Understanding NDFB

The first of a long series of posts on whine profiles. Cross-posting and updating my earlier post on brf.

Understanding NDFB and its travails to get some sense of why things are the way they are

a) Executive Summary on current status: One of the two top terrorist groups of Assam with the other being ULFA, extremely active, internecine warfare with sister of Ranjan Daimary killed just recently, turf warfare with other Bodo groups, abduction and extortion of laborers, industrialists, and aam aadmi Assamese and Bodos, hit-and-run with Assam Rifles, killing and getting killed, actively recruiting cadre cos AR has stepped up neutralization campaign in Sonitpur and Udalgiri. With DHD, NDFB is a major detriment towards the fruition of the 4-lane (now reduced to a 2-lane) East-West Corridor project, the 4MW Hayen hydel project in Chirang district, Indian Railways projects, etc.

The NDFB camp is divided into two segments -- the pro-talk faction and the anti-talk faction. On Dec 31, 2010, the Union Government decides to extend the Suspension of Operations agreement with the pro-talk faction of the NDFB and DHD for a further period of six months up to June 30, 2010. The pro-talk faction has renamed itself NDFB(P) -- P for Progressive on June 27, 2010. A GoI press release adds: "It has also been decided and mutually agreed to extend the Suspension of Operation (SoO) Agreement with Dima Halam Daogah (Nunisa) (DHD/N) Group for a further period of six months up to 31.12.2010. Tripartite talks on the demands of DHD (MN) are continuing."

The most recent update is that the 'chief' of the anti-talk faction, Ranjan Daimary aka D.R. Nabla aka Ransaigra Nabla Daimari, has been 'handed over' by Bangladesh on May 1, 2010. This one incident (alongwith the handover of Arabinda Rajkhowa and Raju Baruah and the aftermath of the Pilkhana massacre) must be highlighted as the outcome of improving India-Bangladesh ties that has resulted in a much closer economic/political/strategic alignment since the SHW government took over. RD has been in police custody over the Bhimajuli mass killings of October 4, 2009 and the Bhalukpung incident, before a proper case can be sewed by the police on the October 30, 2008 serial bomb blasts, which were allegedly orchestrated under the guidance of RD. The October 30 serial blasts led to the killing of eight people and wounded up to 30 others, most of them children. For a while it seemed like the friction between Assamese and Bodos would come to the fore again as the Assamese lawyers had decided not to defend RD (the lawyers were one of the main targets in the October 30 blasts). For example, the Guwahati Lawyers’ Association (GLA) refrained from extending any legal help to Ranjan Daimary, arguing that it had been a party to the October 30, 2008 serial blasts case as it had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) in Panbazar Police Station. However, it seems like some lawyers have now come forward to be the defense counsel of RD. The Bodo civil society, which has often acted as the voice of NDFB, has been vociferously complaining that GoI has not accorded them the same treatment as many of the ULFA 'chiefs'. Many of these groups are in fact led by people sympathetic to NDFB -- the president of Boro Women’s Justice Forum (BWJF) is Anjali Daimary, RD's sister, etc.

Even after the arrest of Ranjan Daimary, cadres of the anti-talk faction of the NDFB are indulging in abduction to extort money. The Police said that the strength of the outfit would be around 300 and the 'zonal commanders' were taking most of the decisions on their own after the arrest of Ranjan Daimary. The outfit is still maintaining its bases in the Khagrachari area of Bangladesh, while the newly set up bases of the outfit in Myanmar are being maintained with the help of Manipur-based KYKL. The NDFB still have a number of trained cadres as 26 batches of boys were trained in Bangladesh since 2004 and a number of trained militants are still at large, which is a major concern for the SFs. The outfit is also trying to strengthen its batches in the north bank of the river Brahmaputra and the SFs are handicapped by the fact that there is very little intelligence input about the movements of the militants.

