Six kidnapped in Tripura

AGARTALA, Jan 6: Six people have been kidnapped and ten tribal huts set ablaze by insurgents of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) in separate incidents in Tripura, police said on Thursday. [AT]

Dispensary compounder abducted

PATHSALA, Jan 13: High tension prevails in the Helna-Balapara region following abduction of Mohammad Abdur Rasid, compounder, Helna Government Dispensary on December 26, 1999. [S]

Ultras kill CPI(M) leader, abduct bus passenger

AGARTALA, Jan 13: Banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) guerillas shot dead a CPI(M) leader, kidnapped a person and injured a woman at Alutola in South Tripura on Wednesday night, reports UNI. [AT]

Hostage killed

AGARTALA, Jan 13: Insurgents of Barak National Council of Tripura have shot dead one kidnapped person for his failure to pay any ransom at Ambassa in South Tripura district, police said, a PTI report said. [AT]

Cops injured

GUWAHATI, Jan 16: Two policemen were injured and three missing when militants fired at a police party in Tingkhong of Dibrugarh district. [NED]

NDFB Abducts one, injures many

SARUPETA, Jan 17: Many people were injured, two of them-Apu Saha and Baser Ali-seriously when a group of NDFB militants opened indiscriminate firing at Meena Bazar in Salbari area 20 km from here during a Bihu mela last evening. [S]

3 killed, 3 abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, Jan 17: The NLFT killed three persons-Bhikhurai Debbarma, his wife Suchitra Debbarma and one of their kin Ramakanta Debbarma-at Ichachara in Khowai subdivisionin West Tripura district. According to reports, Bhikhu and Ramakanta who had been working for the NLFT were killed as the outfit suspected them to be police informer. [S]

Tea executive abducted

KOHIMA, Jan 17 (UNI): The Lingri Tea Estate manager K M Sharma was abducted by unidentified gunmen from Notun Basti area, Dimapur on Saturday last, police said here today. [S]

Abduction of city traders

GUWAHATI, Jan 17: Unidentified gunmen abducted a shop-keeper from Post officearea of the G.S. Road in the city at around 4.30 p.m. yesterday. [S]

Abduction sparks off tension in Tripura

AGARTALA, Jan 19: Abduction of TUJS joint secretary Jagadish Debbarma has sparked tension in Tripuraas the process for the Autonomous District Council election has been initiated with the appointment of principal secretary Sudhir Sharma as the Election Commissioner on Monday. The election is scheduled to be held in July. [S]

Abducted youth still untraced

RANGIYA, Jan 24:Mr Ranjit Deka, a youth of Rangiya town who had been abducted by three unidentified extremists, on December 19 has remained untraced till now. [S]

Fresh attacks on R-day eve

AGARTALA, Jan 25: Stepping up their offensive on the eve of Republic Day, suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants killed three persons, abducted nine and injured a girl over the past 24 hours. [TT]

NLFT ultras kidnap 12 persons in Tripura

AGARTALA, Jan 27: Twelve persons, including two children, have been kidnapped by armed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants from two different places in Tripura, police said here on Tuesday, reports PTI. [AT]

Intensified insurgent activities in Agartala

AGARTALA, Jan 27: Insurgents intensified activities killing three persons and abducted twelve others during last 24 hours in Tripura in an apparent bid to enforce their Republic Day boycott call. A ten year old girl was also among the abducted persons. [S]

Militants abduct railway engineer

GUWAHATI, Jan 29: Suspected Ulfa militants today abducted a Northeast Frontier Railway junior engineer from Tiplai Chowk under Rangjuli police station in Assam's Goalpara district. [TT]

Minister rescued

IMPHAL, Jan 29: In the first major strike by outlawed insurgents opposed to next month's Assembly elections in Manipur, Art and Culture Minister M Babu Singh was kidnapped, but later rescued by police, and one of his relatives was killed during campaign. [AT]

Girl missing

GUWAHATI, Jan 30: Miss Bobby Das, daughter of Mr Praneswar Das of Balagaon, Chaygaon, Kamrup district, a maid servant of Mr Sunil Chandra Sharma, Project officer SBI, LHO, Guwahati, fled away from his house at Bishnu Rava Nagar, Noonmati at 6.30 p.m. on January 25. [S]

Tea executives kidnapped

GUWAHATI, Feb 1: Three persons including two tea executives were kidnapped by suspected militants in two separate incident in the State today. A group of suspected NSCN-IM militants today abducted two executives of Bhuban Valley Tea Estate under Lakhipur police station of Cachar district at around 11 am today. [AT]

Tripura abductions

AGARTALA, Feb 1: Militants abducted three persons and injured two in Tripura late last night, reports our Agartala correspondent. Eleven people were abducted from various parts of the state earlier in the day. Sources said the rebels waylaid a jeep at Atharabolla in South Tripura district and abducted three of the passengers. Two others were injured when the militants opened fire to prevent the driver from speeding away. [TT]

Panel to probe Ananta Kalita case

GUWAHATI, Feb 1: State Government constituted an inquiry commission with Mr Justice Shafiqul Haque, acting Chief Justice (retd) of the Gauhati High Court as the chairman, to probe into the alleged abduction and subsequent attempt to murder Mr Ananta Kalita, a resident of Hajo by "secret killers" on September 20 last year, a press release states. [S]

Militants abduct five in Tripura

AGARTALA, Feb 3: Three fishermen and two bus passengers were abducted by National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants and four members of the outfit were arrested by security personnel in separate incidents, the police said. [TT]

Villagers rescue hostages

AGARTALA, Feb 6 (PTI): Six National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) insurgents have been nabbed and two kidnapped persons rescued with the help of villagers in Tripura, police said. Villagers overpowered a group of ultras when they raided Rambhadrapara in south district village with fire arms yesterday. [S]

NABARD engineer abducted

MORIGAON, Feb. 6: One Siddhartha Sarma, an engineer of the NABARD, who had been engaged in a bridge construction at Mayang here, was abducted by suspected militants on January 31, according to a delayed report received today.[S]

New facts on killing unearthed

NAGAON, Feb 6: Though the police could not make any breakthrough into the abduction and subsequent killing of three youths -- Jayanta Saikia, Pradip Saha and Bonwarilal Dhote -- whose bodies were recovered at Betoni near Burapahar here yesterday, journalists could unearth some facts in connection with the case. According to reports, one of the killed youths, Jayanta Saikia, the son of AGP's Difaloo Anchalik Parishad president Pohar Saikia had been an ULFA cadre who surrendered five years back and managed to set the job as a schoolteacher. But even after his surrender Jayanta had been maintaining a close link with the ULFA and was engaged in a fund-raising drive by the outfit along with Pradip and Bonwarilal. The trio had collected a huge amount of money and kept it at his rented house at Laokhowa Road. On being informed about the cash the trio had amassed, the killers abducted the three on February 3 and killed them later. [S]

3 gunned down by NLFT ultras

AGARTALA, Feb 8 (UNI): National Liberation Front of Tripura guerrillas gunned down three people, shot at five others and kidnapped three people in north Tripura last night. [S]

Jr engineer kidnapped at Rangiya

RANGIYA, Feb 8: Majibur Rehman, a junior engineer serving in the Rangiya Borolia Irrigation Division here was kidnapped by suspected BLT militants when he was going to the Belbari village work site under Tamulpur police station today. [S]

Jorabat tense after recovery of bodies

GUWAHATI, Feb 8: Simmering tension prevails in Jorabat area on the city outskirts, following the discovery of bodies of two local youths in a dense forest on the foothills of Hastinapur Pahar early this morning. The bodies were identified as those of Raju Subba (25) and Bishnu Subba of Jorabat Kamalabari. The duo, along with one Deori, were missing since Saturday evening. [AT]

Kidnapped ULFA activist untraced

NAGAON, Feb 8: Diganta Rajbongshi, an ULFA activist was also with the four persons who had been kidnapped and later killed by suspected 'secret killers' in Nagaon a few days back. The ULFA activist from Nalbari, who had been kidnapped from the Haiborgaon residence of Jayanta Saikia, has remained untraced till now. This fact has come to light quite late as the ULFA activist did not belong to Nagaon and he had come here for medical treatment. [S]

ULFA behind killing of 4 youths : SP

NAGAON, Feb 9: The Nagaon SP, Mr S N Singh today said, the four youths, whose bodies were recovered in the district recently, were kidnapped and killed by the ULFA, because they had spent for personal use Rs 32 lakh of the outfit's money which was in their custody. [S]

TTAADC member's son abducted

AGARTALA, Feb 11: Tribal militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) abducted the son of an executive member of Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) and attacked a police party in different incidents in Tripura on Thursday, police sources said here. [AT]

Barak valley TEs soft targets for ultras

GUWAHATI, Feb 13: The tea gardens of the Barak Valley districts of the State have become a happy hunting ground for insurgent outfits and a number of tea executives were kidnapped by insurgents in the last six months. [AT]

Abducted engineer freed

GUWAHATI, Feb 14: An engineer of the North East Frontier (NF) Railway, Moloy Barua, who was abducted by some unidentified persons from a railway construction site near Rangjuli last month, returned home safely today. [AT]

Myanmarese army abducted Mizo teacher

AIZAWL, Feb 14: Myanmarese Army personnel Allegedly abducted a village teacher from Mizoram after crossing the international boundary in pursuit of rebel activists on Friday, the Director General of Police, Mizoram, Tumsanga, said here today, reports PTI. [AT]

Body recovered

GUWAHATI, Feb 14: The body of a woman was recovered from a forest under Chandrapur police station today. The deceased was reported to be missing by family members last night. [AT]

KYKL(O) member's family killed

IMPHAL, Feb 14: The father and elder brother of one KYKL (O) armed insurgent, who had surrendered to police last Friday, were abducted and shot dead, at Ningthoukhong in Bishenpur district. There is as yet no claim for these killings. [S]

227 killed during Jan '99-Jan 2000: Sarkar

AGARTALA, Feb 15: A total of 227 persons were killed and 277 others injured in various insurgency-related incidents in Tripura since January 1, 1999 till January 28 this year, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar told the State Assembly here on Monday. Apart from this, a total of 525 persons were abducted by different militant outfits from different places of the State on different occasions during the period, Sarkar who holds Home portfolio, said, while replying to Rabindra Debbarma of Opposition Tripura Upajati Juba Samity (TUJS). Replying to Shyama Charan Tripura (TUJS), the Chief Minister further said that total 1,018 persons including 362 tribals were killed while 2001 including 338 tribals had been kidnapped by the militants from April 10, 1993 to December 1999. [AT]

Ultras kidnap tea official in Cachar

SILCHAR, Feb 16 (PTI): Suspected militants today kidnapped an official of Martycherra Tea Estate in Assam's Cachar district, police said. The assistant manager of the tea estate Keshub Bhattacharjee was whisked away by suspected activists of Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) when he went for inspection of tea bushes at Icchachhera division of the garden, police said. [S]

SULFA activists held on kidnapping charges

GUWAHATI, Feb 16: In a swift operation, Chandmari Police today arrested three surrendered ULFA activists Ranjit Malakar, Dhanjit Baishya and Kandarpa Pathak on charges of kidnapping of two businessmen of the city. [AT]

Breakthrough in Shubham Banerjee case

GUWAHATI, Feb 17: In a major breakthrough, Paltan Bazar police nabbed a notorious criminal, one Dhiraj Das, from his house at North Guwahati yesterday in connection with the kidnapping of Shubham Banerjee, a schoolstudent and son of Mr Gautam Banerjee, proprietor of an established business firm in the city, B.N. Dey & Co. The court today remanded him to 10 days' police custody. [S]

Police, ULFA accuse each other of secret killings

NAGAON, Feb 18: The Nagaon police has accused the ULFA of gruesome killing of four abducted youths whose dead bodies were recovered from different parts of Nagaon district some time back. Sri SN Sing, SP, Nagaon told mediapersons at a media seminar at Army camp recently that he had definite evidence of ULFA's involvement in the macabre's killings. Meanwhile, ULFA has accused the Nagaon police of its involvement in the recent kidnapping and killing of four persons. ULFA denied the organisation's involvement in the murder. [AT]

Kidnapped girl rescued

NAGAON, Feb 23: Nagaon police today rescued a girl -- Gita Devi (12) from a house at Itachali, Nagaon who had been kidnapped by unidentified miscreants from Medical Tiniali, Dibrugarh on February 21. [S]

Crimes against girl child

GUWAHATI, Feb 23: At least 3,127 cases targeting minor girls were registered with the police between 1992-97 in the districts of the State where the victims were girls below the age of 18. Of them as many as 2,027 involved kidnapping, 767 rape, 240 molestation, 62 torture or cruelty, 19 dowry and 12 murder cases. [AT]

Rebels abduct six fishermen

AGARTALA, Feb 23: National Liberation Front of Tripura militants abducted six Bengali fishermen from Dumbur lake in South Tripura yesterday. [TT]

Two abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, Feb 24: National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants abducted two government employees and opened fire at a CRPF camp near Gandacherra town barely 48 hours after a special counter-insurgency operation came to an end in the Longtarai hill ranges. [TT]

ULFA ultras kidnap DRDA director

GAURIPUR, Feb 24: Suspected ULFA militants kidnapped Mr Nilamoni Mahanta, the Project Director of Bongaigaon DRDA while he was attending a marriage ceremony at Bilasipara here today. [S]

Reign of terror in border villages KARIMGANJ, Feb 26: Several persons in the Balipipla Gaon Panchayat have bee kidnapped by terrorists and later released. The villages of Karimganj district along the Assam-Tripura and Assam-Mizoram borders are living in a reign of terror. [S]

6 persons rescued from NSCN (IM)

DIMAPUR, Feb 26 (PTI): Security forces raided an office of the outlawed outfit NSCN (I-M) and rescued six people who had been held there for over two months in Nagaland, a senior Army official said today. Two AK-56 rifles, 85 rounds of ammunition, a mobile telephone, a colour television and 288 bottles of IMFL and beer were also recovered from the NSCN "command office" at Sematila, Brig DK Babbar told reporters. However, three NSCN(I-M) cadres escaped from the building which was later identified as the organization's 'town command office'. [S]

CRPF exchanges fire with insurgents

AGARTALA, Feb 27 (PTI): CRPF personnel exchanged fire with armed insurgents to rescue a kidnapped person in south Tripura district yesterday, police said. There was no casualty in the encounter.
In separate incident, rebels of United Bengali Liberation Force (UBLF) hurled two bombs at a tribal hostel at sub-divisional town Amarpur in south Tripura district yesterday, police said. There was no casualty. [S]

NDFB ultras kill one, kidnap another

RANGIYA, Feb. 28: Jalan Ali (37), a businessman was shot dead by NDFB militants at Ghogapar under Tamulpur police station here today. It may be mentioned that Ali had been served with an extortion notice earlier which he refused to oblige. In another incident, Pinak Majumdar, a businessman hailing from Guwahati was kidnapped by NDFB militants at Dwarkuchi under Rangiya police station yesterday. [S]

Kidnapped engineer released

RANGIYA, Feb. 28: Majibur Rahman, junior engineer serving in Borolia Irrigation Project under Tamulpur police station, who had been kidnapped by NDFB militants on February 8, was released at a village near Kumarikata in Nalbari district yesterday. [S]

Priest killed by miscreants

AGARTALA, Feb 29 (UNI): Tribal guerrillas killed a priest and abducted a youth while a villager was hacked to death by identified miscreants in Tripura last night. Meanwhile, in another incident armed militants kidnapped a youth from Kalyanpur in west Tripura. [S]

Cong leader abducted

AGARTALA, Feb 29: The NLFT militants abducted a local level Congress leader Nepal Dey (60) and his son Pradip Dey (22) for refusing to collect subscription on their behalf. [S]

Body recovered

AGARTALA, March 1: The body of one Kajal Chakraborty, a small trader who was kidnapped by ultras on February 24 from Killa police station area of the South Tripura district was recovered from the area yesterday, police said. The body of another kidnapped person, one Sikhram Munda abducted by suspected NLFT ultras, was recovered yesterday from Panditrambari under Kalyanpur police station of West Tripura district yesterday. -- PTI [AT]

Garo Hills engineers being terrorised by ultras TURA, March 4: Top technical officials posted in the three districts of Garo Hills have been bearing the brunt of militancy for the last few years, and while many fear to move out of their homes, there are others who in spite of being posted to this region, have failed to turn up for fear of abduction. Many top technicians have made an exodus from the region due to this fear. Even the largest public sector undertaking in this region, Coal India Limited, has witnessed this phenomenon. [AT]

4 abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, March 4: Four persons, including a tribal civilian, were abducted as security forces rescued one hostage and arrested eight militant collaborators in the state over the past 24 hours. [TT]

