Assam Timeline - 2010

Date

Incidents

January 1

The 8^th Maratha Regiment recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted under the Chalingi Railway Bridge in between Gohpur and Dubic Railway Station in the Sonitpur District.

A United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) linkman, Sanjay Sarkar, was arrested by the Kokrajhar District Police and Army from North Rangapara village under Fakiragram Police Station.

The Interpol issued a red corner notice against ‘chairman’ of the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Ranjan Daimary, who was wanted as Doimary Ranjan alias Ronsaigra Nabla Doimari alias D.R. Nabla.

January 2

Unidentified militants shot dead three persons, including two pro-talks NDFB cadres, identified as Jwngsar Brahma alias B. Jwhwlao (28) and Losen Brahma (27) of Serfanguri designated camp, and one college student, Bilifang Basumatary (20), at Mukuldang under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District. A truck driver and two other students were also injured in the gun attack.

Shankar Gupta informed the Police that his son, Raja Gupta (22), was abducted by suspected cadres belonging to the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB from his father’s tea estate at Sapoi in Sonitpur District on December 21. He had not immediately informed the Police about the abduction of his son, since he was threatened to remain silent by the abductors. Sources said that he had been asked to pay a "hefty amount" by the NDFB for the release of his son.

A relative of a pro-talks ‘commander’ of the NDFB was shot dead by unidentified militants of Ranjan Daimary fraction of the NDFB at Silapur village in the Balijuri area under Sootea Police Station in Sonitpur District along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The victim was identified as Udai Mushahari, brother of NDFB ‘commander’ M. Failou.

January 4

Assam Tribune quoting The New Age reports that Bangladeshi High Commissioner to India, Tariq A. Karim, in a recent letter to Bangladesh Government, said a possible backlash from ULFA and religious extremists in Bangladesh has made the mission’s compound in New Delhi extremely vulnerable.

Unidentified militants open fire on a Police convoy, killing a Constable and injuring two others, including a Sub-Inspector, near Impui Basti on the Haflong-Mahur road in the North Cachar Hills District. Two siblings, one of them a 10-year-old girl, also die in the ambush after they are caught in the cross-fire as the Security Forces (SFs) retaliate after the gunmen, hiding in the foliage on both sides of the road, open fire on the two-vehicle Assam Police convoy.

A 52-year-old schoolteacher, Lilabati Basumatary, was shot dead by suspected cadres belonging to pro-talks faction of the NDFB at Harisingha Deolguri in the Udalguri District. Lilabati was the elder sister of Ranjan Daimary, who is leading the anti-talk faction of the NDFB.

An unidentified NDFB militant was shot dead by Security Forces (SFs) at Bamundittari village under Mukalmua Police Station in Nalbari District.

Two People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) cadres, arrested by the 11 Field Regiment of the Red Sheild Division at Fulertal under Lakhipur Police Station, were produced before the CJM Court at Silchar in Cachar District.

The ‘publicity secretary’ of the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF) Razak Dera said that that they were open for immediate peace talks with the Centre but demanded that Union Home Minister should be present in that talk. He said that the outfit's cadres, who were for a separate Karbi State, would not surrender but only deposit their arms.

January 5

A 65 year old person, Debeswar Barman, was killed and his 13-year old son, Nirmal, was wounded when a bomb was exploded by suspected militants at their residence in Gakulkata village of Kokrajhar District along the Assam-West Bengal border.

A cadre belonging to Ranjan Daimari faction of the NDFB was shot dead by SFs near Belsiri tea estate under Misamari Police Station in Sonitpur District. The SFs were reportedly assisted by cadres belonging to pro-talks faction of the NDFB.

The North Cachar Hills District Police confirmed that National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) had carried out January 4 ambush on a Police convoy to avenge the killing of two of its cadres near Haflong in December 2009. A constable of the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police and two siblings were killed in the attack near Mahur town.

A cadre belonging to ‘3rd battalion’ of the NDFB led by Ranjan Daimary alias D. Nabla, identified as Bipul Boro, was arrested by troops of 65 Field Regiment of the Red Horns Division of the Army while traveling in a passenger bus near Namkhola in Darrang District.

January 6

Sentinel reports that the office of the Jorhat basin manager of the ONGC received an extortion note demanding INR five million from the ‘finance secretary’ of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Unification (NSCN-U) outfit recently. In the extortion note, the outfit ‘served’ December 29, 2009 as deadline for paying the money.

The ULFA threatened to attack SFs and vital installations in Assam ahead of the Republic Day celebration on January 26. "We are going to step up our offensive and target security forces and other vital installations," self-styled ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah said in an e-mailed statement.

The pro-talk faction of the NDFB denied hand in the killing of Lilabati Basumatary, sister of Ranjan Daimary ‘chief’ of anti-talk faction of the outfit, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen at her residence at Harisingha Deolguri in Udalguri.

January 7

Assam Police described ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua’s threats as nothing but old wine in new bottle while asserting that Security Forces (SFs) were on high alert and prepared for any challenge. Reacting to the threats, Assam Director-General of Police Shankar Barua said "Threats from ULFA are always there and there is nothing new in his statement."

The Eastern Air Command (EAC) Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal K. K. Nohwar said, "Our bases have perimeter walls and tiered-security layers to thwart any possible attack." The EAC Chief added, "All our commanders have been briefed to remain professional and retain combat edge. They have to be operationally ready at all times".

The ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah, who joined Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) as a porter in 1978 and went underground a few months later, was sacked by the Indian Railways.

January 8

Shillong Times reports that tension has gripped Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas in the wake of January 4 killing of NDFB anti-talks faction ‘chief’ Ranjan Daimary's sister Lilawati Basumatary by unidentified gunmen at Harisinga in Udalguri District.

A senior leader of the ULFA, identified as Bhim Kanta Buraguhain alias Mama, was produced in Tezpur court.

Assam Rifles (AR) Director General Lieutenant-General K. S. Yadava, addressing the 175^th anniversary of the AR said, "United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was raised in Assam on the slogan of `Assam for Assamese'. But it's no longer what it was. My personal perception is that 50% of the lower cadre of ULFA is from across the border''. He added that the `hardcore cadre' of ULFA was now down to just about 200 or so.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "Some positive signals are there that they are willing to hold discussions with us. We are expecting something in writing from ULFA."

One businessman, Rakesh Prasad (20), was abducted by suspected militants belonging to anti-talk faction of the NDFB at Misamari area in Sonitpur District.

Bangladesh Local Government Ashraful Islam said that former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had a secret meeting with jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia during a visit when the then Premier Khaleda Zia belonging to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was in power.

January 9

The SFs arrested one Zakir Hussain (35) from Chakragram of Darrang District and recovered a hand-made pistol and eight rounds of ammunition including four rounds belonging to AK-47 from his possession.

January 10

Two suspected ULFA militants were killed in an encounter with the SFs at Na-Kuchi under Khetri Police Station in the Kamrup (urban) District.

Two suspected All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) cadres were killed in an encounter with the Police in between Merabil and Shillongkhuti villages under Mazbat Police Station in Udalguri District.

January 11

Assam Government invited leaders of the Black Widow (BW) for "advanced talks" on the outfit’s demands. "We have had several rounds of talks till now on how best to meet their demands and rehabilitation. Tomorrow’s [January 12] discussions are of an advanced nature. We are hopeful of a major breakthrough very soon. Things are on track and moving ahead smoothly," a Government source said.

The Assam Police arrested a key conspirator in the killing of Lilabati Basumatary, elder sister of Ranjan Daimary, 'chief' of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB.

January 13

Two NDFB militants, identified as Robinson Sangma and Santiram Brahma, were killed in an encounter with the SFs at Jaldoba under Kazigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

Unidentified militants exploded one crude bomb near a shop at Station Chariali in Sibsagar Distrct.

An NDFB cadre, identified as Dinesh Boro, was arrested near the ISBT under Gorchuk Police Station in Guwahati.

One .303 rifle along with six rounds of ammunitions of an SLR rifle were recovered by SFs from Rangagarh Bisimari village near Orang National Park under Dalgaon Police Station in Darrang District.

SFs conducted a search operation in a cloth store at Chak Bazar under Dhubri Police Station in Dhubri District on an unspecified date and recovered a country-made pistol from the shop. The Police also picked up a person for investigation.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, replying on the issue of handing over top ULFA and NDFB leaders, said India and Bangladesh are working on an extradition treaty. The report adds that India and Bangladesh on January 11 signed agreements on Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters, Transfer of Sentenced Persons, and Combating International Terrorism, Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.

The top leadership of the United Peoples' Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) stated that uncertainty on the peace talks with the outfit is likely to disappear by mid-February, the tentative date fixed for holding the next round of parleys with the Centre.

Assam Tribune quoting official sources reports that the Government of China is yet to extend cooperation to India to prevent militant groups of the Northeast region from procuring weapons from that country, while, reports of frequent visits of the militant leaders to China has also become a matter of serious concern.

One militant belonging to ceasefire-group of the ULFA, identified as Dilon Dowerah, and one Army trooper, Havaldar Dayal Singh, were killed in an encounter at Talpathar village under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District.

The Army, however, said that another member of the gang might be injured in the encounter.

January 14

Two Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) cadres, identified as Abdus Salam and Noor Islam, were arrested by SFs from Rakhaldubi area under Baguan Police Station of Goalpara District.

One NDFB cadre, Sinnat Nursery, was arrested by SFs from Dhigolipur under Bismuri Police Outpost in Kokrajhar.

Telegraph reports that the Assam Government has decided to modify its rules for recruitment of constables in Assam Police to accommodate surrendered militants who fail to qualify for being overage or for lack of academic aptitude.

A Congress party leader, Arun Sarkar, nominated from Mazbat Assembly constituency to Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), was shot dead by suspected militants belonging to anti-talks faction of the NDFB at Khusurabari in Udalguri District.

January 15

One person, identified as Gagan Das (38), was killed and 13 others injured in a blast near the Swahid Vedi area of Udalguri District. The deceased was a former 'organising secretary' of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP).

The Army arrested four suspected ULFA militants from Surya Pahar under Naranarayan River Police Station of Goalpara District.

Telegraph reports that Tinsukia District Police registered at least six cases of abduction and extortion against a group formed by surrendered ULFA militants and a gang of insurgents who managed to escape from the outfit's designated camps.

Telegraph quoting SF sources reports that China's own political exigency in Myanmar was the factor responsible for ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua finding a safe haven along the China-Myanmar border.

January 16

A cadre belonging to Ranjan Daimary fraction of the NDFB was shot dead by the Police at Veragaon, a village 5 kilometres from the Udalguri town. Another militant managed to escape from the incident site. Both were involved in the January 15 grenade blast in Udalguri town killing one person and injuring 10 others.

Two unidentified militants shot dead Khagen Kataki (44), former leader of the All Assam Students Union (AASU), near Punia Bridge in Rangamati of Darrang District. Kataki hailed from Borthekeribari village under Mangaldai Police Station in Darrang District.

January 17

The dead body of a businessman, identified as Prabhu Choudhury, was recovered from Mohgaon village under Pengeri Police Station of Tinsukia District. He was reportedly abducted by suspected ULFA militants with the help of a surrendered militant, Dilon Duara, from Kakopathar on October 28, 2009.

The Congress party in Assam asked its activists in the Bodo area not to venture out after sunset, after two recent killings and Police inputs that the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB may target them. The warning came ahead of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections, likely to be held in April.

January 18

An unidentified militant belonging to the NDFB was arrested by SFs in Lakhimpur District.

The formal surrender of arms by the KLNLF was postponed till the second week of February, instead of the earlier schedule of January 26. Sources said there was a marked difference between the Assam Government’s assessment of the outfit’s strength and the figure provided by the group. The other reason for the delay was the KLNLF’s insistence to surrender arms in the presence of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

The ULFA stated that its jailed leaders would not jump parole, if freed from prison to facilitate peace talks with the Government. The jailed ULFA leader Pradeep Gogoi responded following reports that the Assam Government was contemplating granting parole to at least eight top jailed ULFA leaders to facilitate peace talks, but the Centre is apprehensive that the militant leaders might jump parole and go underground.

A surrendered ULFA militant, Kamal Nath, stated that the Congress party was behind the secret killings during the Prafulla Kumar Mahanta regime.

A militant belonging to anti-talk faction of the NDFB, identified as Ananta Brahma alias Posima (30) from Kochugaon area, was killed at Amlaiguri under Salakati Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

January 19

Three militants of the anti-talks faction of NDFB were shot dead by Security Forces (SFs) in two separate incidents of Kokrajhar District. Four militants, including three women, were also arrested by the SFs from the incident site.

Unidentified militants shot at Charu Prasad Das, branch manager of United India Insurance Company in Kokrajhar District.

The ULFA 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary filed petitions in the special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) Court seeking bail.

The ULFA stated that autonomy would divide the State. In its mouthpiece Freedom, the outfit criticised the State Government for its alleged failure to punish the "secret killers". The ULFA mouthpiece also said that the outfit would continue to attack the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the Army.

One ULFA militant, identified as Santosh Rabha (22), was arrested by the Assam Police at Japorigog area in Kamrup District. This arrest assumes significance in the light of ULFA’s threats of attacks ahead of Republic Day.

January 20

A businessman, Rakesh Prashad of Missamari area, who was abducted by suspected militants of anti-talks faction of the NDFB on January 8, was released at Golai centre near Sonai-Rupai sanctuary of Sonitpur District.

January 21

A suspected militant belonging to anti-talks faction of the NDFB was killed by SFs during an encounter at Jhingabil area under Mazbat Police Station in Udalguri District.

Ruling junta of Myanmar assured that it plans to launch coordinated operations with India to flush out Northeast militants from its territories and has promised to help track down elusive ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah.

January 22

A joint boycott call against January 26 Republic Day celebration was given by militant outfits based in Manipur, Assam and Tripura such as Manipur People’s Liberation Front, ULFA, National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) and NDFB.

Unidentified militants exploded a remote-controlled IED on a subway at Garibangha area under Bijni Police Station of Chirang District along the India-Bhutan border. Two Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) members, Daneswar Goyary and James Basumatary, along with some officials managed to survive an attack.

The Unified Command asked the Assam Government to move the Centre and the Nagaland Government to rein in Naga militants and stop them from venturing into neighbouring States.

SFs have zeroed in on Rowta reserve forest in Udalguri District following reports that cadres of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB have set up temporary camps in the area.

One militant belonging to the '28th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Dipak Saikia (33) alias Bhai, was arrested by the Police from Elengmora area under Pulibor Police Station in Jorhat District.

January 23

The Police recovered an IED from Lalmati area under Basistha Police Station in Guwahati City. Police, however, failed to arrest the ULFA cadre, identified as Lakhi Das alias Jishu belonging to the '109th battalion' of the outfit.

An IED weighing 15 kilograms was recovered by SFs from a bus coming from Tangla to Guwahati at Mahilipara, around 18 kilometers away from Mangaldoi of Darrang District. Ismail Ali, the driver of the bus was also arrested following the recovery of the IED.

January 24

A suspected militant belonging to anti-talks faction of NDFB was shot dead by the Police during an encounter at Nijara centre in Jhingabil area under Mazbat Police Station of Udalguri District.

Another unidentified militant of the same anti-talks faction of the NDFB was shot dead by SFs at Sesapani village in Kokrajhar District.

Suspected cadres of anti-talks faction of the NDFB exploded a bomb on the railway tracks at Deka Mising Gaon under Simenchapari outpost in Dhemaji District.

An IED weighing 2.5 kilograms was recovered and subsequently defused by the Army at Gandhoiguri village under Khowang Police Station in Dibrugarh District.

Two ULFA militants, identified as Hiteswar Kachari and Maheswar Rabha, were arrested by SFs from Goalpara District.

January 25

Official sources reports that a suspected NSCN militant was lynched and five others were injured by local people when they came to abduct a businessman in Golaghat District along the Assam-Nagaland border.

An IED weighing 10 kilograms was recovered by SFs from a Dhubri-bound Assam State Transport Corporation bus coming from Siliguri at Chagolia inter-State check post in Dhubri District.

