North East & Eastern Himalayan: News & Discussion

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 22 Dec 2011 02:30

On Mizoram being calm, there was just a recent report:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111126/j ... 799567.jsp
‘Calm’ Mizoram a Maoist-PLA hub

You cant have calmness unless you let some of these alphabetical soup of terrorist groups their way. Which means extortion on businessmen who are mostly from elsewhere, safe havens, storage dumps, police looking the other way, no human rights statements for terror victims, whines on AFSPA or UAPA, all in return for no acts of terror on local citizenry. If you see that way, Sikkim is also safe, but it also cant do much with Gorkhaland agitators. You can see some report on this matter: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030419/a ... 887419.asp
In fact, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110330/j ... 784068.jsp

It behooves these states to remain neutral or at best conniving to save their own states from the overrun by the terror outfits.

Prithwi, aerial bombardment did nt bring the Mizos to peace, but it did help. Signing accords was the flavor of the season. Rajiv signed the Longowal accord, bulldozed IPKF to ensure peace in SL, was a part of the Assam accord and then the Mizo accord. Truly, Rajiv must have wanted to undo the problem his mamajaan started with supporting Bhindranwale & his band of thugs. And then the 1983 ethnic riots in SL was a major dampener for everyone in the furrin office sitting in SL, it was downright terrible and Rajiv was not too far away from the scene. Plus, again his mamajaan was the one who (at best) turned the other way in training and funding LTTE and PLOTE. Assam accord and Mizo accord were logical consequences given that the GoI was willing to accede to the major demand of state reorganization of the then Assam. Plus, MNF was primarily a bamboo famine oriented group. Not like say ULFA or UNLF, which took to fighting cos they believed that they were always sovereign. It was easy to bulldoze MNF'a main demand and force Lalthen Hawla to resign as a magnanimous gesture. The AF was used sporadically in Nagaland and Manipur too, you did nt see an accord with anyone. So aerial bombardment is not the reason for the Mizo accord, and something of that nature wont help today anywhere else unless the politicians make the way for an h&d settlement, which itself would have taken a beating with the bombardment in the first place. Putting the fear of god in these groups is not hard (as you have said yourself), most of the groups that sustain now have cross-border affinities, you cant go after those safe havens and therein lies the problem. Similarly, the maoist problem would be trampled if it were not for the porous borders between states in Central India. You can see precisely the maoist stronghold lies in the tri-state area. India does nt have a cross-state policing formula that works, even today. For that matter, even in the US you have this problem. But the magnitude of the problem is worse in India.

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 24 Dec 2011 19:46

http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/ ... -northeast

In the last few months, Maoists in India have suffered some major losses. Apart from the killing of senior leaders like Kishenji, sustained security operations in the red corridor have also made them retreat from some of their erstwhile bastions, such as the Saranda forests in Jharkhand or Rohtas district in Bihar. Security agencies have ample evidence to suggest now that India’s Maoists are trying to regroup and expand in the Northeast. According to intelligence inputs, some Ulfa militants have joined these Maoists and are trying to create bases in the border areas of Assam-Nagaland, Assam-Arunachal Pradesh and Assam-Meghalaya. Maoists have been spotted in the Dhemaji and Tinsukia districts of Assam and Lohit district in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly.

“We have specific inputs about Maoist cadre being trained by insurgent groups based in Nagaland and Manipur,” says Khagen Sarma, IGP, Special Branch, Assam Police. Intelligence sources have revealed that a group of senior leaders of the Manipur-based militant group People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had imparted training to Maoists in Jharkhand in September-November last year. This became possible after the PLA and Maoist leaders met in Mizoram in July. On the Maoist side, the slain leader Kishenji had been coordinating activities with Northeast insurgent groups. He had even met the Ulfa chief Paresh Barua earlier. On the PLA side, the whole operation was coordinated by its ‘external affairs’ chief N Dilip Singh. He was arrested in Delhi’s Paharganj area on 1 October 2011. He was in Delhi to finalise the modalities of setting up joint PLA-Maoist training camps in Myanmar. His interrogation has revealed how Maoists have been acquiring arms, ammunition and communication equipment from China through the PLA. The political wing of the PLA, called the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), runs a ‘government-in-exile’ in Myanmar. In October 2008, the CPI (Maoist) and RPF had signed a joint declaration promising full support to each other.

Apart from PLA and Ulfa support, Indian Maoists have also been acquiring arms and other equipment through Nagaland’s insurgent group, the NSCN. In October 2010, intelligence agencies arrested the ‘foreign minister’ of the group, Anthony Shimray, at Patna railway station. As the outfit’s chief arms procurer (he is also the nephew of NSCN chief T Muivah), he had travelled to Beijing, paying an advance of $800,000 to a Chinese company. During interrogation, he confessed that this amount was paid to book a huge consignment of arms that included sophisticated guns, rocket launchers, explosive devices and communication gadgets. He was to pay another $200,000 to the Chinese company before it would dispatch the consignment—either through Bangladesh or Myanmar. The consignment, to arrive in three batches, was meant for Maoists and insurgent groups in the Northeast. The first batch had already been delivered, a portion of which was recovered in Kolkata from the hideout of a senior Maoist leader, Kanchan alias Sudip Chongdar.

The Chinese angle, in particular, has set alarm bells ringing within India’s security establishment. More so because Paresh Barua is thought to be hiding in China’s Yunan province. While concluding a conference of DGPs/IGPs and heads of central police organisations operating in the Northeast in Guwahati on 20 December, Assam Governor JB Patnaik also pointed towards an Ulfa-Maoist nexus. “The danger signal [in the Northeast] should be taken seriously and immediate steps should be taken to bring development to isolated areas so that Maoists are denied easy recruitment of the youth from these areas,” he said.

Only last month, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju acknowledged the Maoist presence in the Northeast and said that the Indian Government was taking steps to contain them.

Acknowledgements apart, it will not be easy at all to contain Maoists once they expand in these areas. Several youth who have been associated with insurgent groups might turn out to be willing to join the Maoist cause. So, while the State may have reclaimed areas like Saranda or Rohtas, tackling Maoists who entrench themselves in the upper reaches of Assam could prove to be a challenge of quite another order.

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 12 Jan 2012 18:55

Peace pact with DHD(J) almost finalised

GUWAHATI, Jan 11 – The Government of India has almost finalised a peace pact with militant group DHD(J), while, it is still apprehensive of the peace overtones of the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB).

Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Joint Secretary (North East) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Sambhu Singh said that the Government has reached an agreement with the DHD (J) and the date for signing a formal agreement with the outfit would be finalised soon. However, the Government has not yet been able to come into an agreement with DHD (Nunisha) faction. He said that the DHD (N) is demanding inclusion of 94 more villages in Dima Hassao district, which is not practical.

