Ranjan Daimary condemned, effigy burned

GUWAHATI, Oct 30: With the rest of the State, the Assam Public Works (APW) also observed black October 30 by conducting a blood donation camp at the Guwahati Last Gate today. More than 50 people came forward to donate blood.

Also present at the occasion, veteran journalist DN Chakravarty condemned terrorist activities and said Ranjan Daimary and Paresh Barua should be punished in public. He also questioned the Armed Forces on their failure to nab terrorists from the region.

The APW members also lighted lamps in memory of those killed last year. NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary’s effigy was also burned to put across a strong message against dartardly acts of violence and bloodshed.

APW president Abhijit Sarma said terrorism cannot bring us freedom and termed Ranjan Daimary and Paresh Barua as ‘extension officers of terrorism’ and ‘agents’ of the ISI and DGFI. The Tinsukia committee of APW also organized a blood donation camp at the Tinsukia Civil Hospital today with more than 100 people voluntarily donating blood for the noble cause. THE SENTINEL

Extortion bid by Black Widow

SILCHAR, Oct 28: The hope that was generated with the Black Widow laying down arms in NC Hills district seems to be evaporating as reports of extortion and threats to contractors by the surrendered Dimasa militants are beginning to pour in within just three weeks of the ceremonial surrender.

Sources said Black Widow cadres, housed in four designated camps, have started issuing demand notes to the contractors engaged in the Silchar-Lumding Broad Gauge Project.

A source close to the Railway Contractors’ Association said that the surrendered Dimasa militants had attacked a vehicle of ABCI, a construction company, on October 18 and damaged it. The driver of the vehicle was also beaten up by the militants, the source said. The incident took place at Kapurcherra where a designated camp for the surrendered militants has been erected.

The contractors were appalled to learn that the incident took place just near a paramilitary force camp. The contractors said that the surrendered militants might resort to large-scale extortion as security forces would not be able to stop them due to their “surrendered” status.

Uncertainty over the completion of the much-awaited gauge conversion project has once again started to creep up as experts from outside the State, to survey the proposed tunnels, might cancel their visit, a source hinted.

Meanwhile, another source said that the October 18 incident was actually the handiwork of the splinter group of Black Widow led by James Dimasa. It has also been alleged that that James Dimasa was deliberately asked not to join the mainstream by Black Widow leaders so that he could continue run the Black Widow extortion business.

On the other hand, after a long lull the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), a militant outfit of Tripura, has started issuing extortion notes to railway employees here. At least 13 railway employees working in Manu and SK Para have received such demand notes, a source confirmed. The demand notes were signed by BL Halam, secretary and collector of the ‘revenue and tax department’ of the outfit.

Meanwhile, the NF Railway Mazdoor Union has expressed grave concern over the reports of extortion bid by surrendered militants. The Union is apprehensive as to whether the much-awaited gauge conversion project would be completed by the scheduled time — 2012. THE SENTINEL

Gautam Roy seeks truce with Ahmed

SILCHAR, Oct 28: In the backdrop of his lost battle in Karimganj district, Excise Minister Gautam Roy has expressed his desire for truce with South Karimganj MLA Siddeque Ahmed. And for this Roy has requested his Cabinet colleague Nazrul Islam to initiate for a truce with Ahmed who also happens to be an associate Congress MLA, sources said.

According to reports, Islam admitted that he had been approached by Roy for the truce. “All three of us are Congressmen and, therefore, it is my duty to bring all of them together,” Islam said.

Meanwhile Ahmed said he has no objection to sit for talks with Roy but the latter must confirm that he would not intervene into the affairs of Karimaganj district.

According to reports, Ahmed was once a very close aide of Roy but later on waged a war against him. Also, he along with Zila Parishad president Mantaj Ali, who recently won the no-confidence motion allegedly instigated by Roy, and Srikanta Bhattacharjee, a veteran ward councillor who was denied the Karimganj Municipality Board chairman’s post, recently met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to discuss the matter with him.

The sources said the trio informed Gogoi about the autocracy of Roy in Karimganj district and urged him to direct Roy not to intervene into the affairs of the district. The Chief Minister, after hearing from the three, asked both the camps to refrain from mudslinging each other and expressed his displeasure on the turn of events that had taken in the district.

It was further reported that Siddeque Ahmed had requested Gogoi, in the meeting, to replace in-charge Minister of Karimganj Nurjamal Sarkar with either Himata Biswa Sarma or Dinesh Prasad Goala. THE SENTINEL

Trade Union bodies submit memorandum to Cachar DC

SILCHAR, October 28: Cachar district Committees of Central Trade Union (CTU) and the Employees’ Federation (EF) today unitedly took out a protest rally and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Assam, Governor of Assam and the Prime Minister of India. In the memorandum sudden price hike of essential commodities and the escalating trend in market prices leading to the suffering of the common people and unscrupulous traders earning profits from the situation was mentioned.

According to the memorandum submitted today by the CTU and EF, the report of the Arjun Sen Gupta Committee highlighted the plight of 77 per cent of Indian’s population who are earning below Rs 20 per day. Therefore, due to escalating prices of essential commodities including food grains, vegetables, fish etc. this population is the worse-hit among all.

Alomost 90 per cent of the population in India has come under the grip of rising prices, stated the Arjun Sen Gupta Committee report. Hence, the CTU and EF urged the Government, through the memorandum, to speculate the prices of essential commodities and to rejuvenate the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the market.

The memorandum also highlighted the situation of millions of workers who were rendered jobless due to recession and economic slow-down. Non implementation and rampant violation of basic labour laws pertaining to minimum wages, social security, safety in work places and violation of basic labour laws was stated in the memorandum. THE SENTINEL

Four militants nabbed by Army in Lakhipur

SILCHAR, Oct 28: Jawans of the 11 Field Regiment (Red Shield Division) of the Indian Army, after receiving a tip off, arrested four militants from Chiri bridge on NH-53 near Fulertal area under Lakhipur subdivision recently.

One of the arrested militants have been identified as KH Gyaneshwar Singh (32), of Bishenpur district, Manipur. Army sources said that he was a second lieutenant (over ground worker 1015) PLA cadre. An Aircel sim card and a mobile phone was recovered from him. Military sources also confirmed that he was a dreaded PLA cadre and had previous records of arrests in Manipur.

The other three militants were reported to be UNLF cadres and hail from Lakhipur subdivision, Cachar district. They have been identified as Nilot Chandra Sinha (40) of Nayagram, Thomba Sinha (32) of Kunjenleikai and K Premjit Sinha alias Ranjit of Orabil under Lakhipur police station. The four militants arrested by the Army have been handed over to Lakhipur police station, sources said. THE SENTINEL

A tribute to Ranjan Das, MD SAP AG (India)

The sudden demise of Ranjan Das, Managing Director (India) of German Software major SAP AG, is a great loss not only for his company but for India Inc and the Assamese community as well. Ranjan died of a heart attack on Wednesday. The 42-year-old was known to be the youngest MNC head in the country.

An Assamese by birth, Ranjan grew up in Guwahati. After his 12th standard, he joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US with a full scholarship, where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering. He later went on to attain an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

I recently had the opportunity to meet this gentleman for a one-on-one media interview at the SAP World Tour held in New Delhi a few months back. As we introduced ourselves, both of us were elated to discover our Assamese origin and we conversed in Assamese for a long time. Based on our interaction, I wrote an interview-based article titled “Next set of best practices likely to come from India” on SAP and the IT industry, which I shall cherish forever.

Little did I know that it would be my last interaction with him. I can’t help but feel extremely sad realising that he is no more. I cannot forget the contagious smile Ranjan always carried on his face that made everyone around him smile. He spread an aura of positive energy wherever he went.

