Genocides in Karbi Anglong : An insight
Not a year has passed since the 2003 Dimasa-Hmar conflict, the people of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills have been routinely subjected to genocidal killings claiming hundreds of innocent lives. Subversive forces have created ‘conflict’ situations among indigenous tribal and non-tribal communities. The result—Dimasa-Hmar conflict in NC Hills (April, 2003) which claimed more than one hundred lives and rendered thousands homeless; Kuki-Karbi conflict in Karbi Anglong (October/2003) which claimed another hundred innocent lives and uprooted about forty villages in the Singhason belt of Karbi Anglong; in November 2003 Karbi-Khasi conflict in border areas of Karbi Anglong and Meghalaya which claimed dozen lives and uprooted three thousand villagers (November 2003 to February 2004). Besides, ‘clashes’ between Adivasi and Bihari communities of Karbi Anglong (July 2005) engineered by the same subversive forces, claimed a number of innocent lives. Come 2007 August, the ‘conflict’ has again resurfaced in Karbi Anglong, leading to a cycle of killings and counter-killings, by both the armed insurgent groups and the security forces. In all these, attempts are made to deliberately portray the Karbis as mean and intolerant aggressors with a view to isolate them and to destroy their ongoing political struggle for autonomy within the purview of Indian Constitution. There is an underlying and unmistakable pattern to the cyclic nature of the killings that are perpetrated on the Karbis and other indigenous communities in both Karbi Anglong and NC Hills — where the perpetrators remain as ‘mysterious’ as ever. But are they? Because, the growing incidents of ‘custodial deaths’, ‘fake encounter killings’ and ‘rapes’ and ‘illegal detentions and tortures’ are no longer ‘mysterious’ as the following instances demonstrate—but what is ‘mysterious’ is the silence and inaction of the State in all these cases:
Fake Encounter
> 19/08/2007- Mr Sing Timung (22), s/o Mensing Timung of village Bura Phangcho of Borlangfer was picked up from his study table from his residence around 10-30 pm by 3 policemen on 18th August 2007. The policemen asked Kachai Timungpi (19), Sing’s youngest sister to confirm his whereabouts and led him blindfolded towards the Borlangfer Police Out Post (PoP) that was in a distance of about 250 meters. Around 3-30 am of 19th August 2007, the nearby villagers heard gun-shots that emanated from Inglongkiri, about 5/6 kms from the Borlangfer PoP.
The dead body of Sing, with two bullet marks in his chest, was found the next morning (19 August), from a small place called Ing:longkiri, about-5-6 kms away from the Borlangfer PoP. Eyewitnesses from neighbouring village who discovered the body from a spot about 150 metres from the main road, also discovered marks of binding in the legs and hands.
Later Assam Police claimed that Sing Timung was a member of the militant group KLNLF (Karbi Longri N.C.Hills Liberation Front) and that he was shot dead in encounter. Police also claimed to have recovered a ‘hand grenade and some ammunition’ from his possession. But in reality, Mr Timung was a member of the Central Committee of the KSA ( Karbi Students’ Association). He was also the vice president of KSA Diphu Regional Committee and President of the Borlangfer KSA Branch. Independent investigation undertaken by the KHRW immediately has revealed that Shri Dalim Mahanta, officer in-charge of Borlangfer PoP, who harassed the innocent local Karbi people at the smallest pretext, enacted the drama of ‘encounter’ to settle his personal score against Sing Timung who had dared to complain against his excesses. Investigation also further revealed that Dalim Mahanta had threatened Sing Timung of ‘encounter’.
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22 August 2007
> Encounter sparks mob fury in Diphu (Tel) OUR CORRESPONDENT Aug. 22: Student rage singed the streets of Diphu town of Karbi Anglong district today over the death of a collegian in a disputed encounter with security forces three days ago.
Police burst teargas shells, caned the 3,000-odd protesters and ultimately fired in the air when the mob would not stop attacking everything in sight ó from shops to vehicles passing by.
It all began when the protesters, mobilised by the Karbi Students’ Association (KSA), were marching from the Diphu Sports Association playground to the deputy commissioner’s office to hand over a memorandum seeking a high-level inquiry into the death of Singh Timung, 21, on Sunday.
The students turned violent when the police stopped them near the town’s main marketplace. They threw stones at shops that were open and vehicles parked by the side of the road. When caning and teargas failed to disperse the mob, superintendent of police Anurag Tankha ordered his contingent to fire in the air.
The street fight, however, did not end until deputy commissioner M. Angamuthu reached the scene of action and accepted the memorandum.
A team of police and CRPF personnel killed Timung at Ingleng Kiri village, where he was allegedly hiding with a group of militants of the Karbi Longri North Cachar Liberation Front.
Additional SP (headquarters) Nityananda Goswami insisted that the youth, a higher secondary student at Diphu Government College and president of the Borlangfar unit of the KSA, had links with the militant group.
Ulfa and Karbi Longri militants killed 29 Hindi-speaking people across Karbi Anglong district two weeks ago.
The police officer said Timung and a group of ‘five to six’ Karbi Longri members fired at the search party when it reached Ingleng Kiri around 10.30 pm on Sunday. “The other members of the team fled under the cover of darkness when our team retaliated. We found Timung’s body, a .22 pistol and some explosives in the hideout.”
The KSA refuted the police’s claim. “It was cold-blooded murder. We demand a judicial inquiry into the killing and immediate action against the police officials involved in the incident,” the president of the union, Sarthe Kramsa, said.
The union declared a 12-hour Karbi Anglong bandh from 5am tomorrow to force the government to initiate action against the police.
The nascent Karbi Human Rights Watch rallied behind the students and said it would approach the National Human Rights Commission
<!–[if !supportLists]–>Ø <!–[endif]–>Security forces kill pro-talk UPDS cadre at Diphu —in a raid at 6 mile at the house of pro-talk faction Vice-Chairman Ke-ap Tisso’s native home after midnight killing the ailing body-guard Anong Teron (25) point-blank and later calling the unprovoked stage-managed encounter as ‘response to violation of ground-rules’ by the outfit. The incident has raised questions among public regarding the intention of the security forces and the state police by this sort of ‘killings’.
6 July 2007
> Two Karbi youths killed in police ‘encounter’ at Rongplimplam— Police has claimed killing 2 cadres of the KLNLF from the spot (under Bokajan PS) around 8-30 pm and identified them to be Ningkreng Bé (22) and Hondor Taro (21). But the fact is— the two were arrested from Dojoi Kro village of Dokmoka PoP (under Howraghat PS) by a team of policemen led by the in-charge Jayanta Kalita, on 5th July around 2-30 pm while they were crossing a bridge in bi-cycles. Hondor Taro hailed from Dojoi Kro village while Ningkreng belonged to Manja
6th June 2002
> Horen Bey and four other top leaders of the pro-talk UPDS leaders arrested —at Baithalangso by the army who were later handed over to the police after brutally roughing them up. Police has ‘expressed unhappiness’ over the incident and released them the same day.
> One Semson Terang of the UPDS pro-talk faction was killed by the army.
25th May 2002
> Unidentified body found— One unidentified dead body of a man, aged about 30 years, was recovered from Mithiphang, 5 kms. from Diphu on Diphu-Manja road. Police sources say the incident occurred last night around 11-30 pm. The body is lying at the Diphu Civil Hospital morgue since the hospital authority received the body at 10-20 am this morning and so far no one has claimed the body. Local people suspect the killing as another incident of ‘secret killing’.
