NDFB chief let off near Dhaka
NE ultras getting shelter in Bangla

GUWAHATI, JULY 1: Though the relation between India and Bangladesh has improved, some senior officials of the Bangladesh Government are still helping the militants taking shelter in that country and only recently the Chairman of the banned militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) Ranjan Daimary was let off after he was picked up by Bangladesh police. [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]

Ulfa has plans to strike hard targets: Army

GUWAHATI, July 2: The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), faced with a severe fund crisis, was planning to hit 'hard targets' in the next couple of months in Assam and to work in coordination with other militant groups of the north-east, top Army officials said here on Sunday. The Ulfa 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua recently met 12 important cadres of the outfit and planned to hit 'hard targets' including the VIPs in the next couple of months, the sources said. [NED]

Paresh Baruah's close aide shot dead by Army

DIBRUGARH, July 3: The jawans of the Gorkha Rifles of 181 Mountain Brigade shot dead Pankaj Konwar alias Dulal Gogoi, a close aide of the United Liberation Front of Asom's (ULFA) C-in-C Paresh Baruah and the action commander of the 28th battalion of the outfit in an encounter at village Rengonibam under Namrup police station last night. The Army recovered a 9 mm pistol with ammunition and some incriminating documents from the slain militant. [S]

ULFA man killed in encounter

GUWAHATI, July 3: A self-styled captain of the banned ULFA, Pankaj Konwar alias Dulal Gogoi alias Dorji was killed in an encounter with Army rear Naharkaitya in Dibrugarh district last night, official sources informed. A 9mm pistol and 11 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the slain ULFA leader. [AT]

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]

Decomposed body found

DIBRUGARH, July 4: A highly decomposed body of a man in his mid sixties was recovered from the woodland opposite the Dibrugarh Indoor Stadium here this afternoon. The man was wearing a black half pant. [AT]

Two ULFA cadres killed near Jorhat

JORHAT, July 5: Two ULFA cadres, who were on an abortive bid to extort an aged homoeopathic practitioner and were beaten black and blue by irate villagers of Adhar Satra at Rangdoi of Jorhat city yesterday and subsequently handed over to the police, were killed in a 'crossfire' between members of the banned organisation and a police team along the Assam-Nagaland border in the wee hours today. [AT]

Body recovered in city

GUWAHATI, July 5: The body of a 65-year-old man was recovered by Pragjyotishpur Police from Panikhati area near Lahpara hillside in the city yesterday. The body is yet to be identified. [S]

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]

2 shot dead

HOJAI, July 6: Two persons were shot dead and two others sustained serious injuries when a gang armed with deadly weapons including country-made rifles barged into the house of a businessman at Hojai last night and opened indiscriminate fire. Sri Ajay Chhowcharia succumbed to his injuries at the hospital while Sri Manjit Das, an employee died on way. [AT]

22 injured in police lathicharge

GUWAHATI, July 6: The Vinoy Cements Employees' Union, Umrangshu has alleged that altogether 22 persons, including a four-month pregnant woman and a three-year-old girl, were injured in police lathicharge on employees of the Vinoy Cement factory at Umrangshu yesterday. Fifteen of the injured employees were admitted to the Umrangshu 30-bed Rural Hospital, while Smt Mamata Sangma, the three-year-old girl, who received serious injury in her left eye, has been shifted to Nagaon Civil Hospital for treatment in view of her serious condition, said the Employees' Union in a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, NC Hills, today. [AT]

Situation tense

AGARTALA, July 6: Reports from Fatikroy in North Tripura district said the situation there is still tense despite adequate security arrangements. Police recovered body of a Bengali woman from the ethnic strife-torn Fatikroy. With this two persons were killed in recent sport of violence at Fatikroy. The 36-hour curfew clamped in view of communal riots was however relayed today. In all likelihood the civil administration will clamp curfew once again from tonight for 12 hours, sources said. [AT]

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]

Police-ULFA shoot-out

JORHAT, July 8: A shoot-out between the police and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants took place at Pavajan village under Borpathar police station in Golaghat district today. The ULFA militants also hurled a grenade at the police personnel. [S]

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]

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]

ULFA cadres at the general headquarters of the outfit in Bhutan. Assam Tribune photo.

