Insurgency North East: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2022

On January 1, two militants belonging to National Liberation Front of Tripura-Biswamohan Debbarma (NLFT-BM) surrendered in Tripura, reports Northeast Today. The two surrendered militants identified as Khitish Debbarma alias Kwkhwi and Swapan Debbarma alias Bathar had joined the outfit in 2019 and 2020 respectively. According to Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General (IG) Sushanta Kumar Nath, 31 NLFT-BM ultras have surrendered before the BSF in the last few years. Of these, 23 rebels surrendered between 2017 and 2020, six in 2021 and two on January 1, 2022. Read less...

On January 1, one United National Liberation Front (UNLF) militant was arrested near Umathel in Kakching District of Manipur, reports United News of India. The unnamed militant was handed over to Waikhong Police Station (PS) for further investigation. Read less...

The Coordinating Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of Manipur-based militant outfits, has called for a 17-hour shutdown in Manipur in support of its decision to boycott Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s visit on January 4, reports Northeast Today. In a statement issued on January 2, Publicity committee of CorCom announced its decision of boycott and shutdown. The conglomerate stated that PM’s visit is ‘just a smoke-screen and a weapon to mislead the international community with claims of India being the world’s largest electoral democracy’ and further accused India of ‘occupying a position at the United Nations by claiming to be a true democracy’. Read less...

An Assam Police Personnel identified as Kaushik Gohain has reportedly joined United Liberation Front of Asom – Independent (ULFA-I), reports East Mojo. Gohain who had gone missing from his home in Jerai Gaon of Chabua in Dibrugarh District on January 3, is stated to have reached ULFA-I camp in Myanmar on January 8. Read less...

Manipur Police released its annual report on January 3, reports United News of India. In a statement issued by Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Manipur Police, Khuplen Lhouvum, Manipur Police arrested 233 militants and seized 167 arms in 2021. Fifteen suspected militants were shot dead while twenty militants laid down arms to the government. In its counter-insurgency operation, the State Police arrested 233 cadres belonging to different outfits and altogether 167 arms, 3115 live bullets, 253 IEDs, explosive (3 kgs), 76 hand grenades, six RPGs, two safety fuses, 27 lathodes, 360 detonators, 30 NT sets and Rs 6,17,222 and 4500 Kyat in cash were seized. Fourteen persons were detained under NSA. In 2021, 313 cases related to drugs were filed and 467 persons including 95 women were arrested. Heroin (36.46 kg), Valium-10 tablet (120 pieces) 381.75 kgs of opium, Dizzy-10 tablet (70 pieces) 826.43 kg of ganja, 19,153 SP capsules, 372 pieces of N-10 tablets, about 164.69 of brown sugar and 26.50 litres of morphinated liquid among others were also seized. Read less...

On January 3, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) militant was arrested from Seijang in Ukhrul District of Manipur, reports East Mojo. For further investigation, the arrestee was handed over to Yaingangpokpi Police Station (PS). Read less...

One National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Reformation (NSCN-R) militant was arrested from Jongsum village in Kantang circle of Changlang District in Arunachal Pradesh on January 4, reports Northeast Today. The arrestee identified as Lieutenant Salhap Jugli alias Salnang was actively involved in forceful extortion in the district. An Italy-made pistol along with six rounds of live ammunition from the possession of the militant. Read less...

On January 5, a self-style ‘private’, Bansam Hangphuk, of NSCN-R surrendered at Changlang Police Station (PS) of Changlang District. Read less...

On January 5, a suspected drug peddler identified as Jahangir Alom was injured in police firing while attempting to evade arrest in Saidaria in Rupohihat Police Station (PS) area of Nagaon District in Assam, reports Assam Tribune. Alom who was also wanted in at least three dacoity cases initially threw stones and attacked Police with stick in order to escape from arrest. It was at this moment he was shot at his leg. Later he was arrested after the shootout along with three boxes of suspected drugs. Read less...

