Insurgency North East: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2023

The ‘chairman’ of the Manipur Tribal Revolutionary Army (MTRA), identified as Chuirei Makung and one of his followers were arrested while trying to extort money at Mantripukhri Bazar under the Heingang Police Station in Imphal East District of Manipur on January 4, reports Northeast Now. Two mobile handsets and some incriminating documents have been recovered from their possession. Read less...

The cadres of All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) shot dead a Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) local tribal leader in Sadar (east) subdivision of Tripura on January 4, reports Telegraph. Police said Bidya Debbarma, member of Janmejaynagar local committee of CPI-M and former chairman of the village development committee, had gone to meet his friend Gurumohan Debbarma in nearby Maharam Sardar para area in the evening. At around 7 pm, five ATTF cadres entered into Gurumohan’s house and dragged Bidya away. The militants shot him dead from point blank range 250 metres from the house. Read less...

Two militants of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) were found dead at Vangli village in Churachandpur District of Manipur on January 4, reports Northeast Now. The two deceased militants have been identified as Major Yaiphaba and Captain Jirilakpa of the UNLF. Read less...

The Phundrei Battalion of Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the Commandoes of Hiyanglam Police arrested one cadre of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), identified as self-styled ‘2nd lieutenant’ Aslam Khan alias Firoz Khan from Wabagai Tera Pishak Hiyanglam village in Kakching District of Manipur on January 5, reports Northeast Now. He was handed over to Hiyanglam Police Station for further investigation. Read less...

Addressing a public event in Dimapur District of Nagaland on January 6, Union Home Minister (UHM) Amit Shah commented on the security situation prevailing in Nagaland, reports Morung Express. He said, “The process of repealing The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Nagaland has already started in a gradual manner.” He further added that from 2014 to 2021 there has been a 74 percent reduction in violence related to “insurgency” and 60 percent reduction in the death of Security Force (SF) personnel. Read less...

A total of 43 militants, including a woman, of eight different militant outfits laid down their arms and ammunition before Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in Imphal at a function on January 7, reports Sentinel. The 43 militants included 13 cadres of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), 11 from the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), five each from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) / Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the Kangleipak Communist Party - Noyon (KCP-N) and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), two from the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PRO) and one each from People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Unification (NSCN-U). The surrendered militants deposited arms, ammunition and explosives, including 19 AK series rifles, pistols, hand grenades, IEDs and live ammunition. Read less...

Thoubal District Police arrested 28 cadres of militant groups during the year 2022, reports Imphal Free Press. As per the report, Thoubal Police arrested 30 cadres of proscribed groups which included 16 cadres of Revolutionary People's Front (RPF)/ People's Liberation Army (PLA), one overground worker of PLA, one cadre of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak- Progressive (PREPAK-Pro), four cadres each of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), two cadres of Kangleipak Communist Party - Military Council (KCP-MC). Thoubal Police also seized numerous firearms, including seven 9MM pistol, one each of .32 and 7.65MM pistol, 15 hand grenade, 138 live bullets of different guns, nine detonator, three wireless detonator reviver, one each of remote control, walkie talkie and 9-volt battery. Read less...

An improvised explosive device (IED) exploded on January 9 at the gate of a residence at Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak Laikangbam Leikai under Imphal Police Station in Imphal West District of Manipur, reports Imphal Free Press. The residence belonged to deputy registrar of National institute of Technology Manipur (NIIT) Laikangbam Dorendro. The blast caused some damage to the gate but no casualties were reported. Read less...

The Assam Rifles Phundrei Battalion arrested a militant of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Wangoo Nurathel Leikai in Kakching District of Manipur on January 10, twitted @official_dgar on January 15. Read less...

The Phundrei Battalion of the Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the Commandos of Waikhong Police arrested one militant of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) from Umathel Bazaar in Waikhong subdivision at Kakching District of Manipur on January 10, reports Northeast Now. The arrested militant was identified as the self-styled ‘Sergeant Major’ Hemam Nungshiba alias Maniton from Umathel Bazaar of Kakching District. Read less...

The Assam Rifles Keithelmanbi Battalion in a joint operation with Thoubal Police arrested one militant of the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) from Heirok in Thoubal District of Manipur on January 13, reports India Today NE. The arrested militant has been identified as Manglem Meiteis Budhi a resident of Heirok Part-III Ngarouthen Khuman Leikai of Thoubal District Manipur. He was arrested with a.32-caliber pistol, a magazine, and two rounds of ammunition Read less...

The Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) ‘Chief’ Jeevan Singha alias Jeevan Koch Timir Das, surrendered before Assam Rifles in the Longwa area in Mon District along Indo-Myanmar in Nagaland on January 13, reports East Mojo. Sources stated that “Singha has been involved in several KLO operations in Assam and West Bengal and had reported imparted arms training to hundreds of youths who joined the outfit.” The development came within five months after two top KLO militants – Kailash Koch, the second most important leader of the outfit and his wife Jugli – surrendered before the DGP of West Bengal Police in Kolkata and days after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had invited the outfit for “peace talks”. Read less...

A combined team of National Investigation Agency (NIA), Imphal Branch, along with the 5 Assam Rifles arrested four persons along with INR 30 lakhs during a raid in Moreh town at Tengnoupal District of Manipur on January 14, reports the Imphal Free Press. The arrested persons were identified as Suraj Jaiswal, Vishal Jaiswal, Nepollian Bahadur and Santosh Gupte. All the arrested individuals hail from Morning Bazar Moreh ward No 3 under Moreh Police Station. The Police further added that the recovered money could be a part of the funding module for underground outfits. Read less...

Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the Mizoram Police arrested two Myanmar nationals along with 100 detonators and eight rolls of detonating cord from Champhai District of Mizoram near the Indo-Myanmar border on January 15, reports The Mizoram Post. Read less...

Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Manoj Pande stated on January 15 that “though ceasefire violations saw a dip along the western border, still there is a terror infrastructure on the other side and several proxy outfits have resorted to targeted killings to gain visibility”, reports Hindustan Times. He stressed the people of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have rejected violence and are welcoming positive changes. CoAs further stated that counter-drone jammers and spoofers are being used to defeat efforts to smuggle in arms and drugs through the International Border (IB) sectors in Jammu and Punjab. On the security situation in north-eastern region, General Pande said Indian Army has played an important role in bringing down level of violence and making insurgents leave the path of violence. Asked on readiness for future warfare, he said, "The utility of disruptive and dual-use technologies, information warfare in the form of cyber and space variants, and grey zone warfare have made wars more complex and lethal. Read less...

Six suspected insurgents opened fire at the residence of Ningombam Ojit Meitei, the working president of the Manipur People’s Party (MPP), at Basikhong Makha Leikai village in Imphal East District of Manipur on January 15, reports India Today NE. According to reports, the suspected insurgents fired at least two rounds into the air and fled from the scene. This is the second time that the armed men have attacked the residence of Meitei. A 9-mm pistol was recovered from his gate. No casualties were reported in the incident. Read less...

East Jaintia Hills District Police arrested four people along with 26 carton boxes of gelatin sticks weighing 650 kilograms and four boxes of electric detonators numbering 200 from a forest area of Jalaphet Bri-Sumer village in Saipung Block in East Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya on January 16, reports The Shillong Times. The arrested individuals were identified as Point Chyrmang, Nikalai Chyrmang, Mij Chyrmang and Shanbor Chyrmang. Read less...

Miscreants planted a Chinese-made hand-grenade at the residence of one Asheibam Tombisana in Andro Khoibu Leikai under Andro Police Station in Imphal East District of Manipur and it was recovered by a team of Manipur Police Bomb Disposal Squad and safely detonated at Andro Hill on January 16, reports Imphal Free Press. Read less...

The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) reaffirmed the Naga National Decision of May 31, 2022, “to uphold and protect Naga’s unique history and Naga national principle at any cost” in a press statement issued on January 18, reports The Morung Express. The NSCN-IM further asserted that an “honorable and acceptable political solution between India and the Nagas should be based on the Framework Agreement of August 3, 2015, wherein the sovereignty of the Nagas is acknowledged in conjunction with the Naga National Flag and the Constitution.” “The Nagas do not acknowledge any agreements signed under the Indian Constitution,” it maintained. Read less...

The Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, along with Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, held discussions with the Assam Chief Minister (CM), Himanta Biswa Sarma, at the Assam House in New Delhi on January 18 to discuss the peace agreement that is likely to be signed with the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) this week, reports India Today NE. The Assam CM further added that discussions for the peace process and on various other topics are going on with Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Read less...

The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, stated on January 19 that the Assam Government is continuing its efforts to bring the banned militant group United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) to the negotiating table, reports India Today NE. Himanta Biswa Sarma further added that "the channel of communication with the (ULFA-I) is not an issue.” The bone of contention is the sovereignty issue. Read less...

Coordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of six Valley-based militant outfits of Manipur announced to boycott of the Republic Day Celebrations on January 26 and called for an 18-hour shutdown in Manipur, commencing from midnight of January 25 that will end at 6pm [IST] on January 26, reports The Sangai Express on January 22. The CorCom publicity committee alleged that the people of Manipur ought to see January 26 as 'Repressive Day' even though India celebrates the same day as Republic Day. Read less...