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Details:

b) Anti-talks faction (Updated):
i) Rajen Goyari aka Rifikhang Goyary used to be the 'finance secretary' -- now seems to be elevated to have overall charge of the post-RD outfit
ii) Arun Borgoyary aka Dinthilang -- new 'army chief' of the 'Bodoland Army'
iii) George Boro aka John -- new 'deputy army chief'

iv) Dinthi Gwra Narzary is 'general secretary'
v) 'captain' Sangbijit aka I.K. Songbijir aka Songbijir Ingti Kathar is 'commander-of-staff'
vi) Ohnjalu Basumatary is 'information and publicity secretary'
vii) Barbai Basumatary is 'assistant publicity secretary'
viii) Jwngkhang Boro used to be the 'deputy chief of army staff'

The CBI has announced a cash reward of INR 0.5 million for anyone giving information about the following:
ix) Khargeswar Basumatary aka Rahul Brahma
x) Tensu Narzary
xi) Uttam Sargiary aka S Ulafat
xii) Jitu Daimary
xiii) Tarun Sargiyari
xiv) Bishnu Gayari aka Bidai
xv) Mudai aka Muthu Brahma

xvi) B. Irakdao (missing since Bhutan ops) -- some say still alive

Old data: Quote:
Security sources said that the anti-talks faction of the NDFB headed by Ranjan Daimary have strong bases in Bangladesh. The outfit has at least 100 cadres in their bases in Bangladesh. Though the exact number of camps of the outfit in Bangladesh is yet to be ascertained, it is believed that the outfit is running at least 10 bases and some of the bases are in the Khagrachari area from where the five militants were reportedly arrested.

Quoting sources in the intelligence agencies, Shillong Times has reported that the ULFA and NDFB have already set up temporary hideouts in Bhutan, contrary to the claims made by Bhutan that Indian militants do not put their bases anymore in that country. This report from an Indian intelligence agency came in the backdrop of the claim at the Seventh Border Coordination Development Meeting held at Thimphu (Bhutan), which dismissed reports about the ULFA and NDFB militants setting up permanent camps on its soil. According to official sources in Guwahati, the ULFA and NDFB militants were reorganising and attempting to sneak into Bhutan. New Delhi has reportedly informed Thimphu of the intrusion of about 30 militants into its soil. "We have information that they (ULFA and NDFB) have set up temporary hideouts there in the wake of stepped up counter-insurgency operations, especially in Lower Assam," an officer from the Military Intelligence said. {it is well known that the Bhutanese diplomatic bag facility is being abused by the terrorist groups}

Source of funds:
Telegraph quoting sources which interrogated Ranjan Daimary reports that he used to receive nearly INR 0.6 to 0.7 million every month from Assam, half of which was spent on running a camp at Khagracherri in Bangladesh and another in Myanmar. The rest he would use for his family’s upkeep. But the crackdown on timber smugglers in Assam’s Sonitpur District for the past few months has forced the NDFB to turn more and more to abductions to prevent its funds from running dry.

Sonitpur District Police sources said the NDFB by a conservative estimate was making about INR 50,000 everyday by way of "tax" from timber smugglers, but that it has now stopped. "So of late, they have turned to abduction and extortion to compensate for the loss of revenue from timber smuggling," the Police official said. He said two persons from the District, including an 11-year-old boy, were still believed to be in NDFB’s captivity.

Connections:
Security sources said that the NSCN played a key role in the formation of the NDFB, while the outfit also maintained links with Pakistan’s ISI since the early 1990s. Sources revealed that Ranjan Daimary first joined the Bodo National Front in 1983 and later in 1984, he, along with other persons including Govinda Basumatary, decided to form the BSF and wrote to the leaders of the NSCN seeking their help. The BSF, which was later renamed as the NDFB, first started a training camp in the forests north of Rangapara in Sonitpur District in 1988 and the NSCN provided them with some weapons and trainers. Sources further revealed that Daimary also stayed in the bases of the NSCN in Thailand for quite some time and established contacts with some agents of the ISI in 1993. The ISI provided the NDFB with some communication equipment, explosives and timer devices.