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]

KNV on extortion spree in Karbi Anglong

GUWAHATI, July 9: Karbi National Volunteer (KNV), a militant outfit, has been reportedly collecting funds from non-Karbi people in various parts of Karbi Anglong district despite strict vigil by the security forces. [AT]

New tribal terrorist outfit formed

MORIGAON, July 9: The formation of a new tribal terrorist outfit namely -- "Tiwa National Revolutionary Force (TNRF) has been confirmed in central Assam as the Morigaon Police recovered a constitution and some documents of this tribal terrorist outfit from the house of Bhogeswar Bordoloi, self-styled chairman of the outfit in Phalihamari village under Mikirkheta Police Station of Morigaon district, on July 7. The district police source said that chairman Bhogeswar Bordoloi of (TNRF) was absconding. [S]

Four ultras killed in State

GUWAHATI, July 10: Four militants including two ULFA cadres were killed in three different incidents in the State last night. Two ULFA ultras were lynched by public at Barbari village under Dharamtool police station at around 10.30 last night when the deceased along with two other ultras entered a house and tried to extort money at gunpoint. When an enraged public challenged the four they fired at the mob injuring four of the villagers, one of them seriously. However, even as two of the group managed to escape under cover of darkness the other two were killed on the spot.
Another ultra belonging to the Kuki Revolutionary Front was killed in an encounter with Home Guard personnel at the premises of the Siloni Water Supply Scheme of PHE under Diphu police station at around 9 p.m. yesterday.
Meanwhile, a Defence release said that one ULFA militant Jyotirmoy Kalita was shot dead by an Army patrol team at Boko in south Kamrup district and recovered a .32 revolver from his possession. The release informed that a group of three ultras opened fire at the Army patrol which was returned killing the deceased on the spot. [AT]

ULFA cadre shot at, arms found

DIBRUGARH, July 11: United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadre Basanta Barua alias Kenbeng alias Diganta Baruah of Gurguri Saudang village under Tingkhong police station in Dibrugarh district sustained bullet injury on his left thigh during an encounter with a police team in the village this afternoon. After the application of first aid at Namrup HFC hospital Basanta has been shifted to AMC, Dibrugarh. Police recovered a 1.32 revolver with three rounds of live cartridges from Basanta. In another incident, a team of Dibrugarh police led by Mr Satyanath Hazarika, DSP, headquarters, recovered two AK-56 rifles, which had been hidden beneath the ground near Dighalibeel under Naharkatiya PS, this morning. Police suspects that the two AK-56 rifles may be a part of a huge consignment of arms which had reportedly been transshipped by the ULFA in Dibrugarh last month. According to sources the arms had been hidden in various parts of Dibrugarh. [S]

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]

12 ultras killed

GUWAHATI, July 11: At least 12 militants were reportedly killed when Army personnel busted a militant camp in Jiribam area on the Assam-Manipur border today. Army sources said that a group of ultras fired at an Army petrol which resulted in a fierce gunbattle. All the ultras, in their battle fatigues, were killed. The Army recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition, including three AK-56 rifles, a 7.62 mm rifle, a .9mm pistol, two 303 rifles and two hand grenades. The identity of the ultras is yet to ascertained. [AT]

Unrest brewing in Dibrugarh jail

DIBRUGARH, July 11: A rebellion of sorts is waiting to happen at the Dibrugarh Jail here, with inmates facing at present inconveniences with each passing day. The prison here is presently home to 350 prisoners and more than a thousand undertrials. Of these, 52 are facing terrorism charges. [AT]