Singh said that the talks with the pro talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) is progressing well, but though the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB has announced a unilateral cease fire to express its desire to come for talks, the Government is keeping a close watch on the situation.

The MHA official said that the Government of India’s interlocutor already met Ranjan Daimary in jail to have initial talks, but the Government is yet to take a decision on whether a suspension of operation against the outfit would be announced. He said that the fact that a major chunk of the members of the outfit is still in Myanmar is a worrying factor, while, there have been intelligence inputs of senior members of the outfit including B Bidai trying to procure weapons. The Government would keep watch on the situation before taking any decision on suspension of operation against the outfit, he added.

The Government would give rehabilitation package for the members of the militant outfits which sign peace pacts with the Government. But the heinous cases against members of such outfits would not be withdrawn.

Singh admitted that the hard line faction of the ULFA has been trying to launch recruitment drive to strengthen the outfit and the new recruits have been sent for training. But the new boys are getting killed in the operations, he pointed out. He said that the leader of the outfit, Paresh Baruah spends most of his time in Myanmar and China. But he is not in a position to go back to Bangladesh as a case has been registered against him. However, the wife and children of Baruah are still in Bangladesh.

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 19 Jan 2012 17:53

9 militant outfits of State to lay down arms

NEW DELHI, Jan 18 – Union Home Minister P Chidambaram is likely to arrive in Guwahati on January 24 to oversee surrender of weapons by nine militant outfits of the State.

Official sources have confirmed that the Home Minister would pay a daylong visit to the State ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. He has agreed to be the chief guest of the function organised by the State Government, said sources.

The nine militant groups, which are laying down arms, include four Adivasi militant groups like Adivasi Cobra Militants of Assam, Birsa Commando Force, Santhal Tiger Force, Adivasi People’s Army and Adivasi National Liberation Army, besides Hmar Peoples Convention, Kuki Liberation Army, Kuki Revolutionary Army and United Kuki Defence Army.

A bonanza of sops is proposed to be given to the militant groups, with the Adivasi militant groups being offered Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The move, however, may leave other claimant communities including Koch Rajbongshi, Tai-Ahom, Moran and Mataks, on tenterhooks.

However, the move may benefit only select Adivasi groups including the Oraon, Munda, Santhals and Birsa. These groups already enjoy ST status in other States and that is why the Centre may not have much problem in adding these groups in the ST list, said sources, adding that the proposal being worked out may include economic packages.

Sources said that the package has been firmed up by the State Government in consultation with the Centre. The Home Ministry officials have already held discussions with representatives of the Adivasi militant outfits in Guwahati.

The Adivasi militant groups have demanded inclusion of Adivasi into the Scheduled Tribe list (under VI Schedule) and grant of ex-gratia payment to the riot-hit people. They have projected an estimated 2.50 lakh Adivasi people are living in camps.

The State Government, however, may have to do some deft manoeuvering on the issue of grant of ST status to the Adivasi communities, leaving out other communities including the influential Koch-Rajbongshi, Tai-Ahom, Matak and Moran, who may not take kindly to the move to appease one group. In all, six communities in the State have been agitating for ST status for long.

Sources said that though the Kuki and Hmar militant outfits are not much of a threat, as they do not have significant presence, the peace pacts with Adivasi militant groups though is significant, given their potential to create trouble.

The groups are known to target the National Highways and Railway network.

The other aspect, said sources, is the growing apprehension that the cadres belonging to the Adivasi groups may fall into the waiting arms of the Maoists. As reported, the Maoists are trying to prepare the ground to set up bases in Assam.

The package being prepared also includes rehabilitation of the Adivasi refugees living in relief camps in Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts.

AssamTribune

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 19 Jan 2012 17:55

Centre extends ceasefire with DHD-J, NDFB-P

Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 – The Centre on Wednesday announced extension of the ceasefire pacts with Dima Halam Daogah (DHD)-J faction and National Democratic Front of Boroland (Progressive) (NDFB-P).

Official sources said it has been mutually agreed with the (DHD) group in North Cachar Hills district of Assam to further extend suspension of operations (SoO) for a period of six months till June 30.

An agreement of Suspension of Operations (SoO) between the security forces and DHD has been in operation since January 1, 2003 and has been extended. Agreed ground rules have been revised making them more strict, said sources.

A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) headed by JS (North-east), Ministry of Home Affairs, has been constituted to review the implementation of agreed ground rules. Meetings of JMG have been held periodically.

Meanwhile, tripartite talks on the demands of DHD are continuing. Centre’s interlocutor, PC Halder held the last tripartite meeting with the outfit on December 17, to finalise the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS).

The Dimasa extremist outfit under the name of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) raised its ugly head in North Cachar Hills district of Assam after December, 1994. In December 2002, Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) had come forward and expressed its willingness to give up violence and seek solution of its problems peacefully within the framework of the Indian Constitution.

An agreement of Suspension of Operations (SoO) had been signed between the Central Government (Home Ministry), Government of Assam and NDFB on May 24, 2005 and has been in operation since June 1.

In the wake of the involvement of some NDFB cadres in serial blasts in Assam, on October 30, 2008, the SoO Agreement with the NDFB was revised in 2009.

A Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) headed by JS (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs, had been constituted to review the implementation of agreed ground rules. Meetings of JMG have been held periodically.

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 19 Jan 2012 17:56

State Govt guidelines for surrendered ultras

R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, Jan 18 – The Assam Government has started enforcing strict guidelines for surrender of militants, while, the Government has changed the rules for payment of stipend to the members of the militant groups under cease fire agreement and from now on, such payments will be made only through cross cheques.

Highly placed police sources told The Assam Tribune that at one point of time, different security agencies used to enforce surrender of militants, but in the process, persons who were not active members of the militant groups managed to “surrender” and take advantage of the rehabilitation scheme of the Government. To discourage the disturbing trend, a high level committee has been formed to screen the persons who want to surrender and the government accepts the surrenders only when the names of the militants are cleared by the screening committee. Moreover, surrender without weapons are not accepted unless the person who seeks to surrender is a well known member of a militant outfit.

Sources said that after the Government starts imposing strict guidelines, the number of persons who came forward to surrender came down and in the year 2011, only 86 militants surrendered and the figure was around 70 in 2010. Sources said that with 15 militant groups of Assam talking with the Government, the need to accept surrender of militants has come down and some senior police officers are of the view that the Government should stop accepting surrender of militants after a certain period of time.