Militant hideout busted in Tripura

AGARTALA, March 5: In a joint combing operation Assam Rifles and State police personnel busted a militant hideout and rescued a kidnapped person from Nutan Bazar area of South Tripura on Saturday. An Assam Rifles statement said here on Sunday that eight hard-core militants of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) were arrested in the operation. [AT]

3 abducted, 2 injured in Tripura

AGARTALA, March 6: Three persons have been kidnapped and two others injured by insurgents in different parts of Tripura, police said today, reports PTI. A group of armed insurgents, suspected to be members of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) stopped a lorry at Keyathakur para of West Tripura district yesterday and kidnapped two persons including the driver. [AT]

NLFT guns down 4 in Tripura

AGARTALA, March 14: Outlawed tribal guerillas gunned down four people, including a woman and a child, shot at another and burnt down many houses at Ramdulapara under Pecharthal police station in North Tripura on Tuesday, report agencies. Meanwhile, five persons have been kidnapped by insurgents from different parts of Tripura, police said on Tuesday. [AT]

Kidnapped by militants

CHAPAR, March 15: Adivasi militants kidnapped Subhash Bhowmik, an employee of the State Bank of India, Chapar branch last evening. Mr Bhowmik hails from Kokrajhar. [S]

Constable kidnapped in Shillong

SHILLONG, March 15: Suspected HNLC militants abducted Police constable Kmenlang Lamin at about 1.15 a.m. today. [S]

Ultras kidnap 2, Army nabs 2 collaboratos

AGARTALA, March 15 (PTI): Two traders have been kidnapped by insurgents of banned militant outfit of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) while two collaborators of the outfit have been apprehended from different places of the State, police said today. [S]

Police-politician nexus behind growing anti-social activities alleged

SILCHAR, March 16: Abduction, exploitation at gunpoint, forced selections of official tenders and other such criminal activities are on the rise in the Sonai Police Station area allegedly under protection of an influencial Asom Gana Parishad leader of the area. [S]

Buildworth official kidnapped

KOKRAJHAR, March 17: Suspected NDFB militants kidnapped one Mr Mahabir Prasad Mundra, accounts officer of Buildworth Private Limited, a Guwahati-based engineering firm from near Gelephu checkpoint on Indo-Bhutan border at 1 p.m. yesterday. [S]

CPI(M) leader killed, houses set ablaze

AGARTALA, March 17 (PTI): A CPI(M) leader has been shot dead, two students have been kidnapped and houses set ablaze by National Liberation Front of Tripura insurgents in separate incidents in Tripura, police said today. [S]

NLFT ultras abduct 12 ONGC workers

AGARTALA, March 19: Twelve workers of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) were today kidnapped by the insurgents of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) from Gulakathalarpara in West Tripura district, reports PTI. Police said, a big gang of NLFT insurgents armed with sophisticated weapons raided an ONGC site in the said area and kidnapped the workers. [AT]

Two killed by tribal guerillas in Tripura

AGARTALA, March 21: Tribal guerillas shot dead two people, injured a woman and kidnapped a youth in West Tripura Monday night. [AT]

5 ULFA rebels, civilians die in shootout

RANGIA, March 22: Five Ulfa militants and a civilian were killed in an encounter between the Army and Ulfa militants at Bonmaja village under Kamalpur police station in Kamrup district late Tuesday night. In a separate incident, police recovered the beheaded bodies of two persons, Nagen Kalita (32) and Golok Kalita (40), of Gandhibari village under Tamulpur police station from the Puthimari river, after being kidnapped by unidentified men from their houses on Tuesday night. [NED]

NLFT abducts two, injured one

AGARTALA, March 22: National Liberation Front of Tripura militants abducted two persons and assaulted an Autonomous District Council official in separate incidents in Tripura over the past 24 hours. [TT]

Abducted film distributor freed

SILCHAR, March 24: Mr Arun Kumar Das, who had been kidnapped by militants recently, was released last night. It has been alleged that a huge amount of ransom was paid for the release of Mr Das, a film distributor here. [S]

Abductions hit Cachar TEs

SILCHAR, March 24: The Cachar police has been shaken by a series of abductions of tea planters and businessmen by extremists. Between August 1999 and March 2000, as many as 13 planters and businessmen were abducted. [S]

Four persons kidnapped

GUWAHATI, March 25 (UNI): Unidentified gunmen kidnapped four persons from Lala area of Hailakandi district this morning, official sources said. All the four belong to a religious minority community. [S]

NLFT ultras exchange fire with Security Forces, abduct three

AGARTALA, March 25 (PTI): Three persons have been kidnapped by NLFT militants and another injured during an exchange of fire between ultras and security forces at a market in Ampi area ofsouth Tripura district, police said today. [S]

Joint force combs forest for hostages

SILCHAR, March 26: The Hailakandi police and CRPF jawans are jointly combing the dense forests along the Tripura and Mizoram border to trace a timber merchant and a school teacher, who were allegedly abducted by a group of Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) rebels from Killerbark under Katlicherra block on aturday. [TT]

Rebels don human faces

AGARTALA, March 26: In a rare show of humanity, National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) rebels set a non-tribal free immediately after abduction and gave him Rs 200 to conduct his father's shradh ceremony. Twenty-four-year-old Sadhan Das, a poor tribal day labourer, came to Ampi market from nearby Haripur village in South Tripura to purchase provisions for his father's "shradh" ceremony. His father Nilmoni Das expired a week ago.
Sadhan was caught in a crossfire between the CRPF jawans and NLFT militants who attacked the market. While fleeing, they abducted Das along with two others. After reaching their hideout the next day, the militants realised that he was in mourning and subsequently set him free. This is the first time, militants released a non-tribal on compassionate grounds. [TT]

Body identified

MORIGAON, March 27: The bullet-ridden body, which was recovered on March 20 from Jarabari under Mikirbheta police station in Morigaon district, has been identified today as that of Parimal Bhowmik, a businessman. Mr Bhowmik had been abducted by unidentified gunmen from Saparmukh village under Raha police station about a month back. [S]

Kidnapped girl rescued

MORIGAON, March 28: Ms Dipamoni Dutta (15), who had been kidnapped from Nangalamora under Simaluguri police station in Sivasagar district, was rescued by police at Moirabari here today. Her abductor Safikul Islam of Sarusala has been absconding, police said. [S]

Abhishek Verma rescued from Patna

GUWAHATI, March 31: Abhishek Verma, son of Sri PP Verma, the Commissioner and Secretary to the Chief Minister, who was kidnapped by unidentified miscreants in 1995, has been rescued today. According to information available here, Abhishek was rescued from a village near Patna. [AT]

6 NEEPCO employees abducted in Mizoram

AIZAWL, March 31: Six employees of the North-East Electricity and Power Corporation (NEEPCO) were kidnapped by suspected ULFA militants from the project site of the Tuirial hydro power project early this morning, reports UNI. [AT]

For Vermas, it is the end of an agonising ordeal

GUWAHATI, April 1: After five years of hard life in alien places since he had been kidnapped on the fateful day of March 8, 1995, from Khanapara Central School, Abhishek Verma was today back in the arms of his family members at his father's official residence here. [AT]

Reunion: Abhishek back in the arms of his father PP Verma. The Assam Tribune photo.

Body of abducted boy found, one held

NALBARI, April 1: The body of the class V student of Sankardev Sishu Niketan, Kalang, Partha Pratim Das of Kotalkuchi village who was kidnapped on Thursday on his way back from school was recovered from a jungle near Sonkurihaghat on the bank of the river Pagladia last night. The confession of Govinda Kalita (27), a relative of the boy who was picked up by Kamarkuchi police on that night led the police to recover the body. [AT]

Hmar ultras have abducted NEEPCO employees : Minister

AIZAWL, April 3 (PTI): Mizoram Home Minister Tawnluia today said the insurgents who had kidnapped six employees of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) on Friday are suspected to be militants belonging to Manipur's Hmar People's Convention. [S]

8 hostages released, 5 ultras held in Tripura

AGARTALA, April 3: Altogether eight hostages have been released from insurgents capativity while security forces nabbed five collaborators of the ultras in different incidents in Tripura, police said today, reports PTI. [AT]

NEEPCO employees' abduction : Hand of HPC (D) suspected

AIZAWL, April 4: The Mizoram police suspects the involvement of Hmar People's Conference (Democratic) in the abduction of six North-Eastern Electricity and Power Corporation (NEEPCO) employees from site of Tuirial hydro-power project, reports UNI. [AT]

Attack on youth sparks tension in Tripura district

AGARTALA, April 4: Two persons, including a tribal home guard, were injured and three militants arrested by the police in separate incidents during the past 24 hours. Three government employees, missing since yesterday, are also believed to have been kidnapped by militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura. [TT]

Seven abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, April 7: Seven persons, including an engineer, were kidnapped, a bullet-ridden body was recovered and several houses were gutted during the last 24 hours, even as the situation in the run-up to the Autonomous District Council elections is taking a violent turn. [S]

Two killed, 3 abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, April 8: Two persons were killed and three abducted in Tripura over the past 48 hours, while tension continued to mount over sporadic clashes between tribals and non-tribals in different parts of the state. [TT]

Abducted NEEPCO officials still untraced

AIZAWL, April 9 (PTI): Six employees of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) abducted by Hmar insurgent group nine days ago in Mizoram are still in captivity of the underground outfit which has not placed any ransom demand so far, police said. [S]

CPI candidate's wife kidnapped by NLFT rebels

AGARTALA, April 9: Banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) on Sunday kidnapped the wife of a CPI candidate contesting the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTADC) elections and severly assaulted the family members of a RSP candidate. [NED]

Tripura ultras go on poll-eve abduction spree

AGARTALA, April 10: Tribal guerillas have stepped up their activities in view of the crucial election to the 30-member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) slated for April 30 and May 3. Police said here today that militants kidnapped the wife, daughter and a close relative of three Left Front candidates contesting the TTAADC election. [AT]

Rebels threaten to kill hostages

AGARTALA, April 10: Bent on preventing a Left Front victory in the Autonomous District Council polls, National Liberation Front of Tripura rebels abducted four more relatives of CPI and CPM candidates in the past 24 hours. The NLFT offensive began with the abduction of Parbati Reang, wife of CPI candidate Manindra Reang, from Dharmapha Tilla village under Santir Bazar police station of South Tripura yesterday. The rebels threatened to kill the Left leader's wife if he did not withdraw his nomination immediately. [TT]

Body recovered

NAGAON, April 10: Police recovered the mutiliated body of one Indrish Ali at Samaguri Kalang here today. It may be mentioned that he had been missing since April 6. [S]

Protest march at Jorhat

JORHAT, April 11: The Jorhat district unit of the AASU and Sangram Parishad today took out a protest rally demanding release of the two youths -- Abdul Munim and Abidur Rahman -- who had been kidnapped by some persons in Army fatigue some days back. [AT]

Tripura rebels kill tribal CPM activist

AGARTALA, April 12: A tribal CPM worker was killed and another beaten up while two others including a tribal civilian were abducted as NLFT rebels continued their offensive over the past 24 hours. [TT]

Tripura communal violence continues, curfew clamped

AGARTALA, April 13 : Sporadic communal violence continued to rock Jirania police station area till Wednesday night despite heavy security arrangements. Curfew has been clamped in the area while Assam Rifles staged flag march and shoot at-sight orders were issued. Yet on Wednesday 70 more houses were burnt down leading to more exodus. Already about 10,000 non-tribals and tribals were rendered homeless, as about 600 huts were raged to ashes in the communal flare-up that began on Monday afternoon. One Tribal was killed and five non-tribals were reported missing. [AT]

Rebels seek Rs 1-cr ransom

SILCHAR, April 14: Militants holding six North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation employees captive since March 31 have demanded Rs 1 crore as ransom. The six power corporation employees were abducted from the site of the Tuirial hydroelectric project at Bilkhawtlir in Mizoram. According to a one-page notice received by the Tuirial project office yesterday, the Shillong-based power corporation has to pay Rs 1 crore or be ready to "sacrifice" the lives of six of its technical personnel. The note, however, did not specify the name of the outfit which carried out the abductions. [TT]

Abducted Indians

AGARTALA, April 16: Bangladesh has agreed to hand over two Indians kidnapped by a group of Bangladeshi smugglers from Rajnagar village in South Tripura district yesterday, the SP South, Anurag, today said. [AT]

Abduction of city trader : AHRC asks family to move SC for CBI probe

GUWAHATI, April 18: After more than a year of the sensational kidnapping of a city-based businessman, Hara Gopal Goswami alias Kaju Goswami by some unidentified miscreants from the Geetanagar area of the city on March 27 last year, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on Monday instructed the victim's mother, who had petitioned the human rights body, to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court or the Gauhati High Court to facilitate a CBI inquiry into the matter. [AT]

BNLF ultras kidnap 2 PHE officials

AIZAWL, April 18: Suspected Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) militants raided a passenger bus and kidnapped two PHE department officials on April 15 near Saithah village, report agencies. Ultras torched the bus coming from Maaiara to Aizawl and kidnapped two officials, Lalchhanhima Je and Lalzawmliana Sa. [AT]

Troops alerted on Indo-Bhutan border

GUWAHATI, April 18: Troops along the India-Bhutan border have been put on alert to deter separatist guerrillas abducting Indian and Bhutanese nationals as part of a stepped up extortion drive. [NED]

Tribal youth shot dead

AGARTALA, April 18 (UNI): The banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) guerrillas shot dead a tribal youth and kidnapped a tribal leader from Dhalai district last night. [S]

Bengali rebels strike in Tripura, 1 killed, 6 hurt

AGARTALA, April 19: Suspected United Bengali Liberation Force (UBLF) militants killed one tribal and wounded six in two separate bomb attacks in North and West districts in Tripura on Wednesday, while two tribals, including a woman, were kidnapped by suspected ATTF militants in South Tripura. [NED]

Tales of hardship, torture cloud rebel's memories

AGARTALA, April 19: Kill, abduct and extort, but ask no questions. Subsist on two spartan meals a day and a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000, but never complain. This is what life as a militant in blood-soaked Tripura entails. [TT]

Girl rescued from abductors, 3 arrested

MORIGAON, April 19: The police rescued a girl, Madhabi (14) at Neli near Jagiroad when she was being whisked away in a Tata Sumo by three youths -- Neelu Das, Babul Bora and Biswajit Baruah -- yesterday. The abductors, all whom hail from Nagaon, were also arrested. [S]

BNLF militants abduct teacher in Mizoram

AIZAWL, April 20 : The Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) has abducted a teacher from New Kawnpui village, near Mizoram, Tripura border, even as the two abducted government employees remained untraced. [NED]

NDFB militant held

UDALGURI, April 21: The police yesterday arrested a hardcore NDFB militant Ganesh Basumatary alias B Gawda (35) who was involved in the abduction of two engineers from Powergrid Corporation from Singh Gaon in Udalguri way back on March 13 last year. The militant was also involved in killing of the headman of Pathakata village in Udalguri sub-division on January 26,1999. [AT]

Abducted trader released

GUWAHATI, April 21 : One Pinak Mazumdar, 30, who was abducted from Dwarkuchi under Rangiya police station on February 1 by suspected NDFB ultras, was released yesterday night at Baihata Chariali. [AT]

NSCN(IM) hand suspected

AIZAWL, April 21 (PTI): Mizoram police suspected the involvement of NSCN-IM in the recent spurt of abductions in the State. Police today said there was close relation between NSCN-IM and Hmar People's Convention (Democrat) insurgents who had abducted six NEEPCO employees. [S]

Kidnapped boy rescued

NAGAON, April 22: Police rescued Mrityunjoy Deka (14), son of Harekrishna Deka of Khairabari, Mangaldoi, who had been kidnapped by some miscreants at Mangaldoi on April 20, at Nagaon today. Mrityunjoy, who managed to give his kidnappers the slip, informed the police by making a call from a PCO at Hoiborgaon. [S]

3 bullet-ridden bodies of kids recovered from Brahmaputra

CHHAYGAON, April 22: Tension prevails in the entire Palasbari area following recovery of the bullet-ridden bodies of three teenagers -- Ismat Ali (14), Chamsul Ali (13) and Ayeb Ali (12) -- on Saturday. They were abducted by Bengali-speaking miscreants on the night of April 16 from Bardia char under Chhaygaon police station. [NED]

Tribal ultras kidnap three

AGARTALA, April 22 (UNI): Tribal guerrillas kidnapped three people, injured four and set ablaze several houses in different places of Tripura during the last 24 hours. [S]

Joint operations against extremists

SILCHAR, April 24: Assam, Manipur and Nagaland will soon launch a combined operation against extremists, who, under the garb of the NSCN(IM), PULF (People's United Liberation Front), MULTA (Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam) and ZRA (Zomi Revolutionary Army), have, of late, been involved in killings, kidnappings and extortions with their bases in Jiribam in the Central district of Manipur. [S]