NDFB steps up extortion drive in Nalbari

NALBARI, July 11: The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), a major militant outfit of the Lower Assam operating especially in the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) areas, has intensified its extortion drive among the non-Bodos in various parts of the district. Despite stepped up security arrangements, the outfit has served notices demanding huge amount as Bodoland tax and donation. Following the declaration of ceasefire by the BLT another militant outfit of the area, the NDFB has intensified its extortion drive in Barama, Mussalpur, Tamulpur and Nikachi area of Nalbari district creating a fear psychosis among the non-Bodo people. [AT]

NSCN (K) ultra shot dead

KOHIMA, July 11: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a suspected activist of NSCN (K) yesterday at the new market area here. [AT]

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]

NDFB militant killed in encounter

GUWAHATI, July 12 (PTI): A militant of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland was killed in an encounter with the Army along the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam's Nalbari district last night, official sources said here today. [S]

Ultra shoot dead three in Tripura

AGARTALA, July 13 (UNI): Tribal guerrillas shot dead three persons in separate incidents in Tripura last night while three hard-core militants were arrested by the security forces. [S]

Ultra killed by Army in Nalbari

GUWAHATI, July 13: An NDFB militant was killed by Army troops in a retaliatory fire, operating in village Abhayapur near Patkijuli north Nalbari, stated a press release. A 8 mm revolver along with ammunition from the assassinated militant was recovered, the sources added. [S]

Minor's body recovered

GUWAHATI, July 13: Dispur police on Tuesday evening recovered the body of a minor servant after he was found hanging in the house of an engineer at Beltola Tiniali. No suicide note was found with the body. Police sources informed that the deceased belonged to Panitolagaon of Changsari area. He has been identified as Narayan Kalita (12). [AT]

ULFA ultra killed in encounter

NORTH LAKHIMPUR, July 14: A hard-core ULFA militant, Arun Saikia alias Bijoy Saikia of Naoboicha, was killed in an encounter with the Army jawans and the police in the house premises of one Bharat Hazarika at Sandalkhowa village under Bihpuria police station last night. A revolver, four live cartridges and six empty cartridges were recovered from his possession. [S]

NDFB militant killed in encounter

NALBARI, July 14: A hard-core NDFB militant was killed in an encounter with a joint team of Army and police at Barimakha village under Borbori police station in Nalbari district in the wee hours today. One M-16 rifle, two Chinese-made handgrenades and someincriminating documents were recovered from the deceased. [S]

Two youths killed

JAMUGURIHAT, July 14: Two scooter borne youths were killed on the spot in between Pertabghur and Sakomato tea estates under Biswanath Chariali Police Station when their scooter was hit by a Kalabari bound mini bus. The mishap occurred at 3.30 p.m. on July 12. The youths have been identified as Joyonta Saikia and Sanjit Gupta. [S]

SDPO injured

SHILLONG, July 15: One person was killed and a subdivisional police dfficer (SDPO), S Jadav, was injured in an exchange of fire between police and suspected HNLC militants at Mawlai-Nong Pdeng today, police said. [AT]

AR jawans exchange fire with KNA ultras

IMPHAL, July 15: The personnel of the Assam Rifles and armed cadres of the Kuki National Army (KNA) exchanged fire at Chellap Kuki village under Tengnoupal police station around 1 pm on Friday, a late report said here. Meanwhile, in another incident, a 22-year-old man identified as Yumnam Ibochouba Singh was seriously injured when some unidentified gunmen shot him around 8.30 pm on Thursday at Keibi under Lamlai policestation in Imphal East district. [AT]

Blast at Mayengia, no casualty

MORIGAON, July 15: An explosive device exploded in the house of one Bodhiram Nath at Mayengia village under Mikirbheta police station in the wee hours today, police sources said. No casualty has been reported. Police investigation is on. [S]