On the rehabilitation scheme, sources said that as per the scheme of 1998, the militants who laid down arms were given a stipend of Rs 2,000 per month for a period of one year on the condition that they would have to stay in the rehabilitation camps. But majority of those who surrendered wanted to return home and the scheme was amended in 2005 and an amount of Rs 1.50 lakh is kept in a bank account of each surrendered militant and the amount is released after they receive a good conduct certificate on the completion of one year of their surrender. If any surrendered militant is either arrested or a case is registered against him, he would not get the benefit.

Meanwhile, the Government is now paying a stipend of Rs 3,000 per month to the members of the militant groups under cease-fire agreement on the basis of the lists submitted by the outfits. But there were cases where some outfits gave out fictitious names to inflate the number of cadres and there have also been instances where lower level cadres of the outfits alleged that they did not get the money regularly. To deal with the problem, the Special Branch of the Assam Police, which handles the fund, started a new process of making the payment of the stipend through crossed cheques from this month and every member of the outfits under cease-fire would have to open bank accounts to get the money and no one would be able to pocket the money by using fictitious names.

The pro-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has submitted a list of around 550 cadres including the members of the A and C companies of the 28 battalion of the outfit, who came overground earlier and photo identity cards will be issued to the cadres after they move into the camps, sources added.

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 20 Jan 2012 22:43

All ULFA leaders, members adopt the surname 'Asom'

The anti-talks faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam on Friday announced that the surname of its leaders and cadres would be same from now and the common surname would be 'Asom'.

In a statement issued to the media through e-mail, the ULFA faction said the move reflected the outfit's commitment towards expediting the evolution of the 'great Assamese nation' irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

The ULFA statement said, "The process of formation of the great Assamese nation was disrupted once Assam went under forceful occupation of colonial Indian rulers. Though the intellectuals of Assam have tried had to analyse the reasons that were hampering the formation of a great Assamese nation, they have failed to project that the real reason behind all problems of Assam is the continued occupation of Assam by Indian colonial rulers'."

The statement added, "In a fresh attempt to revive and accelerate the process of formation of the great Assamese nation, the ULFA has decided to start it from the bottom of the organisation. So, we have decided to replace surnames of all our members with Asom."

Incidentally, the surname of a person in Assam usually reflects his/her caste, clan, tribe and religion.

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 22 Jan 2012 11:46

Rupsi airfield may get new lease of life

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 21 – Rupsi airfield, which has been forgotten and ignored for long, could be back on the radar of air traffic. If the Assam Government and the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) do their bit, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Air Force (IAF) are willing to revive Rupsi as an airport catering to civilian as well as defence needs.
The development is significant as the proposed airport will be able to cater to the needs of a large population of western Assam that has remained unserved by civil aviation for several decades after the country’s independence. Guwahati’s LGBI Airport is the only entry and exit point for a large number of air travellers who have to journey several hours from western areas of the state.

Development of the Rupsi airfield, which is located at a strategic site, will be an advantage for the IAF, especially when it comes to fulfilling its logistical requirements. As a base it can add much needed muscle to its transport operations, an emerging need in the backdrop of Chinese military build-up in the eastern Himalayan region.

An official communication from the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation to HS Brahma, Election Commissioner of India, dated January 19, 2012, stated that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has considered and agreed to a proposal of the AAI in respect of the request of IAF to proceed with a plan to develop the Rupsi airfield on similar lines of the Kargil airport.

At a ‘co-ordination meeting’ between AAI and the IAF on January 6 this year the IAF proposed that the AAI may carry out ‘demarcation of the airport land in coordination with State Government and accordingly convey the actual availability of land’. The follow- up action is being taken by the AAI.

The communication also stated that the BTC had initially proposed a greenfield airport at Kokrajhar located not far from Rupsi. Later, the BTC Secretariat conveyed its acceptance of Rupsi airport to be developed in lieu of the proposed greenfield airport.

Election Commissioner Brahma, who was responsible for taking the initiative of reviving the Rupsi airport has appreciated the move of the Civil Aviation Ministry, and has stated his intent to bring the recent development to the notice of the Chief Secretary, Government of Assam and the State Transport Minister.

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 22 Jan 2012 11:47

12 NE ultra outfits give boycott call

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 21 – Twelve militant outfits of the North East region have given a call to the people to boycott the Republic Day celebrations as a mark of “resistance against Indian occupation of the region.”
The militant outfits have also called upon the people to observe general shut down from 1 am to 5.30 pm on January 26. The release said that during the hours, all trade and commercial activities, all forms of public entertainment and all forms of public and private transportation should not operate in the region. However, emergency services, essential services, media and religious activities have been exempted from the strike.

The joint statement said that the Republic Day celebration legitimizes the colonial oppression of the North East region by India. As the people of the North East are not Indians, there is no reason for celebration of the Republic Day. “We have every right and reason to fight against and overthrow the Indian colonial regime to regain our lost sovereignty and independence,” the statement added.

The statement further said that a spontaneous boycott of the Republic day would force India to realize the truth and withdraw itself from the North East.

The joint statement has been issued by the hard line faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Coordination Committee of Manipur’s seven parties (CorCom), HNLC of Meghalaya, Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO), National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) and Tripura People’s Democratic Front (TPDF).

The statement also proved that the Manipur based militant groups have joined hands to form a coordination committee and efforts are also on by the militant groups of the North East to come into a common platform. In the joint statement, the militant groups also made it clear that united struggle is the key to their success. They further said that they would unite to overthrow the Indian colonial rule.

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 22 Jan 2012 11:50

Arunachal Guv for re-opening Stillwell road

ITANAGAR, Jan 21 – Arunachal Pradesh Governor JJ Singh has stressed the need to re-open the historic Stillwell Road and border trade with Myanmar through Pangasu Pass in Changlang district.

“Most imports from Myanmar and China are currently being channelled through the Kolkata dock, a much longer sea-route than the Stillwell Road,” he said, adding that reopening of this road would reduce transportation costs between China and India by more than 30 per cent.

Singh discussed this when Union Minister of State for DoNER Pawan Singh Ghatowar called on him at Raj Bhawan here last night, official sources said today.

Highlighting the importance of re-opening the historic Second World War road, the Governor said that the border trade agreement between India and Myanmar was signed on January 21, 1994.

Trade has officially been going on at Moreh in Manipur and Nampong in Changlang district, near the Pangsau Pass, of Arunachal Pradesh where a border trade centre (BTC) was inaugurated by the then Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh in November 1997, he said.

The BTC at Nampong was practically lying defunct, Singh told the Minister.

The Governor also underscored the significance of border trade with the country’s south-eastern neighbours.

Teak would be the major item of import from Myanmar, which in turn would help preserve the State’s valuable forest reserves and transform the economy of the insurgency affected Northeastern region by making it a production hub for the Myanmarese and western Chinese markets, he said.

