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07/21/2009: "3 Naga rebels gunned down A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph"
3 Naga rebels gunned down A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, The army today said the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) could carry out attacks in Assam along the state’s border with Arunachal Pradesh in the run-up to Independence Day.
The statement came after troops gunned down three militants of the outfit at Harmoti village near Nijlaluk in North Lakhimpur district, bordering Arunachal Pradesh, last night.
The slain militants were identified as self-styled sergeant Nameng Kobin, sergeant Babang Bake and Bhai from the driving licences found on them. Three 9mm pistols, ammunition and SIM cards were also recovered.
An army officer said the security forces had received information about the militants’ movement in the area a fortnight ago and were on the alert since then.
The three rebels were located by troops of the Dah Division and North Lakhimpur police in a house in Harmoti village.
“A fierce gunbattle followed during which the three militants were killed,” Lakhimpur superintendent of police S.A. Karim said.
“These militants were operating from Arunachal Pradesh and frequently entering Assam on specific operations like recruitment of cadres and sabotage activities,” he said, adding that there were reports of the rebels trying to carry out strikes in Assam prior to Independence Day.
Karim said the NSCN (I-M) was planning to carry out sabotage activities in the state with the help of youths from Assam who were recruited to the outfit recently and trained at Camp Hebron in Dimapur.
Sources said some of these youths had already returned after training and were “ready” to strike.
The outfit’s plan to recruit youths from Assam to expand its territorial influence was revealed by two NSCN (I-M) cadres arrested from Dhemaji district a couple of months back.
They were identified as “sergeant” Gobik Hai and “private” Rela Mgondir. Both were from Arunachal Pradesh.
The army officer said the NSCN (I-M) had been “trying hard” to carry out recruitment drives in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh and Dhemaji and North Lakhimpur districts of Assam. “These recruitment drives could be a part of the NSCN (I-M)’s dream of a greater Nagalim which includes parts of both states.”
He said there were also reports of the NSCN (I-M) serving extortion notices to Assam businessmen residing along the boundary of the two states.
Khekiho asks Delhi to ‘rescue’ Nagaland morungexpress
Dimapur, July 20 (MExN): Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Khekiho Zhimomi today appealed to the Centre to “rescue” Nagaland, affected by short rainfall this year. In the parliament today, Zhimomi sought “short term” relief measures as well as “long term” measures which spelled on irrigation development.
“The situation is alarming and intervention of the central government is absolutely necessary for providing relief and rehabilitation of the drought-affected people of the state,” Zhimomi said in his speech, a copy of which was received here today. The “Short-term” measures which the MP sought are immediate relief for the affected while the “long term” measures are “irrigation facilities, bore well etc.” These have to be given priority to prevent “such situations in future,” the MP said.
The MP explained to the parliament that the current monsoon season has brought the lowest ever rainfall for the state, affecting paddy cultivation. The ‘drought-like’ situation has impacted agriculture crops alongside reports of pest and insect infestations, Zhimomi said. “Against an average rainfall of 750.50 mm normally received during the period from January to July 15, only 471.50 mm of rainfall has been received this year, indicating a deficit of 278.32 mm, 37.10 %,” Zhimomi stated in his speech. The shortfall has affected 25% of ‘jhum’ cultivation and 50% of wet cultivations, he explained further. “Many have lost their livelihood because agriculture activities have come to a standstill due to lack of enough fodder, the livestock are also dying; crops have failed and a possible famine and shortage of food are looming over the state,” Zhimomi asserted in his plea.
IM-Centre talks held Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, July 18 2009: The routine talks between the Government of India (GoI) and the NSCN-IM discussed issues pertaining to adhering of cease fire ground rules by both the sides while the Naga outfit reportedly expressed unhappiness over the seizure of their arms and weaponry by police and security forces.
According to reports published in a section of local dailies in Nagaland today, the routine monthly talks held in Delhi on Friday reviewed the implementation of Cease Fire Ground Rules.
The Government of India's representatives brought up issues like rampant extortion by the Naga outfit, harbouring other militant groups of the Northeast and imparting training to them, besides reports of recruitment of non-Nagas for anti-social activities.
Though the NSCN-IM authorities denied such reports and allegations,the Government of India sternly told them to stop such activities in Nagaland for the larger interest of the general public.
The NSCN-IM has been asked to adhere to the ceasefire ground rules in order to maintain peace in the State of Nagaland, the reports said.The Government of India also took up the issue of the claim of a designated camp at Shiroi in Manipur's Ukhrul district and said that no such approval was given by the Government to the NSCN-IM to set up any designated camp there.
The Government of India was critical about the recent incidents at Inavi village where the cadres of NSCN-IM burnt down several houses and told the NSCN-IM delegation that it was breach of the ceasefire ground rules..
