Security alert in northeast over R-Day boycott
January 23rd, 2011 - 3:20 pm ICT by IANSGuwahati, Jan 23 (IANS) A massive security alert was sounded across northeast India Sunday after separatist rebels announced a boycott of the Republic Day celebrations Jan 26, officials said.”We have placed security forces on high alert to ensure that militants are not able to create violence ahead of the Republic Day celebrations,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
Six frontline separatist groups in the region have called a boycott of the Republic Day and also a general strike from 1 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. Jan 26.
The call has been given by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF) - comprising several major militant outfits in the state, the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), and the Tripura People’s Democratic Front (TPDF).
These groups are active in Assam, Manipur and Tripura.
The six rebel groups announced their boycott Sunday through a statement e-mailed to journalists.
“Let us not forget that under the Indian colonial occupation the future of the people of this region is doomed. We have to fight Indian colonial rule to regain our sovereignty and independence so that we can survive and exist with dignity,” the rebel statement received by IANS said.
Militant groups in the northeast have for years boycotted national events to protest New Delhi’s rule over the region, and have staged violent attacks in the run up to the celebrations to make their presence felt.
Thousands of army, police and paramilitary troopers are standing guard in the northeast to foil militant attacks.
Militant groups often target vital installations like road and rail bridges, oil installations, and security forces as part of their design.
- Naga rebel group calls 36 hour shutdown - Jan 24, 2012
- Call to boycott I-Day celebrations in northeast - Aug 10, 2010
- Goods train bombed, bus attacked in Assam ahead of R-Day - Jan 25, 2011
- Northeast groups call for I-Day boycott - Aug 11, 2011
- Northeast separatists call Republic Day boycott - Jan 20, 2010
- Security beefed up in northeast for I-Day - Aug 14, 2010
- ULFA bomber held in Assam, security alert in northeast - Jan 25, 2010
- Northeast under high alert, night trains cancelled - Aug 13, 2010
- Tight security in Northeast as separatists call shutdown to boycott R-Day - Jan 26, 2010
- People defy I-Day boycott call in northeast - Aug 15, 2010
- Grenade blast in Assam, night trains suspended till R-Day - Jan 22, 2010
- Separatists call shutdown to boycott Independence Day in Northeast - Aug 10, 2009
- Serial explosions in Manipur, bombs recovered in Assam (Lead) - Jan 25, 2010
- Northeast steps up security for I-Day - Aug 14, 2011
- 45 kg RDX among explosives, arms seized in Assam - Aug 14, 2009
Tags: colonial occupation, colonial rule, gogoi, liberation organisation, militant attacks, militant groups, militant outfits, national democratic front, national liberation front, northeast india, oil installations, rail bridges, rebel groups, rebel statement, republic day, separatist groups, separatist rebels, united liberation front, united liberation front of asom, violent attacks