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07/15/2008: "NSCN-IM kills headman Morungexpress"

NSCN-IM kills headman Morungexpress
- Village chief killed for alleged nexus with Khaplang faction OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kohima, July 14: In a blow to the initiative taken by gaonburas (village headmen) and dubhashis (chiefs of Naga customary courts) to restore peace between the NSCN factions, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) has “executed” a prominent village chief, it was revealed today.
An official of the Gaon Burhas and Dubhashis Joint Forum quoted the NSCN (I-M) as saying that it had recently executed Khezheto Chishi, gaonbura of Yesholuto village under Zunheboto district, for his alleged nexus with the rival Khaplang faction.
One “captain” Akuto Sumi of the NSCN (I-M) abducted Chishi from a hotel room in Kohima on June 29.
The official said members of the association met top leaders of the NSCN (I-M) at their council headquarters, Camp Hebron, yesterday, where the outfit confirmed the village chief’s death.
They pleaded for the body but the outfit refused to disclose where it was buried.
A senior functionary of the outfit is said to have told the family members and the gaonburas that the body had been buried “according to tradition”. The outfit also asked the family members to perform the religious rites for the departed soul.
The family members of the deceased left for their village today to perform his last rites.
Several organisations condemned the abduction and killing and demanded immediate action against “captain” Akuto.
The forum said it would not remain silent till the NSCN (I-M) gave an appropriate and satisfactory explanation for the killing.
One of the village headmen told The Telegraph that they did not believe the NSCN (I-M’s) explanation and demanded an immediate explanation.
“We will not rest till they give us a proper clarification on why our member was executed,” a senior leader of the village association said.
He said could not believe that the deceased was a member of NSCN (K).
The family and members of the forum today said they would demand the state government constitutes a special investigation team to probe the matter.
The NSCN (I-M) suffered a blow when one of its leaders, “under-secretary” Whiteson Poumai, was killed by the NSCN (K) today following his abduction from a fuel depot on the outskirts of Kohima.
The NSCN (K) claimed that it had killed Poumai but gave no reasons.
Meanwhile, the police yesterday recovered the bodies of Avito Sumi and Aloto Sangtam, who were abducted from PR Hill near Kohima on July 9.
NSCN-IM ‘fin. secy’ shot dead in Kohima Our Correspondent Morung
Kohima | July 14 : In the continuing factional bloodshed between the two NSCN factions, a cadre of the NSCN-IM ‘civil set up’ was abducted by suspected rival cadres from the heart of the state capital and later shot him dead at a secluded place on Lakie Road, on the outskirts of the town. The deceased was later identified as one Sahrüni, 47, alias James alias Roson, who was holding the charge of “under secretary finance” of the NSCN-IM set up. He is said to hail from Laii village under Paomata sub-division of Manipur. He was reportedly abducted at gun-point from somewhere near the SKV petrol pump by suspected rival “GPRN/NSCN” cadres at around 12.45 pm while he was stuck in traffic jam. Later, his bullet-riddled body was found from a spot a few meters below Lakie Road at around 2 pm. The deceased was reportedly shot three times, one on the head and two others on the body. Police later recovered three shells of 9mm from the spot.
According to police, the deceased was reportedly traveling with another civilian in the car when they were intercepted by the rival cadres. The armed cadres are believed to have released the civilian after confirming his identity. The identity of the civilian is yet to be established. After completing the formalities, the body of the cadre was later handed over to relatives and was taken to his hometown Laii village for the last rites.
“NSCN/GPRN” claims responsibility
Dimapur, July 14 (MExN): The “NSCN/GPRN” today claimed responsibility for the killing of one Whiteson Pomai “u/secy, finance” of the NSCN (IM) and capturing one Dahri, a youth leader in Zupami village. In regard to the said Dahri, a note from the outfit’s military wing stated that as an “accomplice,” he could have been meted out the same fate as the NSCN (IM) cadre. However, the note explained what it claimed was “revolutionary ethics” and “humanitarian concern” prevailing. “…so he was freed unharmed and unconditionally. Bundles of extortion challans and money receipts were also found in the possession of the deceased” the note added.
Jami expelled By NPN | Nagaland Post
Dimapur The GPRN/NSCN (K) has expelled its Education kilonser AZ Jami from the “party” and discharged him from “National Service” for alleged anti-party activities, with effect from July 12, 2008.
Ato kilonser, GPRN, N Kitovi Zhimomi in an expulsion azha (order) said the azha issued in the “interest of the president” would come into force with immediate affect.