The NDFB was also maintaining close ties with different anti-India groups having bases in Bangladesh. According to an assessment by the SFs, at least a hundred trained cadres of the outfit are still in Assam, while, around 50 cadres must be in Bangladesh. Sources further said that the NDFB launched joint operations with the ULFA from time to time, but the outfit also maintained close ties with other groups like NSCN-IM, UNLF, ATTF and NLFT etc, as well as with some other anti-India groups in the neighbouring country. Sources revealed that under pressure in Bangladesh, anti-talk faction of the NDFB recently established a camp in Myanmar and is located near a camp of KYKL.

c) Pro-talks faction/arrested/released: B Swmkhwr aka Govinda Basumatary, S. Sanjarang, B. Benga, Nileswar Basumatary aka B. J. Jabda, Bijoy Boro, B. Udang aka Udang K. R. Brahma, Dhiren Boro aka B. Sungthagra

d) Primary interlocutors: P. C. Haldar (former director of IB), Home Secretary G. K. Pillai, Naveen Verma (Joint Secretary (Northeast) of the MHA)

e) Current hotbed: Sonitpur, Udalgiri, Chirang districts, has good hit capacity in Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Darrang, Barpeta, Dhubri, Nalbari, finds succor in the Christian belt of Garo hills

f) Whine profile: Predominantly Christian, wants a separate Bodoland, replace Devanagari script for Bodo language with Roman script. Pro-talks faction seeks a separate state for Bodos. There is already an autonomous territorial council within Assam for Bodoland region.

Quote:
The Union Government ruled out any possibilities of separate Bodo State. The Union Government made its stand clear that it hardly had anything more to concede after granting the status of autonomous council under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the Bodos. The Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai said there was no question of carving out another State from Assam. "Statehood is ruled out," he said. Pillai said barring some financial powers to the council "here and there" there was not much left to concede. Pillai added that the NDFB did not oblige when it was asked to join in while the Government was in talks with the BLT. "The request was conveyed to Ranjan Daimary. We had told them they would lose an opportunity if they did not join in, but they did not listen," he said, further adding if the NDFB thought it would get something more it was wrong. Meanwhile, the NDFB spokesman S. Sanjarang told Telegraph that his organisation was not asking for anything outside the ambit of the Indian Constitution. "We want a separate state with maximum autonomy and special powers which is well within the framework of the Constitution," he said.

g) Other tidbits:
Quote:
The NDFB claimed to have received INR five million from the BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary ahead of the 2006 Legislative Assembly elections to help the BPF. The claim comes within days of the Opposition demanding Mohilary’s arrest for — by his own admission earlier — having paid the NDFB. Mohilary, however, had immediately refuted the opposition’s charge saying he had been misquoted. This is the first time that the NDFB has made any comment on the controversial episode, which was started by Mohilary himself soon after the last parliamentary elections.

Quote:
The Assam Government stated in the Legislative Assembly that eight militant groups, including the ULFA, KLNLF, Black Widow, AANLA, KRA, HuM, MULTA and HPC-D, are active in the State. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said that both the ULFA and NDFB are carrying out subversive activities in Assam under the influence of foreign powers and top leaders of the outfit are staying abroad.

Quote:
Jan 1, 2009: The NDFB expelled its founder president, Ranjan Daimary alias D.R. Nabla, days after replacing him with B. Sungthgra alias Dhiren Boro as its new chief. The new NDFB president, Sungthgra, criticising the alleged involvement of Daimary in the October 30 serial bomb blasts in Assam, said on January 1 that the NDFB would have no truck with the former chief and his accomplices. "The NDFB, in a unanimous decision of the national council, has expelled D.R. Nabla and his associates with immediate effect as a disciplinary action," he stated. "We are shocked and surprised that Mr. D.R. Nabla alias Ranjan Daimary, as per the statement of Ajay Basumatary, who has been recently arrested along with three others in Goalpara district, is proved to be directly involved in a series of bomb blasts in Assam on October 30 where many innocent civilians were brutally killed without any reason. The killing was inhuman and unfortunate which reveals nothing but his love for sadism. He not only committed crimes against humanity but also violated the ceasefire which he himself declared unilaterally on October 8, 2004. The act is undoubtedly an act of terrorism and can never be part of revolutionary struggle," the NDFB statement said. The expulsion came a day after the cease-fire between the NDFB and the Centre expired.

