3 Assam Rifles personnel injured in IED blast in Manipur:
Kanglaonline reports that at least three personnel of 23 Assam Rifles posted at Litan were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast that occurred on October 17 at Sangkai Village under Litan Police Station in Ukhrul District. The injured personnel have been identified as Sudhir (46), W Mayunao (25) and Ashini (20). According to an officer of Assam Rifles, the IED blast took place when the convoy consisting of three vehicles reached Sangkai Village along Ukhrul-Imphal Road as a part of their daily patrol.
Meanwhile, Leishangthem Moirangleima, Pradhan (head of Gram Panchayat, the village level local self-Government institution) of Khurai Khaidem Leikai Gram Panchayat was threatened by some unidentified persons who left a hand grenade at the courtyard of her Khongnangkhong residence in Imphal East District on October 16, reports Sangai Express. The grenade was safely retrieved by Police.
Further, Security Forces (SFs) arrested one People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) cadre identified as Phijam Robert alias Tomba (18) from Lamlai Bazar and recovered one live round of .9mm ammunition from his possession reports Kanglaonline. He revealed that he joined the outfit in the month of April through one Pathou and was involved in extortion of money from Government officials, private firms, businessmen, etc.
Also, SFs arrested one Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) militant identified as Laishram Noren Singh (34) from Thinunggai.
Separately, The Sentinel reports that the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi on October 17 made an appeal to the Kuki and the Naga leaders who had imposed economic blockade in Manipur to call off the blockade on humanitarian grounds even as the blockade entered the 78th day. He said that the Government is giving serious thought over the issues and will concede to the reasonable demands.
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2 civilians killed in separate incidents in Assam:
On October 16, suspected Hill Tiger Force (HTF) militants killed a civilian, identified as Thaisiring Daolagupu (90), and injured three other persons including two women when they attacked Gaijen village under Haflong Police Station in Dima Hasao District, reports The Telegraph. The HTF militants also set ablaze 16 houses in the village. Further Police investigation has revealed the involvement of few villagers belonging to Misidui village, a Dima Hasao police source in this regard said, “We arrested six Misidui youths, who during interrogation confessed to their involvement in the attack. The six youths said the Hills Tiger Force cadres had been taking shelter in the area. They, accompanied by a section of villagers, carried out the attack.” A source in the Dima Hasao administration said that in addition to the existing 17 companies of Security Forces (SFs), another four companies of troops would reach the district this evening. In addition, SFs on October 15 arrested two persons identified as David Jate and Kanan Thik, in connection with torching of eight houses of Choto Longren village on October 14, reports The Times of India. Meanwhile Dima Hasao Bandh (General Shutdown) called by various Dimasa organization against the killing of James Dimasa, alias Pronit Haflongbar (31) of Dima Halim Daogah -James on October 13 and torching of eight houses belonging to Dimasas on October 14 was peaceful but severely affected normal life in the District.
Separately, unidentified militants shot dead a small tea grower, Kamakhya Hazarika at his own residence at Bismile Betmola under Chabua Police station in Dibrugarh District on October 14, reports The Sentinel.
Suspected militants belonging to the Anti-Talks Faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-ATF) on October 15 abducted a small tea grower, Dhruba Duwania in Tinsukia District, reports The Telegraph. Duwani had earlier received an extortion note of INR 500,000from the ULFA-ATF.
SFs recovered explosives, including 10kilograms of Research Department Explosive (RDX), 44 detonators, 200gm of gunpowder, 14 meters of safety fuse wire and other explosive powders, near a railway track between Chariduar and Bhalukpung in Sonitpur District.
SFs on October 16 arrested two Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) militants identified as, Sofiur Rahman and Lal Mian from Dhubri District. A revolver, ammunition and mobile phone sets were recovered from them.
SFs on October 15 arrested four militants belonging to Karbi National Protection Force (KNPF) identified as Mongal SingTokbi, ‘vice president’ of KNPF, Sankar Engleng, Sikandar Rongpi and Mukhim Rongp at Diphu in Karbi Anglong District, reports Nagaland Post. Officer-in- Charge (OC) Diphu Police Station, Naba Kumar Barua said that the arrested cadres were member of a recently formed outfit Karbi National Protection Force, which came into existence in the middle part of 2011, supposedly a splinter group of Karbi Peoples Liberation Tiger (KPLT). The arrested militants were allegedly involved in kidnapping cases in Guwahati and Dimapur and extortion in Karbi Anglong.