It may be mentioned Jami, who tendered his resignation last year, on Sunday announced that he had made a self-exit from both primary and active membership of the NSCN (K) after failing to get “positive response” from the chairman, NSCN (K).
Jami also attributed the “premature exit” to his name being dragged into unnecessary controversies by some of his colleagues and others. Jami in a statement said there were many capable and subtle young leaders who could take on the organization to higher level even without his contribution.
Stating that his resignation would take effect from the date of publication in the dailies, Jami said that the option of completely staying away from national service or joining any other organization in the future would be decided as per the demands of situation.
2 NSCN cadres killed By NPN | Kohima/Dimapur14/07/2008 Two NSCN activists, one each from the NSCN (I-M) and ‘NSCN/GPRN’ were killed in separate factional-related violence in Kohima and Dimapur respectively on Monday.
An under secretary (finance) of the NSCN (I-M) identified as RV Sahrünü of Zhobumai village, Senapati district, was shot dead after he was reportedly abducted along with his car by the rival faction Monday at around 11.30 a.m near SKV petrol pump area, Kohima.
Police later recovered the body of Sahrünü from Leikhe road, Jotsoma, some few kilometers from the state capital at around 2 p.m.
According to police, the victim was blindfolded and shot thrice with a 9mm pistol. The military wing of the ‘NSCN/GPRN’ has in a press release staked claim to the killing of “Whiteson Poumai, under secretary (finance) NSCN (I-M) and apprehension of Dahri, youth vice president of Zupumi village.” However, the release said Dahri was later freed unharmed and unconditionally owing to “revolutionary ethics and humanitarian concern.”
Meanwhile, the NSCN (I-M) has condoled the death of RV Sahriinii and said in his death, the “Nation” had lost a future dynamic leader, the community a prospective youngster and the family a great son.
“His selfless sacrifice shall always be cherished and remembered,” stated a condolence message issued by the MIP/GPRN.
In a separate incident in Dimapur, police recovered the body of a revenue officer of ‘NSCN/GPRN’ identified as Hotovi Yeptho, son of late Vikito Yeptho of Akuba village, Zunheboto district, at ISBT area around 6 a.m. The victim who had both hands tied and blindfolded, bore a bullet wound on the head, police said. The body was later handed over to family members.
Governor‘s message praises Naga craft By Staff Reporter | Nagaland Post Dimapur14/07/2008 Governor K Sankaranarayanan has stated that Nagas have a rich tradition of art and craft rooted in a lifestyle that was in harmony with the environment they lived in, and that skilled craftsmen and artisans had always been the pillars of a tribal society.
“Skilled craftsmen were employed to carve out splendid village gates, house posts and Morungs in Naga villages. Fine storage baskets, wicker drinking vessels and containers were woven by craftsmen whose skills had been inherited from generations of skilled craftsmen,” the Governor stated in his speech, which was read out in absentia by chairman of the inaugural programme and principal secretary & development commissioner, Nagaland, Alemtemshi Jamir at the inaugural function of Urban Haat and national handloom expo 2008 here at Walford area on Monday.
Stressing on the need to preserve and promote the artistic culture of the State, the Governor hoped the inauguration of Urban Haat in Dimapur, which he said was long overdue, would go a long way in preserving and promoting the art and craft of the State.
Sankaranarayanan also appealed the Ministry of Textiles to take ample steps to ensure that the Haat remained functional effectively and showcase the best of handicrafts available in the country.
Parliamentary secretary of Industries & Commerce, KC Nihoshe who was the guest of honour in his speech said the state was marching ahead with the rest of the world in terms of development as the state government was trying its best for all round development to sustain its economy.
He also said the state Government would organize on regular basis an inter-state and national exhibition on handloom to sell and popularize the state’s handloom products.
Nihoshe further urged the weavers and artisans to produce their products in large quantity so as to sell them even to international markets to boost the State’s economy.
Director of Industries & Commerce, Er. G Keppen Rengma in his report on the project said the funding pattern on Urban Haat was 70 percent from the central government and 30 percent from Nagaland government.
Commissioner & Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Imkonglemba proposed the vote of thanks.
A total of sixty four stalls including two from Assam and five from Manipur are exhibiting in the National Handloom expo 2008 at Urban Haat and the expo will continue till July 31.
The Urban Haat is a joint venture of the State Department of Industries & Commerce and Development Commissioner (Handlooms) and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Government of India.
3 NSCN cadres killed in separate incidents Yesholuto village GB awarded 'capital punishment' (Page News Service)