17 July 2000
> Unidentified killers shoot dead family members of UPDS — In the incident, the father of UPDS C-in-C Wilson Kro, and mother and brother of the Dy. C-in-C Mensing Tokbi’s were killed. Basa Kro (65) and his wife Lisha Derapi (55) of Rongkuroi village under Baithalangso PS died while their daughter Long-ik Kropi (25) received bullet injuries who was later taken to Nowgaon Civil Hospital for treatment. In another incident, Kheru Singnar (55) and Amphu Kramsapi (50) of Khanajan village were also killed. Hemari Tokbi (63) and his son Ranjit Tokbi (18) were kidnapped who were later killed at Belbari village under Kheroni PS. Interestingly, police is yet to ascertain the identity of the killers. Immediately, PK Mahanta, CM, visited the areas.
North KA facing food scarcity (Sentinel) From our Correspondent BOKAKHAT, Aug 22: The north Karbi Anglong areas have been suffering from the irregular supply of essential commodities. The people of the north Karbi Anglong areas generally collect their daily supplies from the border shops set up by non-Karbi people. But the non-Karbi shopkeepers who own these shops have closed their business and moved out of the region. Moreover, three weekly markets, one in Dolamora area, which opened on Saturdays and two others in Bandarchak and Deithor areas opened every Thursday, were also not held during the last week. Generally, there are three weekly markets, which supply most of all daily goods. However, on Sunday, the Karbi people did not go to the Behara Sunday market in fear of a retaliation by the non-Karbis. It has been alleged that the Government has not yet taken any steps for supplying the essential commodities.
Custodial deaths
4 November, 1997
> Hori Terang (45) dies in police custody at Diphu—Hori Terang (45), S/o of Lt Kondor, vill-Balijan Sedeng Terang of Bakulia died in custody succumbing to inhuman torture at the hands of Police Superintendent of KA, Mukesh Agarwal. The person was picked up on mere suspicion of harbouring militants from his residence at Bakulia near the Police Outpost and was then brought to Diphu PS ( after a night of torture at Howraghat PS). The inhuman torture meted out to Terang killed him in custody. Keshop Terang (32), s/o late Sadhuram, a neighbour of Hori Terang, arrested later the same night, however was released from Diphu, on the third day. Hori was taken to Diphu Civil Hospital for ‘treatment’ but he succumbed in the his hospital bed in handcuff.
21 March 2004
> Custodial death of school-boy at Diphu — police arrested one Bhupen Terang, severely tortured him and kept him in police custody till April 4 when the boy died after being produced in court. According to press reports, Bhupen, along with two of his companions, had gone to shoot birds with an air-gun. While his two companions were released, the police detained Bhupen who used to stay in a destitute boys’ hostel under Diphu DAV School. On the strength of the report of the boy’s death in police custody in local media, Justice S.N. Phukan took suo moto cognizance of it and issued notice to the Superintendent of Police of Diphu to submit a report on Bhupen’s death to the Commission by May 3 next.
22 Aug 2004
> 3 killed in Baithalangsu police firing (Assam Tribune, Guwahati, Sunday, August 22, 2004) —From Our Correspondent — DONGKAMOKAM, Aug 21 – Three persons were killed in police firing at Ulukunchi police outpost under Baithalangsu police station in Karbi Anglong district last afternoon, after an irate mob gheraoed the outpost following the custodial death of one Raseswar Hokai. Hokai had been picked by police for his suspected ULFA links. Two of the dead have been identified as Sing Puma (40) and N Lumpai (45), while the third one is yet to be identified. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.
The tragedy occurred when the police first fired in the air to disperse the group of incensed people at the outpost. Police said that after this, a few people from the crowd also fired at the police and then the police too retaliated by firing at them. According to police, those who fired from the crowd were Tiwa militants. Dolendra Chandra Deka, the Baithalangsu officer-in-charge, was also hurt in the firing.
Meanwhile, tension continues to grip the area. Senior police officials have already rushed to Ulukunchi to take stock of the situation.
PTI adds: Following the custodial death, an irate mob of the Tiwa community residing in the nearby areas gheraoed the police yesterday and started attacking them, injuring two policemen. Police opened fire in which two persons died on the spot. Following a search operation today, the body of another Tiwa community member was found in the nearby paddy fields who had sustained injuries in the police firing and subsequently escaped. The police suspected that some members of a particular militant outfit of the Tiwas were also involved in the attack as there was firing from 12 bore rifles which seriously injured the police station’s officer in charge and his assistant sub-inspector who received bullets injuries in their hands. Police did not rule out the possibility of more casualties due to firing as most of the people dispersed after the incident. DIG AK Nath and SP Pankaj Sharma are camping in the area where the situation is tense but under control, the sources said. Police had started a probe into the incident.
> 3 die in firing, 1 in custody in Karbi hills (Sentinel) —DIPHU, Aug 21 (PTI): Four persons were killed, one in police custody and three others in subsequent police firing on a mob who injured two police officials seriously in Karbi Anglong district yesterday, police said.
Following a custodial death of a suspected thief in Baithalanshu police station, an irate mob of Tiwa community residing in the nearby areas gheraoed the police and started attacking them.
Police opened fire in which two persons died on the spot.
Following a search operation today, body of another Tiwa community member was found from the nearby paddy fields who had sustained injuries in the police firing and subsequently escaped.
The police suspected that some members of a particular militant outfit of the Tiwas were also involved in the attack as there was firing from 12 bore rifles which seriously injured the police station’s officer in charge Dulal Deka and his assistant sub-inspector who received bullets in their hands.
The police did not rule out the possibility of more casualty due to firing as most of the Tiwa people dispersed after the incident.
DIG A K Nath and Superintendent of Police Pankaj Sharma are camping in the area where the situation is tense but under control, the sources said.
The police had started a probe into the incident
> Three killed in Assam firing (Telegraph) A STAFF REPORTER —Guwahati, Aug. 21 2007: Three persons were killed and another injured when police fired on a mob protesting a police custodial death in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district around 5.30 pm yesterday.
Police said they had to resort to firing to control a 300-strong mob, which had turned violent while protesting in front of Ulupunchi police outpost, 225 km from Diphu.
The police also claimed that Tiwa militants had fired from the crowd, injuring officer-in-charge of Baithalangsu police station, Dulan Chandra Deka, who rushed to the outpost. He was operated on at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital today and his condition is stable.
Karbi Anglong superintendent of police Pankaj Sharma said, “The policemen opened fire in self-defence and after a magistrate, who had rushed to the site, declared the situation unlawful.”
Karbi Anglong deputy commissioner Anurag Goel was out of station.
Sharma said things were under control after a public meeting held at 11 am today. “Nearly 150 people participated in the meeting and they were convinced by our answers. Everything is normal now,” he claimed.
Police sources said a mob had gathered in front of the police outpost in the afternoon to protest the alleged custodial death of Rameswar Hokai, 45, who was picked up in a theft case yesterday morning.
“Hokai was handed over to us by the public after a thorough bashing. He subsequently succumbed to his injuries around noon,” one of the sources said. A magisterial probe was ordered into Hokai’s death and firing.
