The United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), currently observing a ceasefire, agreed on September 11 to deposit all its arms with the government. The breakthrough came during a joint monitoring group meeting to review the ceasefire ground rules. According to the new norms in place, it is mandatory for a group in ceasefire or one trying to enter a ceasefire to suspend operations, deposit its arms under a ‘double lock’ system at designated camps till the peace process gets completed. The UPDS, active in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, has about 127 cadres at its designated camp1.

In Manipur, four security personnel were killed and four wounded in an ambush on a hilly road in Imphal East district on September 12. Fourteen security personnel deployed at Maphou dam on the tri-junction of Imphal East, Thoubal and Ukhrul districts, were moving in a Gypsy and a bullet-proof truck when they came under heavy fire from militants atop a hill. The militants used rocket launchers, and other sophisticated weapons to target the vehicles. The police suspected the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) for being behind the ambush2.

Three Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) cadres along with a driver of a passenger vehicle were killed during an encounter between militants and troops in Manipur’s Ukhrul District on September 7.

• 1. “UPDS agrees to lay down arms,” Telegraph, September 12, 2009, at http://telegraphindia.com/1090912/jsp/northeast/story_11482757.jsp
• 2. “4 jawans die in ambush,” Telegraph, September 13, 2009, at http://telegraphindia.com/1090913/jsp/northeast/story_11486050.jsp