KOHIMA/DIMAPUR, JULY 14: Suspected NSCN (K) cadres today abducted Whiteson Poumai, under secretary in NSCN (IM) and killed him at the outskirt of Kohima town.
Pouami was abducted from SKV Petrol pump this afternoon by the rival cadres and later his dead body found below Jotsoma village.
In Dimapur, one suspected NSCN (K) was abducted and shot dead and his body was dumped near ISBT. Dimapur Police recovered the body at around 6 a.m. Monday. He was later identified as Hotovi, s/o Vikuto.
Police sources said that he might have been shot dead somewhere and his body dumped near ISBT. The victim was shot on the head.
In a statement issued here, the NSCN/GPRN stated that a youth leader, Dahri could have met the same fate as Whiteson Poumai but revolutionary ethics and humanitarian concern prevailed and so he was freed unharmed and unconditionally.
It stated that bundles of extortion challans and money receipt were also found in the possession of the deceased.
Meanwhile, Khezheto Chishi GB of Yesholuto village under Zunheboto district who was abducted from Hotel Sholam Kohima on June 29 by one Captain Akuto has been executed, according to sources.
Sources quoting NSCN (IM) authorities as saying that the GB was awarded capital punishment for his nexus with the rival faction.
Earlier several organizations have condemned the abduction of the GB and demanded for his release without any condition.
Family members and GBs demanded for the dead body of the victim but the outfit refused to disclosed whereabouts of the body.
Family members and GBs have demanded appropriate clarification from the NSCN (IM) over the execution and vowed to seek for justice.
State government has so far remained silent over the matter, but sources said family members and the GBs might also demand for special investigation from the state government.
In the meantime, reports said that one NSCN (K) cadre was killed at Tuensang by unidentified gunmen. Till the time of filing this reports, his identity could not be ascertained.

4 NSCN (K) cadres arrested (Page News Service)
DIMAPUR, JULY 14: The IRB personnel on patrolling duty at Hongkong market area today apprehended 4 persons while they were trying to extort money from the businessmen and also recovered arms and ammunition from their possession.
According to police, the IRB personnel noticed 4 persons in a suspicious manner in Hongkong market and on frisking them thoroughly, the personnel recovered one AK-56 rifle, 2 magazines and 36 live rounds, beside a magazine of .32 pistol, besides a Bajaj Motorcycle (NL 07E 2356).
The accused have been identified as Boshito Awomi (24), s/o Nihokhu, Avikato Awomi (21), s/o Vitoshe, Iloto Yepto (26),s/o Haito, all three from Satami village and Nasaka Kinny (24), s/o Khozhe of Zaphu village. They are all from NSCN (K), police sources said.
According to sources, cadres belonging to "NSCN/GPRN" led by Khaplang serving demand note and collecting taxes at Hongkong market area. Market sources said that they had served demand slips for different amount to different shops. The have been booked under relevant sections of the law.