On January 5, one jawan identified as Rifleman L Wangshu of 16 Assam Rifles (AR) was killed in an Improvised Explosive device (IED) blast at Lilong Ushoipokpi Sangomsang along the Imphal-Moreh Road in Thoubal District of Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. Another jawan identified as Pinku Das was injured in the blast. It is reported that the Road Opening Party (ROP) of 16 AR Company occasionally take their lunch at the blast site. The attack which is suspected to be the handiwork of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-progressive (PREPAK-pro) came just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the State capital. Read less...

Anup Chetia, ‘general secretary’ of Pro-Talks faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-PTF), has blamed the social media for influencing the youths in Assam to join ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I), reports Northeast Now on January 8. Anup Chetia stated that youths are being easily attracted towards the militant outfit due to sentiments and influential social media. This statement was made following the reports of two Assam Police personnel identified as Koushik Gohain and Numal Phukan joining the ULFA-I. Another person identified as Pinku Moran is also believed to have joined the banned outfit. Read less...

Five drug peddlers were arrested along with narcotics in two separate incidents in Assam, reports Assam Tribune. Tweeting about the arrests, Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma on January 7 stated that under the leadership of Joint Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta, drugs worth several crores were seized and five interstate drug dealers were arrested in two separate incidents. Read less...

On January 8, arms and ammunition along with narcotics were recovered from a house in Chavangphai village of Tengnoupal District, reports United News of India. During search operation, a huge quantity of WIY narcotics tablets, 12 live rounds and two fired cases of 12 Bore Rifle and two live rounds of the pistol were recovered. Read less...

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 has been extended for one more year in Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal areas, reports The Northeast Today. In a notification signed by the Special Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur, H. Gyan Prakash released on January 8, “Whereas the Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that due to violent activities of various extremist/insurgent groups, the entire State of Manipur is in such a disturbed condition that the use of Armed Forces in aid of civil power is necessary; And, whereas the Governor of Manipur is of the opinion that the areas within the State of Manipur be declared as a ‘Disturbed Area’ under the provisions of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, as amended from time to time.” Further adding, the notification states, “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (Act No.28 of 1958) as amended from time to time, the Governor of Manipur hereby accords ex-post facto approval to declare the entire State of Manipur excluding the Imphal Municipal Area as ‘Disturbed Area’ for a period of 1 (one) year with retrospective effect from December 1, 2021.” Read less...

On January 10, a Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) militant identified as Nameirakpam Bimol Meitei was arrested from Bishnupur Forest Gate of Bishnupur District, reports The Sangai Express. During a cordon and search operation, Nameirakpam Bimol Meitei who had joined the outfit in 2001 was arrested. Read less...

On January 10, over 100 people from different walks of life set out on a two-day march on foot from Dimapur to Kohima of Nagaland, covering 70 kms distance against Armed Force (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), reports The Sangai Express. The walkathon began at the Super Market area of Dimapur with volunteers and participants holding placards, demanding the repeal of AFSPA and justice for the victims who were killed by security forces in Mon district on December 4, 2021. The participants also observed a minute silence in the honour of the victims of the Mon incident. According to Rukewezo Wetsah, one of the coordinators of the walkathon, the foot march ‘was a peaceful, silent and democratic measure to convey the resentment of the people over AFSPA’. Earlier on January 9, Dimapur deputy commissioner Rajesh Soundararajan granted permission to hold the march on the condition that the participants would adhere to all Covid-19 SOPs and protocols. Read less...

On January 10, two militants belonging to People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-progressive (PREPAK-pro) were arrested from Churachandpur District. Read less...

On January 11, around 1.5 kilograms of narcotics worth INR 10,00,00,000 was recovered from a truck over NH 36 in East Karbi Anglong District in Assam, reports Northeast Now. During checking, 110 soap boxes containing 1.5 kg heroin was found to be concealed inside the tarpaulin sheet behind the truck. The driver of the truck identified as Deepak Chetry was arrested in this connection. Read less...