National People’s Government of Nagaland/Non Accordist faction of Naga National Council (NPGN/NNC-NA) president, T. Ovung in a press statement on January 21 said that there will be “bloodshed and war” if Naga political solution was not done based on August 3, 2015 Framework Agreement as some Nagas would be excluded, reports India Today NE. T. Ovung reaffirmed that the Framework Agreement was for “Nagalim” which includes all Nagas of Nagaland, Nagas of Manipur, Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagas of Assam and no Nagas should be excluded”. Read less...

Paresh Barua, the ‘chief’ of the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) on January 21 reiterated that he is not interested in peace talks with Government of India and vowed to continue with its revolution till it achieved its avowed goal of restoration of sovereignty of Assam, reports India Today NE. Barua further added that ULFA-I is ready for referendum on sovereignty issue and only indigenous Assamese speaking people should participate in the dialogue. Read less...

United People’s Revolutionary Front of Manipur (UPRFM), an umbrella body of some factions of armed groups of Manipur, has announced to boycott of the Republic Day (January 26) Celebrations and called for a general strike effective from midnight of January 25, that will end at 6pm [IST] on January 26, reports E-Pao on January 22. Read less...

On January 22, 46 militants of All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) laid down arms in Sonitpur District of Assam, reports India Today NE. The laid down arms included eight pistols, six rifles and ammunition. Read less...

Imphal West District Police commandos arrested two militants of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) from Kwakeithel Laishram Leikai town, Imphal West District of Manipur on January 23, reports Imphal Free Press. The arrested militants were identified as Tourangbam Sanjit Singh alias Nongdren from Kwakeithel Laishram Leikai town in Imphal West District and Lendl Potsangbam alias Luching Nganba Meitei from Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai town, Imphal West District. Two mobile handsets, five ATM cards, one debit card, one PAN card, one driving license card, one black color bag containing one DELL laptop and one Tata Tiago car were seized from their possession. Read less...

A Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Manipur has remanded five persons, including a Myanmar national, accused of funding insurgents, to judicial custody until February 8, reports The Sangai Express on January 25. The five persons arrested by the NIA are Deepak Sharma alias Khinmaung, Suraj Jaiswal, Santosh Gupta, Sonar Nepolean Bahadur and Saikhom Bruce. While Deepak hailed from Block 5 Tamu Sagaing Division of Myanmar, the remaining four hailed from Moreh town in Tengnoupal District of Manipur. Read less...

On January 24, three active cadres of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak-Progressive (PREPAK-Pro) were arrested in three separate incidents in Manipur, reports The Sangai Express. In the first operation Oinam Iboyaima Singh alias Boyai was arrested from his residence at Kwakeithel Moirang Purel Leikai town. In the second operation, ‘Corporal’ Huidrom Priyokumar alias Jim was arrested from his residence at Khagempalli Huidrom Leikai. In the third operation, ‘Lance corporal’, Tangtangba Angnaikham Maring alias Taibanganba alias Athoi, was arrested from his residence at Langol Khunou village in Machi subdivision, Chandel District. The Police recovered a.32 pistol with magazine, three mobile handsets, two wallets, two Aadhaar cards, one driving license, one voter card, one vehicle registration card, one camouflage bag, INR 1,210, and a Yamaha FZ-S motorcycle during the operations. Read less...

Six Rohingyas were arrested by Tripura Police from Matinagar area under Kamalasagar Assembly of Sepahijala District in Tripura, reports India Today on January 25. The arrested Rohingyas were staying in an abandoned house in Matinagar area and the locals suspected and informed about them to Border Security Force (BSF) and Tripura Police. On reaching the spot, the Police detained and took them to Amtali Police Station. During interrogation, it was revealed that the Rohingyas entered Tripura with the help of a broker who promised them to take them to Bangladesh. The broker was unable to cross the border as a result of tight security which led to the arrest of the Rohingyas. Read less...

The United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) has announced in an official press release, on January 24, that it will boycott the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 and mark the day as a protest, reports India Today NE. Read less...

Assam Rifles arrested a militant of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) along with another unidentified individuals who were attempting to smuggle heroin powder worth approximately INR 3, 00,000 from Jiribam District of Manipur on January 25, tweeted The Assam Rifles @official_dgar on January 28. Read less...

On September 25, Sarnajoy Reang, a militant of the Parimal Debbarma faction of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT-PD), surrendered to the Assam Rifles Agartala Sector, reports Tripura Times. Read less...

The Assam Rifles Khuga Battalion arrested two militants of the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) at Beihang near Border Pillar Number 42 in Churachandpur District of Manipur on January 25, tweeted The Assam Rifles@official_dgar. Read less...

