Rebels call for I-Day boycott in Northeast
August 10, 2010 18:22 IST
The proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and outlawed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) in Manipur, have called for general strike and boycott of 'India's Independence Day' on August 15 next to protest 'colonial Indian occupation' of their states.
In an appeal e-mailed to the media in Guwahati, the outlawed ULFA has called for general strike from 0130 hrs to 1830 hrs on August 15, asking the people to stay off the Independence Day celebrations .
The banned Revolutionary People Front (RPF), a resistance group of Manipur which is fighting 'Indian occupation of Manipur since 15 October 1949' has also announced a general strike on Independence Day. The RPF is the political wing of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), an armed rebel group in Manipur.
Meanwhile, security measures have been tightened in Assam in view of intelligence inputs about militants' plan to strike terror in the run up to Independence Day. Round-the-clock vigil has been tightened at all vital installations including railway and oil industry property, bridges. Security forces have recovered several explosive devices in different parts of the state including ten grenades from Guwahati Railway station during last seven days.
The anti-talks factions of both the ULFA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have already carried out two major attacks on men in uniform in the state in the run up to the Independence Day killing three SSB personnel and five CRPF personnel in total.
K Anurag in Guwahati
