11/18/2008: "Manipur journalist shot dead Nagarealm.com"

Manipur journalist shot dead Nagarealm.com

IMPHAL, NOV17 [NNN] : In a shocking incident, a sub-editor of the Imphal Free Press, a daily English newspaper based in Imphal, was found murdered with multiple bullet marks on the body at about 4:30 on Monday evening at Sangai Second Home, Langol in Imphal West. The victim’s hands were tied behind and his mouth was gagged with a piece of cloth when the corpse was found. The victim, identified as Konsam Rishikanta alias Naoba, 22,, s/o K. Budhi Singh of Kakwa Ningomthong Sarom Leikai in Imphal West district, worked as a ‘Night Desk’ sub-editor with the Imphal Free Press.

According to reports, the body of the victim sustained multiple bullet marks on the throat and abdomen. However, it is not certain who is behind the act and under what circumstance the victim had been killed. According to family sources, Nanao left home in the morning and never returned till his dead body was found. At the time of filing of this report, a mob of locals was already getting together in protest against the brutal killing of the journalist. A report of the incident has also been conveyed to the All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU), informed a source. It may be worth noting that Manipur journalists have been facing threats and many of them have even been killed in the last few years.
Dreaming Nagas’ Dream... Nehemiah Rong Morung express
Nagas’ inheritance was and is freedom, their land, independence and democratic governance, economic self reliance, quick and just delivery and disposal judicial system based on traditional customary laws, egalitarian, casteless and classless society, rich cultural and traditional heritage, the participatory approach and communitarian in decision making, planning, execution and dispensation of affairs with sufficient natural resources.
Nagas’ dream is rooted in history of fierce resistance and warfare to the colonial powers. Naga dream is to put stop to external rule, the coercive invasion and to build its own nation state. It is everybody’s dream. It was started with a non-violence principle. It did not at first subscribe guns as its weapons but mutual understanding as equals, practicing democratic ways and means to defend their birthright.
It is built upon people’s mandate, consent and endorsement (15th May 1951 Plebiscite). It is built upon sweats, tears and blood of its suffering people. It is a sacred dream. It is a precious dream. It is a worthy dream. Indeed a most noble dream for all those who belong to the land by reposing their faith in goodwill, respect, equality, justice, inclusivity and mutual understanding, unity and reconciliation.
Nagas were dreamers, great dreamers. Never had a common kingdom yet each Naga village was an independent entity or kingdom, each village has got its own chief or elected leader to govern their land without any outside interference. These people had consented and dreamt together for common homeland. Never had a country army but believed in its citizens to guard their land, never had industries and factories but have sufficient land and natural resources. Never had a common economic agenda but each village was a self reliant with its production. They were wooden platters, head-hunters in the past, pierced ear people having rich culture and tradition, never had a police or a beggar in the past, fierce warriors yet humble folks, histories woven in the form of folk lore and oral narration past down from generation to generation through morung system (common dormitory in every village), having common boundaries, sharing common streams, rivers etc. spread across in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal and Myanmar belonging to Sino-Mongoloid stock.
Nagas’ dream believes in ‘all men are equal; there is no high or low class, everyone according to one’s capacity and character.’ It upholds the ‘ethics of work culture’. Nothing can beat the hard work. It envisions for vibrant, progressive, collaborative, community oriented society. It seeks to protect and preserve the natural resources, the forest, the land, water, minerals etc. All the resources belong to the people and not to some few. Nagas’ dream must set to make the maximum benefit to the villagers who own their resources.
Nagas’ dream is not betrayal and division but of brotherhood and dedication to the nationhood. It dreamt to free every individual as a free human being. Naga dream never believes in factionalism and partisan society. Naga founding fathers were a great dreamer, they dreamt of united Nagaland and not a divided one. They dreamt beyond tribes and sub tribes. In pursuit of their collective dreams, they fasted, prayed, they toiled, they bled, they cried and they died.
Nagas’ dream was tested in fire (many villages were burnt down for several times) and bullets-many precious Nagas lives were fallen for the land, and dream------ a dream of freedom. In fire and water Nagas’ dream continues to live.
Nagas’ dream had and is being facing the fiercest and longest arms resistance in South Asia. Well pursuing their dreams, the Nagas caught up in the factionalism and tribalism. They have among themselves killed each other and exclude each other. People no longer have trust or have hope. But Nagas’ dream was and is always beyond factionalism, tribalism and division because it is the people’s dream, it is their birthright. It was people’s dream and people must and needed to recapture that big dream of united people and be radar of the movement and not the mere follower. People should guide and control the faction(s) and let the later work out what the former want not the other way round. Here it means not to undermine the sacrifices of the leaders in various factions. Only through their sacrifices, dedication and devotion towards the Nationalism, that the Nagas are coming thus far. So much have been in done in the past and so yet to be completed.
It goes beyond the present geo-political arrangement of separating the Nagas with the authoritative and coercive administration without the consent of the people. It is inclusive of all the people who called themselves Nagas and the land they live in. It leaves room for its neighbours to live together with the Nagas’ dream. It does not seek to destroy others to win the Nagas’ dream. It envisioned fighting their justice without hating their colonial rules.
It is beyond mere taxation, it is beyond arms supremacy, it goes beyond present pride and pursuit of personal gain but it is a noble dream to be pursued with humility and discipline to achieve the birthright which is their inheritance. Any sort of luxury and contentment without achieving the Nagas’s dream, the birthright, is just but thinking to be the greatest kings inside the prison bar. Any person inside the prison is never a free man. Are the Nagas becoming self-contented prisoners with the due bread and butter supply by the subjugators? Are the Nagas contented themselves with the recognition of their history as ‘unique’? Are they contented with the present divided people placed in different states? Are Nagas contented with their past glories? Try to dream beyond.... just dream beyond the present.... the present scenario of violence and present arrogance and aggressive pursuit of personal gain make many young Nagas impossible to have any dream. It is like those vehicles driving in the thick foggy roads. They have fuel and driving capacity but those fogs restricted them to drive further....