Pro-Talks Faction of ULFA (ULFA-PTF) has deposited its weapons ahead of the peace negotiations scheduled for October 25, reports The Times of India. However, the faction has deposited just 57 assorted weapons, a number believed to be far smaller than the outfit's actual arsenal. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in this regard said said, "Initially, there was some objection from ULFA leaders to depositing the weapons, but the government has convinced them to do so. It is a uniform policy followed with all outfits that before talks start they should deposit their weapons, stay in designated camps and not resort to any extortion." Gogoi said the first round of talks between ULFA and the Centre, since the tripartite ceasefire agreement was signed last month, will be held in New Delhi on October 25. A memorandum of settlement would also be signed with the United People's Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), another militant outfit of the state, on October 24 in New Delhi.
Giving details of the deposit of weapons with the Centre, State Home Secretary G D Tripathi said, "They have so far deposited 57 weapons but they might still have some weapons with them. We will be getting the rest of the arms as well." Tripathi further said, "They are under a double-lock safe custody, with keys to one lock with the local police officer and the other with the ULFA leader. Very soon, we will be shifting these weapons to the camps where the ULFA cadres will be staying while the peace talks proceed." On the issue of designated ceasefire camps home secretary Tripathi said, "There will be nine such camps in the state and the camp at Goalpara is ready to be handed over to the cadres. When the cadres of that area move into the camp, we can shift the deposited weapons there." The home secretary said that the ULFA-PTF cadres would have to stay in designated camps, which they want to be named as Assam Naba Nirman Kendra. The home secretary said the Rajkhowa faction has also submitted a list of the cadres of the ULFA-PTF who number 297.
Separately, Publicity in-charge of the ULFA-ATF, Arunodoi Dohotiya said that if the ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa signs any accord with the Government of India by going against the principles of the outfit, they would not accept the same, reports The Assam Tribune.
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GNLA militants kill one Policeman in Meghalaya:
The Shillong Times reports that the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants abducted three Policemen, identified as William Maiong, Sambu Dalu and Naik Grejilstone Momin, and later shot dead one of them, William Maiong, on October 15 in Tura in West Garo Hills District. The three Policemen were part of an armed section manning a bank at Gambegre development block. This is the first incident of Policemen being abducted by militants in the history of the State. As many as fifteen well-armed GNLA militants, allegedly led by ‘southern commander’ Baichung Momin accosted the three Policemen during their fishing trip that was arranged by a villager from Jongbugre village, 3 Kilometres from Gambegre. William Maiong was killed when tried to escape. His body was recovered on October 16. He had sustained six bullet injuries on his body and Police recovered three empty shells of AK rifle and .9mm pistol rounds next to the body. The militants then let off the two other Policemen who could barely walk due to the torture by the militants.
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Grenade hurled at Policemen in Jammu and Kashmir:
Police said that militants hurled a grenade on a Police party at Sanat Nagar Chowk in Srinagar in the evening of October 16, reports Daily Excelsior. The grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the road without causing any damage.
Separately, Security Forces in Srinagar recovered huge quantity of material used for making Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The recoveries which included 25 kilograms of gelatin, 100 meter cortex and 137 detonators were made from the house of one Abdul Rashid Bhatt in Zewan area of Pantha Chowk. .
Meanwhile, Police arrested the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant who killed a Police constable in Hazratbal area of Srinagar on October 14. The arrestee identified as Muzaffar Ahmad Mir revealed that he had acted on the behest of the LeT ‘operational commander’ Furqan based in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (***) who had directed him to kill Policeman in and around Hazratbal in order to unnerve the Jammu and Kashmir Police, who are on the forefront of fighting militancy in the State and have killed the top ‘commanders’ of LeT in recent months. He also revealed that Furqan directed him to choose Policemen who are without arms in busy markets. "He also revealed that the pistol was delivered to him by LeT militant operating from Sopore Muza Molvi. Muzaffar Mir is also a close associate of slain LeT ‘commander’ Abdul Rehman", Police said. The report said that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were responsible for the killing of Policemen in the past.
