In Manipur, unidentified terrorists gunned down fourteen non-Manipuris at different places of the State on March 17-18. No terrorist group had so far claim responsibility for the killings1. The Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) strongly condemned the killings stating that their fight was against the Government of India and not against all the Indians2. Meanwhile, the Manipur Police on March 19 gunned down two Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) terrorists suspected to have been involved in the killings of the non-Manipuris3.

Further, four persons were killed and 60 others wounded when suspected militants triggered a powerful blast in Assam’s Dhemaji district on March 16. Assam Police suspected the blast to be the handiwork of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). The ULFA, however, denied its involvement, stating that ‘a gang of pseudo revolutionaries created by the enemy,’ had carried out the attack with the ulterior motive of creating mistrust among the various tribes and communities. The explosion took place when a huge crowd was enjoying the cultural evening on the occasion of Ali Aye Lrigang - a seed sowing festival of the Mishing tribe4.

Meanwhile, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) announced the revocation of its self-proclaimed ‘emergency’ in Nagaland on March 22 in view of “an improvement on law and order front,” according to the outfit’s chairman Isak Chishi Swu. Swu further stated that following the revocation of emergency, all kilonsers (ministers) of the NSCN-IM had been reinstated with immediate effect5.

Elsewhere, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal informed the Lok Sabha on March 18 that some insurgent groups of the North-East, particularly ULFA, had links with Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and other terrorist organizations like the Harkat-ul-jehad Islami (HuJI)6.

• 1. “Seven more migrant labourers shot dead bringing death toll to 14,” Imphal Free Press, March 19, 2008, at http://kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=41522&typeid=...
• 2. “RPF condemns targeting migrant workers,” Sangai Express, March 20, 2008, at http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-03.html
• 3. “Manipur migrant killers shot dead,” Telegraph, March 21, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080321/jsp/northeast/story_9043455.jsp
• 4. “Four killed, 60 injured in Assam blast,” The Hindu, March 17, 2008, at http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/17/stories/2008031758931200.htm
• 5. “NSCN lifts ‘emergency’ in Nagaland,” Telegraph, March 23, 2008, at http://telegraphindia.com/1080323/jsp/northeast/story_9045891.jsp
• 6. “NE insurgents have links with ISI, HuJI: MOS Home,” Sentinel, March 19, 2008, at http://sentinelassam.com/sentinel_en/main%20news.htm