17 July 2007
> Custodial death of Longki Ingti at Dokmoka PoP—when he alongwith Barélong Killing (30), s/o Arlôk of Nignkreng Tisso village was arrested by Dokmoka PoP incharge Jayanta Kalita from near the H & T office in Den:arong market early at around 9 am in full public view on 16th July. Longki Ingti (35), s/o Late Samsing of Longbi Ingti village (Matikhola) within the vicinity of Den:arong is understood to be KLNLF ‘tax-collector’ died in the police custody. Police claimed he died of ‘illness’ and did its best to absolve itself of the crime by admitting him in the Dokmoka Hospital (under Dr Thong Teron’s care). Police claimed recovery of a revolver from village Tongklok on the basis of the youths’ ‘confessions’. After the death of the ‘KLNLF ultra’ (as claimed by police) around 9-30 pm, his body was brought to Diphu Civil Hospital for PM (in presence of a magistrate) and quietly handed over the body to the family members late at night near Den:arong.
3 August 2007
> Hearing on Longki Ingti’s Custodial Death at Dokmoka Forest IB—by Enquiry Officer Dhurbajit Hazarika, SDO (Sadar) Diphu. The hearing, notified to be taken since 20th July, culminates today to an enthusiastic response from the public and other social organisations, human rights activists (All Boro Peace Forum and Karbi Human Rights’ Watch), KSA (Kramsa) and individuals, family members of the victims etc. swelling the number to about 500 in the Forest IB Campus. The Police Superintendent Anurag Tankha, IPS, seemed perturbed, if not worried, and is reported to be looking for group or individual who could speak in praise of the police— in this case, Jayanta Kalita, the notorious ASI and incharge of Dokmoka Police Outpost (since August 2005). In fact, some unidentified Bengali youths tried to place the police version but seeing the huge crowd clamouring for punishment on Kalita, they withdrew without a word (according to some, the youths disappeared with the NDFB plainscloth cadres present in the crowd during the hearing.)
Rape
10 February, 2005
> Indian soldier in child rape case (By Subir Bhaumik BBC News, Calcutta)— Police in India’s north-eastern state of Assam say they have arrested an Assam Rifles soldier for allegedly raping a twelve year old girl.
The specialist counter-insurgency force courted controversy in July when soldiers of the force were accused of raping and killing a 32 year old.
That incident in the state of Manipur provoked fierce street protests.
The soldier was arrested and charged in Assam’s Diphu town in Karbi Anglong district, where he was posted.
Police said two local women alleged to have helped the soldier in the crime were also arrested.
Karbi Anglong police superintendent Pankaj Sarmah told the BBC a medical test on the girl proved she was raped.
Doctors in Diphu say the girl was allegedly lured with food that was laced with sedatives.
Mr Sarmah said the incident took place last week.
The Karbi Tribal Students Association has started agitating against the incident.
Police say that both the soldier and the two women are now in custody now after a remand from a local court.
Analysts say the incident strengthens the demand by human rights activists in North-east India to scrap the federal anti-terror law, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
The law gives sweeping powers to troops involved in counter-insurgency operations.
A special committee set up by the central government to review the special law, under the leadership of retired Supreme Court Judge, Jeevan Reddy, is currently on a tour of northeast India.
10 February, 2005
> Indian soldier in child rape case (By Subir Bhaumik BBC News, Calcutta)— Police in India’s north-eastern state of Assam say they have arrested an Assam Rifles soldier for allegedly raping a twelve year old girl.
The specialist counter-insurgency force courted controversy in July when soldiers of the force were accused of raping and killing a 32 year old.
That incident in the state of Manipur provoked fierce street protests.
The soldier was arrested and charged in Assam’s Diphu town in Karbi Anglong district, where he was posted.
Police said two local women alleged to have helped the soldier in the crime were also arrested.
Karbi Anglong police superintendent Pankaj Sarmah told the BBC a medical test on the girl proved she was raped.
Doctors in Diphu say the girl was allegedly lured with food that was laced with sedatives.
Mr Sarmah said the incident took place last week.
The Karbi Tribal Students Association has started agitating against the incident.
Police say that both the soldier and the two women are now in custody now after a remand from a local court.
Analysts say the incident strengthens the demand by human rights activists in North-east India to scrap the federal anti-terror law, the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
The law gives sweeping powers to troops involved in counter-insurgency operations.
A special committee set up by the central government to review the special law, under the leadership of retired Supreme Court Judge, Jeevan Reddy, is currently on a tour of northeast India.
11 Feb 2005
> No buyer for army ‘excuse’ (Telegraph)—OUR CORRESPONDENT —Nagaon, Feb. 10: An embarrassed Assam Rifles today tried to wash its hands of the alleged rape of a minor by one of its jawans by claiming that the accused was “on leave” since January 31.
“The boy (Gautam Tamang) has been on annual leave since January 31. We handed him over to Diphu police after the court directive. Naturally, we have no business with the soldier in this case,” deputy inspector-general M.K.G. Menon, who is in charge of the Assam Rifles Training Centre, said at a news conference at Diphu Circuit House.
The influential Karbi Progressive Women’s Association, however, refused to buy the explanation. It said the paramilitary force was making up a “flimsy excuse” to shirk responsibility.
Menon insisted that the Assam Rifles was not accountable in any way for the alleged rape after having placed the accused under suspension.
Police last night arrested the jawan, who allegedly raped the 12-year-old girl on February 7 at a house opposite to the training centre in Karbi Anglong district. Two accomplices, both from Chariduar in Tezpur district, were taken into custody along with Tamang.
On the Assam Rifles’ insistence that Tamang was on leave at the time of the alleged incident, Karbi Progressive Women’s Association general secretary Helen Terangpi asked: “What was the rapist doing in the training centre if he was not on duty?”
Terangpi accused the Assam Rifles authorities of trying to pass off the incident as “a personal case involving just one jawan”. She said it could embolden paramilitary forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations to molest or rape more women.
The Karbi Students’ Union (KSU) was to call a 12-hour district bandh tomorrow in protest against the incident but shelved the idea in view of the ongoing Karbi Lamet Amai, a literary meet.
Amid the uproar over the alleged rape, the accused were remanded in judicial custody for 48 hours. A senior police official later said the ground had been prepared to file charge-sheets against Tamang, Katche Rongpipi and Sushila Ranghangpi.
Katche and Sushila are accused of luring the girl to the house in front of the Assam Rifles Training Centre, where the jawan allegedly raped her.
Rape taints Assam Rifles again —OUR CORRESPONDENT (Telegraph)— Nagaon, Feb. 9: Police tonight arrested an Assam Rifles jawan on the charge of raping a minor girl in Diphu, pushing the paramilitary force back into the spotlight after last year’s turbulence in Manipur over the death of a 32-year-old woman in its custody.
The incident came close on the heels of new army chief Gen. Joginder Jaswant Singh’s vow to give a more humane face to the forces.
It also came at a time when the review committee on Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is touring the Northeast following the uprising in Manipur over the alleged rape and death of 32-year-old Thangjam Manorama in Assam Rifles custody in July last year.
Wary of a similar backlash in Assam, authorities of the paramilitary force handed over the accused to the police after a warrant was issued following orders from a Diphu court.
Additional superintendent of police (headquarters) Mukul Saikia said the accused, 29-year-old Gautam Tamang, has “confessed” to his crime.