Many young Nagas have intellectual power, knowledge, information, innovative ideas to contribute for better society politically, economically, socially and culturally, and great potential of building diplomatic relations with other countries especially those studying or working abroad and within the India but they were left neglected for systematic consultation, genuine opinion collections and they are stuck up in the roads due many unfavourable circumstances.
It (Nagas’ Dream) is facing two prominent problems among many others. They are political problem and human problem. Political problem (Naga-Indo-Myanmar political issue) has got time frame whereas human problem (like jealousy, hatred, greed, power craziness, factionalism born out of power tussle, discriminatory factors etc) is timeless. The former (political problem) has to be settled or solved within limited time frame whereas the later cannot be clearly drawn out where to end, it has to be a constant change for better, renewal, and revival individually, collectively as Churches, Tribes and People. In other word, the later can be best said as the moral bankruptcy. The human problem has adverse affect in the political problem because, until the people themselves are humility and honest enough to realize their own weaknesses, mistakes and listen to each other to unify and fight with united voice, it is very vague to pursue the dream without specific goals, it is like a football game played by a team playing to one’s own conveniences without the team target to put maximum goals to win the game. The factions are in to unending killings and unceasingly opposing each other, Naga people must unite to bring all the groups to understanding and healthy dialoguing among the factions for unification and reconciliation. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation’s activities to unite and reconcile the warring Naga Factions in the form of soccer is a ‘change’ that is taking place in the land. The initiative is very important and crucial in the history of the Nagas’ journey towards achieving their dreams through reconciliation process.
Therefore, it is time for the people to realize their position, other’s position and the team’s position to continuously build a team spirit by following the rules of game (to reduce the human problems, like factionalism, tribalism, greed, superiority complexes, jealousy etc.) accommodating each other, submitting to continual reconciliatory, revival and renewal processes (both underground groups and overground Tribal Hohos, Civil Societies/Organisations, Politicians and Individuals) to enhance, optimize, expedite the political peace process to be solved in the minimum time within hand without losing so much lives that are perishing in the name of ‘tribalism and factionalism’ everyday leaving behind many women weeping widows and children helpless orphans.
When Nagas stand united, Nagas’ dream is never far away. Rather it can be said freedom is knocking at Nagas’ door, it is up to Nagas whether, are they willing to open its door by coming together and stand united and fight in unison integrating every possible means at their disposal? Are they (Nagas) ready for that? When Nagas fight with one voice no one can stop them, because they have their historical and political rights.
May be it is the time that critical but positive policies and plans are formulated and actions taken towards the internal reconciliatory and unifying process. For the future, a vision plan must be in continuously evolving process so that the most refined and best thoughts are produced, well written and followed to fulfil the dream. By this it means that, Nagaland as a dreamt Nation-State to be must have its own well written governance system (basing on the democratic system of the past), laws (basing on customary laws), economic and industrial policies (based on the self reliance village economy. Each Naga village can be a centre of one kind or the other of small scale industry unit like the past. Each Naga village can be the centre of development and prosperity while building the Nation Wealth at the same time.), preserving the past culture and heritage, protecting the natural resources (forests, minerals, land etc.). This may sound like putting a cart before the horse but until Nagas have such clear roadmap, how can they be proud to work hard and sacrifice for their future. These documents may subject to changes and amendments from time to time but will be guiding principles in the nation building process. Such clear and well written documents will give clearer roadmap for post political solution/settlement arrangement even. If such well written documents already existed earlier, it is felt that it needs more elaborate public scrutiny.
It can be suggested here that economy, development students, entrepreneurs can be assigned to bring out the best written proposal for economic and industrial policies, for codification of Naga Customary Laws in the best way in aligning with international laws, Law students and practising Advocates can be assigned to study the customary laws while doing that all the tribes (Naga tibes living in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal and Myanmar) can be called together for exhaustive consultation, political science students, researchers and others can be assigned with the assignment for the political framework studying the political situations and international relations of other nations so as to draw out the best workable political framework for Nagas. Also in other cases like agriculture, art and culture, literature, history, geography, geology, computer programming, information, communication technology, education, health etc or other such related subjects can be assigned to the respective students or practising fellows among the Nagas to produce the best work suitable to the Naga people. Also the missionary sending plan can also be formulated, Nagaland being a Christian land. That is Nagas’ bounded duty towards the immediate neighbours, those struggling people and for the humanity at large. The funding of such projects can be done through proper setting up of Foundation or Trust for Researching and Archiving by forming Consultative Committee for Common Policy Formation, may be comprising of bodies like NSF, ANSAM, ENSF, Naga Hoho, UNC, Eastern Naga Hoho, Religious Institutions and Nagas in Myanmar (formerly Burma) combined together with experts (like young professionals, media persons, activists, thinkers, intellectuals etc.) (Sorry for my ignorance if orgn. names are quoted wrongly). Further, it can be suggested that the selection of eligibility for the committee can be done through selection process by giving forms where, the personal statement, personal commitment, in-depth knowledge in the subjects, leadership capacity at regional and village level, mobilisation capacity to draw the voices and opinions from lowest grass root level