Body of kidnapped man recovered

AGARTALA, April 24 (PTI): The decomposed body of a kidnapped person was recovered while two collaborators of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) were arrested in Tripura yesterday, police said. [S]

Bru team returns without meeting BNLF militants

AIZAWL, April 25: Representatives of Bru (Reang) community belonging to Mamit district of Mizoram, "who had gone to make efforts to secure the release" of three abducted Mizos from the captivity of the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) ultras, returned without meeting the militants, police said on Monday. [AT]

Body of kidnapped man recovered in Tripura

AGARTALA, April 26: The decomposed body of a kidnapped person was recovered while two collaborators of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) were arrested in Tripura yesterday, police said. [AT]

Abducted person remains untraced

PATHSALA, April 29: Gajen Patgiri (25) who had been abducted on the night of April 21 while on his way home still remains untraced. Mr Tikendranath Patgiri, his elder brother, told this correspondent that Gajen had been abducted by an armed man in civil dress from near a dhaba near the Turkunijan bridge. [S]

Lahorijan : A haven for the outlawed elements in society

JORHAT, April 30: Lahorijan has been a haven of all sorts of mafia and antisocial activities. Inter-State car lifters, dacoits, abductors, drugs smugglers and prostitutes all have a free movement in the area. The killing of the five persons on the bank of the Dhanshri river is now believed to be the handiwork of Junu Ali's group. Police sources said that the killings has been the consequence of some group feuds.
Three places of Karbi Anglong, Hi-Di-Pi, old Lahorijan and the northern part of Bokajan has been popularly known as a drugs den where drugs smuggled from Myanmar are routed through Manipur and Nagaland to Lahorijan from where it is marketed to places across the country. The trade received an impetus with the active participation of the NSCN. [S]

Violence mars first phase of TTAADC polls

AGARTALA, April 30: The first phase of elections to the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous Development Council (TTAADC) today was marred by large-scale rigging, booth capturing and snatching of arms etc. The ruling Left Front has demanded repoll in 117 polling booths. About 60 per cent polling has been reported. Meanwhile, insurgents of NLFT kidnapped five persons, including a nine-year-old girl, in two separate incidents on the eve of the polls in the State, police said. [S]

2 killed in ultra attack
Curfew clamped in West Tripura

AGARTALA, May 1: Curfew was clamped and shoot-at-sight order issued following an ethnic violence which started after an extremists' attack killing two non-tribal at Jirania in West Tripura today, reports UNI. Official sources said here that the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) guerillas gunned down two non-tribals -- Gopal Baishnab and Krishna Debnath -- when the victims were working in their paddy field at Radhamohanpur under Jirania Police Station in West Tripura this morning. Immediately after the extremists attack, violent mob attacked tribals and some vehicles in the areas.

PTI adds: The banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) activists have kidnapped two persons from different parts of the State, police today said. [AT]

5-day-old baby abducted from AMC

DIBRUGARH, May 3: A great deal of sensation prevails in the Assam Medical College (AMC) following the abduction of a five-day-old baby from the Gynaecology Department at 12-30 p.m. today. According to reports, the incident occurred when the mother of the baby, Ms Gunalakhi Chetia of Sakalaghoriagaon under Tengakhat police station went to the bathroom and her husband, Mr Pradip Chetia was also not in the room. [S]

One killed, 10 abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, May 3: One person was killed and ten others were abducted by the militants in separate incidentsin Tripura, police today said. Police recovered the body of one Kutum Jamatia from Duluma area under South Tripura district yesterday. He was missing since April 30 last. [S]

3 CPM supporters shot; 4 power Dept employees abducted

AGARTALA, May 4: National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants shot dead three CPI(M) supporters in Sidhai police station area last night and burnt down their houses. All the victims are tribals and belonged to one family. The NLFT attack came within hours of the second phase Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections.
In another incident, four power department employees were abducted from North Tripura district yesterday. The employees were repairing a power line in remote Langtarai valley hill range when they were abducted. [AT]

SULFA men cause fear psychosis in Rangiya

RANGIYA, May 4: Extortion and kidnapping have been going on unabated in and around Rangiya. A group of extremists served extortion notices to some businessmen of Rangiya.
Meanwhile, some of the businessmen have left Rangiya by selling their properties out of fear. Life and property have become completely insecure at Rangiya. The SULFA men have caused fear psychosis in the entire Rangiya subdivision at behest of the police. They have collected forcibly huge amount of money from the rich people, contractors and businessmen of Rangiya. [AT]

Kidnap, robbery up in Indo-Bhutan border

KOKRAJHAR, May 4 : The Kokrajhar district administration has beefed up security measures along the Indo-Bhutan border following spurt in cases of extortion and kidnappings in those areas. The district adminstration has also urged the Indian Embassy in Bhutan to take up the matter of improvement of the Runikhata-Gelegphu road, with the Royal government. [NED]

Stolen 5-day-old baby rescued

DIBRUGARH, May 6: Police rescued the five-day-old male baby, who had been kidnapped from the Gynaecology Department of the Assam Medical College Hospital on May 3, from the possession of Ms Minati Sur, wife of Mr Manu Sur, an electrician, and resident of KP Road, Santipara at 11-30 a.m. here today. When interrogated, the woman said that she stole the child as she had been childless since the last five years after her first child had died and then she had a miscarriage. [S]

Five kidnapped, 20 tribal huts set ablaze in Tripura

AGARTALA, May 6: Five persons including three children have been kidnapped while five were injured in separate incidents in Tripura. Twenty tribal huts were set ablaze fanning the ethnic tension in Kobrakhamar village, police on Saturday said. The Assam police personnel have been deployed to contain the situation. [NED]

Trader, son missing

DIBRUGARH, May 6: Sheodhari Paswan (50), a businessman, and his son Dheeraj Paswan (15), who went out on a scooter (AMB-8124) towards Paltan Bazar on the night of May 4, have been missing since. Police recovered the abandoned scooter at Bahbari here today. Police investigation into the incident is on. [S]

Abducted person, son's bodies found, Dibrugarh shocked

GUWAHATI, May 7: Dibrugarh police on Sunday recovered the dead bodies of two persons -- Sibdhari Lal Paswan (45) and his son Dhiraj Paswan (10) -- from the sand banks in the middle of the Brahmaputra.The bodies had been buried in the sand and preliminary investigations revealed that sharp weapons had been used to kill the deceased, police said.On Thursday night, at around 8 P.M., Sibdhari Lal Paswan and his son were returning from his father-in-law's house in the Paltan Bazar area to his own residence near the Dibrugarh railway workshop by scooter bearing registration number AMB 8128. Apparently on the way, the two were abducted by unidentified persons, police sources said, adding that the scooter was later found at Santipara. [NED]

Militants kill CPM leader

AGARTALA, May 8: National Liberation Front of Tripura militants shot dead three persons, including a CPM leader, and abducted a nine-year-old boy in separate incidents in the state over the past 24 hours. Five NLFT conduits were also arrested yesterday. [TT]

Mizoram Govt refuses to pay ransom to BNLF

AIZAWL, May 9: The Mizoram Government on Tuesday reiterated its refusal to pay ransom demanded by the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) for the release of two Mizo Government officials abducted and kept in captivity by the outfit and demanded their unconditional release, reports PTI. [AT]

Tripura hostages released

AGARTALA, May 9: Having achieved its objective of ensuring victory for the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura in the recent Autonomous District Council elections, the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura has begun releasing the hostages it had blackmailed Left Front candidates with, prior to the elections.
Police sources said Parbati Reang, wife of CPI leader Manindra Reang, returned home yesterday after nearly a month in captivity. [TT]

Ethnic tension in Mizoram

SILCHAR, May 11: Mizoram is bracing for a possible ethnic flare-up between Mizos and minority Reang or Bru tribals as a fallout of the 25-day long hostage crisis. Three Mizos, a teacher and two public health engineering department officials, were abducted by insurgents of the Bru National Liberation Front on April 15. Though Lalnunfela, the teacher, was freed from a BNLF hideout in southwest Bangladesh last week, the other two are still in rebel custody. [TT]

Two tea officials abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, May 13: The outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants on Saturday kidnapped the assistant manager and garden supervisor of Golakpur tea estate in Kailasahar subdivision in North Tripura district. CP Thakur, assistant manager and Bipad Bhanjan Das, garden supervisor had gone for inspection when a heavily armed gang of about eight militants kidnapped them at gunpoint. Last of the tea executives killed by militantswas DK Nath, Manager of Dharmanagar tea garden. He was shot dead and his wife was injured on February 18 last by NLFT militants. Almost all gardens have to pay huge subscriptions to the militants. [AT]

BNLF extends deadline for ransom

AIZAWL, May 13: The Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) has extended the deadline for payment of ransom for the two government employees it is keeping as hostage, report agencies. The deadline which was to expire on May 13 has been extended till May 15. [AT]

Youth stabbed to death

DIBRUGARH, May 16: Unidentified scooter-borne assailants stabbed to death Deepak Neog (23), the owner of a wayside kiosk, at Lezai Kalakhowa here this morning. It may be mentioned that the Lezai Kalakhowa area has witnessed several secret killings. Mr Neog had been abducted along with two others by unidentified 'secret killers' last year also. But he somehow managed to escape from their clutches. The bodies of the other two persons were recovered later. [S]

Tripura death toll rises to 4

AGARTALA, May 16: The death toll in yesterday's militant attack on Shamukcherra market in South Tripura's Udaipur sub-division rose to four with one more person succumbing to injuries at the Udaipur hospital. Three tribal children are still missing. According to the state police, the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) rebels attacked the Shamukcherra market at 5.15 pm and tried to abduct three persons. [TT]

BNLF frees 2 Mizo captives

AIZAWL, May 16: Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) today released two Mizo captives abducted by the outfit after keeping them in captivity for more than a month, Mizoram Home Minister Tawnluia said here, reports PTI. [AT]

Two held for extortion bid

SONARI, May 16: Police arrested two youths -- Abdul Nasim Khan (18) of Nafuk and Ikram Hussain of Sonari -- yesterday for demanding money from Sarusun Rahman of Nafuk. Police said the youths demanded Rs 26,000 from Rahman and threatened him that unless he paid the money, his daughters would be kidnapped. [S]

Missing boy returns

GUWAHATI, May 19: The teen-aged boy Mrinmoy Buzarbarua of Nizarapar here who disappeared Wednesday returned home this evening. Police sources in Chandmari Police Station said they were informed about his return by members of his family who said he was indisposed and requested deferment of his questioning. [AT]

'Assam cops & SULFA raid Naga village, abduct seven headmen'

KOHIMA, May 19: A posse of Assam police personnel and armed surrendered Ulfa men intruded inside Lokon village, some 35 KMs from Mon town and about half a kilometre from the boundary with Assam, on Wednesday, and allegedly assaulted 35 villagers. They also abducted seven gaonburahs (village headmen) who were later released. [NED]

Inter-state racket in women trafficking busted

GUWAHATI, May 20: Jalukbari police in the city has busted an inter-State racket in trafficking of women, arrested four persons in this connection and rescued a teen-aged victim of the racket from Delhi in an operation conducted with the help of the Delhi Police recently. [AT]

Tripura ethnic riot toll 43, bandh today

AGARTALA, May 22: The death toll in the past three days of ethnic violence in the Kalyanpur police station area in Khowai sub-division has risen to 43 with the recovery of two more bodies from the worst-affected Bagber village. They are yet to be identified.
Another person, identified as Rabi Roy, died of his injuries in Teliamura hospital after being shot during a rebel attack on Chakmaghat market under Teliamura police station last evening.
Sources from Amarpur subdivision said the body of Tripura State Rifles jawan Rabilal Das, who had been kidnapped from his residence in the Malbasa area of Amarpur on Friday, was recovered from a jungle near Malbasa.
The Congress, Trinamul and the ruling Left Front have called 12-hour state bandh tomorrow to protest the ethnic violence in Khowai over the past three days. The Congress has extended its bandh call by another 12 hours. [TT]

Three villagers released from captivity

ITANAGAR, May 24 (PTI): Three of the seven villagers, kidnapped by National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) activists earlier, have been released from captivity, police said today. [S]

Abducted girl rescued, 1 held

GUWAHATI, May 24: The city police yesterday rescued Smt Gayatri Kumari, aged 17, who was kidnapped from near Chandmari locality on May 4 last and arrested one Durga Sahani In this connection, police sources said. [AT]

Miscreants held

GUWAHATI, May 24: Khetri police outpost and Jorabat police station in two separate cases arrested three miscreants from nearby areas during last 24 hours. Mohammad Sikander Ali and Mohammad Hafizur Ali of Kapalkhata village of Khetri were arrested in connection with a kidnapping case and the victim was rescued. One Bharat Boro of Nalbari was also held by Jorabat police in case No 109/2000. [AT]

Girl rescued

GUWAHATI, May 25: A minor girl who eloped with a youth was rescued from a village in Mazaffarpur of Bihar on Wednesday by a team of Geetanagar police. The girl along with the accused Abhishek Rajput eloped on May 19 and were later traced in a village at Mazaffarpur. The accused was a petty trader of Zoo-Narengi Tiniali locality and the girl belongs to a family of Lakhimi Path of the area. [AT]

Aizawl tense over rape

SILCHAR, May 25: The Mizo Zirlai Pawl, a student's organisation in Mizoram, will bar movement of non-Mizos in Aizawl for two days from tomorrow to protest against the rape and murder of a Mizo girl. Police said 14-year-old Lalrindiki, daughter of one Abdul Khaleq and Saitingpui, had been missing since May 18. She was killed by one Afzal Hossain, 18, after having been repeatedly raped. Her body, wrapped in a sack, was recovered from the Burrabazar in Aizawl on Sunday morning. Hossain has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. [TT]

Trader abducted

SHILLONG, May 25: Unidentified men abducted the owner of Ashok Auto Service at Byrnihat. The abductors have demanded Rs 5 lakh as ransom. In another incident, a group of dacoits looted Rs 70,000 from a petrol pump at Khanapara. [TT]

Militants kill Tripura Left leader's son

AGARTALA, May 25: Militants roasted alive a CPM leader's son and abducted a non-tribal in separate incidents in Tripura over the past 24 hours. [TT]

Tribal villagers rescued by Army after six-day ordeal

SONAICHERRI (West Tripura) May 28 (PTI): For Manisha and Vinoy appearing for tomorrow's Madhaymik Examination remains uncertain as they are yet to overcome the trauma of ethnic strife that transformed this sleepy tribal hamlet into a ghost village. [S]

Police saves boy

AGARTALA, May 28 (PTI): Police has foiled an attempt by NLFT to kidnap a boy as the ultras looted a market in Tripura, police said here today. The jawans fired upon the militants, who fled leaving the boy unharmed, the police said.
In a separate incident the same group of ultras raided a market under Killa Police Station area last night, looted 15 shops belonging to nontribals and beat up many shop keepers, the police said. [S]

Census worker abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, May 28: The census operations have suffered a jolt in the State following abduction of a census worker from Udaipur area on May 26. A group of armed militants abducted the census worker, Dulal Rudra, from Maharani area in Udaipur. [S]

Chaibari TE manager abducted

GAURIPUR, May 28: Mr Ashok Chakraborty, assistant manager of Chaibari Tea Estate was kidnapped by suspected Adivasi militants from the tea estate's factory. In another incident, suspected MULTA activists killed a youth, Dipak Kalita at Sapatgram on May 26. [S]

Guwahati scribes abducted, later freed by Tripura rebels

GUWAHATI, May 28 : Two city-based journalists -- Nitin A Gokhale correspondent of Outlook and Utpal Bordoloi, special correspondent of Deccan Herald along with a reporter and a cameraman of the Sahara TV and an Agartala-based photographer were kidnapped by UBLF, a Bengali rebel outfit of Tripura on May 24 when the journalists' team was visiting a relief camp. The militants, however, released them after detaining them for about 90 minutes. [NED]

Girl rescued

GUWAHATI, May 29: Jalukbari police on Sunday evening rescued an abducted girl from a hideout in Pandu locality. Sources informed that the girl was taken away to Samaguri of Nagaon by Sarup Sarkar of Pandu recently and they fled back to Pandu from Samaguri following police inquiries. She was reported missing a few days back. Meanwhile another girl of Marapara village of Goalpara under Matia police station was kidnapped by one Mohammad Aminul Haque of Kaki in Nagaon from Gauhati University premises on Sunday afternoon. The girl's father has lodged a complaint against the accused. The girl was appearing in MA (Assamese) examinations of the university by coming daily from Goalpara. [AT]

Curfew on in trouble-torn Khowai

AGARTALA, May 29: Tribal guerillas shot dead two persons and abducted as many fishermen in South Tripura on Saturday night even as curfew continued for the ninth day on Sunday in the violence-hit Khowai sub-division under West Tripura district, reports UNI. [AT]

