North East India

The North Eastern Region of India is known for its

vast natural resources and a cauldron of different
people and cultures. The region includes seven
sisters and one brother.
Arunachal Pradesh
Assam
Manipur
Mizoram
Meghalaya
Nagaland
Tripura
Sikkim
North East India
1. ASSAM
UNITED LIBERATION FRONT OF ASOM (ULFA)

The most lethal of the Northeastern militant groups, wild

child of the Assam movement, now linked to Islamist groups
in Bangladesh.
Responsible for the August 15, 2004, blast that killed 13
children
Chairman: Arabinda Rajkhowa
Secretary: Anup Chetia (in Dhaka jail since December 1997)
Commander-in-Chief: Paresh Barua
Vice-President: Pradip Gogoi (in Guwahati jail since 1998)
Strength: About 1,000 cadre currently. Over 5,000 have
surrendered since 1992
Demand: Independent Assam
1. ASSAM
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT OF BODOLAND (NDFB)

Formed in 1986 as Bodo Security Force, renamed NDFB in 1994.

Responsible for the October 2 and October 5, 2004 blasts that
killed 60 people
Chairman: Ranjan Daimary
Cadre strength: 500. Over 1000 have surrendered since 1992
Demand: Sovereign state for Assams Bodo tribals

MUSLIM UNITED LIBERATION TIGERS OF ASSAM (MULTA)

Believed to be backed by the ISI of Pakistan. Sends batches of

young boys to Bangladesh for arms training. Circulates fake
currency
Strength: not known
Demand: Greater Islamic nation comprising the Northeast
and Bangladesh
2. MEGHALAYA
HYNNIEWTREP NATIONAL LIBERATION COUNCIL
(HNLC)

Founded in 1992 after the split of the Hynniewtrep Achik

Liberation Council (HALC), the first militant group of
Meghalaya. Hynniewtrep draws its members from the Khasi
and Jaintia tribes. Has bases in Bangladesh, and has been
known to circulate fake currency at the ISIs behest

Chairman: Julius K. Dorphang

Strength: 400
Demand: Wants to free Khasi and Jaintia districts of
outsiders, including the Garos
2. MEGHALAYA

ACHIK NATIONAL VOLUNTEER COUNCIL (ANVC)

Formed in 1995, the organisation has links with NSCN (I-

M), ULFA, NDFB. Signed a ceasefire agreement with the
government but armed acts are still reported

Chairman: Dilash R. Marak

Strength: 500
Demand: A separate state for the Garo tribe of
Meghalaya and parts of western Assam
3. TRIPURA
ALL TRIPURA TIGER FORCE (ATTF)

Founded in 1990 by renegade Tripura National Volunteers

(TNV) after the main group signed an accord with the
government in 1988. In 1997, about 1,600 surrendered,
but the core group continues. Has links with ULFA, 16
camps and HQ in Bangladesh

President: Ranjit Debbarma

Strength: 600
Demand: Expulsion of all Bengali -speaking migrants
of East Bengal/East Pakistan/Bangladesh origin
who entered after 1949
3. TRIPURA

NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT OF TRIPURA

(NLFT)

Founded in 1989 by Dhananjoy Reang, former vice-

president of TNV. Has camps in Bangladesh. Currently
in talks with the government.
Chief: Nayanbashi Jamatiya.
Currently holding talks with government
Demand: Independent Tripura, free of Bengali
migrants
4. MIZORAM

BRU NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (BNLF)

Small group, creates trouble once in a while. Has some

ethnic links in Tripura
Demand: Autonomous council for the Bru tribals within
Mizoram. The Brus are akin to the original tribes
of Tripura
5. MANIPUR
UNITED NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT (UNLF)

Oldest Meitei insurgent group, founded in 1964. Initially

took East Pakistani help. Supported Pakistan during 1971
war. Sent members for training in China. Floated Indo-
Burma Revolutionary Front (IBRF) with ULFA, NSCN (K)
and Kuki National Army (KNA) in 1990
Chairman: Rajkumar Meghen
General Secretary: T. Sanachou.
Strength: 1,000 activists
Demand: Independent socialist Manipur
5. MANIPUR
PEOPLE REVOLUTIONARY PARTY OF KANGLEIPAK
(PREPAK)

Founded in 1977, founder R.K. Tulachandra was killed by

security forces in 1986. Part of Manipur Peoples Liberation
Front (MPLF) with PLA and UNLF. Got initial training from
NSCN(IM). Also has links with Kachin Independent Army
(KIA) of Myanmar

Chairman: Achamba
Strength: About 1000
Demand: Ouster of all outsiders from Manipur
5. MANIPUR
KANGLEI YAWOL KANNA LUP (KYKL)

The name means Organisation to Save the Revolutionary

Movement in Manipur. Formed 1994 following merger of
Oken faction of UNLF, Meiraba faction of PREPAK and Ibo
Pishak faction of KCP. Has links with both factions of NSCN

Chairman: Achou Toijamba

Strength: 1000
Demand: To cleanse Manipur of corruption, drugs and
immoral activities
5. MANIPUR
PEOPLE LIBERATION ARMY (PLA)
Formed in 1978 by N. Bisheswar Singh. Its political arm, the
Revolutionary Peoples Front (RPF), was born in 1989. Has
bases in Bangladesh
Strength:1500
Demand: Wants a revolutionary front covering entire
Northeast, uniting all ethnic groups like Meiteis,
Nagas, Kukis, to liberate Manipur

Others: There are about 15 other groups, with an uneven

spread of sophisticated weaponry and cadre strength
between 200-500
6. NAGALAND
NATIONAL SOCIALIST COUNCIL OF NAGALAND
(Isaac-Muivah Faction) or NSCN (I-M)
Patron and trainer of a lot of other groups in the
Northeast, founded by Issak Chisi Swu and T. Muivah in
1989 in the wake of the Shillong accord between the
government and Naga National Council (NNC), split into
two factions the NSCN (K) and NSCN (I-M). Has agreed
to a ceasefire and is talking to the government outside
India
Chairman: Issak Chisi Swu
Demand: Separate Nagalim (Greater Nagaland),
comprising Naga-inhabited areas of Northeast
India (some districts of Manipur) and Myanmar
6. NAGALAND

NSCN (K)

Sibling of the NSCN (I-M), based in Myanmar, it has same

demands. In ceasefire with the government since 1999

Chairman: S.S. Khaplang

Demand: Seeks an independent Greater Nagaland, like
the NSCN (I-M)
7. ARUNACHAL 8. SIKKIM
PRADESH

Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have been blessed with

divine peace and have had the privilege of never
experiencing any kind of problems regarding secession
and autonomy.
Sikkim, though has been the victim of imbroglio between
India and China an identity crisis.