Taking up the cause of air passengers, especially in medical cases, he requested the Minister to ensure that a daily Boeing service from Lilabari to New Delhi via Guwahati is introduced.

He suggested introducing the daily Boeing service till the proposed Green Field airport comes up at Itanagar, sources said.

Singh also expressed concern at the slow progress of the upgradation of Tezu airport, a Central project, to improve air connectivity of this land-locked State. – PTI

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 22 Jan 2012 11:52

BSF hands over detained Bangla head constable

AGARTALA, Jan 21 – The BSF today handed over Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) head constable who had shot dead an Indian farmer in Tripura’s Sipahijala district along the border to the force.
Lutfar Rahaman was handed over to the 33 battalion of BGB of Comilla sector about 3 am, sources said.

Following the killing of farmer Shaha Alam of Tarakpur village yesterday, there was a commandant-level flag meeting between 29 battalion of BSF and 33 battalion of BGB near the spot but it was inconclusive as the BGB personnel were pressing for handing Lutfar to them, the sources said.

Later the matter was discussed in Foreign Ministry level of the two countries and the head constable was handed over, a BSF official said on condition of anonymity.

This decision was taken in larger interest of both the countries, sources said, adding BGB personnel assured to punish the erring head constable. – PTI

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 22 Jan 2012 11:54

/\/\/\ All those stupid Bangladeshis who run amok on paki forums including their own and whine about BSF killing those illegally trying to enter India should be shown this article.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 22 Jan 2012 12:38

There is a strong case for Trans Asian BG Railway Line catering to freight and passenger traffic . Passing through NE region and Myanmar, Thailand , Combodia , Laos, Vietnam, Singapore Malaysia and Indonesia . Existing Lines could be leveraged and only gaps need to be filled up. India would have to make lines in NE region which does not extend beyond Assam.
Two big challenges would be to cross from Malaysia and Indonesia and another one in Malaysia to its capital Jakarta across sunda strait. The Line could be extended all the way to Bali and possibly to Dili (although depth of sea near Dili seems more).

That would bring Australia within 800-1000 Km of RailHead.

Most of the countries are being offered VOA hence travel for passengers could be easy.
Transport of Coal, mineral and trade in goods and services would get tremendous boost.
The Cost and revenue could be shared according to some mutually agreed formula.
Such services (freight and passenger Services) by a Joint Venture Company of Private or /And Govt entities which would create facilities across participating countries for smooth operation.
If Asia is going to be the economic powerhouse of growth in future then such a venture would bring in required integration. ASEAN could be asked to deliberate on such a proposal.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 22 Jan 2012 12:42

Those very same countries could participate in Regional Power Grid to EXIM of surplus power from one region to another by interconnecting their National grids and providing High Voltage Power Evacuation Stations and Lines.

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 27 Jan 2012 20:02

Northeast defies militant boycott calls on R-Day

AGARTALA/AIZAWL, Jan 26 (IANS): Defying boycott calls by militant groups and stray attempts by the rebels to create panic, India's northeast celebrated the 63rd Republic Day and vowed to bring in economic and human development in the region.

People came out in large numbers to participate in celebrations. The Republic Day flag hoisting ceremony in Assam's Sonari town in Sivsagar district was marred by the discovery of a bomb near the venue. It was defused.

"The bomb was defused by experts from a nearby army camp," a police officer told IANS.

The discovery created panic for some time. Militant groups, including the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), had called for a boycott of Republic Day celebrations.

In Manipur capital Imphal too, suspected extremists exploded a bomb but no casualty was reported. A police spokesman said the bomb went off at around 9 a.m. near Shamashakhi school area. However, panic griped the locality following the explosion.

The governors of several northeastern states while unfurling the national flag in the respective state capitals appealed to militant outfits to join the mainstream.

Manipur Governor Gurbachan Jagat urged separatist outfits to shun the path of violence and come to the mainstream for all-round development of the state.

"Guns cannot solve problems. Only talks can resolve demands and issues," Jagat said after hoisting the national flag in Imphal. "If there was no terrorism, Manipur would achieve more development," the governor added.

Tripura Governor D.Y. Patil said the state is rich in natural resources and if these were properly utilised then development in all spheres would be accelerated.

"The literacy rate in Tripura as per the 2011 Census is 87.5 percent -- the fourth position in the country. Hundred percent literacy would be attained in the next five years," Patil said after unfurling the tricolour at the Assam Rifles ground here.

"The government has successfully been able to diminish extremist activities in the state, bringing them to the democratic streamline," he added.

Mizoram Governor V. Purushothaman said in Aizawl the implementation of the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) for the coordinated development of rural areas is now in full swing.

"The success of NLUP rests largely on the active participation of the beneficiaries and the concerned government departments," Purushothaman said.

AT

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 27 Jan 2012 20:04

chaanakya wrote:There is a strong case for Trans Asian BG Railway Line catering to freight and passenger traffic .

Are you assuming that or something is in the cards? Any sources? If true, this indeed would be good development.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 27 Jan 2012 22:22

It is a work in progress. Though not yet for Singapore, Malaysia and Indinesia. Other countries mentioned are on the cards. Currently RITES is involved in Rail Transportation development in neighbouring country and extensive agreement has been signed incl Rail network. That would set standards to BG in Transasian line. Bu you may hear about it in another five years time.

Check MEA documents regarding ASEAN and BIMSTEC.

Regional Power Grid is an idea sown in APO workshop and referred to respective Govt.

NE side is yet toi be picked up because of feasibility studies still being undertaken and environmental clearance needed.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 28 Jan 2012 19:59

Have there been any empathetic articles, features or items in any Western/International news agencies, about the democratic process and elections in the North East? And most of all, expressions of sympathy for India's difficulties with militants attempts to disrupt the election or intimidate people during the voting?

If the answer is "No", what would the possible reason(s) be? If it's simple indifference or lack of interest, that would be acceptable, but then why was such a hullaballoo made about that incident in the Andamans with a native islander being filmed for entertainment? Or the whole stupid matter of some Pakistani actress being filmed in the nude, or a Eunuch get together? Why those stories and not a democratic election and the terrorist attempt to disrupt it?

Prithwi · Post by **Prithwi** » 31 Jan 2012 11:49

Nagaland opposes Centre’s move

Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Jan 30 – The UPA –II Government’s move to restrict free movement across the international border by introducing border pass regime in the north eastern States bordering Myanmar has met with resistance.
One of the first to oppose the move is Nagaland Chief Minister N Rio, who said that the proposal would create new difficulties and might disturb peace. At least four north eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram have direct land boundary with Myanmar.