Militant hideout busted in Assam

SILCHAR, June 1: A joint team of the Assam police and the Central Reserve Police Force busted a hideout of the Peoples United Liberation Front in Assam yesterday afternoon. One hostage was also rescued. The PULF is a two-year militant outfit comprising fundamentalist Bengali and Meitei Muslims. The PULF has of late become very active in Cachar. [TT]

Tripura rebels abduct two, torch houses of non-tribals

AGARTALA, June 1: Militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura torched four houses belonging to non-tribals and abducted two persons in North Tripura district last night. The militants were allegedly accompanied by local tribal thugs. [TT]

10 kidnapped in Tripura

AGARTALA, June 2: Insurgents of outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) today kidnapped 10 persons from Nabajoypara in South Tripura district, police said, reports PTI. A group of ultras armed with sophisticated weapons stopped two jeeps at gun-point at Nabajoypara under Natunbazar police station of the district and lifted 10 passengers including the drivers. [AT]

Gun-toting rebels force Bhutan to shift institute

GUWAHATI, June 2: The Bhutanese government has shifted the Royal Bhutan Polytechnic from Deothang to Kharbandi due to the presence of Ulfa and Bodo militants in the area. After being forced to vacate its camps in Bangladesh a few years back, the Ulfa set up bases in Bhutanese territory. The outfit's general headquarters is in Deothang, not very far from the Royal Bhutan Polytechnic.
In its May 20-26 issue, Bhutan's national newspaper Kuensel quoted King Jigme Singye Wangchuk as saying that the decision to "relocate" the Royal Bhutan Polytechnic had been taken "because of the seriousness of the situation and the possibility of the students and staff getting kidnapped by the militants". [TT]

Kidnapped students rescued

UDALGURI, June 3: The four students, who had been kidnapped by some miscreants after assuring them that they would be given jobs in New Delhi, on May 29, were rescued at Tezpur, Khoirabari and Tangla today. While two students were rescued at Tezpur and Khoirabari respectively, the other two were rescued at Tangla. [S]

NLFT releases 6, hidnap 3 non-tribals

AGARTALA, June 3 (PTI): Insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) released six of the ten abducted passengers and kidnapped three non-tribals in different incidents in the State, police said here today. [S]

Sharma's family passes tension filled days waiting for his return

NALBARI, June 5: Each and every member of the family of Bankim Sharma, Manager, Pragjyotish Gaonliya Bank Ghagrapara who was abducted on May 12 is gripped by fear, tension and sleepless nights. The whereabouts of Mr Sharma is yet to be found. None of the terrorist outfits have so far owned responsibility of the abduction. [S]

Engineer freed : 1 killed in Tripura

AGARTALA, June 6: An engineer, who was kidnapped by NLFT insurgents a month ago in Tripura, has been released from captivity, police said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) ultras on Monday night forcibly lifted Khirod Debbarma, a local committee member of Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) from his house at Warengtubari in West district and hacked him to death, the police said. [AT]

Youth reported missing

GUWAHATI, June 6: A mentally deranged youth Uttam Kumar Das (30) of Kharghuli Malibagan area in the city has been reported missing since May 31 last. [AT]

Armed miscreants attack Scott's home, abduct kin

SHILLONG, June 7: Unidentified armed miscreants attacked the official residence of the Meghalaya finance minister, AH Scott Lyngdoh, at Jaiaw on Tuesday night. This was the third attack in the residence of Scott during the past one year. [NED]

One abducted, six hostages released in Tripura

AGARTALA, June 8: One person has been abducted while six kidnapped persons including a nine-year-old girl have been released in separate incidents in Tripura, police said on Thursday. [AT]

Tea executive abducted in Cachar

GUWAHATI, June 8 (PTI): The manager of the Lakhipur Tea Estate was kidnapped by suspected NSCN militants from south Assam's Cachar district today. [S]

Bodies belong to ULFA victims, says police

GUWAHATI, June 9 : Police suspect that an ULFA camp was located near Panikhaiti and it was used to confine the abducted persons, informs a press release issued by the Assam Police. Police also suspect that the ULFA was behind the killings and today recovered another decomposed body floating on the river near Panikhaiti, in addition to the three skeletons recovered yesterday. [AT]

Tripura ultras free three hostages

AGARTALA, June 9: Three kidnapped persons including a 12-year-old boy have been released unharmed in South Tripura district, police said on Friday. A 12-year-old boy, kidnapped from Kalabari area under Radhakishorepur police station area of South Tripura district by NLFT insurgents on May 7, returned home unhurt on Thursday night. Two others, Laxman Saha (60) and Utpal Das (55) also returned home unhurt from militants captivity on Thursday night under the same police station area, police said. [AT]

Body recovered

TINSUKIA, June 9: Recovery of the body of one Deepak Singh of Railway Colony, Hijiguri, Tinsukia from a ditch near Hakhuli under Bordubi police station last night has created a sensation in the town. According to the father of the victim, Ramesh Singh, Deepak had been missing since June 7 after he was picked up from his residence in a Maruti van (No. AS 23-0514) belonging to a senior journalist of Tinsukia. [S]

Naga ultras abduct labourer

JORHAT, June 10: Naga militants abducted a labourer, Harua Indivar, from Sangmapani yesterday. According to reports, the militants abducted the labourer thinking him to be a contractor. [S]

3 children of a family missing

DIBRUGARH, June 10: Three children of a family -- Jitendra Bhagat (11), Tulu Bhagat (8) and Bhula Bhagat (14) -- at Sungunibari here have been missing since June 7. [S]

Naga ultras abduct villagers

SORUPATHAR, June 11: Naga militants abducted one Souro Indonius from Rengmapani Neurogaon in Sector "B" area along the Assam-Nagaland border yesterday. It may be mentioned that Naga militants had served demand notes to a number of families in five villages near the inter-State border in Dhansiri subdivision recently. [S]

Paniduria villagers lash out at AR, demand Army deployment

GUWAHATI, June 11: The president of Paniduria village in Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Nokhot Matey, who had been kidnapped and secretly tortured by the activists of the NSCN (IM) recently, came down heavily on the Assam Rifles (AR) for the acts of mission and commission by it in providing security to the people, and demanded immediate deployment of the Army in Paniduria village. [S]

Woman's body identified

GUWAHATI, June 11: The head and other body parts recovered from the TR Phukon park here last evening has been identified as that of Deepti Choudhury, an employee of NF Railway's Maligaon head office who was reported missing from office since June 8 evening. [AT]

First wave of flood claims 18 in Arunachal, 2 in Assam

DIBRUGARH, June 12: At least 18 people died and several others have been missing in the current wave of flood at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh. Pasighat has been cut off from rest of the country following the damage of all road bridges. [S]

ULFA ultras kidnap businessman

GAURIPUR, June 13: Suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants kidnapped a businessman -- Upendra Nath Gogoi -- from Madhusailmari village under Golokganj police station last evening. Police investigation is on. [S]

Over 100 huts torched in fresh Tripura ethnic clashes

AGARTALA, June 13: Over 100 huts were torched in ethnic clashes rendering 2080 people homeless with five persons missing while one person was killed in a crossfire between ultras and police in separate incidents in Tripura, police said on Tuesday. [AT]

NEEPCO employees released

AIZAWL, June 14: Six employees of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) abducted on March 31 by Manipur's Hmar People's Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) militants were released today unconditionally by their captors, Mizoram Home Minister Tawnluia said here, reports PTI. [AT]

Tension over fratricidal conflict among Manipur ultras

SILCHAR, June 15: The abduction and detention of a Meitei youth K. Rajesh Singh, son of a retired policeman, from his native village under Lakhimpur subdivision of Cachar on Assam-Manipur border recently is hotting up the situation in the trouble-torn Jiribam-Lakhipur zone. [S]

Ultras release eight persons

IMPHAL, June 15: There is a sigh of relief that the armed insurgents have released the eight abducted persons who were held for a ransom of Rs 3 million. Four of them are South Indian businessmen stationed at the border town of Moreh, while two others were van drivers. [S]

10 girls rescued from brothel in Siliguri, 4 held

GUWAHATI, June 16: City police busted a major racket in immoral trafficking of women by rescuing 11 girls from a brothel in Siliguri and arresting four kingpins of the racket including two women yesterday. [AT]

1 Tripura cop killed, 5 hurt in ambush

AGARTALA, June 17: Suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants this morning ambushed a police convoy led by Additional SP (South Tripura) Arindam Nath. One State Police personnel was killed and five others were seriously injured in the ambush. In another incident, two persons were kidnapped by ultras from Ghaghracherra in Dhalai district on Friday. [AT]

Hmar outfit offers olive branch to Government

SILCHAR, June 18: In a significant development, the Hmar People's Conference (Democratic), a Christian tribal outfit responsible for the abduction of six Neepco officials, has agreed to negotiate with the Mizoram government for peace. The outfit has expressed its desire to eschew violence and come overground. [TT]

2 extortionists lynched

SHILLONG, June 19: Two extortionists were lynched and a third was seriously injured by villagers of Mawklot village in Upper Shillong here last night. Police sources said three miscreants went to the residence of the village headman around 8.50 last night and demanded money from him. Hearing shouts for help, the villagers came to his rescue and apprehended the miscreants. They were then severely assaulted by the villagers. Two of the extortionists died on the way to the civil hospital here while the third has been admitted. [AT]

Violence couldn't affect their studies

NALBARI, June 22: Though Nalbari district is a hotbed of militant activities, two students of Nalbari Mahendra Narayan Balika Mahavidyalay have proved that the ongoing killings, abductions and extortions could not affect their studies. The results of Dipamani Haloi and Juri Barman, who secured 7th and 9th position respectively appearing from the MNC Balika Mahavidyalay in the HS (Arts) final examination have brought aurels to the insurgency-ridden district and proved the fact that all is not lost on the educational front in Nalbari. [AT]

NLFT militants waylay vehicles, abduct six

AGARTALA, June 22: Five persons were abducted by suspected National Liberation Front of Tripura militants in South Tripura today. Police sources said the militants fired at and stopped two passenger jeeps at Aloycherra on the Udaipur-Santirbazar road in South district at 7 am. The militants abducted the two drivers and four passengers and escaped into the jungles. In another incident yesterday, suspected All-Tripura Tiger Force militants abducted the wife of an Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura activist. [TT]

Kidnapping incidents on the rise

NAGAON, June 23: Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) militants kidnapped seven persons from villages Taralangsu and Chandabasti bordering Nagaon and Karbi Anglong districts under Lumding police station last week. Significantly, Assam police had refused to register their cases in Lumding police station fearing backlash from the two militant outfits. [S]

Eight militants held in Manipur

IMPHAL, June 24: At least eight activists of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland (I-M) were apprehended by police while one businessman was rescued from the kidnappers on Friday, reports PTI. [AT]

Driver reported missing

TIHU, June 26: Sri Dimbeswar Kalita, the driver of Tata Sumo (No. S-01-G-5696), hired by two Manipuris to Barapani from Dispur, Guwahati, has been reported missing since May 26 last. Sri Kalita, accompanied by the cleaner, Sri Ramen Dutta, started their journey on that fateful day at around 11 a.m. There has been no trace either of the vehicle or the driver and the cleaner so far. [AT]

9 persons gunned down in Manipur

IMPHAL, June 27 : In an unprecedented act of terrorism, some unknown persons opened indiscriminate fire on a vehicle killing seven persons on the spot. Two other victims later died in hospital.

Constables abducted: In the meantime, two police constables attached to the Nungba police station in Tamenglong district have been abducted by some unknown armed youths, official sources said. [AT]

Boy killed, 3 abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, June 28: A teenaged boy was killed and three persons were kidnapped by militants in separate incidents in Tripura during the past 24 hours. [TT]

One kidnapped

SHILLONG, June 29: Armed miscreants on Wednesday kidnapped a charcoal dealer from Kyrdem while he was travelling in a jeep from Shillong to Guwahati, police said. Police said that the miscreants travelling in three local taxis followed the man and intercepted his vehicle at Umsamlem under Nongpoh police station and took him towards Shillong. [AT]

Cop rescues girl from clutches of traffickers, 5 held

KOKRAJHAR, June 29: A chivalrous cop and luck finally saved the day for Minuti Basumatary from getting entrapped in the vicious circle of human trafficking. Meanwhile, police has arrested five persons in connection with the incident -- Chauhan Ali, Munshi Prasad, Agarwal Ram and Pulekar Munshi, including the main accused Hiramoti Das. On interrogation, they confessed of their involvement in taking Minuti to Bihar, and also said that they had sold five teenage girls of the district to brothels in places like Coochbehar, and other places of Bihar. [NED]

3 persons shot dead in Manipur

IMPHAL, June 30: At least three persons including a girl were shot dead in separate incidents in Churachandpur and Imphal East districts of Manipur. Official sources here on Friday said that unidentified gunman shot dead a 22-year-old girl at Konpui village in Churachandpur district on Wednesday. She was abducted by gunmen from her house and later shot her dead near a paddy field at Konpui village. The motive behind the killing is yet it be ascertained, the sources said. In another incident, two suspected cadres of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) were killed in a shootout with activists of another rival outfit at Laltingkhal on Jiribam-Tipamukh road in Imphal East district on Wednesday, the sources said. Links of the killers of the 20-year-old girl with the recently-formed Indigenous People's Revolutionary Alliance (IPRA) was being investigated, official sources said. [AT]

Kidnap accused held

GUWAHATI, July 1: Jalukbari police arrested one Mritunjay Brahmachari (30) yesterday in connection with the June 28 kidnapping of a signboard artist Pranab Sarma from the Maligaon Chariali area. [AT]

Tribals shun militants

AGARTALA, July 1: One person was abducted by National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants while eight members of the outfit were arrested in separate incidents in Tripura yesterday, police said today. The militants stopped a water tanker at Taindal village in West Tripura district and abducted the driver. Unabated violence has alienated the tribals from the militants. In an unprecedented incident, tribals of Killa area requested officer-in-charge of the local police station Pranab Debnath to arrange for the return of Bengali families to Killa market. Sources said the tribals were disillusioned with militancy and desired peace for "practical reasons." The Bengali families in the area were small-time traders and the tribals were their main customers. [TT]

UPDS militants kill three, kidnap two in Karbi hills

GUWAHATI, July 2: Suspected United Peoples Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) militants gunned down three persons, injured another and kidnapped two others from the old market area at Hamren in Karbi Anglong district on Saturday evening. Police said that the militants numbering around 15, struck the market at around 7:25 p.m., and started indiscriminate firing on the people. Three persons were killed on the spot and another sustained serious bullet injuries. [NED]

Police rescue hostages

AGARTALA, July 2: Police yesterday rescued 26 people held captive by militants in a hideout in south Tripura's Lakshyapara village since May 21. Sources said the rescue operation was launched after one of the hostages, all from the Kuch community, slipped out of the hideout on Friday night and contacted legislator Kajal Das from Kalyanpur over phone. [TT]

Rebels take Tripura planter hostage

AGARTALA, July 3: NLFT rebels abducted the manager of North Tripura's Golokpur tea estate, Bipin Bihari Tandon, from his bungalow inside the garden last night. Altogether 13 tea executives have been abducted by militants so far. In separate incidents, militants released four hostages, including a 10-year-old girl from captivity yesterday. [TT]

Abduction sparks violence in N Tripura

AGARTALA, July 4: Abduction of a Bengalee youth on Monday has triggered off an orgy of violence in Fatikroy in North Tripura district in which one octogenarian tribal was hacked to death and 16 houses were set ablaze. The situation is reported to be highly volatile. [AT]

Abductors free gaonburah after getting ransom

JORHAT, July 4: The armed Nagas who had abducted Police Barg, a gaonburah from No. 2 Shantipur Gaon at Sector 'B' in the Assom-Nagaland border, under the Golaghat district set him free on Sunday afternoon. It has been learnt from a source that the armed Nagas demanded Rs 25,000 from the gaonburah. He obtained release by making a part payment against the amount demanded. [S]

NLFT militants kidnap Health dept employee

AGARTALA, July 4: Heavily armed insurgents of the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) stopped a vehicle of the State Health department in which three government employees were travelling with cash amounting to Rs 85,000 at Bankumari under Chawmanu police station of Dhalai district on Monday, police said. [AT]

Recovery of woman's body sparks tension in N Tripura, curfew on

AGARTALA, July 5: Tension has escalated in Fatikroy police station area of North district after the recovery of body of Bengali woman on Wednesday morning. Curfew has been enforced in the area on Tuesday evening amid mounting tension. Phototip colony, Kamal Chandra para, Balichara, Madavpur, Kochuchara and Jurkhara rocked by ethnic violence since Monday. Trouble in these localities under Fatikroy police station started after the kidnapping of a Bengali youth Prasanta Das (25) at Phototip colony. [NED]

