Politics / Assam

The drive against forest encroachers began in Assam on May 7, 2002. It reached a flashpoint during the eviction drive in Botahguli, where one person died of bullet injuries after paramilitary forces opened fire to control a mob. It immediately became a political issue. The powerful student bodies of Assam challenged the forest department to act against illegal migrants. Assam Gana Parishad (agp), the state’s main opposition party, argued for protecting the indigenous peoples’ rights. Tribal bodies strongly opposed the drive, alleging that it targeted the indigenous people only. “Tribals are...

Guwahati, Jan. 17: The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa) today said it was willing to follow in the ?footsteps? of the Naga peace process, but added a crucial proviso. It said its commitment to a peaceful solution lay in New Delhi ?handing back independence to the Naga people?.

Commenting on the Naga peace process for the first time since the two NSCN (I-M) leaders arrived in the country last week, the Ulfa said the ?endeavour (Naga talks) will be regarded as the acid test of the sincerity of India to solve the conflicts of our region politically. Otherwise, all hopes for peaceful...

GUWAHATI, Jan 17 ? Vice-chairman of the banned ULFA, Pradip Gogoi today said the ongoing talks between the NSCN(I-M) and the Centre at New Delhi was a most welcome development which, if succeeds at finding an amicable settlement to the decades old Naga problem, would definitely encourage other militant groups of the North-east to come to the negotiating table with the Government. The senior ULFA leader who was produced at the TADA Court here today in connection with the case No. 1/98 and 43/2001 against him, however maintained that any lasting and peaceful solution of the Naga issue must have...

GUWAHATI, Jan 17? The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) today demanded immediate intervention from the Centre in creation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) in view of the ?negative and dithering attitude of the State Government?. Talking to this newspaper the president of the ABSU, Rabiram Narzary accused the present Congress Government in the State of trying to create a ?constitutional crisis? over formation of the BTC by proposing reservation of 10 seats in the proposed 40-member BTC for general category.

The ABSU President alleged that it was a surprise from the State Government...

New Delhi, January 16: It's pouring good news from the North-east. As hopes surge over a peaceful settlement to the Naga issue, sources hint that the protracted Bodo problem that has been plaguing Assam is close to a solution.

The tripartite talks involving the Centre, state government and the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) are in final stages, and an agreement may be finalised this month.

Sources in Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that nearly all prickly issues had been sorted, and only some technical formalities needed to be worked out. ‘‘As soon as NSCN (I-M) leaders leave after...

GUWAHATI, Jan 16? The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) has urged, the State Government to take up ?strongly? with the Government of Meghalaya the alleged ?unprovoked armed invasion? of Karbi Anglong by the Meghalaya Police (MLP) last Monday. The Committee has demanded that such ?illegal and objectionable behaviour? by the MLP should not be repeated in future.

ASDC publicity secretary Dharamsing Teron, in a press release this evening, said that armed MLP personnel, claiming to be a Special Operation Team (SOT), had entered Karbi, Anglong through Umjakiri, under Baithalangso police...

GUWAHATI, Jan 13 — The State Government will not compromise on the territorial integrity of the State in view of the demand for a greater Nagaland by the NSCN(I-M). Addressing the inaugural function of the 6th Brahmaputra Beach Festival here this afternoon, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in presence of the Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani said, “we will oppose integration of all Naga inhabitated areas as demanded by the NSCN(I-M) leaders as it will create more problem for the State. We will not compromise on our territorial integrity.” He, however, hailed the peace process with the NSCN(I-M)...

TINSUKIA, Jan 10: The dead body of North Eastern Coal Fields official, Pabitra Hazari, who was kidnapped by the NSCN(K) militants on Tuesday, was recovered this morning by the police inside the jungle. Hazari was kidnapped from the Malowpahar area while he was returning after inspecting the work at Tikok open cast mine.

Police got the information about his body at about 10 pm yesterday through the gaonburah of Malowpahar village. A note, signed by Commandant Salvati, where it was written that ‘this is the consequence of dealing,’ was recovered. His body bore bullet injuries behind his head...

GUWAHATI, Jan 9 — Members of the Assam Special Reserve Force (ASRF) have threatened to mutiny unless the ‘discrimination’ meted out to the personnel is stopped. “We won’t be responsible for the consequences,” advisor to the ASRF Bn Unnayan Samity Anukul Sinha warned today. Addressing the press here this morning along with Samity general secretary Taser Ali Ahmed and assistant general secretary Kulen Gohain, Sinha said that the personnel of the ASRF’s two battalions, raised in 1984, had been enjoying all the benefits as the Assam Police battalions with Assam Rifles scales as long as IPS and APS...

GUWAHATI, Jan. 9 – Though the Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani recently stressed the need for deporting the foreign nationals illegally living in the country, the number of foreigners detected and deported from Assam came down drastically since the Illegal Migrants (Determinations by Tribunals) IMDT Act came into effect. However, the decision of the Government of India to issue multipurpose photo identity cards to all Indian citizens would check fresh influx from Bangladesh.

According to official records, more than three lakh foreigners were deported from Assam under the provisions of the...