Quote:
Dec 28, 2008: A day after Ranjan Daimary alias D.R. Nabla issued a statement claiming to be the ‘chairman’ of the NDFB, the outfit’s ‘publicity and information secretary’ S. Sanjarang said in a press release that B. Sungthagra alias Dhiren Boro was its ‘president’, confirming the rift within the outfit. On December 27, in an e-mail to the media, Daimary said: "I am still the chairman of the NDFB, and I will continue my efforts for the self-determination of the Boros. The NDFB- BLT clash is over, and as such I request the ex-BLT cadres not to target the NDFB cadres. I have also ordered the NDFB cadres not to target any ex-BLT members," Daimary added.

Quote:
Dec 16, 2008: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram warned Bangladesh not to allow terrorist outfits from India to carry out anti-India operations from its territory. While speaking in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament), he said, "The HuJI of Bangladesh had perpetrated the October 30 Asom serial blasts in which ULFA and NDFB were also involved," adding, most of the insurgent groups operating from the Northeast, including the ULFA, are based in Bangladesh. The Government had intelligence inputs that the ULFA and other insurgent groups in the Northeast have been working with the Bangladeshi terrorist outfit HuJI, the Home Minister added.

The NDFB after revamping its office-bearers with B. Sungthagra alias Dhiren Boro as chairman at its general assembly meet at Serfanguri in the Kokrajhar District on December 15, the outfit’s ‘general secretary’ Gobinda Basumatary on December 16 said, "Ranjan Daimary has not been removed. He is the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the NDFB, and we are ready to listen to his advice even today."

Dec 15, 2008: The NDFB held its general assembly meeting at Serfanguri designated camp in Kokrajhar District and elected B. Sungthagra alias Dhiren Boro as the new ‘president’ of the outfit. B. Sungthagra was previously the ‘vice-president’ of the outfit. He had been arrested in Gangtok, capital of the State of Sikkim, on January 1, 2003 and was later released in 2008. He replaced Ranjan Daimary alias D. R. Nabla, who is based in Bangladesh. While security agencies described the election as a split in the outfit, NDFB sources denied any such development. Meanwhile, the report quoted some sources as saying that the October 30 serial bomb blasts were triggered by the NDFB cadres at the behest of Ranjan Daimary by keeping the local leadership out of the loop. The report further added that December 15 general assembly meeting of the outfit was held for the first time since the one held in Bhutan in 2001. The meeting was chaired by NDFB ‘speaker’ B. Benga and was attended by top leaders, including the outfit’s ‘general secretary’ Govinda Basumatary. Further, the newly elected ‘president’ said the outfit would "directly or indirectly" take part in the next Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) elections. "We are ready to start talks with the Centre and are committed to peace," he added.

Quote:
Nov 16, 2008: The investigation into the Assam serial blasts of October 30 has revealed a close nexus between the ULFA and NDFB with Bhutan-based Maoist rebel groups, reports Assam Tribune. Police sources said that the ULFA and NDFB are against the Bhutan Government because of the Operation All Clear launched against the outfits in 2003, while the Maoist groups are strongly opposed to the move of the Government of the neighbouring country to evict a sizeable number of Nepali populations from southern Bhutan. In recent years, the ULFA and NDFB extended help to the Maoist groups active in Bhutan by providing them with explosives. These facts came to light following the arrest of a Bhutanese national, Tenzing Zengpo, during investigations into the serial blasts. Zengpo was arrested along with one of the suspects in the case in Guwahati city. During interrogation, the Bhutanese national admitted the long association they had with the ULFA and NDFB. Sources revealed that Zengpo was earlier the general secretary of the Druk National Congress of Bhutan and is currently associated with Maoist groups active in Bhutan.

Quote:
Nov 9, 2008: The investigating agencies had found clues that ULFA and NDFB carried out the Assam serial blast of October 30 with the help of Bangladesh-based HuJI. "We have found that the Bangladesh-based HuJI has provided the expertise to ULFA and NDFB as none of them has the technology to explode such devastating bombs which claimed 84 lives," a Home Ministry official said. Home Ministry sources also added that the government is worried over the fact that the northeast militants has started using a deadly mixture of RDX, ammonium nitrate and plasticised explosives to carry out explosions which led to greater casualties which was never seen in the past. Though the operation was masterminded by HuJI at the behest of the ISI, the NDFB and ULFA had provided logistical support.