3 abducted Diphu traders' bodies found in forests

GUWAHATI, July 6: Three decomposed bodies were recovered from the Labanga-nala reserve forest, around 45 K.M. away from Diphu town under Diphu police station in Karbi Anglong, bordering Nagaon district on Wednesday evening. Police suspect the possible hand of UPDS militants behind the incident, sources said. [NED]

NLFT releases 2 tea officials

AGARTALA, July 6: National Liberation Front of Tripura released the assistant manager of Golakpur tea estate CK Thakur and garden supervisor BB Das on Wednesday night. The two were kidnapped at gun-point by the militants in May last from Golakpur tea garden at Kailasahar in North Tripura. However, the manager of the garden BB Tandon, kidnapped by the same outfit on July 2 last, is still in captivity of the militants. It is learnt that the militants had kidnapped Tandon as the Golakpur TE management declined to fork out ransom money to the tune of lakhs of rupees for safe release of Thakur and Das. [AT]

2 kidnapped; 8 ultras arrested in Tripura

AGARTALA, July 6: Two persons have been kidnapped, one hostage freed, while eight insurgents have been arrested by security forces in separate incidents in Tripura, police said here on Thursday. [AT]

NSCN-DHD targets Barak tea industry, gardens sold

GUWAHATI, July 6: Massive extortion and constant threat from extremist forces have forced a leading tea company to sell off its five highly profitable tea gardens in the Barak Valley. The activities of the militant outfits in the valley have also affected the overall production of the tea gardens. Highly placed security sources informed that for over one year, the NSCN and DHD militants have been serving regular extortion notices to most of the tea estates of the Barak Valley. The demand notes range from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. "At least 18 tea garden executives were kidnapped while three others were killed by militants in the Barak Valley itself during the period. The garden manager of the Lakhipur tea estate is still in the captivity of the rebels," said a top official. [NED]

3 bodies recovered in Manipur

IMPHAL, July 7: Three bodies have been recovered by police from Manipur's Churachandpur and Imphal East district on Thursday, official sources said on Friday. Two of the bodies recovered bore multiple bullet injuries and were recovered from Churachandpur district on Thursday the sources said, adding, they were identified as Kuki National Front (KNF-P) activists Henjalam Haokip (23) and Molal Sharma (40). The third body belonging to K Ingo Singh, who was abducted by unidentified armed activists from Ikou area in Imphal East district on July 4, was fished out from Ikou river, the sources added. [AT]

Curfew on in Tripura AGARTALA, July 7: Police recovered bodies of two non-tribals while four persons were abducted from different parts of Tripura during the past 24 hours. Police sources said the corpse of a non-tribal was recovered yesterday afternoon from the remote Betcherra area under Fatikroy police station. The recovery of the body has triggered serious ethnic tension in the trouble-torn Fatikroy police station area. Police sources said curfew was reimposed today in the trouble-torn Fatikroy police station area because of ethnic clashes. [TT]

875 killed by guerillas in past 7 yrs AGARTALA, July 11(UNI): Underground tribal guerillas killed 875 people and kidnapped 1687 others during the past seven years till April last in Tripura. Stating this, State Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who holds the Home portfolio, told the Tripura Assembly that during this period altogether 2009 people were murdered and 2014 people were abducted by the militants or otherwise. [S]

Body recovered

KOHIMA, July 11: Meanwhile, the body of one Kewetshute Mero, 55, who was missing since the past five days, was found from the Assam-Nagaland border near New Field check gate on Monday. [AT]

2 kidnapped, 2 ultras arrested

AGARTALA, July 11: Two persons were kidnapped by insurgents of the National Liberation Front of Tripura and one hostage freed, while two NLFT ultras have been arrested by security forces in separate incidents in Tripura, police said here today. [AT]

Mob injures family members of 'killer'

MORAN, July 13: A mob of more than 100 people armed with daos, axes and spears gheraoed the house of Jatin Saikia Sonowal, the alleged killer of Kaliprasad Chetia who had been murdered at Bezpathargaon here on June 25, and severely injured all the family members of Sonowal last night. The irate mob also ransacked the house. Police later rescued them in a critical condition. [S]

Indefinite curfew imposed in West Tripura area

AGARTALA, July 14:Indefinite curfew was imposed on Friday in the Teliamura police station area of West Tripura district after fresh ethnic violence erupted there in which one person was kidnapped, over 150 houses were set afire and three injured, reports PTI. [AT]

'Operation Khoj' launched along Assam-Manipur border in Cachar

SILCHAR, July 16: In view of the spate of abductions of tea garden managers, businessmen and extortions of huge sums of money for their release and a sense of panic gripping people in general in the North-east bordering areas of Cachar, "Operation Khoj" has been launched by the police in Lakhipur subdivision of Cachar and North Cachar Hills. [S]

Alert in Shilong, bullet ridden body of youth recovered

SHILLONG, July 16: All police stations in East Khasi Hills district, especially in Shillong city, have been alerted following the Saturday's encounter between the police and the suspected HNLC outfit, even as one more body was recovered by the police from Wahumkhrah stream on Sunday. The body is suspected to be one of the three persons abducted by the HNLC militants from Mawlai localities recently, he said. On Saturday, it may be mentioned that the police recovered the body of one P Kharkongor -- one of the three abducted youths -- from Mawlai-Nongpdeng locality near the place where the encounter took place. [NED]

Teacher kidnapped

AGARTALA, July 16: A tribal headmaster has been kidnapped by unidentified miscreants in South Tripura district, police said today. Masked gang members kidnapped Chandroday Debbarma, headmaster of Sonartilla High School, from near the school building yesterday, police said. [AT]

ULFA kidnaps one in Rangiya

GUWAHATI, July 17: Suspected ULFA militants yesterday abducted one Tapan Kalita (28) from Mohkhuli area under Rangiya police station in Kamrup district when he was returning home after closing his medicine shop. Although the reason behind Kalita's abduction is yet to be known, the banned ULFA last year had demanded Rs 9 lakh from him. [S]

Tansa boy still remains untraced

LEDO, July 17: The Tansa boy, Mr Kamkhum Mosang (20) from Barsatang village under Manmao circle in Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh who was abducted in broad daylight from Margherita APST (Arunachal Pradesh State Transport) station by some unidentified miscreants on April 29 remain untraced till now. [S]

City Police rescues kidnapped minor

GUWAHATI, July 17: Two-and-half-year-old Abhijit Barman, son of Kumud Barman of Six Mile area here, who had been kidnapped by one Ganesh Adhikari on July 13, today returned home accompanied by a team of City Police personnel. Ganesh who used to pull the rickshaw of Kumud Barman took Abhijit to Golakganj in Dhubri district. Golakganj police traced him on July 15 and informed the City Police to take him back. [S]

ULFA kidnaps one in Rangiya

GUWAHATI, July 17: Suspected ULFA militants yesterday abducted one Tapan Kalita (28) from Mohkhuli area under Rangiya police station in Kamrup district when he was returning home after closing his medicine shop. Although the reason behind Kalita's abduction is yet to be known, the banned ULFA last year had demanded Rs 9 lakh from him. [S]

Woman killed, 5 ultras nabbed

AGARTALA, July 17 (PTI): A non-tribal woman has been killed by unidentified extremists and police arrested five insurgents in separate incidents in Tripura, police said. Police recovered the body of Sarojini Biswas (70) with sharp cut injury marks from the nearby forest of Salem village in Dhalai district today. The ultras kidnapped her from the area on Saturday. [S]

Headmaster rescued

AGARTALA, July 18: A tribal headmaster, who was kidnapped from a South Tripura village has been rescued. Police yesterday raided a house at Paschim Baikhora where the headmaster was held captive. [AT]

ULFA unit 'commander' arrested

NAGAON, July 18: Nagaon police arrested Jagat Gayan alias Jagat Kalita, the "commander" of the Kaliabhumurah Anchalik Parishad of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) from Bhuraguri under Samaguri police station today. A .38 revolver was recovered from his possession. [S]

Unidentified body found in city

GUWAHATI, July 18: Latasil police today recovered a body which bore multiple head injuries, near Sati Radhika park on M. G. Road here. According to a prescription found in the pocket of the black trouser worn by the deceased, the police identified him as Raju Nongbet of Nongthymmai of Shillong. His age has been mentioned in the prescription as 32. [S]

Headmaster rescued

AGARTALA, July 18: A tribal headmaster, who was kidnapped from a South Tripura village has been rescued. Police yesterday raided a house at Paschim Baikhora where the headmaster was held captive. [AT]

The houses of the Assam state Govt officials Subhas Burhagohain (Bhaskar Nagar), Pradip Hazarika (Sarumataria) and DRDA contractor Arman Sheikh (Khristanbasti), where IT raids were conducted on July 20 in Guwahati. It may be mentioned that Burhagohain was kidnapped by ULFA in 1998 for his corruption, but later released after he allegedly paid several lakhs of Rs to the outfit. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

MULTA abducts one

GAURIPUR, July 21: Suspected Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) activists abducted one Dilbor Ali of Falimari from Majherchar in Dhubri district last night. [S]

NLFT militants kidnap 4 tribals

AGARTALA, July 23: Four tribals have been kidnapped by the outlawed insurgents of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) from Garo colony in South Tripura district, police said here on Sunday. [AT]

Two kidnapped schoolchildren rescued

GOLAGHAT, July 24: Two schoolchildren -- Mansur Ali Ahmed, a class IV student of Indralay English School, Chandmari, Guwahati and Sajid Elahi, a class VI student of Disneyland School, Guwahati -- who had been kidnapped from Guwahati yesterday, were rescued from Farkating railway station by the police this morning. According to reports, Mansur (9) and Sajid (11) were kidnapped by two youths in a Tata Sumo from Guwahati yesterday when the two children were going to give a video cassette to one Dipmoni. Both the children hail from Jyotinagar area of Guwahati. [S]

Renewed arsoning sparks tension in W Tripura, 1 killed

AGARTALA, July 24: A full-scale ethnic riot was avoided by the timely intervention of security personnel in Takarjal police station area of west Tripura on Monday. However a large number of houses were burnt in the tension in the area. In a separate incident a Bengali was killed and another kidnapped in Bishalgarh police station limit in the district. Tension sparked off as fallout of the incident. [NED]

Missing OC rescued

GOLAGHAT, July 27: The Sarupathar police rescued the officer-in-charge of Sarupathar police station, Mr Kamini Kumar Sinha from a hotel in Dimapur in an unnatural condition. [S]

Missing OC rescued

GOLAGHAT, July 27: The Sarupathar police rescued the officer-in-charge of Sarupathar police station, Mr Kamini Kumar Sinha from a hotel in Dimapur in an unnatural condition. [S]

One gunned down, three abducted

AGARTALA, July 30: A farmer was gunned down and three others were abducted by militants in Tripura today. A group of nine NLFT militants raided the house of one Sachindra Pal (70) at Paikhola in Belonia subdivision and gunned him down. [S]

3 Tripura youths get consecutive life for murdering friend

AGARTALA, Aug 1: In a sensational judgement, a district court on Monday pronounced consecutive life sentence stretching to 67 years to three youths each who had killed their friend after abducting him. [AT]

NLFT kills 3, kidnaps 5 in Tripura

AGARTALA, Aug 2: After a brief silence, the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants have struck once again. Insurgents belonging to the outfit last evening around 6.30 pm attacked Induria, a predominantly non-tribal village in West Tripura dist and shot down three people. Three others including a woman were injured in the attack and the militants kidnapped five persons while retreating to a nearby jungle. [AT]

Businessman kidnapped

JAMUGURIHAT, Aug 3: Mr Sadananda Dey (30), a businessman of village Ramdupam, Rongachakua, under Jamugurihat PS is found missing since July 17. As reported the businessman Mr Dey went to his own farm at Rangachakua in the evening on that day while four motor cycle riders took away Mr Dey to somewhere else which has not yet been possible to be ascertained. [S]

Insurgents arrested, rebel camp busted at Tripura

AGARTALA, Aug 5 (PTI): Security forces busted a rebel hide-out and arrested 13 insurgents while a Government employee was kidnapped in separate incidents in Tripura, police said here today. [S]

Rubber Board official kidnapped

AGARTALA, Aug 5: A group of unidentified insurgents has kidnapped a government employee in Tripura, police said here on Saturday. Keshab Majumder, a field officer of Rubber Board, was abducted by a group of unidentified ultras on Friday night from Balurdhum village of North Tripura district. [AT]

Kidnapped boy released

GOSSAIGAON, Aug 6: A 13-year-old boy, Arindam Roy, who had been abducted by unidentified miscreants from Teliapara in Gossaigaon on July 25, was released at the Srirampur railway station last night. [S]

Naga miscreants abduct trader

JORHAT, Aug 7: A Gypsy-borne four-member gang of Naga miscreants abducted a trader, Mr Kamal Kumar Jain from his business establishment at Chungajan market in Golaghat district at gunpoint at around 1 p.m. today. According to reports, some miscreants had served demand notes to Mr Jain. [S]

Rebel hideout busted in Tripura

AGARTALA, Aug 8: Security forces have busted a rebel hideout and rescued one kidnapped person, while two persons have been abducted by insurgents in separate incidents in Tripura, police said on Monday. CRPF jawans acting on a tip-off, raided Belbar in West Tripura district on Sunday and were fired upon by insurgents of Barak National Council of Tripura from their hideout. The jawans retaliated and after a brief encounter, the rebels escaped the area, the police said. [AT]

Abducted child rescued

NAGAON, Aug 9: Some unidentified miscreants abducted a five-year-old child, Amrit Patel, son of Mr Raju Patel of Dakhin Hoiborgaon from Khutikatia when he was coming from school today. The police and the public, in a swift action, rescued the child from Dhing-Hoiborgaon bus stand. [S]

Kidnapped youth yet to be traced

GOLAGHAT, Aug 13: A youth, Kamal Jain, who had been kidnapped by suspected Naga militants from Chungajan near the Assam-Nagaland border on August 7 could not be traced till filing of the report. [S]

Housewife killed; 5 kidnapped by NLFT

AGARTALA, Aug 16: A housewife has been killed and five kidnapped by banned NLFT insurgents, while five ultras of the outfit have been arrested by security forces in Tripura on Independence Day-eve, police said Tuesday, reports PTI. Rani Bala Das (35) was killed in a firing by NLFT ultras at Arabind Colony in South Tripura district last night and another person suffered bullet injuries, the police said. [AT]

Umesh Rabha: Who dared to defy GUWAHATI, Aug 17: Late Umesh Rabha of Thomna village of Nalbari district became the first ever civilian from Assam and the only civilian this year to be awarded the Shaurya Chakra by the Government of India for the courage, devotion and sacrifice shown by him in defying the armed militants in a sensitive and remote area where he mobilized the people to resist the militants, an official release stated. He was one of the 139 gallantry awards winners who have made the country proud by their acts of gallantry. Late Umesh Rabha, an ex-BSF personnel was living in his village Thomna in Nalbari district of Assam, near the Indo-Bhutan border. Militants living in their camps in Bhutan have been carrying out their nefarious activities in neighbouring areas of Assam. These consist of extortion, kidnapping for ransom, ambushing security forces and detonating explosion. [S]

One killed, one hurt in Tripura blast

AGARTALA, Aug 18: A tribal youth was killed and another injured in a blast triggered by suspected United Bengali Liberation Front (UBLF) rebels in North Tripura today. Three non-tribals were also kidnapped. [TT]

2 killed, 105 houses torched in Tripura violence

AGARTALA, Aug 20: Communal flare-ups erupted in Kanchanpur rural areas in North Tripura district on Saturday once again following an extremist attack. Two persons were killed in the violence while one person was severely injured and another kidnapped by the militants. Altogether 105 huts belonging to tribals were torched down at Pushpajayapara and adjoining tribal hamlets. Kanchanpur had in recent past witnessed a spurt in communal violence and militant attacks. [AT]

Soil conservation officer abducted

JORHAT, Aug 22: An officer of the Soil Conservation Department, Mr T Lahan was abducted by four youths at gunpoint from Longhi near Diphu at around 8 last night when he was going to one of his friends' house in his own car. Police suspects militants' hand behind the abduction. [S]

Rubber industry in Tripura hit by abductions, agitations

AGARTALA, Aug 24: The rubber industry in Tripura was severely hit by the ongoing cease-work agitation by the Rubber Board employees and officers following the abduction of one of their colleague, from Baludham area under Dharmanagar subdivision of North Tripura district on August 4. All the Rubber Board projects remain unattended for last three weeks while disbursement of subsidies for the privately owned plantations also remain suspended. [S]