On January 11, a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) militant was arrested from Andro Khuman Nungyungbi Leikai of Imphal East District in Manipur, reports United News of India. Read less...

On January 11, a surrendered Naga National Council (NNC) militant was shot dead at Chamtilla village along the Assam-Manipur border in Cachar District of Assam, reports Northeast Now. The victim, David Rongmai, who had surrendered in 2021 was dragged from his house and shot dead by militants from Manipur. A search operation has been launched to nab the perpetrators. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) reported that a person was shot by National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) militants on December 14, 2021 for refusing the demands of the militants in Cachar District. Read less...

On January 11, four militants belonging to Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) were arrested from Heingang of Imphal West District. Read less...

Two hardcore militants belonging to All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) on January 11 surrendered at Lekhapani Police Station (PS) in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh, reports Northeast Now. The militants identified as Porimal Singh and Ram Kumar has been members of the militant outfit since 2009. The two militants surrendered along with two pistols and 7 live rounds with AANLA identity cards. Read less...

A People’s Liberation Army (PLA) militant was arrested from Kakching District on January 12. Read less...

On January 12, a Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) militant was reported abducted and later on shot dead by another rival militant outfit in between Awangkhul and Warngkhung under Noney Police Station (PS) of Noney District in Manipur, reports The Nagaland Post. Police recovered the dead body of the militant identified as Pouluanthai Gangmei along an empty case of the 9mm pistol. ZUF in a press release later on strongly condemning the incident claimed that National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) militants have killed Pouluanthai, reports The Sangai Express on January 16. Read less...

A United National Liberation Front (UNLF) militant was arrested on January 13 from Thoubal District of Manipur, reports East Mojo. Read less...

On January 13, one trooper of Indian 21 Para commandos and two People's Liberation Army (PLA) militants were killed in an exchange of fire at Sinum village, about 10 km inside Myanmar near the international border, reports The Hindu. This was the first major offensive by the Indian army after the killing of five Assam Rifles personnel including a Colonel and his wife and son in an ambush on November 13 in Churachandpur district of Manipur. The encounter took place when PLA militants were on a morning physical exercise routine. The two militants killed in the encounter were identified as Leichil and Nongdamba. The remaining militants fled after snatching the AK-47 rifle from the dead trooper. Read less...

Security agencies have been alerted about a big security threat of Northeast (NE) militants from Myanmar planning terror acts in the poll-bound state of Manipur, reports New Indian Express. According to intelligence sources, militant outfits like Yung Aung faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-KYA) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) are trying to create disturbance in the Northeast just before the polls especially planning to attack security forces (SF) in Manipur. Moreover, a new batch of highly trained recruits belonging to United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) is believed to have infiltrated into Assam. Read less...

A Kuki National Front-Presidential (KNF-P) militant was arrested along with one 9mm pistol from Imphal West District on January 14, reports United News of India. Read less...

A man was shot at by unidentified assailants near a highway in Algapur of Hailakandi District in Assam in the evening of January 14, reports Northeast Now. The person was allegedly shot by three assailants on a motorcycle who before being identified managed to escape. The victim was identified as Masuk Ahmed Barbhuiyan of Algapur. Read less...

On January 15, a huge cache of weapons and other war like stores including one 9mm pistol with magazine, 12 rounds 7.62 mm ammunition and one magazine M-16 rifle were recovered from Noney District in Manipur, tweets Assam Rifles. Read less...

On January 16, at least 300 containers of heroin worth around INR 50,000 in the black market was recovered from Chandra Para area beside Assam-Agartala national highway (NH-08) in Dharmanagar sub-division of North Tripura District in Tripura, reports The Northeast Today. Two drug traffickers identified as Nazmul Haque and Moinul Haque was arrested from the spot with the heroin loaded motorcycle. Read less...