ULFA-SULFA contact suspected behind killing

SHILLONG, July 15 (UNI): Police have suspected inter-gang rivalry behind the killing of Nazim Laskar, a notorious criminal, here. Nazim Laskar, who used to extort money claiming to be a member of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), had been involved in many anti-social activities. Several cases, including those under TADA, were registered against him in Meghalaya and Assam, police said. On July 13, armed miscreants shot at Laskar at his residence at Forest Colony here. He was rushed to the civil hospital where he succumbed to his injuries yesterday. According to the Meghalaya Director General of Police, inter-gang rivalry and ULFA-SULFA contact might be one of "many" reasons behind the killing. [S]

UPDS mows down 10 in Hamren, 3 ULFA cadres among 4 killed in Barpeta JORHAT, July 16: The UPDS militants mowed down as many as ten persons, including two women, four children and a teenager at Langparpang village under Kherani police station in Hamren subdivision in Karbi Anglong district last night. While nine of the victims were Biharis, one belonged to Nepali community. It may be mentioned that exactly a month back, i.e. on June 16 the UPDS had shot dead two persons belonging to the Bihari community in the district. A Correspondent from Barpeta adds: Three top-level leaders of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and a personnel of the Assam Commando Force were killed in an encounter between a joint team of Barpeta police-Assam Commando Force and a group of ULFA militants at No 2 Block in Balapara-Kawoimari area under Sarthebari police station in Barpeta district at around 5.30 a.m. today. [S]

Arms, NDFB documents recovered

MANGALDAI, July 16: Darrang police recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition which were buried in a field at Jhengeraghar village under Kalaigaon police station on the night of July 14, a delayed report received here said. The recovery included five kilograms of RDX, 300 rounds of ammunition of AK-47, three Chinese grenades, a type-writer and some incriminating documents belonging to the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). [S]

Arms recovered at Mangaldai. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

Body found at Rupahi

NAGAON, July 16: Rupahi Police yesterday found the dead body of an youth named Madhusudhan Poddar (26) from a field near the Rupahi market. However no person has been arrested so far by police in connection with the case. [S]

Arms recovered from Sessa tea gardens

TEZPUR, July 16 : The Army recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from Sessa tea gardens here yesterday. The weapons recovered include, a US-made carbine, two magazines of US carbines, a country-made carbine, a 12-bore double-barrel gun, 49 live cartridges of .9 mm pistol, six empty cartridges and a hand-made bomb. The ammunition belonged to the Agnigarh unit of the ULFA and it was believed that those were hidden by Rup Jyoti Kalita, an ULFA leader, who died in an encounter with security forces in March. [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]

NLFT massacres 70 BNLF cadres in Bangladesh SILCHAR, July 17: In what may be termed as the worst-ever mayhem in militancy, 70 Bru National Liberation Force (BNLF) cadres including some of its top leaders were gunned down by the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) militants on the night of July 9. The headquarters of the BNLF located in the wooded fastness of Bangladesh across Jampui Hills was ransacked. The two-year-old BNLF has a strength of 150 cadres. Twelve Reang youths on the run from Kanchanpur refugee camp were nabbed by the Karimganj police on last Friday for their suspected link with the BNLF. They were shifted to Aizawl yesterday escorted by Mizoram Police. [S]

ULFA's explosive expert among 2 killed

BONGAIGAON, July 17: An explosive expert of the ULFA, Raktim Deuri (27) and another cadre of the outfit Chandra Rava (24) were killed in an encounter with a police-CRPF team at Kakoijana Hills in North Salmara subdivision in Bongaigaon district at around 10 last night. [S]

ULFA cadre killed, NDFB hide-out busted

GUWAHATI, July 17: Army troops operating in south Nalbari shot dead a hard-core United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadre -- Monu Bora -- during an encounter in the north of Kalag this morning, a PIB release states. In another incident the Army busted an NDFB hide-out at village Belguri near Patgaon yesterday. [S]

'Mentally retarded man shot at'