Irate Adivasis ransack police station

JAMUGURIHAT, Aug 26: Following the picking up of as many as 17 Adivasi youths on August 25 by the police for interrogation in connection with the abduction of a young businessman of village Randupam (Hatinga) under Jamugurihat police station, over 1,000 Adivasi people of Morisuti, Christanbasti and Bordikorai areas gheraoed the Jamuguri police station and ransacked the office today. [S]

Five killed in Tripura

AGARTALA, Aug 27: Five persons including two militants were killed, as many injured and one was missing in separate incidents in Tripura since last night. Police said, two insurgents of the banned NLFT were killed during an encounter with security forces at Sambukcherra area in South Tripura district today. In another incident, suspected militants of the United Bengali Liberation Front of Tripura attacked two houses and hacked to death three tribal women and wounded two at Tarkajala village in West Tripura district late last night. One girl was missing. [S]

Abducted youth rescued

DHING, Aug 28: A great deal of sensation prevails here following the rescue of Naresh Rajbhor who had been abducted from Jagiroad on August 23, from Dhaniabhetigaon under Batadraba police station in Nagaon district today, and the arrest of the two abductors. According to Naresh, in the evening of August 23, a militant of the Tiwa Liberation Army of Assam (TLAA), Paresh Bordoloi had abducted him from Jagiroad and taken him to Dhaniabhetigaon. Paresh Gogoi was joined later by a Muslim militant and they including Naresh, took shelter in the house of one Khidir Ali at Dhaniabhetigaon. Acting on a tip-off police rescued Naresh today. [S]

Student kidnapped, remains untraced

MORIGAON, Aug 30: One Rimon Sharma, a student of class V of Morigaon MV School was abducted by two miscreants from the gate in front of his school on August 28 at 10.45 a.m. No clue was found till the filing of this report. [S]

Operation Khoj for extortionists

SILCHAR, Aug 31: The Army has intensified its counter-insurgency drive in Lakhipur sub-division in Cachar district under "Operation Khoj". There are reports that fresh batches of rebels have sneaked into the hill areas of the sub-division recently to step up extortions and abductions. Official sources said a suspected National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) rebel was shot dead by the Army at Hmarkhawlien village dominated by Hmar tribals in Lakhipur, about 25 km east of here yesterday. [TT]

Adivasi ultras kidnap one

GOSSAIGAON, Aug 31: Biren Chandra Paul (35), a Barobisha (West Bengal)-based cloth merchant was kidnapped by armed Adivasi ultras at Malikapur under Samarhat police station in Gossaigaon subdivision here today. [S]

Bangladesh helping North-east militants get arms training

SILCHAR, Sept 1: Money can buy guns and with guns in hand, extortions and abductions for ransom can become a trade. Youths in Barak Valley driven by this philosophy are joining the rank and file of PULF (People's United Liberation Front) and MULTA (Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam), knowing fully well the hazards involved. The misguided youths receive arms training in Bangladesh notwithstanding the regular denial of that Government. [S]

Tripura rebels kill 8 hostages AGARTALA, Sept 2: The Borok National Council of Tripura militants gunned down eight non-tribal hostages on Wednesday in their hideout in Taraboncherra in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The news of the cold-blooded massacre of the Bengali fishermen and labourers reached Gandacherra sub-division yesterday. All the victims, abducted in June this year, were buried in the thick jungles near the camp of the newly-formed outfit. Four fishermen -- Priyalal Debnath, Kshitish Debnath, Parimal Sarkar and Lalit Debnath -- were abducted by the Borok activists from Dumbur lake in Gandacherra sub-division in the first week of June. [TT]

Kidnapped boy rescued

MORIGAON, Sept 2: Rimon Sarmah, a class V student of Morigaon MC School, who had been kidnapped on August 28, was rescued on August 31. The Morigaon SP said that all the abductors had been identified but no arrest was made till the filing of this report. [S]

Attempt to abduct girl foiled

BARPETA, Sept 3: An attempt to kidnap a 17-year-old girl of Madhabpur in Dongorkusi area in Barpeta, Laila Khatun, daughter of Surya Ali by a woman from Bihar was foiled by Surya Ali and his son Moinal Ali. According to reports, a woman from Bihar lured and took away Laila when her family members were not in the house at 10.30 a.m. on August 31. Surya Ali and his son Moinal Ali, who had been searching Laila, at last traced her on the Delhi-bound Brahmaputra Mail at Barpeta railway station on September 1 along with the woman from Bihar. Moinal Ali managed to dragged Laila out from the train after a exchange of hot words with the woman from Bihar. [S]

Abandoned girls rescued

GUWAHATI, Sept 4: Jalukbari police rescued two abandoned minor girls, one aged two years and another ten months old from the Adabari bus terminus. [S]

Kobra ultras kidnap trader

KOKRAJHAR, Sept 4: Suspected Kobra militants kidnapped a businessman Biren Paul of Basobra in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal from Malikpur in Kokrajhar district today, police sources said. [AT]

People lynch NLFT militant in Tripura

AGARTALA, Sept 5 (UNI): Local people hacked to death a hard-core National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militant while ultras kidnapped five people during the past 24 hours in Tripura. Police said here today that a top NLFT ultra Arun Debbarma, wanted in several cases of killing, kidnapping, rape and arson, was caught by villagers of Karaimura village under Bishalgarh police station in West Tripura. Thereafter he was paraded before the houses that had fallen victim to his crimes before being hacked to death. A delayed report said here that last week the ultras had abducted two women from Jarulbachai areas under Bishalgarh police station in West Tripura. [S]

2 ultras, cop held in city

GUWAHATI, Sept 7: In a significant development Chandmari police last night arrested two militants belonging to the Dima Halong Daogah (DHD) along with a CID cop from the latter's residence at Pillingkata in Basistha. Sources informed that the two ultras identified as Manabendra Johari alias Moni and Pranoy Langthasha were instrumental in kidnapping one Abhishek Boro, a second year student of B Com of Gauhati Commerce College on April 30 this year. He was rescued some days back in the city. The CID personnel has been identified as Pranjit Barman and the trio were remanded to further police custody this afternoon. It could be learnt that several members of the outfit have been actively carrying out extortion and other subversive activities in the city for last quite sometime. [AT]

24 Tripura rebels killed

AGARTALA, Sept 9: The rift between National Liberation Front of Tripura and the Reang-dominated Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) has taken a turn for the worse. Nearly 24 rebels were killed in a clash at NLFT's Thangnan base camp in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh on September 3. Reports said a group of BNLF militants had been invited to the NLFT camp at Thangnan to iron out differences and negotiate the release of BNLF supremo Surjyamoni Reang, being held hostage at NLFT's base camp since July this year.
However, the discussion degenerated into a heated debate followed by a gunbattle. At least 14 NLFT and 10 BNLF militants died on the spot while 20 were seriously injured, The fate of BNLF supremo Surjyamani Reang could not be ascertained. [TT]

Suspected Bodo ultras kidnap one

NALBARI, Sept 11: Mr Kanak Das of village Ujan Nalbari (Bhalukdanga) under Barbari police station was kidnapped recently from his home. Sources said that five suspected Bodo militants entered the campus of Mr Kanak Das' house and forcibly took him away with them. [S]

Man held for raping, throwing acid on girl

AGARTALA, Sept 11: A 58-year-old man was severely beaten up by neighbours when he allegedly threw acid on a teenaged girl after raping her, police said on Monday, reports PTI. The man called a 15-year-old girl to his house at Aralia, near here, on Sunday on the pretext of giving flowers and allegedly raped her and later threw acid on her when she threatened to disclose it to her parents. Hearing the screams of the girl, neighbours rushed to the spot and caught him, police said. They burnt down his house and started beating him before police rescued him.The girl was admitted to G B Hospital here with severe burn injuries. Police arrested the man. [AT]

Abduction bid by ULFA-man in disguise

BILASIPARA, Sept 11: Posing as a journalist, a hardcore ULFA cadre made an abortive bid to abduct Bilasipara East MLA of the AGP Prashanta Kumar Baruah from his Salkocha residence near here around 2 pm. The ULFA cadre, the organising secretary of the Sankosh Anchalik met with the MLA Baruah as a correspondent of the Asomiya Pratidin by giving fake identity as Pradip Roy of Kokrajhar. But the peon of the MLA became suspicious and informed the Chapar PS leading to his arrest. He has been identified as Prabhat Roy alias Tapan Roy. [AT]

Two ONGC contractors missing

GOLAGHAT, Sept 12: Two contractors -- Amal Choudhury of Calcutta and one Kalita of Sivasagar district -- working at the KGP No. 21 oil well of the ONGC near Uriamghat have been missing since September 10. It is suspected that Naga militants had kidnapped the two engineers for not paying them "commission", which, according to sources, has been hiked from earlier 25 per cent. [S]

33 ULFA ultras killed since 1996

JORHAT, Sept 12: With the death of ULFA militant Babu Saikia in an encounter with the police at Chinatoli village in Majuli on September 10, the number of ULFA ultras killed by police in Jorhat district has gone up to 33 since 1996. During this period while 70 ULFA activists laid down their arms in the district, more man 250 were arrested. Among the top ULFA leaders killed in the district were: Arup Baruah and Chiraj Bora who were involved in the abduction of Sanjay Ghose (1997), Strong Hazarika (1998), Simanta Jyoti Bora alias Budhura (1998) and Parama Saikia (1998), Bhaskar Dutta and Samiran Bhuyan (2000). [S]

One killed in Tripura, trader freed

AGARTALA, Sept 14: A tribal supporter of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura was shot dead last night. In separate incidents, security forces rescued an abducted Bengali trader and arrested six militants. [TT]

4 students arrested for bid to abduct girls

TINSUKIA, Sept 21: The police arrested four students of Tinsukia College -- Dulal Konwar, Jatin Hazarika, Parthajit Chaliha and Ankan Saikia -- on charges of attempting to kidnap two girl students of another college in a Tata Sumo from Parbotia Road near Tinsukia College on September 19. The car was driven by a student of City College of Dibrugarh, Rakesh Rajan Baruah. [S]

MLA assaults scribe

BILASIPARA, Sept 24: The Bilasipara correspondent of Assamese daily Aji, Moslemuddin Ahmed, was roughed up by Bilasipara West constituency legislator Ali Akbar Mian and two others in the inspection bungalow last night. The scribe was picked up by the legislator at around 10.30 pm and was rescued by the police at around 1 am. [AT]

ANVC abducts abvocate

SHILLONG, Sept 24: Suspected ANVC militants abducted an Assam-based advocate, Mr Atmaram Agarwala from Garubada under West Garo Hills district on September 20, a delayed report received here today said. [S]

Abducted lawyer yet to be released

TURA, Sept 24: Prominent lawyer of Dhubri and Tura town Atmaram Agarwalla, who was picked up by suspected ULFA and ANVC militants, is yet to be released. Agarwalla was coming from Tura and heading for his home at Mankachar on Wednesday evening when three armed men stopped his Maruti car at Garodoba, a little distance from Garobadha town, and abducted him. [AT]

Missing

GUWAHATI, Sept 25: One Narayan Chandra Karmakar (55), employed with a private business concern has been reported missing since September 23 by his close relatives. It was informed that he belonged to Tripura and stayed with relatives here at Pandu. [AT]

Tripura rebels lynched AGARTALA, Sept 26: Two militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura were lynched in separate incidents during the past 24 hours. Dreaded NLFT militant Laxman Debbarma, responsible for a large number of killings, abductions and forced displacement of non-tribals from Melaghar-Sonamura area, was lynched by local tribals in Umraibari area last night. In a separate incident, another NLFT militant Radha Reang was lynched by local tribals in Sripur village in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh bordering Tripura on September 21. Gandacherra police had received information that the slain rebel had raped a number of girls at gunpoint in Sripur village. On September 21, local tribals found him alone. They at once lynched and buried him. [TT]

Ultras kill tea executive, injure two

SILCHAR, Sept 29: Suspected militants shot dead a deputy manager and a security guard of Khailu Tea Estate here and injured two others last night. They also abducted another person. Details are awaited. [S]

It's militancy, not puja fever which grips Cachar TEs

SILCHAR, Oct 3: Come pujas and the tea industry feels the bonus-pinch. This time it is the spectre of militancy which has badly shaken the industry. On Friday night, extremists shot dead S.K. Rao, Deputy General Manager, and his body guard R.N. Sharma and kidnapped assistant manager R.K. Jha of the Dewan group of tea estates in Cachar. Militant-violence has raised the question about the future of this mainstay of economy of the valley. [S]

Abducted lawyer returns home

TURA, Oct 5: Prominent lawyer of Dhubri, Sri A Agarwalla, who had been in the captivity of ANVC militants for the last fortnight has finally been released. According to reports available, Sri Agarwalla who was picked up from Garodhoba in West Garo Hills while returning home from a Lok Adalat court at Tura on September 20, was let off by the Garo militants on the 29th of last month from an undisclosed location which the lawyer refused to divulge. While family sources deny having paid any ransom Sri Agarwalla was released unhurt and is in sound health. [AT]

Three bodies recovered

JORHAT, Oct 8: Three bodies were recovered from Titabor and Mariani areas during the last three days. According to reports, the body of one Manjit Bora of Kongaghat was recovered from Boruk Baruah Jan under Titabor police station yesterday. The body was cut into two pieces. Manjit Boro had been missing since September 16. In another incident, the body of one Ganesh Tanti was recovered from Bhelguri tea estate under Mariani police station on October 6. The police identified the accused but could not arrest him. In yet another incident the police recovered a body from a drain at Puwalinagar under Titabor police station on October 6. The body has been identified as that of one Sambhu Deb (45). [S]

Ultras abduct 3 policemen

GUWAHATI, Oct 8: Suspected ULFA ultras last night abducted three policemen from Mayong tinali. [AT]

Rs 12 lakh demanded for release of youth

JORHAT, Oct 10: An unidentified miscreant from Dimapur made a number of telephone calls to the family members of Kiron Bora of Meleng Meteligaon, who has been missing since September 10, demanding Rs 12 lakh for the safe release of Kiron. According to the elder brother of Kiron, the unidentified caller spoke Nagamese. Kiron Bora, who had gone to the house of one of his friends at Dergaon on September 10 stayed a night there. He had gone out the next morning but did not turn up. [S]

Abducted trader rescued, 3 SULFA arrested

MORIGAON, Oct 12: The police, in a prompt action rescued Mr Devi Prasad Mour, a businessman of Hoiborgaon in Nagaon district, who had been kidnapped at gunpoint by some Surrendered United Liberation Front of Asom (SULFA) activists while he was coming from Guwahati to Nagaon in his own car at around 8.30 p.m. yesterday, from an abandoned house at Morigaon town. The police arrested three SULFA activists -- Apurba Kumar Bordoloi alias Ratul, Ganesh Konwar alias Paneshwar and Dibbendra Nath alias Amar Barua -- at around 6.30 p.m. today. It may be mentioned that Amar Barua was the "commander" of the Kolong-Kopili Sakha of the banned outfit. [S]

Jawan arrested for kidnapping woman

MANGALDAI, Oct 12: Mangaldai police arrested an Army jawan, Nayak P. Ganeshan of 207 Hill Regiment for kidnapping a woman, Ms Minu Deka of Gelabeel village near Orang under Mazbat police station yesterday. The police rescued the woman and arrested the jawan from a hotel in Morigaon town at 10 p.m. yesterday. [S]

Panchayat polls throw school academic schedule out of gear GUWAHATI, Oct 13: Even as certain quarters in the State are at work to stymie the long overdue panchayat polls once again, the process initiated by the Government and the State Election Commission in their bid to hold the election has already taken a heavy toll on school children all over the State. While it is still uncertain whether the polls could be held by the November end deadline set by the Census Authority in view of the latest High Court order related to boundary of Missing Autonomous Council area, the process has thrown the academic calender in the State into disarray much to the annoyance of these school children who have been forced burn the midnight oil with preponed annual examination schedule. [AT]

Tripura ex-MLA held in abduction case

AGARTALA, Oct 14: In a significant development, Tripura police arrested former Congress MLA from Belonia in South district, Dilip Choudhury alias Dilip Muhuri, for his alleged involvement in abduction of a tribal doctor and arms supply to the Bengali extremists. Dr Pradip Reang was kidnapped by United Bengali Liberation Front of Tripura (UBLF) militants in July, 1998. He is still missing. [AT]

Tripura sub-inspector killed

AGARTALA, Oct 14: A sub-inspector of Tripura police, Tapan Das, was killed in an encounter with NLFT militants at Golakpur Tea Estate of Kailasahar in North Tripura district today. Das, who led the police raid inside the tea garden at 11.30 a.m., was fired upon by the ultras. He died on the way to hospital. A militant, identified as Satya Ranjan Debbarma alias Debu, was also killed when the police retaliated. Meanwhile, militants also abducted two persons. [S]