Tamang, who hails from Chariduar in Sonitpur district, was deployed at the Assam Rifles Training School in Diphu.
Two women who helped Tamang commit the crime were arrested yesterday and remanded in judicial custody.
Karbi Anglong superintendent of police Pankaj Sarma said the duo was identified as Katche Rongpipi and Sushila Ranghangpi.
Sarma said the 12-year-old girl was lured to a house in front of the training school by the two women.
“A medical test has confirmed that she was raped after being sedated with sleeping tablets,” the police official said. “Acting on an FIR lodged by the girl’s family, she was rescued the next day while the jawan was trying to whisk her away to Dimapur.”
Police sources said the jawan could have been planning to sell the girl to a brothel there.
The Karbi Students Association and the Karbi Progressive Women’s Association demanded capital punishment for the jawan.
“The two women who had helped the jawan should also be given exemplary punishment according to law,” Pankaj Teron, the general secretary of the students’ association, said.
Echoing Teron’s demand, the general secretary of the women’s forum, Helen Terangpi, said: “We want justice. When security personnel commit such crimes the authorities wash their hands of it by doling out some money to the victims.”
The women’s group today submitted a memorandum to chief minister Tarun Gogoi through Karbi Anglong deputy commissioner Anurag Goel, requesting Dispur to initiate “a thorough investigation”.
In August 2003, a group of CRPF jawans, led by a police official, raped a minor Karbi girl and molested three women at a village near the district headquarters.
In a recent directive, the Assam Human Right Commission directed Karbi Anglong police to pay Rs 50,000 each as compensation to the victims of the incident.
The death of Manorama in Assam Rifles custody had kicked off one of the biggest mass movements in the country. The armed forces act was singled out as the main culprit as it gave extraordinary power to the security forces.
1 Feb 2004
> Army molest 6 Karbi girls including 2 minors at Tharve-Rongthom Karbi village in Upper Deopani — after locking up all the male members in Moikang LP School at 10 pm. The molestation spree took place at 10-30 pm . Victims identified as — 1) Homsera Lekthepi (12), d/o Kangbura, 2) Kadom Rongpipi (15), d/o Sing, 3) Rubin Ingtipi (20), w/o Dorsing Lekthe (Rs. 1000/- also looted from her), 4) Phudang Ingtipi (25), w/o Biren Lekthe, 5) Kache Ingtipi (25), w/o Menson Hanse & 6) Phudang Killingpi (26), w/o Mohori Ingti of Kler Gaon of Upper Deopani.
20th June 2002
> Dikhlem Karbi girls molested by army— Asomiya Pratidin, Aaji and Dainik Asom (Guwahati based Assamese newspapers) carried news headlines while Hindi Purbanchal Prahari accorded front page status. Asian Age, Assam Tribune (however without mentioning the date of the proposed bandh) also published the news item.
> Police in the town is seizing papers of about 50-60 auto-rickshaws, detaining them in the police station to force them to ply during tomorrow’s ASDC-sponsored 12 Hr KA Bandh against molestation of three-teenaged school-going Karbi girls. Police is also warning shop keepers in the town of risking their locks hammered open if they closed shops.
19th June 2002
> Army attemps rape at Dikhlem under Kheroni PS, 6 kms from Kheroni to wards Habaipur —plainscloth armymen from Lanka/Bamungaon camp suddenly showed up at around 5 am in the morning at Dikhlem Karbi village (near Kheroni PS) in the name of apprehending “extremists” and attempted to rape the following teenaged Karbi girls —1. Miss Rojoni Timungpi (14), d/o Borsing Timung, Class-VIII, Habaipur Girls’ High School; 2. Miss Kaché Hansépi (16), d/o Longsing Hansé, Class-X, -do- ; 3. Miss Kungri Ingheepi (15), d/o — Class-VIII, -do-. Army molested them at gunpoint after forcing them to take off their cloths. When nearby villagers were alerted, the culprits made a hasty retreat but in the meanwhile arrested one Babu Engleng (20), s/o Sarthé, photographed him with arm supplied by army to show him as an extremist and took him to army camp. Another 60 yr old SGB, Rupsing Teron, was also picked up by the same army gang and later released from Kheroni camp.
One Dr KC Das of Kheroni Subsidiary Health Centre conducted the medical check up and released the three teenaged girls after giving primary medical treatment, including painkiller injections as the victims complained of both physical and mental trauma.
The members of KNCA, (Progressive Karbi Women Association) gheraoed the Kheroni PS and Mailoo outpost. Meanwhile, complaint has been lodged with the police.
Illegal detention and torture
1st August 2002
> Massive army operations in Karbi Anglong — Kongjuk Athoi (Bakulia)— Last night at about 3 am, in Kongjuk Athoi area — Monsing Lekthe, Langtuk Terang villages — ransacked all the households, destroyed properties, certificates and other documents/files etc. on which they could lay their hands on. The group, led by one DSP from Diphu, also arrested three villagers— Sarthe Terang (45) his sons Babu Terang (20) and Khorsing Terang (18). Khorsing Terang was photographed with a weapon as police evidence of possession of “illegal arms” to justify the combined security florces continuing harrasments in the area. Security forces also snatched money from the following villagers — Rensing Teron (LP Teacher) Rs, 8, 000/- Moniram Lekthe (GB), RS. 800/- and Bhaiti Lekthe (s/o GB) Rs. 700/- + and Dhansing Teron (LP teacher) Rs. 100/- and ransacked trunks etc. In the raid 18 persons were brutally assaulted — 1. Dhansing Teron (30), s/o Lt Monsing, LP Teacher, Rangsina LP 2. Dhansing Ingleng (60), s/o Lt Sarthe 3. Baliram Terang (30), s/o Sarpo 4. Sarthe Ingleng (30), s/o Lt Sarthe 5. Gulap Ingti (27), s/o Sairam 6. Madhuram Lekthe (16), s/o Sarthe 7. Bijoy Ingleng (20), s/o Hemari 8. Hemari Bey (16), s/o Rongbong 9. Babu Teron (18), s/o Lt Mensing 10. Longsing Bey (30), s/o Lt Sarmen 11. Bhaiti Teron (14), s/o Lt Mensing 12. Hemari Teron (30), s/o Lt Bor 13. Sarthe Lekthe (50), s/o Lt Bajong 14. Sarsing Bey (39), s/o Rongbong 15. Dorsing Lekthe (20), s/o Sarsing 16. Khorsing Bey (20), s/o Rongbong.
> Army picks up 5 from Bomrui Adarsha/Bakulia under Howraghat PS— In another raid, combined CRPF-Army arrested 5 innocent Karbi villagers from Bomrui, 5 kms from Bakulia on the night of 1st August— 1) Babu Singnar (25), s/o Sarthe 2) Deben Singnar (16), s/o Sarthe — student 3) Babu Singnar (28), s/o Lt Sarmen 4) Mangalsing Timung (12), s/o Lt Longsing — student 5) Joyram Singnar (14) — also a student. The students are waiting for their exams now. But the security forces are not bothered.