DIBRUGARH, July 17: The Tingkhong Sanmilita Mahila Samiti and the Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti, in a joint statement, alleged that a mentally retarded person, Prasanta Panhporia was chased and shot at in one of his legs on July 11 by a joint team of police and Army. A delegation of the two organizations also met the DC today and appealed him to ascertain the whereabouts of two youths -- Deba Konwar and Maleswar Konwar -- of Tingkhong Uttampur village, who had been picked up by the Army on July 16. [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]

Youth stabbed to death

NAGAON, July 17: Mr Sarukan Kalita (22) of Barangatali Puranigudam was stabbed to death on the night of July 13 at Bhimargaon about 15 km on the east from Nagaon by one Mr Rama Kanta Das, a retired army personal of Bhimargaon. According to a source of police information, Mr Rama Kanta Das had collected Rs 10,000 from Mr Sarukan Kalita and had promised him to appoint in the Army about two years back. But on the ill-fated day when he demanded back the whole amount from Mr Da,s he was stabbed to death by Mr Das in his own residence. [S]

2 ULFA militants killed

GUWAHATI, July 17: Two hardcore ULFA militants were killed by the Army in two separate operations in the State today. The incidents occurred under Nalbari Police Station in Nalbari and Talap Police Stations in Tinsukia district. [AT]

People giving back ultras a taste of their own medicine GUWAHATI, July 17: The peace-loving Assamese, sent to the edge by the marauding militants, are giving the ultras a taste of their own medicine by avenging their mindless killings with public lynching of the militants, reports UNI. According to official reports at the State police headquarters here, as many as 17 top militants were fatally lynched by irate public in the last 18 months. Of them, seven were killed in last two months alone, the report adds. [AT]

Six tribals killed in 'retaliatory' attack in Karbi Anglong JORHAT, July 18: Close on the heels of the killing of as many as ten persons at village Langparpang under Kherani police station in Hamren subdivision in the trouble-torn Karbi Anglong district on the night of July 15 by the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), and hours after the visit of the area by Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta to review the law-and-order situation there yesterday, as many as six tribal persons were killed in three separate incidents by some unknown gunmen, apparently in retaliation to the July 15 killing of non-tribals including minors (see photo). According to police sources, all the six victims were kin of top leaders of the UPDS. [S]

Two NDFB cadres shot dead

TEZPUR, July 18: Two NDFB militants were killed in two separate encounters with the Army and the police in Sonitpur district. [S]

Jawan killed in ULFA ambush

DIBRUGARH, July 18: Jawan Rambahadur Gurung was killed and Havildar Jibon Chandra Thapa sustained bullet injuries when a patrol party of 7/8 Gorkha Regiment was ambushed by a group of suspected ULFA militants at Joypur reserved forest along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border near Tipamnalah yesterday. The Army troops retaliated but the militants managed to escape. [S]

Jaintia Hills police recovers 6 guns

SHILLONG, July 18: Jaintia Hills police recovered at least six SBBL guns from Umkiang along the Indo-Bangla border in Narpuh reserved forest yesterday. [S]

Four CRPF men killed, 1 hurt in Manipur ambush

IMPHAL, July 18: At least four CRPF personnel were killed and one constable critically injured in separate incidents of ambush and snatching by unidentified militants here on Tuesday police sources said. [NED]

Six more killed in Karbi Anglong

JORHAT, July 19: Close on the heels of the killing of six Karbis by some non-Karbi miscreants on the night of July 17 in Hamren subdivision in trouble-torn Karbi Anglong district, the Bihari people of Fensu Ronghan village, under Kherani police station in Hamren subdivision, armed with bows and arrows swooped down on the Karbis of the same village and hacked to death as many as six persons and injured four others in the wee hours today. [S]

The bodies of the ten people massacred by UPDS militants at Kheroni in Karbi Anglong district on July 15. Asomiya Pratidin photo.