The open border policy followed by the both India and Myanmar should not be disturbed as it was working well, Rio said, advocating status quo. ‘’We should not disturb the present peaceful situation and create a new problem where it did not exist,’’ Rio said.

Delivering a keynote address at a two-day international conference on ‘Myanmar: Bridging South and Southeast Asia’ being held at the Jamia Millia University, Rio observed that such a move by officials would be “cumbersome and impracticable’’.

The Nagaland Chief Minister said the open border policy was especially important for his State because many Naga villages sit right on the international boundary, which happened due to the fact that Indo-Myanmar border was drawn on the basis of watershed, and since Nagas by tradition built villages on the hilltops, many of these villages were cut into two by the international boundary.

The Centre has been planning to impose tighter curb on movement across the border.

AT

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 12 Feb 2012 19:46

Prithwi wrote:
chaanakya wrote:There is a strong case for Trans Asian BG Railway Line catering to freight and passenger traffic .
Are you assuming that or something is in the cards? Any sources? If true, this indeed would be good development.

Just a pointer of things in NE and how it is gaining momentum at elephantine pace.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 852726.cms

Pranay · Post by **Pranay** » 22 Feb 2012 07:51

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2012/02/ ... ml?_r=1&hp

As dusk falls on a lonely police station in the eastern tip of India, a young policeman nervously keeps an eye on the Arakan hills above him, dotted with poppy fields.

Just 22 bumpy miles from the capital of India's restive Manipur state, he and his colleagues are outnumbered by gunmen from a faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, one of half a dozen insurgent groups operating near India's border with Myanmar.

Last year, six policemen were killed a few miles away in an ambush authorities blamed on them.

Small groups of men with machetes on their belts can be seen in the winter twilight, openly climbing steep paths through the poppy fields, where valuable seed heads will later be harvested and taken to Myanmar for processing into heroin.

"There are many poppy fields in the hills here," the policeman said in a hushed voice, refusing to give his name to Reuters for fear of reprisals from the men he said were armed rebels patrolling the fields above his office. Growers will either sell the seed heads to agents or openly in the local market, he said.

Opium and insurgency can make for a profitable if exotic business model, but it is not what India had in mind when it launched its "Look East" policy 20 years ago to link its markets to those of booming Southeast Asia.

Now as resource-rich Myanmar emerges from decades of isolation under military rule, India should be a natural partner, with ties stretching back to 3rd Century BC Buddhist emperor Ashoka and, more recently, a shared experience of British colonialism and World War Two.

Reuters journalists on a recent trip to the Myanmar-India border in Manipur found a region where rebel groups deeply influence politics and business. Opium poppies are grown openly. Cross-border gun-running remains big business.

Manipur and the three other Indian states sharing the 1,640- km (1,020-mile) border with Myanmar were supposed to be India's "Gateway to the East." Instead, the area has become India's Wild East.

Legal trade on the border has dwindled in the last five years to just 0.15 percent of total commerce between Myanmar and India. Checkpoints by security forces and rebel group supporters make the 120 km (75 mile) journey along rutted Highway 102 through the hills from Manipur's capital Imphal to Moreh on the border a painstakingly slow -- and expensive, too, from the "taxes" they impose on traffic.

The sleepy border town of Moreh had dreams of being a major international trading centre, a key station on the ambitious Trans-Asia Railway that will enable containers from East and Southeast Asia to travel overland across India to Europe.

But work on the $900 million, 125 km (77 mile) stretch of the railway is already two years behind schedule and has only progressed a short distance. Costs are soaring.

Highway 102 was supposed to be part of a road network linking up with Mandalay, Myanmar's main city in the North, and on into Thailand. But the only notable improvement on the Indian side is a short patch running through the Manipur chief minister's home town.

"People had plans to open eateries, motels and shops along the Asian highway. Now, the trans-national road is imaginary. It does not exist here," said Lunminthang Haokip, a senior state government official for Moreh's Chandel district. "The Look East policy is no more than power-point presentations in Delhi."

The complaint is voiced often here by residents in Manipur who have suffered decades of rights abuses under draconian emergency powers including "shoot-to-kill" orders aimed at curtailing the insurgencies. Residents say New Delhi acts like a colonial power, with much of its mistrust of the region stemming from its relative proximity to China.

"The overwhelming presence of military, paramilitary and police officers contributed to the impression that Imphal was under military occupation," the U.S. embassy cable said. "The Indian civil servants were also clearly frustrated with their inability to stem the growing violence and anarchy in the state, feeling their efforts to effectively control the insurgencies was hamstrung by local politicians either in league with or at least through corruption, helping to finance the insurgents."

Rajiv Bhatia, who was India's ambassador to Myanmar until 2005. says India is still more concerned with its South Asian neighbours, including Bangladesh and Pakistan, and could miss the moment.

"In pure geopolitical terms, Myanmar is hugely important to India. We are now getting a historic opportunity to recover our relationship," he said. "But it is still not a priority for our politicians."

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 01 Mar 2012 22:10

from orbat.com

India’s rail projects in the Northeast A beneficial fallout of China’s linking Lhasa by rail with the mainland is that India finally woke up and has started to undertake major rail projects in its Northeast region. These projects should have been undertaken in the 1960s following the Sino-Indian 1962 War, but fifty years on, better late than never. China has begun construction on an east-west railway that will extend from opposite Kathmandu (ad likely feature a Katmandu link) all the way through Nyingchi Prefecture to opposite the extreme tip of Northeast India. This will vastly improve Chinese strategic mobility within southeast Tibet.

· India has undertaken on a national priority basis the conversion of a meter-gauge railroad along the north bank of the Bhramaputra River, from Rangia (opposite eastern Bhutan) to Murkongselek. The first part of the 510-km conversion will open in March, and the entire project will be done by 2014. The national priority means that funds are made available as needed and in required amount without further bureaucracy. This concept in itself is quite a marvel in India. Now, we’ve had trouble figuring what exactly this project entails because we are unfamiliar with the Brahmaputra valley and have yet to find a good map of the project, but it also involves construction of several north-south spurs to link strategic towns to the main line. One spur is a conversion to broad gauge of a line that supports Indian IV Corps. The line really needs to be extended to Pasighat and Tezu, about another 100-km or more – we don’t know if this is in the cards, but even as now under construction it links up the Indian Army’s major logistics bases in the north east.

· Perhaps equally interesting, India is working to link up ALL Northeast capitals by rail. These are mainly north-south links, and are important from the Army’s viewpoint because they will permit support of the push to prevent the Chinese from outflanking India’s Himalayan defense lines by coming through northwest Burma. Of course, there are equally important civil development reasons for these new lines, not least being to provide a part of the country long isolated from the rest of India with transport links, significantly reducing travel times and reducing the enormous expense of goods transport.

