India: Incidents and Statements involving
Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) : 2003

A media report said police, on January 1, 2003, arrested National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) 'vice-president' Dhiren Boro from Tadung area in Gangtok, Sikkim's capital. Police also detained his wife and two children who were with him. Assam police Inspector General (IGP-Special Branch) Khagen Sarma reportedly confirmed the arrest. Assam police personnel suspect that the NDFB might have set-up a base in Sikkim and the 'vice-president' was there to supervise its alleged hideouts in 'Nepal or West Bengal'. The outfit may have been trying to do this with the help of the Maoist insurgents of Nepal and terrorists of the Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO). According to the IGP Sarma, "It is quite likely that the NDFB was setting up alternative bases in North Bengal or Nepal with the help of the Maoist rebels and the KLO". Report said it was for the first time that a terrorist leader from the Northeast was arrested in Sikkim. Read less...

Security forces killed a Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) terrorist identified as Tapas Barman on the banks of Sankosh river, near Sapkata, Kokrajhar district, Assam, on January 23, even as his associates reportedly escaped. A revolver, five rounds of ammunition, two Chinese grenades and two detonators were recovered from the slain terrorist. Read less...

According to a media report, terrorists of the proscribed Kuki Liberation Front (KLF) have released Food Corporation of India (FCI) Deputy Director R Sadasivan of Dimapur, and businessman R K Moorthy of Moreh, on January 25. The KLF abducted Sadasivan and eight other officials on January 21. While Border Security Force (BSF) personnel stationed at Khongkhang, Manipur, rescued the eight, the terrorists managed to escape with Sadashivan. The businessman was abducted later on the same day from Lokchao, Moreh. Read less...

A media report of January 28 claimed a new Koch Rajbongshi-terrorist outfit might spring up and be active in the States of Assam and West Bengal. The report quoting a 'reliable source' further said the outfit's purported objective is to demand a separate Kamatapur State consisting 18 districts of West Bengal and Assam and would act as a rival to the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). KLO demands a separate Kamtapur State comprising six districts–– Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, North and South Dinajpur and Malda––of West Bengal and four contiguous districts of Assam––Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Dhubri and Goalpara. The 'new outfit' would reportedly also demand inclusion of eight more districts of Assam, including, Nalbari, Barpeta and Darrang among others. The report, however, gave no more details. Read less...

Two terrorists of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) were killed in an encounter at Kherabari under the Gossaigaon police station limits, Kokrajhar district on February 15. A 9 mm pistol and 27 live ammunitions have been recovered from the encounter site. Read less...

According to a report of March 29, Bhutan asked Indian terrorist groups operating from its soil to close their camps by June 30, 2003 and also warned of military action if they would fail to do so by that date. The report quoted a Bhutanese Foreign Ministry official as saying, "We are giving Indian militants a final chance to leave the kingdom peacefully by the end of June or else we will be forced to use military force to remove them." Two Assam-based terrorist groups, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and West Bengal-based Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) allegedly maintain their training camps in Bhutan. Read less...

According to media reports, the son of a former Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist was injured when two Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) terrorists shot at him in Bangsidharpur area, near Falakata in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, on March 31. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Jalapiguri range, K Meena said he was attacked at his shop during an aborted abduction bid. Police recovered an AK 47 rifle and four blank cartridges from the spot. Read less...

A report on May 3 has indicated that the Bhutanese Government has asked Indian terrorist groups to vacate their camps in that country by June 15. A Government official informed this while speaking to media persons in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal. The Assam-based National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), operating in parts of Assam and West Bengal, have their camps in Bhutan. Read less...

Army chief General N C Vij left on a five-day visit to Bhutan on May 6 in the backdrop of Indian concerns about the existence of camps of terrorist groups operating in India’s Northeast. According to media reports, General Vij, during his visit, is likely to hold consultations with the top brass of the Bhutanese Army on the measures to close down training camps of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). Gen Vij will also visit Army formations in West Bengal and Sikkim to take stock of the continuing operations against terrorist hideouts on the Indian side of the border. Read less...

According to reports on May 19, the Bhutan Government is raising a ‘counter-insurgent force’ to tackle Indian terrorist outfits on its soil. The reports have indicated that the Government has initiated a move to enlist ‘volunteers’ for the purpose. The King Jigme Singhye Wangchuk reportedly said, "When the security and sovereignty of our country is under threat, the true sons of the soil must step forward and not wait to be called upon to serve their country." According to Dozin Batoo Tshering, a spokesperson of the Royal Bhutan Army, approximately 800 men, aged between 18 and 45 years, were ready to join the ‘militia force’ from Paro district of Bhutan. Assam–based United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), and an outfit active in West Bengal, the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) maintain their base camps in Bhutan. Bhutan had earlier asked these outfits to vacate its territory by June 30, and had also warned that in the condition of non-compliance the Government might use force to remove them. Read less...