An IED was recovered and later defused by SFs at Kordoiguri in Dibrugarh District.

One militant belonging to the '109th battalion' of the ULFA, identified as Donjison Rabha, was arrested by the SFs in Krishnai area of Goalpara District.

The ULFA in its changed strategy has moved men from '109^th and 709^th battalions' to Upper Assam to carry out subversive activities around Republic Day.

A ULFA militant, who was also the most wanted bomber of the outfit, identified as Prithvi Raj Rabha, was arrested by SFs during a search operation in Goalpara District.

January 26

Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik on the occasion of Republic Day celebration appealed the insurgent groups to abjure violence and come to the negotiation table for settling all the issues raised by them, if their love for the State is genuine.

January 27

Two militants belonging to ‘28th battalion’ of the ULFA were arrested by the SFs at Dhodang Chapari area under Pulibar Police Station of Jorhat District .

January 28

Over 125 kilograms of Neogel-90 explosives were seized by a patrolling team of the CRPF and Assam Police personnel from a truck, enroute to Itanagar, at Khelmati outpost of Lakhimpur District.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reviewed the security scenario in the State in a high level meeting with the officials of the Assam Government. Discussion was centered on activities of the BW, National Socialist Council of Nagalim-IM (NSCN-IM), and a newly formed militant group United Tribal Liberation Army (UTLA).

The managerial staffs of nearly six tea estates located in the fringe areas of Chariduar reserve forest in Sonitpur District were constantly harassed by militants of anti-talks faction of the NDFB.

A low-intensity explosion was triggered by suspected militants on the tracks between the tribal majority Sungajan area and Bokajan stations in Golaghat District, causing minor damage to a goods train.

January 29

ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa has said that a decision on a dialogue with the Government would be taken soon. Mrinal Hazarika, 'commander' of 28^th battalion' of the outfit said that both sides should not impose any precondition as it may create hurdles in holding dialogue. He also appealed to the Government to release the jailed central ULFA leaders to facilitate early talks.

The pro-talk faction of the NDFB announced it would participate in upcoming council elections in Assam.

January 31

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi rejected the demand for a separate Bodoland State. Instead he advocated the need for a greater Assamese society where people of all communities can live together.

February 1

One body guard of Ranjan Daimary, 'chairman' of anti-talks faction of the NDFB, identified as Prabin Boro alias B.Phandai was arrested by the Police from Fancy Bazar in Guwahati City.

A delegation of the pro-talks group of the NDFB met the Centre's interlocutor, P.C. Haldar, to press for an early solution to the decades-long impasse by creating a separate State for the indigenous tribal people of Assam.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the Centre is ready for a dialogue with the pro-talks groups of both ULFA and the NDFB even without their top leaders Paresh Barua and Ranjan Daimary.

The ULFA said that it would discuss the offer made by Home Minister P. Chidambaram for peace talks with the jailed rebel leadership. Jailed ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradeep Gogoi said that they had to discuss the matter and he, alone, couldn’t make any comment on the Home Minister's offer.

The ULFA started moving some of their camps in Myanmar deep into the dense forest areas, apprehending a crackdown.

February 2

Two suspected ULFA cadres were shot dead by troops of 65 Field Regiment of Red Horns Division during an encounter at Dakkhin Bhokelikanda under Kalaigaon Police Station in Udalguri District. A six year old boy was killed in crossfire of the encounter. A trooper was also injured in the encounter.

A hardcore militant belonging to '709^th battalion' of the ULFA was arrested by SFs personnel from the Talap area in Tinsukia District.

The Police rescued a doctor, Nani Gopal Dutta (70), who was abducted by suspected NDFB militants from the Thakurbari area of Rangapara in Sonitpur District.

Official sources said that the KLNLF with nearly 400 of its cadres slated to surrender would be publicly decommissioning its arms at Diphu in Karbi Anglong District on February 11.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Assam Government is ready for peace talks with the ULFA, but the outfit has to give to its written assurance that is ready for peace talks.

The ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa said that they could not talk with the Government while in custody. ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua on the other hand, in an e-mailed statement, came down harshly on people he described as 'local dalals and ‘India-loving intellectuals' who were playing a devious game to derail the outfit's freedom movement.

February 3

A NDFB cadre, Siman Basumatary, was caught by the residents of Daranga and Roumari in Chirang District when he was trying to collect money from a businessman.

An ULFA militant, Diganta Sonowal, was arrested by Teok Police from Kaliapani in Jorhat District.

ULFA 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary denied the outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah's statement that 'some broker intellectuals' of the State have been putting mental pressure on the jailed ULFA leaders on peace talks with the Government.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq Ahmed Karim hinted at handing over jailed ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, but wanted Indian Government to reciprocate by deporting some of its wanted terrorists allegedly hiding in India.

February 4

Five militants of the Manipur-based People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) outfit were arrested by the Assam Police from Jorabat on the outskirts of Guwahati.

The cease-fire pact with the UPDS was extended for another six months up to July 7 following discussion between the militant outfit, Centre and Assam Government.

February 5

A suspected ULFA militant was shot dead by SFs at Chakrashila reserve forest near Choaikhola in Kokrajhar District.

A NDFB militant, P. Mushahary, was shot dead in an encounter with the SFs at Ulubari in Chirang District.

The Centre convened first meeting, involving high-profile officials in Delhi since the arrest of several ULFA leaders, including 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, to review the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in Assam, with focus on efforts to draw ULFA to the negotiating table.

Two linkmen belonging to the ‘3^rd battalion’ of anti-talks faction of the NDFB were arrested by SFs from Nalkhamara village in Udalguri District.

The SFs conducted a raid in the house of Arun Daimary of village Kahibari and recovered 45 kilograms of marijuana and five blank extortion pads of the NDFB.

Security agencies have drawn up a list of 22 ULFA and NDFB militants whose arrest or elimination would deliver a terminal blow to the network of operatives of both the outfits within Assam. Both the militant outfits are operating in tandem in several Districts of Assam.

A meeting of the top Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Intelligence Bureau and Assam Police officials held in New Delhi decided to continue counter-insurgency operations against ULFA in Assam till the outfit agreed to talks.

The Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, endorsing the stand of the Centre on the peace process, emphasised the need for a written communication from the jailed leaders of ULFA.

February 6

A ULFA militant was shot dead in an encounter at Garobasti in Goalpara District.

February 7

At least three persons were wounded when an unidentified militant opened fire on them at Khargaon area in Kokrajhar District.

A ULFA militant was arrested by the SFs from Majapara village in Goalpara District.

One NDFB militant was arrested by SFs from Bhaitapara village in Chirang District.

Altogether 403 KLNLF cadres, including the outfit’s ‘chief’ Habe Tokbi, reached Karbi Anglong District headquarters Diphu, ahead of their scheduled surrender on February 11.

The arrested prime accused in the Bangladesh's biggest ever arms haul case, Hafizur Rahman, claimed that former Bangladesh Premier Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman was involved in an abortive smuggling of weapons, believed to be meant for the ULFA militants.

The Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi called for strict vigilance along the India-Myanmar border following reports of ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah seeking to regroup the remaining ULFA cadres in a bid to derail the peace process.

February 8

An NDFB militant was arrested by SFs from Ramfabil bazaar in Kokrajhar District.

UNI quoting security sources reports that a cache of ammunition, suspected to be meant for militant groups, was recovered by a team of CRPF from a vehicle near the Assam-Meghalaya border. Five unidentified persons were also arrested.

One suspected linkman of anti-talks faction of the NDFB, identified as Bipul Ramchiary of village Murmela, was arrested by the troops in Udalguri District.

February 9

Unidentified NDFB cadres, in an extortion-related attack, shot at and injured a businessman, Nepali Banik, at Beltola Market under Kaki Police Station in Nagaon.

The Assam Rifles personnel recovered and subsequently defused a 6 kilogram bomb, planted under a wooden bridge in the Bagaribari area on the Dhekiajuli-Singri road in Sonitpur District. An official of the 3rd Assam Rifles said, "The bomb was no doubt planted by the NDFB probably to target security forces."

SFs seized gelatine sticks weighing around 2.5 kilograms, five detonators, and some Cordex wires from the godown of grocery shop owner, Gosai Aich of Chapakhowa town in Sadiya sub-division of Tinsukia District.

Four militants of anti-talks faction of the NDFB, identified as Kumar Narzary, Biswanath Charali, Sanjib Basumatary and Densereng Daimary, were arrested by SFs from Oiramghat in Dhemaji District. Dhemaji Superintendent of Police, Satyaraj Hazarika, said, "All of them had accepted to have been involved in the January 23 blast on a railway track near the village."

Two unidentified militants of the Rabha Viper Army (RVA) and a linkman with arms and ammunition were arrested by the Army from Mantapara village of Kokrajhar District.

Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said, "We are trying to apprehend Paresh Baruah who is in the Kachin region bordering China. We are putting pressure on Myanmar for this. Paresh Baruah is trying to establish links with China for shelter and arms."

The main opposition party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), denied reports that its key official and party chief's son Tarique Rahman had met Indian fugitive militant Paresh Barua.

February 10

Three anti-talks faction of the NDFB militants were shot dead by SFs in an encounter at Jaulia Centre near Jingabeel under Majbat Police Station in Udalguri District.

One Steten Kustut, suspected to be an AANLA militant, was arrested by troops of BSF in Golaghat District.

BSF personnel deployed along India-Bangladesh international in Dhubri District neutralised an intrusion bid of unidentified miscreants from Bangladesh.

February 11

The KLNLF surrenders in a formal surrender ceremony at the Kasa stadium in Diphu, the headquarters of Karbi Anglong District.

Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai in Kokrajhar District expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) region and said that the Centre would take steps to stop the gun culture.

Three cadres of anti-talks faction of the NDFB were arrested by the troop in two separate search operations in Udalguri District.

February 12

A day after the KLNLF gave up its arms, the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asked the ULFA, NDFB and other militant groups to lay down their arms to build a peaceful Assam founded on the ideals propagated by Sankardev, in Titabor of Jorhat District.

The pro-talks group of the ULFA described the Government’s decision to drop the arms surrender term for talks as a step in the right direction, which might even prompt the ULFA outfit to consider coming forward for talks.

One of the kingpins of a fake currency racket, identified as Dinesh Singh (27) of Tanger in Bishenpur District of Manipur, was arrested by the SFs from the Tarapur residential area of Silchar. He is also believed to be linked with some militant organization.

February 13

A forest guard Nazimuddin Laskar and some casual workers accompanying him were abducted by unidentified militants in South Hailakandi area bordering Mizoram. However, the militants later on let the casual workers free, but ‘detained’ Laskar and went into the forest.

Two NDFB militants were arrested in a joint operation by the Police and Army in Jonai Cement Chapori of Dhemaji District and others managed to escape.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati said that ULFA's self-styled 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah is trying to regroup the cadre to derail the peace process initiated in Assam. He further said that the activities of NSCN-IM were on the rise in the border Districts of Assam including North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar and Tinsukia. Another disturbing factor, he added, was attempt by Maoists to influence adivasi and other tribal youths in the State.

The 'chairman' of ULFA, Arabinda Rajkhowa, said that his outfit was not for peace talks but was keen to resolve long-drawn contentious political issues through negotiations.

February 14

A suspected militant belonging to '709^th battalion' of the ULFA was arrested by the Police from Adamgiri Hill at Maligaon in the Guwahati city.

A group of unidentified militants, who attacked Dariyaghat village in Hailakandi District along Assam-Mizoram border, were chased away by local villagers.

February 15

Two cadres of anti-talks faction of the NDFB were arrested by SFs from Bamungaon in Chirang District.

An army official said, "The park [Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary in Sonitpur District] has also turned into a hotbed of militancy. We have reports of the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB having a strong base inside the sanctuary."

The Assam Government asked the Centre to equate ULFA with the NSCN when it comes to setting pre-conditions for cease-fire and subsequent talks.

February 16

Tina Marak (36), a carrier of illegal weapons, was arrested by the Police from Fancy Bazaar in Guwahati city.

A designated Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA) court deferred its decision on bail applications of ULFA ‘vice-chairman’ Pradip Gogoi and ‘publicity secretary’ Mithinga Daimary by a few days.

February 17

Two cadres of the Manipur-based KCP outfit, identified as 'sergeant majors' Nongmaithen Naobi alias Ramesh Singh and Digvijay Singh alias W. Dyak, were arrested by the Police from Manipuri Basti area in Guwahati City.

A person, Ajay Rajkhowa, was arrested by the Police from Nazira of Sibsagar District for demanding money from a businessman in the name of ULFA.

An unnamed spokesman of the newly formed outfit United Democratic Liberation Front of Barak Valley (UDLFBV) claimed that "Reangs are not involved in the kidnapping of forest guard Nizamuddin Majumdar." He said that it might be the handiwork of Atabur Bahini, a gang of goons operating along the Assam-Mizoram border of South Hailakandi.

February 18

Three NDFB cadres were arrested by SFs from two different places in Baksa District.

Police said that two unidentified NDFB cadres were arrested from Dholpur in Lakhimpur District.

Two MULTA cadres were arrested by the Army from Agomoni in Dhubri District.

February 19

An unidentified ULFA cadre was shot dead by the Army at Lakhopur village in the Helecha-Lakhopur area in Nalbari District.

Subrata Nath was injured when unidentified militants opened fire at him at Samuguri village under Howraghat Police Station in Karbi Anglong District.

One KLNLF militant, identified as Babu Rongphar, was arrested by BSF from Golaghat.

SFs recovered three kilograms of explosives, a pistol and ammunition from Simen Chapori Naokata area in Dhemaji District.

The designated TADA court granted bail to ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi on conditions in three cases registered against him.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Guwahati said: "We haven't got any indication from the ULFA for peace talks as yet, and without any indication from the outfit we can't move ahead. The outfit is adamant on its stand that talks can't be held in handcuffs and from jail. We know this difficulty, but can't do anything before the initiation of peace talks."

On the strategy formulated by the bureaucrats to initiate the negotiation process, Assam Chef Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "In the past, bureaucrats used to formulate strategies for such purposes. But these days, we (political heads) formulate strategies for the purpose."

February 20

Acting on tip off about NDFB cadre carrying explosive materials on a train, a joint team of the Army from Borengajuli Camp and Police recovered one kilogramme of explosives from UP Intercity Express train at Tangla Railway Station in Udulgiri District.

Suspected militants made a failed attempt to abduct Naren Das, a farmer, from his residence at Lalcherra in militancy affected South Hailakandi area.

Two self-styled 'sergeants' of NSCN-U, identified as Anoto alias Anabo and John alias Lucky, surrendered before SFs at Moran in Sivasagar District.

February 21

The Assam Government transferred ULFA's political ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain alias Mama to the Guwahati Central Jail from Tezpur in an attempt to allow all the top jailed leaders of the outfit to meet inside the prison to chart out a road map for peace talks.

A person, Amit Agarwalla, was arrested by Gabharupathar Police from Kusum Guest House near Paltan Bazar area in Dibrugarh District.

A NDFB cadre, Rajib Brahma, was killed in an encounter with security personnel at Balukmari in Kokrajhar District.

The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, court released two top ULFA leaders, 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary on bail.

Truck driver, Makran Ali, an employee of Bulbul Enterprise, was abducted by militants. An unknown caller reportedly claiming himself as Abdul Salam, 'chief' of the United Revolutionary Army of Barak Valley, contacted one Hilal Uddin, a hotelier at Ghatmura, and asked him to inform the owner of Bulbul Enterprise to hand over INR one million for safe release of the truck driver.

Jamira Police along with Hailakandi Superintendent of Police Vivekanda Das were fired upon by militants at Khulinala in south Hailakandi bordering Mizoram and were compelled to return as they had gone to the place to recover the truck of an abducted driver.

A NDFB cadre was arrested by SFs from Sialmari village under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

Modalities for ULFA talks may figure at the meeting slated to be held between Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi.

