NEW DELHI, May 30 ? Claiming that insurgency in the North-East was at low ebb; the Defence Ministry has asserted that sustained operations have led to near marginalisation of ULFA and NDFB in Assam, even as Army killed over 520 insurgents in the region. Relentless operations by the security forces against other insurgent groups in the region, have marginalized them and forced them to shift their bases to the neighbouring countries, the Defence Ministry observed.
Sustained and successful military operations by the security forces under the unified command has resulted in near marginalisation of both the ULFA and NDFB, who have been forced to be holed up in camps in South Bhutan, the annual report of the Ministry of the Defence claimed. To substantiate its claim the Defence Ministry has claimed that last year 361 terrorists have been killed, 1,468 captured, while 228 others have surrendered and 806 weapons have been seized. The operations by the security forces also ensured a secure environment facilitating successful conduct of elections for the State Assembly in May last year, the Ministry added.
The Ministry has also vouched that ULFA under pressure of the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGB) has closed four of their camps in southern Bhutan. In June 2001, RGB reached an understanding with ULFA militants to close down four of their camps in Bhutan by the end of December 31 last year and to hold discussions thereafter, on winding down the remaining camps. The four camps were since reported to have been closed. The Defence Ministry report however, described the situation in Tripura as high-grade law and order problem. The Ministry claimed that operations by security forces have been instrumental in keeping the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tigers Force (ATTF) confined to their transborder bases in Bangladesh and forcing a large number of surrenders.
In the last five months security forces in the State have gunned down 40 insurgents, 455 others have been apprehended. The situation in Manipur was stated to have normalised after Government of India withdrew the clause relating to extension of cease-fire beyond the territorial limit of Nagaland. Security forces have however gunned down 139 insurgents besides capturing 1,323 militants last year, the report said. About the situation in Nagaland, the Defence Ministry was of the view that despite some turmoil caused on account of the announcement of extension of ceasefire beyond Nagaland and then revocation by the Government, there is a distinct ground swell for peace in the State.
Significantly, the Amnesty International in its Annual Report 2002, had nothing much to say about the situation in the North-East. ?In the Northeast, a ceasefire between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) and the Central Government was extended in July for one year. Violent protests led by non-Naga organisations in the neighbouring State of Manipur prevented the ceasefire being extended beyond Nagaland, as initially proposed,? was all the report that was released early this week said.
The Report, however, decried Central Acts like the POTA and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. Special security laws, including the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, the POTO and the National Security Act, as well as the Protection of Human Rights Act, continued to retain provisions granting virtual impunity for government officials and Army officers committing abuses while acting in their official capacity, it said.
People from socially and economically marginalized sections of society continued to be particularly vulnerable to torture and ill treatment by both the police and non-state actors. The numbers of deaths in custody among members of these groups remained high, while their access to redress continued to be difficult despite the existence of progressive legislation, Report said. Human rights defenders continued to be harrassed by both the police and non-state actors, and some of their activities were labelled ?anti-national? by the Government.