6th August 2002
> Innocents from Rongmongve tortured and detained since May — 1) Ramsing Hanse (60), s/o Lt Khelan, vill : Hidiso, PS Howraghat; arrested 5-5-2002— 2) Robiram Hanse (40), s/o Ramsing, vill : Hidiso, PS Howraghat; arrested 5-5-2002— GR-154/2002— PS : Howraghat Case No 46/2002— IPC 120(B)/212/387/134/25(1-B)— Security Rs. 10, 000/- The father-son duo were ‘arrested’ by army up by the Misa based Army initially as porter in anti-exttremist raids at 6 am in the morning. in May on charges of harbouring extremists The army personnel asked them to carry army bags upto Kuthori temporary army camp but later on handed over to the police at Jakhalabandha police out post who again handed them over to Howraghat police. The army showed in their charge-sheet as having recovered a pistol and 3 live ammunitions from the possession of the persons.
9th Aug 2002
> Army raids in Bhoksong (Katumari) under Duar Amla in search of extremists— Villagers are complaining of atrocities following raids by the army in the area. As per a memoradnum submitted to minister Rupomsing Ronghang and signed by Romen Teron, Bhim Engleng, Bhuban Ronghang, Nilambar Rongpi, Babu Rongpi, Mojasing Teron, Ridim Hanse, Dilp Teron, Darasing Teron, Harsing Bey and Sarsing Engleng. The army occupied the PWD-IB on 9th Aug. One Romesh Ronghang was picked up, locked him in the IB and later forced him to do manual work Army tortured him to get informations about extremists. Another Simanta Rongpi, an LP School teacher was also picked up at around 7 pm and tortured him the whole night. On 10th Aug 2002, he was allowed to go home briefly in a critical condition. Villagers gave him some food and medicine. Since then, the army has been routinely beating up people irrespective of age or gender forcing villagers to flee their homes. Houses and properties have been either looted or ransacked. One Sri Mansing Teron, s/o Lt Lunse of Kongkat gaon has been missing since then. Again, another Krishna Teron, s/o Lt. Ranjit Teron of Borgaon picked up by the army on 16th Aug 2002 is also reported missing.
6th Oct 2002
> Army raid Lawrence Terang village/Langherang/Tarabasa at about 1:30 am and ‘arrested’ the following without any warrants or arrest orders— 1) Julius Rongpi (20), school drop out, s/o Longki (tortured at the spot), 2) Sarsing Ingti (53), s/o Lt Borli, Sikari (Sarthe) Ronghang vill., 3) Edward Terang (35), s/o Bidyasing . These innocents have been tortured brutally at the time of ‘arrests’.
25-26 Jan 2004
> Army raid at New Malidor/Cachar — about 10 truckloads of army men raided this Karbi village of about 55 families since midnight of 25 Jan and continuing it again on 26th night. Army shot and injured one Honor Durong (35) who is now hospitalised at Silchar Medical College. Army raided this village in the name of flushing out UPDS.
2 Feb 2004
> Army arrest at Sambheti —Khorsing Terang, s/o Men Terang of village Sambheti at night without search warrants. Khorsing Terang was later lodged in Diphu jail and awaiting trial.
3 Feb 2004
>Army raids in KA— 1 Feb 5 from Upper -Deopani Ram Tisso village Jameson Tisso-32, s/o Ram, Siva Tisso-28, s/o Sar-et — Deithor (Kekang Adong area) 30 Jan 6-30 am another 5 arrested Khoiyasing Langne-40 (s/o Hemai), Mojari Killing-38 (Rongsangti), Robinson Killing-22, Barim Langne-30, Jiten Teron-20 (Deithor). Came in civil dress accompanied picked up without producing search or arrest warrants. In another incident, army also picked up one Rakesh Teron of Manja, a government employee, around 9 am while travelling in a motor-cycle Lungnit with Jug Ingti. Both were brought towards Manja including the bike. Family members were not given any clue about their whereabouts.
2 March 2004
> Spontaneous protest against frequent army raids at Bakulia— when at 10-30 pm more than 2000 people, enraged at the frequent whisking away of villagers by army, police and crpf in the Bakulia area ‘gheraoed’ the police outpost. At around 8 pm, army in gypsy and a truck whisked away one Hemai Timung (50), village headman of Hemai Timung village under Eragaon area, tied his face with one hand covering his mouth with his ‘gamcha’ h was wearing so as to avoid any alarm. One Kolom Terang (33) of the same village, loitering in the village road was also picked up and were about to leave the place when village women raised alarm prompting the gathering of about 300 women and children. Pitched battle ensued forcing the army to set Kolom free, forcing armymen to leave the place without losing any time. In a spontaneous reaction to frequent such army ‘arrests’, about more than 1000 people started following the army vehicles, reaching near crpf camp at Bakulia at around 9-15 pm. Army officer at first denied any such arrest but later admitted the detention and agreed to release the man. Army had also forcibly collected about 50 Karbi villagers to guard the camp as security against any possible mob attack. SP reached the spot at around 3 pm and started random arrest of Karbis leading to the arrest of 40 people including chldren and an Asstt. Engineer of Silonijan Irrigation Sub-Div Semson (Michael) Terang of Ram Terang village. Basa Hansepi (25) with head injury, Daman Ingti (22) with serious shoulder injury, Kensing Terang (24) with glass cut on leg, Rajesh Timung (27) with lathi injury were treated at Bakulia hospital. Later Basa Hansepi and Daman Ingti were arrested by police.
6 March, 2004
> Police/CRPF raid in Bakulia — around 4 am in the wee hours of the morning, apparently searching for extremists, the following innocent villagers were arrested — Arthem Timung (35), s/o Kangther of Balijan Terang, Joysing Bey (47) of Balijan, Mangal Teron (30), LP teacher, s/o Lt Khoiya and Gulap Tokbi (36), irrigation employee, s/o Kensing. The raiding crpf/police asked Mangal Teron and Joysing Bey to report at their camp 10 am the same day.
30 July 2004
> Black Panther/Diphu police torture Doldoli Karbi villagers — in the name of anti-insurgency operations and victimised Jiten Hanse, Mensing Timung, Joysing Bey, Jameson Bey, Sing Dera, Bura Engti, Dhiren Marak and Dorsing Bey of Longsing Timung village. These innocent villagers were denied any medical assistances inspite of grievous injuries on their bodies.
21 Sep 2004
> Suniram Kro (31) of Eragaon grivously injured in CRPF A/97 Co DSP (Sharma) shooting —at Bakulia early today 3 am in a morning raid. Also arrested 11 other persons and produced in Diphu Court without any arrest warrants.
3 Nov 2004
> CRPF raid injures one Bhaiti Tokbi (25) of Chiri-kangnep— early morning today from his ginger cultivation. The person was left languishing and later brought to the Diphu Civil Hospital in a serious condition, injuring his thigh and hips. Earllier last evening, around 8 pm, two friends from same village — one small time vegetable seller Kiran Terang (19), s/o Sarthe was returning to his native village together with Poresh Terang (22), s/o Sing Terang. CRPF took them to another village — Ramsing Chinthong (Singnar) and took custody of 3 (three) more youths, two of them Babu Ingti-25 yr and Harsing Hanse-30 yr. Again towards the daybreak, the raiding CRPF accompanied by the villagers took custody of the headman Langtuk Ingti (45), s/o Kania and Dilip Milik (22) from Langtuk Ingti village. These arrests were made without any warrants, the victims of firing were also not provided any medical aid.
