Insurgency / Assam

GUWAHATI, February 11: The people of Bhutan have expressed their willingness to take up arms, if necessary, to evict the ULFA and Bodo militants from Bhutan, said a report in the Himalayan Kingdom's state run weekly Kuensel. Pressure is mounting on the Government of Bhutan to evict the ULFA and NDFB militants from the territory of Bhutan as the Bhutanese people have expressed concern over the presence of the militants. The continued presence of the ULFA and Bodo militants has become an increasingly serious threat to the security and sovereignty of the country and could take away the peace and...

GUWAHATI, February 9: Justice HK Sema of the Gauhati High Court today dismissed the two revision petitions filed by Mridul Phukan alias Samar Katoky, and Nayan Das, who are accused in the murder of journalist Parag Kumar Das and directed them to appear before the trial court on March 5 next. The two, who are surrendered ULFA militants, had approached the Gauhati High Court challenging the warrant of arrest issued against them by the Judicial Magistrate in connection with the murder trial of Parag Das. In their petitions, the two surrendered militants challenged the legality of the warrant...

GUWAHATI, February 8: Nine policemen were killed and three others received bullet injuries when they were ambushed by extremists in north Cachar hills district this morning. Though the identity of the extremists group involved in the attack is yet to be ascertained, security forces suspect the involvement of the Dima Halong Daogah (DHD) and National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) in the attack. Police sources said here this evening that the incident occurred at around 8.45 am today, when 22 personnel of the Fifth Assam Police Battalion were proceeding towards Guwahati from the battalion...

GUWAHATI, February 7: The Governor of Assam Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha today said that talks with the insurgents must be held within the framework of the Indian Constitution and the integrity of the country is not negotiable. Addressing the Budget Session of the State Assembly, the Governor said that the government desired a long lasting solution to the problem of insurgency and would welcome talks and negotiations at any time and any place. The Governor's address was marred by noisy scenes as the Congress members rushed to the well of the House, shouting slogans. The Governor only read out the...

GUWAHATI, February 5: Union home minister L.K. Advani on Sunday said that the Centre is ready to hold talks with the separatist United Liberation Front of Asom but made it clear that the government will not compromise on the country's sovereignty. Advani, who arrived in the eastern Assam tea growing district town of Tinsukia on Sunday morning on a two-day visit to the state, was addressing a public rally attended by an estimated 5,000 people who defied a joint general strike called by the ULFA and another rebel group in protest against his visit. "We are ready for talks with any rebel group in...

GUWAHATI, February 5: Insurgency in Assam cannot be compared with that of Jammu and Kashmir as Pakistan's role in Kashmir was direct, said the Union Home Minister, L K Advani. Addressing a Press conference here today, Advani virtually ruled out the possibility of a unilateral ceasefire in Assam and said that all decisions in respect of Jammu and Kashmir are adopted taking into account the role of Pakistan. The Union Home Minister said that talks and violence cannot go together and the ULFA must abjure violence for talks. He said that the government of India is willing to hold unconditional...

GUWAHATI, February 4: The Centre may declare a Kashmir-type unilateral truce with the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) in a bid to force the two separatist rebel outfits to enter into talks with the government for a negotiated settlement of the insurgency problem in Assam. Home Minister L.K. Advani, who arrives here on Sunday on a two-day visit to the state, is expected to make an announcement aimed at preparing the ground for a possible militant-government dialogue to restore peace in Assam. The ULFA and the NDFB, meanwhile...

TINSUKIA, February 4: The Union Home Minister, LK Advani, today said that the Centre would be only too happy to talk to the ULFA and other rebel outfits of the Northeast to bring long-lasting peace and prosperity to this troubled part of the country. But at the same time, he said that the militants would have to abjure violence and break themselves free from the outside influences like the Pakistani ISI. Addressing a moderately attended public meeting at Kachujan field here today, the Home Minister reiterated that violence serves nobody's interest. He said that he was too happy to note that...

JORHAT, January 28: Leisurely basking in the soft rays of the morning winter sun during the evening of his life at his garden before his Teok Jagduar residence 20 kms off Jorhat, freedom fighter Kumudeswar Bora's mind raced back in time while recollecting his experiences spread over 99 summers. Bora, is one among the district's oldest living 'soldiers' of the Freedom Movement and is now on the threshold of his 100th birthday, having completed 99 years and eight months to be precise. Presently afflicted by a dimmed eyesight and somewhat impaired hearing, Bora is nonetheless mentally agile and...

GUWAHATI, January 28: The King of Bhutan has said that if Bhutan failed to convince the militants belonging to the ULFA and NDFB to leave Bhutanese soil through peaceful negotiation, it would be left with no alternative but to resort to military action. Addressing the people's representatives of Sarpang area of Bhutan recently, the King said that the ULFA and NDFB cadres were seasoned militants, who had been fighting the Indian Army for years. He pointed out that the ULFA and the NDFB militants entered Bhutan in the early 1990s to escape from the military operations launched against them by...