· Another major rail project is to connect Gangtok, Sikkim (Indian XXXIII Corps) to the West Bengal rail network. The first phase (Sevoke Road to Tangpo, broad gauge) is 53-km and will be ready in 2015. After that work will begin on a 40-km extension to Gangtok.

nelson · Post by **nelson** » 04 Mar 2012 23:13

Again from http://www.orbat.com editor Ravi Rikhye

India should accept China’s contention their boundary lies in the valley and not the crest China’s claim to a substantial part of Indian Ladakh and the state of Arunachal Pradesh is that the international boundary lies not on the mountain crests (watershed) as enunciated by the British (McMahon Line) but down to the valleys of the mountain crests. This permits India to reclaim Chinese occupied Ladakh, and all Tibet south of the Brahmaputra (the Yarling Zangbo in Tibetan). If China stands on the mountain crests and looks south and sees the Brahmaputra River Valley; India is also on the crests and if it looks down northward, it also see the Brahmaputra Valley because the river originates in Tibet, flows from west to east, and comes down into India flowing east to west before turning south into Bangladesh and thence to the Bay of Bengal. So to us, the matter is very simple: Southern Tibet belongs to India using Chinese logic.

· It is also time India repudiated Nehru’s acceptance of Tibet as an integral part of China, and the subsequent withdrawal of Indian rights over Tibet as the successor to the British Empire. The Chinese have a quite convoluted theory as to why Tibet is theirs, based primarily on their claim and their documents that Tibet was a tributary state. Needless to say, the documents where the Tibetans claimed sovereignty over large parts of western China are not likely to be made available to scholars, as also the documents in which the Tibetans declared themselves as independent kingdom. It is time India reconstructed these documents to the best possible degree.

· Indians by nature are strategically passive even though they can be tactically aggressive. But if India does not go on the strategic offensive against a rising China, it will find itself being continually pushed more and more by Beijing. The time has come that each time Beijing asserts ownership of Arunachal Pradesh, India should claim ownership of Southern Tibet on the same basis, that the border lies at the river valley, not the mountain crests. India also needs to do its historical research to show that large parts of China-claimed west Tibet has been part of Indian kingdoms in the past. And just as China claims the China Seas, seeking to exclude – among others – Indian warships, India should clearly enunciate it control of the Andaman Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea.

· At all times it must be made clear to China that India has the option of declaring Tibet as an independent country under illegal foreign occupation. And if necessary, the threat must be turned into reality. China respects only force and power. India must respond in kind.

·....It is our responsibility, no one else’s, because after some half-hearted resistance we just gave up. Whose responsibility is it that the Chinese took over Tibet and defeated us in 1962? It is solely our responsibility.

· It is so typical of our pathetic nature that we say “Oh well, that’s all in the past, what can we do about it?” We can do everything about it, and the time to start is now.

member_19686 · Post by **member_19686** » 29 Mar 2012 18:03

4 eastern Nagaland districts seek statehood

Even as Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been trying to consolidate Nagas across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur and has announced the entry of his party, the Naga People’s Front, in these states, there is trouble brewing in his backyard. After decades of what they claim to be neglect by the “stronger Naga tribes”, four districts of eastern Nagaland — Tuensang, Mon, Longleng and Kiphire — have placed a demand for a separate state before the Assembly last week.
The Eastern Nagaland Public Organisation (ENPO) has demanded the formation of a separate state, Frontier Nagaland. And the demand for the separate state cuts across party lines. The ENPO is represented by 20 MLAs (who represent the 20 Assembly constituencies of the eastern districts). Interestingly, 14 of the 20 ENPO members belong to the ruling NPF, six belong to the opposition Congress. The chair of the ENPO is held by Education Minister Nyeiwang Konyak.

ENPO member and NPF MLA CL John, who raised the issue in the Assembly, says that the demand has been a long standing one and they had submitted a representation on behalf of the people of eastern Nagaland to the Prime Minister in November 2010. “The Centre has referred the issue to the state government. But we don’t want the state government to decide on the issue. This is why we circumvented the state and went directly to the Centre, without the knowledge of the state government,” John says.

The CM held a high-level meeting last week requesting the ENPO members to withdraw their demand.

“But the neglect of eastern Nagaland has gone on for too long. Besides, it has now become a people’s movement. The main reason why we want a separate state is because unlike the other areas in Nagaland there is absolutely no development whatsoever in these four eastern districts. There are no educational opportunities,” says John.

Historically, these four districts were independent of the British rule. They were, therefore, never included as a part of the Naga Hills of Assam which had over the years received development from the Assam government. “We are 100 years behind the Naga Hills. After Nagaland became a state in 1963 none of the state governments did anything to make up the gap,” adds John.

Apart from developmental issues, the demand for a separate state is a tribal one. There are 16 tribes in Nagaland. Of these, there are four dominant tribes: Aao, which controls 70 per cent of the government jobs and service sector, and the wealthy Lotha, Sima and Aangami tribes. The Aangami tribe is seen as dominating the NPF. The CM belongs to this tribe. There are six tribes under the ENPO — Konyak, Phom, Chang, Khemyongan, Yinchunger and Sanytam — all socially and economically backward.

Congress MLA Chingwang Konyak says that the issue lies in the arrogance of other tribes over the backward ones. “There are absolutely no education opportunities here. The stronger tribes control the jobs. How is the son of a farmer to compete with the son of an IAS or IPS officer?” asks Konyak, adding that this month all village chiefs of these districts pledged to work toward a separate state. With Assembly polls slotted for next year, protests and rallies have been on the rise.

However, a NPF MLA says: “The Neiphiu Rio government has been pumping funds into these areas. I have a backward constituency, but whereas I only receive Rs 50 lakh for development, an ENPO MLA receives Rs 1.5 crore. How will a separate state benefit them when the leaders, who have not done any work so far, will remain the same?” he says.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/4-eas ... d/928418/0

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 01 Apr 2012 22:33

Prithwi wrote:
chaanakya wrote:There is a strong case for Trans Asian BG Railway Line catering to freight and passenger traffic .
Are you assuming that or something is in the cards? Any sources? If true, this indeed would be good development.

India agrees to be part of Trans-Asian Railway Network

PATNA: In a major policy decision, the Indian Railways has agreed to participate in the Trans-Asian Railway link between Europe and South East Asia via Iran, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.

This project, being considered by the United Nations Economics and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) under the Asian Land Infrastructure Development Project, will help identify and evaluate the development and operation of a network of routes between South Asia and Europe as well as south China and Europe, Thailand and Europe.

These routes are supposed to run through Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Pakistan, Iran and Turkey, sources said.