30 Jan 2005
> Army atrocities at Rongmongvé — Arny picked up 4 (four) persons two each from Rongmongve market proper and Bordeka. The army also ransacked the house including the paddy of a local Congress leader Daktor Kathar of Rongmongve but no arrest was made as all the inmates had already escaped. Dhaniram Terang (28), petty shop-keeper and his elder brother Sing Terang (42) of Silim Ingti village were also picked up. Army also picked up one Kanchan Das (45), a petty shop keeper of Bordeka but later let off. Another person from Bordeka Jamin Teron (30) was however not so lucky. On 31 morning, local women of about 40-50 led by KNCA were preparing to march to the army camp at Kuthori but details awaited.
13 Feb 2005
> Army atrocities at Rongmongvé on KYF artists — youths at Langherang, Lunse Timung village were gathering for a rehearsal for participation at Diphu KYF (ASDC) in the evening 3-30 pm when army from Bagori suddenly swooped upon them mercillesly troturing them — 1. Lia Singnarpi (20); 2. Maloni Singnarpi (18), 3. Maria Singnarpi (15), 4. Rebeca Singnarpi (34)/w/o Joysing, 5. Dalimi Singnarpi (15), 6. Moromi Singnarpi (12), 7. Mrs Aruma Singnarpi, w/o Horen, 8. Shila Singnarpi (20), d/o Joysing, 9. Rita Singnarpi (14), 10. Khoiya Kro (35), 11. Mondol Phangcho (18)—a matric candidate, arrested; 12. Erwin Singnar, s/o Noren — army snatched away Rs 500/- from his possession.
16 Feb 2004
> ASDC raps Army for excesses in KA (Sentinel)—From our Correspondent—DIPHU, Feb 15: The ASDC has strongly condemned the act of harassing youths of the Kaziranga zone of the Karbi Cultural Society at Rongmongwe on February 13. According to reports, some Army personnel, in the pretext of searching for militants, took eight teenaged girls and two boys of the Society into their custody when the artistes were rehearsing to participate at the ensuing 31st Karbi Youth Festival to be held at the KASA stadium at Diphu.
16 March 2005
> Police atrocities and mass resistance at Phuloni Karbi areas — as police used massive force for what it called drive to curb the abduction related violent situation leading to random atrocities on only Karbi villagers that drew spontaneous mass resistance preventing further police actions.
12 April 2005
> Army/police harassments on Karbi areas/Rongmongve over Jagadamba TE kidnap — following the 6th April /05 incident when the Tea Estate manager was kidnapped by alleged KLNLF cadres.
14 April 2005
> Army picks up 35 innocent people from Rongmongvé market — at about 10 am in the morning as people slowly gathered at the weekly market apprehensive of impending police actions following the abduction of the Jagadamba TE personnel. The army arrest was random and quick accompanied by brute forces, turning the entire market into a grim battlefield for about an hour or so.
7 May 2005
> Scene in Karbi Anglong and NC Hills/ Rights violation slur on forces— From our Correspondent (Sentinel)—DIPHU, May 6: Security forces deployed in Karbi Anglong came under severe attack from the common people and the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) for, what they call, the atrocities on the innocent people, including women and children, in various parts in the hill district.
The DHD came out with a serious allegation against the police, who, according to the rebel group, had ransacked its Dhansiri office with a view to derail the outfit’s peace process with the Centre. “It’s a conspiracy to derail our peace talks with the Centre,” said Nilendra Dimasa, the ‘commander’ officiating the group’s Dhansiri office. He said that their office had been ransacked without any prior intimation.
Meanwhile, the Kuki Women Association, Karbi Anglong, had submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner protesting the ‘high-handedness’ of the security personnel on the innocent people. The women’s body alleged that the forces had harassed innocent villagers of Singhason and Kumbamon areas in the name of flushing out KRA militants. “There had been gross violation of human rights by the security personnel,” the Kuki women body said. The Dimaraji Mahila Samaj, another influential women organization in the district, moved Karbi Anglong DC demanding his intervention into the security personnel’s alleged atrocities on the innocent people of Satrai and Kerla villages. “A 60-year-old woman, Gowchindi Daolagupu was beaten up for no reasons,” the women body alleged, adding that Daolagupu was under treatment in Diphu Civil Hospital.
The situation in NC Hills is no better either. There is allegations that Karbis living in the district have been facing the wrath of DHD cadres. Hundreds of Karbis fled for safer places, it is alleged. There are also reports that the UPDS served extortion notices in Neparpatty and Korsa Basti in Bokajan subdivision recently. According to reports, the brave villagers showed their courage forcing the militants to flee only to return latter and terrorize the villagers by firing in the air. The villagers said that the police had recovered about 86 empty cartridges from the spot. The two villages are still tense.
Meanwhile, the ASDC, ASDC(P) and CPI(ML) blamed it on the Congress for ‘instigating’ various tribes in the twin hill districts.
29 May 2005
> ‘Diphu Police Riding Squad’ kills one Palash Hazarika— infront of the ‘Rongpharpi Square’ as a member of the police squad slammed a 35 yr old day-wage labourer hailing from Nowgaon’s Uriagaon with a motorcycle. The drunken policeman is identified as one Pradip Das who lost control of the bike. The unfortunate victim was declared dead on reaching Diphu Hospital. Police authorities tried to hush up the matter and refused to identify the culprit to the local journalists. But under pressure, the killer policeman was identified and put under custody but no arrest made till late night. The incident occurred at around 1 (one) pm. According to eyewitnesses, the squad members were ‘enjoying’ drinks nearby taking advantage of the ‘KLNLF bandh’.
5 Dec 2005
> Bakulia police pick up 5 Karbis from Choi-ang village – this morning on suspicion of having ultra links. Police suspect photo-similarity of the persons with those arrested UPDS-DHD (BW) ultras from Bakulia recently. Later, police released the persons after interrogation.
20 Dec 2005
> 9 UPDS cadres arrested, truce under strain (Sentinel) By a Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Dec 19: The brittle ceasefire agreement between the UPDS and the Central Government has been put under strain by the militant outfit after nine of its cadres were arrested by Dokmoka police from the Dhansiri designated camp today. The UPDS has also pulled out of the JMG talks scheduled for December 21.
In a warning to the district administration, sources in the UPDS said that if the arrested cadres are not released by 10 a.m. tomorrow, it would ask all its cadres to head for the jungle from the designated camp.
Meanwhile, Karbi Anglong DC GD Tripathi said that the cadres were arrested after their names were not found in the list of ultras in the designated camps.
Our Correspondent in Diphu adds: Meanwhile, according to reports reaching late, sporadic violence has continued in the district when unidentified miscreants fired several round of shots at Dikoi Terang and Kehai Rongkhang villages on December 17.
4 Feb 2006
> Army kills a cow-herd at Lemra, Umpanai — During an encounter with the ULFA, the unfortunate Tiwa ‘khuti holder’ was taken into custody. Gorkha Regiment conducting the operation also snatched some money from the person and was allowed to return home. Later in the evening, the person was called back and shot.
10 Feb 2006
> 1500 Karbi women protest at Dokmoka Police Outpost—when the KNCA took out a protest demonstration against the Virvar mayhem by security agencies during the past week on the plea of anti-militant operations arresting, torturing innocent villagers and ransacking their houses led by Jayanta Kalita, ASI and incharge of Dokmoka PoP.
