Insurgent & Secessionist movements in India

[Omar1984]

If hanged , Rajoana would be another martyr of Khalistan struggle: Dal Khalsa

AMRITSAR: In a sharp reaction to the reported news that Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh’s assassination case, would be hanged in Patiala central jail at 9 am on March 31, radical Sikh organization the Dal Khalsa said in case the government hangs him, “he will be another martyr of the Khalistan struggle”.

However, Chandigarh additional sessions judge Shalini Nagpal issued orders for the implementation of the death warrants against the Khalistani militant yesterday. Rajoana is presently lodged in Patiala central jail.

Punjab’s late chief minister Beant Singh was assassinated on 31 August 1995 at Chandigarh by men militant outfit Babbar Khalsa group. The mastermind that includes Jagtar Singh Hawara and Balwant Singh Rajoana was arrested in December 1995. Both were awarded death sentence by special court of the CBI.

While commuting the death sentence of Hawara into life, the high court, however, upheld the death sentence to Balwant Singh, who had not opposed the gallows awarded to him in 2007 after an 11-year-old trial in a special trial court.

In a statement, party’s senior leaders Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib and Kanwarpal Singh said if the Punjab government executes the black warrant and decides to hang him, he would be a martyr of the Sikh Panth as he has sacrificed his life to achieve the goal of Sikh independent homeland.

Holding Balwant Singh in high esteem, they said his martyrdom would not go in vain. They said the hanging would be a blot on the image of Akali led government in general and Parkash Singh Badal in particular. Incidentally, Badal has been sworn as chief minister today at historic place of Chappar Chhiri.

Meanwhile, another Sikh radicals of Khalra Mission Organisation has also asked Punjab Government to take up the matter with Union Government of India to save the life of Balwant Singh Rajoana.

If hanged , Rajoana would be another martyr of Khalistan struggle: Dal Khalsa | www.punjabnewsline.com

Maoist leader alleges torture in police custody

Even as the city police have moved charges against him and four others under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 2008 Sadanala Ramakrishna, the head of the central technical committee of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), submitted before the Court that he and others were being tortured in police custody and had also been forced to sign blank sheets of papers.

Urging the court to hear his grievances, Ramakrishna said he had suffered injuries on his hands and feet while Deepak Kumar — another accused said to be resident of Chhattisgarh — had beet hit on his ear during the interrogation.

Ramakrishna said he never possessed the amount of money that the police have claimed to have seized from him.

Opposing the West Bengal police's move to bring charges under the UAPA against the accused, defence counsel submitted a written objection before the court. He also prayed for the constitution of a medical board to ascertain injuries on the accused.

The State's counsel submitted before the court that more than Rs.1 crore was seized from the custody of the accused along with components of rocket launchers.

‘FURTHER PROBE'

Denying charges of torture, counsel said it was serious case and further interrogation was required. He said a large cache of ammunitions were recovered from Chhattishgarh on the basis of interrogation from the accused.

The Court will hear the case again on Thursday.

Ramakrishna, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, and the others were arrested here in a joint operation of with the Andhra Pradesh Police. They were produced in a city court on March 1 to answer charges of waging war against the State and under certain Sections of the Arms Act.

The Hindu : States / Other States : Maoist leader alleges torture in police custody

 

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3 BSF men killed, 4 injured in landmine blast in Chhattisgarh:

At least three BSF jawans were killed and four others injured when suspected Naxals blew up the vehicle they were travelling in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district on Wednesday.

A head constable and two constables of the force died while the condition of one among the injured jawans was critical, BSF sources said.

The ultras triggered the landmine explosion near Erikbuta village under Pakhanjur police station limits when the mini truck carrying the jawans was passing, Kanker SP Rahul Bhagat told PTI.

The incident took place around 1820 hours.

The troops belong to the 87th battalion of the BSF which has a camp near the village.

They were moving on operational duties, the sources said.

Additional forces have been rushed to the spot, Mr. Bhagat said.

The BSF has deployed five battalions (5,000 personnel) in Kanker for anti-Naxal operations and security related duties.

The Hindu : States / Other States : 3 BSF jawans die in Naxal strike in Chhattisgarh

Grenade explosion reported in Manipur:

IMPHAL, Mar 14: Unidentified persons suspected to be militants lobbed a hand grenade at the ABC godown Khuyathong this evening at around 6:15pm.