Three persons were injured in a hand grenade explosion at the Community Circle (Gandhi Chowk) in Ukhrul District of Manipur on January 25, injuring three persons, reports India Today. Three persons, including one woman, who were crossing the road at the time of the incident, were injured when the suspected hand grenade exploded. Read less...

On January 26, a blast occurred in Wangkhei Yonglan Leirak (Lane) in Imphal East District, reports The Sangai Express on January 27. A boy sustained injuries in the blast. The People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) in a press release issued by the outfit’s ‘department of publicity and propaganda’, ‘publicity officer’ Mangal Khuman claimed responsibility for the blast. It also claimed responsibility for the January 25 blast at Gandhi statue platform, Ukhrul town in Ukhrul District in Manipur, reported by SATP earlier, in which three persons were injured. The press release also claimed that the outfit had planted bombs at Kyamgei Pal Ahanbi in Imphal East District (along Imphal-Moreh highway), Keirao Langdum Lamkhai in Imphal East District and Heingang Khong in Imphal East District (along Pangei-Saikul road) but the bombs failed to go off. These operations were carried out by the Red Army’s Special Task Force A, B and C of PREPAK as part of the boycott of India's Republic Day celebration (January 26) in Manipur. Read less...

On January 27, a militant of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), identified as Ngamnya Wangsa, surrendered before the Executive Magistrate in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh, reports The Arunachal Times. The surrendered militant, a resident of Longbo village in Khonsa Circle of Tirap District, laid down one .32 mm pistol with a magazine and two live rounds. Read less...

A team of Bishnupur Police Commando arrested one Over-Ground Worker (OGW) of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), identified as Heisnam Jiban Singh, from Thanga Heisnam village in Moirang Tehsil (revenue unit) in Bishnupur District of Manipur on January 28, reports The Sangai Express. He revealed that he was working under the command of one KCP militant ‘Ningtamba’ who was currently staying at Churachandpur District of Manipur. Jiban Singh further disclosed that he was involved in various extortion activities. Later he was handed over to Keibul Lamjao Police Station for further investigation. Read less...

Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the Police arrested two militants of Yung Aung faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K-YA) along with arms and ammunition from Old Longchong village in Rima Putak Circle in Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh on January 28, reports The Arunachal Times. The arrested operatives were identified as Nayan Kumar Chakma and Gangwang Wanglee. The Police also recovered one Chinese made 7.62 mm rifle, an AK magazine, a safety fuse, a radio set and a mobile phone from the militants. Read less...

The Churachandpur Police arrested three Hmar People’s Convention-Democracy (HPC-D) militants, who were involved in extortion of money from vehicles plying on the Churachandpur-Sugnu Road, from Muolvaiphei village in Churachandpur District of Manipur on January 28, reports The Sangai Express. The arrestees were identified as Lalramhlun Lungtau alias Daa alias Rama, Vanlalthang alias VL and Lalthralhun Joute alias Lalthra. One Airsoft gun (M4A1) with one magazine (without live rounds), one Smith and Wesson M & P 40.177 (4.5 mm caliber) BB Gun Air Pistol with one magazine (without live round) and one holster were seized from the possession of Lalramhlun Lungtau. Read less...

The Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the Longding Police arrested a militant of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), identified as self-styled ‘lieutenant colonel’ Anok Wangsu, from an unspecified location in Arunachal Pradesh on January 30, reports The Arunachal Times. Wangsu, was responsible for orchestrating illegal extortion and recruitment drives in Longding District. Several incriminating documents, along with extortion money and fake ID cards were seized from his possession. He was one of the prime suspects in two National Investigating Agency (NIA) cases of 2015 and 2019, which involved the killing of three Army soldiers and the then Khonsa MLA Tirong Aboh. He was handed over to the Longding Police Station for further investigation. Read less...

Two Socialist Revolutionary Party Kangleipak (SOREPA) militants were arrested by Security Forces (SFs) in two separate operations on January 31 in Manipur, reports E-PAO. In the first operation, 16 Assam Rifles and the Bishnupur District Police Commandos, arrested an Over Ground Worker (OGW) of the Socialist Revolution Party Kangleipak (SOREPA), identified as Ningombam Rabichandra Singh from Nambol Khoriphaba traffic point in Bishnupur District of Manipur on January 31. On further interrogation, he revealed that he is an OGW of SOREPA and working under Moirangthem Naoba Meitei, who recently recruited two youths. In the second operation, Moirangthem Naoba Meitei alias Manaoton (27), a recruiter for SOREPA was arrested by Imphal East District Police Commandos from Top Moirangkampu forest gate area in Porompat Sub Division in Imphal East District of Manipur on January 31. Naoba joined SOREPA under Sanatomba of Langathel in 2022 and is presently working under the command of self-styled ‘major’ Laingou. Read less...