressed shock and said he would look into the matter.
Officer in charge of West Agartala police station Subrata Chakraborty said, “The matter is being investigated and we will take action only after receiving the post-mortem report. We have also asked the proprietors of Sherwali Travels to produce the driver of the bus in which the woman died, otherwise we will have a warrant issued against them.”
The owners of Sherwali Travels were not available for comment. Staff manning the Puja Travels counter at Paltan Bazar in Guwahati said tonight they were not aware of the deaths but admitted that the bus was a “little overcrowded.”
Battle of nerves in Assam's rebel strongholds By IANS
Guwahati, Oct 12 (IANS) Rebel strongholds in Assam are witnessing a battle of nerves with locals protesting on the streets, accusing the army of excesses including rape and molestation, and soldiers rejecting the charges, saying it was a 'new technique' adopted by insurgents to pit civilians against them.
On Tuesday, residents of more than a dozen villages in the eastern tea and oil-rich district of Dibrugarh laid siege at the local magistrate's office in Tengakhat town. They threatened to launch a stir if the state government did not 'rein in the army', engaged in sustained counter-insurgency operations in the area, a known stronghold of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA).
The latest round of street protests was triggered by the alleged molestation of a mother of two at village Tipomia by soldiers of the 11 Guards Regiment, who were accompanied by some surrendered militants. The police have since registered a case against a soldier after a complaint from the housewife. The army, however, says a soldier by that name does not exist in its rolls.
'The complainant has given the name of the soldier as Raju but the army unit concerned says there is no one in its ranks by that name. We have to look for other clues,' local police officer Mrinal Kumar Das has been quoted as saying.
The army has been quick to counter the allegations this time round. A statement issued by officials under the 2nd Mountain Division said: 'The new technique is being adopted to prevail upon the women folk to stage demonstrations on national and state highways, causing disruption in the flow of traffic, by casting allegations of molestation and rape by security forces.'
It added: 'In order to sensationalise the whole issue and to malign the image of security forces, the ULFA has started framing baseless allegation of crime against women in areas where there is extensive demonstration by the security forces and where the ULFA's extortion activities have been adversely affected.'
There have been excesses by the army in the area, including custodial deaths of ULFA suspects or supporters, but a surge of civilian protests and allegations against the soldiers is also seen whenever counter-insurgency actions against the insurgents peak.
The army has said the recent surrender of seven top notch ULFA cadres at the Laipuli Army Camp, apprehension of Prabal Neog, the commander of the group's '28th battallion', by far the most potent strike force of the ULFA, and elimination of many of its senior leaders in the past six months has led to frustration in the group. The ULFA, fighting for an independent homeland since its inception in 1979, has been facing major reverses since the Bhutanese military assault in December 2003, but by far its biggest setback has been the capture of Neog on Sep 17.
During the past 12 months, beginning September 2006, the army's 2nd Mountain Division, based in eastern Assam, has neutralised scores of ULFA militants.
'We have neutralised 177 ULFA militants since Sep 24, 2006, including one battalion commander (Rajiv Kalita of the '27th battalion'), four company commanders, 10 action group commanders and seven experts in improvised explosive devices (IED),' said a senior officer.