The grenade exploded near a window of the godown, however it failed to inflict any casualty except for damaging the window on the first floor of the godown.

A labour of the godown when asked about the explosion, informed that the incident happened when he was out and that he had no knowledge about the incident.

He further informed that there have been no threats or demands from any militant outfit.

The godown is owned by one AK Aggarwal, who is currently out of station.

Soon after the blast, concerned police officials including OC Imphal west Balaram arrive at the scene and took stock of the incident.

Grenade lobbed | Kanglaonline

Doctor abducted in Assam

Guwahati, March 13 (IANS) At least four armed men Tuesday evening abducted a physician from his chamber in Guwahati's busy Aathgaon area, police said while ruling out the role of any militant outfit.

The incident took place around 8.30 p.m. and witnesses said that the armed men forced physician M.C. Agarwala to leave with them in his car.

They tied up Agarwala's attendants in the chamber.

Assam Police officers, including Inspector General of Police (Central Western Range) G.P. Singh, reached the spot after the incident. They said that it did not appear to be a handiwork of a militant outfit.

"We have alerted all the check posts and all the entry and exit points of the city," G.P. Singh said.

Doctor abducted in Assam

 

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Mon tense after recovery of 3 dead bodies; CSU, KU Mon condemn

Three dead bodies suspected to be GPRN/NSCN cadres were found few hundred metres away from Chui Village Junction early Thursday morning.

The bodies bore bullet marks and the three were suspected to have been killed by rival NSCN (K) cadres. According to sources, the deceased later identified as Wangkim (47) and Manphong (29) of Chui Village and Pawang (37) of Totok chingha Village were apprehended few days ago by a rival faction and killed on Wednesday.

The bodies were brought to Mon police station. After necessary formalities and post mortem, the same were handed over to their respective relatives.

The situation in Mon remained tense as there were reports of movement of rival faction cadres in and around Mon Hq. The situation was likely to worsen as the other faction was expected to retaliate as fallout of the killing. In this regard, patrolling by police and security forces has been intensified in and around Mon.

According to reports from the administration, it was learnt that many rival cadres are “extorting money in Tizit Village and Lapa Lampong Village”.

In this connection, the administration was reported to be waiting for directives from the higher ups to take action for maintain peace and tranquility.

Meanwhile, Chui Students ’Union (CSU) has condemned the killing in its jurisdiction. CSU through its president K. Nokong has condemned the killing of the three within its jurisdiction. According to a statement, CSU said that the “three cadres from Khole and Kitovi group were being killed cold bloodedly,

defying the reconciliation, in a land which history praises for its wisdom in making and delivering peace not only in Konyak area but even to other parts of Eastern Nagaland’. CSU stated that it was “pained” to learn that such act of “barbarism exists in its land”.

It appealed to all factions to shun/refrain from violent means and strictly follow the cease-fire ground rules to create peace and tranquility for Konyaks in particular and Nagas in general before the forthcoming Aoleang festival.

Konyak Union, Mon has also condemned the killing of the three. According to joint secretary Konyak Union, Mon, Y. Hosea Konyak, NGOs had appealed for the safe release of the three cadres but NSCN (K) Konyak Region allegedly killed them.

In this connection, Konyak Union Mon has called an emergency meeting on March 20 at its office at Mon. The union has informed all KU advisory members and KU unit office bearers to attend the meeting.

Mon tense after recovery of 3 dead bodies; CSU, KU Mon condemn : Nagaland Post

Manipur blast kills minor girl, 5 hurt

IMPHAL, Mar 15 : A minor girl was killed while other two minor girls and three women sustained injuries as a powerful blast ripped apart a rented house near Manipur Police Training School, Pangei this morning.

According to information culled from the spot, a powerful blast ripped apart a rented house located just opposite to a gate of MPTS at about 8.30 am. The house and the MPTS gate are separated by a distance of just about 50 metres.

The blast killed nine year Pebam Babynao (daughter of Jilla) on the spot.

Jilla’s wife Memmy (65), daughter Memcha (45), grand-daughters (Memcha’s daughters) Anjali (17), Preeti (8) and Tracy (3) sustained injuries of varying degrees and they are undergoing treatment at JNIMS. It is said that the conditions of Preeti and Tracy are critical.

