[Previous entry: "NISC query to Home Minister P. Chidambaram morungexpress"] [Next entry: "Govt, NSCN(IM) should give up pre-conditions in Naga talks' The Hindu"]

02/15/2009: "NSCN link in Shillong explosives haul OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

NSCN link in Shillong explosives haul OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


The arrested persons with the explosives in Shillong on Friday. A Telegraph picture
Shillong, Feb. 14: The huge consignment of explosives seized in Shillong yesterday was meant for NSCN militants in Dimapur, a senior police official said today.
He said the four couriers who were arrested with the explosives from a Dimapur-bound bus at Dhankheti had stayed in Jaintia Hills for long and had connections in Dimapur.
The four were identified as Lalthlen Bongpui, Ngurhming Thanga, Ricky Keivom and Lalsiemthar Buongphui, all from the Baite community.
The police have identified Jaintia Hills as the source of the supply of explosives. “We have sent a police team and the arrested persons to parts of Jaintia Hills to identify the people engaged in the supply of the explosives,” the official told this correspondent.
He said after the investigation in Jaintia Hills, a police team would be sent to Dimapur to probe the role of the NSCN as preliminary investigation indicated that the consignment was meant for the militant outfit in the business hub of Nagaland. It is, however, not known yet that which faction of the NSCN the explosives were meant for.
The police and the CRPF had intercepted the Dimapur-bound bus (ML 10 2889) stationed at Dhankheti here around 3.30pm and seized the explosives besides arresting the four smugglers. The explosives, concealed in suitcases and air bags, included 86 packets of high-grade gelatine sticks (each packet containing 20 sticks), 400 detonators and 42 bundles of fuse wires.
East Khasi Hills superintendent of police A.R. Mawthoh said the arrested men had told interrogators that the explosives were handed over to them by a person called “Mama” in Jaintia Hills to carry them to Dimapur. Mawthoh said the police were not ruling out the possibility of the explosives reaching NSCN militants in Dimapur.
The police official said this was the biggest-ever explosives haul. The explosives seized were enough to blow up big buildings and could have caused a major devastation if used, he added.
“We are interrogating the four arrested persons to know whether they have any links with the militants in the Northeast,” he said.
The police are also investigating the angle of illegal sale of explosives in Jaintia Hills where explosives are used in coal and limestone mines. In December, at least four people were arrested from Jaintia Hills for illegally possessing explosives and smuggling them outside the district.
The police claimed that the arrested men had confessed to have sent explosives to Manipur and Nagaland. They said this indicated that the militants in these two states got explosives from Jaintia Hills. The explosives are meant to be used by licence holders in the mining and construction sites of Jaintia Hills.
Misuse of the substance had compelled Jaintia Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal to ask the 21 licence holders in the district to monitor the use of explosives in mines. If they failed to submit a day-to-day account, they would be booked under the law, he had warned them.
Army foils Assam serial blasts plan OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Silchar, Feb. 14: The army today claimed to have foiled a plan by a militant outfit to set off a series of blasts using high-powered explosives in Lakhipur subdivision under Assam’s Cachar district by apprehending the key person behind the plot. Sources in the army said the plot was hatched by the People’s United Liberation Front, a militant outfit operating in Manipur and the adjacent Cachar district.
The outfit had decided to set off periodic blasts in the subdivision since Republic Day. The sources identified the arrested person as Anawar Hussain, 33, a resident of Labakpar village under the subdivision. They said the army’s 72 Field Regiment, a unit under 57 Mountain Division, recovered a large bulk of explosives during a search operation at the residence and shop of Hussain in Labakpur.
The high-grade explosives included, among others, 1kg of gelignite packed in eight tiny packets, 27 detonators and a metre-long safety fuse — the ingredients for setting off the blasts.