Quote:
July 17, 2008: The NDFB threatens to pull out of the cease-fire and take to arms once again, accusing New Delhi of dragging the peace process. "The central government appears to be insincere towards resolving our grievances and if there is no forward movement in the peace process we shall be forced to go back to the jungles," said Gobinda Basumatary, general secretary of the NDFB.

Quote:
May 2, 2008: Assam Government warns the Centre that if it accepted the NDFB charter of demands, including ‘liberation’ of Bodoland to start a dialogue with the outfit, it would strengthen ULFA’s argument to sit for talks only if ‘sovereignty’ was discussed.

Quote:
Mar 14, 2008: Assam Government directed the police on to shift all NDFB members to three designated camps. According to the officials, the proximity of the NDFB cadres to members of the disbanded Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT) was causing law and order problems and the rival groups needed to be distanced.

Quote:
Jan 18, 2008: NDFB warned former members of the BLT, who formed the Bodoland Territorial Council, that "provocation" would invite strong retaliation from them. The outfit’s information and publicity secretary, S. Sanjarang, claimed that some "ex-BLT members" were trying to "provoke" his group into frittering away the gains from the peace process.

Quote:
Dec 11, 2007: According to a NDTV report, the NDFB demands 6 per cent from all projects, which falls under Bodoland territory. Every truck passing thorough the Bengal-Assam border at the Sri Rampur Gate has to pay up INR 150. Each commercial taxi is charged INR 150 per month. The NDFB takes a 2 per cent cut from all salaried employees and charges INR 2-3 lakhs per annum from tea gardens. They have even charged 3 per cent from the money meant for education projects like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan 'Education for All' campaign. The report also says that though the amount of money demanded by the militants is less, the target base has been increased.

Quote:
May 21, 2007: The chairman of the ex-Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) Welfare Society, Jonomohan Mushahary, warned the NDFB to stop fratricidal killings by targeting innocent Bodo youths and ex-BLT cadres and viewed it as beyond their tolerance. He also accused the NDFB of having no respect for cease-fire ground rules and doubted whether their command over the outfit is intact. He urged the joint monitoring group to look after NDFB's activities following cease-fire to clarify whether the outfit is in favour of restoring peace in the area and maintaining ground rules for peaceful negotiations.

Quote:
Mar 12, 2007: The NDFB refuses to submit the charter of demands as a precondition for initiating peace talks with the Union Government. The 'secretary-general' of the outfit, as saying, Basumatary alias B. Swmkhwr, says "It is difficult for us to accept this....If it is really interested in negotiations, the charter cannot be the precondition. Informal preliminary talks would have been more fruitful. That would have helped both the parties to know each other's stand and exchange opinions. That always eases the tension. The core issue could be taken up for discussion thereafter. The Centre knows that we have been fighting for the last 20 years for the liberation of the Bodos."

Mar 5, 2007: Assam Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain sates in the State Legislative Assembly that the formal talks with the NDFB have not started because of the failure of the outfit to submit its charter of demands.

Quote:
Nov 29, 2006: The cease-fire agreement between the Union Government and NDFB is extended by a period of six months with effect from December 1, 2006. The Government sets a deadline of March 1, 2007, for the NDFB to submit its charter of demands to start negotiations.

Quote:
Nov 13, 2006: The NDFB admits that some of its cadres killed five security force personnel and a civilian in May 2006 without the sanction of the truce-bound outfit's top leadership. NDFB spokesperson S. Sanjarang said that the Government is "free to initiate action against the perpetrators of the crime in accordance with the law of the land."

Quote:
Nov 9, 2006: The Union Government extends the proscription on four outfits, including the NDFB, operating in the Northeast.

Oct 23, 2006: The NDFB along with DHD and UPDS is involved in extortion activities, despite the fact that all these outfits are under ceasefire agreement with the Union Government, indicate media reports.

Quote:
Sept 20, 2006: NDFB ‘general secretary’ Govinda Basumatary says in Kokrajhar that its charter of demands will be submitted to the Union Government at the earliest.

Sept 6, 2006: The NDFB supports the ULFA’s demand for release of its five arrested leaders.

Quote:
Sept 4, 2006: The NDFB, while dismissing media reports, rules out any possibility of it forming a political party in the near future. “Where is the question of NDFB’s formation of a new political party while the question of solution of the Indo-Boro problem is still far away?” says spokesperson of the outfit, S. Sanjarang.

