On February 18, 2016, a cadre of the Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K), identified as 'lieutenant' Inato Ayee, was killed in an encounter with Assam Rifles (AR) personnel near Chumukedima village in Dimapur District.
On February 25, 2016, Meghalaya Government launched the third phase of Operation Hill Storm (OHS) against Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in the Garo Hills region of the State. The Garo Hills region comprises five Districts - West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills, South Garo Hills and North Garo Hills.
Andhra Pradesh: Maoists under Pressure
Two cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with a combing party comprising Greyhounds personnel and the Vishakhapatnam District Police near Revulakota village in Koyyuru Mandal(administrative unit) under Mampa Police Station limits in the Vishakhapatnam District of Andhra Pradesh (AP) on February 21, 2016. There was no casualty on the Police side and Police recovered two 12 bore single barrel guns, some cartridges and two kit bags containing two mobile phones, uniforms and Maoist literature from the site of the encounter. Reports indicate that the slain duo belonged to CPI-Maoist's Galikonda 'area committee'.
In the worst terror attack recorded in the state since December 2014, six persons were killed in a suicide attack that commenced on February 21, 2016, and which was continuing at the time of writing. An unspecified number of terrorists attacked a vehicle of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in the Sempora area of Pampore in Pulwama District killing two personnel of the CRPF and injuring another nine. Subsequently, the militants rushed into the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) building nearby and took refuge there amid a heavy exchange of gunfire with CRPF personnel. When a CRPF team headed by an Assistant Commandant tried to enter the building, the Assistant Commandant and two CRPF personnel were injured and a gardener was killed in militant firing. Later, a large contingent of the Army joined the operation and over 100 employees and trainees who were trapped inside the EDI complex in three buildings were evacuated. Three Army commandos, including two Captains, and a militant were killed in the gunfight on February 22.
Chhattisgarh: Remaining Challenges
A 'commander' of the Jagargunda 'area committee' of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), identified as Kunjam Linga (22), carrying a reward money of INR 100,000 on his head, was killed in an encounter with a joint team of Security Force (SF) personnel in the forests of Chintagufa Police Station area in the Sukma District on February 4, 2016. In another incident, on the same day, an unidentified CPI-Maoist cadre was killed in an exchange of fire with personnel of the District Reserve Group (DRG) in the forested hills of Korli under the Mardum Police Station limits in the Bastar District.
As Assam recorded the lowest insurgency-related fatalities in 2015, since 1992, hopes of a lasting peace were regenerated. Nevertheless, enduring challenges have scuttled such hopes in the past, and many of these remain unaddressed. Significantly, the trend of overall fatalities has remained erratic in the State, recording a sustained decline between 2010 and 2012 (158 in 2010; 94 in 2011 and 91 in 2012); escalated in 2013 to 101; and took Assam to the status of the worst-affected State in India, with 305 fatalities in 2014.
In a nationally televised Pongal (Tamil Harvest Festival) ceremony, on January 15, 2016, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said his Government was ready to devolve power to minority Tamils under a new Constitution. "We are ready to devolve power (to minority Tamils) and protect democracy. The Constitutional Assembly will discuss with all, including (Tamil-dominated) provincial councils to have a new Constitution. We will do that in a transparent manner," he said, adding that more civilian lands would soon be freed from military control and that the official language policy will be implemented where Sinhala and Tamil would be accorded the official language status. He also vowed to bring to justice all perpetrators of war crimes committed towards the end of the country's civil war in 2009.
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management Nepal, which had seen 4,896 fatalities, including 3,992 Maoists, 666 Security Force (SF) personnel and 238 civilians, in a single year at the peak of insurgency in 2002, sustained the environment of peace that had been established in 2013, through 2014 and 2015, with not a single insurgency-related fatality on record. However, though the insurgency has subsided, Nepal continued to witness significant political violence through 2015.
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres killed a Sarpanch (village level local self- government institution head) Jayaram Khara at Badapadar in Malkangiri District on December 25, 2015. 10 Maoists barged into the house of the Sarpanch, killed him and escaped. It is suspected that he was killed as a suspected 'Police informer'.
Visiting Scholar, Institute for Conflict Management On December 1, 2015, Security Forces (SFs) arrested a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) militant, identified as Nawaz Ahmad Najar, from Harmain village, Shopian District, and recovered arms and ammunition, including two hand grenades and one Chinese grenade, among others. "The terrorist has been involved in subversive activities since August this year in Shopian area," an unnamed Army official disclosed.
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management Sehkholen, a leader of a breakaway faction of the Kuki National Front-Presidential (KNF-P) and one of his associates are reported to have been killed in an inter-factional gunfight at a secluded location between Leikot and Phaijang villages under Saparmeina Police Station in the Senapati District of Manipur on November 21, 2015.
AP-Telangana: Maoists, Fading Fortunes
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) abducted six local leaders of the Bhadrachalam division of Telangana State's ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), including constituency in-charge Maane Ramakrishna, from Pusuguppa, a village on the fringes of forest in Charla mandal (block administrative unit) in Telangana's Khammam District, late on November 18, 2015. The TRS leaders had reportedly gone to the village to discuss about Government's scheme to build two-bedroom houses in the village. A letter issued in the name of Maoist 'spokesperson' Jagan listed three demands - stringent action against Police officials involved in alleged "fake encounters", immediate halt to combing operations in the entire tribal belt spanning Adilabad and Khammam Districts and an end to "fake encounters". The Maoists warned of "serious consequences" if their demands were not met. They also accused the TRS Government of repressing people's movements and pursuing "feudal and pro-imperialist" policies.
CHHATTISGARH: Swing of the Pendulum
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management Four Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, including the 'intelligence chief' of Bhairamgarh unit of the party, were killed in an encounter with the Security Forces (SFs) near Hallur and Hakawa villages under the Mirtur Police Station limits in Bijapur District on November 13, 2015. The Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Bijapur, Indira Kalyan Elesela, disclosed, "Acting on a specific tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) about the possible major attack planned by Maoists in the region, a joint team of Bijapur District Police force and specially trained District Reserve Guards (DRG) launched the search operation. Close to Hallur, the rebels opened fire on the forces. In the ensuing gun-battle, four Maoists, including the head of intelligence wing of Bhairamgarh unit, identified as Rainu, were killed." Rainu carried a reward of INR 5,000,00 on his head. Following the hour-long gunfight, the bodies of four Maoists were recovered from the encounter site along with their weapons. "The police found a pistol, two rifles and a 12 bore gun from the spot," ASP Elesela added.
Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management On November 2, 2015, an Indian national was killed and 40 others, including 32 United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) cadres and eight Policemen, were injured when Nepal Police opened fire to forcefully evacuate UDMF cadres who were agitating at the Miteri Bridge in the Birgunj town of Parsa District in Nepal. The incident occurred in the area along the Birgunj-Raxaul (a town in East Champaran District of the Indian state of Bihar) border. Witnesses claim the deceased, Ashish Kumar Ram aka Sonu Ram (24), was killed very close to the border on the Nepal side while he was going to Birgunj town on a personal visit.
Meghalaya: Vulnerabilities Persist
Research Assistant, Institute for Conflict Management On October 26, 2015, the body of Rezaul Parvez, a student of the CV Raman Junior College in Nagaon town, was recovered by Police at Nongpoh in the Ri Bhoi District of Meghalaya. He had been abducted on October 21, from a private hostel at Nagaon Aminpatti (Assam) and is believed to have been killed by his abductors.