Insurgency / Northeast

NEW DELHI, June 7 - Falling short of making promises on opening dialogue with underground outfits in the North East, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has expressed its determination to tackle militancy in the region as a matter of urgent national priority. President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, in his address to both the Houses of the Parliament, which also happened to be his first address to newly-elected members of the 14th Lok Sabha, unveiled the UPA government’s plans and programme. The address itself was reiteration of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) announced earlier.

However, UPA’s...

SHILLONG, June 4 – The Meghalaya Government will soon take up the issue of state-based militant camps in Bangladesh with the new government at the Centre, as part of a fresh approach towards tackling the menace of militancy. Chief Minister DD Lapang and Home Minister Robert G Lyngdoh will visit New Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to discuss militancy in the state, besides the issue of North-east-based militant camps in Bangladesh after the state budget session in the end of the current month.

It may be mentioned here that the Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over a fresh...

NEW DELHI, June 1 – The irritants in the relations between India and Bangladesh came to the fore once again, when India’s new External Affairs Minister, K Natwar Singh today raised the issue of insurgent outfits operating from its soil, illegal infiltration problem and the recent arms haul in Chittagong with the visiting Bangladesh Foreign Minister, M Morshed Khan.

Although both the sides refrained from making any critical remarks, the visiting Bangladeshi Foreign Minister reacted to India’s concern in a round about way. “Bangladesh is a country of 55,000 square mile and we need every mile...

GUWAHATI, June 1 – The Government of India has offered to extend all possible help to Myanmar Government to evict the militant groups of the north-eastern region camping in the country, highly placed security sources said. Sources told The Assam Tribune that the presence of the militant groups belonging to the north-eastern States in Myanmar is causing serious concern to the overall security scenario of India, and with the improvement of relations between India and Myanmar, the Government of India has time and again requested its Myanmar counterpart to take action against the militants as was...

SHILLONG, May 27 – The Border Security Force (BSF) has handed over a list of 210 North East militant hide-outs in Bangladesh to the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) urging the latter to initiate operations against the ultras.

The border force has also agreed to conduct joint operations with the BDR in India, if similar camps of terrorist outfits of the neighbouring country existed on this side of the border. The BDR has claimed that Bangladeshi militants have set up camps in the north eastern region of India, specially in the State of Tripura.

Inspector General of the BSF’s Assam, Meghalaya...

NEW DELHI, May 27— Royal Government of Bhutan’s Army operation against outlawed ULFA, NDFB and KLO militants, extension of the ongoing cease-fire with the NSCN and the problem of unabated infiltration from across the border have been reported by the Amnesty International in its annual report released last evening.

Chief Editor Tehelka Tarun Tejpal at a function here released the Amnesty International Report 2004 last evening. “The activities of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Front (KLO), armed...

NEW DELHI, May 27 – Reaffirming Centre’s commitment to resolve the insurgency problem, Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh today assured that all legitimate grievances of the separatist outfits would be looked into urging them to join the mainstream. Interacting with newsmen on the sideline of the release of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) at his 7 Race Course residence, Dr Singh said that though he has so far not applied his mind as to how to go about the Naga peace process, he said the Centre would strive to address all the legitimate grievances. “At the same time I would like to appeal to...

AIZAWL, May 26 : Mizoram council of ministers endorsed the draft prposals for laying down of arms by the underground Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) cadres and repatriation of Brus lodged in Tripura relief camps, state Chief Secretary said here today. HV Lalringa told PTI that the decision was taken by the council of ministers which met yesterday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Zoramthanga.

NEW DELHI, May 26 – The controversy over the demand for greater Nagaland is sought to be settled with the United Progressive Alliance likely to endorse a demand for maintaining territorial integrity of the north eastern states, even as the NDA Government’s much-touted River Inter-linking Project faces an uncertain future. The UPA Government is all set to examine the techno-economic feasibility the project. But good news is in store for the north eastern states particularly the oil producing Assam, as due to pressure from the Left allies, a clause to review the crude royalty is under...

NEW DELHI, May 26 – Aiming for economic development of the North-east by restoring peace, the Centre today appealed to the insurgents there to come to the negotiating table saying "dialogue is the only way to solve all problems", reports PTI. "Insurgents must realise that it is time for all of us to recognise the importance of dialogue. The insurgents may be misguided because of economic deprivation but it is important for all of us to believe in the dialogue process as it is the only way to solve all problems," Tribal Affairs and NE Development Minister PR Kyndiah told PTI. He said his...