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05/20/2009: "BJP unit ‘merges’ with Nagaland People’s Front Indian Express"

BJP unit ‘merges’ with Nagaland People’s Front Indian Express

Guwahati: In a dramatic turn, the BJP Legislature Party in Nagaland, comprising two MLAs, on Tuesday merged with the ruling Nagaland People’s Front (NPF), thus taking the strength of the NPF in the 60-member Assembly to 32.
NPF spokesman Abu Metha said in Kohima that while the two BJP MLAs — M C Konyak and Y Patton— joined the NPF, the state BJP unit, too, merged with the regional party. State BJP president Ato Yepthomi said they had taken the decision “in the interest and welfare of the people of Nagaland”.
The BJP, however, refuted the NPF claims that its state unit had “merged” with the NPF. “It is a fact that the two MLAs have joined the NPF. State president Ato Yepthomi, treasurer Basu Damani and one secretary Shikto Sumi too have joined, but as individuals. The state unit exists,” said James Vizo, executive member of the state BJP and president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, from Kohima.
Central BJP rush emissary to Nagaland following debacle morungexpress
Dimapur | May 19 : The sudden decision of the BJP Nagaland State unit to dissolve and merge with the Nagaland People’s Front has come as a rude shock to many party loyalists here even as the Central BJP today rushed in one of its representatives to the State to take stock of the situation.
According to BJP sources, former General Secretary (Org), Nagaland, Avinash Kohli has already arrived Dimapur Tuesday evening to have consultations with senior State party leaders who are not a party to the “merger” decision. It is also reportedly to discuss reorganization of the party in the State. “More central BJP leaders are expected to visit Nagaland in the next couple of days after Kohli submits his report to the party,” the sources informed.
‘Merger decision lacked party quorum’; reorganization not ruled out
Referring to the decision for “merger” taken at the BJP’s meeting at Hotel Saramati on Monday, a State BJP leader on condition of anonymity said it was “unconstitutional” as the decision lacked the “party quorum.” “For such a major decision, the assent of at least one-third of the State unit’s 50 executive members, 12 office bearers and the two BJP legislators is needed. However, in this case, the merger was approved by only eight persons including the State BJP president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, one executive member and the two MLAs,” the BJP leader said.
He also said that though a number of State BJP party leaders had merged with the NPF, it did not mean the BJP was no longer functional in Nagaland as the party would be reorganized in consultation with central party leaders.
Another senior BJP member alleged that without first consulting party members and workers, the decision for merger was finalized two days back during a clandestine meeting of some State BJP leaders with chief minister Neiphiu Rio in Kohima.
A couple of senior State BJP leaders were more guarded in their comments.
When contacted, senior BJP leader and former minister Dr TM Lotha said that though he could not attend yesterday’s meeting as he was not informed in time, as a “disciplined soldier of the party” he has to abide by the decision.
Similarly, another senior BJP leader and former Minister Imtilemba Sangtam, who attended Monday’s meeting, said, “I think I’ve to go along with the majority.”
According to reliable sources, the State BJP was compelled to take the decision as its two legislators who are presently in the DAN ministry - Forest Minister MC Konyak and Parliamentary Secretary, Geology & Mining, Y Patton - faced the prospect being axed from the Ministry after the NPF party showed inclination towards the UPA in the post-poll scenario. Welcoming the decision of the State BJP to merge with the regional party, NPF general secretary T Shuya said the merger was a “historic step” towards realizing the common aspiration of the Naga people. “This is a great sign of voicing Naga’s aspiration and interest through a unified voice under the dynamic leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio,” Shuya said, while also calling upon other like-minded political parties and leaders to follow suit.
State BJP leader deny merger
Reacting to the news item appearing in the local dailies wherein it was reported that the BJP Nagaland Unit had merged with the NPF, the General Secretary of the party has clarified that the state BJP is still intact and strong and that the question of the party merging with the NPF does not arise. General Secretary of the party, Vikehelie Victor, in a press release, sought to clarify that the BJP is a pre-poll ally of the DAN Government and as such the question of it merging with the NPF does not arise maintaining that those who reportedly left the party were doing so in their individual capacity. It further said the state BJP will take all necessary corrective measures to defend and protect the party at an appropriate forum at the earliest.
NPF decides to support UPA govt Hindustan Times Press Trust of India

