Manipur observes June 2001 incident; Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) arms procurer arrested in Meghalaya; Panel formed for linking North-East Capitals; 4 NSCN cadres killed; Tripartite talks to be held on June 29; Four militants killed in Assam; NSCN
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    • Reports noted that Manipur on June 18, 2012 paid floral tributes to the departed souls who laid down their lives during the agitation in June 2001 in protest against the extension of the ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) without territorial limit. The June 18 incident was observed by holding public meetings. It was on this day in 2001 that the people of Manipur came out on the streets to oppose the extension of the ceasefire without territorial limit. 1

    Meanwhile, in a major breakthrough, the police arrested the chief arms procurer of the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), a rebel group operating in western Meghalaya. A foreign-made revolver along with six rounds of live ammunition, four GNLA extortion notes and seals were seized. 2

    According to reports, the Minister of Development of North Eastern Region Paban Singh Ghatowar has said that to overcome the perennial connectivity problem, a sub-committee for bringing all the capitals of the north-eastern States under rail and air services have been constituted. Acknowledging that the rail connectivity still remains a challenge in the North East, Ghatowar said that the situation has been changing in NC Hills rapidly after deployment of security personnel. The ongoing work for Broad Gauge (BG) from Lumding to Badarpur will gain momentum following improvement of law-and-order situation there. 3

    Reports noted that four hardcore cadres belonging to NSCN (Khaplang) and NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) were killed in three separate incidents in Zunheboto and Tuensang districts on June 19, 2012. In the first incident of fresh factional clash that took place in the wee hours at Zhekiye village in Zunheboto district, two cadres of the NSCN-K were reported killed while another sustained serious bullet injuries. In the other two incidents, two cadres belonging to the NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) were kidnapped at gunpoint from their houses and shot dead in what is suspected to be retaliation for the earlier attack on the cadres of NSCN-K. 4

    According to reports, the pro-talk faction of ULFA, Centre and the Assam Government would meet on June 29, 2012 for the next round of formal political dialogue. The discussions are likely to be held at the Home Secretary level. A ULFA delegation led by chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa is scheduled to arrive on June 27, 2012. The agenda for the discussion is yet to be finalised, spokesman of the group, Sasha Choudhury. According to sources, some of the issues that were raised in talks last April would be discussed further. Last time, issues like constitutional safeguard for the indigenous people of Assam and Centre-State relation were discussed. The militant outfit is in the process of settling its cadres in designated camps in Nalbari and Upper Assam. 5

    However, reportedly, a joint team of police and army killed four militants at a remote village in Dima Hasao district in the wee hours of June 23, 2012. Dima Hasao District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mugdha Jyoti Mahanta confirmed the incident and said that three AK-47 rifles and some live ammunition were recovered from the slain militants. The slain militants belong to a lesser known militant outfit of the Dimasa community- the Dimasa National Revolutionary Front (DNRF). One militant belonging to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN Isak-Muivah) faction was also apprehended during the operation. 6
    Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles busted an ‘adhoc transit camp’ of NSCN-K and recovered arms, ammunition, and huge quantity of rice recently in Dimapur. Two NSCN-K cadres, including an officer who was in charge of Chenmoho under Aboi PS, Mon, were also apprehended during the operation. During the operation, the troops seized one pistol, one 12 bore rifle, several live rounds of various calibers, explosive and many other warlike stores besides 3,000 kg of rice. 7

    In other developments, according to reports, after the meeting on June 23, 2012 between the Nagaland State Government representatives headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and the Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO) leaders in Kohima, the ice could not be broken. ENPO leaders informed that the meeting was cordial and peaceful. However, the ENPO leaders said their demand for a separate State by carving out four districts of Nagaland in the eastern part of the State remains. It would be worth mentioning that ENPO is demanding that the districts of Mon, Kiphire, Tuensang and Longleng be carved out from Nagaland to form a separate State called ‘Frontier Nagaland’. 8

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