A media report on May 23 has indicated that the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has asked its cadres to prepare to leave Bhutan camps following latter’s warning to do so by the end of June 2003. Bhutan had also asked the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisarion (KLO), to vacate its territory. However, the report has added that following this, cadres of the outfit might look for hideouts in the forest areas of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. Read less...

Media reports on June 2 have indicated that Special Services Bureau (SSB) personnel would be deployed along the International Border with Bhutan to counter the movement of terrorists into the Northeast region and West Bengal. Outfits like United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) that operate in Assam and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), active in parts of Assam and West Bengal, are known to regularly use routes along this border to infiltrate and exfiltrate. Read less...

According to a media report on June 29, the two terrorist groups active in Assam and operating from their Bhutan-based camps– United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have formed a new outfit named Gorkha Bhutan Liberation Front (GBLF). The report further said that approximately 300 Nepalese Gorkha youths from Bhutan have been recruited in the new group. The Bhutan authorities had earlier asked ULFA and NDFB along with the Kamtapur Liberation Organisatoin (KLO), another terrorist outfit active in parts of West Bengal and Assam to vacate its territory by June 30. Read less...

According to a media report on July 1, Indian terrorists outfits operating from Bhutan have not responded to the June 30 deadline set by the Government there to vacate its territory. The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), active in Assam and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), active in parts of Assam and West Bengal, were asked by the Bhutan Government to remove their camps located in the jungles of southern Bhutan by the said deadline. The Government there, however, has reportedly said that efforts were on to resolve the matter peacefully. While speaking to a Guwahati-based journalist from the capital Thimphu on July 1, Bhutan’s Foreign Secretary, Ugyen Tshering reportedly said, "We are committed to a peaceful resolution of the problem, and have not shut our doors to anything which can ensure that. But, the response from the ULFA and NDFB rebels have been less than encouraging." However, he added, "We want their immediate withdrawal, but we never set any deadline for the withdrawal process." Read less...

According to a media report, on July 1, Bhutan has indicated that the Indian terrorist groups ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) operating from there would have to face a ‘military action’ if they do not remove their camps from its southern region. An unnamed Bhutanese official was quoted as saying, "If they (militants) refuse to leave through the process of peaceful dialogue, there will be no option but to use military force as directed by the National Assembly." Read less...

According to Inspector General of Police (Special Branch), Khagen Sarma, Bhutan is acting against its nationals who are found to be assisting Indian terrorists. The authorities have further tried to choke supply routes to the terrorists by ordering closure of shops at various places including Samdrup Jongkhar, Deothang and Kawoipani. United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) together have more than 30 camps in the jungles of southern Bhutan. Read less...

According to media reports of July 23, the 81st National Assembly of Bhutan has adopted a resolution requesting the Royal Government to make ‘the last attempt’ to persuade the Indian terrorist outfits to remove their camps from the jungles in Samdrup Jongkhar and its vicinity. The Assembly that concluded the discussion on July 14 decided that the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) would be allowed to close down their camps within this year ‘peacefully’. The Assembly also warned that the terrorists would face ‘military action’ if they fail to comply with the resolution. Earlier reports had indicated that the Bhutan Government had asked these groups to leave Bhutan by June 30, 2003 or to face military action. However, the Government there has decided to give them one more chance. According to Bhutanese authorities, the ULFA that is active in the Northeastern Indian State of Assam has eight camps in Bhutan, including its general headquarters and an estimated 1,560 of its cadres are present there. The NDFB that is also active in Assam has eight camps with about 740 cadres and the KLO, active in parts of West Bengal and Assam has three camps with approximately 430 cadres. Read less...

Terrorist groups active in the Northeast have announced the boycott of Independence Day celebrations in a joint statement. The statement, among others, also opposed enduring or promotion of non-regional cultural ethos, including viewing of Hindi films calling it a "cultural invasion". The groups that signed the joint statement include, the Nagaland-based Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), the Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Tripura-based National Liberation Front of Tripura, the Meghalaya-based Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) that is active in parts of Assam and West Bengal, and the Manipur-based People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) and the United National Liberation Front (UNLF). Read less...

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi expressed hope on September 14 that Bhutan King Jigme Singye Wangchuk would reach an understanding with the Union Government on possible actions against the Indian terrorist groups on its soil during his five-day visit to Delhi. While talking to the media in Gangtok, capital city of Sikkim, he reportedly said, "That is my first priority and peace will automatically usher in economic boom in Assam." Among the terrorist groups, the Assam-based United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) that is active in parts of Assam and West Bengal have hideouts in the Jungles in southern Bhutan. Read less...