After meeting with Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Delhi reiterated the outfit's need to drop the issue of sovereignty and abjure violence before any parley.

After six years in prison, the ULFA 'publicity secretary', Mithinga Daimary (43), was released.

Nazimuddin Majumdar, the forest guard who was abducted by unidentified militants from Jhalnacherra on February 13, was released.

The dead bodies of two militants were recovered, when the Police raided the hideout of an armed group, Atabur Bahini, at Sudhurtal between Jhalnacherra and Betcherra in Hailakandi District bordering Mizoram.

Reports indicate that a new outfit, consisting of cadres belonging to Muslim and Reang communities, had been formed. Some local sources said a splinter group of Atabur Bahini led by Abdul Salem had formed a new outfit called the United Revolutionary Army of Barak Valley with the help of some Reang tribals.

March 1

Four suspected militants of Bengali Tiger Force (BTF) were shot dead in an encounter with SFs at Chereng Chapori in Darrang District. This is the first major incident involving BTF militants in the State after a majority of their cadres laid down arms in 2006.

The dead body of abducted trader, Sujit Paul (30), from Joypur area of Lakhipur bordering North Cachar Hills District, was recovered from the dense forests of Dijung hill in the neighbouring District in Assam. Sources said that he was abducted and later killed by suspected NSCN-K militants.

A NDFB cadre was arrested by the Army from Bhalukpong village in Sonitpur District.

March 2

Two Naga youths, suspected to have links with militant outfits, were arrested by Police from a Mokchung-bound night bus during a routine check near the office of Cement Corporation of India at Bokajan in Karbi Anglong District.

A suspected MULTA militant was arrested by SFs from Silongoni of Nagaon District.

Assam Governor J. B. Patnaik during the Budget Session of the State Legislative Assembly said that the Government is ready for talks with the militants within the framework of the Constitution of India.

Security sources said that ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Baruah has started reorganising the outfit.

March 3

Two ULFA cadres were arrested by the Police at Barpara in Bongaigaon District.

March 4

The founder ‘vice-chairman’ of ULFA, Pradip Gogoi, was released from jail after 18 years and he called for initiation of the peace process to end insurgency in Assam.

March 7

The Union Government may not be willing to allow ULFA ‘commander in chief’ Paresh Baruah to "hold talks to hostage" for an indefinite period if the other leaders of the outfit express their desire to solve the problems through discussions, highly placed official sources said.

Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Chief Hagrama Mahilary held talks with ULFA ‘publicity secretary’ Mithinga Daimari at the latter’s residence at Nizzuluki near Barama of Baksa District.

The ‘chairman’ of the ULFA’s women wing Kaberi Kachari, who is also the wife of the ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa, also held dialogue with Mithinga Daimari at Nizzuluki. Kaberi met Mithinga along with Runumi Chetia, wife of ULFA’s ‘foreign secretary’ Sasha Chaudhury.

March 8

Unidentified militants lobbed a grenade at the residence of Congress party leader Pranjit Uzir at Hadukata in Baksa District.

Two crude bombs, probably from the Assam agitation days, were recovered from the drawer of a table in the Economics Department of Gauhati University in Guwahati in the afternoon.

A ULFA linkman was arrested by the SFs at Sivasagar.

A NDFB cadre of Village Nigoam, was arrested by the SFs in Bhalukpong of Sonitpur District.

The Assam Government assured the Assembly that all efforts were on to trace the ‘commander-in-chief’ of BW, Niranjan Hojai, who had gone missing from a designated camp about two months ago. So far, 15 BW militants, seven DHD militants, 40 NDFB militants and five ULFA cadres have fled their designated camps.

Bhutan would lift the travel restrictions imposed on students and patients of his country after Operation All Clear in 2003 to restore good relations with Assam.

March 10

Two suspects, of Phek District of Nagaland, were arrested by the SFs at Bokajan town in Karbi Anglong District.

Suspected KLNLF militants abducted the supervisor of a private company, from Deothar under Santipur Police Station in Karbi Anglong District.

March 13

Three unidentified cadres belonging to anti-talks faction of the NDFB were arrested with arms by the SFs from Maydungsire village in Sonitpur District.

March 14

A NDFB militant, Ronen Brahma, was arrested by the Bhutan Army near Chirang District.

March 15

Assam Tribune quoting security sources reports that the interrogation of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) leaders arrested in recent past indicated the game plan of the groups to extend cooperation to militant groups in Northeast.

March 16

Two suspected NDFB cadres were shot dead by SFs at Majuli village in Udalguri District.

A NDFB militant, arrested by the Bhutan Army near Chirang District on March 14, was handed over to the Indian authorities.

Saurav Gogoi, surrendered ULFA leader, was arrested by the Police following an instruction from the Union Government on the charge of threatening Brahmaputra Crackers & Polymers Limited (BCPL) officials. He was, however, released on bail later on.

The outlawed outfit ULFA hoisted a flag of the outfit, on the occasion of the ‘Military Day’ of the outfit in the District headquarter town of Darrang at Mangaldai. The flag was subsequently seized by the Police.

The ULFA is busy reorganizing, in a bid to emerge as a force to reckon with ahead of the Assembly elections, due early next year (2011).

More than 10,000 militants surrendered before the Government in Assam since 1998. As per the list submitted by the Assam Government in the State Assembly, the ULFA topped the list of surrendered militants as during the period from 1998 to March 5, 2010, more than 4260 militants belonging to the outfit have laid down arms.

March 17

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 4 Corps Lieutenant General Gyan Bhusan at Tezpur said the outlawed ULFA in Assam is a spent force and has lost its sting following sustained counter-insurgency operations and people's apathy towards the insurgent group now.

The NSCN-K ‘area commander’ of North Cachar Hills District in Zeliangrong M. Kamei condemned the extortion drive carried out by some unidentified miscreants using its fake and forged letter heads.

March 19

A NDFB militant, involved in timber smuggling in Chariduar reserve forest, was killed in an encounter with the Army at Abhoi centre near Batasipur in Sonitpur District along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. The militants hurled a grenade at the Army team, resulting in splinter injuries to two troopers.

The UPDS members, including ‘general secretary’ Sai Ding-Eh, left for New Delhi to conduct meeting with P.C. Halder, Central Government Peace Interlocutor.

March 21

Two suspected cadres belonging to the ‘27th battalion’ of the ULFA, were arrested by the SFs for demanding money from a person in Dispur area of Guwahati city.

Three NDFB militants were arrested by the SFs from Azara area in Guwahati city on the same day.

The Manipur-based militant outfits, PLA and United National Liberation Front (UNLF), are on recruitment drive in order to consolidate their bases in Barak Valley.

March 24

A three-member team of the 'B' company of the '28^th battalion' of the ULFA led by Sujit Mohan is reportedly holding talks with the Assam Police on a possible ceasefire agreement.

One NDFB cadre, identified as Bishnu Mushahary, was arrested by SFs at Simulguri under Bijni Police Station of Chirang District.

March 25

One person was arrested by the SFs from Udalbakra area in Guwahati city along with five kilogrammes of ammonium nitrate, 21 detonators, three gelatin sticks, 23 pieces of explosive wire and splinters.

The Assam Government would constitute a ministerial committee to make recommendations to the Union Government on the demands raised by the UPDS during talks with the Union Government's interlocutor P.C. Haldar.

Police recovered dead bodies of two quilt-makers from Bihar, who were killed by suspected NDFB militants in Koilajuli area of Sonitpur District.

March 26

An NDFB militant, was lynched and another seriously injured when they were attacked by a mob at Pabhoi tea estate in Biswanath Chariali town in Sonitpur District.

March 27

Two militants of anti-talks faction of the NDFB were arrested by the SFs from Santipur area in Chirang District.

March 28

The Assam Government would have to take the lead role in early completion of talks with militant groups of the State, which already signed cease-fire agreements for peaceful solution of the problems.

Sources said that India along with Myanmar is planning a joint military action against Northeast militants.

One US carbine, a gun and ammunition were recovered by the BSF from the house of ULFA linkman, M. Lotha at Binapur in Golaghat District.

One 'commander' of the '27^th battalion' of the ULFA, was killed in an encounter with the SFs, at Madeligaon village near Dalongghat under Kalaigaon Police Station in Udalguri District.

Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain in the State Legislative Assembly said that among the active militant groups, the ULFA has a strength of 875 cadres, while the anti-talk faction of the NDFB has 225 cadres, AANLA has 30 cadres, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) has 40 cadres, Hmar People's Convention- Democracy (HPC-D) has 50 cadres, MULTA has 110 cadres and Assam unit of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin has 45 cadres.

The Minister said that two outfits, Bircha Commando Force (BCF) and Adivasi Cobra Force (ACF), are in suspension of operation with the State Government and two others- BW and KLNLF laid down arms to join the mainstream.

A 15 kilogramme of IED was recovered by the SFs from the house of Sheikh Abdul Khandakar at Uttar Raipur village underGolokganj Police Station of Dhubri District and the bomb was subsequently defused.

SF personnel recovered a rifle and ammunition hidden in a drain at Tiphuk tea estate of Sivasagar District.

The KLNLF said that it would not compromise on its demand for a separate State.

A MULTA was arrested by SFs from Diabari village under Bilasipara Police Station of Dhubri District.

Two MULTA cadres were arrested by the SFs from the Patgaon Jainaryarea under Serfanguri Police Station of Kokrajhar District.

A NDFB militant was arrested by the SFs from Daikarguri village under Bijni Police Station in Chirang District.

A gang of 11 KLNLF militants snatched away some arms from a camp situated at the Panbari Reserve Forest of Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in Golaghat District on an unspecified date.

KLNLF 'publicity secretary' Rejak Dera said: "Seventy-five per cent of forests in Karbi Anglong have been cleared by DHD(N) cadres, now lodged at the designated camp at Dhansiri in Karbi Anglong. These militants have been selling timber from Karbi Anglong to Nagaland."

One ULFA cadre was arrested by SFs from Pithalibam village in Dibrugarh District.

MHA states that Manipur continues to be the hotbed of insurgency followed by Assam as 150 violent incidents have been reported in the two States in first three months of 2010, claiming 100 lives.

A MHA official said, "Though there is a declining trend in the incidents of violence, both Manipur and Assam continue to be the most troubled States in the North east."

KLNLF 'chairman', P. Dili, arrested from Shillong in Meghalaya in May 2009, was released from Diphu jail.

An exchange of fire took place between the Army and suspected ULFA militants at Litong Betoni village under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District.

Two persons were arrested by the Army in Dhubri for possessing illegal arms.

April 5

A NDFB militant was killed by SFs in an encounter in Monglajhora under Bogribari Police Station of Porbotjhora sub-division of Kokrajhar District.

Headmaster of Dengaon High School under Dokmoka Police Station was rescued alive during operation launched by SFs and Assam Police from Panjuri hill area of Karbi Anglong District. He was abducted by a group of suspected NDFB militant on March 28 from his residence.

ULFA is said to have stepped up activities across some pockets in Upper Assam with a group entering Borhat in Sivasagar District and the Kakopathar-Pengeri areas in Tinsukia District. The sources added that the group had come from the Myanmar camps of the outfit and entered Assam through Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh

April 6

A cadre belonging to the outfit’s ‘28^th battalion’ of the ULFA was arrested by the Police from Lakhimpur.

ULFA celebrated its ‘31^st raising day’ with supporters and suspected cadres unfurling the proscribed outfit’s flag in various places across Assam.

April 7

Army personnel recovered explosives suspected to be RDX from a Jorhat-Doomdooma bus at Rajmai in Sivasagar District.

Suspected ULFA cadres hoisted the outfit’s flag in Rajgarh market, while supporters of the outfit tried to hoist the flag in an open field near the Tinsukia deputy commissioner’s office.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that operations against ULFA would continue because the outfit was still recruiting cadres.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Maoists had attempted to infiltrate the border areas of Assam over the past few years but failed because of "preventive measures".

ULFA leader Arabinda Rajkhowa’s former personal bodyguard, Dilip Barman, was attacked in Dhubri. He was a central committee member of Dhubri Zila Praktan ULFA Samannayrakshi Samiti (an organisation of former ULFA cadres).

The ULFA hoisted its organizational flag at Bakaliaghat in Karbi Anlong District.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Tariq Ahmed Karim said, "The world has seen our resolve to fight terrorism and India has acknowledged it at the highest level. We shall not allow any terrorist act against India to be carried out from our territory."

April 8

The Union Government said it will not enter into any kind of dialogue with splinter militant groups operating in the Northeast nor accept their laying down of arms in a public function.

April 9

The Dhubri Zila Praktan ULFA Samannayrakshi Samiti has called a 12-hour Dhubri District bandh (general shutdown) beginning from 5am. It asked Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik to use his office to get ULFA, ‘general secretary’, Anup Chetia, extradited from Bangladesh.

A new militant outfit, Liberal Democratic Council of Misingland (LDCM), was formed in Mising-inhabited areas.

Two ULFA cadres were arrested by the Police from Deotala under Narayanpur Police outpost in Lakhimpur District.

State election commissioner Biren Dutta said that the overall estimated turnout was 75 per cent and repolling was ordered in 16 of the 2,685 polling stations in the 40 Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) seats.

April 10

A Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) party member was injured in a clash between the BPF and the ceasefire group of the NDFB.

Two former ULFA militants, who laid down arms in 2000, were arrested by the Goalpara District Police from Salpara for acting as linkmen.

April 11

A Policeman of 19 India Reserve Battalion (IRB) was killed and another seriously injured in an encounter with the ULFA militants at Kochgaon Tinthengia in Dibrugarh District.

A militant managed to escape after a brief encounter with SFs at Kulapathar in Tinsukia District along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has been putting pressure on the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the initiation of direct talks with the ULFA.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram also said, "Our efforts are on to bring Paresh Baruah to the table for talks. However, nothing can be said with certainty so long as Paresh Baruah is at large."

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted the links between insurgent groups like ULFA and the CPI-Maoist.

Security sources earlier said that if the guns used in the massacre at Dantewada in Chhattisgarh were not all snatched from local SFs; chances are that some of them came from the Northeast, ferried in oil tankers.

Assam Chief Minister said that the Government would wait for some more time to have ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah in the proposed peace dialogue, but hinted that the talks could start without him as well.

The Assam Government has to spend around INR 7.59 million a month for the 4,006 militant cadres who have been staying in various designated camps in the State.

Two persons were arrested by the SFs with ammunition near Nanja in Karbi Anglong District. The SFs suspect that they are involved in illegal arms dealing and associated with the Manipur-based outfit Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA).

One ULFA linkman was arrested by the Army from Nampara village in Goalpara District.

Ajay Rajkonwar, brother of ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, sent a fax message to Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi requesting him to allow Arabinda Rajkhowa to go home to meet his ailing mother during Rongali Bihu festival.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Assam Government will have no objection in allowing jailed ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa to visit his ailing 90-year-old mother, especially with people celebrating Assamese New Year or Bohag Bihu.

One cadre of the Manipur-based PULF of Makhan Nagar area under Jirighat Police Station in Cachar District was arrested by the SFs. PULF after lying low in Barak Valley for long respite has been trying to regroup and spread its presence.

The Union Government has expressed concern on the availability of Bangladeshi subscriber identity module cards along the region's border and called for steps to check the development.

ULFA 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Doimary visited Barpeta to know the views of the people of Barpeta about the ULFA and the Union Government talks before the Sanmilit Jatiya Abhibartan which will be held on April 24.

An unidentified NDFB cadre was shot dead by the Army at Goalbil under Barama Police station in the Baksa District.

Two cadres belonging to anti-talks faction of the NDFB were arrested by SFs, while conducting extortion at Khagrabari village in Udalguri District.

Former General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Army's 4 Corps, Lieutenant General (retd) D.B. Shekhatkar warned that though the fundamentalist forces are lying low at this moment, the region is virtually sitting on a sleeping volcano, which may erupt at any time and "one should not be surprised if a demand for separation comes up by the end of the year 2018."