i.e. village level are asked to be submitted. Such selection process is required not to mess up the initiatives (not to make it everybody’s business is nobody’s business) but to make it genuine and sacrificial work for the people and nation building. The based headquarter can be set up through consensus and the regional offices can also be set up for timely coordination and consultation. For instance, Headquarter at Dimapur and branches can be opened in all Naga inhabited districts and also extension branches like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc. and even a forum for those Non Resident Nagas can be created. This will allow fullest participation among Naga people. The functional mechanism can be worked out properly. This initiative should not be felt as a threat by any groups in Nagas society but should be broadly understood for systematic and proper documentation of common policy formation for the betterment of whole Nagas and not for the few. The fund raising can be done from the Naga people themselves, which in other way is a challenge for independency willingness to be on their own feet. It is felt that this movement must begin. It must start. The time is now. It is Nagas who should do it and not others. The change and transformation must begin now. Change and Transformation must start from ‘Within Nagas’ and not from ‘Without’. World may observe and support Nagas, but until the change and transformation do take place ‘inside’, ‘outside’ alone cannot solve the Nagas’ problem. Once again it can be repeatedly said, freedom is ringing at Nagas’ door, the question is, are they willing to be united and it flow to their land? Is it too hard for them to be united, and let freedom go away? What is the hardest thing for the Nagas to get freedom?
It is believed that the Nagas dream evolved from and endorsed by its people, and it should be realized and put to realities by its people. At the ground it is the people who have to work although outside other people may support. Until and unless the, Nagas, as people know and learn their own situation, conditions, histories, mistakes, achievements, potentials, resources, hopes and scopes it will be just a few men’s job to pursue the half hearted dream. It is the time for all to dream beyond.... for everyone without the exception for those who positioned themselves to be the leaders of the society....
Nagas’ dream demands of very strong research and analysis, effective self criticism and evaluation, a constant positive dialogues and debates, planning and strategy making. It demands of cohesive coordination between the policies makers, national workers/leaders and young intellectuals/professionals to bring out the best out of the past to meet the international norms be it in customary laws, governance system, economic policies, international relation without losing the past identity and system. It also needs wise diplomacies with the international agencies, unions, countries not undermining the necessity of united and reconciled Nagas back home. Upon broken home no peaceful and prosperous family can be built. It is felt that is an inclusive dream of the children of the soil. It demands the people to work more and not less. It is not a dream of sitting back and to enjoy the ‘falling manna’. But it is a dream of hard work with sweat, proper resource management, constant confidence building among themselves (Nagas), building partnerships with other countries and strong economic ties with India and other friendly countries etc.
Nagas’ dream envisions for well informed society, it believes in the education of its younger generation, economic prosperity, democratic governance, best and quickest judicial system based on the codified Naga customary laws, strong social and cultural integration. It seeks to stand for the rights of weak and downtrodden. It seeks justice and peace. It seeks to give a space for an individual to exercise one’s freedom and pursue one’s dream. It seeks to provide a security to the poor and ignorant villagers and not to robe away their simplicities. It never dreamt to use power to abuse and misuse but to use power to usher in equality, justice, peace and prosperity.
Nagas’ dream demands the students to study more and not less, to think more and not less, to dream bigger and not smaller. It demands the younger generation to pursue their goal vigorously with a mission to uplift their suffering people. May be it demands from the younger lot to ask themselves what they can contribute to society and not what the society can offer to them. It is the time that younger people are to be motivated to bring positive change in their society. It demands from the students to be ambassadors of goodwill and peace makers among themselves and towards other people. It demands the youth to search for social entrepreneurship, self employment to help eradicate poverty to bring development with environmental sustainability.
Nagas’ dream is not only a rich man’s dream or a poor man’s dream, it is a common dream, a common and collective hope for common destiny. Above all it needs humility, discipline and dependence on God who gave Nagas their land, race itself and their dreams. When all argument fails, reasoning fails, diplomacy fails and all human efforts fall short, God’s grace come in through divine’s intervention. May God bless Nagaland once again.
Building a Naga dream needs young and old minds, learned and unlearned and indispensably the Nagas people. Wherever you may be working or studying, you must know where you belong to, your inheritance, your people’s dream. Nagas, as the people are the ones to fill the gaps and build bridges to reach their long cherishing dream. As Nagas you belong to the land, the sons and daughters of the Naga soil, you are the heirs of the great inheritance, you must, as a Naga pursue a dream, the great Naga dream.
Through this humble piece, it is attempted to present the voices of the young Naga(s) and suffering people carrying a mar of atrocities and humiliation living a very pathetic lives, those who are dying from illnesses born out of thrashing by rifles butts, being buried alive, orphans and widows, smeared with chillies power, letting to give birth in open ground etc yet trying to dream Nagas’ dream and humbly put forward suggestions and some vital points to remind the whole Naga society and others to truly understand the Nagas’ dream basing on their historical and political rights. If some positive points to be noted, it is felt, the time is now for the Nagas, leaders and citizens to take right action and if any shortfall and error(s) in the write up, it is solely the writer’s weakness. Indeed, it is felt Nagas’ dream is not lesser than any nation’s dream.
NDFB, ULFA role in blasts confirmed: Gogoi Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Nov 11 – Investigation into the serial blasts in the State is in the final stage and the involvement of members of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) in the incidents has been confirmed, admitted Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. However, at the same time, he admitted that the possibility of “outside forces” providing support to the militant groups cannot be ruled out.