The Nagaland People's Front, which has one MP in the Lok Sabha, has decided to support the Congress-led UPA government.
NPF's decision has been conveyed to President Pratibha Patil. A written communication was received from NPF extending support to a government at the Centre led by Congress and its allies, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said. NPF, headed by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, leads the coalition government in the northeastern state.
It's raining support for Congress TNN Times of India
NEW DELHI: Parties are clambering onto Congress's power bandwagon. Though bridging an 11-MP deficit to reach the majority mark is not a problem for UPA, Congress was faced with an embarrassment of riches with even the warring duo from UP -- Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati -- vying with one another to offer support.

If SP and BSP were unusually on the same side of the fence offering support with no strings attached, smaller parties like H D Deve Gowda's JD(S) and Lalu Prasad's shrunk RJD also signed up, making Congress virtually blackmail proof. The more cynical of Congress leaders remarked that everyone wanted to get on the gravy train.

While Congress clearly had the momentum with it and numbers were not really an issue, the party tried to mop up support from all quarters in a determined bid to minimise its vulnerability to any arm-twisting from demanding allies like DMK and Mamata Banerjee. Its bid to enlist support from all possible quarters and the arrival of DMK boss M Karunanidhi is not seen as mere coincidence.

According to Chennai's political grapevine, DMK is insisting on major portfolios like surface transport, shipping, health, railways and environment besides three MoS berths. Mamata's response to this could be interesting. The Trinamool Congress leader, who left for New Delhi in a private plane to attend the UPA meeting on Wednesday, is known to be mercurial, though her reported desire not to let anyone in her party grow too tall may be Congress's saving grace.

But with Congress in a pugnacious mood after its unexpectedly large win, there is even a view in the party whether JD(S) should be admitted into the UPA. Though the party is willing to accept outside support from all comers, the possibility of JD(S) being offered a share of the power -- with Congress banking on smaller parties rather than ones like SP or BSP -- is being questioned by some.

While Sonia is yet to take a final view on applications piling up in her inbox, the UPA meeting on Wednesday may consider issues like whether the alliance should be expanded. Those who are expected to attend the meeting are NCP and National Conference, besides DMK and Trinamool.

Announcing BSP's support in Lucknow, Mayawati disclosed that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called her up, asking for support from " chhoti behan ". According to Amar Singh, the PM had previously placed a similar call to the Samajwadis for support. The swiftness with which Mayawati, technically still a member of the Left-fabricated third front, moved was quite remarkable.

Official sources in PMO, while confirming the PM's conversations with both Mayawati and Mulayam, were carefully non-committal over whether this was any indication of Congress looking to invite either into the UPA. In the case of BSP, that was never the option and neither has Mayawati expressed such an expectation. The SP desire to be taken is obvious. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy, who renewed his party's pledge for support to the "secular" government, said that Singh made a similar call to his father, former PM H D Deve Gowda.

Congress also got its Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan to deliver three independent MPs from the state, besides tying up support from Nagaland People's Front which will have one member in the Lok Sabha. The support of the three independents will be attached to Congress's claim when it is delivered to President Pratibha Patil.

The precaution to corral the numbers appeared justified after Karunanidhi landed in the Capital with what sources in Chennai called a "hefty" wish list. The Tamil Nadu chief minister has developed a reputation for being a hard bargainer.

Mayawati's support letter came as a surprise, turning the conventional logic that the SP and the BSP would travel in opposite directions on its head. The unconventional move, clearly aimed at preventing Samajwadis from developing any equity with the Centre, stung the latter, with Amar Singh slamming it as "political opportunism".

