[ASSAM] 26/01/2005
01. Blasts rock Assam, Manipur; soldiers kill two By Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service Guwahati, Jan 26 (IANS) Explosions triggered by separatists marred Republic Day celebrations in Assam and Manipur Wednesday as soldiers killed two civilians in an apparent faux pas during a crackdown in Assam. Three blasts took place in Assam, including two at the main Republic Day celebrations in principal city Guwahati, and two more rocked Manipur. Assam Inspector General of Police Khagen Sharma said two civilians were killed and 12 injured near Sialmari village, about 45 km from here, when soldiers opened fire on an angry mob. Sharma had earlier put the toll at eight. The controversial incident became murkier with an army spokesman claimed militants fired at the troops during a search operation in Sialmari, prompting the soldiers to return fire. But residents said the soldiers had opened indiscriminate fire after the villagers challenged them in the early hours of Wednesday. In Guwahati, Assam's main Republic Day celebrations were marred by two successive blasts, and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi could not hide his disgust at the security failure. After Governor Lt. Gen. (retired) Ajai Singh unfurled the national flag at the parade ground, a bomb went off near a drain outside the ground at 8.55 a.m., causing some panic but injuring no one. But a few minutes later, another more powerful explosion, caused by a concealed landmine, took place inside the ground, injuring two policemen. Another half-a-dozen were stunned and collapsed on the ground. As security forces whisked the governor to safety, the nearly 1,000 civilians at the ground, mostly government officials, fled in panic, screaming and shouting. Stunned by the explosions, angry security personnel roughed up journalists, brandishing their weapons to prevent them from meeting Gogoi before the chief minister came to the rescue and apologised. "There is definitely some security lapse that led to two blasts taking place in Guwahati. We shall not spare anybody for this lapse and we shall have to find out how the militants were able to plant bombs inside the parade ground despite heavy security," a visibly shaken Gogoi said. "The ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) is responsible for these blasts," he added. Arindam Das, a schoolteacher who was at the ground, cried out: "It is a shame on the security forces. There is no security for civilians." A police official said a third blast took place in the western district of Bongaigaon, close to the venue of the official Republic Day celebration. No one was injured in that blast. In Manipur, two powerful blasts were reported in Chandrapur village, 200 km west of state capital Imphal. "Six people were wounded and an Assam Rifles vehicle was damaged in the blasts that took place simultaneously," a police spokesman said. Militants in Assam have triggered a series of explosions in the run-up to the Jan 26 celebrations, killing at least six people and blowing up an oil pipeline. Wednesday's attacks came as a strike called by separatist groups opposed to the celebrations derailed normal life in Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya. The streets in most towns of these states were largely deserted, residents and police officials said. About 100,000 security personnel were deployed in India's northeast after 10 separatist groups called a boycott of the Republic Day festivities in five of the seven states in the region. The only two states where there were no such calls are Mizoram and Nagaland. Mizoram does not have any rebel group while two of the major militant outfits in Nagaland are currently observing a ceasefire with New Delhi. Arunachal Pradesh and Tripura reported no trouble. Militants in the insurgency-hit northeast have been for years boycotting India's Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations. The run-up to the events has always been violent, with rebels striking vital installations including oil pipelines, trains and road and rail bridges, besides targeting security forces. http://www.eians.net/2005/01/26/26eve.html 26/01/2005 02. Blasts injure 10 policemen in Assam NEW DELHI, Jan. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 10 policemen were injured in India's northeast state of Assam Wednesday morning when two explosive devices went off in quick succession at the main Republic Day celebrations. The first explosion took place at 8.55 a.m. on the periphery ofthe Judges Field ground, and the second, triggered by a concealed landmine, five minutes later within the ground. The second explosion, which injured the policemen, led to chaos as the nearly 1,000 civilians at the venue ran out of the ground in panic. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts, but it is widely believed to be the work of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the state's main separatist group. Militants in Assam have triggered a series of explosions in therun-up to the Jan. 26 celebrations killing at least six people andblowing up an oil pipeline. Militants in the insurgency-hit northeast have for years were boycotting India's Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations.Enditem http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-01/26/content_2510168.htm 26/01/2005 03. Bombs rip through parade ground in Assam Reuters Guwahati, January 26: Two bombs exploded at a parade ground in Guwahati on Wednesday, but no one was wounded, witnesses and police said. The blasts, in quick succession, took place on a deserted stretch of the ground, where the state's governor, Chief Minister and other officials had gathered to celebrate Republic Day. "There was nobody there, that part of the ground was off-bounds. There are no casualties," a police officer said. The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom, which is fighting for independence in Assam, had called for a boycott of Republic Day functions. India is marking its founding as a republic in 1950 with military parades and flag-hoisting ceremonies across the country. http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=41207#compstory 26/01/2005 04. Assam chief minister admits security lapse: Guwahati, Jan 26 : Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi admitted that a security lapse led to the two blasts at the Republic Day celebration grounds here Wednesday injuring two policemen. "There is definitely some security lapse that led to two blasts. We shall not spare anybody for this lapse and find out how the militants were able to plant bombs inside the parade ground despite heavy security," a visibly shaken chief minister told journalists. "The ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) is responsible for the blasts in Assam." The first explosion took place at 8.55 a.m. on the periphery of the Judges Field ground, and the second, probably triggered