Two ULFA cadres killed in shoot-out

JORHAT, July 19: Two United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres, including a woman, were killed on the spot in an encounter with the police at Saraipani along the Assam-Nagaland border this evening. Two other cadres, however, managed to escape. [S]

Adivasi killed by militants

GUWAHATI, July 19 (PTI): An Adivasi woodcutter was shot down by Bodo militants in lower Assam's Kokrajhar district today, police said here. The extremists attacked the woodcutter in Gohatigaon jungles, under Kachuigaon police station, when he was collecting wood, the police said. [S]

3 persons held in Panikheti area

GUWAHATI, July 19: City police yesterday arrested three persons and recovered two crude bombs in the Panikheti area. One of the arrested men is said to be an expert in bomb making, having been trained by the Bodo ultras. According to DSP Inamul Haque Laskar, Rakesh Rai (22) and Tapan Deka (about 25) were arrested by the police in the wee hours today following a tip-off. Both Rai, hailing from Haltugaon in Kokrajhar, and Deka, from Dekargaon (Mangaldoi), were working in a newly set up distillery at Panikheti. They were living together in a rented house nearby. [AT]

The three "bomb experts" - Rakesh, Shyam and Tapan (from left). Asomiya Pratidin photo.

Cadres give Paresh Baruah ultimatum

GUWAHATI, July 20: In a major development in the ULFA, seven top-rung, central committee members of the outfit have issued an ultimatum to the outfit's chairman and secretary to spell out clearly what are their aims and objectives in respect of taking forward the "liberation struggle" and what they proposed to do to retrieve the outfit from the rut it is in today, within three months, and threatened to quit the outfit if no response came forth within the deadline set. [S]

TE executive shot dead

TINSUKIA, July 20: Suspected ULFA militants gunned down Shankardev Tea Estate's assistant factory manager RK Chaturvedi under Doomdoma police station in Tinsukia district at 4.50 p.m today, police said. The ultras shot him dead from close range in front of the gate of his office while he was going home after his duty. The TE executive received 16 bullets. [S]

Army deployed in Karbi Anglong

GUWAHATI, July 20: Army has moved into central Assam's trouble-torn Karbi Anglong district, following fresh incidents in the hill district, scene of 'ethnic cleansing' of 22 tribals and non-tribals in clashes since July 15, reports PTI. [AT]

2 gunrunners held

GUWAHATI, July 21: A Noonmati police team led by Chandmari Division DSP Inamul Haq Laskar arrested two gunrunners from Chunchali hill near cotton factory and recovered a .32 revolver from their possession around 9:30 tonight. Police sources said the arrested have been identified as Rana Pratap Yadav alias Dharmendra alias Duttada and Bishnu Ram alias Ravi Das who are reported to be dealing in arms from Bihar. [AT]

Kheroni tense, exodus on

KHERONI, July 21: Tension and mistrust have gripped the Karbi and Bihari villagers living under the Kheroni police station area of the violence-hit Karbi Anglong district following the killing of as many as 23 persons in the renewed violence in the area since July 15 last. [AT]

Rangia tense; Police, public trade charges over killing of two youths

RANGIA, JULY 21: Tension prevails in Rangia and the surrounding areas following the death of two local youths under mysterious circumstances. Confusion over the incident arises from the conflicting versions of the police and the eyewitnesses. According to police, the duo were allegedly killed in an encounter with Ulfa militants in Rangia in the wee hours on Friday. However, the local people allege that they were killed by the police in a pre-planned manner. The slain persons have been identified as Ajit Medhi (25) and Apurba Medhi (30), both sons of the Sunanda Medhi who is the headman of Lashibishnupur village. [NED]

Major success in operations against ultras : Army

GUWAHATI, July 22: The Army has claimed to have achieved a major success in the last few days in its operations against the militant outfits in the State. A Defence release here informed that during the last 20 days, the Army busted two NDFB hideouts, killed nine ultras, apprehended 14 others while another nine laid down their arms before authorities. A huge cache of arms and ammunition belonging to ULFA was also recovered from a jungle near Sessa recently, it added.
Meanwhile, a self-styled area commander of NDFB's Muhuripara and Shukheli localities of Kamrup district was killed in an encounter with Army personnel in early this morning. A pistol along with some ammunition were recovered from the slain ultra, the release added. [AT]