The rebel outfit, which has been fighting for the autonomy of the areas in Manipur and adjoining Cachar district’s Lakhipur subdivision, is now getting gradually enfeebled after it suffered two splits in the past year. The infighting increased after its acknowledged leader Bashir was killed by the security forces in Manipur last year. The sources said a leader of the outfit, Azad, is carrying out militant activities in the district.
The sources said acting on a tip-off, the 72 Field Regiment commandos kept vigil in Lakhipur subdivision on the eastern flank of Cachar district, along its boundary with Manipur before Republic Day to foil the militants’ plan. They added that as the army began to take control of the area, the rebels could not carry out the blasts ahead of Republic Day and postponed their plan. The army then was informed that the explosive materials, which were ferried to Cachar before Republic Day, were to be sent back to Imphal.
Hussain was given the task of carrying the explosives from Cachar to Imphal along National Highway 53.
The sources said as the sleuths came to know of Hussain’s plan to tranship the explosives through a newly-recruited carrier of the outfit, they carried out an operation in the early hours yesterday and apprehended him and seized the explosives.
Hussain allegedly belonged to the Azad faction of the outfit, which has a few hideouts in Diglibasti area under Lakhipur subdivision. He will be produced in court on Monday. He is at present in judicial custody.
SFs, UGs urged to strengthen ceasefire , (EMN
DIMAPUR): A joint meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Nagaland government and the PAC of DAN today expressed concerns at various incidents of confrontation between the Indian Army and the UG cadres in recent times which had caused tension and placed the ceasefire in jeopardy.
The meeting, held to review the current situation prevailing in the state, welcomed the marked reduction in the incidents of factional clashes and killings among the UG groups in recent months since July 2008, a communiqué issued by ACS (Home) & Secretary PAC Lalthara informed.
However, making particular mention of the incidents at Pfütsero and Shirui in Ukhrul, the meeting voiced concern that these confrontations had created a certain amount of tension and appealed to both the Indian Security Forces and the UG groups to consciously work for strengthening the ceasefire and reduce the tension between them.
The meeting also resolved that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) already framed and circulated by the MHA, GoI, in January 2008 in regard to the monitoring and enforcement of the ceasefire ground rules should be strictly followed by the Indian army (Assam Rifles), CPMF and by the state police, and respected by the UG groups.
It further welcomed the Naga consultative meet being jointly convened by the PAC state government and the PAC of DAN during March 5 to 7 inviting the Naga diaspora from all over the world, the representatives of political parties, Hohos, NGOs, the churches and civil societies to deliberate on the Naga political issue, with a view to find the way forward.
The meeting also appreciated the Naga Reconciliation Forum, the civil societies, NGOs and the church for their efforts to bring about reconciliation amongst the various UG groups, and for their role in reducing the incidents of factional clashes and killings amongst the Naga UGs.
Rift in Cong re-surfaces morungexpress
Dimapur, February 14 (MExN): In an obvious indication of the cracks within the Congress party in Nagaland, a local unit of the Congress party in Dimapur has called for the resignation of both the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader and the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president. A press note issued by Vihoshe Awomi President of ACCC 3 Dimapur—III AC pointed out that the recent political development in the state where two Congress MLAs had resigned was “due to the inefficiency of the Congress leadership”.
Local unit tells CLP leader & NPCC Prez to quit
Especially the CLP leader and the state Congress president “who despite knowing the fact that they are not capable of leading the party took over the reins by way of manipulation”, stated the press note. It demanded the two leaders to resign owing moral responsibility without further delay in order ‘to save the party and to face the coming parliamentary election unitedly’. The press note stated that failing to do so, the Congress party should consult all ACCC’s and DCC’s and impeach them.
Meanwhile, in an expected development the Congress MLA from 54 Tuensang Sadar II (ST) Assembly Constituency, Kejong who resigned from the Nagaland Legislative Assembly yesterday, today resigned from the Congress party and joined the ruling NPF. Informing that he has resigned from both the primary and active membership of Congress party, Kejong said that ‘for the sake of his constituency people, he has decided to resign from both primary and active membership of the Congress party in Nagaland’.