Aug 10, 2006: The Union Government accuses NDFB for delaying the peace talks.

Aug 2, 2006: The NDFB threatens to pull out of the cease-fire with the Union Government, accusing the SFs of targeting its cadres without any provocation.

July 16, 2006: The Ex-Bodo Liberation of Tigers Welfare Society, while organising a peace meeting against the July 5-killing of the two erstwhile BLT cadres by suspected NDFB militants at the Langihn Tiniali in the Karbi Anglong district, urges the outfit to stop killing of innocent civilians.

July 6, 2006: At least a thousand people belonging to different communities demonstrate in protest against the July 5-killing of two cadres of the erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers by the NDFB in the Bodo-dominated north western areas of Karbi Anglong district.

July 5, 2006: Suspected NDFB militants kill two cadres of the erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), identified as Thanderu Basumatary alias Hargila and Bijoy Basumatary, at Langhing in the Karbi Anglong district.

Quote:
June 1, 2006: The Union Government warns to scrap the extension of cease-fire with the NDFB following its suspected involvement in the abduction and subsequent killing of six persons including five security force (SF) personnel, along the India-Bhutan border.

May 29, 2006: Five security force (SF) personnel, who were allegedly abducted by suspected NDFB cadres on May 21 from the Udalguri district of Assam, are found dead at Belsiri Nala under Bhairabkunda police outpost in the dense jungle of West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering Assam and Bhutan. A civilian, Babul Kalita, who was also abducted along with the SF personnel, was reportedly found dead on May 22.

May 27, 2006: The first round of talks between the Union Government and the NDFB is held in New Delhi. Both agree to extend the cease-fire that was signed on May 25, 2005. "The cease-fire has been extended, the talks was held in a cordial atmosphere and the talks for political issues will go on, it will continue. The peace process will continue," says Gobinda Basumatary, NDFB General Secretary.

May 9, 2006: NDFB says that peace talks cannot take place unless the Union Government provides information about Bodo militants who have gone missing since 2003 - counter insurgency operation by the Bhutan Government.

Apr 25, 2006: NDFB calls for a 24-hours general strike in Assam in protest against the alleged 'violation of ceasefire rules' by the State Government.

April 22, 2006: Eight NDFB cadres, who were arrested from Guwahati in the Kamrup district, confessed during interrogation of their involvement in extortion from the State officials.

Feb 7, 2006: The NDFB refuses to begin peace talks unless the Union Government provides information about the whereabouts of seven senior members missing during Operation All Clear in Bhutan in December 2003. The outfit's 'commander-in-chief' Ranjan Daimary alias D.R. Nabla says, "Delhi has to prove its sincerity by providing information on the seven leaders". The missing militants include the outfit's 'publicity secretary' B. Erakdao, B. Habrang, B. Fwjoukhang, Jwkhrub, Derhasa, Onsula and Udla. Daimary claims that the missing leaders were taken into custody by the Royal Bhutan Army just before the start of Operation All Clear. He adds that they are now "in the hands (custody) of either India or Bhutan".

Quote:
Aug 7, 2005: The NDFB 'general secretary', B Swmkhwr alias Govinda Basumatary, addressing a meeting at Dinakuchi in the Darrang district says that Bodos were independent in the past and want to remain sovereign. He says, “The NDFB has declared a ceasefire but not ended their struggle for sovereignty.”

June 27, 2005: NDFB 'general secretary', Govinda Basumatary, in a press statement reiterates the outfit’s demand for a ‘sovereign Bodo state’ and says the principle and ideology of NDFB “is the liberation of Bodoland and thereby the talks with the Indian government would be based on the solid rock of our principle and ideology.”

May 25, 2005: NDFB signs a tripartite agreement in New Delhi with the Government of India and the Assam Government.

May 5, 2005: NDFB president, Ranjan Daimari, says that his organization would like the Union Government to appoint a ‘special envoy’ familiar with the history of the Bodo people for the peace talks.

Feb 27, 2005: Ranjan Daimary, the NDFB ‘chairman’, in an e-mail message to the local media in Guwahati, sets a deadline of April 15 for the Union Government to respond to the outfit’s unilateral cease-fire.

