United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) rebels and government agreed to temporarily suspend operations as talks to prepare for direct negotiations continued. ULFA repeated demand that government release 5 leaders in detention as condition for direct negotiations. Previously in month 3 civilians, 5 police and 4 ULFA killed in separate incidents in Assam state. Explosion at Hindu temple in Imphal, Manipur state 16 August killed 5: Government suspected militant Meitei Manipur separatist group Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup; KYKL denied involvement. 2 Indian and Bangladeshi civilians killed in cross-border shelling. Maoists killed 3 members of security forces at Atmakur police station in Andhra Pradesh 19 August. Andhra Pradesh government extended ban on Communist Party of India (Maoist) and 6 of its front organisations for 1 year.

Coordinated bombings on 7 Mumbai commuter trains 11 July killed over 200. 4 Indian Muslims arrested. No major jihadi group claimed responsibility but officials in Maharashtra believe Pakistani connection. Government, criticised by opposition Bharitiya Janata Party as soft on terrorism, halted normalisation process with Pakistan; PM Singh called on General Musharraf to fulfil promises to eliminate terror networks. Maoist violence continued: 8 rebels, including rebel chief, reportedly killed in southern Andhra Pradesh state 23 July; rebels stormed government relief camp in Chhattisgarh state, 17 killed.

Government held separate talks with representatives of 2 northeastern separatist groups, ULFA and NSCN-IM, 22 June. New Delhi said would consider releasing 5 ULFA leaders in goodwill move that would pave way for further talks. Series of attacks in northeast in run-up to talks killed 10: ULFA denied responsibility. Government and NSCN-IM held “fruitful” talks in Netherlands 22 June. Maoist violence continued: 7 villagers killed 20 June in Chhattisgarh; 6 Maoists killed in 28 June police raid. In Andhra Pradesh, 6 Maoists killed including key leader, M. Ravikumar. Sectarian tensions continued in northern Uttar Pradesh: 2 killed 18 June in arson attack on Muslim homes in Pratapgarh after shooting of Hindu village leader.

Maoist violence and religious clashes continued. Maoists attacked refugee camp in Chhattisgarh killing 4 surrendered rebels 13 May. 12 killed by suspected Maoist landmine in Maharashtra state 16 May. Hindu-Muslim clashes in Uttar Pradesh state killed 2 after local BJP leader shot dead 28 May, while 7 killed in western Gujarat state after authorities tried to demolish Muslim shrine in Vadodara 1 May. “Positive” talks between New Delhi and northeastern National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) rebels 18 May; next round within month. Talks with National Democratic Front of Bodoland rebels 27 May led to 6-month ceasefire extension.

PM Manmohan Singh described Maoist insurgency as country’s most serious internal security threat. 10 police reportedly killed 16 April in Maoist attack in eastern Chhattisgarh state; 11 Maoists killed in clashes with Andhra Pradesh police 28 April. Other incidents included Maoists’ attacks on civilians belonging to state sponsored anti- Maoist Salwa Judum movement. Religious tensions continued with 4 killed in Muslim/Hindu clashes in Aligarh city northern Uttar Pradesh state 6 April and 2 explosions inside Delhi’s Jama Masjid (Grand Mosque) 14 April. Police arrested 6 Islamic militants in connection to March Varanasi blasts blamed on Bangladeshi group, Harkatul Jihad-al Islami.

Religious, Maoist and northeastern separatist violence continued throughout month. 2 bombs claimed by Kashmiri militant group Lashkar-e-Kahar killed 15 in Hindu city of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Police shot dead 4 suspected Islamic militants in western Gujarat for planning to attack religious sites. Maoists in Chhattisgarh continued to target security forces and civilians: 4 villagers suspected of being police informers killed and CPI-Maoist group apologised after 24 March mine blast killed 14 civilians. Clashes with police in Dantewada district left 6 Maoists and policeman dead 26 March. Northeastern separatists in Manipur state clashed with security forces 11 March, killing 7. U.S President Bush signed deal to give India access to U.S. civilian nuclear technology: Delhi agreed to open 14 nuclear facilities to inspection, but 8 military sites to remain closed. 4 died in clashes in Lucknow after Muslims protesting Bush visit tried to force Hindu traders to strike.

Maoist  violence  escalated  in Chhattisgarh  state  while  northeastern  unrest  continued. Maoists killed 70, including 8 police in 9 February raid on state-run explosives factory, and as many as 55 members of anti- Maoist group in 28 February landmine blast. Protests against death of man in police custody in northeastern Tinsukia district turned violent killing 12. Representatives for United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) held productive talks with state officials 7 February ahead of proposed direct talks between government and ULFA leadership; government agreed to series of confidence-building measures. Attack on state gas workers 14 February killed 3; National Liberation Front of Tripura rebels suspected.

Instability in northeast continued. National Democratic Front of Bodoland rebels called on government to hold peace talks or risk end of ceasefire. 8 National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) K faction rebels killed in attack by Indian and Myanmar forces along border; NSCN I-M faction extended ceasefire with government for 6 months. United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), suspected of series of bombings 22 January that killed 2 policemen and destruction of oil pipelines, to hold peace talks with government 7 February. ULFA and other northeast separatist groups called general strike to boycott Republic Day 26 January. Attacks by Maoists in eastern Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand states 26 January killed 2. Highway blockade followed police killing of 12 tribe members in Orissa state during 2 January land protest.

Military launched operation with “shoot-on-sight” policy in northeastern Assam state to quell escalating violence between Karbi and Dimasa ethnic groups. 40 tribal militants attacked Dimasa village 28 December; clash with police ensued, killing Karbi militant. Second round of peace talks between United Liberation Front of Asom and government due to start early January. Security forces reportedly killed 4 United National Liberation Front rebels during 27 December raid; police officer killed in apparent retaliatory attack. Maoists announced plans to target companies and to arm tribals along “red corridor”, from Nepal to south. Train between Andhra Pradesh and Orissa reportedly attacked by Maoists 25 December, killing 4 police.

Separatist violence in northeast continued: grenade attack on market in Manipur state, and ongoing ethnic clashes in Assam state’s Karbi Anglong district between Dimasa and Karbi ethnic groups killed 2. Maoists launched 2 large-scale operations: 700 Maoist rebels stormed jail in Bihar state, killing 2 and freeing 350 prisoners; later stormed police training centre in eastern Jharkhand state, killing 5. Toll from 29 October Delhi blasts rose to 66. FM Natwar Singh stripped of post after allegations he benefited from UN oil-for-food program in Iraq.