Insurgency / Northeast

SHILLONG, March 22: Assam Rifles, the oldest central para-military force in the country is celebrating its 166th raising day with a six-day programme at its headquarters here, reports UNI. Popularly known as 'the sentinels of the Northeast' and 'friends of the hill people' the programme of the Assam Rifles began here on March 30 with a wreath laying ceremony at the War Memorial at Happy Valley by Meghalaya Governor M M Jacob. The programme was followed by an investiture ceremony. Assam Rifles is the only force in the country which is the recipient of three Ashok Chakra Class-I, the highest...

DHAKA, March 13: Top ULFA leader Anup Chetia, who is serving jail terms here, is to renew his prayer for asylum, press reports said today, reports PTI. Chetia, who is sentenced to several years' jail term for illegal entry into Bangladesh and possessing foreign currency and other valuables, asked his lawyers to make a fresh appeal for political asylum, the Daily Star reported quoting his lawyer Alina Khan in the court where Chetia was produced for hearing in connection with possessing satellite telephone. The judge adjourned the trial till March 29 due to the absence of the witness and the...

AGARTALA, March 12: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has lashed out at the Baptist Missions for aiding and abetting terrorism in Northeast India. The international working president of the VHP, Ashok Singhal at a press conference here on Thursday, said the Baptist missions are, if not directly, but indirectly responsible for fomenting militancy in the region. He said lakhs of rupees are pouring into India from foreign countries for the Christian organisations, and observed that a large amount of these funds were being diverted for arms procurement for the militants. "However, Punjab has proved...

GUWAHATI, March 12: Growth of Islamic militancy in Assam, if not checked immediately, may pose a serious threat to the security of the country as efforts are on by Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) backed outfit Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM) is to unite all the small Islamic militant outfits operating in the State, highly-placed police sources said. Sources said that according to information available with the security forces, the HUM is trying to act as an umbrella organisation for all the Islamic outfits operating in the State including the Muslim United Liberation Front of Asom...

NEW DELHI, March 10: The Centre is likely to announce ceasefire in Northeastern states to create an atmosphere conducive for talks with insurgent groups, and to restore peace in the region. Officials said despite differences of opinion among Chief Ministers of the Northeast, the Centre is firm on extending ceasefire in all Northeastern states. The announcement will be made after discussing with the Union defence minister, George Fernandes, and approval of the Cabinet committee on security. The Chief Ministers of the Northeastern states met the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union...

GUWAHATI, March 10: For the first time in the entire country, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen militants have come overground in a public function. Six Pakistan-trained Harkat-ul-Mujahideen ultras who hail from the State, bade farewell to arms before the Chief Minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, at an official ceremony held at the Circuit House here this morning. The militants also deposited one AK-56 assault rifle, one AK-47 assault rifle, one pistol and a .303 rifle while surrendering in the function which was attended by three Cabinet colleagues of Mahanta, the Chief Secretary and the entire top brass of...

NEW DELHI, March 7: Militant outfits in the Northeast have responded positively to the suspension of operations against them and the call for dialogue, the Union home minister said in the Rajya Sabha today. The Centre has held informal talks with NSCN(K) and the Federal Party in Nagaland and should be able to take a decision soon, LK Advani said. Advani met officials and groups other than the NSCN(IM) during his trip to Nagaland last week. The Centre and the state government agreed that NSCN (K) and the Federal Party too should be involved in the ceasefire. "The Centre completely agrees with...

NEW DELHI, March 7: Union Home Minister, L K Advani today set all speculations to rest by ruling out the possibility of the Centre announcing a unilateral ceasefire with all militant outfits including the ULFA in the Northeast. The Union Home Minister clarified the Centre's stand on the issue at the Rajya Sabha here this morning after several members belonging to the region urged him to unilaterally announce a ceasefire in the region. The views were along the same line as that of the three Northeast State Chief Ministers, including, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Radhabinod Koijam and Mukut Mithi...

GUWAHATI, March 7: A number of Western nations have officially warned their citizens not to venture into Northeast, including Assam, citing "civil unrest, insurgent attacks and political killings" occuring in the region. The warning, also posted on government websites of these countries, has evoked a sharp response within the Northeast tourism industry. Apart from recommending remedial measures, the industry here has also blamed the ministry of external affairs and some of the big Indian tour operators for their failure to present the correct picture of the prevailing security situation in...

NEW DELHI, March 5: The Centre is under pressure of the insurgency affected States of the Northeast to declare a unilateral ceasefire with all the underground outfits operating in the region on the line of the peace initiatives taken in Jammu and Kashmir. Under increasing pressure of the Northeastern Chief Ministers to declare ceasefire with all the insurgent outfits a reluctant Centre may finally concede. With the issue of extension of the ceasefire with the Naga outfit again assuming centre stage, the Chief Ministers of Assam Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have prevailed upon the Prime...