The visiting King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk has reportedly said that leaders of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) would be invited for talks by Thimpu to discuss the removal of their camps there. The Bhutanese National Assembly in October 2003 had also taken a decision in this regard. The three terrorist outfits are active in the Northeastern part of India and also in the State of West Bengal and are believed to have together more than 30 camps in the jungles of southern Bhutan. A press release from the Bhutan Embassy in Delhi on September 15 said, "He (the King) said that so long as the Government of Bhutan and the Government of India work closely together, and so long as Bhutan has the goodwill, friendship and support of India, he was confident that the problem can be resolved in the near future." Read less...

On September 16, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that Bhutan could not deal with the Indian terrorist groups on its soil by merely offering to negotiate. While speaking to a news agency, he reportedly said, "Offers of talks will not solve the problem unless Bhutan launches a military crackdown to demolish the rebel bases in its territory." He further said, "In the last few years we have heard Bhutan reiterating its offer to hold talks with the separatists without any desired results. Only offers will not help unless some action is shown by Bhutan." The visiting Bhutan king Jigme Singye Wangchuk on September 15 had reportedly said in New Delhi that his Government would ask the three terrorist groups having hideouts in the southern Bhutan to remove the same through peaceful means and failing which Bhutan would resort to military action against them. The terrorist groups active in Northeastern part of India and also in the State of West Bengal–United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) together are believed to have more than 30 camps in Samdrup Jhongkhar and its vicinity in Bhutan. Read less...

On November 1, the Jalpaiguri district police in North Bengal reportedly killed two suspected Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) terrorists inside the Buxa Tiger Reserve near the Indo- Bhutan border. Two AK-56 rifles and 59 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the incident site. Read less...

SFs recovered the body of a surrendered Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) terrorist from Balapasa near the Assam-Bengal border on December 3. Read less...

Other terrorist groups of the region, including the Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF), Kuki National Front (KNF) and the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) are also reported to have extended support to the 48 hour shutdown call given by the ULFA, NDFB and KLO in Assam and Kamatapur which began on December 20. Read less...

The ULFA, in a press statement, on December 20, appealed to the people of Assam to oppose the military operations on its cadres in Bhutan. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), General Secretary, Th. Muivah, in a press release, while criticising the RBA operations extended his support to the call for general strike by the ULFA, NDFB and KLO. The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), in a press statement, on December 20, has also criticized the counter-insurgency offensive launched by Bhutan. Separately, the human rights organization, Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS) appealed to the Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross to take necessary action regarding the killing of innocent women and children in Bhutan. Read less...

The 48-hour bandh (shutdown) called by the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) is reported to have evoked a mixed response and partially affected life in Assam on December 20. The bandh was called by these outfits in protest against the crackdown launched by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) on their camps in Bhutan. Read less...

According to media reports, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) has extended ‘moral support’ to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National Democratic of Bodoland (NDFB) and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), whose camps are currently being attacked by the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) in southern Bhutan. The NSCN-IM had imposed a 24-hour shutdown in all Naga areas of the Northeast on December 21 in this regard. Read less...

On December 22, the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) in a press statement released in the name of its ‘chairman’ Jibon Singha, who is reported to have been killed in the military operations in Bhutan, termed the military offensive as unjustified. The statement said, "Bhutan has inscribed the history of monumental betrayal by arresting and extraditing our Central Committee members to India when they went to negotiate with the authority of Bhutan in response to their invitation." Read less...

Some arrested KLO leaders have reportedly revealed that the outfit's self-styled commander-in-chief, Jeevan Singh, "was last heard of as being in Bangladesh." They also reportedly confessed that the Royal Bhutan Army has captured 13 KLO terrorists who were hiding in camps in southern Bhutan. Read less...

Top KLO leaders Tom Adhikari and Milton Barman have reportedly confessed to the abduction and subsequent murder of timber merchant Naresh Das from Kumargram in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal in year 1998 in collaboration with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Read less...

The ULFA, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), through a press statement on December 26, have called for a ban on ‘individual or corporate trading or businesses with any Bhutanese individual or corporate’ from December 27, ‘till the end of proxy war.’ The notification also banned any movement ‘to and from the Bhutanese soil to Assam, Bodoland and Kamatapur from December 27, till the Bhutanese authorities hand over the dead bodies of the killed militants to ‘either impartial international organization or journalist or to the concerned family.’ Read less...