Girl rescued

GUWAHATI, Oct 15: A city police team led by Additional Superintendent PK Dutta rescued a kidnapped girl from a hideout in Shillong on Saturday night and arrested her abductor, one Umesh Das (23), from Kalaigaon. The girl was abducted about a month back from her house at Kumarikata locality. A case was registered in this regard in Jalukbari police station. [AT]

BJP leader shot at, businessman abducted by ULFA at Golokganj

GOLOKGANJ, Oct 15: A businessman of Golokganj, Mr Premsukh Sethia, who is a local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was shot at and injured by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants at Golokganj Bazar at around 7.15 p.m. yesterday. The militants kidnapped another businessman, Mr Nitai Seal, who is also a member of the BJP, last night. [S]

3 killed, 3 bodies found in Tripura

AGARTALA, Oct 17: Three persons -- Mahima Jamatia, Mongolia Jamatia (60) and Hirabati Jamatia (45) -- were killed and one Nagucha Jamatia was injured when the suspected United Bengali Liberation Front (UBLF) militants hurled a bomb at Lakshmipati under Udaipur police station in South Tripura district last night. In another incident, the police recovered the body of one Nitya Nanda Debbrama (19) from a paddy field at Takarjala in West Tripura district today. In yet another incident, the police recovered the bodies of -- Sushil Kumar Chakma (35) and Rajkumar Tripura -- from Belonia in South Tripura district today. Sushil and Rajkumar had, earlier, been abducted by the NLFT. [S]

Police success in curbing insurgency boosts civilian morale AGARTALA, Oct 19: The successive successes of the police in their anti-insurgency operations seems to have boosted the moral of the civilians too. This was evident when the volunteers of the village resistance party intercepted a group of militants and killed one of them with bow and arrows. The volunteers of the VR party first noted the suspicious movement of a group, when they patrolling in the dead hours of night around their village Pancham Nagar, in Kailasahar. They challenged the group, but was replied through bullets only. Instead of backing out, the volunteers went for a counter-attack with bows and arrows. This silenced the gun within a short while. Later searching the area, police recovered the dead body of a slain militant, who is yet to be identified. One country-made pistol also was recovered from him. [S]

NSCN threatens villagers along Assam-Nagaland border

GOLAGHAT, Oct 19: In 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' sectors of the Assam-Nagaland border within Golaghat district, the Naga extremist organisation NSCN has been increasing their antisocial activities and has begun to threaten the Assamese people. The Naga extremists resort to kidnapping, looting and extortion of money in the areas and as a result, fear psychosis has been prevailing among the non-Naga people. The NSCN threatened the people of ten villages of the 'B' sector and asked them to leave their villages within a short time. Further, the extremist group entered the villages of the 'B' sector namely Gholapani, Ranidumuni, Bongaon, Natun Rajapukhuri, Jaralipather and Chetiagaon armed with sophisticated weapons and served notices to desert their villages failing which the NSCN would use arms against the villagers. [AT]
Another suspected NLFT militant was killed in an encounter with the police at Shantir Bazar in South Tripura. He was identified as Hancharai Reang. The encounter took place when police raided one of their hideouts.
Meanwhile, the militants kidnapped three persons since Tuesday evening. Two of them Dipu Majumder and Julu Mia were abducted from a jeep, when they were going to Silachari from Nutan Bazar in South Tripura. Another one Manik Debnath was abducted from Ambassa in Dhalai district yesterday morning.
Two ATTF and one NLFT militant were arrested by the police from Khowai and Sonamura. [S]

Successive Manipur bandhs from today

IMPHAL, Oct 20: Over and above the deteriorating law-and-order situation prevailing in Manipur, the people of this tiny State are going to be burdened with two separately called statewide bandhs in the next three days. The first 13-hour statewide bandh beginning tomorrow morning, has been called by the Joint Action Committee on Laishram Gunindro abduction issue in protest against the gruesome murder of driver Gunindro. The bandh will be in effect from 5 am to 6 pm tomorrow. It may noted here that Van driver Laishram Gunindro of Keishampat in Imphal was abducted by some unidentified persons on September 2 last and his dead body was recovered only on October 18 evening after digging out from Langol hill which is about 4 km north-west of Imphal town.

4 people shot dead by NLFT ultras

AGARTALA, Oct 22: Banned National Liberation Front of Tri-pura (NLFT) guerillas stepped up their violent activities after a brief lull killing four people, including three of a family, here on Saturday, reports Agencies. The ultras also abducted four people, including three small traders, from North Tripura and Dhalai districts.
Meanwhile, tribal villagers in an organised move hacked to death a militant at Sibnagar under Sona-mura police station in West Tripura on Saturday. The villagers or-ganised themselves when the five militants came to the village to collect subscription at gun-point. Four militants, however, managed to escape. [AT]

Three youths shot dead

IMPHAL, Oct 23: Three youths were shot dead at two different incidents in Manipur's Bishenpur and Thoubal districts since Saturday. Official sources said here today that a youth was shot dead while another was missing after they were kidnapped at gunpoint from their Keirenphabi village in Bishenpur district on Saturday night by 20 unidentified gunmen. Meanwhile, police today recovered two multiple bullet-riddled bodies from Langmeidong village Thoubal district. [AT]

Woman killed in Tripura blast

AGARTALA, Oct 24: A tribal woman was killed and three others injured in a bomb attack by suspected United Bengali Liberation Front militants in the Chhailengta area under Manu police station of Dhalai district this morning. The woman belonged to the minority Darlong tribal community, our correspondent reports. In a separate incident yesterday, policemen in Santir Bazar police station of South Tripura recovered the bodies of three persons, including one tribal who had been abducted earlier by National Liberation Front of Tripura militants. [TT]

ONGC engineer's wife missing

JORHAT, Oct 24: The wife of an ONGC engineer has been missing since October 21. Acting on an FIR lodged by the father of the woman alleging that his daughter had left her husband's house due to torture by the husband, the Jorhat police interrogated the engineer today. The engineer, who hails from Delhi, said before the police that he had been searching for his wife since October 21. [S]

Abduction

AIZAWL, Oct 25: Eleven workers, including the works manager, engaged in the construction of a road from Saipum village to the Tuirial hydel project dam site on the Mizoram-Cachar border were today kidnapped by suspected militants, the police said here. While the police is yet to ascertain the identity of the militant group, it did not rule out involvement of the Manipur Hmar People's Convention -- Democrats in the abduction. [AT]

Hostages freed after rebels realise mistake

SHILLONG, Oct 26: All but one of the 11 people abducted from near the site of the Tuirial hydel power project on the Mizoram-south Assam border last night were today released by their captors. The rebels had apparently mistaken the workers for Neepco staff. Saikapthanga, a senior employee of a firm engaged in construction work at Tuirial, is the only one still in captivity. The remaining hostages were all released at Jabla in Cachar district a few hours after they were abducted, sources in Aizawl said. "The rebels mistook us for employees of the North-Eastern Electric Power Corporation. They released us after realising that we were actually employees of a private firm," one of the hostages said. [TT]

Rescued

GUWAHATI, Oct 26: Bharalu police on Thursday rescued the girl abducted by Manoj Hazarika, a surrendered ULFA man some days ago. The girl who belongs to Machkhowa area was taken to Dibrugarh was rescued on the couple's return to the city. However, the accused managed to give the slip to policemen. [AT]

Ten kidnapped, rescued in Manipur

IMPHAL, Oct 28: Ten persons were kidnapped but rescued later and four others were injured by unidentified gunmen at Komnaga village in Manipur on Friday, official sources said. Sources said armed militants attacked the village, about 30 kms south-west of here, at around 3 am and kidnapped ten villagers and wounded four others. The ten kidnapped villagers were, however, rescued by the police, sources said, adding that identities of the gunmen were yet to be established. [AT]

Tripura wildlife park ravaged by militancy

AGARTALA, Oct 30: Among the numerous casualties of protracted militancy in Tripura, the state's lone animal sanctuary at Sipahijala in Bishalgarh subdivision is arguably the most prominent. Depredations by militants in hilly areas around the sanctuary and a series of abductions last year from within the sanctuary have resulted in a severe fall in tourist traffic. Let alone visitors from outside the state, most of the local people are keeping away from the sprawling sanctuary. [TT]

Police fail to solve murder mystery

GUWAHATI, Nov 2: Even after several months have passed by, the City Police have failed to solve the mystery surrounding the gruesome murder of former NF Railway employee Deepti Choudhury till date. The sleuths of the force have also failed to establish even the motive of the murder that rocked the city. The mystery became more mired in complicacies with the consequent kidnapping of the husband of the deceased a few days after the murder from near their rented house at Rajgarh road area. [AT]

Student kidnapped, rescued

JAGIROAD, Nov 4: Jagiroad police acting on a tip-off arrested Madan Prashad Jaiswal from Nagaon and rescued a minor student of Hindi Vidyapeeth on October 22. Sources here said that Debanand Kumar Jaiswal, a student of Class VI was missing on way to school on October 18. [S]

School teacher remains missing

PURANIGUDAM, Nov 4: Mr Cheniram Bora, son of Mr Bhogeswar Bora a resident of Jalahgaon village, of Ujara Gaon, under Nonai PS in the district of Nagaon has been missing since September 17, while going to his service place at North Cachar. Mr Bora is a teacher of Laichung Government ME School. [S]

ULFA kidnaps businessman

MORIGAON, Nov 5: Md Iqbal Patowary, a Kabuli businessman was kidnapped by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants from Ganeshbari near Jagiroad during the last 72 hours. The matter came to light yesterday. According to police sources, the businessman was kidnapped by the ULFA when he was going to the house of one Padum Bahadur. Padum Bahadur and his two brothers have already been arrested in this connection. [S]

Kidnapped school girl rescued

JAMUGURIHAT, Nov 6: Great sensation prevails in the greater Itakhola area when the Jamugurihat Police in collaboration with Itakhola Out Post has rescued a school girl at Itakhola and arrested two youths and a woman who had kidnapped the girl from Biswanath Chariali, who was on her way to school on October 18. [S]

Body recovered

KOKRAJHAR, Nov 6: The bullet-ridden body of Ronjoy Basumatary (16) of Taraibari in Kokrajhar district was found on the Champa river this morning under Basugaon PS. He was missing since May 1 from Basugaon town. [AT]

Body of 5-yr-old girl found

DHEMAJI, Nov 6: The decomposed body of the five-year-old daughter of Jogan Buragohain of Bhepara here, who had been missing since October 24, was recovered from a paddy field at Nalani Pam here today. [S]

Two bodies recovered

JORHAT, Nov 7: The Kahara and Bokakhat police recovered two dead bodies from two different places. Kahara police recovered the body of Gahan Bhumij from a drain at Siljuri. The man was missing since November 2. On the other hand Jorhat police recovered another body on November 6 from the road of Garamur area. [S]

Four ultras killed, 2 captives rescued

AGARTALA, Nov 9: At least four National Front of Tripura (NLFT) guerrillas were killed in separate encounters in Tripura during the past 24 hours, reports UNI. Police said here that acting on a tip-off, police and Central Reserve Police (CRPF) launched a combing operation at Ratuachara under Killa police station. During the operation, the NLFT militants opened fire at the security forces, who immediately retaliated and in the ensuing encounter, two hardcore ultras were killed on the spot.
In another incident, two NLFT extremists were killed in an encounter with another banned outfit at Raishabari under Gandachara police station in Dhalai district. Police last night recovered the two bodies. The militants kidnapped three people from Kalajhara under Santibazar police station in south Tripura. They went to a jungle to collect firewood.
Meanwhile, security forces rescued two captives, kidnapped by the militants earlier at Kalachara under Baikhora police station, following an encounter. Five improvised rifles were recovered. The security forces also arrested a hardcore militant from Sidhai areas of West Tripura. The body of CPI(M) activist Subodh Debbarma was recovered from Ambasa in Dhalai district. The victim was kidnapped by the militant on November 30. [AT]

Tripura rebels torture mute

AGARTALA, Nov 11: A four-year-old deaf-and-dumb tribal child was tortured by militants of the National Liberation Front of Tripura recently. Pradip Mog, the mute son of Patirai Reang, had been kidnapped by a group of NLFT rebels from Kalsi village under Baikhora police station of South Tripura on October 19. He was trussed and locked up at a remote hideout of the rebels at Haribratopara in a deep jungle under Natunbazar police station. Mog shared the camp with another hostage -- 22-year-old Dipak Mazumder, who had been abducted by the rebels from a bus on the Ghorakappa-Jatanbari route on October 17. Both of them were subjected to third degree torture. But for some unknown reason the militants vent their wrath on the boy. [TT]

Businessman kidnapped

GOLAGHAT, Nov 11: Suspected Naga ultras have kidnapped one businessman from 'B' sector of Nagaland border on November 5. The businessman, who is Bengali, was kidnapped from his house at Jahajigaon, adjacent to Uriamghat. [S]

CPM leader killed

AGARTALA, Nov 11: Body of a tribal leader of ruling CPI(M) was recovered from Takchayapara in West Tripura district yesterday, police said here today. Security forces during search recovered decomposed body of Sitesh Debbarma (53), leader of the Gana Mukti Parishad (GMP), the tribal wing of the CPI(M) from a deep forest with marks of bullet wounds, police said. Debbarma had been abducted by insurgents of Banned National Liberation Fornt of Tripura (NLFT) from his house at Champahawr village of the same district on October 31. [S]

2 more bodies exhumed from Taidu

AGARTALA, Nov 12: The police exhumed two more bodies from Taidu area under Takarajala police station in West Tripura district on Saturday. The bodies were identified as those of Swapan Pal (35) and Narayan Sarkar (18), who had been kidnapped on February 2 and June 18 respectively. With the recovery of these two bodies, the total number of bodies exhumed during the last two months in the area rose to ten. The police recovered the two bodies based on the confessional statement of an NLFT militant who had been arrested on November 2. [S]

NLFT rebel arrested in Tripura

AGARTALA, Nov 12: Police yesterday arrested a hardcore militant in the Taidu area of south Tripura and recovered the bodies of two non-tribals who were abducted in June. Sources said the bodies were recovered on the basis of information provided by Ucharai Koloi, a National Liberation Front of Tripura activist who was arrested in Jakasiapara village on November 1. [TT]

ULFA abducts HPC Deputy Manager

MORIGAON, Nov 14: Mr Ujjal Moni Phukan, the Deputy Manager of the forest division of the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC), Jagiroad was abducted by United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants from Nine Mile forest beat office under Baithalangshu police station in Karbi Anglong district on November 9, a delayed report received here today said. The banned outfit demanded a huge amount of ransom for the safe release of the HPC officer. [S]

Two young girls missing

GOSSAIGAON, Nov 14: Seema Acharya (18), daughter of Dharni Acharya and Supriya Acharya (14) daughter of Subhas Acharya of Laskarpara and Pub-Chokchoka under Kumargram PS in Jalpaiguri district had remained missing since November 12. [S]

Six killed, three abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, Nov 15: At least six persons were killed by Bengalis and tribals in retaliatory attacks at Kanchanpur-Dasala area in North Tripura district today. Several houses were also gutted. The tension sparked off when Bengali militants hurled a bomb on a jeep killing three Reangs. In retaliation the tribals attacked an ambulance of Ananta Bazar Hospital killing one Sujit Debnath, a pharmacist, driver Swapan Bhattacharjee and one Manoj Roy. The tribals also set afire many houses. Meanwhile, the militants abducted three persons including two children -- three-and-half-year-old Nayan Das and four-year-old Jhutan Das. [S]

Body of woman recovered

JORHAT, Nov 16: The body of Ms Rita Khound, who had been missing since November 6, was recovered near her residence at Moglougaon here today. [S]

Kidnappings by NSCN in Arunachal increasing

ITANAGAR, Nov 17: There seems to be no end to kidnapping of innocent villagers by both factions of National Socialists Council of Nagaland in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. In yet another such gruesome act, Sri Somlang Tandong, chairman, union territory demand committee for Tirap and Changlang districts of State was reportedly kidnapped by the rebel NSCN(I-M) factions on November 14, at Khonsa the district headquarter of Tirap district, top official sources told The Assam Tribune over phone today. Unconfirmed sources in Khonsa say that the NSCN(I-M) faction in a broad daylight from Khonsa town kidnapped Sri Somlang reportedly on that fateful day and the rebels might have killed him. [AT]

Chakmas force militants to free hostages

AGARTALA, Nov 19: Two Chakma women were abducted yesterday by a group of heavily-armed National Liberation Front of Tripura militants from Tuichakma village under Gandacherra subdivision. The abduction was carried out to avenge the lynching of two comrades of the rebels. The women were, however, set free today following public pressure. [TT]

Gunmen kidnap one

NAZIRA, Nov 21: Some unidentified gunmen kidnapped Pulin Konwar from Ramugaon under Simaluguri Police Station during the small hours on November 17. The local source said that Pulin Konwar is the elder brother of Ramu Mech, the Chairman, Sivasagar district ULFA. [S]