Ranjan relocated to Mumbai in July 2007 from SAP’s Silicon Valley office in the US to lead the Indian subcontinent region. Under his leadership, the region delivered its best-ever performance in 2007 by doubling software revenue and customer base as well as achieving record customer and employee satisfaction and became the fastest growing region globally for SAP and won the “Region-of-the-year” award.

Prior to joining SAP, Ranjan founded Patkai Networks Inc., a Silicon Valley-based venture capital-funded software setup. As we bid farewell to Ranjan, I offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Dear Ranjan, you will always remain in our hearts wherever you are.

Ayushman Baruah

THE SENTINEL

China projects Kashmir as a separate country

KATHMANDU, Oct 19: Besides issuing separate visas to Indian passport holders from Jammu and Kashmir, China is also projecting the disputed territory as an independent country in other ways.

Visitors to Tibet, especially journalists invited by the Chinese government, are given handouts where Kashmir is indicated as a country separate from India.

Media kits providing "basic information" about Tibet –– which China attacked and annexed in the 1950s –– says Tibet "borders with India, Nepal, Myanmar and Kashmir area".

Except the "Kashmir area", the other three are sovereign countries.

Maps too, available in China, Myanmar and Nepal, show an India denuded of Kashmir.

Also, China’s policy of extending assistance to only the government of a country indicates it considers India’s nuclear rival and neighbour Pakistan to be in control of Pakistan-administered Kashmir by offering financial assistance to build a dam on the Indus river there.

China, now locked in a row with India, is also asking for the tightening of the open border between India and Nepal that, it says, is abetting anti-China activities and demonstrations by Tibetans crossing into Nepal from India.

Beijing is also indirectly asking for the closure of the seat of the Dalai Lama, the exiled leader of the Tibetans, in Dharamshala in India, hinting that such a step would improve India-China relations.

China, which fought a war with India in 1962, says Arunachal Pradesh belongs to it. India says it is an integral and inalienable part of India.

On the eve of the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh in November, China has been hurrying Nepal to deploy armed security forces along the border between northern Nepal and Tibet.

Both Nepal’s Home Minister Bhim Rawal and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal recently visited Mustang, the northernmost district in Nepal to assess the security plan.

Mustang was once both part of an ancient Tibetan kingdom and later the base of anti-China guerrilla attacks by Tibet’s Khampa warriors. THE SENTINEL

Arunachal opposes Chinese move to construct dam on Brahmaputra

ITANAGAR, Oct 19: Arunachal Pradesh has categorically placed its objections to the reported dam proposed by the Chinese on the Tsangpo river, known as Brahmaputra in India, before the Prime Minister and called upon the Union Government to take up the matter seriously with Beijing.

The delegation from Arunachal Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at New Delhi this evening. Though the delegation said it did not mind a Run-of-the-River project on the Brahmaputra, it expressed serious concerns on the reported dam construction that would divert the entire river to drier regions of China.

Talking to The Sentinel from New Delhi, Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjoy, who was part of the delegation, said, "We have categorically objected to China’s plans to divert the Brahmaputra. If the Brahmaputra is diverted, the ramifications on the cultural and economical life of the people in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam would be disastrous."

He said that life in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Bangladesh revolves around the Brahmaputra river and its diversion would have catastrophic effects on the human civilizations thriving in its basin.

Complementing the Indian government for asserting its rights on Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India, the delegation refused to accept Chinese claims over the State on behalf of its people.

"We have our own definite cultural and ethnic boundaries that have been well-maintained since centuries and which cannot be taken for granted by any other country," Sanjoy said. He asserted that Chinese claims of the neighbouring country having cultural affinity with Arunachal Pradesh holds no water.

The delegation negated any assertion of cultural dispute in Arunachal Pradesh and urged the Central Government to be more assertive with the Chinese government.

In order to weaken the Chinese claims, the delegation suggested the Central Government to give top priority to its borders with China, particularly in the eastern front, where Arunachal Pradesh shares more than 890 kms of the international border with China. It stressed the need for road infrastructure in the border areas to facilitate defence preparedness and connectivity of rural areas with the mainland.

Beijing’s objection to the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang was also raised by the delegation from Arunachal Pradesh.

"The Dalai Lama’s visit is a routine one. This would be the third visit of the spiritual leader to the State and it has nothing to do with political differences," said Sanjoy. He further informed the Prime Minister that the State has already made elaborate arrangements to receive the spiritual leader who has a large number of followers in the State.

Besides Khandu and Sanjoy, the delegation from Arunachal Pradesh comprised of Home Minister Jarbom Gamlin, PWD Minister Nabam Tuki, former MP Kiren Rijiju and legislators T Dhondup and Jambey Tashi. THE SENTINEL

Drunken youth drowned at Samshanghat

Silchar, Oct 18: A heavily drunk youth was drowned to death in the pond of Silchar Samshanghat in the wee hours on Sunday . The youth has been identified as Tridip Deb, 23, son of Dilip Kumar Deb, a retired bank employee and resident at Udayan Complex, Das colony. Tridip was the former general secretary of GC College. After post-mortem, the body of the youth has been handed over to his family. THE SENTINEL

No bar for population control in Quran and Hadith: Dr Ilias Ali

GUWAHATI, Oct 18: A public awareness meeting on Population explosion and NSV, attended by a large number of people, was organized jointly by district health society, NRHM, Barpeta and Cawsser, a local NGO, at Dr Zakir Hussian Higher Secondary school’s auditorium of Alopati Char, Bapeta and chaired by Mr Wazuddin Ahmed, principal of the school.

Speaking on the occasion the chief guest Dr Ilias Ali, Associate Professor of Surgery, Gauhati Medical College and State Trainer cum state Nodal Officer, NSV, Government Assam, stressed that population explosion is the evil of all odds of our country faced today, and it is more dangerous and more fearful than nuclear explosion. India is the second largest populous country next to China, he said, with a population of 1.4 billion, occupies only 2.4 per cent of the world’s land area but has to support nearly 17 per cent of the world population. Further Dr Ali added that current trend of population growth of India is very alarming i.e. 29 babies per minute and if this trend continues India will soon cross China, the world’s most populous country, by 2025.

Today India is facing a grim future because of the rapid upsurge in the rate of population growth in comparison to the past few decades and despite the fact that India was the first country in the world to introduce a population control policy in 1952, not much has been achieved in terms of population control and the outcome is an intense crisis of resources. There is fierce competition for the nation’s limited natural resources leading to quarrels between states, between communities and even families, Dr Ali stated. Further he added, today we have shortage of clean drinking water, clean air, food, shelter and other resources such as medical care, education, proper sewage treatment and waste disposal necessary to sustain human life. Addressing specifically to the attending Muslim audiences Dr Ali said that illiteracy, childhood marriage and multiple marriages are common phenomena among us. On the other hand religious misbelieve and misinformation regarding family planning are also very high. All these sources are responsible for more population explosion in our (Muslim) society in comparison to other communities.