But while the shrewd move had SP staring at the prospect of its power drought at the Centre and in Lucknow being indefinitely prolonged, it also pointed to the pull Congress has acquired with players ranging from independents from Maharashtra to Sikkim Democratic Front and Nagaland People's Front. RJD leader Lalu Prasad swallowed the insult he claimed he had to endure since his rout in Bihar to send his lieutenants Prem Gupta and Jaiprakash Yadav to Rashtrapati Bhawan with an "unconditional" oath of loyalty to Congress.

The list of porfolios, according to sources in Chennai, being asked for by DMK also give an insight into the party and family dynamic. The ageing party czar is believed to have asked shipping for T R Baalu, surface transport for his son Azhagiri and health for daughter Kanimozhi. Signigicantly, Dayanidhi Maran, who returned to the fold after a bitter fight, is not considered to be a priority for the Dravidian patriarch in a clear sign that he has not been fully forgiven.
RIO & CO SPRING ANOTHER SURPRISE NPF lends support to UPA We have to work together for early solution to Naga issue, Singh tells Rio(EMN
DIMAPUR,): Springing the ultimate surprise amidst the post-poll hungama, the Neiphiu Rio-led ruling NPF has decided to extend support to the Congress-led UPA at the Centre.
UPA’s tally in the new Lok Sabha jumped by 53 today to reach 314 and contributing to the alliance’s strength was NPF, which has one MP, along with also unexpected support from BSP and Samajwadi Party.
After bulldozing over the Nagaland Congress in the just-concluded elections, the NPF today submitted a letter of support to a government at the Centre led by Congress and its allies, a decision being seen as strategic to gain UPA’s favour for the larger good of the state.
NPF sources said the decision was reached chiefly keeping in mind Naga’s yearning for earliest solution of the long-drawn Indo-Naga political issue and further to ensure the fulfilment of the party’s commitments to the people as regards development.
NPF press secretary V Abu Metha over phone informed of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio’s meeting with Prime Minister-elect Dr. Manmohan Singh and AICC president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today at New Delhi where he extended his party’s support to the UPA. According to Metha, Dr. Manmohan Singh told Neiphiu Rio that ‘we have to work together to bring early solution to the Indo-Naga political issue.’ Metha further said the meeting was positive with Rio and Dr Singh congratulating each other for the success in the elections.
According to a PTI report, NPF’s decision has been conveyed to President Pratibha Patil. A written communication was received from NPF extending support to a government at the Centre led by Congress and its allies, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the NPF press secretary also informed that Chief Minister Rio has welcomed the merger of BJP with NPF and congratulated the former BJP state office bearers and legislators on the decision.
The NPF Central Committee also met in the state capital to deliberate on the issue and has decided to welcome the BJP functionaries into the NPF fold.
The Nagaland State BJP yesterday decided to disband and join forces with the NPF.
However, reacting to the BJP top brasses’ decision, Vikehielie Victor, general secretary of Nagaland BJP, today said that the Party is ‘intact’ in the state.
‘The State BJP Unit is strong like a rock and that it will not suffer from self interest decisive politics’, he stated adding that ‘whoever leaves the party irrespective of post they hold is solely on their individual capacity.’
He also assured that the State BJP will take all corrective necessary measures to defend and protect the party in an appropriate forum at the earliest.
Minister MC Konyak though, when contacted over phone, rebuked the statement of Vikehielie Victor as an ‘individual’s voice and not the party’s voice’.
