Bangla safe sanctuary for Northeast rebels
Taking advantage of the ongoing civic unrest in Bangladesh, the Northeast insurgent groups have started re-establishing their hideouts and camps in Bangladesh once again.
Informing that home ministry is extremely worried about growing presence of northeast militant groups in Bangladesh again, authoritative security sources told this newspaper that outlawed Ulfa and NDFB have started training of its new recruits in Rangamati and Khagrachari area across the border. Pointing out that Ulfa cadres are given training in the camps of Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), security sources said that NDFB commander Thulunga who had nearly 30-40 trained cadres have accommodated some fresh recruits for training in its camp in Sherpur area of Bangladesh. It is significant that Thulunga is also wanted and named in serial bomb blast case of 2008 in Assam.
Referring the intelligence inputs emanating from Dhaka, security sources said that family of elusive Ulfa chief Paresh Baruah and wife of Ulfa general secretary Anup Chetia are also living together in Dhaka.
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India keen to continue oil imports from Iran
Age Correspondent
NEW DELHI, APRIL 17
Despite pressure from the US to reduce its oil imports from Iran, India is keen to continue these imports and remain its “partner” in order to meet its need for energy security.
While India has been forced to reduce its oil imports from Iran under US pressure which has imposed economic sanction on it for its nuclear programme, New Delhi is unwilling to sever its ties entirely with Iran on the energy front.
India which has traditionally had close ties with Iran is also now keeping a close eye on the upcoming presidential elections that country. There is a perception here that regardless of whoever wins the Iranian polls salted for June 14, India’s close ties with Iran will not be affected.
Two reasons are extended for this. One, it is expected that whoever becomes the next president of Iran will want to retain his country’s close bilateral ties with India. It’s also felt that there is an interest in Iran to maintain the country’s relationship with India.
Further, even as Iran gets a new President, the country’s supreme leader will continue to remain Ayato-llah Ali Khamenei.
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