The Indian Army has denied the reports of attacking a camp of the Manipur rebel outfit People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Myanmar, reports Northeast Now. In statement, the Indian Army said, “Indian special forces/Army/Assam Rifles is not at all involved in recent attack on PLA camp located in Myanmar territories.” This statement comes following the reports Indian security forces gunning down two militants of PLA at Senam village in Myanmar on January 13. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) has reported the incident on January 17. Read less...

On January 18, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was recovered from a location adjacent to Kuljang village in Chandel District of Manipur, reports The Northeast Today. Foiling a major attack in Manipur, the IED was timely detected and destroyed on the spot, ensuring security and prevention of any loss to life or property. Read less...

On January 18, a cache of arms and ammunition were recovered Chinglangmei village in Churachandpur District, reports India Today. During a search operation, one 7.62 mm SLR Rifle, one 7.62 mm M-16 Rifle, one 7.62 mm Modified Rifle, one Handheld ICOM radio set with charger, two 7.62 mm SLR magazine, one Chinese hand grenade and 15 live rounds of different calibers were recovered and later on handed over to Kumbi Police Station for further legal action. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) arrested an active Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from Moirang Lamkai in Bishnupur District of Manipur on January 18, reports East Mojo. As per the official statement, based on specific input from reliable sources, troops of Loktak Battalion under the aegis of Inspector General of Assam Rifles-South (IGAR-S) along with Manipur Police launched an operation that led to the arrest. The OGW was working under a PLA outfit of one ‘self-styled Capt’ Kora and was actively involved in subversive and sabotage activities in the past. Read less...

Two militants belonging to United Kuki Liberation Army (UKLA) were arrested from Kangpokpi District on January 18, reports East Mojo. The two militants identified as Seitinthang Haokip and Satgoulen Haokip was involved in extorting money from trucks plying along National Highway 2 and the shops around the area. A transport receipt book of UKLA, three mobile phones, 1 Dio scooty black in colour bearing registration number MN01U-4664, cash amount of Rs 7,100 and one black airbag were recovered from their possession. Read less...

On January 19, miscreants lobbed a hand grenade at the residence of Loken Singh at Arapti locality of Imphal East District in Manipur, reports Northeast Now. Though no causality or injury was reported, yet the explosion caused a considerable damage to the property. This explosion is being viewed as pre-poll violence as family had refused to put on display a BJP flag in their house. Read less...

Three militants including one Chin National Front (CNF) militant of Myanmar was arrested along with explosives and other war-like stores near Zawngling village in Siaha District of Mizoram on January 20, reports East Mojo. During an operation, a mini truck carrying large quantities of war-like stores including 2,500 kilograms of explosives and 4,500 meters of detonators was intercepted near the Indo-Myanmar border. The trio including two Indian militants were transporting the explosives when they were arrested. Read less...

Unidentified assailants on January 20 left a grenade packed inside a box at Axis Bank branch located in Moreh Ward No 6 under Moreh Police Station limits in Tengnoupal District of Manipur, reports E-Pao. According to Police, an unidentified person handed over a tightly packed box to a staff of the bank around 7.30 am and requested it be given to the bank manager. On opening the box, a hand grenade was found inside along with a letter from a proscribed outfit giving last warning. The bank immediately informed the Police and the Police safely recovered the explosive from the premises. Read less...

On January 21, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from an underground pit in South-West Khasi Hills in Meghalaya, reports Northeast Now. The ammunition including US-made revolvers, magazines and 410 live rounds was wrapped in a yellow-coloured plastic bag and hidden underground in the deep jungle along the Lakma Nallah that flows from India to Bangladesh. Following the recovery, surrounding area was further searched with metal detector, but nothing more could be found. Read less...