“Who is he to speak for the party?” Konyak retorted stating that if “he was a member of the party, he would have attended the meeting yesterday for which notice was given.”
The State BJP’s general secretary reportedly avoided the marathon meeting during which the BJP top brass discussed the issue at length and reached the decision for the benefit of the people.
Fifteen killed in Assam’s hills districts (PTI)
GUWAHATI, MAY 19: Fifteen persons, including six militants and a Congress leader and his family, were killed in Assam’s troubled
Karbi Anglong and NC Hills districts today, where a goods train was also attacked and 20 houses burnt. Two suspected armed NDFB extremists entered the house of the Congress leader, Apu Das at Diphu town in Karbi Anglong district around 7.45 pm and shot him dead along with wife Manju, daughter Moni, niece Juhi and a tutor Suma Roy, before escaping, Superintendent of Police, KK Sharma told PTI.
A neighbour Anita Mazumdar was seriously injured, he said. Stating the killings could be related to demands for extortion, Sharma said the attack would also have been in retaliation for the killing of six NDFB militants this morning at Donphat under Howrahghat police station of the district.
At Donphat, six NDFB militants were killed in an encounter with the army’s 13 Guard, defence sources said. Two others, however, escaped. In the North Cachar Hills district, unidentified gunmen stopped a vehicle going from Maibong to Haflong at Nirimbanglo, forced out four passengers and shot them dead, official sources said. In the same district, insurgents fired on a goods train, going from Badurpur to Lumding, as it was emerging from a tunnel near Mahur, the sources said. Security personnel on board retaliated leading to a gunfight, but there was no casualty, they said. Unidentified ultras set ablaze 12 houses at Photoningla, under Mahur police station, but none was injured. The aggrieved local people gheraoed the Mahur police station this afternoon and damaged the furniture and other property in the police station. They held the police responsible for failing to check the unabated violence. Officer-in-charge N Saikia fled from the scene as the crowd anger was particularly pointed towards him.
A huge quantity of arms and ammunition were seized from the NDFB militants killed in the encounter at Howraghat. Three 9 mm pistols, two grenades, a country-made carbine, 30 rounds of 9 mm pistol ammunition, ten rounds of AK47 ammunition, an AK47 magazine, 143 gelatin sticks, four detonators and 150 metres of fuse wire were seized.
NSCN-IM ‘decree’ unacceptable: JAC Sangai Express (Newmai News Network)
IMPHAL, MAY 18: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the triple murder of Dr. Th. Kishan and his two sub-ordinate staffs has expressed dissatisfaction over the court decree sentence
given by the NSCN-IM to Lt. Col Hopeson Ningshen, the accused in the murder of the trio. Expressing displeasure, the Committee has called on the government of Manipur to take immediate action to apprehend the guilty and to try him under relevant Indian Penal Code (IPL). It also adopted a five point Kangla declaration on Sunday and asserted the ‘so called court martial’ of the NSCN-IM was not acceptable to the JAC and the people of Manipur. It resolved the JAC and the people’s movement demanding justice would continue until the culprit was punished under the law of the land and welcomed initiations from hill civil and social societies who decide to join the movement.
The declaration also demanded the reports of the Inquiry Committee instituted by the government of Manipur into the incident to be made public and further demanded criminal proceedings on state officials involved in the murder.
Meanwhile, the UNLF in a press statement has also asserted such crime deserves more than a mere eye-wash judgement as announced by the NSCN-IM and that the judgement was nothing but condoning falsehood and guilty persons while overriding truth and fact.