Unidentified assailants opened fired at two Policemen near Mendubi village along the Karbi Anglong-Nagaon District border.

Two persons, Mangal Mahato and Mantu Mahato, were arrested by the Police from Hotel Imperial at Kokrajhar. They were suspected to be Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres.

Two ULFA linkmen were arrested by SFs from Outala and Chamuapara villages under Mangaldai Police Station of Darrang District.

A suspected Kachin Independent Arm (KIA) cadre, Sanlim Singpho (35), was arrested by the Dibrugarh District Police from the doctor hostel of Assam Medical College (AMC).

ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua rejected the peace initiative taken by the newly floated Citizen's Forum stating that the outfit would never compromise on its demand for sovereignty.

One surrendered NDFB militant was shot dead by the anti-talks faction of the outfit at Pahijuri under Rangapara Police Station in Sonitpur District.

Hiren Gohain, President of the Preparatory Committee for All Assam Convention for Revival of Talks between Government and the ULFA, said that ULFA 'commander in chief' should wait until conditions are suitable for a meeting of the central committee in a situation free from constraints before rushing to the press.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in New Delhi said that the Government will not wait "indefinitely" for elusive ULFA military 'chief' Paresh Baruah to come for talks but expects "some good news" in the next few days.

Regarding the ULFA's links with the CPI-Maoist in Assam, the Chief Minister said that all extremists groups like Maoists and ULFA are "in the same boat" as all of them believe in armed struggle, which is not acceptable for a democratic country like India.

SFs raided a house at Bherbari village under Tamarhat Police Station in Dhubri District and arrested two persons who are suspected to be linkmen of the NDFB.

A suspected NDFB militant, Suresh Rabha, was arrested by SFs from the Barbari area in Guwahati city.

A suspected ULFA cadre was arrested from Narangi area of Guwahati.

The ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua in an e-mail to the newly floated Citizen's Forum's leader Hiren Gohain, over the panel's plan to hold a convention on peace, said "There is no question of talks without the issue of sovereignty on the agenda. Agreeing to hold talks without the sovereignty issue would be like surrendering to the colonial forces".

The 'deputy commander-in-chief' of the ULFA, Raju Barua, said that it was the central committee of the outfit that was empowered to take a decision in a free and fair atmosphere on holding peace talks with the Government of India.

The ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy 'commander-in-chief' Raju Baruah and 'foreign secretary' Shashadhar Chouhury were produced in the TADA-designated court, in connection with eight cases pending against them.

The Union Government has clarified that no formal request for release of the ULFA leaders from jail has been received by Assam Government.

In another e-mail statement, Paresh Barua once again criticized some intellectuals of the State for having failed to understand the ULFA's ideology.

The Assam Public Works (APW) criticized the ULFA Paresh Baruah for being a stumbling block to the peace process in Assam.

A trader's son was abducted by armed men at Hukrajuli under Dhekiajuli Police Station in Sonitpur District. NDFB was suspected to be behind the act since the outfit is active in these areas.

A militant belonging to the MULTA was arrested by the SFs at Paglahat area in Dhubri District.

ULFA stated that it might soften its stand on the sovereignty issue, a demand which the group had set as a precondition for talks with the Government.

Telegraph reports that a trader was shot and injured by militants at Batasipur in Sonitpur District when he resisted an attempt to abduct him from a market on an unspecified date.

Telegraph reports that a trader was abducted from Mezengajuli weekly market under Missamari Police Station in Sonitpur District on an unspecified date.

Amid opposition from the ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah, a number of intellectuals and litterateurs of the State are going to hold the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhivartan at ITA Cultural Centre for Performing Arts at Muchkhowa in Guwahati.

The NDFB and ULFA formed and nurtured several radical outfits like MULTA to get logistical support, shelter and passage in minority-dominated Districts of lower Assam.

The Sanmilita Jatiya Abhivartan convened at Guwahati by intellectuals and civil society activists of Assam, adopted several resolutions appealing to the Government to hold discussion with the ULFA on its various demands, including the core demands.

Sources indicate that ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah might have returned to Bangladesh recently.

The State level convention organized by prominent citizens in Assam called for release of the jailed leaders of the ULFA to enable the outfit to hold its central committee meeting. Sources said that it would be difficult for the Government to do so without going through the judicial process.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said, "Let the ULFA first respond to the resolutions adopted by the Citizens' Forum. We have to know what the ULFA thinks about the forum and also if the outfit's leadership acknowledges the initiative taken by it."

The dead body of a surrendered ULFA militant was recovered from near the railway tracks in Chungajan in Golaghat District.

The Assam Police detained six persons from Goalpara and Kamrup Districts, including two from Guwahati, in connection with ULFA's for plan to carryout bomb blasts in the Guwahati city.

Two cadres of the United Democratic Liberation Front-Barak (UDLF-B) were arrested by the SFs from Alagapur of Hailakandi District, when they were trying to extort money from the local people of Algapur market. They were involved in an extortion racket run by UDLF-B headed by Danya Ram along with Lamboo Reang.

Unidentified militants lobbed grenades on Police in Haflong town of North Cachar Hills District.

The ULFA has launched an extortion drive and served extortion notices to people in different parts of Assam.

The MHA has sent a wireless message to the Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Sankar Barua that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his brother Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sushanta Biswa Sarma were on the hit list of the ULFA.

ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua once again stated, "ULFA will sit for talks only if sovereignty is included for negotiations. There is no point for the organization to put forth any further proposal."

Three persons of a private company were abducted by unidentified militants from near Ramnathpur village in Sonitpur District.

SFs arrested three cadres of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB from Debang reserve forest in Dhemaji District along the Assam-Arunachal border.

ULFA militant Raja Bora, bodyguard of outfit's 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa, was produced before the Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in connection with the Bharalumukh blast, Bhangagarh blast and a case relating to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said that Union Government is waiting for a nod from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to start dialogue with the ULFA - with or without Paresh Barua.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that talks between the Government and the ULFA were possible without Paresh Baruah's participation.

Two cadres of the Manipur-based outfit United National Liberation Front (UNLF), were arrested by the Police at Patharquwariri at Guwahati, while planning to proceed to Myanmar.

Bangladesh handed over Ranjan Daimary, the 'president' of the NDFB to India.

The Ex- BLT Welfare Society at Langhin Tiniali in the Karbi Anglong District said that Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB is actively involved in various anti-social activities in the District.

A suspected KLNLF cadre was killed by SFs during an encounter at Beygaon of Karbi Anglong District.

SFs neutralised an arms and explosives-manufacturing factory at Kathaldi char (River Island) under Bilasipara Police Station in Dhubri District. One MULTA militant was arrested.

Two NDFB cadres were arrested by SFs from Gandhi Basti area under Chandmari Police Station of Guwahati city.

Anti-talks faction of the NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary was produced before the Court of Chief judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Kamrup where he was remanded to 12 days of Police custody.

Army sources said that 28 cadres of the NDFB's anti-talk faction were killed in the first four months of 2010. Sources also revealed that 13 cadres of the outfit were killed in the counter-insurgency operations in January 2010, seven were killed in February, five were killed in March and three were killed in April. In 2009, more than 70 cadres of the outfit were killed.

Army sources said cadres of the NDFB's anti-talk faction are still indulging in extortions and abductions in the areas bordering Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh taking advantage of the lack of adequate security cover in the area.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Government was ready for discussion with the NDFB minus the demand for sovereignty if the outfit wanted.

A suspected PULF cadre was arrested by the Police from Hatigaon in Guwahati city.

The Army has launched an extensive drive to locate the hideouts of criminals who masquerade as militants and indulge in extortion and abduction in Hailakandi District. The activities of the armed criminals have recently gathered momentum in the District with at least three groups - the UDLF-B, Atabur Bahini and UDLA engaged in the anti-social activities.

Around 150 cadres are believed to be with Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB. The Government plans to get him to the negotiating table.

NDFB leader Ranjan Daimary confessed that the October 30 serial explosions in Assam that killed 100 people and wounded around 800 were carried out under his express instructions.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the Ranjan Daimary was responsible for over 90 deaths during the October 30, 2008 serial blasts in the State.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the case of the two recently-arrested UNLF leaders would be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Tarun Gogoi condemned the ULFA for being 'insincere' about the proposed talks by adamantly insisting on 'sovereignty' as the issue, saying that no dialogue was possible under the circumstances as sovereignty was 'non-negotiable'.

Sources said that at least two batches of NDFB cadres were sent to Pakistan for training with the support of the ISI.

The NDFB was also maintaining close ties with different anti-India groups having bases in Bangladesh. According to an assessment by the SFs, at least a hundred trained cadres of the outfit are still in Assam, while, around 50 cadres must be in Bangladesh.

Sources said that after the arrest of NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary, the Government of India provided information about the whereabouts of several other militant leaders in Bangladesh and waiting for the response.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi warned that NDFB and ULFA cadres were looking to carry out subversive activities jointly in the State, including the capital city.

Reacting to Daimary's arrest, the pro-talks faction of the NDFB which is in ceasefire with the Government, said that the development would not have any impact on the ongoing peace initiative between the outfit and New Delhi.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that CPI-Maoist were in touch with their contacts in the State and were trying to set up base in some backward areas.

Ranjan Daimary said that he was ready to hold talks with the Government and would do a rethink on the core demand of 'sovereignty'.

The steering committee formed by the April 24 Sanmilita Jatio Abhibartan (United National Convention) said that the ULFA central committee could only decide whether or not the militant outfit would sit with the Government of India for negotiation without its 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua.

All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) has said that the Ranjan Daimary should be treated in the manner the arrested ULFA leaders are being treated.

A tragedy was averted after SFs intercepted a vehicle carrying an IED weighing eight kilograms at Harathuta under Gossaigaon Police Station of Kokrajhar District.

Two NDFB cadres were reportedly shot dead by the Army during an encounter at Nayabasti in Baksa District.

One 10^th class student was injured when some ULFA militants opened fire at Pabon Agarwala at Moran under Moran Police Station in Dibrugarh District.

A suspected gun smuggler was arrested by the SFs on Goalpara-Ambari Road at Taraibari check post of Goalpara District.

Bangladesh Government launching counter-insurgency operation targeting militants of Northeast taking shelter in that country, the possibility of the militants trying to sneak into India cannot be ruled out and the personnel of the BSF have been put on the alert to thwart any such move.

The United Democratic People's Front (UDPF) asked the Union Government to initiate the peace process with the faction of the NDFB headed by Ranjan Daimary by bringing him to the negotiation table.

The BSF informed the Gauhati High Court that it had no information regarding the whereabouts of the wife, son and daughter of NDFB 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary.

Plans of a demonstration to seek the unconditional release of the arrested founder of the NDFB, Ranjan Daimary, were thwarted after hundreds of activists from across the Bodo belt were stopped from proceeding to Guwahati for the meeting.

The Bodo intellectuals have demanded of the Government to initiate peace talks with arrested NDFB 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary for restoring total peace and normalcy in the region.

Families of the victims of the October 30, 2008 blasts in the State have demanded exemplary punishment to Ranjan Daimary 'chairman' of anti-talks faction of the NDFB.

Sentinel reports that A trader was abducted by suspected militants from his residence at Khusurabari village of Udalguri District on an unspecified date.

A NDFB cadre was killed in an encounter with SFs at Gwjwnpuri near Monglajhora under Porbotjhora sub-division in Kokrajhar District.

A trader was abducted by suspected militants from Disangmukh in Sivasagar District.

Sources said that the next target of the banned ULFA to carry subversive activities is Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's home District Jorhat.

The All Bodo Women's Welfare Federation (ABWWF) demanded the Assam Government for the safe return of Lina Daimary, wife of NDFB 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary, and her two sons.

The United People's Federation of Assam (UPFA) urged upon the Government of India to expedite the peace talks with the NDFB, pro-talk ULFA, DHD, KLNLF and other outfits who are already under ceasefire to solve their problems politically.

Two ULFA militants surrendered before BSF at Salmora BSF camp in Golaghat.

India asked visiting key aide to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mashiur Rahman for the custody of detained ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia.

The Union Government's peace envoy for the Northeast P.C. Haldar, Assam Principal Secretary (Home) Subhash Das, Special Branch Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Khagen Sarma and KLNLF 'publicity secretary' Rejak Dera and three others participated in the tripartite talks held at SB headquarters in Guwahati.

ULFA 'vice-chairman' Pradip Gogoi said that the decision on the talks process would be taken collectively by its central committee.

A suspected KLNLF cadre was killed in an encounter by SFs at Burapahar under Jakhalabandha Police Station in Nagaon District.

Ranjan Daimary, arrested 'chairman' of the NDFB, is now talking of peace and frequently telephoning his 'commanders' in the forests not to carry out any more violent strikes in the State.

The All Bodo Lawyers' Forum expressed their solidarity with the arrested NDFB founder Ranjan Daimary while the United Democratic Peoples' Front (UDPF) called a 12-hour Assam bandh (general shut down) on May 10 in protest against the alleged discriminatory attitude towards the leader.

The KLNLF has formed a six-member special committee to prepare its demand charter, which would be submitted in the next round of tripartite talks likely to be held later in May 2010.

Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai said the Union Government is aware that the CPI-Maoist had been in touch with some of the other militant outfits in different parts of the country like NSCN-IM and ULFA.

May 10

Two top ULFA leaders said that the banned outfit would not change its stance on ‘sovereignty’ while opting for talks with the Government, saying ULFA was not "chasing a dream aimlessly."

The 12-hours Assam bandh (general shut down) called by the United Democratic People’s Front (UDPF), in protest against the alleged discriminatory and biased attitude showed towards NDFB ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary by the State Government, affected normal life in lower Assam.

The All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) asked the State as well as the Union Governments to initiate peace talks with the NDFB. The Sangha members, alleging of discrimination against Daimary by the State Government, said that Daimary should be given the same status as Arabinda Rajkhowa or Raju Barua of the ULFA.

May 11

An Assistant Manager of Lalcherra Garden of Dullavcherra Tea Estate under Ratabari Police Station was abducted by a group of suspected UDLA militants from Balia plantation in Karimganj District.

Surrendered cadres of the NDFB feel that they have been given a ‘raw deal’ by the Government.

Boro Women’s Justice Forum (BWJF) president, Anjali Daimari and general secretary Joysree Daimari, said that they do not intend to be a party to the controversy around lawyers’ refusal to provide legal services to NDFB ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary, but mentioned the names of lawyers who promised their services, then withdrew and also the lawyers who came to meet Ranjan secretly after openly declaring their dislike of him.

The Guwahati Lawyers’ Association (GLA) refrained from extending any legal help to Ranjan Daimary, arguing that it had been a party to the October 30, 2008 serial blasts case as it had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in Panbazar Police Station. The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) said that its members were free to take the case of Ranjan Daimary or any other persons.

May 12

Sentinel reports that with a view to carrying out extortion drive, the NSCN-IM recently provided arms training for about 30 Muslim youths from Barak Valley for three months at its headquarters camp Hebron in Nagaland. Further, the Naga militant group needs a militant outfit in the valley, which could be used for pushing its cadres into Bangladesh.

Telegraph reports that the MHA has rescheduled its deadline for the completion of border fencing along the 269 kilometer long border in Assam with Bangladesh to April 2012.

May 13

Assam Tribune quoting security sources reports that the NSCN played a key role in the formation of the NDFB, while the outfit also maintained links with Pakistan’s ISI since the early 1990s. Sources further revealed that Daimary also stayed in the bases of the NSCN in Thailand for quite some time and established contacts with some agents of the ISI in 1993.

May 14

The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Kamrup remanded NDFB ‘charman’ Ranjan Daimary to another two days of Police custody after he was produced in a camp court at the Guwahati Central Jail premises.

The pro-talks faction of the NDFB which is on a ceasefire mode has accused the State Government of doing "politics of hatred and discrimination" against the Bodo community and asked the Government of India to create "Bodoland" without further delay under Article 2 and 3 of the Indian Constitution.

May 16

NDFB ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary said that he was ready to hold unconditional peace talks with New Delhi but made it clear negotiations cannot be held with "handcuffs on".