He also stated that there is no bar of population control in the Quran and the Hadith. Dr Ali, a devoted Muslim, said that Islam is not against family planning rather it was infact the first religion to have evolved the method of limiting the family size (family planning). In this regard he cited the method called Ajol, a method of limitation of family size, the practice of which was allowed by the Prophet. Citing various verses from Quran and Hadith Dr Ali urged the gathering to come forward and join hands together to curb the rapidly expanding size of population in our country. Speaking on NSV, No scalpel vasectomy, Dr Ali informed that NSV is a most modern and sophisticated method of male sterilization, where without using scalpel or surgical knife and stitch, the sperm carrying tubes (vas deferens) of both sides are taken out through a small hole made by the help of a special instrument, in the mid part of the scrotum, and male tubes are blocked. This procedure, he continued, was first invented in the year 1974 by a Chinese Surgeon Dr Li Shunqiang, under whom Dr Ali got training. It is a 10-15 minutes procedure, virtually painless, safe, sound, simple and has currently become a method of choice of male sterilization worldwide to curb population explosion. Dr Ali also stated that NSV is gradually becoming popular in our state and since January, 2009 till date more than 5000 people have accepted this procedure against only 2(two) in 2007-08. After the meeting as many as 43 of NSV cases operated upon successfully at a camp arranged in the above mentioned school and interestingly all the cases were from the Muslim community. Among the various dignitaries present in the meeting were Mr N Alam, professor, Nagarbera College, Mr Noor Ahmed, Head master, Alopaty ME school, Altas uddin Ahmed, president of Cawsser, Dr Mohammad Ali, SDMO, Agia PHC, Dr R Rangpi, Asstt. Professor and Dr J Bordoloi, Registrar of surgery, Gauhati medical college, Dr Najrul Islam, SDMO, Kalgasia PHC Dr B Sarmah, Incharge of Gohia PHC, Dr M Ahmed Incharge of Alopati Mini PHC, and other health officials, teachers and lecturers of local college. THE SENTINEL

‘Red terror’ may pose real threat to NE

‘Special cell to deal with Naxalites” — so read a headline on the February 24, 1971 edition of The Assam Tribune. The news report, nearly four decades ago, talked of the Asom Government setting up a special cell with Additional Inspector General of Police, R. C. Dutta, to “deal with the Naxalite menace which is slowly raising its head in Assam.” The report also talked about 20 arrests having been made, including a postgraduate student from Gauhati University.

By 1971, the Naxalbari Movement in neighbouring West Bengal might have ceased to be a cohesive force, but Asom has had a taste of Naxalism. Therefore, when Union Home Minister P Chidambaram admitted on September 14 that Naxalites were tying up with insurgents in the Northeast to synergize operations, there were many who were not surprised at all. And yes, the Assam Police in recent months has sounded maximum alert, directing superintendents of police in the districts to monitor whether there has been any growth of Naxalism or Naxalite activities anywhere in the State.

New Delhi and the States are today faced with three forms of armed violence: insurgency, terrorism and Left-wing extremism. Chidambaram himself agrees that all three needs to be dealt with differently, but the fact remains that all these three forms of violence also blends somewhere. Here lies the worry in so far as the Northeast is concerned. I am among those who likes to believe that there is a difference between insurgency and terrorism, but with insurgents from groups like the ULFA and the NDFB (these are just examples only) resorting to random road-side bombings, killing innocent civilians, it is difficult to make or believe in a distinction.

In 2008, a few Meitei insurgent groups who operate in the Imphal Valley in Manipur declared that they support the Maoists ideologically. Today, armed bands of people in the country are hardly driven by ideology, although most of the old rebel groups like the Naga outfits and even the ULFA swore by Mao’s ideals. Take a look at what Chidambaram had said at the meeting of the director generals and inspector generals of police in September: “The CPI (Maoist) has been keenly seeking ideological resonance and tactical understanding with the Northeast insurgents and begun to lend support to their secessionist ideology and demands.” Incidentally, the CPI (Maoist) has a presence in 17 of the 20 States in the country hit by Naxalite violence and account for 90 per cent share in Naxal violence.

Chidambaram has said some recent decisions taken by the CPI (Maoist) indicate they are keen on expanding their operations to newer areas. The Northeast could definitely be one such area because the Naxalites are aware of the trans-border linkages the Northeast rebels have. The Naxals, in fact, could be tying up with Northeast rebels to procure military hardware to take on the Indian State. The Union Home Ministry has taken note of the improvement of the military hardware and tactics of cadres belonging to the CPI (Maoist).

A State like Assam is an ethnic cauldron and this automatically increases the possibility of the Naxals cutting ice or igniting the fire among certain communities and groups here. Moreover, with the Kamatapur Liberation Organization (KLO) having a good presence around the vital Siliguri-corridor that connects the Northeast to mainland India, through West Bengal, the Maoists have a bridge ready. The KLO is known to be close to the Maoists. The Adivasis in Asom, that comprise the bulk of the tea garden work force in the State, has a whole lot of grievances. Several Adivasi insurgent groups have come into being to push these grievances. Some of them like the Adivasi Cobra Militants, are on a truce. The Naxals could well try and consolidate on these grievances and make an entry into the state. Therefore, the extra vigil by the authorities in Assam.

The threat of the ‘red terror’ actually spreading to the region, particularly to a state like Assam, is actually real. The State’s proximity to Bhutan is also something that needs to be factored in. Security circles in both India and Bhutan had been rattled by news of the launching of the Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) on April 22, 2003, the 133rd birth anniversary of Lenin. Pamphlets widely circulated by this new group in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal and in areas inside Bhutan itself revealed that the new party’s objective was to “smash the monarchy” and establish a "true and new democracy” in Bhutan.

The 2003 launch of the Bhutan Communist Party was enough for the Indian and Bhutanese security establishment to put the ULFA, NDFB and the KLO under intensive surveillance and scrutiny. It didn’t take long for New Delhi and Thimphu to identify the KLO as the group with a far greater nuisance value than perhaps the ULFA or the NDFB. The KLO is active and has pockets of influence in the strategic North Bengal areas of West Bengal and act as a bridge between the Maoist guerrillas and the newly emerging Maoist force in Bhutan. Indian intelligence agencies were also aware of the fact that the KLO had provided sanctuary to fleeing Maoist rebels from Nepal, that the outfit has acted as a link between the Nepalese Maoists and radical Left-wing activists in the Indian State of Bihar, and that it had received help from the Maoists in setting up a number of explosives manufacturing units in North Bengal.

It was these deepening linkages that forced both New Delhi and Thimphu to agree that it was time to launch a direct assault on the rebels in Bhutan before the situation went out of hand. This was in the winter of 2003. Six years down the line, the threat seems real for the Northeast, even Bhutan. THE SENTINEL

I’ll take up China dam issue with PM: Gogoi

GUWAHATI, Oct 16: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said the State Government is worried over the reported Chinese dam project on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra.

Talking to reporters here today, Gogoi said: “We were apprehensive of such a move earlier, which has now come true. Building up of huge dams on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra will affect Assam and other States of the Northeast. Very soon I will go to New Delhi, talk to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, and request them to take up the matter with their Chinese counterparts.”

Gogoi further said: “We will form an expert committee to study the would-be impact on Assam and other northeastern States in the event of China going ahead with the reported dam project on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra.”

India on Thursday said that it would be determining if China was building a huge dam on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra in its territory. In response to a media report, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said that the Indian Government would be examining if there had been any change in the Chinese position. The spokesperson said that at earlier meetings of Sino-Indian experts on trans-border river issues, “the Chinese side had categorically denied that there was a plan to build any such large-scale diversion project on the Brahmaputra river”. But, the spokesperson said, in view of fresh reports India will be asking China if it is building any major project “as such a project may have a significant impact on the socio-economic condition of people living downstream”.

The Brahmaputra traverses 1,625 km inside China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, with the Indian part being only 918 km long. THE SENTINEL

JNH appeals to DHD(J) cadres to surrender

HAFLONG, Oct 16: The Dimasa Apex Body Central Committee Jadhike Naisho Hoshom (JNH) has expressed regret on the Assam Government for not being able to compel some cadres of the DHD(J) like James Dimasa, Bihari Dimasa and some others to surrender.