Former BLT rebels demand weapons A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, July 14: Former Bodo rebels today mounted pressure on the government to return their arms for self- protection, a day after rival National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants attacked a designated camp of the now-disbanded Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) in Karbi Anglong district.
Hundreds of former BLT rebels today staged a demonstration at Dispur, accusing the government of failing to provide security and demanded that the ceasefire against the NDFB be scrapped. The former BLT chief, Hagrama Mohilary, is now the government’s partner as the leader of the Bodo People’s Front (BPF).
BPF legislator and agriculture minister Pramila Rani Brahma met the former Bodo rebels and extended support to their cause.
The president of the Ex-BLT Welfare Society, Jana Mohan Mushahary, condemned last night’s attack at Langhin in Karbi Anglong and warned the state government that if it failed to rein in the NDFB, the situation in the Bodo belt will turn worse.
“This is the second such attack by the NDFB after the grenade attack on the BPF’s central office at Kokrajhar on March 20 this year,” he added.
He said NDFB rebels have killed than 50 former BLT members so far: “We have told the government that we cannot remain mute spectators to the killing of our members by the NDFB. If the government cannot provide us security then it must return the arms we have laid down while returning to the mainstream so that we can protect ourselves,” Mushahary said.
The suspected NDFB rebels lobbed two grenades and fired indiscriminately at the ex-BLT camp around 8pm yesterday but no casualties were reported in the incident. Mushahary alleged that the NDFB is violating ceasefire ground rules by killing innocent people, carrying out extortion drives, procuring sophisticated weapons and recruiting new members.
“There are only a handful of NDFB cadres at the designated camps, while a majority of cadres are outside the camps with arms and ammunition. These have now become a threat to the peace-loving Bodo people,” he added. The members of the Surrendered NDFB Welfare Association also joined the former BLT cadres in the demonstration.
The Ex-BLT Welfare Society has submitted a memorandum to chief minister Tarun Gogoi today, highlighting their various demands. Their demands include ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the victims of the NDFB attack and rehabilitation of former BLT and surrendered NDFB members, among others. The members also accused the NDFB of kidnapping three students — Lakhinath Boro, Robertson Narzary and Dipti Basumatary — from Ghoskhata village in Kokrajhar on May 10. However, the NDFB has denied its hand in the kidnapping of the three students.

Funds for developing border areas go unutilised Nagarealm.com
NEW DELHI, JUL15 : The nearly two-decade old Border Area Development Programme (BADP), aimed at developing certain areas to prevent influences from across the border, has developed a snag with the under par utilisation of Central funds by the border-states.

The fact that liberal funding by the Union government for BADP is not being actively used by these states is borne out by the fund utilisation figures for 2007-8 compiled by the home ministry. Out of the 17 beneficiary states, only seven have furnished utilisation certificates, but that too for sums much less than what had been allocated to them. Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttrakhand (all bordering China), Assam (bordering Bangladesh), Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (bordering Nepal), Punjab and Rajasthan (bordering Pakistan) are still to inform the Centre about the money spent by them during 2007-2008. The rest of the states, including J&K, where the Centre has gone all out to develop border areas to prevent exploitation of the people by Pakistan, have given proof of having spent only Rs120 crore out of Rs295 crore disbursed by the Centre to them.

Intriguingly, despite Centre’s repeated stress on BADP, the insurgency-hit states such as J&K, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram have spent only a fraction of the grant received by them in 2007-08. J&K, the biggest beneficiary of the scheme with a grant of nearly Rs106 crore, could use only Rs71 crore. The next in line, West Bengal with a grant of Rs101 crore, has used Rs11 crore only. Better situation prevailed during 2006-07 when the border-states could spend Rs350 crore out of a total allocation of Rs520 crore. The states like J&K, Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya had fully utilised the sanctioned amount. Unruffled by the states’ response, the Centre has further increased the fund allocation under BRDP to Rs635 crore, with a strict monitoring mechanism. This is an increase of Rs55 crore over the allocation for 2007-2008. The states benefited by this increase are Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Rajasthan and UP.