Talking to mediapersons here today, the Chief Minister said that investigations have revealed clear indications of the involvement of the members of the ULFA and NDFB in the blasts. He said that forces based outside the country might have extended support to the militant groups to carry out the operation. However, he said that it is not clear which force from outside provided help to the ULFA and NDFB militants as a number of anti-India groups have their bases in Bangladesh. He also expressed the view that no force from outside would be able to carry out any major attack in the State without the help of the “local militant groups”.

Gogoi said that it is still not clear whether the NDFB as an organization was involved in the attack or whether a few members of the outfit got involved. However, he expressed the view that it would be difficult for any member of the group to indulge in such an attack without the approval of the top leaders of the outfit. He said that if the involvement of the NDFB is conclusively proved, the Government might have to reconsider the ceasefire agreement signed with the outfit.

When pointed out that both the ULFA and NDFB denied their involvement in the blasts, Gogoi said that investigations would not be carried out on the basis of media statements of militant groups but on the proof gathered from the ground. He pointed out that it is a common practice of ULFA to deny its involvement in acts of violence whenever they face public criticism. The ULFA also denied its involvement in the Dhemaji blast – which left 13 women and children dead – but later it was proved beyond doubt that militants belonging to the outfit were involved in the blast, he added. He also said that the possibility of ULFA or NDFB disowning the persons arrested in connection with the blasts also could not be ruled out.

The Chief Minister admitted that a number of anti-India forces have their roots in Bangladesh. He said that he would soon request the External Affairs Minister to take up the issue with the government of the neighbouring country. He also said that the militants also have their bases in Myanmar.

Gogoi admitted that there have been instances in the past when members of the NDFB violated the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement and strict instructions have been issued to the police to enforce the ground rules. The government is also contemplating issuing identity cards to the members of the outfit as the possibility of persons staying in the designated camps with false names cannot be ruled out.

