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Federal troops on alert in India's northeast ahead of Independence Day |
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August 12, 2000
GAUHATI, India (AP) - Federal troops went on alert Friday fearing guerrilla attacks on trains, oil installations and bridges in remote northeast during India's Independence Day celebrations next week, officials said. Helicopters surveyed government installations as a dozen separatist guerrilla groups called for a shutdown on Aug. 15 to protest what they call New Delhi's "colonial and repressive" rule over the vast region rich in oil, tea and timber. "The northeast was never a part of India and so the question of celebrating the Independence Day does not arise," the United Liberation Front of Asom, or ULFA, said in a statement. An army commander said small groups of armed militants have reportedly sneaked into cities and towns in Assam state for terror attacks. In the past, the armed militants have carried out bomb attacks on oil installations, passenger trains and road bridges in run-up to the Independence Day. "We are taking no chances and security forces are on a full alert," said P.V. Sumant, the police chief of Assam state. The rebel groups, which have asked the people to boycott the celebrations, include the outlawed ULFA, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur state. Assam, Nagaland and Manipur are among the remote northeastern states wracked by insurgency for decades. The ULFA is fighting to secede oil-rich Assam - the most populous of seven states in the far-eastern region bordering Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma and China, and home to a large number of ethnic groups. The region has witnessed insurgency dating back to five decades, leaving thousands of people dead. The NSCN is the oldest of all the groups and is campaigning for an independent tribal homeland. The outfit is also negotiating a political settlement with the Indian government following a cease-fire. In Assam, ethnic Bodo and ULFA militants blew up a passenger train and a goods train earlier this month, killing 12 soldiers. |