NSCN-IM active in Assam hill dists - Focus on Kuki, Rengma youths

SARAT SARMA

Nagaon, May 11: The Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN is purportedly egging members from minority communities of the two hill districts of Assam to float rebel outfits with the promise of supervising their operations and providing training. This came to light following the death of a Rengma youth and arrest of a Kuki youth in the past five days in two major operations by Karbi Anglong police and J&K Rifles. A Karbi Anglong police source said the idea was mooted during a meeting held at Dimapur around a month back involving members from Rengma and Kuki communities and the local leadership of the NSCN (I-M), including a kilonser (a political representative) of the outfit. The Rengma and Kuki youths were reportedly told in the meeting that if they opted to float new rebel outfits to fight for their communities' rights, NSCN (I-M) would support them with arms and training. Among the Kukis present in the meeting was John Haokip, a youth who was arrested two days back during one of the operations. According to a Dillai police source, Haokip yesterday led the police to a spot where two SLRs were buried. The guns were subsequently dug out. Dillai police also arrested one Pradip Das, 30, from Amrajan near Sukanjan under Bokajan police station of Karbi Anglong during a search operation today. Das, whose father is Bengali and mother Kuki, was later produced in court and remanded in two days' police custody. "We have reports that Haokip attended the Dimapur meeting and was entrusted with the task of floating a new Kuki rebel outfit. Pradip is reportedly a close associate of Haokip and is assisting him in the mission," the police source said. According to the source, work on floating the Kuki group was in the preliminary stage and the youths had only been provided some weapons to start the groundwork. The outfit was yet to get a name, he added. On Tuesday, the police discovered a new outfit — Rengma Naga Hills Protection Force — after its camp was destroyed and a cadre killed in the ensuing encounter. "The fact that Rengmas and Kukis are trying to form militant outfits has come as a surprise. The Rengmas are a very small community living in an area comprising seven villages. The Kukis, too, are a small community, though two outfits are influential in the Kuki-dominated belt of Karbi Anglong. The arrest of Haokip and his interrogation has brought NSCN (I-M)'s patronage to light," the source said. In neighbouring Dima Hasao, NSCN (I-M)'s plan to back a new rebel outfit had come to light in June 2012 following the arrest of a few cadres of the Dimasa National Revolutionary Front. The cadres had disclosed that the NSCN (I-M) provided support to their leaders who, in turn, pledged help to the former in conducting joint extortion drives in the hill district. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130512/jsp/frontpage/story_16888266.jsp