2 ultras killed in encounter

IMPHAL, July 24 (UNI): Two suspected insurgents were killed by an Assam Rifles patrol in an encounter at Thoraijam under Parsoi police station of Imphal West on Saturday. [S]

Unidentified body of woman recovered

GUWAHATI, July 24: Meanwhile, Latasil police this afternoon recovered an unidentified body of a woman from a spot at Dhapolia hillside. The body bore external injuries and police suspect it to be a murder. The age of the body has been put at around 30. [AT]

Atrocities unleashed by CRPF at Lamdan
Statewide general strike called on July 26

IMPHAL, July 24: Annual of voluntary organisations including different human rights groups, students' unions, women associations and other voluntary organisations in Manipur have collectively called a 14-hour Statewide general strike on July 26 in protest against the atrocities committed by the CRPF at Lamdan as well as crimes committed by security personnel on the people during the last 20 years. The general strike will start at 4 am of July 26 till 6 pm of the same day. [AT]

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]

Extremists' decree brings farming, fishing to halt in Tripura Guwahati, July 24: Farmers and fishermen in Tripura are the latest victims of insurgency with armed tribal rebels slapping a ban on harvesting and sowing in agricultural fields, besides fishing, by non-tribals. Separatist guerrillas of the outlawed All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), both fighting for tribal homelands, have issued diktats asking non-tribal Bengali farmers against working in the fields or face the militants' wrath. They have also prevented fishermen from spreading their nets in the rivers. [NED]

Missionary shot dead, 3 injured

AGARTALA, July 25 : A Catholic priest was killed and three other missionaries were injured when a group of NLFT militants opened fire on them at Balucherra in North Tripura district today, SP, operations, Dhurjati Gautam, said here. [S]

Freak blast off Guwahati kills 4, injures 2

GUWAHATI, July 25: At least four people were killed and two others seriously injured in an explosion which occurred at a place, 2 k.m. off Byrnihat on Friday morning. According to a delayed report received here, the explosion took place at around 10 A.M. on Friday when the victims were closely examining a pencil battery-shaped object found in a heap of scrap materials in a dumping yard located in the area. The explosive went off instantly killing four people on the spot and seriously injuring a Rabha youth and local woman. The injured were rushed to the Down Town Hospital and are undergoing treatment since then, the police sources said. [NED]

DHD kills two

GUWAHATI, July 26 (PTI): Tribal militant outfit, Dima Halong Daga (DHD), today shot dead two non-tribals including a woman and injured seven others, both tribals and non-tribals, in central Assam's North Cachar Hills district, police said. Armed DHD militants swooped on Harangjo Bazar under Haflong police station and indiscriminately fired from automatic weapons killing two on the spot. [S]

Army jawan dies in boat mishap

SONARI, July 26: A jawan of the 97-Field Regiment, Govinda Singh (22) died in a boat mishap when the Army team went to the Abhayapuri reserved forest on patrolling duty. [S]

Tension escalates, Reangs flee as NLFT campaigns for a 'Borak' nation AGARTALA, July 27: Tension is running high in the interior areas of Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura district, as the armed rivalry between two underground outfits are spreading. At least 70 persons were killed at Sajek hills of Chittagong hill tracts of Bangladesh foot hills in a clash between the National Liberation Front of Tripura and the Bru National Liberation Front, an outfit of Reang tribals. [S]

2 killed, 6 hurt by gunmen at Harengazao

HAFLONG, July 27: Due to indiscriminate firing by unidentified gunmen at Harengazao market and railway colony in the early hours of July 26 at about 5.30 am, two persons were killed instantly and six others seriously injured. No organisation has claimed responsibility for the killing and there is no clue as to the motive behind such an act. [AT]

