One person killed in a blast in Dima Hisao District, Assam; Blast in Manipur; Large number of districts in Assam hit by floods; Blockade in Assam-Mizoram highway; Huge number of rebels surrender in Manipur; Centre extends ceasefire with National Democrati
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    • According to reports, one person was killed as a bomb went off at Umrangsho in Assam's Dima Hasao district on September 25, hours after an explosion in Sivsagar town. The killed man is yet to be identified and investigations are on to find out which militant outfit he worked for.1 In another development, security forces in Manipur had another close shave on September 24 when rebels of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) triggered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) blast. There was no occurrence of injury but a vehicle carrying the security forces was partly damaged by the splinters of the IED. 2

    Reports noted that the overall flood situation in the State has worsened further with nearly 14 lakh people in 1,972 villages under 63 revenue circles of 16 districts reeling under flood. In Tinsukia district, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Army have been pressed into service to assist the civil administration in rescue and relief operations. In Sonitpur and Kamrup district, NDRF personnel are deployed to assist the civil administrations in rescue and relief operations. 3

    According to reports, a number of NGOs and local parties on September 26 began an indefinite blockade of the national highway connecting Silchar of southern Assam with Mizoram to protest against alleged harassment of non-Mizos, leaving commuters stranded on either side. It would be worth noting that the NH-306 (formerly NH 54) is the only surface communication link between land-locked Mizoram and the rest of India. The road blockade was called by All Barak Youth Students' Association (ABYSA) in association with some local non-political parties, and a number of clubs and social organisations. The agitators put up the blockade at Lailapur near the Assam-Mizoram border, 450 km west of Assam's main city of Guwahati. A huge number of vehicles and passengers were stranded on either side of the blockade. 4
    However, reports noted that more than 110 rebels belonging to various outlawed outfits surrendered their arms to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in a ceremony on September 26. In Manipur, there are more than 20 rebel outfits with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy. The rebels also surrendered a huge cache of weapons which included AK-47 rifles, carbines and pistols. The chief minister lauded the bold step taken by the rebels and said that peace and crime-free atmosphere would catalyse growth and development in Manipur. He also applauded the important role played by Assam Rifles in encouraging misguided youth to join the mainstream. The Assam Rifles spokesperson said the families of the surrendered rebels appreciated the role played by the paramilitary force in facilitating the surrender. 5
    In another development, reports noted that the ceasefire with the NDFB (P) faction has been extended by another three months. The current term of ceasefire expires on September 30. General Secretary of NDFB (P) Gobinda Basumatary said that the decision to further extend the ceasefire was taken at a tripartite meeting on September 24 with the Home Ministry and State Government officials. Interestingly, the ceasefire period has been further reduced from six months to three, as against the earlier practice of extending such pacts for 12 months. 6

    In other developments, according to reports, three persons, including two Assam Rifles personnel and a civilian, were killed, and six others including four Assam Rifles Jawans and two civilian women sustained injuries in a bomb blast that took place in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar on September 28. The incident took place near Kwatha Khunou junction along Imphal-Moreh road about 100 km south of Imphal, when suspected militants exploded a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Though the Assam Rifles suspects the hand of CorCom (Coordination Committee of seven major militant groups) in incident, no militant group has claimed responsibility till the filing of the report. 7

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