“I have also decided to join NPF with my workers en bloc to strengthen the hands of Shri Neiphiu Rio, chief Minister of Nagaland and Dr Shurhozelie, president of NPF who are found capable in governance and in delivering goods to the people,” stated Kejong.
However, the former MLA and PCC member, NPCC did express that he was indebted to the Congress party and leaders of both AICC and NPCC ‘for reposing faith in him and electing him on Congress ticket in the last Election in 2008.
Resigned Congress MLA joins NPF “However, for the sake of my Constituency people, I have decided to resign from both Primary and Active membership of Congress party in Nagaland on this day, the 14th February 2009”, Kejong stated.
Following the development of the two Congress MLAs quitting and one of them already deciding to join the ruling NPF, sources further said that more Congress MLAs are likely to resign within the next few days. This information however could not be confirmed at the time of filing this news report. According to Newmai News network, though the actual reason behind the resignation could not be ascertained, sources revealed that the ruling Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF) has lured the two of them to resign and contest the by-elections with NPF ticket.

Rajya Sabha MP welcomes
The lone Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland, H Kheikoho Zhimomi has welcomed the two Congress legislators who have resigned from the Congress and joined the NPF.
A press release received here from the press secretary to the Rajya Sabha MP, Timir Choudhury stated that the resignation of ‘veteran Congress Legislators’ namely Kejong Chang from the 54 Tuensang Sadar II A/C and Wangham from 41 Tizit A/C ‘is a sign of crumbling house of the Congress party in the state’.
“The prospect of the Congress in Nagaland is bleak and their trust in the dynamic leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Neiphiu Rio is a step in the right direction. It is their conviction that only the NPF party can work for the welfare and development of the people of Nagaland which has prompted them to take this bold and courageous step,” the release stated.
The release also stated that the Rajya Sabha MP, H Kheikoho Zhimomi, who is presently in Delhi for the Parliamentary Session, has welcomed both the Congress legislators to the NPF fold and at the same time expressed his hope that under the new dispensation they will be able to work for the interest of the Nagas and their areas respectively.
NPCC slams MLAs; hits out at NPF
Dimapur, February 14 (MExN): Reacting swiftly to the resignation of two Congress MLAs from the assembly barely a year after the elections, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has termed as “ridiculous” the decision of the two Congress MLAs namely Kejong Chang and Aloh Wangham. A press note issued by the NPCC Vice President (Adm) Zacölhü Vadeo alleged that in a “most bizarre manner the NPF party has prompted the two Congress MLAs namely Kejong Chang and Aloh Wangham to resign from their respective position even before completing one year in office”.
The NPCC also took the two MLAs to task pointing out that in total disregard to people’s welfare, the “unprincipled MLAs have succumbed to monetary gains, assurance of ticket and finance from NPF Party and Cabinet berth in the NPF government”. The Congress pointed out that in acknowledging and accepting Congress ideology, policies and programs, people of the two constituencies had elected the two Congress MLAs to serve the people with utmost sincerity and faithfulness. “However, in complete defiance, they have betrayed the people’s trust and plunging democracy into utter shame and mockery”, the NPCC note stated.
Reminding that in one of his maiden statements the president of NPCC, KV Pusa had made an emphatic remark that the NPCC’s endeavour would not be for toppling the government, but for constructive criticism and constructive support to the government at the helm of affairs. The NPCC however expressed regret that in the most undesirable manner, the NPF leaders have initiated the toppling game. “And therefore, in the near future, even if the NPF government is toppled, the Congress party should not be blamed”, the NPCC stated. The state Congress also condemned what it termed as the “diabolical designs of the NPF government who by virtue of being in power have used huge amount of money and facilities to lure the two money-mongers and selfish MLAs and created this messy political situation”.