The Chief Minister said that though a number of persons lost their lives in the serial blasts, the militants failed to terrorise the common masses. He pointed out that large number of people came out to the streets to protest the killings and to denounce terrorism, which is a positive sign. He said that never before such widespread protests against militant actions were seen in Assam and appealed to all sections of people of Assam to remain alert to thwart the designs of the insurgents to destabilize the nation.
ULFA, NDFB in league with Bhutan Maoists Eastern Mirror
GUWAHATI, NOV 17 (PTI): Assam’s insurgent outfits ULFA and NDFB are in league with Bhutan-based Maoists to topple the King of that country for the Royal Bhutan army launching an operation against them, police claimed quoting an arrested Bhutanese Maoist.
Police sources said Bhutan national Tenzing G Zangpo, who was arrested for his alleged role in the October 30 Assam serial blasts, had told interrogators that ULFA and NDFB were angry with the royal Bhutan government for launching the `Operation All Clear’ to remove their camps on its soil in 2003. The Maoist group was also not happy with Bhutan government evicting Nepalese from southern Bhutan, he said during the interrogation. Tenzing said the plan for the explosions was hatched between August and September last year with logistic support provided by the NSFB in procuring vehicles for the car bombs and the ULFA supplying the explosives to be assembled in southern Bhutan. The police sources said quoting 48-year-old Tenzing that ULFA And NDFB were actively supporting the Maoists by supplying them with explosives.
In June last year, NDFB had provided them with 50kg of TNT at the Bodo outfit’s designated camp in Udalguri in Assam even after it had declared ceasefire in 2005.
The sources said Tenzing, earlier general secretary of the pro-democracy and human rights Druk National Congress of Bhutan, had fled his country in 1991 with his country’s currency of Ngultrum (nu) 2.29 lakh after he joined the Maoist organisation.
The Bhutanese Maoists also procured explosives from Bangladesh through the north Bengal corridor to enter the Himalayan kingdom, the interrogation revealed.
The Bhutanese national, along with NDFB’s self-styled ‘home secretary’ Sabin Boro, was arrested from a rented house here on Wednesday in connection with the blasts that claimed 87 lives and injured over 400 on October 30.
The duo were remanded to 10 days’ police custody by the Kamrup Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate.
MHA team reviews NEW DELHI (AGENCIES): A high level central team today visited Assam and discussed with state government officials the modalities for the National Register Citizenship (NRC), implementation of the ceasefire operation with Bodo militants and assessed the situation at the ground level, especially in border areas.
The team of the Home Ministry, on a two-day visit to the state, would go to Karimganj sector of the Assam border tomorrow which is dominated by Bodo population to assess the situation at the ground level.
The visit is significant in view of the growing tension after clashes between Bodo militants and Muslim population in Assam and evidence regarding involvement of National Development Front of Bodoland insurgents as foot soldiers in the serial blasts. By extending the ban on NDFB recently for two years and holding talks with BTC the government has given the signal that it considered latter as the representatives of Bodos. On the basis of report received from the team, the Centre would take a decision regarding extending the ceasefire with the insurgent group.