Quote:
Dec 24, 2004: The jailed ‘general secretary’ of the NDFB, Gobinda Basunatary alias B. Swmkhwr, is released from a prison in Guwahati to facilitate the peace process with the outfit.

Nov 26, 2004: The NDFB ‘chairman’ Ranjan Daimary, in an interview with the Press Trust of India expresses his keenness for peaceful solution to the conflict. He said, "We want to give a chance to India for a peaceful resolution of the conflict."

Nov 13, 2004: In a press statement signed by its spokesman S. Sanjarang, the NDFB says that it is not interested holding talks with the Assam government and that it would like to enter into direct negotiations with the Government of India.

Nov 7, 2004: The Assam Government says that it would not declare a formal ceasefire with NDFB unless the ground rules for the truce are formulated through discussions with representatives of the outfit.

Nov 6, 2004: NDFB threatens to pull out of the unilateral ceasefire it declared 'if the government does not stop killing its cadres', which the outfit said ‘sends wrong signals’.

Quote:
Oct 25, 2004: Assam government asks the NDFB to depute representatives to finalise the ground rules of ceasefire.

Oct 19, 2004: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi promises to offer safe passage to the representatives of the NDFB for talks with the government.

Oct 15, 2004: Assam chief minister informs newspersons in Guwahati that the ceasefire with NDFB would be in the similar lines as those with the BLT and the NSCN-IM.

Oct 14, 2004: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi announces in Guwahati that NDFB has officially communicated its ceasefire offer to the government. He acknowledges the receipt of a letter from NDFB ‘chairman’ D.R. Nabla to this effect.

Oct 8, 2004: NDFB announces a unilateral ceasefire from October 15 for a period of six months in response to the Assam government’s offer for negotiations.

Quote:
Mar 17, 2004: Five terrorists, including NDFB ‘finance secretary’ Nileswar Basumatary alias B J Jabda, second-in-command of the ‘3rd Battalion’, Khanindra Daimari alias Khaumtha, surrender at the Assam Police special branch headquarters in Guwahati.

Feb 25, 2004: Assam Government extends the period of ‘general amnesty’ to cadres of the terrorist organizations - ULFA, NDFB, anti-talks faction of the UPDS and anti-talks faction of the Dima Halim Daogah (DHD) - till March 31 to enable them to surrender.

Jan 31, 2004: Ninety-one NDFB cadres surrender at Tamulpur in the Nalbari district.

Quote:
Dec 27, 2003: NDFB 'chairman', Ranjan Daimary, rejects the amnesty offer of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Dec 20, 2003: NDFB along with the ULFA and KLO calls for a 48-hour shutdown in 'Assam, Bodoland and Kamatapur' in protest against the military operations in Bhutan.

Dec 15, 2003: Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) launches military operations against the ULFA, NDFB and KLO terrorists holed up in 30 camps in southern Bhutan.

Quote:
Aug 7, 2003: Arrested NDFB ‘general secretary’ Govinda Basumatary reiterates the group’s demand for a ‘sovereign’ Bodoland and talks in a foreign country as preconditions to come to the negotiating table.

July 23, 2003: Media reports say that the 81st National Assembly of Bhutan adopted a resolution for ‘the last attempt’ to persuade the ULFA, NDFB and the KLO to close down their camps within this year ‘peacefully’ failing which terrorists would face ‘military action’.

Quote:
July 16, 2003: Media report indicates that a breakaway group of eight NDFB terrorists have criticised NDFB chief D R Nabla for living a lavish life in Bangladesh and misleading the people in the name of ‘armed struggle’ for a ‘sovereign Bodoland’.

July 11, 2003: Media reports from Bhutan indicate that Bhutan National Assembly was unable to reach a consensus over the issue of the way to tackle NDFB, ULFA and the KLO.

June 29, 2003: Report indicates that ULFA and NDFB have formed a new outfit named Gorkha Bhutan Liberation Front (GBLF) with 300 Nepalese Gorkha youths from Bhutan.

Quote:
June 4, 2003: Reports indicates that the NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary, remains opposed to any peace negotiations with the Government.

