Security tightened in Assam; Dhubri still under tension; Stir against foreigners to be intensified by All Assam Students Union (AASU); Ultras arrested in Arunachal Pradesh; Kuki militants arrested in Assam; Inmates missing in relief camps; Manipur undergo
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    • According to reports, Assam Police have intensified security arrangements after intelligence inputs that the anti-dialogue faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) led by Paresh Baruah alias Paresh Asom might try to attack police and security forces in the State. The developments assume significance as the outfit had triggered two blasts in less than a week's time - in Paltan Bazar area of Guwahati and at Doomdooma area in Tinsukia district in which one security personnel was killed and twenty five others injured. The intelligence wing had alerted the police after intercepting some messages between the ULFA commander-in-chief to ranks and files of the outfit. 1
    In another development, according to reports, some elements are trying to create communal tension in Dhubri district by spreading rumours even as additional forces have been rushed to the district to bring the situation under control. Efforts are on by the police and security forces to nab the culprits involved in such rumour mongering. The situation in Dhubri district was tense as a large number of people displaced in the ethnic clashes in Kokrajhar and Chirang shifted to the district and a theft in a temple sparked off tension. Senior police officers are camping in Dhubri to monitor the situation. 2
    Reports noted that the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and twenty organizations representing different ethnic groups of the State will intensify their movement for implementation of the Assam Accord and the statewide movements will culminate with a rally in Guwahati. AASU general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi said that after completion of the process of bringing out rallies all over the State, members of the AASU and 26 organizations would visit New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to apprise them of the feelings of the people of Assam. After the meeting with the Prime Minister and Home Minister, a mass rally will be held in Guwahati. 3
    According to reports, security forces have arrested five underground members, including three cadres of the United Peoples’ Democratic Front (UPDF), in separate operations from Lohit district in Arunachal. Meanwhile, Army personnel in a joint operation with Arunachal and Assam Police arrested a hardcore ULFA cadre Rongmon Gogoi from Wingseng Nongtaw village under Namsai circle in Lohit district. 4
    In a another development, reports noted that four militants of the United Kukigram Defence Army (UKDA) were arrested in Assam's Karbi Anglong early on September 13 and arms and ammunition seized from their possession. The UKDA was formed in 1996 with the objective of defending the Kuki community in Assam, particularly in Karbi Anglong district, from attacks by other militant outfits. It would be worth noting that the UKDA's basic demand was setting up of a regional council comprising the Kuki-dominated areas of the Sisghason hill in Karbi Anglong district. 5
    According to reports, a vanishing act by about 500 inmates of the relief camps in Bodoland Territorial Autonomous District (BTAD) areas has puzzled the Central agencies, with fresh efforts under way to verify the antecedents of victims of recent clashes. It has come to notice that at least 500 people living in relief camps fled Assam after authorities started checking their identity documents and land records before allowing them to be rehabilitated. Currently, an estimated two lakh affected people were living in around 215 relief camps in Assam. 6
    Reports noted that the Panchayat polls in Manipur passed off amidst a general strike called in the Sadar Hills area and foothill Tangkhul villages against the inclusion of some villages in the Panchayat on September 13. 7
    In other developments, according to reports, militant leader Bipul Debbarma, blamed for the abduction of six employees of a construction firm in Mizoram in March, on September 15 surrendered to security forces with his wife. The Bangladesh-trained leader of the separatist National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) gave himself up to the Border Security Force (BSF) with an AK rifle and electronic devises. 8 While, a senior Garo militant leader of the banned GNLA was killed in an encounter with SWAT commandos and CoBRA unit of CRPF in Durama Hills jungles in Garo Hills on September 14. 9

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