Later, explosive experts of Manipur Police and Imphal East District Police inspected the blast site.

The bomb did not have splinters and smelt like RDX. Experts suspected that the explosive was a pressure bomb containing RDX.

At the impact of the explosion, the roof of the house made by GI sheets was blown away, and all the materials kept inside the house were scattered everywhere.

Pieces of human flesh could be seen on the walls as well as on the floor of the house.

Police claimed that investigation has been launched to find out details of the blast like who and how the explosive was brought there.

The devastated house belongs to one Okram Inaoton of Pangei Maning Leikai. He rented the house to Jilla who hails from Nambol Khabi.

Jilla, now 70 years old, has been running a cycle workshop, after his retirement as Jemadar of 8th Manipur Rifles.

His daughter Memcha was married to one Angourei Kom of Mantak. She came to stay with her father at Pangei along with her three children a few months back.

Angourei has also retired from 5th IRB.

Police have picked up Jilla’s son Khunanglung alias Piktru (17) for interrogation in connection with the blast.

Meanwhile, the Women Action for Development (WAD) has strongly condemned the bomb blast.

Questioning how and why the bomb was planted and by whom and for what, a press release issued by WAD appealed to the authority concerned to act immediately and investigate the incident and book the culprit(s).

It also appealed to the Government to check, monitor and control proliferation of arms and ammunition to avoid such occurrences.

While conveying solidarity to all the victims, it urged the Government to provide all possible assistance for treatment and rehabilitation of the injured victims.

Pangei blast kills minor girl, 5 hurt

2 CRPF jawans injured in grenade attack

SRINAGAR : Two CRPF personnel were injured in a grenade attack on their picket by militants in Karan Nagar area of the city this evening, police said.

Unidentified militants lobbed a grenade on a CRPF picket outside the OPD block of SMHS hospital at around 7.10 PM, they said, adding two jawans suffered minor injuries in the blast which created panic among the passersby.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the grenade attack so far. (PTI)

DAILY EXCELSIOR

 

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2 abducted in Assam

Nagaon, March 15: Suspected Karbi militants abducted two labourers working under a private contractor in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district last night.

Sources said about 10 armed cadres of the Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers (KPLT) dressed in fatigues arrived at the construction site of Balihjuri model hospital campus in the eastern part of Karbi Anglong and abducted Utpal Hazarika and Jan Bora, who were working at the site along with 45 others.

The hospital, 5km from the newly established Anjukpani police station, is one of the most remotely located health institutions under the hill district autonomous council.

“The group asked us the name and whereabouts of the contractor of the building. We told them the name and informed them that he was not at the site at that time. The team took away the mobile phones of those working at the site. They also took Utpal Hazarika and Jan Bora with them. Neither has been traced so far,” Nikhil Chakraborty, the site supervisor for the Nagaon-based Kothari Construction Ltd, told Anjukpani police.

The officer-in-charge of Anjukpani police station, Mukut Hazarika, said rescue operations were on. “The incident was not reported to us on time. Besides, we had asked the site manager to move carefully but it seems they were careless,” he added.

A source in Karbi Anglong police said they suspect the two persons have been kidnapped for ransom but the contractor has not intimated the police about any monetary demand so far. Anjukpani, on the Karbi Anglong-Nagaon border is known as the base of the KPLT since the outfit was floated in February 2010.

A primary school teacher of Anjukpani said, “Extortion is the biggest issue in these militant-dominated interior areas of Karbi Anglong. Here, each household has to pay an annual tax to the militants. Shop and vehicle owners have to pay them tax for using the hill district’s land for business. Even we have to pay a monthly tax from our salary.”

This is the second abduction by the KPLT in the district in the past 12 days. On March 3, the KPLT had abducted two persons, including the chief conservator of forests of Karbi Anglong Abhijit Rabha and range officer Ranjan Borua, from the foothills of Singhason when they were returning with 28 others from a six-day-long survey on biodiversity. Rabha and Borua were released on March 6.