Central BJP rush emissary to Nagaland following debacle morungexpress
Dimapur | May 19 : The sudden decision of the BJP Nagaland State unit to dissolve and merge with the Nagaland People’s Front has come as a rude shock to many party loyalists here even as the Central BJP today rushed in one of its representatives to the State to take stock of the situation.
According to BJP sources, former General Secretary (Org), Nagaland, Avinash Kohli has already arrived Dimapur Tuesday evening to have consultations with senior State party leaders who are not a party to the “merger” decision. It is also reportedly to discuss reorganization of the party in the State. “More central BJP leaders are expected to visit Nagaland in the next couple of days after Kohli submits his report to the party,” the sources informed.
‘Merger decision lacked party quorum’; reorganization not ruled out
Referring to the decision for “merger” taken at the BJP’s meeting at Hotel Saramati on Monday, a State BJP leader on condition of anonymity said it was “unconstitutional” as the decision lacked the “party quorum.” “For such a major decision, the assent of at least one-third of the State unit’s 50 executive members, 12 office bearers and the two BJP legislators is needed. However, in this case, the merger was approved by only eight persons including the State BJP president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, one executive member and the two MLAs,” the BJP leader said.
He also said that though a number of State BJP party leaders had merged with the NPF, it did not mean the BJP was no longer functional in Nagaland as the party would be reorganized in consultation with central party leaders.
Another senior BJP member alleged that without first consulting party members and workers, the decision for merger was finalized two days back during a clandestine meeting of some State BJP leaders with chief minister Neiphiu Rio in Kohima.
A couple of senior State BJP leaders were more guarded in their comments.
When contacted, senior BJP leader and former minister Dr TM Lotha said that though he could not attend yesterday’s meeting as he was not informed in time, as a “disciplined soldier of the party” he has to abide by the decision.
Similarly, another senior BJP leader and former Minister Imtilemba Sangtam, who attended Monday’s meeting, said, “I think I’ve to go along with the majority.”
According to reliable sources, the State BJP was compelled to take the decision as its two legislators who are presently in the DAN ministry - Forest Minister MC Konyak and Parliamentary Secretary, Geology & Mining, Y Patton - faced the prospect being axed from the Ministry after the NPF party showed inclination towards the UPA in the post-poll scenario.
Welcoming the decision of the State BJP to merge with the regional party, NPF general secretary T Shuya said the merger was a “historic step” towards realizing the common aspiration of the Naga people. “This is a great sign of voicing Naga’s aspiration and interest through a unified voice under the dynamic leadership of chief minister Neiphiu Rio,” Shuya said, while also calling upon other like-minded political parties and leaders to follow suit.
State BJP leader deny merger
Reacting to the news item appearing in the local dailies wherein it was reported that the BJP Nagaland Unit had merged with the NPF, the General Secretary of the party has clarified that the state BJP is still intact and strong and that the question of the party merging with the NPF does not arise. General Secretary of the party, Vikehelie Victor, in a press release, sought to clarify that the BJP is a pre-poll ally of the DAN Government and as such the question of it merging with the NPF does not arise maintaining that those who reportedly left the party were doing so in their individual capacity. It further said the state BJP will take all necessary corrective measures to defend and protect the party at an appropriate forum at the earliest.
NSCN judgement on February 17 killing Issued by:-MIP/GPRN
The General Court Martial (GCM) of the Naga Army GHQ has sat several times and has heard thoroughly the case of murder of Dr. Kishan and his driver Aribam Rajen and an official Y. Token on 17th of February 2009 near Senapati by Lt. Colonel Hopeson Ningshen, the then Commanding officer of the Kiusumong Battalion Naga Army posted in Wung Tangkhul Region (WTR).
The GCM has discovered that the murder was committed not without provocation. The arrogance added with reckless corruption of Dr. Kishan the SDO of Kasom Block has not only shocked the people of the area but it has also infuriated all the people including Lt. Colonel Hopeson Ningshen who is also from the same area. Repeated warning against running his office at Imphal went unheeded and the deceased did remain impenitent about his corruption in spite of public outcry.
The Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul Pankaj Kumar Pal who has a long standing and violent ego clash with his SDO is seen to have exploited the situation leading to the ultimate murder of the latter. Circumstancial evidences have convicted the Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pal as the master mind of the murder of Dr.Kishan and his two staffs.
However, the Chief Minister of Manipur Mr. O. Ibobi Sing who is also the Home Minister and Mr. Ranjit Sing, work Minister who visit Kasom Khullen the next day of abduction of Dr. Kishan and Staffs have a share of responsibility in the death of the victims. They must therefore be prosecuted as required by law. Since Lt. Colonel Hopeson Ningshen has claimed the responsibility of the murder as sole perpetrator of the crime the GCM is satisfied to award the below mentioned penalty to Lt. Colonel Hopeson Ningshen.
That, as per “The Naga Army Act” of Rules and Regulation (NAARR) 2002 Lt. Colonel Hopeson Ningshen bearing Army No. ST-28014, former Commanding Officer of Kiusumong battalion has been convicted guilty of abduction, illegal detention and ultimate murder of Dr. Kishan and his two associate Aribam Rajen and Y. Token on 17th February 2009 under Article 70 Clause 3, Sub Clause V Article 76 Clause ii of NAARR. Therefore, the GCM is satisfied to terminate Lt. Colonel Hopeson NIngshen with immediate effect from the service of the Naga Army. The GCM is also pleased to dismiss all his services rendered to the Nation.
All military decoration as well as ranks awarded to him has been stripped off. He is also to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven (7) years counting from the day he has been arrested. He is also to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000/- (fifty thousand) only to the GPRN. In default of which he shall undergo simple imprisonment for another one year six months.
Issued by:-MIP/GPRN

