Formation
The Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), a breakaway faction of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), was formed on May 16, 2004. The split was triggered by a cease-fire agreement, signed on May 23, 2002, between the UPDS and Union Government.
The outfit also has an armed wing called the Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Resistance Force.
Objectives
The outfit claims to fight for the cause of Karbi tribes and its declared objective is Hemprek Kangthim, meaning self-rule/self-determination of the Karbi people.
Leadership, Cadre and Area of Operation
Pradip Terang alias Pongbi Dilli is the ‘Chairman’ of the outfit. Har Sing Timung was the General Secretary till January 2, 2005, when he resigned from his position following serious differences with the ‘Commander-in-Chief’ Men Sing Takbi alias Willingson Timung. Laden Ronghang is the ‘Publicity Secretary’ of the group and ‘Incharge Central Publicity Cell’ is Thong Teron alias Rupsing Teron. The Assistant Foreign Secretary/ Revenue/Finance/Taxation of the outfit is Biren Lekthe alias Risso Tokbi.
Currently, the outfit has around 200 cadres operating in the Karbi Anglong district. The KLNLF Commander-in-Chief, Willingson Timung, was killed along with two other cadres by the General Secretary, Hor Sing Timung, on February 2, 2005. Later on April 29, 2005, Hor Sing Timung along with other four associates was executed by the outfit at a camp in Bangladesh for their involvement in the murder of Timung.
While the group’s stronghold is the Karbi Anglong district, its presence has also been reported from the North Cachar Hills and Nagaon districts.
Linkage
The outfit maintains close links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). The ULFA’s ‘709th battalion’ operates out of two major bases in Karbi Anglong, with the KLNLF providing it with logistic support in return for weapons and ammunition.
It also reportedly has links with the Nagaland-based National Socialist Council of Nagaland - Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM). On May 11, 2004, 31 KLNLF cadres along with five NSCN-IM militants were arrested from a bus on the Paren-Ghaspani Road on their way to Dimapur. These cadres had undergone training at a NSCN-IM camp and were reportedly part of the recent batch that passed out from there. On October 13, 2007, security forces neutralized a joint camp of the NSCN-IM and KLNLF inside Kaki Reserve Forest area in the Karbi Anglong district.
Funds
Abductions for ransom and extortion are the main sources of funds for the group. According to official sources, the outfit generates a considerable amount of revenue by targeting the ginger producing Kukis in the Singhason Hills area. The non-Karbi Hindi – speaking traders are also targeted for extortion.