Sentinel reports that various non-Dimasa tribes had teamed up to form a new militant outfit, Hill Tiger Force (HTF), in protest against the State Government’s decision to rename the North Cachar Hills as ‘Dima Hasao’ District to appease the Dimasa community.

The CBI secured nine days’ remand for the Ranjan Daimary, the prime accused in the October 30, 2008 serial blasts. Daimary was produced at the Court of CJM, Kamrup after remaining in 14 days’ Police custody in connection with two different cases.

May 17

Telegraph quoting sources which interrogated NDFB ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary reports that he used to receive nearly INR 0.6 to 0. 7 million every month from Assam half of which was spent on running a camp at Khagracherri in Bangladesh and another in Myanmar.

One RVA cadre was arrested in a joint operation of Goalpara Police and CRPF in Salpara village under Dudhnoi Police Station of Goalpara District.

SFs arrested the Kokrajhar platoon 'commander' of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

Two ULFA were arrested by SFs operating in Darrang District. The duo was intercepted near Patharighat in an Army mobile check post.

Assam Tribune reports that majority of the militant groups of the Northeast are still getting weapons manufactured by the Government run ordnance factories in China, while the weapons offloaded by the Chinese Army is also being sold to the militants by the clandestine arms dealers.

A MULTA cadre was arrested by SFs at Tarai bari under Goalpara Police Station in Goalpara District.

Hagrama Mohilary, the chief of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) welcomed NDFB leader Ranjan Daimari's proposal for unconditional talks to resolve the issues between the Government and the NDFB leadership.

According to delayed report, a cadre of the Manipur based PULF was arrested by Lakhipur Police from Labac part-I in Chanpur of Cachar District.

Two militants were killed in a gunfight between the Karbi Liberation Tiger Force (KLTF) and Police at Bokoliaghat village in Karbi Anglong District. The KLTF is a newly floated group in the Karbi Anglong District, comprising some cadres of the KLNLF that entered into a ceasefire with Union Government in 2009. The KLTF is fighting for an independent homeland for the Karbi tribe in eastern Assam.

A NDFB militant was shot dead killed by the SFs during an encounter in Udalguri District.

A person returning from "a business trip" in China was arrested in Bangladesh, prompting the Indian Government to verify whether he is ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua.

Unconfirmed reports also said that ULFA 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, who had been in Bangladesh for over 10 years, was handed over to Indian authorities in New Delhi.

Two ULFA cadres were arrested by the BSF troops during a search operation at Jorhat.

Telegraph reports that the pro-talks faction of the NDFB has expressed concern over the alleged harassment of some of its members by the CBI by trying to implicate them in the October 30, 2008 blasts.

Suspected NDFB militant was killed by the SFs during an encounter in the Ambari area under Datigiri Police outpost in Chirang District bordering Bhutan.

A MULTA cadre was arrested by SFs during a search operation at Kumri in Goalpara District.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai dismissed reports on the arrest of ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua in Bangladesh.

A tea planter, who was abducted from Karimganj District by a breakaway Reang outfit on May 11, was released their hideout in neighbouring Hailakandi District. Police sources said he was, the assistant manager of Dullavcherra tea estate in Karimganj, was set free at Betcherra in Katlicherra block, by the UDLF-B. It is a splinter group of the UDLA, whose leader, D. Reang, was arrested in 2009.

Assam Tribune reports that security sources said that the ULFA has started a massive drive to extort money to boost its coffers and a number of persons including businessmen received extortion notes.

Sentinel reports that SFs operating in Kharupetia in Darrang District neutralised a major narcotics racket in the area and recovered 85 kilogrammes of contraband ganja (marijuana) and arrested two persons. Later, with the raid in Manik's house the Army recovered additional 70 kilogrammes of marijuana. However, Manik Boro managed to escape. The money from this illegal drug trade was being used to fund the anti-talks faction of the NDFB operating in Udalguri District.

A ULFA linkman was arrested by the SFs during a search operation at Salbari in Kokrajhar District.

A surrendered MULTA cadre was arrested by the SFs from Lalkura village in Dhubri District. He was acting as a NDFB linkman.

A NDFB militant was killed in an encounter with SFs at Lalborahi under Rangapara Police Station along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur District.

A large quantity of explosives, suspected to be belonging to ULFA, was recovered by the SFs from Joypur reserve forest of Dibrugarh District.

A senior Police official in Kokrajhar said there was confusion among the NDFB cadres and other second-rank leaders after the arrest of their 'chairman' and founder Ranjan Daimary. Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police P.K. Dutta said that the NDFB was still well-equipped with sophisticated weapons and can strike hard.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in Dispur said, "The law-and-order situation has improved and groups like ULFA and NDFB, besides others have realised the futility of violence, which is a good sign." while renewing his appeal to ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah to come for peace talks.

Self-styled 'lance corporal' of '28^th battalion' of the ULFA surrendered before SFs in Tinsukia District.

Ranjan Daimary, 'chairman' of the NDFB was produced before a camp court in the Guwahati Central Jail. The court has sent him to one-day transit custody under the Sonitpur Police in connection with the Bhimajuli blast case.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in Guwahati said that there had been a dramatic improvement in the State's security scenario. He also informed that while the Chief Minister has been asked to carry forward the political process for negotiation with the militant outfits the SFs have been instructed 'to continue implementing the policy that is in force.'

Union Home Minister said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would take decisions on peace talks with the ULFA - when, with whom and how- and that the Union Government would extend all help towards that end.

Sentinel reports that in a joint operation, the SFs neutralised a consignment of arms and ammunition, headed for Dimapur in Nagaland, near Garampani area of Karbi Anglong District and arrested four persons on an unspecified date.

The Assam State Cabinet decided to start the process of talks with the ULFA without Paresh Baruah, the 'commander-in-chief' of the outfit, who is still maintaining a rigid stand on the issue of talks.

The CBI released photographs of nine NDFB militants, who were accused in the October 30, 2008 serial blasts in Assam. The CBI has announced a cash reward of INR 0.5 million for anyone giving information about the militants.

Assam Police claimed that three of the top NDFB cadres, who have also been named in the charge sheet filed by the CBI in connection with October 30, 2008 serial blasts, are trying to regroup the unit with their bases outside the country.

With the Assam Government deciding in principle to initiate talks with the ULFA, the outfit responded by saying that any decision on its participation would be taken by its 'general council'.

Assam Government stated that the role of the Union Government's interlocutor P.C. Haldar will "remain intact" despite Union Government handing over the mandate to carry forward the political process with insurgent outfits to the State Government.

Three NDFB cadres were arrested by the SFs from Kokrajhar area. The cadres were reportedly involved in one of the nine bomb explosions in Bongaigaon on October 30, 2008.

CBI Superintendent of Police, N.S. Kharayat, said, "All the four [including cadres arrested in Kokrajhar] arrested are directly linked to the serial blasts and we consider it a major success and we hope to catch a few more soon." "Vital clues were provided by NDFB chairman Ranjan Daimary during our nine days interrogation," he added.

NDFB 'chairman' Ranjan Daimary, who has been in Biswanath Chariali Police Station since he was produced in the Biswanath Court on May 16 last in connection with the October 4, 2009 Bhimajuli massacre, confessed before the Sonitpur District Police that the action was headed by top hardcore militant leader I.K. Songbijir alias Songbijir Ingti Kathar.

Sentinel reports that earlier PULF cadre was arrested from Lalpani under Jirighat Police Station on an unspecified date.

ULFA said that it had never agreed to start a dialogue without Paresh Barua. Its 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary said that since no formal decision has been taken by us, the question of leaving out Paresh Barua does not arise.

NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary has been sent to three days' Police custody of Rangapara Police Station against the case No.140/09.The court of first class judicial magistrate, Tezpur, ordered the three-day remand for him.

Unidentified miscreants set ablaze a Nagaland bound truck carrying 70 brand new motor-cycles at Rangajan in Golaghat District. Sources said that the truck along with the motor-cycles were set ablaze by the supporters of counter-blockade prior to the peace talk between the Union Government and the NSCN-IM which is scheduled to be held from May 31 in Nagaland.

Khargeswar Basumatary alias Rahul Brahma, one of the prime accused in the October 30, 2008 serial blasts, was sent to CBI custody for eight days by a local court of Guwahati. Basumatary was arrested from Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh on May 27.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi asked the ULFA to formally apprise the State Government of its decision on peace talks to end three decades of insurgency in the region.

Sentinel reports that SFs neutralised an isolated ULFA hideout in a Char (riverine) area at Bangalpota near Rangamati under Mangaldai Police Station in Darrang District on an unspecified date. A ULFA cadre and linkman were arrested in the operation from Char area.

The central committee leaders of the ULFA, including 'vice-president' Pradip Gogoi and 'publicity secretary' Mithinga Daimary, met in the central jail on the issue of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's statement on May 30 that the outfit should send a formal proposal for peace talks to the Government.

Two NDFB cadres were killed in an encounter with SFs at Aodang bazaar under Karigaon Police outpost in Kokrajhar District.

A Santhali Tiger Force (STF) militant was arrested by the SFs from Kalasi Jharbari under Serfanguri Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

A militant of '3^rd battalion' of the NDFB surrendered before the CRPF IGP (NES) R.K. Singh in Guwahati.

A NDFB cadre was arrested by the SFs from Matiadol under Bogribari Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

After a long 24 years, Ranjan Daimary, chief of NDFB, entered home town Udalguri amid tight security. Daimary was produced in Udalguri court and was remanded to Udalguri Police custody for 14 days.

Even after the arrest of Ranjan Daimary, cadres of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB are indulging in abduction to extort money. According to Police, at least nine persons are in the captivity of the outfit in the forest areas along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.

Sentinel reports that another militant outfit masquerading as HTF has appeared in Dima Hasao District. The report adds that floating of HTF cannot be viewed in isolation. With the naming of North Cachar Hills as Dima Hasao and as approved by the State Government, united voice of resentment and protest by various non Dimasa bodies has been raging across the District.

Unidentified militants exploded two grenades near the public health engineering office at Haflong in North Cachar Hills District of Assam around 8 pm (IST).

A cadre and two linkmen of the anti-talks faction of NDFB were arrested from Sesapani and Kagrabari villages under Dotma Police Station in the Kokrajhar District.

A police team recovered a cache of explosives from a banana grove at Chinatoly village under Gaurisagar Police Station in Sivasagar District. The recovery includes 12 IEDs, 24 detonators, five batteries, fuse wire and flexible wire.

NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary would be interrogated soon by Kokrajhar Police, informed Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police P.K. Dutta. Dutta also revealed that there were evidences establishing links between NDFB militants and political parties like Bodo People's Progressive Front (BPPF), which was of serious concern.

Dutta also referred to specific inputs that KLO 'chief' Jiban Sing was presently roaming in the border areas of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Dhubri Districts of lower Assam keeping nexus with ULFA cadres to strengthen militant activities.

The report submitted to the Union Government by the IB stated that the ULFA is no longer a force to reckon with.

Telegraph reports that the ULFA is unlikely to formally express its willingness to sit for the proposed peace talks with the Government until Bangladesh hands over its 'general secretary' Anup Chetia, despite the apparent desire of its leaders in Assam to start the process at the earliest.

Counter blockade imposed by the supporters of All Assam Manipur Students' Organization on vehicles going to Nagaland from Assam set on fire an oil tanker heading towards Makokchung at Golaghat.

Assam Tribune quoting security agency sources reports that the newly constituted Eastern Region Bureau of the CPI-Maoist had been entrusted with the task of establishing foothold in the Northeast.

Another loaded truck carrying essential commodities was overturned at Amarjan in Karbi-Anglong.

A Joint Action Committee (JAC) formed by 12 organisations under the aegis of the All Assam Manipuri Students' Organisation imposed a 36-hour counter blockade from Numaligarh in Golaghata and Nagaon to Dimapur in Nagaland against imposition of economic blockade in Manipur by Naga bodies.

Assam Tribune quoting sources revealed that the total strength of the ULFA cadres in Myanmar would be around 100 or so.

Eight goods laden trucks heading toward Dimapur in Nagaland were reportedly targeted and damaged by unidentified persons at Amarjan along National Highway 39 in Karbi Anglong District in protest against the ongoing economic blockade in Manipur.

The Naga Students' Federation (NSF), the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the North East Students' Organization (NESO) met in Guwahati and appealed to the organizations that have called Manipur blockade to resort to democratic agitation and get their problems solved through talks.

A 52-year-old person was shot dead by unidentified militants at Gobardhona in Baksa District.

HPC-D and the KNF have increased their activities in North Cachar Hills District bordering Nagaland. Police sources said two militant outfits are believed to be involved in three blasts in the District within the last one month.

A ULFA linkman was arrested by the SFs from Paikan in Goalpara District.

The first round political dialogue on the charter of demands submitted to the Government by the KLNLF was held at Parliament Street in New Delhi with the Union Government's peace interlocutor P.C. Halder and a delegation of the KLNLF.

Telegraph reports that militant outfits from Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh had served extortion notices to small tea growers of Assam who own gardens along the border with the two States.

Two women of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, were arrested by the SFs in Dhubri District and being interrogated for their role in June 1 explosives haul from Sanjib Marak and Trilok Marak.

A ULFA cadre was arrested by the Police from Amingaon area under Jhalukbari Police Station in Guwahati city.

A KLNLF linkman was arrested by the BSF under Bokakhat Police Station in Golaghat District.

A senior cadre of the '109^th battalion' of the ULFA, Dimbeswar Roy, surrendered before Kokrajhar Police.

A MULTA cadre was arrested by the SFs in a joint operation at Saopata village under Bilasipara Police Station of Dhubri District.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ULFA had formally expressed its willingness to open peace talks with the Government to end more than three decades of violent insurgency in the State.

Suspected anti-talks faction of the NDFB cadre was shot dead by the SFs at Khoksaguri in Kokrajhar District.

A trader, Dulal Das (50), was abducted by three unidentified gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons at Dingdinga market under Gossaigaon Police Station in Kokrajhar District.

A youth, Dipak Boro (26), resident of Tamulpur in Baksa District was arrested by the Noonmati Police with a huge cache of explosives in the Narengi area of the Guwahati city. According to Police sources, the youth had come to the city to deliver the explosives to NDFB militants who are holed up in Guwahati.

The body of former ULFA leaders, All Assam Prakton ULFA Samannayarakshi Sommittee, said that talks between the Government and the outfit should be held without any precondition set by either side. The association also said that the rights of the indigenous people should figure in the peace talks failing which the former ULFA cadres would resort to andolan (movement) once again.

Assam Tribune added that the association further warned that if the State Government fails to meet their demands on rehabilitation packages and withdrawal of the TADA cases within a month's time, they will go for a State wide 'militant democratic' agitation. The former ULFA members, who have returned to the mainstream either by surrendering or without surrendering before the authorities, number around 14,000.

Suspected Santali Tiger Force (STF) militants shot dead a Birsa Commando Force (BCF) cadre at Betbari under Sapkata Police Outpost in Gossaigaon subdivision of Kokrajhar District.

Four suspected militants of a Muslim insurgent outfit were arrested by the Police as they were coming from Sonitpur District, from the 6th Mile area of the Guwahati city.

A NDFB cadre was arrested from Madatijhara in Kokrajhar District.

The former Director of Intelligence Bureau, P.C. Haldar, would be appointed as the interlocutor for the negotiation with the ULFA. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi suggested his name to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

A senior ULFA cadre was killed by SFs during an encounter at Gondhia Gharmora village in Lakhimpur District.

A cadre belonging to '709^th battalion' of the ULFA was arrested by the Police from Panjabari in Guwahati city.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the ULFA outfit was heading for a split and sharp cracks have surfaced. He said that half of the central committee members were in jail and the rest are outside Assam. He admitted that it was not numbers, but the ULFA military chief's firepower and the potential to create trouble that is bothering the Government.

The Chief Minister also ruled out the possibility of declaring a unilateral cease-fire, asserting that the Government had information that Paresh Barua's group was still trying to foment problem in the State.

