Thursday, November 5, 2009

Mental disorder cases pile up in Manipur

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fter simmering in militancy for a quarter of a century, Manipur is a wreck.

There are at least three dozen separatist militias operating in the state. The fall-out: an average of two psychiatric cases are reported everyday, each of them stemming from conflict-related disorders, and that's just at one government mental health centre in Imphal. The state has only 13 psychiatrists. It needs at least thrice the number to attend to the growing number of patients

Virtually every family in Manipur has at least one member who had been -or remains - abducted by militants. Every second family has lost a member or more to militancy.

We choose a house at random to find a state government officer who managed to return to safety. ''I had to escape, otherwise they would shoot me or beat me. It's because of my driver I could escape," he says on the condition that his name is not revealed.

It's also an open secret that every single family pays a monthly fee to militants. Reportedly, even the police and politicians are not exempt. Any attempt to avoid the extortion, or abandon the negotiations for how much, leads to kidnapping.

So often in Imphal, people live in half-constructed houses; a finished house would suggest a higher income, leading to a bigger amount demanded by the militants.

So Manipur tries to live quietly, hoping to not catch the attention of either the separatist groups, or the armed forces, which locals say, are often a bigger terror.

More than anyone else, they blame New Delhi for an indifference to their problems, which are now affecting not just their physical but also their mental safety.

New Delhi's indifference... and terror tactics by at least three dozen separatist militias operating in the state.

Assam rebels 'arrested in Dhaka'

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separatist group in India's troubled north-east says that Bangladeshi police have arrested two of their top leaders.

The United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa) said armed men in civilian dress entered their safe house in Dhaka and took away the two men at gunpoint.

Dhaka has arrested Ulfa leaders in the past. Separatist commander Anup Chetia served almost 12 years in jail there.

The group was founded on 7 April 1979. The rebels are fighting for a separate homeland for the Assamese people.

There has been no comment from the Bangladeshi authorities as yet.

Safety plea

Chitrabon Hazarika and Sasha Chaoudhary were taken from a house in Dhaka just past midnight on 2 November, senior Ulfa leader Raju Barua said in an e-mailed statement.

Mr Barua said the two leaders were told they were being taken for questioning.

He appealed to Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ensure their safety.

"We are living in Bangladesh as law-abiding citizens, so why should we be harmed in their country," Mr Barua said in the statement.

Ever since the Awami League party came to power in Bangladesh in January, the Ulfa and other north-eastern rebel groups have been under pressure to leave the country or face action.

Some rebels have been arrested and sent back to India on charges of illegal entry into Bangladesh, while others have been held for questioning to secure information on rebel hideouts.

NC hills may again erupt in violence courtesy NSCN-IM

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ven after the en-masse surrender of DHD(J) rebels North Cachar hills may again erupt in violence. A section Hmar people in the hills district are receving extortion notices from NSCN(IM) who have asked them to leave their places if they fail meet the demand. NSCN(IM)'s falcone eye this falls on the Hmar people who have been living in North Cachar hills over the decades. According to information available with NETV, the Naga insurgent group operating in Nagaland is serving extortion notices in the Hmar dominated areas in the hils district. The Naga insurgent further have asked the Hmar people to vacate the vilages if they fail to meet the demands. This was was Hmar Peoples' Convention Democratic spokesman Sewm Hmar told NETV. Needless to say, it is a clear indication of yet another unrest in the hills distirct after the DHD(J) rebels have joined the national mainstream. The HPC(D) leader says the extortion notices are spreading panic among the Hmar people in the distirct. He further urged the NSCN(IM) to withdraw the extortion notices. The situation may turn violent if the authorities fail to deal with these right now. It, however, remains to be seen how the government takes up it.

No resolution against Vande Mataram passed before me: PC

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inding himself in the midst of controversy on the Vande Mataram Fatwa issued by the Jamiat Ulama e Hind in a function in Deoband, which he had also attended, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today clarified that he was not present when the Fatwa was pronounced. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday contended that he was not present when the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind adopted a resolution at its 30th general session in Deoband on Tuesday asking Muslims not to recite 'Vande Mataram'. "Home Minister P Chidambaram was at the JUH conference at Deoband on November 3 between 10.00 am and 12.00 noon. No resolution was passed during that period. When he spoke, he was not aware of any resolution relating to Vande Mataram or women's reservation and television," a statement issued by his aide said. Besides, the Home Minister was reading from a prepared text and there was no occasion to depart from that text, the statement said reacting to a statement of BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Through its resolution, Jamiat has asked members of the community not to recite 'Vande Mataram' on the grounds that some verses of the national song are against the tenets of Islam. The Jamiat's opposition to the recitation of the song came when it supported seminary Darul Uloom's 'fatwa' (edict) which opposes any prayer involving the song. Naqvi had on Tuesday said the presence of Chidambaram at the programme "gave legitimacy to the resolution...it is a matter of concern."