Faced with the none-too-impressive performance of the states on this front, the Centre has issued a bunch of fresh guidelines to ensure better utilisation of funds. The scheme has also been extended to 362 border blocks situated on International Border in 96 districts of the 17 states. In the face of the excuses offered by the states that the works could not be completed in time due to inhospitable terrain, the Centre has now permitted the states to involve security forces guarding the borders and NGOs for speedy completion of the projects. Anil Anand, a_anil@dnaindia.net]
Eyeball to eyeball at the top of the world By Shashi Tharoor The Nation
When a foreign minister goes out of his way to assure reporters that there is no tension on his country's borders with a powerful neighbour, the logical tendency is to wonder whether "the lady doth protest too much".
After all, you don't hear Canada's foreign minister denying tension on his country's American frontier, because the truth of that proposition is self-evident. The claim by Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee on a June visit to Beijing that the Sino-Indian border is tension-free has prompted cynical observers to assume the opposite.
They are right to do so. The last six months have witnessed a proliferation of incidents along the 4,057-kilometre Sino-Indian frontier. Nearly a hundred have been recorded, including no fewer than 65 incursions by China's People's Liberation Army in just one sector - the evocatively-named Finger Area, a 2.1-square-kilometre salient in the Indian state of Sikkim, which shares a 206-kilometre border with Tibet.
While India seeks to downplay such reports, one incident that did make it into the Indian press occurred inside the "Line of Actual Control" (LAC) on the western sector of the border at Demchok, in India's Ladakh district. A mixed civilian-military team investigating reports of Chinese incursions were, on May 16, threatened and forced to retreat by a PLA formation in three armoured vehicles. The Chinese soldiers allegedly assumed firing positions, leading the Indians to withdraw in order not to provoke a shooting match.
The previous month, there were reports of an armed Chinese probe 12 kilometres into the north-eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Intensified Chinese patrolling has been observed at Demchok and Pangong Tso in Ladakh, and in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, a state to which the Chinese ambassador in New Delhi went so far as to lay claim in a media interview.
With China having established four new air bases in Tibet and three in its southern provinces bordering India, the Indian Air Force is reportedly augmenting its own presence near the Chinese border by deploying two squadrons of Sukhoi-30MKI fighters.
What is going on? Are China and India bracing for war?
Fears of imminent major hostilities are clearly overblown. China, with the Olympics looming, is unlikely to initiate a clash, and India has no desire to provoke its neighbour, which humiliated it in a brutal border war in 1962 that left China in possession of 23,200 square kilometres of Indian territory.
At the same time, China has taken pains to remind India that it still claims a further 92,000 square kilometres, mainly in Arunachal Pradesh. It doesn't help that the two countries share the longest disputed frontier in the world, since the LAC has never been formally delineated in a manner accepted by both sides. India's borders were defined by British imperial administrators in 1913 - the MacMahon Line, which China rejects (though it accepts that line as its frontier with Burma, which was then part of British India).
With the LAC coming into being in the wake of China's victory in 1962, the situation is even more unclear. Whenever troops from either side build roads, construct or repair bunkers and other fortifications, or conduct patrols close to the LAC, tensions can flare.
When the two sides are anxious to avoid provoking each other, such activities are kept to a minimum, but it would seem that China has taken a conscious decision in recent months to keep the Indians on their toes. The reasons are not hard to identify. China's recent troubles over Tibet have brought with them unwelcome reminders of India's hospitality to the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile. The fact that Tawang, the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama and a major monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, lies in Arunachal, deprives China of a vital asset in its attempts to assert total control over Tibet.
Reminding India of China's claims is therefore all the more urgent for China. Foreign Minister Mukherjee was treated rudely on his recent visit, with Premier Wen Jiabao cancelling a previously-scheduled appointment and the governor of Sichuan province failing to show up to receive a donation of Indian humanitarian aid for China's earthquake victims.
At his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, Mukherjee was told what his hosts thought of the Dalai Lama's activities and statements in India, and was reminded that the border incidents reflected different perceptions of where the border lies. The Chinese demanded a resumption of talks on the unsettled border, though there seems little prospect of either side making new concessions.
Behind the unpleasantness may lie a broader strategic calculation. With the end of the Cold War, China had two options concerning India: to regard it as a natural ally, together with Russia, in building up an alternative to American dominance in the region, or to identify it as a potential adversary. The recent emergence of a United States-India partnership appears to have convinced China's rulers that India has become an instrument for the "containment" of China. Such a perception may have been reinforced by India's frequent military exercises with the US, Japan and Australia and its cultivation of former Soviet Central Asia (including the establishment of a military base in Tajikistan).
Moreover, India has attempted to establish strategic ties with countries that China sees as falling within its own sphere of influence (from Mongolia to Vietnam, including direct competition over Burma).
So the Sino-Indian frontier is unlikely to remain quiet. Needling an eager-to-please India on its troubled northern borders helps China to keep India guessing about its intentions, exposes the giant democracy's vulnerabilities in an election year, and cuts a potential strategic rival down to size. Look for China to provoke more incidents once the Olympics are over.
Shashi Tharoor, an acclaimed novelist and commentator, is a former under-secretary-general of the United Nations.
Govt keen on peace talks with ‘A’, ‘C’ coys Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, July 14 – The State Government is keen on starting the process of formal dialogue with the A and C companies of the ULFA’s 28th battalion, which had declared an unconditional ceasefire recently. “The Government is doing the needful at various levels to get the peace process started. Those ULFA cadres declaring ceasefire have been given special privileges and operations stopped against them. Every possible effort is on to carry forward the process of dialogue in a positive manner, including finalization of dates and places for the proposed talks,” Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain revealed this while replying to a question by AGP legislator Keshab Mahanta in the Assembly today.