May 29, 2003: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi denies that he had held 'informal discussions' with the NDFB leadership.

May 28, 2003: Media report says that a group of four NDFB leaders led by "finance and home secretary", Nileswar Basumatary alias B. Jabda met Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Dispur on May 22 to prepare the 'groundwork' for anticipated talks.

May 25, 2003: Media reports say that the NDFB leaders Indramohan Basumatary and Sunil Brahma arrested in Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, on April 30, have indicated the outfit's willingness to talk with the Union Government on the issue of 'independent Bodoland'.

May 22, 2003: Report indicates that security forces provided ‘safe passage’ to a group of NDFB terrorists to visit Guwahati to prepare groundwork for an anticipated peace talks with the Union Government.

May 21, 2003: A media report indicates that the security forces gave a "safe passage" to a group of NDFB leaders to visit Guwahati reportedly to prepare the groundwork for an anticipated peace talks with the Union Government.

May 17, 2003: Bhutan King Jigme Singhye Wangchuk calls upon people to volunteer for formation of a ‘militia force’ to counter Indian insurgent groups–ULFA, NDFB and the KLO on its soil.

May 15, 2003: NDFB ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ B. Olongbar alias Ajay Brahma is arrested from a local hospital in Guwahati while undergoing treatment under a false name.

May 9, 2003: Chief of the Indian Army, General N C Vij discusses activities of ULFA, NDFB and KLO with Bhutanese authorities.

May 3, 2003: Report indicates that the Bhutanese Government has asked Indian terrorist groups, including NDFB and ULFA and the Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), operating in parts of Assam and West Bengal to leave by June 15.

Apr 30, 2003: Police in Kolkata, capital of West Bengal, arrest NDFB ‘speaker’, Sunil Brahma alias B. Simong alias B. Benga and a ‘captain’ in the outfit’s hierarchy B. Buthang, from a hotel in the Park Street area and also recover Rupees one million from their possession.

Apr 19, 2003: While speaking in Siliguri, West Bengal, Bhutanese Ambassador to India Lynpo Dago Tshering says that Bhutan is initiating steps to curb activities of ULFA and NDFB terrorists on its soil.

Mar 29, 2003: Report says that Bhutan has asked ULFA, NDFB and West Bengal-based Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) operating from its soil to close their camps by June 30, 2003 and also warned of military action if they would fail to do so.

Feb 24, 2003: NDFB 'chairman' D R Nabla alias Ranjan Daimari, in an interview to a Guwahati-based daily, says the new Bodo Accord (signed on February 10 by the BLT) could "never fulfill the hope and aspiration of the Boro people". He also vows to continue "armed struggle" till the "goal" is achieved.

Feb 14, 2003: Arrested NDFB vice president Dhiren Boro says the new autonomous body within Assam, the BTC, would not meet the 'hopes and aspirations' of the Bodo community.

Feb 7, 2003: Arrested NDFB 'vice president' Dhiren Boro reportedly reveals Bangladesh’s role as centre of illegal arms trade for various terrorist outfits from India.

Feb 6, 2003: Report indicates NDFB’s willingness for political dialogue with the government.

Jan 30, 2003: NDFB 'vice-chairman' Dhiren Boro, his wife and two other associates, arrested in Gangtok, Sikkim, on January 1 are brought to Assam.

Jan 12, 2003: Reports claim arrested NDFB 'vice president' Dhiren Boro reveals active involvement of Pakistan in terrorist activities in Northeast region.

Jan 5, 2003: Arrested NDFB 'vice president' Dhiren Boro confesses to police that the outfit has contacts with Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's external intelligence agency.

Jan 1, 2003: Police arrests Dhiren Boro, 'vice-president' of NDFB from Tadung in Gangtok, Sikkim's capital, along with his wife, two children and two other NDFB cadres.

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Nov 5, 2002: Reports quote NDFB 'chief' Ranjan Daimary alias D R Nabla saying he would join talks if the Union government would include 'historical rights' and the 'right to self-determination' of the Bodo people in Assam in the agenda.

Oct 25, 2002: NDFB’s ‘chief’ D R Nabla, in a statement in the online edition of its mouthpiece Gwdan Mahari (New nation), terms the creation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) a non-pragmatic move.