Key conspirator named - An NDFB rebel, who was part of the blast plan, was in police custody just a week before the attacks PANKAJ SARMA The Telegraph
Guwahati, Nov. 18: Police had the key conspirator of the October 30 blasts in their custody just a week before the attacks, albeit in an abduction case, but failed to gauge his terror gameplan.
A self-styled lieutenant of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), Dipak Basumatary, who was still in jail when the blasts tore through Assam — has now emerged as a chief planner of the attacks that killed 88 and injured hundreds.
Official documents submitted by the police in the court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM), Kamrup, regarding the blast probe revealed that Basumatary, who was arrested on October 22 following the abduction of two boys, was already in the know about NDFB’s terror plans. A copy of this document is in the possession of The Telegraph.
Basumatary, alias Denkho Raja, the “second lieutenant” of NDFB’s fourth battalion, lived at the outfit’s designated camp at Borbori in Baksa, where the blasts were planned. According to police records, he had joined the NDFB in 1995 and was trained in the use of arms and explosives at the outfit’s camps in southern Bhutan. The 35-year-old came overground after the NDFB signed a ceasefire pact with the Centre in 2005.
“Since the perpetrators of violence started preparing for the blasts a few months before Basumatary’s arrest in the abduction case, he was well aware of the plans. But unfortunately, during his interrogation in the abduction case, he succeeded in keeping the interrogators in the dark about their intention to carry out terror attacks on such a largescale,” a police official said.
“This was very unfortunate. We could have foiled their nefarious designs which claimed so many innocent lives,” he said. Jalukbari police had arrested Basumatary for his alleged involvement in the abduction of Rishab Saraogi and Siddhant Saraogi — cousins and sons of businessmen — from Guwahati. The police suspected that Basumatary had abducted the brothers on behalf of the outfit for ransom. He was sent to jail in connection with the abduction case, the trial for which is yet to begin. While in jail, blast investigations pointed fingers at him and he was first interrogated in jail and then again taken into police custody for further interrogation.
Panbazar police, which registered two separate cases regarding the blast on the CJM court premises and in front of the Baptist Church, have submitted before the court that during interrogation Basumatary revealed he knew about the outfit’s plan to carry out the serial explosions.
“The police have interrogated him for three consecutive days in connection with the serial blasts. Only this much I can tell you at this stage, as the probe is yet to conclude and some accused remain to be apprehended,” a source in the special investigation team (SIT) of Assam police said.
The state government has already stated that NDFB, which is currently in ceasefire with the government, had orchestrated the explosions with support from Ulfa and other forces based in Bangladesh. The police also detained Najim Khan from Hatigaon in Guwahati late on Tuesday evening for interrogation in connection with the bomb blast at Bongaigaon town on October 30. Sources said the 30-year-old, who hails from Manipur, was picked up on the basis of confessions by Moinul Haque, who was apprehended a few days ago in the Bongaigaon blast case.
Police statement on Assam blasts likely next week
GUWAHATI, NOV 18 (AGENCIES): Assam Police is expected to place its first official concrete statement regarding the October 30 serial blasts in the state in the DGP-level meet at New Delhi next week. The DGP, in all likelihood, will present a concrete statement on the progress of investigations and the conclusive evidence the police have clinched a Subsidiary Intelligence Bureau (SIB) source here said. The source informed that the SIB here has also collected evidence on the involvement of local outfits in executing the blasts. “The blasts would not have been possible without the local hand and that is being conclusively established,” he added.
However, the identity of the third force behind the blasts, which had probably supplied the blueprint and explosives, is yet to be ascertained beyond doubt, the source said.
“Jehadis could be involved, but again, a totally new enemy could emerge as was found in the Malegaon blasts,” he added. The police had refrained from making any formal statements so far, except informing about arrests and detentions, as revealing evidence before the case is solved, could hamper investigations. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had also said last week that investigations were in final stages and a solid statement would be issued soon. The involvement of the ULFA and NDFB has already been confirmed by the state government, though it is yet silent on the third party. As many as 88 people have been killed and over 800 injured in the nine synchronised blasts that rocked Assam on October 30.

Ulfa, Bodo outfit behind blasts, says Assam OUR BUREAU The Telegraph

An anti-terrorism rally in Guwahati on Tuesday. (Eastern Projections)
Guwahati/Kokrajhar, Nov. 11: The Tarun Gogoi government this evening confirmed the hand of the National Democratic Front of Boroland and Ulfa in the October 30 serial blasts that killed 86 people across Assam. Intelligence sources had two days ago hinted at the outfits’ involvement. A statement released by the Assam government said the involvement of “some active” members of the NDFB had come to light in the course of a probe by the special investigation team (SIT).
“The involvement of Ulfa in the conspiracy of carrying out the serial blasts in the state has also come to the fore during investigations. The main culprits, who have perpetrated the crime, have been identified and all efforts are on to apprehend them,” it added. Eight persons have been arrested so far. The role of other outfits is being probed. The government’s statement came hours after a bomb was found at the Mazbat weekly market in Udalguri at 1.15pm and defused at 3.50pm, 10 minutes before it was timed to explode.
On Sunday, investigators had said NDFB cadres helped the Bangladesh-based Huji trigger the serial explosions after they found that a motorcycle used in the Barpeta Road blast belonged to the Bodo rebel group. A Unified Command meeting yesterday decided to enforce the ground rules with certain militant outfits, which it did not name. All three NDFB camps in the state were cordoned off by evening. NDFB information and publicity secretary S. Sanjarang denied the outfit’s involvement in the attacks and criticised the government for making the allegation.
“We are unhappy. Why would we do such a thing when we are in a ceasefire? Every time there is a problem, the home ministry clarifies with us, but this time we are totally in the dark,” Sanjarang said. The “unhappiness” showed when the outfit refused to let Baksa superintendent of police P.K. Dutta into its camp this morning. The police suspect that 10 to 12 NDFB members who were involved in the explosions are in the camp, home to some 200 cadres. The outfit’s publicity secretary later said the police were denied entry because they were accompanied by some persons whose faces were covered with black cloth. A source said an NDFB team met police officers to discuss the “situation”, which is likely to impact the ceasefire agreement the outfit signed in 2005. The ceasefire is valid till December 31.
ULFA, the growing face of terror in Assam Kishalay Bhattacharjee NDTV

(Baska, Assam) Targets change but terror does not. Just over a week back, Assam was the target. It was half past eleven in the morning at a busy market of Guwahati. At the same time, there were blasts in five other areas in the city. Attack was precise and the devastation visible. Almost everyone attributed the blasts to outside agencies. How could homegrown outfits hit so hard? However, now emerging evidence suggests that they can hit this hard and have indeed done so. For answers, NDTV decided to travel to lower Assam where the blast trail has taken the security agencies.