On January 22, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered buried in the forest behind a botanical garden near Diphu-Lumding Road in Karbi Anglong District of Assam. The arms and ammunition including a .22 rifle, a .303 rifle, a hand-made pistol, several grenades and detonators, magazines and explosives of different kinds which was recovered during the search operation is suspected to planted by ‘chairman’ of Karbi Democratic Liberation Front (KDLF), Jackson Ronghang, who was killed in a gunfight with Security Forces on December 17, 2021. Read less...

On January 22, a suspected drug peddler was shot at while trying to escape from Police custody in Dhubri District of Assam, reports East Mojo. The drug peddler was arrested along with a large quantity of narcotic substances from Dhubri town. Later on, while leading the Police to nab his accomplices, he tried to escape by assaulting an on-duty Policeman. In retaliation, Police shot at and injured him. According to Police sources, the drug peddler was earlier arrested for various crimes, including involvement in a drug racket, and several cases were registered against him in Dhubri Police Station. Read less...

On the intervening night of January 22 and 23, a Yung Aung faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K-YA) militant identified as self-styled ‘rajapio’ Sepkam Lungphi was arrested from the jungle area of Namgoi in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. Read less...

On January 23, a National Revolutionary Front of Manipur (NRFM) militant was arrested from Khurai Heikrumakhong in Imphal East District of Manipur, reports Northeast Today. The arrestee identified as Hourongbam Yohenba Meitei alias Tamo, a transgender, was involved in a series of extortion activities and bomb blasts including the explosion near a pharmacy on December 15, 2021 at Imphal East District. Two grenades and extortion note were recovered from the possession of the arrestee. Read less...

The United Naga Council (UNC) called for a total shutdown for six hours across the Naga-inhabited areas in Manipur on January 26, to demonstrate their resentment against delaying and frequent backtracking on the political settlement of the historic Indo-Naga Framework Agreement even after six years of signing, reports East Mojo. The shutdown will start at 6 am [IST] and end at 12 pm [IST] on January 26, it said. The imposed shutdown is also for not ensuring justice for the victims of Oting villagers on December 4 and 5, 2021, said UNC. Read less...

On January 25, Inspector General (IG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) Sushanta Kumar Nath, Tripura Frontier, stated that BSF has successfully detained a total of 221 infiltrators in 2021, reports Northeast Today. Speaking in a press conference in Salbagan of Agartala of West Tripura District of Tripura, IG Nath claimed that cross-border infiltration had declined in 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Elaborating his statement, IG said that in 2020, a total of 128 persons were arrested for illegally entering through the borders whereas in 2021, 221 infiltrators comprising of 118 Indian nationals, 97 Bangladeshi nationals and six of other nationalities were detained while attempting to cross the international border of India and Bangladesh illegally. Initiatives have been taken to ‘install a smart surveillance system at 24 physical locations involving 95 smart surveillance cameras to enhance the border domination in most smuggling and infiltration prone areas.’ Further, Nath said, ‘In total, 31 militants have surrendered before the BSF with arms and ammunition, and returned to mainstream life. In 2021, the total seizures have done worth Rs 35.64 crore including Narcotic substances. A total 88,417 Yaba Tablets, 13,206 kgs of dry Ganja, Phensedyls and Eskuff syrups, etc were seized while cannabis plantations worth over Rs 24 crore have also been destroyed during separate operations around the year.’ Read less...

