Nagaon, July 6: The United People?s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) today warned members of its breakaway faction, the Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), to ?return to its fold or face its military strength.? The KLNLF has entered into a ceasefire with the Centre against the wishes of the UPDS.
In a press release, UPDS joint secretary W. Musrang said his group would launch a fight against the KLNLF members unless they rejoined the parent organisation.
Claiming that the chief of the KLNLF, Horsingh Timung, had already fled the hilly region to escape the operation, Musrang urged the rival outfit members to return to the UPDS.
The friction between the two factions escalated a few months ago when UPDS rebels gunned down the KLNLF?s North Cachar Hills commandant, K. Phanchu.
Later, the KLNLF accused the UPDS of violating the internal ceasefire as well as the ?national reconciliation agenda? and called an indefinite rail and road blockade in the twin hills districts of Assam.
Police said security had been beefed up in Bokajan, the border subdivision of Karbi Anglong, for the safety of the trucks travelling between Assam and Nagaland during the indefinite economic blockade called by the Karbi Students? Association.
The association, along with two other leading organisations, is protesting against the Naga villagers? recent encroachment into Assam. The villagers are allegedly backed by the NSCN (I-M). According to reports, the KLNLF is forging ties with the Dimasa militant outfit, Dima Halam Daoga (DHD), to take on the NSCN (I-M) on the encroachment issue.
Sources said leaders of the two Karbi Anglong-based militant factions would soon hold talks to chalk out joint operations to prevent any attempt to encroach their land.
The DHD has already stepped up activities against settlers from Nagaland in Karbi Anglong. Sources said the UPDS is afraid that the Kuki Revolutionary Army and the KLNLF could be used by vested interest groups to create trouble in Karbi Anglong.