Asserting that the Government was hopeful of the proposed talks, the minister said that the statement conveying the ceasefire by the A and C companies did not mention any condition.

The minister said that the Government was keen on resolving the issue of militancy through dialogue with different outfits, and in response to the call of the Government, five outfits namely, United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), Dima Halam Daogah (DHD), National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), Birsa Commando Force (BCF) and Adivasi Cobra Militants of Assam (ACMA) had so far declared ceasefires and submitted charters of demand.

“The Government is reviewing the militant outfits’ charters of demand through bilateral and trilateral discussions in a phased manner, while the process of formal talks with the outfits is also being expedited,” Hussain revealed.

Hussain said that a total of nine militant outfits were active in the State. These include ULFA, KLNLF, DHD (J), United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D), Muslim United Liberation Tigers Front of Assam (MULTA) and Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen (HUM).

Police, paramilitary forces and the Army have since 1991 arrested a total of 18,480 militants belonging to different outfits (till May 31, 2008).

This was revealed by the minister while replying to another question by BJP legislator Sushil Dutta in the Assembly

Heirok elders want govt to review decision to set up SPOs The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 14: Senior citizens of Heirok village today urged the state government to review the setting up of SPOs in the area and to absorb the youths recruited for the same in the regular state forces, while also making an appeal to the rebel groups who have imposed prohibitions on the villagers of Heirok to relax it for all time.

A meeting of the senior people of Heirok held yesterday (July 13) evening thoroughly discussed the chaotic situation in the area and formed a body of senior people of Heirok named Senior Citizens Forum, Heirok, a statement signed by 69 senior people including retired government servants representing more than 14,000 people of Heirok said.

After a lengthy and thorough discussion on the situation in Heirok after three rebel groups, the UNLF, KYKL and a faction of the KCP prohibited the Heirok people from going outside their villages as they chose to receive arms under SPO, the meeting resolved to urge the state government to re-consider its decision to supply arms by opening SPOs in the villages.

The government should withdraw its decision to open SPOs at Heirok at the earliest, the meeting resolved. The resolution further said that those local youths who had been recruited and were under training should be absorbed in the regular forces of the state so as to be able to lead a secure life with a means of livelihood.

The prohibition imposed by the three rebel groups had caused immense hardships to the residents of Heirok and the government should take up steps to relieve them from such hardships at the earliest, the meeting resolved. If the government failed to listen to the senior citizens under the newly formed forum they would launch various agitations against the government, and if necessary, consider taking the court`s help, the statement said. The meeting also unanimously resolved to appeal to the three rebel groups who have imposed the ban on the Heirok people to re-consider their stance.