2 abducted from hill district

 

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Two civilians injured in police-naxal crossfire in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Mar 16 (PTI) Two civilians were today injured in the crossfire between a police team and Naxalites in a forest area in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh, police said. According to Venkatapuram police, a police team combing the forest areas of Allubaka and Thippapuram came under fire from ultras at around 2 AM to 2:30 AM, which was retaliated by the team. Police said one of the civilians present at the spot was injured when Maoists returned the police firing, while another was injured when he came in contact with a sharp weapon while fleeing, a police officer said, adding both of them are out of danger, while naxalites managed to escape. PTI VVK NSK

Two civilians injured in police-naxal crossfire, IBN Live News

 

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2 police constables injured in naxal firing in Maharashtra

Two constables were injured in an exchange of fire with naxalites in the Jimalgatta forest at Gadchiroli in Maharashtra on Friday.

“Around 11 a.m., during the ‘area domination exercise,' which we normally do by frequenting hideouts in jungle areas…the constables were shot at unexpectedly in the Jimalgatta jungle. Suresh Gawde, 32, and Kankaiya Durgam, 30, were injured and rushed to the government civil hospital at Chandrapur,” the Superintendent of Police of Gadchiroli, Viresh Prabhu, said.

The Hindu : Today's Paper News : 2 constables injured in naxal firing

 

[K-Xeroid]

Two Italians abducted in India

New Delhi - Two Italian nationals were allegedly taken hostage by Maoist rebels in India's eastern state of Orissa, police in India and authorities in Rome said Sunday.

The incident occurred in the central Kandhamal district, which is one of the areas worst-affected by the insurgency on Saturday night.

'Four people including the two Italians were travelling in a car when they were stopped and abducted by the rebels,' district deputy police chief Gobind Malik said.

'The two locals were released subsequently, but the foreign nationals are still in their (Maoists') custody,' he added.

'The state government has initiated talks with the rebels, and efforts are on to free them,' Malik added.

The Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome confirmed the abduction.

Indian news channels reported that the Italians were seized as they photographed local women bathing in a river.

Broadcaster NDTV reported that while one of the Italians had been in India for over a decade and runs an adventure tourism business in Orissa, the other was a tourist.

The rebels had issued a 13-point list of demands including release of Maoist militants and end to counter-insurgency operations in the region, the CNN-IBN network reported citing an audio tape sent by Orissa's top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda.

Maoist rebels usually abduct government officials and police to press their demands. It was the first time that the rebels had allegedly taken foreign tourists hostage.

The abductions come more than a year after the rebels had abducted a senior government official in Orissa in February last year. The official was released following mediation by negotiators after eight days.

Two Italians abducted by Maoist rebels in India - Monsters and Critics

 

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Grenade bomb recovered in Manipur:

Imphal, March 16 2012: A hand grenade which failed to go off was found at the firing range of Manipur police training centre, Pangei under Heingang police station today.

Police source informed that the bomb was detected today morning around 8.30.The grenade was set off by a bomb expert team of Manipur police later in the day, said the source further.

Grenade found : 17th mar12 ~ E-Pao! Headlines

 

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70-year-old man shot at in Batamaloo, Srinagar

Srinagar, Mar 17: Suspected militants tonight shot at and injured a 70-year-old man in Batamaloo area of the city, police said.

Peer Jalaluddin was shot in the right leg by the gunmen outside his house in Batamaloo locality of the state's summer capital, they said.

The gunmen fled from the scene taking cover of darkness after which the family members of the injured took him to hospital.

70 year old man shot at in Batamaloo Lastupdate:- Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT GreaterKashmir.com

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

One killed in landmine explosion in Odisha - Times Of India

KORAPUT (ODISHA): A member of a bomb disposal squad was killed, another critically injured and one more went missing when a landmine they were trying to defuse exploded in Odisha's Koraput district today.

The team members had successfully defused one and were trying to neutralise the other landmine, allegedly planted by Maoists, when it went off at Alampada, SDPO, Sunabeda, Ashok Patnaik said.

The deceased was identified as Sasikanta Rout, he said, adding that Munu was admitted to a private nursing home with injuries and will be shifted to Koraput Government hospital shortly.

Efforts were being made to trace the third team member, he added.

 

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Maoists kill civilian in Maharashtra

GONDIA: A 50-year-old farmer in Kawalewada of Sadak-Arjuni tehsil Jagdish Walwe was killed by a group of Naxals belonging to Deori Dalam late on Thursday night. The cause of the murder, however, is yet to ascertained.

