Maoists train two batches of new recruits in Assam; Meghalaya Chief Minister: Ceasefire with Achik National Volunteers’ Council is in jeopardy; Four Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadres killed on Assam-Meghalaya border;
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    • According to reports, the Maoist rebel groups have been gradually establishing their roots in Assam and according to information available with the security forces, at least two batches of new recruits of the Maoists from Assam have already completed training. One member from Assam has already been inducted into the Central committee of the Maoists to give a boost to the activities of the groups in Assam. One batch of the new recruits were trained by cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M) in India-Myanmar border area but it is not known whether the training took place inside India or across the border. The second batch was trained in Jharkhand. Those who received training have already returned to Assam and the possibility of them indulging in acts of violence cannot be ruled out. Sources revealed that the total strength of the Maoists in Assam would be not less than 70 persons but not all are armed cadres. The Maoists have strong links with the PLA of Manipur and NSCN (I-M) and in fact, they signed an agreement with the PLA long back. Sources revealed that according to information available with the security forces, the NSCN (I-M) also sent “trainers” to Jharkhand to train up Maoist cadres. 1

    In another development, according to reports, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that the previous DD Lapang Congress Government erred by signing the 2004 ceasefire agreement with the Achik National Volunteers’ Council (ANVC) without taking all its cadres into confidence. The Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement was signed between the State, Central Governments and the ANVC without realising the fact that there was an armed group within the ANVC working independently. Due to that error, the armed group has now surfaced and the ongoing agreement is in jeopardy. 2

    According to reports, four members of the militant group Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) were killed in a gun battle with security forces in East Garo Hills district of Meghalaya on the Assam-Meghalaya border. The militants fired at the police team forcing them to retaliate. In the ensuing gun battle, four militants were gunned down while the rest of the group managed to escape. 3

    Reports noted that the Government of India is keen on expediting the peace talks with the pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and is of the view that the acts of violence by the members of the hardline faction would not affect the peace talks. The Union Home Secretary would meet the leaders of the ULFA on April 9 to review the progress of talks. Sources said that though the Centre’s interlocutor PC Haldar has been entrusted with the responsibility of talking with the ULFA and other militant groups of the state, the MHA was of the view that the progress of talks should be reviewed from time to time to ensure that the process of expedited. Sources said that the MHA is keen on early solution of the problem and the leaders of the ULFA should also feel the sincerity of the Government to find amicable solution. However, it is difficult for setting any deadline for signing an agreement with any militant outfit. 4

    According to reports, security forces on April 5, 2012 shot down four suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) cadres in a pre-dawn operation at Mongpangro village, 22 km from Mendhipathar, East Garo Hills district. 5 While in another development, a hard-core member of the Ulfa's anti-talk faction was killed during a gun battle with the army and the police in Goalpara district on the Assam-Meghalaya border. Goalpara Superintendent of Police Luis Aind said that an AK-56 rifle, over 100 live bullets, magazines and a hand grenade were recovered from his possession. 6

    Reports noted that the National Investigating Agency (NIA) managed to snap a major link between the Maoist rebel groups and Manipur based militant group PLA following the arrest of hardcore PLA cadre Arnold Sing alias Bekon in Siliguri, where he was working at a call centre. Official sources said that Arnold, who originally hails from Guwahati, joined the PLA in 2003 and following the signing of an agreement between the Maoist rebels and PLA, he led a four member team of the PLA to Jharkhand to impart training to the Maoist rebels. He along with other members of the PLA imparted arms training to several batches of Maoist rebels. 7

    In other developments, according to reports, special police commandos from the elite SWAT unit of the East Garo Hills Police, backed by the CRPF CoBRA special forces, blasted their way through a major camp belonging to the Garo National Liberation Army and engaged in a fierce encounter which forced the ultras to flee, leaving behind a large quantity of powerful explosives. 8

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