SSG for Manipur CM, Governor

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he commandos of the Special Security Group, under the Central Industrial Security Forces, CISF have taken charge for providing security to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi as a part of the intensified security measures for VIPs following strings of attacks carried out by armed miscreants in the high security zone of Imphal. A total of 96 CISF personnel arrived in Imphal recently following Union Home Ministry’s approval to the request for special security cover for Chief Minister by the State Govt. SSG commandos of the CISF have officially taken over the charge of providing security cover to the Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi. The highly trained security commandos of the CISF will now be manning the Manipur CM’s bungalow. Preparations are also on for the CISF personnel to take over the security arrangement inside the State Governor’s residence, from the CRPF. The step of CISF taking over the security cover of the two VVIPs of the state came under the backdrop of the string of frequent attacks being carried out by armed miscreants in and around Imphal.

3 militants gunned down near Loktak in Manipur

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t least three suspected militants were killed while huge cache of assorted arms and ammunitions were recovered in a major operation carried out by the 73rd Mountain Brigade at the vicinity of Loktak Lake in Bishenpur district. The operation code name ‘Thunderbolt’ is one of the major operations being carried out by the Army to flush out militants taking shelter in the vicinity of Loktak Lake. The operation is reported to be a big success for the Army while the operation which commences in the wee hours of November 3 is still underway. At least three militants suspected to be of the proscribed PREPAK and KYKL were slain in a major operation launched by the 73rd Mountain Brigade at the Northern part of Loktak Lake at Ishok area under Bishenpur district. Codename Operation Thunderbolt, the operation was launched in the wee hours of November 3 and still underway. Apart from, busting three hideouts of the militants, huge cache of assorted arms and ammunitions were recovered from the slain militants including two AK Rifles, one M-16, two lethode launcher, huge number of ammunitions and explosives. According to sources, the operation is said to be carried out under the supervision of Brigadier JS Dillon and is reported to be assisted by 4/8 Ghrewal Regiment, 12 Maratha Light Infantry and Imphal West and Bishenpur police commandos.

Bangladesh begins crackdown on NE rebels

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n a major crack down on NE ultras, Bangladesh police arrested two top leaders of ULFA, acting general secretary and finance secretary Chitraban Hazarika and foreign affairs secretary Sasha Choudhury from an undisclosed location in Dhaka city on Wednesday. However, Indian authorities have yet to officially announce the arrest. According to report, two dreaded cadres were called to the DGFI headquarters in Dhaka from where duo was arrested. It is believed succumbing to pressures from Indian, Bangladesh started crackdown on the leaders of the militant groups taking shelter in the neighbouring country. Intelligence sources here said there is a possibility of handing over of the two militant leaders to Indian soon. Notably, ULFA chairman Rjkhowa and C—n C Paresh baruah had left Bangladesh after formation of Sheikh Hsina government. Moreover Paresh Baruah has been named in a chargesheet in connection with a case in 2003 blast. The case was reopened after Awami League Government came to power even two former Army officers including a Major General and a Brigadier were put behind bars. However, the neighbouring country is yet to launch a major offensive against the ultras group. The arrest of the two top leaders is considered to be a major blow to the militant outfit.

US missiles strike kills two in Pakistan

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uspected U.S. missiles killed two alleged militants early Thursday in a northwest Pakistan tribal region, intelligence officials said, while Pakistani soldiers battled Taliban fighters in a neighboring stretch along the Afghan border.

The attack indicated the U.S. will not sideline a favorite battle tactic against Islamist extremists despite Pakistani concerns that the missile strikes will anger insurgents who have agreed to stay neutral as the army wages an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban in South Waziristan.

The drone-fired missiles hit a house in Naurak village in the North Waziristan tribal area overnight, the two officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media on the record.

However, local tribesman Inayat Wazir told The Associated Press on the phone that the house was empty and no one had died. It was not immediately possible to independently verify either claim due to the dangerous nature of the region.

The area struck is believed to be under the control of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, a warlord involved in fighting U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Pakistan's military has struck a deal with Bahadur -- saying they would leave him alone as long as he stayed out of their way as they fight the Pakistani Taliban, the network the government blames for most of the suicide bombings in the country, in South Waziristan.

Pakistani military officials could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday, but in the past, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas has said the country would prefer there be no outside interference as it takes on the militants.

The truth is difficult to divine. The Americans rarely discuss the missile strikes. And although the Pakistanis publicly condemn them as violations of their sovereignty, many analysts believe the two countries have a deal allowing them.

A CIA missile strike killed the Pakistani Taliban's former leader, Baitullah Mehsud, in August just as Pakistan's military was using airstrikes to soften up targets ahead of a ground offensive, and local intelligence officials later confirmed they had aided the U.S. in tracking down the target.

The ground offensive launched in mid-October, and the army already says it has killed hundreds of insurgents.

The military said Wednesday that soldiers were fighting street by street through the mountainous town of Ladha, one of three main Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan. Over the previous day, the fighting left 10 militants dead in Ladha and 30 dead across the region, it said. Eight soldiers have been injured.

The army already has taken control of much of another key town, Sararogha, and is expected to launch an attack soon on Makeen, which the authorities have called the "nerve center" of the Pakistani Taliban.

"It's going fast," Abbas said Wednesday, declining to give a time frame for when the fighting would end. "It depends -- it's a lot of remote areas."

A Taliban spokesman told The Associated Press earlier this week that they had lost fewer than a dozen fighters and that their withdrawals were strategic plans to pull government fighters deeper into militant territory.

Figuring out the reality in South Waziristan is nearly impossible. The government only allows journalists into the battle zone on carefully orchestrated trips.