On Thursday at around 11.30pm a group of Naxalites came to his house and took him along with them. As Walwe did not return, his family started to worry. After searching him for two hours, Walwe's brother Madhu found his body slashed with an axe.

Naxals kill farmer - Times Of India

 

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2 constables killed, 2 injured, 1 civilian killed in Odisha bomb blast:

MUNCHINGPUT (VISAKHAPATNAM): Two constables of Orissa Special Force, who were part of a bomb disposal squad, were killed and two others critically injured in an explosion while defusing a landmine at Alangapada near Lamataput in Koraput district of Orissa, 25 km from Visakhapatnam district border, on Sunday morning.

The impact of the blast was such that the security personnel could not recover the body of one of the constables as it was completely dismembered. The team members had successfully defused a landmine and were trying to neutralize another one planted by Maoists when it went off, Sunabeda SDPO Ashok Patnaik said. The deceased cops were identified as Sasikanth Rout and Sunil Singh.

Two cops killed while defusing landmine - Times Of India

 

[Dance]

Hope the Italians return safely!

 

[Shardul.....the lion]

Hostage crisis: Maoists offer to release one Italian

Maoists on Wednesday made a conditional offer to release one of the two Italians in their custody, even as union home minister P Chidambaram rejected Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s complaint that the Centre did not offer any help in dealing with the kidnapping.


Italians can be set free if the state government accepts two of our demands even before start of negotiations,” a Maoist leader told a TV channel, as Basusco Paolo, 55, and Claudio Colangelo, 60, spent their eighth day in captivity.

The rebel leader demanded the immediate release of five persons including Subhashree Das, wife of top Maoist Sabyasachi Panda, and action against police officials allegedly involved in fake encounters and rape.

Odisha on its part directed three IAS officers it has chosen for negotiations with Maoists to contact former bureaucrat and social activist BD Sharma, whom the rebels have named.

In Delhi, Chidambaram — reacting to Patnaik’s complaint — told reporters, “I don’t think the chief minister should be making these statements without any basis.” He added that Patnaik — who had said on Tuesday that the external affairs and home ministries were not “displaying urgency in the hostage crisis issue” — had not sought any assistance so far.

“The CM spoke to me on Sunday, I offered him every help. He did not ask me for anything. He said I am just keeping you informed.” Chidambaram said. Responding, Patnaik said in Bhubaneswar, “I am really not here to banter words with Mr Chidambaram. The hostage crisis is a very, very serious matter not only for Odisha but for the entire country.”

The Italians were kidnapped while trekking in Kandhamal district on March 14.

Patnaik, meanwhile, urged the Maoists to name another negotiator in place of Prafulla Samantra, who is unwilling to take up the role.

The CM has already cleared the name of Dandapani Mohanty as a negotiator. Mohanty had mediated for the release of former Malkangiri collector, R Vineel Krishna, from Maoist custody in February 2011.

Hostage crisis: Maoists offer to release one Italian - Hindustan Times

 

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1 killed, 25 critically injured in Kashmir bomb blast

At least one person has been killed and 25 others critically wounded in a blast south of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials say.

The explosion took place in the town of Bijbehara 50km (31 miles) south of the summer capital on Thursday evening.

Police say the dead man was the car's driver, who may have been heading for a "suicide attack" against a security target. No group has claimed the blast.

Other officials said militants may have been moving a bomb that blew up.

"He is beyond recognition. His body parts were scattered across the road," police officials told the BBC, referring to the driver.

Eyewitnesses said the explosion in Anantnag district shook the street, blowing out windows in many nearby houses.

Police say the car was travelling towards Srinagar. The Indian army's 15 Corps is headquartered on the highway and there are several other army camps.

The 15 Corps camp has been the target of suicide bombers in the past.

In one such attack in November 1999 several soldiers including an officer were killed.

"Since it was a moving car we can't conclude anything. It could also be someone transporting explosives which went off," a top army official told the BBC.

Muslim-majority Indian-administered Kashmir has been the scene of a bloody separatist insurgency against Indian rule since 1989.

The BBC's Riyaz Masroor in Srinagar says there has been little or no violence recently in the state. But India's Chief of Army Staff Gen VK Singh recently said "terrorism is not over in Kashmir".

BBC News - Kashmir blast: One dead and many hurt south of Srinagar