A group of ULFA militants attacked the Bajrangpur tea estate and attempted to kill manager Indra Kumar Baruah in Tinsukia District. Intelligence sources said that the attack by ULFA militants showed that the outfit was in the process of recovering lost ground in the Tinsukia District. The attack was said to be the fallout of the garden authorities' refusal to pay INR one million demanded by the outfit in January, 2010.

The sources also said Arindam Saharia alias Bijoy Kalita - who was arrested in Siliguri of West Bengal, along with former commanding officer of the outfit's '28 battalion' Mrinal Hazarika and later granted bail rejoined the outfit and had been leading the cadres to re-establish bases in Upper Assam, particularly in Tinsukia District.

Manik Chandra Baishya, senior engineer of the technical branch of the State Agriculture Directorate, Khanapara of Guwahati city, was abducted and killed for money. The Police subsequently arrested three persons, including the driver of Baishya, on the charge of committing the crime. The Police confirmed that the ULFA had demanded money from Manik Chandra Baishya, but said that only investigation would reveal if the outfit was involved in the killing of the engineer.

Sentinel reports that a group of ten ULFA cadres has entered the Guwahati city to carry out extortion and subversive activities as per directions from commandant of '709 battalion' Hira Sarania.

Assam Tribune reports that the CBI had been given only a limited mandate to into the root of corruption in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council. Sources revealed that during the course of investigation of a case of use of Council funds for procurement of weapons by the BW militants.

A MULTA cadre was arrested by the SFs from Chirakuti village in Dhubri District.

Assam Tribune reports that the anti-talks faction of the NDFB is planning to trigger off explosions in different parts of the State to show its strength, while the SFs are being kept on high alert to thwart such a move after receiving inputs in this regard. The Police said that the strength of the outfit would be around 300 and the 'zonal commanders' were taking most of the decisions on their own after the arrest of NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary.

In its meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi slated for to explore the possibility of opening peace talks with the ULFA, the six-member steering committee of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhivartan (SJA) led by Hiren Gohain would raise the issue of release of the jailed ULFA leaders so as to enable the outfit to take a decision of peace talks with the Government, sources said.

Assam Tribune reports that the anti-talks faction of the NDFB is planning to trigger off explosions in different parts of the State to show its strength, while the SFs are being kept on high alert to thwart such a move after receiving inputs in this regard.

The Police said that the strength of the outfit would be around 300 and the 'zonal commanders' were taking most of the decisions on their own after the arrest of NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary. The outfit is still maintaining its bases in the Khagrachari area of Bangladesh, while the newly set up bases of the outfit in Myanmar are being maintained with the help of Manipur-based KYKL. The NDFB still have a number of trained cadres as 26 batches of boys were trained in Bangladesh since 2004 and a number of trained militants are still at large, which is a major concern for the SFs.

Suspected NDFB militants abducted a timber trader from his house at Ballimari under Bijni Police Station in Chirang District.

Two NDFB militants were shot dead by SFs and a camp belonging to the outfit was neutralised in Sonitpur District.

One suspect was arrested by the CRPF in Dhubri District. SFs recovered one kilogramme gelatine, two detonators and explosives from his house.

Two NDFB cadres were arrested by SFs from two different places in Dhemaji District.

The UPDS along with its political partner Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) and several non political organizations of different communities that have inhabited the Karbi Anglong are jointly campaigning in different places of the District for a long lasting peace and immediate political solution of the UPDS's issue.

The Union Government said it wanted ULFA leaders to come for a dialogue with "dignity" but left the issue of the release of those in jail to the judiciary and the Assam Government.

Pro-talks leader and former commanding officer of the outfit's '28th battalion' of the ULFA, Mrinal Hazarika, said, "There is no question of frustration. It is totally immaterial as to who did what. We have maintained right from the first day when we declared unilateral ceasefire that we will be happy to even sacrifice our lives if Assam can have permanent peace. That statement still stays. The basic thing is that we all want peace, that's all."

One ULFA cadre was arrested by the troops from village Balipota under Kalaigaon Police Station in Darrang District. The cadre is an active member of the 'publicity wing' of '27^th battalion' of the ULFA and was reportedly operating in Sonitpur District.

Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister B.K. Handique said the peace initiatives with the ULFA is in right direction, but demand of NSCN-IM for Greater Nagaland can not be met.

The ceasefire group of ULFA reiterated its demand before the Union and the State Governments to expedite the peace process with the outfit, during a celebration at the Kakopathar designated camp to mark the completion of the second year of the unilateral ceasefire.

Kapchi Zeme Naga, the self styled 'president' of HTF claimed responsibilities of the blasts in Haflong and denied the media report that a Kuki militant outfit was behind the recent grenade blasts. Kapchi further threatened that until their demand for bifurcation of the North Cachar Hills into two separate autonomous Districts was fulfilled, the HTF would continue their violent activities, targeting Government establishments as well as public places.

In a setback to the efforts of a civil society group in reviving talks with the ULFA, the outfit said the body of senior citizens and intellectuals do not represent the common people. ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah rejected the recent move of Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) to move the Union Government to hasten the talks process. "It is the view of ULFA and we have nothing to say," Gohain said on arrival from New Delhi in reply. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had on June 24 said peace talks with ULFA would take place even if Baruah stays away.

A ULFA area 'commander' was shot dead by SFs during a counter-insurgency operation at Udalguri.

One surrendered NDFB cadre was killed by unidentified assailants at Gauripur in Dhubri. The surrendered NDFB demanded a judicial inquiry into the killing of its member.

The Police arrested eight militants, including four ULFA cadres, from various parts of the Guwahati city. The other four arrested militants include two cadres of the UNLF and as many cadres of Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) in Meghalaya.

Eight Halom National Liberation Army (HNLA) militants surrendered before troops in Haflong.

The chief convener of the steering committee of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) Hiren Gohain said that they had very little to say on the reaction of ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua to their effort to resolve the vexed ULFA insurgency issue. However, he described the reaction of Paresh Barua to their effort as 'entirely negative.'

The pro-talk faction of the NDFB led by Gobinda Basumatary as the chairman has been named as NDFB-Progressive (NDFB-P) so as to differentiate it from the one led by Ranjan Daimary.

Two ULFA cadres surrendered before SFs in Lakhimpur.

One NDFB linkman was arrested by the Army, who was sent to extort INR 0.5 million from a tea estate manager in Sonitpur on an unspecified date. In another incident, another NDFB linkman was arrested by the Army, while he tried to extort INR 300, 000 from a contractor at Mazbat in Udalguri District.

Two cadres of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB were arrested by SFs from near the Mazbat railway station in Udalguri District.

The families of those reportedly killed in blasts and other violent activity of the ULFA have demanded punishment to the cadres of the outfit as per the Constitution of India involved in the killings. They also opposed any move to release the jailed ULFA leaders in the name of peace talks.

Former Lieutenant General D.B. Shekhatkar observed that insurgency in Northeast should never be equated with that in Jammu and Kashmir. While dealing with insurgency in the Northeast states, the Government of India should adopt different strategies for different states depending on the ground situation instead of clubbing the same together, he said.

"Bodoland, as demanded by the NDFB, will ensure security and rights of all linguistic ethnic groups living within this land and no one should have doubts regarding this," said Govinda Basumatary alias B Swmkhwr, 'general secretary' of NDFB-Progressive while addressing a group of media persons of Bodoland Journalists' Association at the designated camp of the outfit at Chandana village under Udalguri Police Station.

The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in New Delhi that the detained ULFA leaders could talk with the Government from the prison.

Suspected ULFA militants assaulted the manager of a tea garden and an employee before setting ablaze two mini trucks and a motorcycle in the estate at Bijulibon under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District.

A NDFB linkman was arrested by the SFs at Simultapu of Kokrajhar District along with a cash of INR 1.8 million.

The Government indicated that it will not release the jailed ULFA leadership to facilitate the peace process.

The Union Government in New Delhi extended the ceasefire agreements with the pro-talk faction of the NDFB and Nunisa faction of the DHD for six months till December 31.

Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Diganta Bora told that the two ULFA cadres, Amjad Chetia and Akon Moran, had teamed up with a heavily armed ULFA group after roaming around with the AK-series rifles and other arms and ammunition they had fled with for some time. Both had fled the designated camp of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA at Kakopathar in Tinsukia District in early 2009.

ULFA has suddenly become active in Tinsukia District, the latest being targeting the tea industry for money, sources in SFs and intelligence agencies said. The SFs identified certain zones like the Tarani-Sikorajan-Kenduguri-Mohong-New Mohong-Maithong-Betoni as the focal points for their operations as intelligence agencies have reported frequent movement of the ULFA group in these areas.

A NDFB militant was shot dead by the police in an encounter at Kahirabari in Baksa District of Assam.

Niranjan Hojai, 'commander-in-chief' of the BW was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from a place near Nepal capital Kathmandu and brought to New Delhi.

A cadre belonging to anti-talks faction of the NDFB was killed in an encounter with joint forces of the Army and Police at Narayanpur in Chirang District.

The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) Dima Hasao District and Dimasa Student's Union (DSU) blamed the Government that instead of releasing the 'chief' of the BW Jewel Garlosa and other BW leaders from judicial custody and granting general amnesty to the BW leaders to enable the BW leaders to hold peace talks with the Government, the Government had arrested Niranjan Hojai and has not yet lifted the ban on the BW.

July 5

Sentinel reports that seven cadres of anti-talks faction of the NDFB gave up arms at a ceremony in Golaghat District on an unspecified date.

Atul Bordoloi of Pulibor area under Pulibor Police Station of Jorhat District was arrested on charges of an extortion case by Jorhat Police. Police sources said the arrested person is involved with extortion from various persons of the District with the help of ULFA.

The steering committee of the SJA has asked the Government to issue a clear and unequivocal statement forthwith on objectives and modalities of the proposed talks between it and the ULFA, and to allay the fears of the general public on the issue.

July 6

Two NDFB cadres were shot dead by the SFs in an encounter inside the Rowta Reserve Forest under Mazbat Police Station in Udalguri District. Two militants lobbed grenade on the SFs before they were shot dead.

A NDFB linkman was arrested by the SFs from Namkhola Village under Khairabari Police Station in Darrang District.

SFs claimed of having foiled a plan by the anti-talks faction of the NDFB to carry out blasts in Assam following the recovery of a huge quantity of explosive materials in Udalguri District.

An employee of Gouripur P.B. College of Dhubri District and a local Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) party leader died of his injuries. Two motor-cycle borne NDFB militants had fired at him on June 26.

July 7

The BW suspended its indefinite bandh (general shut down) in the Dima Hasao District for seven days in view of the inconvenience faced by the people.

Several long-distance trains, including Rajdhani Express, were stranded at various stations in lower Assam and Bengal from 9am in the wake of a three-hour rail rook (shut down) called by the Ex-BLT Welfare Society and Surrendered NDFB Welfare Association, demanding proper implementation of the Bodo Accord.

July 8

One minor was killed and six wounded in an explosion on a railway track at Babubil in Kokrajhar District that ripped apart a coach of a passenger train, officials said. Police blamed the NDFB for the bomb blast.

In the bomb explosion on a railway track at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar District, number of injured persons increased to 23. This blast came within hours of another explosion on railway tracks in Sonitpur District.

SFs recovered an IED planted on the railway track over the Panchnoi bridge under Mazbat Police Station bordering Udalguri-Sonitpur District around 5:30 am. Another IED was recovered at Rakshamari in Udalguri District.

Two arms dealers were arrested by the Army from Kalaincherra Cachar District. During search operation a large quantity of explosives and detonators were recovered by the Army.

Assam Tribune reports that the recent arrest of an agent of Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) agent in Tripura foiled a game plan of the Pakistani agency to create a new network in the Northeast States including Assam.

A cadre of '709 battalion' ULFA was arrested by Police from Beltola area in Guwahati on charges of extortion,

Two NDFB cadres surrendered before Seema Sashastra Bal training camp at Salonibari, in Sonitpur District.

The anti-talks faction of the NDFB said that they could not be stopped despite the tall claims of the Government. The NDFB statement said the attack was in response to the shabby treatment meted out to its leader Ranjan Daimary and the killing of innocent Bodo youths by the SFs.

The Ex- Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) Welfare Society today demanded that the Government should arrest United Democratic People's Front (UDPF) spokesman Pradip Kumar Daimary who is also the MCLA of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) for his alleged nexus with the rebel outfit NDFB.

A suspected KLO militant was arrested by the SFs from Kherbari village in Dhubri District.

July 9

Official sources said that the Government of India is likely to wait for the ULFA leaders to make the first move for talks.

An IED weighing nearly 15 kilogrammes was recovered and subsequently defused by Assam Rifles near Nagda market at Itakhola in Sonitpur District Army sources said they suspect the NDFB hand in the incident.

July 10

The reports of extortion in Digboi and Tinsukia were received following the extortion threat to Oil Company Canoro operating in Sonari area. Canoro has sought Union Government’s help after it received an extortion note demanding INR five million. ‘Sergeant Major’ of ‘28^th battalion’ of ULFA Pradip Baruah alias Rajib Das along with an 11-member group is allegedly operating in Lakhimpur and other Upper Assam Districts.

The ULFA has condemned July 8 bomb blast on the rail track at Gossaigaon Balubil and also termed it as an "inhuman" act. In the statement, signed by its ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua, the outfit also mourned the death of minor boy in the incident.

All Police Stations in upper Assam were asked to beef up security and to remain alert following Intelligence reports indicating alleged entry of ULFA cadres of the ‘28th battalion’ in Majuli a few weeks ago and fanning out from there.

A NDFB militant was killed in an encounter with SFs at the Hijuguti area under Rangapara Police Station in the same District.

A NDFB militant suspected to have been involved in the July 8 blast which caused the derailing of the Kolkata-bound Garib Rath Express was arrested by SFs in Chirang District.

An ISI agent was arrested by SFs from Guwahati city. Das was associated with ISI agent Moniur Rahman who was arrested in Tripura

July 11

A suspected cadre belonging to anti-talks faction of the NDFB was killed in an encounter with the Police and Army at Sapoi Rowmari in Sonitpur District bordering Arunachal Pradesh.

SFs recovered one improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 15 kilogrammes planted in a culvert connected with 200 metre long electric wire. The IED was located in Gutibari area of Tinsukia District.

The Union Government decided to hold talks with jailed leaders of militant outfits in "special jails", thus ruling out the possibility of releasing them for starting a dialogue.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that peace process with the ULFA was "on the right track". "There is no stalemate and the peace process is definitely on the right track," he said.

Right to Information Act (RTI) activist Akhil Gogoi claimed having dug out two files that reveal Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma was arrested in 1991 for his alleged links with the ULFA.

Assam Environment and Forest Minister Rokybul Hussain informed the State Legislative Assembly that militants killed 1,549 civilians and 205 SFs between 2001 and June 2010. Further, he said the House that six militant outfits are active in the State at present. According to him seven new outfits are also active.

A KLO cadre was arrested by Security Forces during a search operation at Tamarhat in Dhubri District.

Nagaland Page reports that four militant groups of Manipur, ULFA and NSCN- K have jointly decided to put up a joint front against the NSCN-IM in Manipur, following a senior level meeting held in Bangladesh recently.

The PLA emphasized on the aspect of having good nexus with the CPI-Maoist, insurgent groups of Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast.

Assam Accord Implementation Minister Bhumidhar Barman in written reply informed the State Legislative Assembly that between January 1, 2001 and June 31, 2010, 14,586 people were identified as foreigners in Assam.

ULFA linkman was arrested in a joint operation by the Police and the army from Kamargaon village in Barpeta District.

An encounter between three ULFA cadres and Police was reported from Deodhaigaon Bezapathar under Khowang Police Station in Dibrugarh District. However, all the three militants managed to escape from the encounter site. An ULFA linkman was subsequently arrested by a joint team of the Police and Army from the village.