Violence flares up in hill districts Dimasas lined up and shot OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Silchar, May 19: Ethnic fury and insurgency continued to sear Assam’s North Cachar Hills as four Dimasas were gunned down, several houses burnt and a police station and a goods train attacked in the district since last night. The incidents came on the heels of the abduction of three officials of a construction company, engaged in the East-West corridor project, from Mupa under Maibong subdivision of the district yesterday. Police sources in Haflong said the four Dimasa tribals were killed by about 10 gunmen who stalled the passenger jeep they were travelling in at Inrem Bungalow, a secluded place on the highway about 7km from Mahur town, around 11.30 this morning.
The suspected insurgents asked all the 14 passengers to get down from the jeep, lined them up and asked them to reveal their ethnic and racial identities. The gunmen then segregated four Dimasa tribals from the group and sprayed them with bullets.
The identities of those killed have not been established yet. The bodies have been kept at the Mahur health centre. Police sources said the killings could be a fallout of the ethnic clashes between the Dimasas and the Zeme Nagas. They added that the Zeme Nagas, patronised by Naga militants, were suspected to be behind the killings of Dimasas in the district.
About 10 cottages belonging to Dimasa tribals were also set ablaze in a hamlet located on a hill near Mahur town by suspected Zeme Nagas last night. Incensed by the killings, Dimasa tribals gathered in front of Mahur police station this afternoon to protest against the lack of security arrangements in their area. Some among the crowd allegedly pelted stones at the police station. In another incident early this morning, suspected militants of the Jewel Gorlosa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah fired upon a heavily fortified goods train coming from Lumding and bound for Lower Haflong. The attack took place between Mahur and Phaiding railway stations at 8am.
The security forces retaliated by firing about 10 rounds on the six-odd militants who fled away into the nearby hills. Nobody was injured in the attack. The police, security forces and the district administration now appear to be in a fix as their tight patrolling and deployment of forces in the vulnerable areas have failed to stop the orgy of violence in the troubled hill district. On March 20, two Zeme Nagas had been killed at Tungjaibasti under Mahur police station, while three were killed and 45 houses burnt at Guilung under Maibong police station on May 11.
On April 28, three women were killed and 13 houses torched at Yia Basti, a Dimasa village, under Maibong police station. On May 8, 14 houses were burnt in an attack on Jorai Basti under Haflong police station. On May 9, three Dimasa villagers were killed and 37 houses burnt at Faiding under Mahur police station. Dilip Nunisa, the chairman of the pro-talks faction of the DHD, in a release issued this afternoon, condemned the violence in the district and blamed the DHD (Jewel) and the NSCN militants for the disturbances.
He said the violence was being orchestrated to instil a sense of fear among the Dimasas, the largest tribe in the district. He alleged that the insurgents and the Jewel Gorlosa faction were together whipping up a medley of disturbances such as abductions, extortion and killings in a bid to stall the peace talks between his faction and the Centre. He claimed that the insurgents wanted to give rise to an atmosphere of instability in the district. The Nunisa faction, which has been maintaining a ceasefire with New Delhi and Dispur since 2003, called for tightening of security in the district to save the life and property of people.
6 NDFB men gunned down OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Nagaon, May 19: A joint team of troops from the Bokoliahat-based 13th Guard Regiment and Karbi Anglong police gunned down six NDFB rebels in a jungle under Dokmoka outpost of Howraghat police station, 75km from the Karbi Anglong district headquarters, Diphu, early this morning.
Based on a tip-off about the movement of an eight-member group of militants in the area, the security forces launched a major search operation in the wee hours today.
Police sources said the militants taking shelter in a transit camp inside a deep jungle near Donghaf opened fire as the security forces advanced towards the rebel camp. The exchange of fire continued for more than three hours during which two members of the militant group managed to flee. The other six militants died on the spot. The six bodies were recovered after the security forces conducted a search in the area at the end of the encounter. The troops also recovered three 9mm pistols, two 9mm revolvers, two grenades and a hand-made carbine, a magazine, 23 live rounds of ammunition, 12 gelatine sticks, 150 metre fuse wire and 143 detonators.
“The camp was newly established and based on that we could make out that the rebels had moved into the area only recently. Two of the cadres were seen fleeing the spot firing continuously. The escape was made easy by the hilly terrain,” Babu Deuri, the Dokmoka outpost officer-in-charge, said. The police said none of the slain militants could be identified so far.
“It appears they were outsiders as the local villagers failed to identify them when the bodies were brought to Dokmoka,” a police official said. All the slain rebels were in the age group of 19 to 26 years and were dressed in trousers and T-shirts. The police and the army are still trying to track down the two cadres who escaped from the site.
“Both of them may also have been wounded in the exchange of fire. We are hoping to catch them soon,” the police official said. The army troops had gunned down two NDFB militants in Chirang district last evening. The NDFB became influential in the hill district after the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) was dissolved in 2003.
Violence rocks hill districts Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, May 19 – Incidents of violence continue to rock the hill districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills and at least 14 persons including six militants were killed in separate incidents, while, at least seven persons including railway trackmen and Border Security Force (BSF) personnel received injuries. Six National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants were killed in an encounter with the Army in Karbi Anglong this morning. Army sources said that the troops also busted a temporary camp of the militant outfit.