The JNH, in a press release, urged the government to formally announce the surrender of the James group immediately and expedite the peace process. The JNH also urged James Dimasa, Bihari Dimasa and their cadres to join mainstream in the interest of the district. THE SENTINEL

Trinamul Congress forms Kalain block Committee

SILCHAR, Oct 16: The All India Trinamul Congress under Cachar district Committee formed its Kalain Block Committee with Subhash Chanda Dey as its president. This was stated in a press release issued by the committee.

The committee was formed in an All India Trinamul Congress meeting comprising all Gaon Panchayat representatives recently. THE SENTINEL

Two PLA militants arrested

SILCHAR, Oct 16: Jawans of the 11 Field Regiment along with Sadarthana Police, Silchar, nabbed two PLA militants from a hotel in a combined operation on Wednesday night. The arrested militants have been identified as K Ibomcha Singh (33), son of Naba Singh of Sechmygin Khubu village and FH Feityam Singh (30), son of Gulapi Singh of Utiba village under Myang police station, Imphal.

The Army also recovered some pass books of SBI Manipur and UBI Manipur State separately. Sources from the Army said that the financial documents received from the arrested militants indicate some transport business which they were looking after for the militant organization.

The arrested militants, after interrogation by the Army, have been handed over to Silchar Sadar Police for subsequent police actions. THE SENTINEL

All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union

All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU) activists taking out a candlelight procession for peace in Guwahati on Tuesday in protest against the barbaric killing of 13 innocent people by the NDFB militants in Sonitpur district on October 4. (Sentinel)

‘Jorhat-Guwahati Inter-City Express unhygienic’

JORHAT, Oct 13: The trains of the North Frontier Railways (NFR) without exception can be said to be the dirtiest in comparison to trains of other zones. Not only this but the authorities are not even bothered to rectify the situation when brought to their notice. In this regard, a passenger on the Jorhat-Guwahati Inter-City Express complained online on the NFR website on September 29 but the complaint is still ‘pending’. Zaheer Sajjad, who frequently travels by the Inter-city said he often comes across filthy bed clothes provided by NF Railways in the AC three-tier bogey. When he had directly complained to Railway officials at the Jorhat station, they pleaded helplessness as the contract to wash and iron the white sheets, covers and towels was given to someone from outside.

Sajjad stated that his complain ID No: C/9/09-127557491 was yet to be looked into although more than 15 days had elapsed. “I also typed in my PNR No: 61327462 83 as sought, but now I think the complaint box is just a farce,” he added. Another passenger who also commutes by the same train complained of dirty stinking toilets which he said were never cleaned. “I have never come across a clean toilet on this train and the NFR seems to be quite ignorant of what constitutes hygiene and health,” he said. THE SENTINEL

Plea to Cong MLAs to draw 80% salary

GUWAHATI, Oct 13: Keeping an eye on the cash crunch in the country, Assam Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief whip Bharat Chandra Narah requested all Congress members of the State Assembly and members associated with the party to draw 80 per cent of their salary for a period of one year. The decision, according to Narah, was taken by the All India Congress Committee (AICC). This decision is applicable to all Congress ministers, MLAs and chairmen. THE SENTINEL

Market committee polls today

SILCHAR, Oct 13: Election for Cachar District Regulated Market Committee (CDRMC) under Assam State Agriculture Marketing Board will be conducted tomorrow. The entire Cachar district has been divided into 163 gaon panchayats constituting seven agricultural constituencies and three traders’ constituencies. Out of the seven constituencies of Cachar district, candidate of the fifth agricultural constituency and three traders’ constituency is uncontested till now.

It is to be mentioned that CDRMC polls are being contested for the first time in Cachar district. The farmers are the contestants who submitted their nomination papers to the election authority –– CDRMC chairman and Cachar DC Gautam Ganguly. Altogether 19 candidates are contesting the polls this time. Moreover, the election authority in Cachar district for CDRMC polls is a three-member board, consisting of the Cachar District Agriculture officer who is also the member secretary of the Deputy Registrar Cooperative Society and the Cachar DC.

A polling station has been selected per constituency and the voters are the 1,400 gaon panchayat members of Cachar district. The poll boxes, election observers and retarding officers have already been deployed at the respective polling centres till now.

Police personnel will be deployed tomorrow at the six polling zones in Cachar district, said District Agricultural officer cum member secretary Subrata Bhattacharjee to this correspondent of The Sentinel in a personal interview in Silchar today. THE SENTINEL

Corruption slur on Anganwadi appointment

SILCHAR, Oct 13: Rampant corruption in the selection of Anganwadi workers and helpers is doing its rounds in Cachar district. It has been alleged that a number of Congress leaders were allegedly involved in collecting money amounting to Rs 80,000 for the post of Anganwadi workers. The selection board constitute Mohan Dev, Dinesh Prasad Goala, Kutub Ahmed.

Sources said Goala had earlier included his brother Gunesh Prasad Goala, an LP school teacher in Narshingpur block, Shibu Kanungo, Hareshwar Dhobi, a ZPC member Khirode Karmarkar in the selection board. Also, Sonai MLA Kutub Ahmed’s son, Jahangir, found a place in the selection board. Badal Dey, brother in-law of Dev, Alok Kar, Alok Roy, close to Silchar MLA Bithika Dev, were also included in various selection boards.

It was further alleged that a syndicate of brokers have been collecting money from the candidates, some of which had reportedly sold their land to meet the demand of the brokers. Moreover, some grass-root-level Congress workers had been allegedly paid money to appoint the female members of their families following which the Congress workers pressed district president Karnendu Bhattacharjee for justice. Bhattacharjee, thereafter, reportedly faxed a message to Social Welfare Minister Akon Bora to stall the appointment process. Meanwhile, APCC secretary Pradip Dutta Roy said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has already set up an enquiry committee in the backdrop of the mass allegation of corruption throughout the State. Dutta Roy also appealed to the Congress workers to keep a close vigil on the activities of the brokers. THE SENTINEL

BJP pooh-poohs Gogoi

GUWAHATI, Oct 10: Asom unit of the BJP came down heavily on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his statement at Bhimajuli Balichang in Sonitpur district yesterday that the State Government would provide arms and arms training to villagers so that they could fight militants. Asom BJP vice-president Palit Bora today said providing arms to the villagers will kick-start a bloody clash among the indigenous people of the State paving the way for infiltration of Bangladeshis. THE SENTINEL

Struggle to continue till Dimaraji is achieved : Dilip Nunisa

SILCHAR, Oct 10: The Black Widow has never raised the demand for the post of Chief Executive Member (CEM) in the NC Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), said Niranjan Hojai, ‘commander-in-chief” of the Dimasa outfit that had laid down arms before the government on October 2. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of Black Widow leaders joining politics.

Talking to The Sentinel over telephone, Hojai refuted the report that he was vying for the post of CEM in the NCHAC. He, however, said that the leaders of the outfit might join politics and share power in the autonomous council in the near future. “But at present our motto is fulfilment of our demand — change of nomenclature of the district into Dimasa Hosao Raji. We will think of joining politics only after our demand is met,” Hojai said. He admitted that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had cited the instance of former BLT leader Hagrama Mohilari joining mainstream politics after laying down arms. Gogoi indirectly proposed Niranjan to follow the footsteps of Mohilari, he admitted.