Two women die as boat capsizes

KOKRAJHAR, July 28: Two Adivasi women lost their lives in a boat capsize in the river Nayantara after they ran away fearing clashes between the Adivasi Cobra militants and the activists of Jharkhandi Sangram Parishad, URMCA and Virsa Commando Force at Pwilaguri (Srirampur) under Gossaigaon police station last evening. [S]

Woman lynched

AGARTALA, July 28: A woman was lynched by villagers who suspected her to be a witch at Tairajbari under Sidhai police station in West Tripura on Thursday night, reports UNI. [AT]

Blast derails 12 bogies of goods train LUNAPARA (Rangiya), July 30: Thousands of passengers of the Avadh Assam Express, scheduled to leave Guwahati today, had a providential escape when suspected NDFB militants triggered off a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Lunapara between Rangiya and Ghograpara railway stations, about 45 km from Guwahati, at 5.20 a.m. this morning, derailing 12 bogies of a cement-laden goods train to New Guwahati. The blast had created a crater of ten-metre diametre and 5-metre depth and badly damaged the engine of the train. However, there was no casualty due to the blast. [S]

The bogies of a goods train which were derailed following a blast at Lunapara, seven km from Rangiya, on July 30 morning. Photo courtesy: The Sentinet (left), The Assam Tribune (centre) and Asomiya Pratidin (right).

AR Commandant among 4 killed in ambush

IMPHAL, July 30 (PTI): Four security personnel including the Commandant of an Assam Rifles battalion were killed and four others seriously injured when suspected activists of the NSCN (IM) ambushed an Assam Rifles convoy in Manipur's Senapati district today, official sources said. [S]

Hard-core ULFA ultra killed

GUWAHATI, July 30 (PTI): A hard-core ULFA militant was killed in an encounter with the police in Nalbari district today. Official sources said, the militant was killed during an encounter at a place under Tamulpur police station. One Chinese gun was recovered from him. [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]

Unidentified body found

CHARING, July 30: An unidentified body was found near a bridge between Abhaipuria and Balathiya village under Gaurisagar police station today. [S]

Man arrested on extortion charges

DIBRUGARH, July 30: The Dibrugarh police arrested one Jintu Dutta alias Mrinal Sarma, S/o Haresh Sarma of Pub- Milannagarh on charges of demanding money from Dr Nityananda Gogoi, Joint Director, Department of Health Service, in the name of banned outfit ULFA. [S]

Cobra militants killed

KOKRAJHAR, July 30: Two Cobra militants were killed in an encounter with police at Failaguri about 8 km away from Srirampur under Gossaigaon police station in Kokrajhar district last night. [AT]

Blast in passenger train kills 14 GUWAHATI, July 31: Close on the heels of the powerful explosion, which had derailed 12 bogies of the cement-laden New Guwahati-bound goods train at Lunapara, between Rangiya and Ghograpar railway stations yesterday, suspected Bodo militants today blew up two bogies of the 16 Up passenger train from Rangiya to Tezpur at Soonmari, 9 km away from Goreswar, killing about 12 to 14 passengers, according to official informations received here till filing of this report at night. [S]

Stranded passengers at the Guwahati Railway Station on Monday following the cancellation/reschedule of trains due to the blast near Rangiya on July 30. The Sentinel photo.

2 NDFB saboteurs killed, Union minister visits blast site

GUWAHATI, Aug. 1: Minister of State for Railways Digvijay Singh, who rushed here today to visit the site of the blast in a passenger train between Rangiya and Goreswar yesterday evening, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15,000 each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 5,000 for the injured passengers, all of whom were Army personnel. The death toll in yesterday's blast, has been officially put at nine and the number of the injured at six.
Two NDFB saboteurs killed in encounter: Meanwhile, the Kamrup Police today claimed to have killed two hard-core NDFB militants, one Lalit Boro and one Jamendra Boro, in an encounter at Khatpara area under Rangiya police station in the wee hours. They were involved in the blasts yesterday on the MG track between Goreswar and Rangiya and in the BG track between Ghograpar and Rangiya day before yesterday when 12 bogies of a goods train were derailed and damaged. [S]