Intelligence agencies had earlier received reports that a 15-member ULFA group had entered Dibrugarh District from Myanmar through Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh. They said the group has hardcore cadres like Samudra Nirmaliya and Gojen Konwar. However, the 15 to 20-member group was not moving together.

Suspected militants exploded a bomb in Udalguri District senior Police official in Udalguri said the blast was triggered at a railway bridge near a forest, about three kilometers from Rowta, around 1am. Train services were suspended in that section connecting Arunachal Pradesh with Assam.

Suspected militants planted another bomb at Fancy Bazar in Guwahati. The Police said that three women were seen leaving the Fancy Bazar area soon after the bag containing the bomb was spotted by an ice-cream vendor, Ratan Lal Lohar, around 9 p.m.

Troop claimed of having established a link between NDFB and the Manipur-based PLA with the arrest of three PLA militants, including self-styled captain R.K. Tumba alias Benjamin, from a rented house at Chandmari in Guwahati.

The frequent alerts and advisories to suspend running of trains has affected the Northeast Frontier Railway's (NFR) operation.

A suspected cadre of the anti-talk faction of the KLNLF was killed during an encounter by SFs at Uttamji of Loring Thipi outpost under Howraghat Police Station in Karbi Anglong District.

The NDFB denied its involvement in July 15 bomb blast at Fancy Bazar, Guwahati and accused the State machinery of blaming the outfit needlessly.

The ISI agent Munir Khan, arrested from West District, has admitted besides, spreading anti-Indian activities in Guwahati, ISI had widened its net in south Assam and Manipur.

A cadre of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB was killed in an encounter with the SFs at Amteka Chauthang Bazar in Bijni subdivision of Chirang District.

A kilogramme of RDX, an electronic detonator and a clock were recovered from two scooter-borne suspects at Bardua check post in Kamrup District, reports Sentinel. The explosive materials were brought from Assam-Meghalaya border. Two suspects were arrested by the Police.

The NIA took further remand of 'commander-in-chief' of BW Niranjan Hojai to take him to Delhi for "scientific tests". The court of the special judge, Adhir Kumar Das, extended the custody for seven days.

A ULFA militant was shot dead by SFs in an encounter at Jokai Ghitiapathar, Borbeel village in Dibrugarh District. He is the first cadre to be killed by the SFs after he rejoined the outfit after fleeing from the Kakopathar designated camp. Dibrugarh Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP, Headquarters) Debasish Sarma said the Police had received clues about the presence of the ULFA militant from another cadre of the outfit who was arrested from Namrup on July 19.

SFs recovered a bomb-like object, believed to be from the World War II era, from the Kamenbari area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Sonitpur District.Police said the 100 kilogramme object was kept hidden in the area by cadres of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB.

HTF called a 12-hour Dima Hasao District bandh (general shut down) on July 21.

A self-styled 'commander-in-chief', Bipul Bora (35) of a lesser-known outfit, Sanjukta Rakta Bahini, was arrested by the Police from the Narayanpur area under Bihpuria Police Station of Lakhimpur.

Former Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB), P.C. Haldar, who was appointed an interlocutor for talks with the ULFA, arrived at Guwahati on a three-day visit aimed at preparing the ground for negotiations with the outfit.

A 15-member delegation of the Indigenous Peoples Forum (IPF) met Assam Chief Secretary N.K. Das to press for the demand to bifurcate Dima Hasao (formerly North Cachar Hills) District.

An arms and explosive supplier, identified as Sanu Singh, was arrested by the Army from the village Rangirgath part III under Sonai Police Station in Cachar District along with six power gelatin sticks and detonators when he was going to supply it to the militant group.

BW 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai rejected the narco-test on him as suggested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Centre's peace interlocutor P.C.Haldar met BW 'chief' Jewel Gorlosa at Kahilipara.

President of the pro-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Mrinal Hazarika, said that July 21 Barpeta violence was a pre-planned act by certain sections to stop updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951, reported Assam Tribune.

Peace interlocutor P.C. Haldar met the jailed members of the central executive members of the ULFA at the Guwahati Central Jail. Haldar also had a meeting with the members of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) where six members of the SJA participated.

P.C. Haldar also met the representatives of the BW where a thorough discussion on the charter of demand took place.

P.C. Haldar held a discussion with a two-member KLNLF delegation at Circuit House in Guwahati.. Sources quoted Haldar as saying, "A separate State as demanded by the KLNLF is not possible." The KLNLF expressed unhappiness over the stand of Haldar on its demand for a separate State.

SFs claimed of neutralizing an extortion racket with the arrest of five KLO militants from Guwahati.

Three ULFA were arrested by the Police from Bijni in Chirang District.

The ULFA appealed to its jailed leaders not to give up the demand for sovereignty. In a release, the ULFA said that there is no alternative to sovereignty of Assam and if the outfit gives up the demand, it would mean bowing down before the enemy.

KLNLF militant was arrested by SFs from Singh Ingti village, under Santipur Police Station, in Karbi Anglong District.

One more KLO cadre was arrested from the Sapatgram area of Dhubri District. He was one of the 18 KLO cadres running the extortion network in Dhubri and West Bengal's Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling Districts over cell phones.

Security Sources said that the entire India-Bangladesh border is still not fenced and though the strength of the Border Security Force (BSF) has been increased, there is need for further increasing of the strength of the border guarding force so that one Border out Post (BOP) of the force is visible from the next. There is urgent need for increasing patrolling in the riverine international border.

Sources further said that so far, the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and other forces inimical to India have not sent their operatives to Assam to carry out subversive activities as the militant groups active in the State are indulging in such acts, but such possibility in future cannot be ruled out.

Five ULFA linkmen were arrested by the Army on National Highway 37 at Tiplai while they were travelling to Rongjuli from Dhupdhara in Goalpara in a Tata Sumo.

Two hard core militants of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB were arrested by the Army while they were carrying out extortion in the areas of Tangla, Dimakuchi and Bhergaon area of the Udalguri District.

On the basis of the information revealed by the arrested militants, Shamla Boro of Village Rowmari No. 2 under Khairabari Police Station was arrested.

A Nepali youth was arrested during a joint raid by the Army and Police on suspicion of having links with the NSCN Belbari area in Dibrugarh District.

The All Kamtapur Students' Organisation has claimed that the youths recently arrested from Guwahati and Dhubri and labelled activists of the KLO, were innocent.

Four Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel, including an assistant commander, were killed and three others injured in an ambush by the Ranjan Daimary faction of the NDFB at Amlaiguri under Panbari Police Station in Chirang District along Bhutan border.

Pro-talks ULFA 'chairman' Mrinal Hazarika has sought legal action against the All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU) leaders involved in the Barpeta incident and said that the Bangladeshi issue has assumed serious proportions in Assam only because of the Jamiat.

An anti-talk faction of the NDFB camp was neutralised during a joint operation launched by the Assam Police and Army at Panjuri under Dokmoka Police Station in Karbi Anglong District.

A security alert had been sounded across the State in view of the "Swahid Divas" (Martyrs' Day) of the ULFA and the Independence Day on August 15. The Police sources said ULFA and NDFB militants might be holed up in the city waiting for an opportunity to set off bombs and other violent activities.

Five suspected NDFB linkmen were arrested by the Dhemaji Police from various parts of the Dhemaji District.

Assam has registered 138 terror incidents in 2010. SFs in Assam have killed 77 extremists and arrested 160. During the year, 25 civilians and two security personnel were killed in terror incidents, said Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken in a written reply in the Lok Sabha (lower house)..

In Northeastern States, 192 terror incidents took place in Manipur followed by Assam where 138 incidents took place.

Two cadres of the HPC-D were arrested by the Army from Bara Arkap village in southern Dima Hasao District. One of them was a local area 'commander' of the outfit.

Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha (upper house of Parliament, "The Government is aware that the normal lives of common people do get affected due to activities of certain militant groups who indulge in various insurgent activities including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, etc." "Unified Command has been set up in the States of Assam and Manipur to ensure coordinated operations," he said.

A militant belonging to the Manipur based militant outfit KCP was arrested by the SFs in Guwahati.

The anti-talks faction of the NDFB is recruiting tech-savvy youths to carry out their illegal activities through cyberspace. The report adds that four cadres of the faction belonging to Udalguri District were arrested by the SFs in Guwahati.

Three NDFB cadres were arrested by the Army in Baksa District. Two of them were arrested from Kumarikata and 2.5 kilogramme explosives recovered from their possession. Their arrest led to the arrest of another cadre from Paharpur.

At least five CRPF troopers were killed and 33 others injured, when the ULFA triggered an IED blast by damaging a bus at Bhalukdubi under Goalpara District. Intelligence sources, however, did not rule out the possibility of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB militants executing the blast at the behest of ULFA.

'Publicity cell' of the NDFB outfit was neutralised in Guwahati. An 'assistant publicity and information secretary', B. Barbai alias Bakul Brahma alias B. Bihung, was arrested at Lankeswar under Jalukbari Police Station on July 30. A woman cadre was also arrested along with him.

The Tea Association of India (TAI) has sent a distress message to the Assam Government seeking security in the wake of extortion notices being served by anti-talks faction of the NDFB and AANLA to several of its member gardens in Sonitpur and Darrang Districts recently.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that the anti-talk factions of the ULFA and the NDFB might be responsible for July 30 bomb blast in Goalpara District in Assam where five CRPF troopers were killed.

P. Chidambaram said factions of ULFA and NDFB were not ready for talks with the Centre. "Not all rebel groups have come to the table. One faction of the NDFB and another of Ulfa are against talks," Chidambaram told reporters.

Union Ministry of Home Affairs sources indicate that militancy-related violence in the Northeastern region has come down during the first six months of 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009. Of the Northeastern States, Assam and Manipur continue to remain trouble-torn, although the incidence of violence has come down during the past six months.

An IED weighing about eight kilogrammes was recovered by the Police from near a railway crossing at Udalguri town.

Two NDFB militants were arrested by the Kamrup Police from Boko area of Kamrup District.

An ULFA linkman, Taimur Ali, was arrested by the Army from Barkuriya area under Rangia Police Station.

Security has been beefed up in lower Assam ahead of Independence Day following intelligence reports that NDFB and ULFA militants would carry out subversive activities. The militants have brought in huge quantities of RDX and other explosives in the region, official sources said quoting the reports.

A bomb expert of '709^th battalion' of the ULFA was arrested from a rented house at Bodo Basti in the Noonmati Police Station area.

An ULFA militant was arrested by SFs from Barama in Baksa District and several extortion notes and documents were recovered from him.

The Indian Forest Service (IFS) official of the Maharashtra cadre, V.S. Bardekar, who was abducted from a village in Arunachal Pradesh by the anti-talks faction of the NDFB, was released at Dhekiajuli.

A central intelligence source said Goalpara Police appeared to be confused as Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had on July 30 condemned the bomb blast in Goalpara without specifying any outfit. Sources said that NDFB and ULFA have been on extortion drives jointly in lower Assam Districts, particularly in Goalpara and Kamrup.

The ULFA leaders asked the cadres to target SFs and Central Government installations. However, the ULFA cadres were asked to avoid killing of civilians as far as possible, Police sources said.

The '28^th battalion' of the ULFA is concentrating more on launching extortion drive in recent times. The '709th battalion' headed by Hira Sarania has not indulged in major act of violence in recent times and Police believes that Sarania is closer to the ULFA 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa and the possibility of his agreeing for talks in future cannot be ruled out.

A 10-member group of the ULFA built tent on some chaporis (sandbars) along the Brahmaputra River close to Majuli Island to intensify its operations in the Upper Assam Districts.

RDX weighing five kilogrammes was recovered by the Security Forces from Majuli, the River Island, at Morihuti under Jengraimukh Police Station in Jorhat District, bordering Lakhimpur District.

An IED was recovered from near national highway in Singara Jalebara area, Boko in Kamrup District.

The Police recovered a crude bomb weighing nearly 2.5 kilogrammes from Gukulkata under Gossaigaon subdivision in Kokrajhar District. According to sources, some villagers noticed a bomb-like object near the boundary wall of the house of a 'commander' of the pro-talk faction of the NDFB, Loknath Narzary, and informed the Police.

Two ULFA militants belonging to the '907^th battalion', identified as self-styled 'sergeant' Rajesh Barman and self-styled 'corporal' Puja Barman surrendered before Dhubri District Superintendent of Police Dipak Choudhury.

The jailed leaders of ULFA told Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) spokesman Hiren Gohain during his visit to the Guwahati Jail that they were not in a position to make any public statement from inside the jail. Gohain said that he had been told by the jailed leaders of the outfit that scopes were there to misinterpret their public statements from inside the jail as something made under pressure.

One major ULFA leader surrendered with arms along with his wife and lone minor daughter before the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Dhubri District.

Contrary to reports of the INR 50 million ransom demands by Bodo militants to ensure his release, senior forest official Vilas Bardekar said the militants did not seek any money from the Maharashtra Government.

The Union Government extended cease-fire with the UPDS for six months till December 31, an official spokesman of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced in New Delhi. Tripartite talks on the demands of UPDS are continuing, added the spokesman.

Four women cadres of the anti-talk faction of NDFB were arrested along with a two-year-old child by a team led by Superintendent of Police Jitmol Doley at the Assam State Transport Corporation bus stop in Tezpur in Sonitpur District.

Security has been tightened in Kokrajhar District ahead of Independence Day (August 15) celebrations to keep any subversive attempts by any of the militant outfits at bay. The District administration has geared up for the peaceful celebration of the Independence Day.

In a reply to reports of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) establishing links with insurgent outfits, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, M. Ramachandran said there are inputs of some of the militant groups operating in the Northeast have developed links with ISI. The Centre admitted to reports of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) seeking to establish links with the region's insurgent outfits.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram admitted that there were intelligence report to show that arms are smuggled across the border from Myanmar and Bangladesh. "These borders are porous. Fencing work is going on in the India-Bangladesh border," he said.

On the links between insurgent outfits and China, Minister of State for Home affairs, M. Ramachandran said there were no specific inputs. However, the Government of India is aware that some Indian insurgent groups are procuring arms and explosives and establishing camps in the territories of some neighbouring countries.

In a reply to reports of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) establishing links with insurgent outfits, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, M. Ramachandran said there are inputs of some of the militant groups operating in the Northeast have developed links with ISI. However, the Minister said that there were no inputs from foreign intelligence agencies about some cadres of terrorist outfits sneaking into India to create problems in the Northeast.

Telegraph reports that The anti-talks faction of the NDFB is touring Nepal to set up base there and carry forward its armed movement for a 'sovereign' Bodoland, just months after setting up its general headquarters in Myanmar. According to documents available with the daily, the outfit's general meeting held in July had decided on the move.

One suspected militant belonging to anti-talk faction of the NDFB was shot dead by Assam Rifles during an encounter at Asrabari inside the Rowta Reserve Forest under Mazbat Police Station in Udalguri District. However, two cadres of the outfit managed to escape leaving behind one sophisticated rifle in the encounter site.

A bag containing 10 hand grenades was found at Guwahati railway station, raising fears of militant attacks in the run-up to Independence Day (August 15). It is suspected that the grenades were brought in by either ULFA or NDFB militants to carry out strikes in the city ahead of Independence Day.

Another grenade was recovered from in front of the office of the Superintendent of Police at Goalpara District. The explosive was subsequently defused by the bomb disposal squad.

A bomb was recovered at Dhekiligaon under Titabor Police Station of Jorhat District.

Sentinel reports that an arms smuggler of Lakhinagar village of Hailakandi District was arrested by troops under Ramkrishna Nagar Police Station in Cachar District along with one 12 bore pistol on an unspecified date.

Jewel Garlosa, 'chief' of BW, along with 12 others was produced before the NIA Special Court in connection with North Cachar Hills scam. Jewel is keen to evade the Enforcement Directorate inquiry into hawala transactions that such an inquiry would impact the peace process.

The 10 hand grenades recovered from Guwahati railway station on August 5 may have been stolen from the SFs. A source in Assam Police said bomb experts have confirmed after examination that the grenades were made in the country and manufactured in one of the factories under the Indian State Ordnance Factory Board.