Meanwhile, a source close to the outfit said that Hojai and some other top leaders of the outfit had met their supremo Jewel Garlosa in jail and discussed the issue of joining politics. “Prior to the formation of the Black Widow, Jewel had close relations with the Congress, but when former minister Gobinda Chandra Langthasa betrayed him, he distanced himself from the party,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the other pro-talk DHD faction led by Dilip Nunisa convened a meeting at their Badshabari designated camp near Maibong yesterday and vowed that their struggle for Dimaraji would continue until the demand was fulfilled. Nunisa said the very name ‘‘Dimapur’’ suggests that it was once a part of the proposed Dimaraji along with some parts of the adjoining four districts of the State. Significantly, the meeting was attended by Dethang Naiding, chief of JNH, the Dimasa apex body, BJP district president Kulendra Daolagopu, AGP district president Arun Chandra Haflongbar, ADSU leader Prafulla Hafila, All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association leader Rupam Nandi Purkayastha. Nunisa blamed it on the government for ignoring the ‘‘justified demand for Dimaraji’’. THE SENTINEL

49th Bodo Sahitya Sabha from Jan 29 next

GOSSAIGAON, Oct 10: A reception committee office was inaugurated by Dr Bibhuti Bhusan Brahma here recently to hold the 49th Bodo Sahitya Sabha which is scheduled to be held from January 29 to 31, 2010. The office was inaugurated in the Kamal Nath Club cum library under Gossaigaon subdivision.

A meeting was also held on the occasion. Gossaigaon constituency MLA Majendra Narzary explained the details of the meeting. EM Sova Ram Basumatary, MCLA Rajan Narzary, Sahitya poet Kiran Chandra Basumatary and prof Hemendra Nath Brahma were present in the meeting as guests. Various aspects of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha were also discussed in the meeting.

Bodo Sahitya Sabha president Dr Kameshwar Brahma attended the meeting as the chief guest and condemned the recent killings of innocent people in Bhimajuli by NDFB militants. He also urged the committee members to work unitedly and peacefully without giving attention to such incidents. THE SENTINEL

Tourists inflow in Kaziranga National Park (KNP)

JORHAT, Oct 10: With the start of Jeep Safaris, the first batch of tourists was let into the Kaziranga National Park (KNP) early today to catch a glimpse of the unique one-horned rhinoceros, Asiatic wild buffalo, the sambhar and Asiatic wild elephant. If one was lucky, then one could sight the lone carnivore– the Royal Bengal Tiger– holding sway over the other herbivores.

The more than 100 year old national park has had a steady stream of tourists since 2001.
Assistant Conservator of Forests LN Baruah said that last year there was 1 lakh 384 tourists from India and 5,767 tourists from abroad. The revenue raked in was Rs 71 lakh 98,504 in Indian currency and Rs 40 lakh 22,194 in foreign currency.

The largest number of tourists was from West Bengal among Indian States followed by Maharashtra while West Germany sent the maximum number of tourists from among the foreign countries.

It may be mentioned that, last year there were thousands of cancellations following the series of bomb blasts in Guwahati on November 30.

Park authorities said that, the park had lost a lot of revenue following the bloodshed and bandh calls given by various organizations. Tourists inflow began again in the new year. THE SENTINEL

Narzary demands CBI inquiry over Bhimajuli killings

KOKRAJHAR, Oct 10: The Bodoland Peoples’ Progressive Front (BPPF) has decided to stage a sit-in demonstration at Dispur Raj Bhavan on October 12 to register their protest against the unabated killings in BTC including Bhimajuli massacre in Sanitpur district and political terrorism in the region.

Speaking to The Sentinel, the president of the BPPF Rabiram Narzary said the law and order situation in BTC area was deteriorating and the incident of killings are on the rise abnormally as there is no controller of law. He said the Government had completely failed to restore the law and order in BTC region where killings and political terrorism are becoming a common phenomenon. Besides, the corruption and misappropriation of rural development funds in the region is not checked by the Government, he said, adding that misutilization of fund meant for the rural development becomes a matter of serious concern in the council. He also said, only the holding of VCDC elections in a democratic way will minimize the deep rooted corruptions in BTC.
Narzary said, the Bhimajuli massacre in Sanitpur district was a complicated matter after the anti-talk faction of the NDFB denied its hand in the killings. If the NDFB anti-talk faction has denied its hand in the massacre, then who could do such cowardice act, he questioned and suspected the hands of third force to bring misunderstanding and hatred between the Bodos and the rest of the communities in the State to weaken the Bodo society. He demanded that there should be CBI inquiry over the Bhimajuli massacre to find out the real culprits.

On the bid on life of Boro Women Justice Forum (BWJF) president Anjali Daimary on Thursday at Barama by unidentified miscreants, the BPPF president said it was a serious matter and such attempt should be condemned by all. He expressed his doubt that there could be hands of Government sponsored secret killers in the attempt to kill Daimary.

Narzary said, the BPPF will stage sit-in demonstration at Raj Bhavan on October 12 from 10 am to 2 pm to protest against the killings, lawlessness, corruption and failure of the Government to ensure safety and security to the people especially in BTC region. THE SENTINEL

Tarun Gogoi visits Bhimajuli

GUWAHATI, Oct 9: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today visited Bhimajuli Balichang, met the next of kin of those killed in the NDFB attack on October 4 and assured them of security.
“Those killed in the militants’ attack are my brothers and sisters,” Gogoi said, and offered to engage some of the local people as special police officers along with the security personnel deployed in the area. He also assured the gathering that the Bhimajuli-Balichang road would be black-topped. The local people are for upgrading the Balichang outpost to a full-fledged police station keeping an eye on the security threat to the area. Over the last few days, ministers Rockybul Hussain, Nurzamal Sarkar and Gautom Bora had been in the Bhimajuli area in order to boost of the morale of panicked people. THE SENTINEL

Bhimajuli fighting it back to normalcy after NDFB attack

BISWANATH CHARIALI, Oct 9: Although the situation is returning to normal in Bhimajuli, Balichung, Balijuri etc. in the Biswanath subdivision, yet the people are finding it difficult to forget the tragic death of their fellow villagers who were killed ruthlessly by NDFB militants recently.

The statement issued by NDFB chief Ranjan Daimari has not been able to satisfy the people here. The people here opined that the militants, who are hiding in the dense jungles, are scared to come out in the open after the public uproar following the incident and are, therefore, doing meaningless acts. They said the statement issued do not carry any valid reason for the massacre and its involvement in it.

Sources said the people are awaiting the Chief Minister’s visit in the area for submitting a memorandum regarding the ruthless killing of the villagers. The Biswanath District Unit of the All Assam Yuba Chatra Parishad (AAYCP) staged a demonstration for two hours for their fulfilment of their demands to immediately nab the culprits involved in the Bhimajuli massacre, to solve the inter-State boundary problem and to provide proper security of life and property for the inhabitants. THE SENTINEL

AKCBCPC’s move for restoration of historical monument

SILCHAR, Oct 9: A move has been initiated by the Arun Kumar Chanda Birth Centenary Publication Committee (AKCBCPC) of this town to restore the historical monuments of Barak Valley which are lying abandoned. The Committee, as its secretary Partha Pratim Das said, “has been formed to protect, promote and preserve the history, art and culture of this region in order to keep alive the glory of our past.”

He said a memorandum has been submitted to the Cachar Deputy Commissioner and the Commanding Officer, 2 MGAR, Assam Rifles, with the request to re-erect the statue of Lt Col Eden Currie Shower of Surma Valley Light Horse, now known as Assam Rifles. The memorandum points out that the history of Assam Rifles needs to be studied and understood in its true perspective. Its parental body Surma Valley Light Horse had a valiant role during the British regime. Das recounts to say that the sacrifice and suffering of its officers and jawans in the African Boer War from 1899 to 1902 were quite exemplary and commendable. The Light Horse Brigade went to the African war under the command of Lt Col Eden Currie Shower who died during the war. The officers and men of the Surma Valley Light Horse erected a statue here, in his memory, located near the present Devdoot cinema and Cachar Native Joint Stock Company. But, the statue, a historical monument, was dismantled by the Silchar Municipal Board in course of road expansion work in 1976. What is more unfortunate is that the statue was removed from its original place and left abandoned in the bushes and shrubs in the compound of the District Library. Sources said Lord Curzon, the viceroy of India, during his visit to Silchar in 1901, while addressing the assembly of European officers of the East India Company, referred to Lt Col Shower who along with officers and jawans had gone from Silchar detachment of the Light Horse. It was at the directive of Lord Curzon that his statue was constructed here. Therefore, in the memorandum, it has been mentioned that considering the historical importance of the statue and its archeological significance, both the Deputy Commissioner and the Commanding Officer have been requested to re- erect the statue and restore its pristine glory which would be a monument of interest as well as a fitting subject for research and record. THE SENTINEL

Total sanitation campaign concludes today

SILCHAR, Oct 7: The week-long “total sanitation campaign” in Cachar district along with the rest of the country concluded here today that began on October 1.