Though the inter-government agreement on Trans-Asian Railway Network (TARN) was approved under the aegis of UNESCAP a few years ago, no concrete step was taken so far to expedite it. The cashstrapped Indian Railways will have to bear an expenditure of about Rs 3,000 crore initially to carry out this project, sources said.

Under the approved plan, the project aims at connecting 28 countries through rail link. The countries likely to be linked include India, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, sources said, adding that Patna happens to be one the routes of this project.

According to a Railway Board official, this project will decide the strategic development of the country in future. While it will help India keep a close watch on the growing influence of China,which is fast spreading its rail network in neighbouring countries, it will give a boost to its economic activities in other countries.

The railways initially needs about Rs 3,000 crore to start the project linking about 97 km new rail connection between Jiribam and Tupul (Manipur) in the first phase.

According to a Board official, the inter-government agreement has decided to complete the ambitious project by 2025. The Busan (Korea) agreement had also asked each country to spread its railway network within its territory to expedite it. However, lack of better coordination between these countries has affected the UNO project, he said.

As per the approved plan, the Indian Railways will build about 350 km new route between India and Myanmar. The total length will be of about 22,600 km covering South Asia, Iran and Turkey. The project will give a fillip to container traffic between South Asia and European countries, the Board official said.

nawabs · Post by **nawabs** » 29 Apr 2012 02:05

NGOs for clause exemption - Meghalaya groups continue protest over voter enrolment

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120428/j ... 5xWFzJZOfI

Meghalaya’s agitating social organisations today exhorted the state’s political leaders to ask the Election Commission to “exempt clauses” as far as enrolment of voters is concerned in view of the presence of a minority indigenous population. “It is a matter of political will. If our politicians are really concerned about the state, they should approach the Election Commission and seek exemption from the guidelines as far as registration of voters is concerned. If Assam can be exempted from implementing the compulsory Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), similar exemption can also be extended to Meghalaya,” HNYF general secretary Sadon K. Blah told reporters here.

He pointed out that Meghalaya was already a state protected under the Sixth Schedule and there were many directives from the Centre that the state government had never implemented.

Reiterating their demands, the organisations, which include the Khasi Students Union (KSU), Federation of Khasi-Jaintia & Garo People (FKJGP) and the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (HNYF), decided to go ahead with the three-day night road blockade (7pm till 5am) from Monday. Their demands include immediate suspension of the ongoing registration of voters, closure of the “special counters” for voter registration in the deputy commissioners’ offices and reverting to the old system where a hearing took place at the village level (Dorbar Shnong) before a prospective elector’s enrolment to ascertain his/her antecedents. The organisations have also demanded recognition of residential certificates issued by village headmen.

The major contention of the organisations is that non-Indians and migrants have found a place in the electoral rolls, which could pose a danger to the indigenous people.

Hence they also want the Centre to scrap the Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty, 1950 to stop the entry of non-Indian Nepalis. “It is very difficult to differentiate between an Indian and a non-Indian Nepali. If the treaty cannot be scrapped, Meghalaya should at least be exempted from it as the migration of Nepalis to our state is alarming,” KSU president Daniel Khyriem said.

Last night, the government decided to replace the “special counters” in deputy commissioners’ offices with voter facilitation cells.

Blah, however, questioned the idea behind the setting up of such cells. “These cells are meant to facilitate whom? These would only help outsiders attain an EPIC, as they would not have to go to the Dorbar Shnong for verification. How do you expect a deputy commissioner to know the antecedents of an individual who has come from outside?” he asked.

Yesterday afternoon, the state government had held parleys with the agitating groups but the talks remained inconclusive, as it could not offer any definite solution to their demands.

Gaurav_S · Post by **Gaurav_S** » 24 May 2012 05:14

Recently saw a documentary on 7 NE states of India. Never saw such awesome documentary before covering this remote part of India. This part is so treacherous and isolated from rest of India due to highest rainfall, lush green cover over mountains. Customs are way different from rest of India. For eg. people like to catch roast rats for barbeque etc.

Varoon Shekhar · Post by **Varoon Shekhar** » 12 Jun 2012 23:53

Inspiring and touching story of soldier in Manipur. Also, an intelligent feature. Could also go into 'counter insurgency' heading.

http://ibnlive.in.com/cnnibnvideos/most ... 65395.html

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 22 Jul 2012 12:16

9 Die in Riots in India's Northeast | AP

Police say India's army has moved in to stop armed clashes between rival groups that have killed at least nine people in India's northeast. The battles between the ethnic Bodo community and Muslim settlers have also injured at least 10 people...

Kati · Post by **Kati** » 22 Jul 2012 16:00

76 manipuri rebels of various hue have surrendered with a huge cache of arms.

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 24 Jul 2012 22:55

The vote bank politics in assam is so bad that other neighbouring states in NE have a problem identifying indians from the bangladeshis since many of them have acquired some or other form of indian identity proofs from assam.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 Jul 2012 23:02

>> Customs are way different from rest of India. For eg. people like to catch roast rats for barbeque etc.

there are plenty of communities in other parts of india who do eat rats or anything else they can catch...typically marginalized people living on unproductive marginal and semi forest lands without much farm income. even in urban areas, no part of any butchered animal gets wasted - the brain, hooves, intestines, testicles, lungs, meat trimmings which middle class does not typically eat is purchased and eaten by poor people for protein. the skin might get thrown away but homeless people even snatch that from the fat street dogs, boil it and derive something nutrients from it.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 24 Jul 2012 23:07

http://arunachalpradesh.nic.in/csp_ap_p ... -gauge.pdf

darshhan · Post by **darshhan** » 24 Jul 2012 23:43

Singha wrote:>> Customs are way different from rest of India. For eg. people like to catch roast rats for barbeque etc.

there are plenty of communities in other parts of india who do eat rats or anything else they can catch...typically marginalized people living on unproductive marginal and semi forest lands without much farm income. even in urban areas, no part of any butchered animal gets wasted - the brain, hooves, intestines, testicles, lungs, meat trimmings which middle class does not typically eat is purchased and eaten by poor people for protein. the skin might get thrown away but homeless people even snatch that from the fat street dogs, boil it and derive something nutrients from it.

Singha ji,Even in Bihar/eastern UP there is a community called Musahars( literally Rat eaters) who consume rats caught on the farmland.They are classified as scheduled caste and have high rates of poverty. With education however these habbits are changing very fast.

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 26 Jul 2012 18:51

It seems that assam(especially bodo territories) have been constantly overrun by bangladeshi immigrants since the 60s. It's probably one of the reasons why bodos started the separate bodoland state movement in the first place.