SFs recovered a powerful IED weighing five kilogrammes from a bus at Haraputa in Gossaigaon sub-division of Kokrajhar District. One Ratan Baskey was arrested.

SFs arrested two ULFA cadres from Mohkhuti area under Demow Police Station in Sivasagar District.

Two cadres of the pro-talks faction of the ULFA were arrested by the Police in connection with an attempted robbery case in the Arikuch area of Nalbari District.

Two ULFA cadres managed to escape from the outfit's Myanmar camp recently and are currently taking shelter at the Moran-based designated camp of the ceasefire group. Peacenik Jiten Dutta said the duo, hailing from the Disangmukh area in Sivasagar District, was in touch with the ceasefire group for some time and had expressed their desire to join them.

Two suspected arms dealers, Dominique Hasda and Koko Roy, were arrested by SFs from the Sesapani area in Baksa District.

Guwahati city Police arrested two suspected militants, identified as Jeherul Islam and Abdul Hai and recovered seven detonators and some gelatin sticks from their possession in New Railway Colony.

A ULFA cadre was arrested by Jorhat Police from Dhodang Sapori area of the District. The arrested ULFA cadre is from the '28^th battalion' of the outfit and was coming from a Myanmar-based training camp to allegedly carry on subversive activities in the District ahead of Independence day.

Four suspected ULFA cadres, including a woman, were arrested by the Tingkhong Police from No 1 Dhamal Gaon under Tingkhong Police Station of Dibrugarh District.

Hatigaon Police arrested an ULFA linkman, Upen Deka. Chandmari Police arrested another ULFA linkman identified as Dilip Kalita in the Guwahati city.

Teok Police arrested one Mithon Doley of Dergaon under Golaghat District in connection with a case of extortion. Police said that Doley demanded INR 0.4 million from Ajit Bora, a physician of Teok FRU, on July 20 over telephone introducing himself as an ULFA cadre.

Two ULFA linkmen were arrested by the Police from Hapjan in Tinsukia District for allegedly demanding money from a businessman.

A NDFB cadre was arrested by SFs from near Dangtol railway station in Chirang District when he was on his way to collect extortion money from a trader.

A NDFB militant, Janil Brahma, was arrested in a joint operation launched by the Army and local Police from Tulsijhora village in Kokrajhar District.

BW 'commander-in-chief' Niranjan Hojai and cadres Ashringdaw Warisa and Samir Ahmed have been on a 24-hour hunger strike in the jail from 6 am August 9 demanding immediate release of all BW cadres now in jail. They set a deadline for the Government to release them by August 19, failing which they would resort to a fast unto death.

Security Forces claimed to have foiled an attempt by the NDFB militants to blow up the railway track between Kamakhya and Jogighopa railway stations in following recovery of a powerful bomb from a group of cadres of the outfit in Goalpara District.

Security sources informed that five NDFB militants were arrested from their hideout at Amjunga near Dhupdhara in Goalpara District the same day and an IED weighing five kilogram was recovered from them along with a revolver and ammunition.

The Army and Police neutralised an arms manufacturing factory of the NDFB at Rangapara in Sonitpur District and arrested two women cadres of the outfit.

SFs recovered two powerful IEDs on a railway track about three kilometres west of Khoirabari railway station in Udalguri District, averting a major disaster ahead of Independence Day (August 15).

Diphu Police recovered decomposed bodies of two missing female cadres of the KLNLF near Diphu Lumding Road in Karbi Anglong District. The KLNLF has blamed the involvement of third party in the incident.

Altogether 12 militants belonging to the United Democratic Liberation Tigers (ULDT), also known as Atabur Bahini, surrendered before the Army at Masimpur cantonment in Cachar District.

Two cadres belonging to anti-talks faction of the NDFB surrendered at the Thakurbari military garrison in Sonitpur District.

SFs averted a disaster by defusing a timer device planted at a bus terminus in Sivasagar District. The bomb was concealed in a bag and placed between two buses.

A powerful IED was recovered by the Security Forces from Kokrajhar District. Army personnel recovered the five kilogramme bomb from Malaguri near Gossaigaon in the lower Assam District and arrested a youth Sunil Hembram.

In a joint operation, the Army and Police recovered a powerful IED from the residence of Sadar Ali at Bidyapara village under Krishnai Police Station in Goalpara District. Subsequently, the bomb was defused.

A hardcore militant of '28^th battalion' of the ULFA surrendered before the Army in Sivasagar District. He deposited a 9-mm pistol and ammunition.

BSF arrested a Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) militant on the India-Bangladesh border as he was infiltrating into Dhubri District. The HuJI militant was picked up from a person’s house in a village under Golokganj Police Station in Dhubri.

Militants from across the Arunachal Pradesh boundary fired at an Assam Police team which had gone to take stock of the situation at the site where a 100-strong mob, allegedly backed up by goons and Naga militants, damaged an under-construction Police Station in Sivasagar District

The Assam Government asked the ULFA and NDFB militant groups to accept the offer for talks to end the insurgency problem afflicting the State.

Expressing readiness to carry forward talks with insurgents in the Northeast, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his Government had a special responsibility towards the region.

August 16

Two ULFA militants were shot dead by the Police during an encounter a kilometre way from the Office of the Goalpara Superintendent of Police.

August 17

Arunachal Pradesh Police claimed to have arrested one of the seven abductors of the Indian Forest Service (IFS) official from Maharashtra, Vilas Bardekar. The abductor was arrested at Tezpur in Sonitpur District. He confessed that he along with six other Bodo militants had abducted the senior IFS official when he entered the forest in West Kameng District.

Anti-talk faction of the NDFB ‘chairman’, Ranjan Daimary, was remanded to judicial custody by the Guwahati TADA Court. Daimary was asked to be produced in the court again on September nine for further orders.

BW has threatened a 24-hour fast from 6 am of August 20 in support of the release of its jailed leaders and cadres.

The pro-talk faction of the DHD is contemplating return to the life in jungle, says ‘supremo’ of the outfit Dilip Nunisa.

August 18

Two persons were arrested with explosives at Borihat in Mirza near Guwahati. Police said the youths were held when they were carrying an explosive consignment from Meghalaya.

A delegation of the KLNLF met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and submitted a memorandum demanding autonomy for the twin Districts of Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao (erstwhile North Cachar Hills),.

The pro-talks group of the ULFA said the outfit’s jailed leaders have asked the group to "go slow" on its peace initiative and wait for the leaders to join them.

A joint team of the Army and Police recovered two rocket launchers and three chargers from a namghar (place of worship) at Dekhibangha village under Baganpara Police outpost in Baksa District. Two suspected ULFA linkmen were arrested from the incident site.

Centre’s interlocutor P.C. Haldar had a meeting with BW ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai in Guwahati, but the meeting failed to yield any positive result.

August 18-19

Around 35 persons entered Assam through No.1 Charaipung area in the Sivasagar District and set ablaze some huts of the labourers of a small tea garden. Subsequently, another group of 50 persons entered Assam through Assinbasti in same the Charaipung area and set ablaze the house of a small tea grower. Later, there was heavy exchange of fire across the boundary between Police in Assam and Naga militants in Arunachal Pradesh.

August 19

11 militants, including two women cadres, belonging to Manipur-based UNLF were arrested by the City Police from three different places of Motghoria, Chachal and Hengrabari in Guwahati.

An arms dealerwas arrested at Joypore Kamar Gaon in Dibrugarh District. The Police recovered two pistols and ammunition from his possession.

BW ‘chairman’ Jewel Gorlosa, ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai and R.H. Khan, a key accused in the INR 10 billion scam in the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council, were produced in a court in Guwahati.

August 20

The NSCN-IM cadres opened fire at a team of Assam Police led by Sivasagar Superintendent of Police Akhilesh Kumar Singh at Charaipung Bimalapur area within Charaideo sub-division in Sivasagar District. One Assam Police Battalion (APBn) trooper was injured, while two NSCN-IM cadres were reportedly injured in the encounter that followed for half an hour between the Police and a group of around 30-40 NSCN-IM cadres.

Niranjan Hojai, Partha Warisa and Samir Ahmed have been on a fast-unto-death agitation at Guwahati Central Jail, 416 cadres of the outfit have been on a 24-hour hunger strike at their designated camp at Haflong in Dima Hasao District (erstwhile North Cachar Hills District).

August 21

NSCN-IM militants set ablaze two houses of a small tea grower of Naharani village in Sivasagar District.

August 22

A laborer of the tea grower Naharani village in Sivasagar District was abducted by NSCN-IM militants. A local villager, Babu Das, said, "The NSCN-IM slapped extortion notices and demanded tax from Assam villagers, but when we refused to pay, the militants came and started attacking us."

SFs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on August 22 launched a joint counter-insurgency operation to evict NSCN-IM militants involved in raiding border villages in Sivasagar District, leading to a volatile situation in the past week.

A rickshaw puller was killed in crossfire between Security Forces and ULFA militants in Sualkuchi in Kamrup District. SFs arrested a cadre and recovered a grenade and several extortion notices from his possession, while the other escaped.

Two hardcore UPDS cadres were arrested by Bakalia Police from Mirdupathar near Bakaliaghat Police Stationin Karbi Anglong District. According to Police sources, the ceasefire UPDS cadres fled way from Rongcheret designated camp set up under Hamren Subdivision since last two days.

The economic blockade enforced on Arunachal Pradesh by the AASU entered the second day. Both the roads from Nidaigarh in the east of Charaipung in Sivasagar District and from Jaipur in Dibrugarh District to Arunachal Pradesh have been blocked by AASU and AJYCP activists for an indefinite period.

Suspected NSCN-IM militants set ablaze two houses at No. 2 Charaipung area of Sivasagar District.

August 23

Two Districts of Jorhat and Golaghat, which share their border with Nagaland, including Merapani in Golaghat District, have been identified as a very sensitive zone with frequent incursions and killings taking place. In Jorhat and the two adjoining Districts reserve forests have been destroyed by almost 60 per cent and occupied by Naga settlements. These border settlements are favoured hideouts by the militants who usually come out in support of the Nagas whenever there is a conflict.

Assam Minister of Law, Sericulture, Handloom & Textile Pronob Gogoi refuted the allegations that State Government has not taken any effective measure to contain the growing NSCN-IM influence in the along Assam-Arunachal and Assam-Nagaland border region. The report adds that suspected NSCN-IM militants often serve extortion notes to the tea growers. There are as many as 120 small tea growers in the region.

Following persistent demands from the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, the Union Government has finally initiated steps for augmenting security measures along the international border with China and additional troops are being moved into the bordering areas, while, a battalion of the Arunachal Scouts has also been sanctioned.

A seven-member armed group of suspected ULFA militants abducted a small tea grower, Bhagwan Swami, from Duarmara Singpho village under Pengeri Police Station in Tinsukia District.

Shillong Times reports that in a large number executives of tea estates in north Assam Districts of Baksa, Sonitpur, and Udalguri are being constantly bothered by callers who identify themselves as either cadres of the NDFB or some Adivasi militant groups, asking for huge sums of money.

The BCF, an Adivasi militant group which is now in truce with the Government, asks for monthly payment of certain amount of money from various tea garden managements by sending demands in black and white.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain were fired at during their visit to the troubled region bordering Arunachal Pradesh after their convoy was blocked by tree trunks on a dug-up road in Sivasagar District. Nobody was injured.

ULFA 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Barua described the recent comments of Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA) spokesman Hiren Gohain on him as harmful to the "national liberation struggle of the indigenous people of Assam."

The Dimasa People's Council (DPC), an umbrella organization of the Dimasa civil society organizations, has appealed to both the Government and the DHD to work towards the solution of the Dimasa problem, rather than aggravating it.

DHD 'chairman' Dilip Nunisa said it is unfortunate that the Centre has failed to reciprocate positively despite the militant outfit showing a great deal of enthusiasm and will for peace.

The Army detained two suspected cadres of AALNA from Longsekjan under Bakaliaghat Police Station of Karbi Anglong District.

The pro-talk faction of ULFA asked to begin an economic blockade at Margherita in Tinsukia District, by closing the Margherita-Changlang road running towards Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh for 72 hours, in reacting to the NSCN-IM threats to evict Assamese people living in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh.

Two ULFA militants were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces in Naharkatiya in Tinsukia District. Two pistols were recovered from the bodies of the slain militants.

The NSCN-IM militants fired at the agitators who opposed the entry of Arunachalis into Assam to purchase food items.

The NSCN-IM militants set ablaze the house of one Putul Tirky at No. 2 Saraipung Salongamara Panikabasti in Sivasagar District.

The talk between district administration and representatives of 12 organisations under the banner of All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) failed. The organisations have refused to withdraw the ongoing economic blockade until and unless NSCN-IM cadres leave the area and restoration of peace and tranquility in the border areas.

The 72-hour road blockade on the Margherita-Changlang Road in Changlang District, which started at 6am on August 25 by the ceasefire group of ULFA, was lifted after a few hours following a discussion between representatives of the Tinsukia District administration and Margherita sub-divisional administration.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that while the year 2009 was a distinct improvement on the year 2008, it is in the 2010 that we have seen a dramatic decline in the number of incidents and in the number of casualties in the Northeast. There have been only 464 incidents until August 15, as against 1,297 and 1,561 for the whole year in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

At least four houses were set ablaze by suspected NSCN cadres at Charaipung under Charaideo sub-division in Sivasagar District.

Denying involvement in the border violence, NSCN-IM said it was under ceasefire and involved in peace talks, although they have camps nearby.

A PULF cadre of Bagha Bajar under Dholai Police Station was arrested by the Army in Cachar District.

A team of pro-talk ULFA visited Charaipung of Sivasagar District. Mrinal Hazarika, leader of pro-talk ULFA criticised the State Government for its failure to protect the geographical boundary of the State.

A MULTA cadre was arrested along with three crude bombs by the BSF from number 10 riverine village of Dhubri District.

In spite of high-level meeting between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Governments, the activities of NSCN-IM have not decreased in Charaipung area within Charaideo sub-division at of Sivasagar District. The NSCN-IM cadres have built more bunkers in the area in the last two days.

The economic blockade that started on August 21 is going on in four routes which connect Tirap District of Arunachal with Assam. The AASU and AJYCP informed the media that they would not withdraw the blockade until the State Government guarantees security of life and property of the citizens of Charaipung.

The Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Governments decided that the bunkers erected by the Arunachal Police in the area between Charaipung and the Teok river would be removed immediately and that both the Assam Police and Arunachal Police will jointly patrol the area.

The People's Alliance for Peace Agreement (PAPA) has held Parliamentarian Biren Sing Engti responsible for the delay in finding a solution to the insurgency issue in Karbi Anglong District.

Two cadres of the anti-talks faction of the NDFB were shot dead in an encounter with Security Forces in two separate incidents in Kokrajhar District. One militant was killed at Nayekgaon village. Another NDFB militant was shot dead at Duligaon in Parbhatjhora subdivision.

A trader and his brother in-law were abducted by unidentified militants from the Amsing-Jorabat area under Sashal Police Station in Guwahati.

Suspected ULFA was arrested by a team of the Army and Tinsukia Police from near Doomdooma.

The 70 day economic blockade against East Arunachal Pradesh was suspended till September 10.

A person was injured in a blast at Mahendra Market in Haflong of North Cachar Hills District.

Two drivers of a goods train bound for Bhalukpung in Arunachal Pradesh from Assam, were abducted by the NDFB militants near Gamani in Sonitpur District.

The pro-talks group of ULFA directly named the NSCN-IM as the main culprit in the recent Charaipung episode in Sivasagar District. ULFA pro-talks leader Mrinal Hazarika said that the NSCN-IM has been systematically trying to grab territories under Assam and Arunachal Pradesh for inclusion in its 'Greater Nagalim'.

Assam Government Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the State Government has issued clear instructions to the Police forces of all the Districts to take strong action against any NSCN-IM cadre found to be indulging in any unlawful activity within the geographical territory of Assam.