Police rescues 4 girls from brothel

GUWAHATI, Nov 21: A seven-member Kamrup police team, led by the Circle Inspector of Baihata Circle, Mr Biren Borgohain recently rescued four teenage girls of lower Assam districts namely Ms Pranita Deka (19), Ms Mina Begum (16), Ms Salma Begum (19) and Ms Anjali Rajbongshi (14) from the clutches of one Boby Sheikh alias Boby Khan alias Aminul Islam, an agent of an inter-State prostitution racket at Mumbai. All the victims, as well as the accused were brought from Mumbai to Baihata yesterday. [S]

Two youths missing from Dimapur

GOLAGHAT, Nov 22: Two youths from Sarupathar area under Barpathar Police Station, Paban Khaitan (23) and Diganta Gohain (24) are missing since November 17. The family source said that both of them went to Dimapur on that day and were missing from there. Suspecting that they have been kidnapped by the Nagas their families have submitted FIR in Barpathar PS. The two families were informed by some unknown persons over telephone that they have kidnapped the youths and demanded ransom for releasing the hostages. A local source said that the two youths were drug addicts and drug smugglers. They were involved in several anti-social activities. The kidnappers further informed the families that they have recovered drugs from the two youths, said the source. [S]

Minor girl rescued from Bangladesh border

KARIMGANJ, Nov 24: Subudhoni Rai, a minor girl of 12 years who was kidnapped from Duliajan has been rescued by police from Prasarpur village adjacent to Bangladesh border on November 21. One Firoz Ali (32) of village Akbarpur lived at Diboimukh as a fisherman. He kidnapped Subudhoni from the road when she was going to school on November 15. Firoz Ali raped the minor girl repeatedly on all the seven days till the day of her rescue. [S]

Two youths arrested

GOLAGHAT, Nov 28: Two youths Sikander Nipun and Uma Kanta Brahma on their way to collect money from a family at Kadmaguri village of B sector in the Assam-Nagaland border under Golaghat district at 11 p.m. on November 17, were captured by the local people. A gang of six members came to the house of one Binod Sarma to collect money in the name of ULFA. They had earlier written a letter demanding money from Mr Sarma. Binod Sarma suspecting them to be some miscreants disguising themselves as fake ULFA, shouted for help. The neighbouring people rushed immediately to rescue him and captured two members of the gang. However, four of the miscreants managed to flee. The two captured youths were handed over to police. [S]

Militant activities on the rise

AGARTALA, Nov 28: The militant activities in Tripura are on the rise despite stepped up activities of the security forces and growing resistance from the tribal societies. A recent official report reveals that the current year recorded the highest number of militant attacks since 1997. This year also topped the list, so far as killings and abductions are concerned. The report said that altogether 397 cases of militant attack has taken place this year upto November, which was 367, 342 and 219 during the three preceding years. [S]

Miscreants' bid to abduct trader foiled

TEZPUR, Nov 28: A four-member gang of a Maruti van-borne armed miscreants made an attempt to abduct a trader, Mr Ashok Pande at around 6.30 p.m. on November 26 at Rangapara town in Sonitpur district. But when Mr Pande made a hue and cry the people staying near by gathered, and the miscreants, suspected to be Bodo militants, shot at and injured Mr Pande with AK-47 rifle before fleeing. Mr Pande, who received bullet injuries in the hands and the legs, has been admitted to a nursing home. Meanwhile, the police recovered the Maruti van (AS-12-1122), which had been used by the miscreants while committing the crime, in an abandoned state at Kaloni Tea Estate this morning. The police picked up 10 Bodo youths for interrogation in this connection. [S]

Body of ULFA informer found

NALBARI, Nov 30: The body of Mr Ahedur Rahman, who had been abducted by some unknown miscreants from his residence at Guwagusi gaon in Nalbari district on November 28, was recovered from Tupalia under Nalbari police station today. The body bore bullet injuries. It may be mentioned that till recently, Ahedur Rahman had been working as an ULFA informer. [S]

Five killed in Tripura

AGARTALA, Nov 30: Security forces on Wednesday recovered bodies of four non-tribals, killed by tribal guerillas while unidentified miscreants shot dead a youth in Tripura on Wednesday night, reports UNI. Police on Thursday said following the confessional statement of a hardcore militant, Milan Jamatia, security forces recovered the three mutilated bodies of non-tribal villagers from Alongbari under Radhakishorepur police station in South Tripura. The militants had kidnapped four people, including the three, on August 15 last and later shot them dead. The body of another victim is yet to be recovered. The guerillas had killed them even after their family members paid huge ransom for their release. In another incident, police recovered another body of a 55-year-old non-tribal villager, at Takiapathar under Puran Raj Bari police station in South Tripura. The tribal guerillas had abducted the villager on Novemb er 27 and later killed him. [AT]

International Red Cross in rescue act of Assam flood victims

GUWAHATI, Nov 30: Flood-ravaged Assam has been able to catch the attention of the international community. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has sanctioned Rs 7.5 crore to the Indian Red Cross Society to carry out flood-relief operation in Assam. The flood-relief operation of the IRCS consists of three broad components, namely emergency relief, health care and capacity-building of the flood victims. [S]

Girl gangraped, murdered

RANGIYA, Nov 30: The body of one Dipika Kalita of Pitambor Hatbajali village under Rangiya circle, reading in HS second year in Rangiya Girls HS School, who had been missing since yesterday while returning from the school, was recovered near the village this morning. She was gangraped and murdered. The body has been sent to Guwahati Medical College Hospital for post-mortem. [S]

3 dead bodies recovered

AGARTALA, Dec 1: Police has recovered bodies of three persons who were earlier taken hostage by the National Liberation Front of Tripura. This was the sixth case of exhuming of bodies from the graves in a decomposed state, during the last two months in Tripura. The total number of bodies thus recovered were 13. [S]

Habeas corpus plea on custodial death TEZPUR, Dec 1: Mr Ramprasad Sarma, the executive president of Sarathi, an NGO moved a Habeas Corpus petition at Gauhati High Court in connection with the death of Dharma Mukhia of Singri under Sonitpur district in the police custody and the missing of his death body from there. Praying for inquiry and justice, the petitioner said that Dharma Mukhia was taken to Singri police station by the OC on November 19 at night. The next day, the disfigured dead body of Mukhia was recovered from a place on the banks of the Brahmaputra, at a distance of only 150 metres from the police station. The face of dead body was badly burnt with acid, making it very difficult to identify. The police buried the dead body without the knowledge of his family and proper identification. [S]

Killing triggers ethnic tension in Tripura

AGARTALA, Dec 2: The murder of a tribal headmaster in Dharmanagar subdivision by suspected United Bengali Liberation Front militants last evening has triggered ethnic tension in tribal-dominated areas of Kanchanpur. Shobharam Reang, father of headmaster Aveek Kumar Reang, was killed by non-tribal rioters in October this year in Jayasri village in Kanchanpur subdivision.
NLFT militants yesterday abducted a Bengali milk-seller and a tribal from the Bishalgarh police station area. The abducted persons were identified as Nepal Ghosh and Sukhu Debbarma of Nobinagar village. Debbarma was severely beaten up by the rebels for trying to save the milk-seller.
In another incident, a group of NLFT militants severely beat up at least 20 tribals in four villages under Kalyanpur police station for refusing to pay "tax" to the outfit.

Body recovered from pond

TINSUKIA, Dec 3: The body of one Anup Chouhan (30) was fished out from a pond at Rabindra Nagar in Hijuguri area in Tinsukia district today. According to reports, Anup Chouhan, the son of Harekrishna Chouhan had joined a company as a welder on November 30. After taking Rs 30 from his employer Anup had been missing since November 30. The body has been sent for the post-mortem. [S]
An hour before Governor Lt. Gen. (retd) K.M. Seth's visit to Khowai subdivision yesterday, three listed NLFT militants were arrested from the Gouranga Tilla area, police sources said.
Two unidentified United Bengali Liberation Front militants, who were trying to make bombs, were also arrested in Kanchanpur subdivision. [TT]

Catholic priest shot dead

IMPHAL, Dec 4: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a 30-year-old Catholic priest near Sugunu in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Saturday, police said today. The victim, Shajan Jacob Chittinapilly, was the assistant priest of the St. Joseph's parish in Sugunu and the third missionary to be killed in Manipur. Sources said Jacob, who hailed from Kerala, was abducted by two gunmen from the St. Joseph's School in Sugunu on Saturday. The duo also forced the priest's driver to accompany them in the school jeep, they added. Jacob's body was recovered from Tangjeng, 7 km from Sugunu, early yesterday. [TT]

Bamboo crisis hits HPC after abduction of Phukan

JAGIROAD, Dec 6: In the aftermath of the abduction of the Assistant Manager of Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) Mill, Jagiroad, Mr Ujjalmoni Phukan by United liberation Front of Asom militants from Karbi Anglong in November, the production in the paper mill has been badly affected due to acute shortage of raw materials. With the present stock of about 600 metric tonnes bamboo the mill can continue production for six more days. [S]

Two killed in Kokrajhar; forces bust NDFB camp

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 9: Security forces from Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts, in a joint operation, on Saturday busted an NDFB transit camp at Jamunaguri, 3 kms from the Indo-Bhutan border, under Bijni police station in Bongaigaon district, said police sources. In the operation, which started at 7 A.M. and lasted for two hours, an unidentified NDFB cadre was shot dead. However, 15-20 others escaped, crossing the international border into thick jungles, even though the security forces gave them a hot chase. Sixty rounds of AK-56 ammunition, camp materials, clothing, shoes, etc., were recovered from the camp.
Meanwhile, two NDFB activists, Achinta Brahma (20) of Owarbari and Rabiram Brahma (24) of Kargaon were shot dead by unidentified militants at north Dhanani near a railway track on Saturday at 4 p.m.
In another incident, Semal Basumatary (35), a lower primary school teacher of Haripara village was abducted by unknown miscreants driving a green Maruti van on Friday at about 6 p.m. from Champa Medical store in the heart of Kokrajhar town. [NED]

NSCN kidnappers release businessman

GOLAGHAT, Dec 20: Suspected Naga militants released Mr Biswanath Agarwalla on December 17. Mr Agarwalla is a businessman of Sarupathar. The militants who kidnapped him on November 23 tied him to a tree, beat and tortured him. His hands were tied with iron chain during the days of his captivity. It is learnt that a top leader of NSCN(IM) came to observe physical torture on him. The kidnappers were heavily armed with weapons like AK-47s. A source said that Mr Agarwalla was released in lieu of a huge amount of money. But family sources denied paying money to the kidnappers. [S]

Decomposed body of youth found

TINSUKIA, Dec 22: A highly decomposed body of a youth was recovered form a ditch behind the St. Lukes' Hospital, Rongpur about 3 km from here yesterday. Though the body is yet to be identified, it is suspected to be of one Dharmeswer Khound of Dimaruhola Dhulijan village under Bordubi PS, who had been missing from the hospital bed since July 29. A hospital admission ticket bearing the name of Dharmeswar Khound and few personal belonging were found in a bag near the body. Khound was the ex-president of All Assam Moran Students' Union. [S]

Action against guilty urged
Bhutan Govt express concern

GUWAHATI, Dec 23: The Royal Bhutan Government has conveyed its deep concern to the Government of India over the "unprovoked attacks" on the Bhutanese people and vehicles passing through Assam and requested that action should be taken against the persons involved in the attacks. The Government of Bhutan has also held the Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) responsible for the attacks. In a release issued today, the Royal Bhutanese Embassy, New Delhi, said that six Bhutanese vehicles were attacked by armed members of the BLT on December 20 and 21, leaving 14 persons killed and 19 injured. Two Bhutanese people are still missing. [AT]

Karbi bodies' decision for stir

GUWAHATI, Dec 24: A citizens' meeting jointly organized by the Karbi Students Union (KSU), the Autonomous Demand Movement Committee (ADMC), the Karbi Arlos Assam (KAA) and the Karbi Cultural Society (KCS) at Gopal Boro Government Higher Secondary School here today resolved to launch a democratic movement in protest against the alleged conspiracy hatched by the State Government to evict the tribal people of Assam especially the Karbis from their own land. The meeting lambasted the State Government's attempt to evict the tribal people on the excuse of setting up some industries or other projects at their land. [S]

One abducted

GOLOKGANJ, Dec 24: One Amjad Ali Ahmed of Saraldongagaon under Gauripur police station was kidnapped by a five-member armed gang of militants at around 9.30 last night from his residence. [S]

Mixed response to bandh in Changlang, Tirap

ITANAGAR, Dec 24: Fed up with decades of kidnappings, killings and extortions by the two factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, residents of Changlang district and Deomali in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday observed a dawn-to-dusk bandh to send a clear message to the insurgents that people in general do not approve of any form of violence and want peace, official sources said. Posters with slogans like 'We are against kidnapping of our innocent people', 'Do not make our peaceful districts a battleground for insurgents', 'We do not approve any form of violence', etc, were pasted around the whole Changlang district, the sources said, adding, the bandh was called by the Tirap and Changlang People's Forum. [AT]

10-year-old girl abducted

AGARTALA, Dec 24: A ten-year-old girl, Pinky Mitra was abducted by National Liberation Tigers of Tripura (NLFT) militants from her residence at Joalikhamar under Udaipur police station in South Tripura on Saturday. According to reports, five militants entered the house and abducted the girl at gunpoint as there were no male members in the house at the time of the incident. The militants demanded a huge amount as ransom.
Meanwhile, the police arrested two NLFT militants -- Somaiya Reang and Chandan Debbarma alias Sukram -- from Ajendra Bazar and Takarjala areas. Two other youths were also picked up for their alleged links with the UBLF. [S]

Minor girl abducted in Tripura

AGARTALA, Dec 24: A group of National Liberation Front of Tripura militants abducted a non-tribal eight-year-old girl from a remote area under Udaipur police station in South Tripura district yesterday.
Sources said the NLFT rebels are yet to release the two boys abducted earlier this month from a passenger jeep in Sabroom subdivision. The militants had demanded a ransom of Rs 5 lakh from the family. The abduction triggered ethnic tension in the subdivision and nearby areas in South Tripura.
In a separate incident, a United Bengali Liberation Front militant -- identified as Paritosh Pal -- has been arrested from Amar Colony under Kalyanpur police station. A .38 pistol, large quantity of ammunition and incriminating documents were recovered from him. [S]

ULFA kin killed

DUDHNOI, Dec 25: The bullet-ridden body of Pradip Kalita (24), an educated unemployed youth of Upartala village under Dudhnoi Police Station, was found on the bank of the Dudhnoi river at Damani, about 15 km north of Dudhnoi town, this morning. Pradip was missing since last evening while he was returning home from Goalpara town. He was the younger brother of an ULFA activist. [AT]

Trader kidnapped

KOKRAJHAR, Dec 26: Four unidentified gunmen kidnapped one Raju Patowary, a trader of Gossaigaon from Serfanguri market yesterday. [S]

Four bodies exhumed

AGARTALA, Dec 28: The police today exhumed the bodies of four Bengalis, who had been abducted by NLFT militants on August 24, 1999, from Taichara under Ompi police station in South Tripura district. Police sources said that the interrogation of a militant, Santiram Malsui, who was arrested on Wednesday, led to the recovery of the bodies. The victims have been identified as Nani Rudrapal (36), Sunil Bhowmik (45), Sushil Das (35) and Ramananda Debnath (35). [S]

Missing girl remains untraced

NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Dec 28: Ms Krishna Sonowal alias Kalpana Sonowal (23) daughter of Mr Indreswar Sonowal of village Sorbodichuk, Gagaldubi under Boginodi police out-post in Lakhimpur district has been missing since last June, 2000 from her home. It is learnt that Krishna went to North Lakhimpur from her home that day for marketing. According to her family, she went to Dubia, Gohpur from North Lakhimpur that day and stayed at one Niru Bora's house for the night. She then stayed at Mr Sarbeswar Saikia's house at Kalabari for the next 20 days, after which she went to Simaluguri, her uncle's house. The next morning she had come back to North Lakhimpur, from where she went missing and has remained untraced. [S]

Mohanpur populace in a quagmire AGARTALA, Dec 29: Haricharan Barman (37), when was abducted by some tribal miscreants in 1990 from Mohanpur, every one considered it as a stray case. None in this subdivision in the north of Agartala, could predict what was in store for them in the last decade of the millennium. A few more similar cases in the following two years had failed to raise a storm in the minds of the nearly one lakh population of the subdivision. Mohanpur, a subdivision of mixed population was familiar with the tribal militancy since 1980. They were used to the raids in the villages occasionally to collect subscriptions. Several killing also had taken place by the Tripura National Volunteer militants. [S]