The statement expressed gratitude for the announcement of a 10-day relaxation by the rebel groups and urged for the lifting of the ban for all time after discussions at various levels.

The meeting which was held at the residence of retired headmaster Thokchom Chourajit Singh, was attended by around 100 senior residents of Heirok part-I, II and III. It was organized by the members of zilla parishad and thoroughly discussed the prevailing situation in Heirok after a series of events since the killing of three youths including two girls and blinding of another girl.


AKRSU(B) to support Bodo peace process
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 15: In a positive step to strengthen relations between the Bodos and the Koch Rajbongshis, the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and the All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU-B) had a meeting at Guwahati to clear the misunderstandings between the two communities. Relations between the Bodos and the Koch Rajbongshis have been at an all-time low, following the historic Bodo movement.
After the 3-hour-long meeting held at a city hotel, the two parties decided that the NDFB will not protest the AKRSU’s demand for ST status to the Koch Rajbongshi community. It should be noted that various tribal bodies have been protesting this demand by the student body.
On the other hand, the AKRSU has decided to extend full support to the NDFB –– currently under a ceasefire agreement with the Government –– to carry forth the peace process.
The meeting was attended by NDFB general secretary Gobinda Basumatary, organizing secretary N Garuma, publicity secretary S Sanjarang, ‘army chief’ BB Jwala. From the AKRSU(B) side, the student body was represented by president Biswajit Rai and general secretary Pradip Rai.
After the end of the 3-hour-long meeting, AKRSU president Biswajit Rai expressed hope over the successful completion of the Bodo peace process. He said, “We have decided to extend full support to the NDFB’s peace process”.
The NDFB has been demanding a separate State of ‘Boroland’ and the AKRSU has also demanded a separate State of Kamatapura, which falls within the NDFB’s proposed ‘Boroland’. When asked by The Sentinel if the AKRSU’s demand for a separate State would clash with the NDFB’s proposed ‘Boroland’, Rai said, “The NDFB has not fixed the area of the proposed Boroland”. Rai further added, “The NDFB has assured us that they will sit with us before chalking out the territory of the proposed Bodoland”.
Meanwhile, NDFB general secretary Gobinda Basumatary told newsmen, “We sat down with the AKRSU(B) to discuss how the peace process could be carried forward. We have been extending our ceasefire with the Government every six months and nothing tangible has come out till now”.
Basumatary further said, “The Government has not taken any initiative for our welfare and instead keeps making false allegations of extortion and looting against us. If the peace process is carried on in this manner, we will have no other option other than resorting to arms”.

NDFB general secretary Gobinda Basumatary (R) and AKRSU president Biswajit Rai shaking hands during a meeting in Guwahati, on Tuesday. (Sentinel)

Army arrests 5 NDFB cadres at Bagribari From a Correspondent Sentinel
DHUBRI, July 15: Troops of the 21 Jat Regiment of Red Horn Division apprehended five militants belonging to the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) last night from the Bagribari area of Dhubri district. A horde of arms and ammunition was recovered from the arrested militants.
The five apprehended NDFB militants have been identified as Joydeep Roy(20), Kaniram Basumatary(20), Sojol Sarkar(21), Goda Narzari (22) and Lauri Brahmo(23).
Army sources claimed that the NDFB cadres were moving around the area to extort money from local contractors and businessmen.
Meanwhile, NDFB general secretary Gobinda Basumatory told reporters in Guwahati that the arrested militants did not belong to the NDFB.
The apprehended NDFB cadres have reportedly disclosed during interrogation that they were recruited two to three years back, an Army source said. The source further said, “This indicates that the NDFB is still carrying out recruitment drives of youths”.
It should be noted that the NDFB is currently under a ceasefire with the Government. Army sources have expressed serious concern over the fact that the arrested cadres were found in possession of arms. A senior Army official said the arrest of the NDFB militants needs to be taken seriously. “The arrests prove that the NDFB cadres are moving out of their designated camps with weapons to collect money, which is contrary to the existing ceasefire agreement”.