by a concealed landmine, took place minutes later within the ground. The second explosion, which injured the policemen, led to chaos as most of the nearly 1,000 civilians gathered at the venue ran out in panic. http://athens-olympics-2004.newkerala.com/?action=fullnews&id=65178 26/01/2005 05. Children may be Ulfa's R-Day targetAdd to Clippings NEW DELHI: Intelligence agencies have alerted the police and Central paramilitary forces in Assam and other north-eastern states about the possibility of innocent children becoming the target of attacks by the Ulfa and other insurgent outfits on the Republic Day. The threat, issued by the Ulfa against holding of any R-Day function, followed by an escalation of violence in Assam recently, and other intelligence inputs are the basis of their apprehension, sources said. There have been series of blasts in Assam in the last few days; the Ulfa has claimed responsibility for all of them. Ulfa along with KLO, MPLF and TPDF have called for a "general strike" and "boycott" of Republic Day functions in the north-east. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1001534.cms 26/01/2005 06. Soldiers shoot dead eight civilians in northeastern India NEW DELHI - Indian army soldiers shot dead eight villagers in northeastern Assam state on Wednesday, mistaking them for insurgents, New Delhi Television reported. The army patrol fired at residents of Hajo village near the capital city Guwahati, killing eight, in what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity, the report said. The village is home to largely Muslim migrants during the winter and is usually submerged in rain and flood waters for the rest of the year. Security forces were on high alert in Assam and other parts of India from Tuesday night ahead of Republic Day celebrations in the country on Wednesday. The army was patrolling areas around Guwahati to flush out insurgents belonging to the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), which warned of violence on Wednesday if people did not boycott the celebrations. Two bombs exploded Wednesday at the venue of Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati, but there were no casualties reported. Police suspected the involvement of the ULFA, an insurgent group fighting for an independent Assam. They feared the group may launch more attacks in Assam and New Delhi, where Bhutan?s king Jigme Singye Wangchuck was the guest of honour at the annual parade. Last year, Bhutan?s army demolished ULFA training camps along the border with India. http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/January/subcontinent_January823.xml§ion=subcontinent 25/01/2005 07. Tight security measures in Assam for R-Day functions: [India News]: Guwahati, Jan 25 : Special security measures have been put in place across Assam following the banned ULFA's threat to boycott the Republic Day celebrations. In the backdrop of the ULFA indulging in violence by triggering serial bomb blasts in the run-up to the R-day, the special measures included halting of night movements of trains, guarding of vital public installations, official sources said. The counter-insurgency Unified Command Structure at a meeting here last evening of top army, police, paramilitary forces and state government officials adopted a series of special measures to ensure the Republic Day functions went off smoothly. Special security pickets have been posted at vulnerable points, patrolling intensified along the national highways and important bridges, additional forces deployed at the vital installations, particularly oil and electricity installations that have been the targets of ultras in the past. Besides intensifying security checks, the sources said, the entry and exit routes of important cities, including Guwahati, had been sealed particularly in view of last night's ULFA grenade attack at Ganeshguri in Dispur housing the secretariat and ministers quarters injuring seven persons, including a policeman. Meanwhile, the Northeast Frontier Railway has suspended its night running of trains between 6 pm and 5 am for today and tomorrow, besides cancelling, rescheduling or regulating its trains on the two days. PTI http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=64810 25/01/2005 08. Seven injured in Assam grenade blast: Guwahati, Jan 25 : Atleast seven people, including a policeman, were injured when ULFA militants struck in the heart of the city by lobbing a hand grenade in the busy Ganeshguri area, barely a kilometre away from the state secretariat and official residences of ministers near Dispur capital complex today. The militants hurled the grenade from a vehicle before escaping, Guwahati city superintendent of police Hiren Nath told PTI here. The busy area, which is barely one km away from the secretariat complex and the housing area of ministers, was crowded with people when the grenade went off. The ULFA has given a call for boycott of Republic Day function and a general strike on that day. Although none has been arrested in connection with today's incident, the police launched a combing operation in suspected hideouts in the city to apprehend the culprits. PTI http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=64459 [MANIPUR] 26/01/2005 09. Bombs explode in Manipur on R-Day, seven injured IMPHAL, (PTI) Seven persons, including two security personnel, were injured when insurgents attacked a security vehicle by exploding bombs at Jiribam sub-division in Imphal East district of Manipur today. Official sources said unidentified militants set off two bombs by using remote control devices when a security vehicle was passing through Chandrapur area, 200 km from here at 9 am. While the security personnel -- a jawan and a driver -- sustained minor injuries, five civilians were rushed to nearby Jiribam hospital where their condition was stated to be serious. The civilians, including Namdailung village chief, Athui were on their way to watch the Republic day celebrations at Jiribam town, the sources said. An inquiry has been ordered into the blasts, the sources said. Insurgent groups, including Manipur People's Liberation Front (MPLF), had called for boycott of the Republic Day celebrations saying they would "continue their armed struggle till Manipur achieved Independence". Normal life in the State was also severely affected in view of a 17-hour general strike called by the MPLF today. Shops, markets and business establishments remained closed and most of the roads wore a deserted look, the sources said. Meanwhile, the 56th Republic Day celebrations were held smoothly at Kangla, in the heart of the State capital, where Governor S S Sidhu took the salute. http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan262005/i17.asp __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less. http://info.mail.yahoo.com/mail_250 ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. 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