The Centre also brought up the ongoing violence in the NC Hills district of Assam and dwelling on certain reports of Naga undergrounds' involvement in the carnage asked the NSCN-IM to desist from such activities.
However, the NSCN-IM denied their involvement and pointed fingers on the DHD (J) militants who are active in the region.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) delegation led by Gen (Rtd) V S Atem, Emissary to the Collective Leadership, Brig Phungthing and others representatives reportedly expressed unhappiness over the seizure of their weapons by the Nagaland Police and Assam Rifles from time to time.
It may be mentioned here that the Government of India and NSCN-IM have entered into cease fire agreement since 1997 and involved peace talks for the last 11 years.
They have entered into 'indefinite cease fire' in 2007 and next round of peace talks is likely to be held in the month of August this year, wherein the outfit's Chairman Isac Chishi Swu and General Secretary Th.Muivah would be directly having talks at the Government level.
NSCN (I-M) kills two rape accused PTI IST
KOHIMA: The NSCN (I-M) has killed the two rape accused, defying repeated pleas from the district administration to hand over them to the police.
The bodies of the two were recovered on Saturday in Nagaland's Wokha district and the police has confirmed it. The police said that the bodies of the two accused with bullet marks on their heads were recovered at a place between Wokha and Bokajan (in Assam) after an anonymous caller informed the Wokha police about the incident.
Two empty cases of AK 47 rifle were also recovered from the site and police also found a piece of paper by the side of the bodies where names of the deceased were written.
The Dimapur police had identified five suspects in the March 25 sensational dacoity and rape case and arrested two persons. While one was absconding, two others were apprehended by the NSCN (I-M). A statement issued by information and publicity wing of NSCN(I-M) on Sunday confirmed the 'execution
Gogoi, Mahanta lock horns over Nagaland encroachment
Staff Reporter Assam tribune
GUWAHATI, July 20 – The Assam legislative Assembly today witnessed war of words between Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta over the issue of encroachment of Assam’s land by Nagaland. Replying to a Zero Hour question in this regard, the Chief Minister said that during the AGP regime, the State Government accepted a proposal to extend the area of ceasefire with NSCN (I-M) to Assam as a part of the design of the militant outfit to create greater Nagalim and only after the Congress came to popwer, the State Government strongly objected to that. He said that he was told by the then Union Home Minister LK Advani that the AGP Government had accepted extension of the area of ceasefire.
However, Mahanta strongly objected to that and claimed that the AGP Government had never supported either the creation of greater Nagalim or extension of the area of cease-fire with NSCN to cover Assam.
Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that the AGP Government had never opposed the move for extension of the area of cease-fire between Central Government and NSCN. He said that the NSCN tried to extend the area of ceasefire in an attempt to create greater Nagalim. He also said that the Government was ready for a detailed discussion on the issue.
Earlier, raising the issue during Zero Hour, Mahanta said that encroachment of Assam’s land by the people of Nagaland is a matter of serious concern. He said that the State Government must take bold steps to prevent further encroachment. He also expressed doubts on whether the State Government managed to forcefully plead the state’s case in the boundary commission constituted by the Supreme Court. He also said that the State Government had filed a case in the Supreme Court in this regard during the time of the AGP regime.
Drupad Borgohain (CPI) said that encroachment by the people of Nagaland with the support of the Government of the neighbouring state has become a common phenomenon. He said that the NSCN has included vast areas of Assam in its map or proposed greater Nagalim.
In reply, the Chief Minister said that in the past, the Government of Nagaland refused to abide by the recommendations of the commissions set up by the Government of India in this regard and hoped that Assam would get justice from the Supreme Court. He said that the neighbouring states often accuse the Assam Government of adopting big brother attitude, which is not a fact. He said that the Government of Nagaland always refused to accept the constitutional boundary, which created the problems. He further informed the House that the State Government has increased allocations for border areas development to ensure overall development of all the border areas.
The Minister in charge of Border Areas Development, Gautam Roy said that the Government of Nagaland often violated the agreement of maintaining status quo, while, the Assam Government has been abiding by the same. He said that all concerned have been given directions to evict the encroachers and steps have been taken to strengthen the border outposts.
More than 30 militant groups operating in Manipur PTI STAFF WRITER
Imphal, July 20 (PTI) Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today said more than thirty militant groups, including major outfits such as United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and People's Liberation Army (PLA), were operating in the state.
Replying to a question in the state Assembly, Singh said Naga militant outfits such as National Socialist Council of Nagaland--Isac Muivah (NSCN-IM) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) were also operating in parts of state's hill districts.
After the state government had signed agreements with Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF), the security forces have stopped operation against the two groups, he said.
While KNO was formed by eleven small militant outfits, including Kuki National Front-Military Council (KNF-MC) and Kuki Revolutionary Army-Unification (KRA-U), UPF was also formed by small outfits, including Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) and Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), Singh added
