Rehabilitation of BLT militants

Induction of 350 former cadre of the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) into the CRPF and another 290 cadre into the BSF was welcomed by various quarters in Assam. The Assam Tribune (7 March) editorial, 'Rehabilitation' compared the recent rehabilitation process with that of the former ULFA cadres. It said, "At one point of time, the State Government gave loans to surrendered United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) men haphazardly without examining the pros and cons and at the end, the Government exchequer had to suffer heavily because of low rate of recovery of the loans.. .. Under the circumstances, the Central and State Governments must formulate a clear-cut policy for the rehabilitation of the surrendered ultras to prevent them from indulging in anti-social activities."

Serial Blasts

Commenting on the serial explosions by suspected ULFA militants that rocked various districts in March, The Assam Tribune (14 March) editorial, 'Serial blasts' said, "The ultras exposed the weakness of the security arrangements and proved that they still have the firepower to strike at will." Commenting on the overall impact of such incidents, it further said, 'At a time when the possibility of trade and tourism in Assam receiving a boost with the look east policy adopted by the Central Government, such acts of violence would jeopardise all attempts to attract tourists and investors to the State as because of the situation, every outsider would think twice before coming to Assam."

Fight over the script in Manipur

The movement for replacement of the Bengali by Manipuri script (Meitei Mayek) remained the high point in Manipur in March. Protests launched by the Meitei Mayek Eyek Erol Loinashillon Apunba Lup (MEELAL) disrupted normal life in the State. The Imphal Free Press (1 March) editorial 'Mayek War' however, appeared to be opining differently. It said, "We are also averse to the widely prevalent idea of reading and understanding history as a negative narrative. If rectification becomes essential in certain courses history has taken, these tasks must be undertaken with real needs in real time in mind and never out of vengefulness or blind emotions. We therefore appeal to the MEELAL to cool its self righteous passions a little and reconsider the nature of the thrust it is giving to its demand."

Another editorial in the Imphal Free Press (15 March) editorial 'Media Image' said, "We must realize that in this globalised world, our language and script, proud as we must be of them and their history, are limited. We must revive and develop them for they tell of a rich history that can restore our pride in ourselves and our potential, but let us also not forget their limitations in the present predicament, powerful historical circumstances having already put the archival stamp on them."

Bangladesh and Northeastern militants

The Sentinel (31 March), in a lead item, quoting the Director General of Border Security Force, RS Mooshahary, reported that "the Indian insurgent groups operating from Bangladesh soil are not only getting sanctuary in that country, but are getting something else." In another item on the same day, it reported that "Six months after the Home Secretary level talks in Dhaka, the Union Government today said that Bangladesh was doing precious little to address the security concerns of India, particularly in checking the activities of Northeast insurgents in its territory."

Separately, The Shillong Times (31 March) reported about the Garo Hills turning into a safe haven for the ULFA and NDFB militants. It said, "The recent seizure of a huge cache of Kalashnikov ammunition from a remote village near Rajabala in West Garo Hills district has confirmed suspicions of security agencies operating in the Northeast that the Garo Hills area of Meghalaya continues to be a hotbed of insurgent groups." Elaborating the role of Bangladesh, the report further said, " The proximity of Meghalaya' s three Garo Hills districts to both Assam and Bangladesh helps the militants to easily cross over to Bangladesh soon after carrying out strikes in Indian territory.

Insurgency and Tripura

The Tripura Times (22 March) detailed insurgency related activities in the State. "The militants have in the last five years looted 155 arms and killed 177 security force personnel. And in the same period they have killed 713 persons and abducted 972. From the abducted, 120 were killed and 181 have still not returned from the clutches of the militants." Commenting on the insurgency induced internal displacement of people in the State, the paper (23 March), commented that "Even though the State government claims that there has been marked improvement in the overall law and order scene, 1563 families still remain displaced as a result of insurgency."