Insurgency / Assam

NEW DELHI, Feb 4 ? China has denied receiving any request from outlawed ULFA for safe passage even as India got in touch with China to checkmate the rebel outfit, Minister of State for External Affairs, Digvijay Singh confirmed here today.

The Minister informed in the Lok Sabha that after media reports regarding a letter addressed to the Chinese Government by ULFA, came to the notice of the Government of India, his Ministry got in touch with the Chinese Embassy here The ULFA had sought safe passage through Chinese territory for members of insurgent groups seeking to escape the armed...

Silchar, Feb. 4: The North Cachar Hills district in south Assam is reeling under a 36-hour bandh, which began at 5 am today. The bandh was called by the newly-formed Dimasa Youth Forum (DYF) to protest against the Centre?s delay in initiating peace talks with Dima Halam Daoga to wrap up the decade-long hostilities in the district.

A senior police official at Haflong, the headquarters town of the district, today said the bandh was ?near total?. Shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed and attendance at government offices and banks was thin. Vehicles remained off the roads in...

Guwahati, Jan. 31: The curtain came down on the Assam government?s amnesty offer to rebels with a large number of militants surrendering to the army today. The state government?s general amnesty offer to rebels, proposed after the Bhutan operation, expires tonight.

As many as 156 militants belonging to the Ulfa and the NDFB laid down arms at Tamulpur in Nalbari district in presence of the Four Corps general-officer-commanding Lt Gen. Anup Singh Jamwal today.

?The general amnesty has paid dividends as militants of both the groups have come forward in large numbers to join the mainstream. The...

GUWAHATI, Jan 31: Growing links between the militant outfits of the North Eastern region and Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) backed Kashmiri militant outfits is causing concern among the security agencies and recently the security agencies have come across links between the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and Jamait Ul Mujaheedin (JUM), a Pakistan Occupied Kashmir based militant outfit.

Highly placed security sources said that the links between the ULFA and the JUM came to light after the seizure of huge number of AK 47 ammunition in Kolkata, following which, two ULFA...

TAMULPUR, Jan 31 ? The peace process in the State received a shot in the arm today as 156 militants, belonging mostly to the banned ULFA and the NDFB, laid down their arms before the GOC Gajraj Corps, Lt Gen Anup Singh Jamwal at Tamulpur in Nalbari district and pledged to shun violence and be a part of the mainstream. Those who surrendered included five woman cadres as well.

Significantly, the general amnesty declared by the State Government for militants wishing to surrender expires today. But the GOC made it clear that it would have no effect on the Army?s endeavour to get militants...

Guwahati, Jan. 29: A Kuki organisation has complained to the National Human Rights Commission about persecution of the tribe by the militant United People?s Democratic Solidarity with the backing of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), which is the dominant political party of Assam?s Karbi Anglong district.

In a memorandum to the commission, the Kuki Human Rights Association accused the Tarun Gogoi government of being ?casual? in its approach to the problems of the Kukis of Karbi Anglong.

Nearly 50 people from both the Kuki and Karbi communities have died and scores injured in the...

Kokrajhar, Jan. 29: Posters appealing to militants to surrender appeared in villages along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam two days before the expiry of the deadline to avail of Dispur?s general amnesty offer.

The posters appealed to members the Ulfa, the National Democratic Front of Boroland and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation to lay down arms and return to the mainstream.

?The army is here to help you. Surrender with your weapons. Get a new life with a cash award and a job. Bring peace to your heart, mind and area. You are most welcome to surrender,? read a poster put up by the army.

T...

Nagaon, Jan. 27: The anti-talks faction of the militant United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) today announced a campaign against ?outsiders? engaged in agriculture in the twin Assam districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills.

The Karbi Anglong and N.C. Hills People?s Resistance, which is the armed wing of the militant group, said it would not spare anybody found encroaching upon tribal-owned land. It barred transportation of agricultural produce from the twin districts to outside the region.

The Kuki tribe is believed to be the prime target of the Karbi militant group?s campaign...

Nagaon, Jan. 24: In a move that could widen the ethnic divide in violence-hit Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts of Assam, the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) today scrapped a crucial pact with the Kuki National Assembly (KNA).

One of the main clauses of the memorandum of understanding signed between the ASDC and the KNA on December 4, 2000 promises a hill council for the indigenous Kukis residing in Singhasan Hills in Karbi Anglong. The ASDC is spearheading a campaign for an autonomous Karbi state in the district.

Making the announcement about the abrogation of ?all the...

Guwahati, Jan. 19: A city court today extended the judicial remand of three top Ulfa leaders, including founder member Bhimkanta Buragohain, till January 30 and asked the jail authorities to take ?proper care? of the banned outfit?s publicity chief Mithinga Daimary after he complained of chest pain.

Kamrup chief judicial magistrate Rumi Kumari Phukan, however, ended the hearing without taking up the bail applications filed by the families of the three militant leaders. The reason was an unscheduled holiday on account of a lawyer?s death.

Apart from Buragohain and Daimary, Ulfa cultural...