Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat told the state assembly on March 17 that insurgency and law and order continued to be a matter of concern and a challenge for the state government. Giving the statistics of achievements, the Governor stated that from January 1, 2008, to December 2008, 1,703 militants were arrested and 297 were killed, while 340 weapons and 5707 ammunition, 161 hand grenades, 97 lethal bombs and 600 grams of RDX were seized from the militants1.

Meanwhile, four militants were reportedly killed in a fierce gun battle between the NSCN-K, UNLF, ULFA and the NSCN-IM at Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh on March 122.

In other developments, troops of the Assam Rifles gunned down three militants who were trying to sneak into Chandel district of Manipur from the Myanmar side of the border along with weapons on March 153.

• 1. “Jagat pat for govt on twin feats,” Telegraph, March 18, 2009, at http://telegraphindia.com/1090318/jsp/northeast/story_10683610.jsp
• 2. “Four killed in Tirap gun-battle,” Sangai Express, March 18, 2009, at http://thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-03.html
• 3. “Three militants killed on Myanmar border,” Telegraph, March 17, 2009, at http://telegraphindia.com/1090317/jsp/northeast/story_10677432.jsp