In this connection, an awareness programme was held at Gandhi Bhavan under the auspices of the PHE Department which was presided over by Cachar vice president ZP Sakhi Rani Das.

Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations of Barak Valley Haran Dey, Silchar Municipal Board vice president Bijoyendra Prasad Singh, ZP member Minakshi Chakraborty and PHE executive engineer Gautam Paul as well as Alok Biswas among others spoke on the relevance of the week. Sakhi Rani Das expressed hope that this campaign would cover the entire district soon.

Haran Dey laid stress on seven ways to keep the villages clean and hygienic and sought the cooperation of all from the GP levels for the benefit of people in general.

Bijoyendra Singh praised the efforts of the PHE Department and said the initiative taken by the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in this respect would succeed.

Minakshi Chakraborty emphasized on wide scale awareness campaign among all sections of people.

Executive engineer Paul said till date the campaign has covered 38,421 families and various schools of the district.

He added that another 1,931 sanitary latrines were also being taken up in schools under the centrally sponsored Incentive Sanitation Programme which would be completed by 2010.
THE SENTINEL

Appointment of teachers questioned by ACUEYO

SILCHAR, Oct 7: The All Cachar Unemployed Educated Youth Organization (ACUEYO) has questioned the appointment of teachers in the senior and basic schools of Cachar. It has been alleged that the appointment had been made by violating the standing norms and rules of the State Government as enshrined by the 81st Constitutional amendment Act, 2000, which says reservation of posts for appointment must not exceed 50 per cent of the total vacancies, created or caused.

Subsequently, the Asom Government issued instructions contained in the office memo number TAW / BC / 142 / 96 / 54 dated Dispur, August 28, 2001, directing all the appointing authorities to follow the amended rules in case of reservation. But, the organization alleged that the Director of Elementary Education of Assam, defying the said instructions, came out with an advertisement for appointment of teachers in the senior and basic schools in a vide letter no. EAA.60/2005/15 dated 15/12/2005 reserving 64 per cent in different categories in violation of the aforesaid instructions. It is relevant to say that a case has been lying pending in the Gauhati High Court vide WP (C) no. 5556/2008 and the Court has stopped appointment in a particular school of Cachar district by an interim order. The order of the High Court along with the writ petition was submitted to the Director of Elementary Education of Asom in December, 2008. But, the advertisement was not cancelled despite orders.

The DEE issued appointment letters to different candidates, further alleged the organization, and filled up almost all the vacancies in various schools of the different districts, save and except in the particular school of Cachar where the appointment has been stayed. It is also significant that appointment letters were reportedly not issued by a single order but in piecemeal under different numbers and different dates, raising many questions. Considering the violation of standing norms in the appointment of teachers, the ACUEYO has demanded the higher authorities concerned not to release the monthly salary of teachers so far appointed during the current year and to take appropriate action against all those involved in the whole process of appointment. The organization has addressed its memorandum on the issue to the Asom Governor, Education Minister, Chief Secretary to the Government of Asom, Principal Secretary to the Government of Asom and the Commissioner and Secretary to the Chief Minister of Asom.
THE SENTINEL


Heroin and narcotics seized

SILCHAR, Oct 7: On receiving a secret tip off, men of the intelligence wing of Cachar-Mizoram Frontier Force, BSF, carried out a special operation assisted by Mizoram Police and Excise and Narcotics Department of the State in and around Aizawl recently. During the search operation, a narcotic smuggler identified as Lal Thantluanga (30) of Saikhamka village was arrested along with 12 grams of heroin. He was apprehended from Dawrpui Vengthar under Aizawl Police Station.

The approximate value of the seized narcotics, according to the Force sources, is Rs 65,000. Later, the smuggler along with the seized narcotics was handed over to the department concerned for initiating legal action.
THE SENTINEL


Flourishing flesh trade along NH-54

SILCHAR, Oct 7: The National Highway-54, Silchar-Aizawl route, has turned into a place for flesh trade of late. It has become a hot spot for call girls.

According to sources, from Bhairangty and Howaitang of Mizoram, the call girls enter Asom on the pretext of varied business venture. After entering Asom, they come to Lailapur, Bhagabazar, Dholai, Kabuganj, Sonabarighat and Nagatilla and engage themselves in flesh trade and the line hotels located along the National Highway are the main centres of such immoral activities.

According to a source, line hotels around Bhaga, Lailapur and Panibhara have cabins inside facilitating the illegal trade.
THE SENTINEL

Assam Accord to be implemented at all costs: AASU

GUWAHATI, Oct 4: Criticizing the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government for having failed to implement the Assam Accord in solving the problem of illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) today said that it would ensure the implementation of the Accord at all costs. The students’ body further announced a slew of protest programmes all across the State to press forth their various demands.

In a press note, AASU president Shankar Prasad Rai and general secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi said, “During the tripartite talks between the Centre, State government and the AASU on May 5, 2005, a number of decisions were taken regarding the sealing of the porous Indo-Bangladesh international border, NRC update and identification and deportation of illegal migrants. But even though fours years have passed since then, the government has totally failed in implementing any of those decisions.”

The student leaders said that AASU activists in all the district units of the students’ body would stage a sit-in demonstration from 6 am on October 9 to protest the failure of the government in implementing the Assam Accord. THE SENTINEL

Kathin Chivar Danotsav

Acharya B Karuna Shastri Mahathera, general secretary of the Regional Centre of International Brotherhood Mission, felicitating U Sein Oo, Consul-General of the Union of Myanmar on his arrival in Dibrugarh for Kathin Chivar Danotsav on Sunday. (Sentinel)

NC Hills — DHD (J) surrender a positive development

SILCHAR, Oct 4: Different NGOs and social bodies as well as the apex Dimasa body Jadhike Naisho Hoshom (JNH) have hailed the surrender of DHD (J) leaders and cadres as a positive development which they believe will usher in an era of peace to again kick off the stalled development, projects and schemes hit by the nearly two-decade-long insurgency in the trouble-torn North Cachar Hills.

JNH president Dithang Naiding said in a statement at Haflong which has described the event on the birthday of the great apostle of peace and non-violence, Mahatma Gandhi, as most significant that will draw curtain on the orgy of fear and bloodshed.

It was quite in fitness of things that Asom Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi came out with Rs 50 crore package for the relief and rehabilitation of the surrendered militants and their leaders and assured to consider the charter of demands of DHD (J). It is a fact that there are certain contentious issues which will call for very cautious and careful examination by the Centre and the State. On the demand for State within State as per Article 244 (a) of the Constitution, the sentiments and feelings of others tribal groups who constitute nearly 60 per cent of the total population of the district have to be examined.

Another issue which might bog down the peace-process is the nomenclature of the Hills district as Dima Hasao Raji in place of North Cachar Hills. The demand of the outfit has already raised volley of protest from the other tribal groups who include Nagas, Kukis, Hrangkhals, Baites, Paites, Jaintias, Khasis and Hmars.

