Anti-talk ULFA faction stepping up extortion drive; Police to be ruthless against Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA); NSCN (IM) leader’s release demanded; Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT) ultras killed in Karbi Anglong; Level of violence coming do
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  • (April 16-22, 2012)

    According to reports, the hardline faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is getting desperate for money and most of the intercepts of discussions between the senior leaders of the outfit were on collection of funds. The senior leaders of the outfit themselves started calling up people demanding money, while, those inside India are also receiving calls from their senior leaders on the same issue. Sources revealed that Paresh Baruah , apart from using the channels of the ULFA, has his own channels to collect money directly and he is still calling up people directly demanding substantial amounts of money. Sources claimed that Paresh Baruah collects money through some sympathizers and according to intelligence inputs, he recently managed to send some money to Bangladesh, proving that though he had to escape from that country, he is still maintaining links there. 1

    In another development reports noted that after its seven day surrender offer was ignored by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), Meghalaya police asserted it would now be ‘ruthless’ against the militant outfit. Last week, Meghalaya police served the GNLA a deadline of seven days to surrender with their weapons. The militant outfit, however, gave scant respect to the ultimatum. According to police estimates, there are about 120 -130 unarmed cadres in the GNLA camps, mostly teenagers. He said that the police does not want to shed “unnecessary blood” and therefore has given adequate time to the young cadres to decide about their future. 2

    According to reports, residents of Ukhrul town under the aegis of Committee for Release of Ningkhan Shimray comprising Tangkhul frontier organisations and Tashar western areas chiefs associations took to the streets demanding early release of NSCN (IM)’s head of foreign affairs Ningkhan Anthony Shimray without any condition. The speakers at the meeting called for immediate release of Anthony, who is presently lodged at Tihar Jail, for a meaningful peace process. 3

    However, reports noted that the General Secretary of the Karbi People’s Liberation Tiger (KPLT), Nilip Enghi and four other members of the outfit were killed on the spot and one got serious bullet injuries during an encounter with Assam Police and security forces in the wee hours on the hill track of the Harlong Woti of Borpung under the Chowkihola Police Station in East Karbi Anglong. 4

    Meanwhile, reports noted that though the level of violence in the entire North East region is coming down gradually over the years, the situation in Manipur remains a cause of concern , while, inter-factional clashes between militant groups in Nagaland is also causing concern. According to the annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as many as 498 civilians and 79 security force personnel were killed in acts of violence by militants in the North east region in 2007, but the figure is gradually coming down and last year, 70 civilians and 32 security personnel were killed by militants. The report said that 31 persons were killed in Assam last year by militants as compared to 65 in the previous year. The report said that talks with militant groups like both factions of the DHD and KNLF have been concluded and peace accords would be signed shortly, while, talks are also on with pro-talk faction of the ULFA, NDFB(P) are going on. 5

    In other developments, according to reports, the stand off between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM completed days with no sign of easing and have spread to Manipur. The current quagmire was triggered by the incident where the NSCN-IM had detained five Assam Rifles jawans after snatching their weapons. The Assam Rifles personnel traveling in a truck allegedly ‘trespassed’ into Hebron Camp area violating the ceasefire ground rules which prompted the Naga militants to act, a source said. In Manipur, security forces personnel in large numbers were rushed to the vicinity of NSCN-IM designated camps. 6

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