Army sources said at around 3 am this morning, the Army received an input of at least six to eight NDFB militants setting up a temporary camp in Donghap in the Doboka reserve forest under Howraghat police station. The troops immediately launched an operation and a gun battle started at around 3.30 am. After a fierce gun battle, which lasted for around one and half hours, the Army searched the area and recovered the bodies of six militants. The slain militants are yet to be identified.

Army sources said that the Army recovered a cache of arms and ammunition including two revolvers, three pistols, one nine mm carbine, two grenades, 12 gelatin sticks, 143 detonators, 100 metres of fuse wire, at least 30 rounds of ammunition, blankets, mosquito nets etc. Sources said that the militants were staying in a hut and they were in the process of constructing another.

Our Diphu Corres-pondent adds: Unidentified gunmen to night attacked the house of a Congress worker and killed four persons including three of the family and injuring another. The victims are Manju Das, Momi Das, Juhi Das and Somu Roy.

Our Haflong Correspondent adds: The trouble torn North Cachar Hills district today witnessed a series of incidents of violence including killing of four persons and two attacks on trains.

According to information available, several houses of Jeme Naga people at Choto Nenglo village were burnt down by unidentified miscreants. In retaliation, four persons were pulled down from a Haflong bound cruiser vehicle (As-11-E-0398) by unidentified gunmen between Gerem and Nriambunglo under Mahur police station and were shot dead. The bodies of three of those killed have been recovered and they have been identified as Sashon Daolagajao, Sandip Langthasa and Ranjulal Hasnu. The body of the fourth person to be gunned down- Prodesh Jahori, is yet to be recovered. An irate mob ransacked Mahur police station after the incident alleging lack of initiative by the police to bring the situation under control.

Meanwhile, the district also witnessed two attacks on trains. One goods train coming from Lumding was fired at my miscreants between Mahur and Phiding. Though a few bullets hit the engine of the train, no one was injured.

In another incident, another goods train was shot at at around 3 pm near Lower Haflong. Five railway trackmen Debakanta Rajkhowa, Kamini Singh, Subrata Bhattacharya, Khargeswar Baruah and Srimanta Surani and two BSF men Hirebdra Kumar and Sunil Kumar Tyagi received bullet injuries and they have been admitted to Haflong civil hospital for treatment. One special police officer was also injured in the attack, police said.