Quite relevant to say the Committee headed by Dinesh Prasad Goala constituted to examine the prospect of renaming the district is reported to have not approved the proposition. Most ticklish and sensitive is the demand of Dimaraji which, according to both the factions of DHD, comprise not only the geographical area of North Cachar Hills but also of certain parts of Cachar, Nagaon and Dimapur. Dilip Nunisa has said that this demand has been most challenging before the State and the Centre. It will therefore be watched with interest how these sensitive issues are resolved by the Centre.

Notwithstanding these issues, the statement of Niranjan Hojai, commander-in-chief of DHD, is quite significant when he said there will no more be obstruction in the construction of the two most vital surface links of Silchar-Lumding BG and East-West Corridor, connecting Silchar with Saurashtra. Both these rail and road routes pass through North Cachar Hills. Hojai promised to extend all possible help for their timely completion, much delayed by insurgency.

The surrender is however not without a rider. Niranjan Hojai has set the deadline of a month for the fulfilment of their litany of demands. Tarun Gogoi in his speech and later on talking to media persons evaded the contentious issues but said the demands would be considered in the next round of talks.

The statement of Dilip Nunisa in the wake of the surrender is also relevant for examination. He said some top leaders of Jewel group are still in hiding. He identified a six-member group who included Jitu Dimasa, Ganga Dimasa and Saven Dimasa. According to him, these leaders are still in a NDFB (Niranjan) camp of Bangladesh from where they used to procure arms and ammunition. Another cause of irritation to the security circles is James Dimasa, another top leader, who is still in Jungle with 50 of his cadres.

What however raises hope for positive outcome is the climate of change being perceived across the Northeast as various extremist outfits like UPDS (United Peoples’ Democratic Solidarity), KLNLF (Karbi Longri National Liberation Front), a faction of NDFB, Adivasi Cobra Force, and 28th Bn of ULFA as well as Sinlung Peoples Liberation Army of Mizoram which have laid down arms and are waiting for negotiations. The outcry for peace in North Cachar Hills is against the backdrop of senseless killings of more than 300 people during the orgy of violence. Another 65 persons from both Dimasa and Zeme communities lost their lives in the last four months of ethnic clash. People in general, tribals and non-tribals, only wish for peace to prevail. THE SENTINEL

Asom ethnic folk festival begins

JORHAT, Oct 3: The two-day long Asom ethnic folk festival has started at Bothaigam Khetra, Rajiv Gandhi Sports Project in Majuli from today. Delegates of various ethnic groups like Deuri, Mising, Bodo, Khamti and Kachari from Sadia, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Jorhat participated in the programme with traditional gaiety and staged their own art and culture in the programme.

Today’s programme was started with the inauguration of symbols of the ethnic groups by Majuli SDO Deepak Kumar Handique followed by ethnic artistes meet and a cultural procession inaugurated by Majuli MLA Rajiv Lochan Pegu. A tribal exhibition and tribal food fair was also held on the occasion.

The open session was inaugurated by SDO of Majuli and presided over by Janardan Deva Goswami, Xatradhikar of Uttar Kamalabari Xatra. A souvenir titled ‘Sangskritiki’, was also released by Janardan Deva Goswami in the meeting held on the occasion.

Noteworthy that, the Cultural Affairs Department of Asom Government has taken up a state-wide programme on promotion and preservation of the art and culture of ethnic groups existing in Asom and as a part of this project, this programme was organized. THE SENTINEL

China's Game

China has now started issuing visas to Indian nationals from Jammu and Kashmir in a different format — on loose sheets instead of stamping them on their passports as is the normal practice. In other words, China seems to be trying to give a different status to Jammu and Kashmir, claimed, incidentally, by Pakistan — China’s all-weather ally. This side, China is persistent about its claim on the entire State of Arunachal Pradesh, not just Tawang, while the Indian diplomatic community and political leadership have more often than not fumbled in their search for an apt policy response.

Last month, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal PV Naik created quite a flutter when he said India’s air-force capabilities are only a third of China’s and are, therefore, ‘‘inadequate’’. It was utterly unbecoming of the chief of the air force to openly reveal the country’s air-force capabilities at a press conference and to thereby let China know of where India stands. And obviously that comment has had a very demoralizing effect on the countrymen, especially in the hinterland bordering China — and more especially for the people of Arunachal Pradesh on which China has set its expansionist eye. However, in a major contradiction on Thursday, the air force chief said that ‘‘a repeat of 1962 is not possible now’’ and that ‘‘we are prepared for any eventuality’’. How is he so ‘‘confident’’ — to quote none but himself — when just a few days ago he was lamenting the country’s air forces’ ‘‘inadequate’’ capabilities?

Such mixed messages are not only confusing, they also suggest a sort of calculated plan by New Delhi to keep the people in the dark about the country’s military capabilities in relation to China’s. While it may not be very unsettling for people in the mainland, those in bordering areas, such as in Arunachal Pradesh as also in the rest of the Northeast, are naturally quite disturbed. The obvious question is: Why the confusing, contradictory statements? What’s the real level of our defence preparedness and capabilities? Or is New Delhi merely playing a self-defeating game? THE SENTINEL

DHD-J sets 100-day time to Government

SILCHAR, Oct 2: DHD-J ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai has today set a 100-day time-frame for the government to solve its problems. Daniel Demasa, the ‘deputy c-in-c’ whom Khagen Sarma branded as the main man when Jewel Garlosa and Hojai were in foreign countries, was seen distributing leaflets containing their charter of demands. The demands included an autonomous State within the State with a new nomenclature suggesting supremacy of the Dimasas in this particular portion. It further demanded separate Lok Sabha seats and 10 Assembly segments in the proposed Dimaraji. The Black Widow has demanded a special economic package for the district as well as a substantial share of profit from NEEPCO. Like the other tribal States, the Black Widow demanded the introduction of inner line permit.

Niranjan Hojai, who deposited an M-16 rifle to the Chief Minister to mark his return to the mainstream, however, stressed communal harmony. He said no community should be apprehensive as the Dimasa people know how to live peacefully. He further said now onwards there will not be any obstacles in the works of Broad Gauge and East-West Corridor. THE SENTINEL

With roses in hands, DHD-J bids farewell to arms

Now that a section of militants has renounced violence, will it set an example for others too to tread the path of peace? This land is crying for peace.

From our Staff Reporter
SILCHAR, Oct 2: With phulam gamosas around necks and red roses in hands, 382 Black Widow rebels ceremonially joined the mainstream on October 2, the day when the priest of non-violence — Mahatma Gandhi — was born. Niranjan Hojai (32), the self-styled commander-in-chief of the DHD-J (popularly known as Black Widow), led his battalion that deposited 148 firearms in front of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Black Widow supremo Jewel Garlosa, now in jail, could not attend the ceremonial surrender as he was reportedly denied permission by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Other top leaders of the outfit like Daniel Demasa, Daku Dimasa, Dinob Dimasa and Prakash Dimasa today handed over arms to the Chief Minister.

An elated Gogoi announced a Rs 50-crore special package for NC Hills. He promised that he would personally take up the matter with the Centre to ensure more funds for the trouble-torn district. “We need peace, as only peace can usher in progress,” Gogoi said, and cited the case of Hagrama Mohilary, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) chief. He indirectly appealed to the surrendered Dimasa militants to take up the path of electoral politics. “Look, Hagrama, once a militant, is now running his territory with political power under the ambit of the Constitution.” Gogoi said that he would very soon declare a rehabilitation package for the surrendered militants. Further, a battalion could also be raised with them, Gogoi said, and added that the State Government would initiate a special recruitment drive for the rebels who had abjured violence.