On January 27, a total of 246 militants belonging to United Gorkha People’s Organisation (UGPO) and Tiwa Liberation Army (TLA) formally surrendered before Assam Chief Minister (CM) Himanta Biswa Sarma at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati of Kamrup Metropolitan District of Assam, reports East Mojo. Nearly 77 TLA and 169 UGPO militants surrendered and laid down arms including 277 types of arms, grenades and 720 rounds of ammunition in the ceremony. The TLA which was formed in 2014 with a demand for more autonomy for the Tiwa community was active in Morigaon, Nagaon and West Karbi Anglong districts. On the other hand, UGPO, formed in 2009 against the alleged harassment faced by the Gorkhas in the name of detection of foreigners was active in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and in Tinsukia districts since its in 2009. Following the militants surrender, CM Sarma said, ‘With this, each and every tribal group has joined the mainstream. These were the last troops in the jungle. The era of tribal militancy is finally over in Assam’. Two more Bru-Reang outfits - Bru Revolutionary Army Union (BRAU) and United Democratic Liberation Front (UDLF) in the Barak Valley will be surrendering in the month of February 2022. CM Sarma further urged the only two remaining active militant outfits – United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) to shun violence and come for peace parleys. In the same surrender ceremony, 462 former militants of five different militant outfits (Rabha National Liberation Front (RNLF)-28, National Santhal Liberation Army (NSLA) -41, Adivasi Dragon Fighters (ADF)-61, National Liberation Front of Bengalis (NLFB) -303 and United Peoples’ Revolutionary Front (UPRF) -29 who had surrendered on January 23, 2020 were handed over financial grants of ₹1.5 lakh each by the CM Sarma for their rehabilitation. Read less...

On January 31, Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) ‘general secretary’ Sainkupar Nongtraw, in his social media page, claimed responsibility for the improvised explosive device (IED) blast near Delhi Mistan at Police Bazaar in Shillong due to non-payment of taxes by the shopkeepers to the outfit, reports East Mojo. Two persons including one juvenile claiming to be the ‘area commander’ of Shillong Region of HNLC was detained in this connection. One crude IED was also recovered from the residence of a relative the HNLC militant at Nongthymmai area of Shillong. Earlier, South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP) reported that on January 30, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast occurred in front of a liquor store adjacent to Delhi Mistan Bhandar in Police Bazaar of Khyndai Lad in Shillong at East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya. Read less...

A government employee identified as Jayanta Debbarma was arrested on January 30 along with Fake Indian Currency (FICN) worth INR 40,000 from Sonamura sub-division in Sepahijala District of Tripura, reports Northeast Today. According to Police sources, Debbarma, an employee of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government of Tripura was found to be in possession of fake 20 notes of INR 2,000. Read less...

On January 30, an improvised explosive device (IED) blast occurred in front of a liquor store adjacent to Delhi Mistan Bhandar in Police Bazaar of Khyndai Lad in Shillong at East Khasi Hills District of Meghalaya, reports The Shillong Times. Though no casualty was reported, yet the front portions of a mobile phone store and wine shop was damaged. According to Police sources, gelatine and wires were found at the blast spot, indicating a crude explosive device. Strongly condemning the blast, Chief Minister (CM) Conrad K. Sangma, “This cowardly act is an attempt to disrupt peace and bring harm. Perpetrators will not be spared and we will ensure peace prevails in the state.” Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui in Twitter said that the suspects have been identified. This is the third blast to have rocked the state in the last six months. Earlier, on August 10 and July 14 of 2021, IED blasts took place Laitumkhrah Market of Shillong and Khliehriat in East Jaintia Hills respectively. Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) had claimed responsibility for both the blasts. Read less...

A suspected drug peddler identified as Diluwar Hussain was injured during a police action at Keotkuchi of Barpeta District in Assam, reports Northeast Now on February 1. Diluwar who was arrested during a routine check post, tried to escape after pushing a Police Officer aside. In order to stop him, the police had to fire two rounds and injured him in the leg. Police also recovered 14 grams of suspected drugs wrapped in a black polythene packet from the spot. Read less...

On January 31, three road construction workers were allegedly abducted by Yung Aung faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland – Khaplang (NSCN-K-YA) militants from Pumao in Longding District of Arunachal Pradesh, reports The Shillong Times. The three abducted workers identified as Banphua Wangpan, Hiren Konch and Ramasish Mahato were engaged in the construction of the Pumao Langkhow Road. Though one of the abductees Wangpan was released later, the other two are still held captivity. According to Longding superitendent of police V.H. Meena, ‘the motive behind the abduction might be ransom’. Read less...