In Baksa district of lower Assam, decades of conflict between ethnic groups has meant villages have either been aligned to the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) or the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) for protection. Both terror groups have lived off on creating an atmosphere of terror without having to ever fight each other.

It is in this mercenary history of Baksa, ULFA's 709 Battalion has come up, which is the main suspect of security agencies in the Assam serial blasts. Baksa is on the Indo-Bhutan border. Till early part of this decade, ULFA ran its business from these Bhutanese areas.
Five villages across these hills into Bhutan were their central headquarters. Eight km from the place was their operational base. The villages were the outfit's primary recruitment ground, which also provided logistics. But diplomatic pressure from India was growing. And in December 2003, when the Royal Bhutan Army decided to strike, ULFA was caught off-guard. For the few who escaped, forests of Myanmar became the only refuge. Post Operation All-Clear, ULFA was left with only one battalion formation in Myanmar, the 28th Battalion.

In August 2008, the 28th Battalion came overground, which means they did not surrender but pledged to give up arms and extortion and bring out its leadership for a dialogue in the mainstream. The peace offer should have alerted the government. Instead, it was covered as a momentous occasion, a celebration on the death of ULFA.

The October serial blasts shattered that complacency.

The 709 Battalion had lied low in Baksa. All this while, their elusive leader Hira Sarania, regrouped them, preparing them for an impactful attack for an impactful comeback. ULFA has denied involvement in these blasts. But investigators say this is not a new tactic. It denied any role in the Sanjay Ghosh killing and the Dhemaji blast, both later proven as ULFA operations. Also, this pattern of comeback is all-too familiar.

"Whenever their numbers are reduced by any operations or surrenders, they've come down to urban guerilla activities. And the first thing they tried was shooting down people. In such situations, they go for select boys and go for blasts. That is to prove that they still exist and they still have the capacity. And you will find thereafter a process again starts of regrouping, rejuvenating and rebuilding," said G M Srivastava, Additional DGP, Assam Police.

NDTV: What we've seen out here is this the new face of ULFA?

Srivastava: It's the old face with a little new strength in it. Blasts are not new, and blasts by ULFA have been a common factor. I think there have been about 18-19 of them. And if you see their history, they started in early 80s, when blasts had taken place. Of course the number of persons dying in those were less.

Investigative agencies differ on whether ULFA masterminded the blasts or whether it was merely a part of a plot created by a wider Islamic terrorist organisation like HuJI.

But there is consensus that ULFA is involved.

NDTV: Does the new dynamics makes ULFA even more lethal?

Srivastava: Tomorrow may be more difficult if this trend continues and blending continues, if they go for joint operations, like I feel they have done it this time. And then we will also have to go for upgrading ourselves. Till we don't reach the right man, till we lay our hands on him, or are not in the position to bring out the saner section involved, a safe house is already under creation in Yunan, a Chinese influenced area. And one visit by Paresh Baruah has been confirmed to us by sources. Around 70-80 cadres have already landed there. They have gone back to the place where they had started. And he has apparently said that if it comes to going back he will rebuild, restart. So that's the determination with which he is working right now.

The threat seems to have become wider.

As per recent reports, ULFA has started a new base in Bhutan and 50 of its men have entered the country recently. Another group is in this border area between Meghalaya and Bangladesh where they have taken heavy machine guns to train more men.

Here, their support group is the Rabha Vipers, a liberation army of the Rabha tribe. In Bangladesh, ULFA gets its training along with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, an old ally in Baksa. NDFB still has a presence in Bangladesh, and some visuals by our security agencies also show the same. New camps are being established and new armies are being raised with local support inside Indian territory. And lower Assam is the ideal refuge. It was easy to regroup in the villages as remote as can be where the police are largely absent. Though there are no sympathisers, but residents have little choice but to provide shelter and food to the militants.

''We are helpless. What can we do?'' said a villager.

When one drives through lower Assam's Baksa district, the person come to see why and how ULFA's terror network survives. Bad roads and no employment opportunities - there's no semblance of administration. If the sanctioned strength of the police here is 550, not even half of them are on the ground. The NDFB, a Bodo militant outfit's ceasefire designated camp is in the region. But half of the boys are outside the camp violating ceasefire ground rules. The ULFA's largest number of cadres is from Baksa district. Today 100 of them and they operate freely out here. The outfit is back in action and given the ground rules, they are here to stay.
Hindu terrorism:” India’s Pandora Box? morungexpress
NEW DELHI, November 17 (Reuters): Reports that Hindu militants may be involved in bomb attacks first blamed on Islamists may open a Pandora’s Box for India’s beleaguered security services and become a key voter issue before general elections next year. At least 10 people, including a serving army officer and a Hindu monk and nun, have been arrested over alleged involvement in blasts in the Muslim-dominated town of Malegaon in Maharashtra that killed four people.