7 April 2006
> Violence in Asom shoots up by 49 pc: report (AT) From Kalyan Barooah NEW DELHI, April 6 – The UPA Government may have gone to town claiming that all is well in the North-east but a latest Home Ministry report has revealed that violent incidents in the region has increased by eight per cent and in Assam it has shot up by 49 per cent. But there is a positive side as well, as the number of killing of civilians has come down by six per cent and security forces by 36 per cent. Interesting, ‘Achievements of the UPA Government’ released last year blissfully ignored the rise in the violent incidents cleverly pointing out that the incidents of civilian killed and kidnapped in the North-east have registered a significant decline in 2004-2005. The Home Ministry’s own year-ender released last December said the overall security situation in North-east has “shown signs of improvements not only in terms of declining levels of violence but also through public revulsion against mindless acts of terrorism”. “There have been instances of public protests against high-handedness by militant cadres and people are now forthcoming to speak against the militants,” the report had said. In case of Assam, the number of violent incidents has increased compared to incidents in 2004. However, the number of civilians and security force personnel killed has reduced by15 per cent and 59 per cent, respectively. The Home Ministry report also punctured Asom Government’s claim about improvement in the law and order situation. The report has also acknowledged that the Central Government has entered into a dialogue with ULFA-appointed Peoples Consultative Group (PCG). The Government had received an appeal from Prof. Indira Goswami for ‘peace talks’ with ULFA. “The appeal indicated the willingness of the ULFA to hold talks with the Government of India without preconditions”. In reply to the appeal, it was reiterated that the Government of India had consistently expressed its willingness to talk to all groups, who were prepared to abjure the path of violence, the report said. In Manipur the number of violent incidents has increased by 15 percent and killing of security force personnel and civilians has increased by 39 per cent and 79 per cent respectively. In Nagaland, also the number of civilians who fallen prey to violence has gone up by 33 per cent, despite a ceasefire pact in operation between both factions of NSCN and Government of India. The report significantly also brings out an ugly facet of militancy in the North-east where the killing of civilians has registered a constant increase. Take the case of Manipur where killing of civilians jumped from 88 in 2004 to 158 the next year. In Assam, 194 civilians lost their lives to violence in 2004. Only in the States of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram have the killing of civilians shown a decline. The spurt in killings have also taken place at a time when the Central Government has suspension of operation agreements with highest number of militant outfits than any point in the past. The militant outfits include, NSCN (I-M), NSCN (K), NDFB, UPDS, DHD, and ANVC, among others. The Government of India has declared Nagaland and Assam, Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh and a 20 km belt in all States bordering Asom as ‘disturbed areas’ under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Tripura has also declared areas under 28 police stations as disturbed. Apart from loss of lives, the Government has also been paying through its nose to meet the cost of fighting this low intensity war against the militants. Last fiscal, it reimbursed Rs 150.41 crore as Security Related Expenditure. The Central Government has introduced the Scheme to reimburse the States seriously affected by insurgency. The States also have to pay for deployment of Central Police Force and Army in aid of civil administration in insurgency hit States, though barring Asom other States have been exempted from paying this charge. The deployment charges for CRPF units in Asom are currently levied at 10 per cent of normal charges. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also sanctioned the raising of 32 battalions of India Reserve Force to ease the pressure on central forces. The States of Assam and Tripura have been sanctioned seven battalions each, Manipur (six), Nagaland (four), Mizoram (three) and Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya (two) each.
13 April 2006
> Back to army in hill districts – Karbi Anglong snafu alarms Dispur ‑ A STAFF REPORTER (Telegraph)—Guwahati, April 12: Dispur has asked the army to intensify counter-insurgency operations in the twin districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills in a bid to pre-empt another spell of violence over the killing of a Karbi militant leader by a Congress member’s personal security officer.
The government has also decided to requisition 20 companies of the Assam Rifles for Karbi Anglong, which has been bristling since the bodyguard of an executive member of the district autonomous council shot dead Thong Teron, “defence secretary” of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS), yesterday.
The decision to intensify operations against militant groups and deploy the Assam Rifles was taken yesterday after a meeting of the three-tier Unified Command, which plans and executes counter-insurgency strategies.
“Assam Rifles personnel will be moved to Karbi Anglong from their Shillong headquarters within a couple of days,” said an official in the security think tank for Karbi Anglong.
The UPDS and its Dimasa rival, the Dima Halam Daogah, have ceasefire agreements with Delhi but sporadic violence by suspected militants marred Assembly elections in the district on Monday. Thong Teron, who has been declared a “national martyr” by his organisation, was killed shortly after midnight at Satgaon. Executive member Sing Teron, whose bodyguard opened fire on the militant leader, said the latter had intimidated voters and threatened to shoot him with his pistol.
The government’s concern over security stems from the fact that Hamren subdivision, where the UPDS wields clout, can erupt anytime.
The nascent Self Rule Demand Committee has added to the administration’s worries by calling a 12-hour district bandh from 5 am tomorrow in protest against Thong Teron’s killing. The Saminder Karbi Amei and the Karbi Anglong Youth Forum is backing the strike. Three major Karbi organisations, including the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), have demanded a judicial inquiry into the UPDS functionary’s killing. “We have also appealed to the UPDS to exercise restraint,” ASDC secretary Chomang Kro said.
Karbi Anglong additional superintendent of police (headquarters) D. Deka said commandos led by superintendent of police (border) Prabin Nath were stationed in Hamren subdivision to monitor the situation. He said no untoward incident occurred today.
Deka also revealed that Thong Teron’s family was not keen on allowing his body to be taken for the mandatory post-mortem.
The UPDS urged the Karbi community to “respect the ideals” of Teron. “We are eager to resolve our vexed issues through peace talks and have already agreed to a ceasefire. But a section of unscrupulous politicians and their parties are trying to derail our peace initiative for their vested interests. This section of politicians is in a conspiracy against the Karbi community. The defence secretary of our organisation became a victim of this conspiracy and was inhumanly killed on April 10 last.”
It accused Sing Teron of being hand-in-glove with the anti-Karbi conspirators.
“The UPDS will never sit idle against the anti-Karbi conspirators. Believing in peace, we urge the anti-Karbi conspirators to contribute to the peace process,” the outfit’s publicity secretary, Tung-eh Nongloda, said.
18 April 2006
> Police excesses at Dokmoka market — according to report, a Begali Hindu boy of Uttor Borbil working as Home Guard under the Dokmoka Police Outpost in the charge of Jayanta Kalita (Sub Inspector and incharge of the outpost) injured a Karbi man (of Mon Timung village) and even damaged his bicycle in the crowded market when the former lost control of his motor-cycle. The Home Guard, arrogant and flaunting his closeness to Jayanta Kalita, challenged the bystanders which created an ugly situation inviting a mob attack on himself. Stone-pelting in frenzied mob attack injured the Home Guard and damaged the motor-cycle. Jayanta Kalita took it as a challenge to his authority and targeted some local Karbi leaders accusing them of fuelling the ‘attack’ on police authority. The incident occurred at 1-30 pm. The Home Guard did not posses a driving licence. Later, Jayanta Kalita, went about ‘warning’ some select local Karbi leaders of ‘encounter’.