Niranjan Hojai said that it was Union Home Minister P Chidambaram who had influenced the outfit to abjure violence and join the mainstream of society. Hojai said the Dimasas are in general a peace-loving tribe and all the communities residing in the district should feel free to build a new NC Hills.

Khagen Sarma, the man who was instrumental in bringing the Black Widow to the mainstream, today monitored the entire function held at Haflong DSA ground. Sarma said the Black Widow that showed its strength by unleashing violence has today proved that it can renounce violence for the sake of peace and prosperity.

MP Biren Singh Ingti said that he hoped that the surrender of the Black Widow would ensure speedy completion of Broad Gauge and East-West Corridor works. Earlier, NC Hills Deputy Commissioner Jagannathan welcomed the guests, while SP Anurag Tangkha gave details of the process of surrender. The Centre was represented by Joint Secretary of Home Navin Verma. THE SENTINEL

Nagaon to be connected to Itanagar by 4-lane NH

The plan to have a new direct national highway connection between Nagaon and Itanagar is well thought out. But given the fact that a mere 18-km stretch between Khanapara and Jalukbari in the outskrits of Guwahati has become an unending road construction affair full of lame excuses and 14 long years have been spent to complete 90 per cent of that short stretch, one wonders how many years the proposed Nagaon-Itanagar highway would take to become a reality!

By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Oct 1: Nagaon of Asom and Itanagar of Arunachal Pradesh will be directly connected by a 190-km-long four-lane national highway, 170 km of which, including an additional bridge over the Brahmaputra near Kaliabor and a new bridge over the Jia Bharali river, will fall in Asom. The road will be constructed under the Special Accelerated Road Development Project (Northeast) (SARDP-NE). This apart, four-lanning of three stretches of national highways of Asom aggregating to 274 km — Doboka-Dimapur (124 km), Silchar-Lailapur (40) km and Rattacherra-Churaibari (110 km) — has been undertaken under the National Highway Development Project-III (NHDP-III). For the schemes under SARDP-NE, Asom got Rs 1,393 crore.

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highway Kamal Nath, however, said the works of national highways suffered delay in Asom due to delay in land acquisition, relocation of utility services, forest clearance, cutting of trees and other factors. “This continues to be a grey area,” he said, and asked Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to see that the Revenue Department, Forest Department and the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) work in better coordination.

Under SARDP-NE, Asom has 539 km of national highways aggregating to Rs 1393.58 crore for improvement. Kamal Nath said Asom has been the biggest beneficiary of SARDP-NE. “The national highways passing through remote and backward areas of North Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, NC Hills, Hailakandi, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, which hitherto remained neglected, have been attended under this flagship programme,” he said.

Nath further said the proposed Numaligarh-Dibrugarh four-lane highway has hindrances like Thowradol Temple and Naamdang Bridge roadblock in the alignment and the State Government should finalize the alignment and inform the Centre of the matter. THE SENTINEL

Tripura CM for AR deployment in BG conversion work

AGARTALA, Oct 1 – With the improvement of general law-and-order situation and militancy in the State, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has proposed the Centre to pull out some troops of Assam Rifles and redeploy them in the militancy-infested NC Hills to expedite gauge conversion work from Lumding to Badarpur.

The broad gauge (BG) conversion work in between Lumding-Badarpur in Assam has not progressed that much due to security reason. In fact, militancy has virtually stalled the BG conversion work over the past few years. Only 30 per cent work has been done so far.

In the last internal security meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi, Chief Minister raised the proposal to withdraw some troops of Assam Rifles from Tripura and redeploy them in NC Hills.

On Wednesday, when General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Corps Lt General NK Singh met Chief Minister, the latter reminded him about the State Government stand.

In course of discussion, Sarkar said that as the law-and-order situation has improved a lot over the years, there is no harm to pull out some Assam Rifles troops from Tripura to boost the security arrangement in NC Hills.

Talking to reporters, Chief Minister said that the ongoing BG conversion work is more important for Tripura and Assam. “Though the situation is gradually improving in NC Hills, deployment of additional troops will certainly boost the confidence of officials and workers engaged in the challenging task,” he said.

the Lt General also gave indication that some troops might be withdrawn from Tripura where insurgency is on the wane. “Shifting of troops from one state to another one is a routine affair,” the General added.

On the prevailing situation in NC Hills, the GOC said that security personnel had been doing good job in the trouble-torn areas that resulted in surrender of DHD (J) militants. He further said that a total 370 militants of NC Hills would be surrendered before the security forces on Friday. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Rock band Lost Angels to perform in Shillong

Newmai News
SHILLONG, Oct 1 – The rock capital of India, Shillong is all set to witness yet another international rock concert on October 3 with the performance of an all-star band – Lost Angels.

Lost Angels features John Corabi of Motley Crue, Troy Patrick Farrell of White Lion, Eric Dover of Jellyfish, Slash’s Snakepit and Alice Cooper and Muddy Stardust of Gilby Clarke and LA Guns.

The concert is being titled as ‘A tribute to the King of Pop Michael Jackson’. The concert is being organized by Mad Dog Xclusive Pvt Ltd, Shillong and Purple Rain Entertainment in association with News Live, a news TV channel based in Guwahati and Rong, a new entertainment channel which is being launched from Guwahati this October.

“The band performed on September 29 in Dimapur and will perform on October 3 in Shillong. The band will be performing numbers from the respective bands in which they have been associated and will also perform some special numbers of Michael Jackson”, said Andrew Ropmay, the man behind the show, who is the chairman of the event company. The band arrived in India on September 27.

“Shillong will experience an ultimate rock music”, said Ropmay. “This is the debut show for Lost Angels and the first international event being organized by Mad Dog Xclusive. Splitz, a local rock band will be doing a supportive act in the concert. ASSAM TRIBUNE

Bhot Jolokia Cultivation

— Though it is among one of the most exotic species, bhot jolokia (Capsicum Chinese) has never got the due which it so rightfully deserves. For long its cultivation has been confined to the kitchen gardens. Nor were any attempt made to cultivate it commercially. The demand for the neglected bhot jolokia increased manifold following the discovery that this chilli variety is the hottest of all about two years back. Measuring 1,001,304 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), bhot jolokia was finally regarded as the hottest chilli. Coming out of its long oblivion the demand for bhot jolokia went up by leaps and bounds. In fact now bhot jolokia figures among the tastiest pepper in the world. Taste apart different experiments on the multiple uses of this chilli species have raised its demand. The Defence Research Laboratory, Tezpur has found out that this chilli can be used effectively to control unruly crowds. Taking a step further the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) is conducting trials on grenades stuffed with bhot jolokia to make a powerful yet non-lethal bomb. Now this chilli is also being used to chase away wild herds of elephants from human habitations.

Considering the diverse use of bhot jolokia, the State government has taken a step in the right direction to cultivate bhot jolokia in a big way. As a beginning the chilli will be cultivated on a 300-hectare land. Along with it the government is also planning to promote cultivation of bhot jolokia in Golaghat and Baska districts under the Technology Mission for Horticulture Development. With the conditions ideal in the State for bhot jolokia cultivation, the authorities should come forward and make the farmers aware about the benefits they can derive by taking up the cultivation of this exotic species of chilli. Proper training needs to be imparted to the farmers on the scientific way of cultivating this variety of chilli. The export potential of bhot jolokia is quite high as a number of foreign buyers have evinced their interest in it. Considering its demand, commercial cultivation of bhot jolokia can bring in good dividends to the farmers and the State alike. To make it feasible the authorities should assist the farmers to identify the markets and make the necessary linkages. If cultivated in the right way bhot jolokia would provide livelihood to the farmers as an alternative crop. ASSAM TRIBUNE