The same Indian army officer is being investigated over a bomb attack in February 2007 that killed 68 people on the Samjhauta Express, a train between Delhi and Lahore, police said. The attack killed mostly Pakistani passengers. The reports have proved an embarrassment for the main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it prepares to take on the Congress-led government in both state elections this year and general elections in early 2009.

The BJP has been quick to criticise the Congress-led government for being soft on terrorism when it involves Muslims or Pakistan, but critics say it has been less willing to call for a clampdown on Hindu groups in the face of the latest allegations. “In the wake of daily arrests of... (Hindu)... terror outfits, the BJP stood exposed,” senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily told the Mail Today. “They cannot take a high moral ground.”
While Islamists are suspects in many other attacks this year, the spectre of Hindu terrorist groups haunts many in India, which emerged from a traumatic partition in 1947 when hundreds of thousands were killed in religious clashes. “Given India’s diversity, a very delicate balance has been maintained,” said security analyst C. Uday Bhaskar. “If it is punctured, we will have very serious internal disturbances, aggravating the internal security of the country.”

While many analysts believe this case could be isolated or limited to a small group, some believe it could signal something deeper and more sinister: a growing militant network that believes Muslims and a secular government are threatening what is basically a Hindu nation. It is not just Muslims that are the target. In Orissa state, Hindu groups angry at reports of conversions were blamed for attacks on Christians in August and September. At least 38 people were killed.

“The Hindu terrorist ... has been formed to retaliate and they are functioning in the atmosphere of hatred politics which runs deep into the social system,” said Amulya Ganguli, a political analyst. But while an embarrassment, analysts are divided on whether any revelations about Hindu militants will hurt the BJP. Some see it as an obsession of the chattering classes while millions worry more about inflation, an economic slowdown and a general perception that the government has struggled to bring anyone to justice for bombings, regardless of their religion.
Experts also say quick conclusions cannot be drawn by the arrests. There are reports of inconsistencies in the cases and nothing has been proved. “This is not an open and shut case, going by the record of investigating agencies,” Major General Ashok Mehta, a security analyst, said. As elections approach, the noise is unlikely to die down. “Terrorism is definitely on the agenda of political parties and with elections round the corner everyone will talk about it,” said Bhaskar.
MHA discuss bodo accord implementation, NRC with Assam govt NAGALAND PAGE
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 17: A high level central team today visited Assam and discussed with state government officials the modalities for the National Register Citizenship (NRC), implementation of the ceasefire operation with Bodo militants and assessed the situation at the ground level, especially in border areas.
The team of the Home Ministry, on a 2-day visit to the state, would go to Karimganj sector of the Assam border tomorrow which is dominated by Bodo population to assess the situation at the ground level.
The team comprising of Joint Secretary (Northeast) Naveen Verma, Secretary Border Management Jarnail Singh and the Ragistrar General of India has emphasised the need to strengthen the patrolling in border areas to prevent militancy and smuggling of arms and ammunition across the border. It would also deliberate on how to expedite the fencing work on the border and maintenance of border areas.
The visit is significant in view of the growing tension after clashes between Bodo militants and Muslim population in Assam and evidence regarding involvement of National Development Front of Bodoland insurgents as foot soldiers in the serial blasts. By extending the ban on NDFB recently for two years and holding talks with BTC the government has given the signal that it considered latter as the representatives of Bodos. On the basis of report received from the team, the Centre would take a decision regarding extending the ceasefire with the insurgent group.
The team also discussed the detailed modalities for NRC with the state government representatives and sought details of the documents to be relied on and cost of sops. Since, on the modalities NRC was a contentious issue between the state government and AASU, the Centre wanted the state to give details of the modalities to be adopted for NRC before it could take a final decision on the issue.
Earlier, Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta also held a meeting with Assam Chief Secretary and Home Secretary and RGI on the issue on which the state government had submitted draft modalities to the Centre. The issue was also discussed by the Secretary Border Management in separate meeting to emphasise the need for detailed modalities. The Centre was even ready to sanction additional posts in RGI so that it could handle the registration of people as per the Assam accord.
Recently, the Centre has decided to set up a separate authority which would issue photo Identity Cards to all Indians while the Census data collected by RGI would serve as the mother data which would be shared with the proposed authority. (UNI)

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