9 October 2006
> Full-scale Army action in NC Hills soon (By R Dutta Choudhury—Guwahati, Monday, October 9, 2006/ Assam Tribune)—GUWAHATI, Oct 8 – Additional Army personnel will be moved into the North Cachar Hills district shortly to launch a full-scale counter-insurgency operation following the killing of eleven persons engaged in the railway gauge conversion work including seven Railway Protection Security Force personnel on October 6. The State Government is also considering increasing police presence in both the hill districts of NC Hills and Karbi Anglong to deal with the situation.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, state Chief Secretary S Kabilan, who is also the head of the Unified Command structure, said that Army is already operating in the district and the Army presence would be increased shortly for launching counter-insurgency operations. He expressed the hope that the recent incident would not affect the gauge conversion work.
The Chief Secretary said that sporadic incidents of attacks on the personnel engaged in the gauge conversion work were reported from the hill district and last month, after meetings with the railway authorities, the State Government sent five additional companies of police personnel to the area to deal with the situation. He said that at present, the gauge conversion work is going on in a stretch of about 90 kilometres and fixed police pickets were posted in the vulnerable places identified in consultation with the Railways. But unfortunately, the incident on October 6 took place when the railway personnel were en route to the work site and though armed Railway Protection Security Force personnel were with them, they could not get the time to retaliate when the militants opened fire on the vehicles. After the incident, mobile patrolling on the route to the work site has been increased to prevent any such attacks in future, said the Chief Secretary.
Kabilan admitted that though the immediate goal of the government is to restore normalcy in the area so that the gauge conversion work is not affected, for a long-term solution of the law and order problems in the hill districts, the police presence would have to be increased. He pointed out that the rough terrain of the hill districts and their contiguity with Nagaland put the insurgents in an advantageous position. He also admitted that there is shortage of police force in the districts and the fact also came to light during the ethnic riots in Karbi Anglong last year. He said that the government is considering increasing police presence in the two hill districts to deal with the situation.
There are reports that militants belonging to the NSCN (I-M), which is under a cease-fire agreement with the Government of India, were helping the Black Widow group involved in the recent killing of railway men. When asked whether the State Government would take up the issue with the Government of India, the Chief Secretary said that the government started the process of verifying the reports and only after the completion of the process a decision on the future course of action would be taken.
It may be mentioned here that the gauge conversion work was affected from time to time because of attacks by militants belonging to the Black Widow, commonly known as the DHD (J) and on October 6, the railway men came under attack between Mandardisha and Hatikhali, about eleven kilometres away from Lumding. The gauge conversion work covering a stretch of 171 kilometres from Lumding to Silchar started in 1996 and the project was targeted to be completed by the year 2009. Railway sources admitted that the morale of the personnel engaged in the gauge conversion work would be affected following the attack and only visible security presence and confidence building measures by the government would be able to boost the morale of the people so that the mega project is not affected in a big way.
8 January 2007
> Police outrage modesty of women at Terēng:lāngso, Phōng:lōkpet/Baklulia— One IM Das, heavily drunk outraged modesty of women in the nearby village after polling was over. Later, villagers tracked down the defaulting jawan and physically assaulted him. A police team managed to rescue him and bring him back to the Phonglokpet camp where he was punished. Villagers laid seize of the camp demanding immediate and appropriate actions against the erring policeman. Bakulia Police outpost incharge Khargeswar Bordoloi arrested the policeman and later the police camp at Phonglokpet was withdrawn.
2 April 2007
> OC suspended— Diphu, April 1: Sankar Baniya, OC of Hamren police station, has been placed under suspension for his anti-people activities. He was suspended after an inquiry into his misdeeds following widespread public protests. —Our Correspondent. (Assam Tribune). [The OC’s anti-people activities include— 5 Jan/07— Two Karbi women Amphu Ronghangpi and friend were whisked away by Baniya and put them in lock-up overnight where there was no woman police. On the same day, Hābé Longsing Hansé was arrested on fabricated charges, tortured him and put him in the lock-up. His traditional head-gear was removed and burnt. 25 March/07—Romen Pator of Hamren, driving his car, was stopped, raided and beat him without any reason. Baniya took out his service revolver and pointed at Pator’s head. Then fired in the air. Later at night, Rongbong Tisso and Harmon Teron, on way for treatment to Hamren Hospital, were stopped by Baniya and beat them up too. The two innocent were later taken to thana and demanded Rs. 2000/- from their family members as a price to release them. Reported by Arleng Daily.]
26th March 2002
> Detention of innocent persons by army in trumped up charges —1) Chandrasing Lekthe (35 yrs), s/o Habé of village Pator Phangcho/Hidipi/Rongmongvé 2) Hemari Singnar (38 yrs), s/o Lt Murchon of Lunsé Timung village, Rongmongvé arrested by army from Misa (Nowgaon) camp and later handed over to police. They are booked under Arms Act— Howraghat PS Case No. 112/02 U/S 387 IPC. Khorsing was halting the night at the house of Hemari Singnar, GB of the village. Army ‘recovered’ list of ‘UPDS tax collection’ which actually was donation collected from villagers for yearly Karbi village ritual — Rongker. Villagers were raided and subjected to physical torture. Army again came to the village on 27th March with the two arrested persons and ‘recovered’ one muzzle-loading guns as proof of extremist nexus — ‘endorsed’ from the SGB Kania Phangcho.
> The following persons of Rongmongve were arrested on 26th March 2002 — GR-112/2002 PS : Howraghat Case No 30/2002— IPC 387, 25(1)B— 1) Chandrasing Lekthe (40), s/o Habe, vill : Hidiso— 2) Hemari Signnar (55), s/o Lt Murchon, vill : Lunsé Timung. Army confiscated Rs. 3, 000/- from Chandrasing and as the ‘money was meant for UPDS’. Army also “recovered” list of donors for ‘Rongker Festival’ (annual Karbi village ritual) from Hemari Singnar (headman)’s possesion and dubbed that as ‘list of money collected for UPDS’ and handed him over to police. Lekthe, being healthy, became punching bag for the army and police.
> 2nd April 2002 —Army also arrested these persons — 1) Khelan Kro (32 yrs), s/o Lt Singnot of village Tim-hem Athoi/Rongmongve and 2) Dorsing Singnar (18 yrs), s/o Lt Kamar of village Tim-hem Athoi/Rongmongve also arrested by army and later handed over to the police under the same Arms Act. Three unlicensed muzzle-loading guns were recovered from them. However, Dorsing Singnar was picked up by the army in lieu of the actual culprit. (Howraghat PS Case No. 34/02)
6th June 2002
> Horen Bey and four other top leaders of the pro-talk UPDS leaders arrested —at Baithalangso by the army who were later handed over to the police after brutally roughing them up. Police has ‘expressed unhappiness’ over the incident and released them the same day.
> One Semson Terang of the UPDS pro-talk faction was killed by the army.
14 July 2003
> Security forces kill pro-talk UPDS cadre at Diphu —in a raid at 6 mile at the house of pro-talk faction Vice-Chairman Ke-ap Tisso’s native home after midnight killing the ailing body-guard Anong Teron (25) point-blank and later calling the unprovoked stage-managed encounter as ‘response to violation of ground-rules’ by the outfit. The incident has raised questions among public regarding the intention of the security forces and the state police by this sort of ‘killings’.
Karbi Human Rights Watch (K.H.R.W) 
Ohh,, its all a political game., n the police what do they think of themself…i belive, One day every individual of karbi anglong will know the right law… N will fu*k off thz police, army guyz