The Butchers of Kokrajhar

Populated by an odd mix of Bodos, Nepalis, Koch Rajbonghis, Adivasis, Bengali Hindus and Muslim settlers, many of whom are alleged to have illegally migrated from Bangladesh

...

The main grouse of the Bodos has been the continuing influx of illegal immigrants, which has skewed the demographics, and the resultant conflict over land ownership.

...

On 19 July, Ratul Ahmed and Abdul Siddique Sheikh were attacked by miscreants in Kokrajhar.

...

The needle of suspicion fell on former Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) rebels. On the night of 20 July, four surrendered BLT rebels were lynched by a mob.

...

While thousands of Muslims fled towards Dhubri and West Bengal from Kokrajhar and Chirang districts... the tribals living in Dhubri and Bongaigaon are making a beeline for relief camps set up in Kokrajhar.

...

The Bodos are the largest tribal community in the state with just over five percent of the total population of 31 million. Buoyed by the influx of illegal immigrants, Muslim settlers now make up 33 percent.

...

The first clashes between Bodos and Muslims were recorded in 1952 when the latter tried to settle down in Bodo areas.

...

Despite being the largest tribal community in Assam, Bodos encountered neglect and apathy from successive state governments. Led by Upendranath Brahma of the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), the tribals launched a movement for a separate Bodoland in 1987. It was a violent agitation in which Bodos resorted to attacks on government properties, blocking the national highway and rail link. The government also retaliated with force. In 1993, the Bodos settled for autonomy and the Bodo Autonomous Council (BAC) was formed.

However, some sections of the community were unhappy with the solution and hundreds of youths went underground and took up arms to fight for sovereignty. The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and BLT soon went on the rampage.

In 2003, the BLT gave up fighting and joined the mainstream after a tripartite accord paved the way for the formation of the BTC. The BLT transformed itself into the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), a political outfit led by Hagrama Mohilary. The BPF took control of the BTC and became the primary political voice of the Bodos. Even though they allied with the ruling Congress, the Bodos’ fortunes haven’t changed much. So much so that the ABSU renewed its call for a separate Bodoland in 2010.

...

The political situation in Assam and Bodo areas has changed from what it was in the 1980s when the ABSU launched the statehood movement. While most of the NDFB cadres are in designated camps awaiting the result of the peace talks with the Centre, its leadership says it cannot compromise on the demand for a separate state.

Ranjan Daimary, the leader of the NDFB’s anti-talk faction, is awaiting his release from the Guwahati Central Jail, while his cadres still launch random attacks.

Even though the BPF and Mohilary are controlling the BTC, their image has been severely dented by corruption charges. “The Assam government does not bother about Bodo areas. They have left it for Hagrama and his men to plunder,” says Ranjan Basumatary, a youth from Kokrajhar. “Hagrama is more concerned about power. He is just paying lip service to Bodo aspirations. Gogoi is happy with having him as an ally and Hagrama is behaving like Congress’ sub-contractor in Bodoland.”

Despite the BTC’s formation, the Bodo areas have seen less of development and more of fratricidal killings. Former BLT cadres have turned into politicians, traders and contractors, and have used their guns to eliminate rivals. Whether the NDFB or the surrendered BLT rebels, almost everyone has illegal firearms. Some of them even run extortion rackets. As a result, a feeling of lawlessness prevails in the Bodo areas.

Adding fuel to the fire of the longstanding issue of land encroachment that has sparked clashes between the Bodos and Muslims, the rebels have also been extorting money on this pretext. Chirang, a district where the NDFB and BLT are fighting for supremacy, has seen Muslims settling in large numbers for the past five years, turning it into yet another trouble hotspot.

“The common Bodos are feeling insecure. Gun-toting men roam about freely. They are not only Bodo rebels, even goons from other communities have joined the league,” says a Bodo woman, who is nursing her injuries at a Kokrajhar hospital.

Intelligence sources of the state police confirmed to TEHELKA that most of the Muslims who died have been shot by automatic rifles and pistols used by NDFB.

THE MEDIA claims that there’s a political hand at play behind the non-Bodo upsurge. A factor that even CM Gogoi does not rule out.

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 13 Aug 2012 07:54

Illegals claim papers were burnt...

Bodo leaders in Assam's troubled Kokrajhar area say only those among the Muslims with valid Indian identity papers should be rehabilitated. It's a view that has found acceptance both with the BJP and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who has promised that only Indian citizens will be sent back home from these relief camps. But can this distinction be made? Most people of the minority community in relief camps say their identification papers were burnt in the riots.

Anindya · Post by **Anindya** » 13 Aug 2012 07:56

Sangma: Silent invasion affecting demography

Former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma on Sunday claimed that a demographic change was taking place in Assam and cautioned the people against the "silent invasion" in most tribal-dominated regions.

"According to the May 24, 1971 formula, Bangladesh nationals were to be identified and deported to that country. But 25 years have since been passed and Rs400 crore spent, only a thousand Bangladeshis were identified and only one was deported from Assam," Sangma claimed while addressing a gathering in Ranchi.

He said Northeastern states did not allow too much industrialisation because "outsiders" would come to seek jobs and then settle down, "changing the demography".

"Tribals are self-content about what they earn that is why Bangladeshis are working even for Rs25 on daily wages, changing the demographic structure. But the structure should be maintained by being careful and aware of the silent invasion," he said.

KJo · Post by **KJo** » 13 Aug 2012 07:58

Shame on us that we treat our countrymen like this.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life ... 460710.cms

Replace | with i in the URL above.

Calling us ch|inki is still better than attacking us

A few months ago, we had a training session at work. There was this girl who looked Tibetian (to me). She sat next to me on my left. On the right was an Indian girl from Chennai. The girl on my left had a strangely Indian accent. Then she told me that she studied in Pune. The girl on the right says "Oh, you studied in India??". So the girl on the left says "I am from India... from Ladakh". I was surprised internally because I didn't think she was Indian, but I quickly talked about Leh and how beautiful the place was from pictures I had seen. The other girl on the left goes "WHAT?? You are Indian?? Looking at you I think you are Chinese or something".

Must be hard to hear one's own countrymen refer to you as a foreigner.

Supratik · Post by **Supratik** » 13 Aug 2012 17:52

There should be a Kamtapur Territorial Autonomous district for Koch-Rajbonshi people covering Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Barpeta and Nalbari districts of Assam and portions of Jalpaiguri, Coochebehar districts of WB and including Dhubri of Assam for geographical continuity. This will ensure that tribal rights are preserved in the region.

Rahul M · Post by **Rahul M** » 14 Aug 2012 02:22

Joishy saab, the attack in pune was done by groups to 'protest' assam riots. you can guess who they were.