North East - Developments & Debate

[Oracle]

PC Haldar to be ULFA talks interlocutor
Spl Correspondent

NEW DELHI, June 16 – The stage is set for appointment of former Director of Intelligence Bureau PC Haldar as the interlocutor for the ULFA peace process, with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi formally suggesting his name to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram here today.
After calling on the Prime Minister on Tuesday, the Chief Minister today briefed Chidambaram on the ULFA peace process being initiated by the State Government.

The Union Home Minister has given the "go ahead" and assured of all possible assistance to the State Government to start the peace process, said Gogoi emerging from his meeting with Chidambaram at his North Block Office. "He has given us the go ahead," he said.

Gogoi said, he has suggested Haldar's name, as he is already involved in the peace process with other militant outfits like DHD(J), UPDS and NDFB among others.

Considered an old hand on North-east, Haldar's appointment as the interlocutor for ULFA peace process remains a formality, with both the State Government and the Centre on the same page.

Gogoi's meeting with Chidambaram is significant because the crucial role likely to be played by the Home Ministry in the peace process. However, he did not discuss the upcoming visit of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan (SJA). Yesterday, he had raised it in his meeting with the Prime Minister, who has agreed to meet them.

Replying to questions, Gogoi reiterate that the State Government wished to go step by step. He said, modalities have to be worked out in consultation with the ULFA leaders ahead of the dialogue.

Confirming that he has received positive signals, Gogoi, however, declined to divulge in what form the State Government has received the proposal for talks.

The State Cabinet has discussed the issue and decided to go ahead with the negotiations with ULFA, he said.

Majority of ULFA men, who are in Assam are willing to come forward to join the peace process, he said. The idea is to involve everybody, who is willing to talk. If they want to talk, the State Government is willing, Gogoi added.

Describing the developments as positive, the Chief Minister said things are moving in the right direction. The Chief Minister, however, declined to give a definite time frame for the formal dialogue to start, reiterating that the modalities for the talks have to be worked out first.

Meanwhile, when asked about the ongoing CBI raids on those suspected to be involved in the multi-crore rupee scam in NC Hills, the Chief Minister declined to say much. He said he has seen media reports. "The CBI is probing the matter and they are doing their job. In any case they don't report to me," he remarked.

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[Oracle]

Opp attacks CM on NC Hills fund scam
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, June 16 – The recovery of Rs 13.45 crore from the residence of a relative of RH Khan, one of the accused in the financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council, gave the Opposition the ammunition to attack the Government and they alleged that by refusing to hand over the case to the CBI initially, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had tried to protect those involved.
Talking to media persons today, AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary said that the recovery of huge amounts of cash by the officials of the CBI proved the allegation of a massive financial scam in NC Hills to be correct. Khan was not a senior officer and as such huge amount of money was recovered from his possession, it is apparent that senior officers and public representatives were also involved in the scam, he added.

He said that the government handed over cases relating to only five departments to the CBI and demanded that the bureau be allowed to investigate into dealings in all the departments.

Patowary pointed out that when the scam was unearthed, Gogoi was initially reluctant to hand over the case to the CBI, which proved that he was trying to protect those involved. Only after the Opposition parties launched a movement and approached the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, the State Government was forced to hand over the case to the CBI and the Central investigating agency could recover such huge amounts of money from one of the accused.

He said that Khan was given six PSOs, more than even the Deputy Commissioner of the district, which proved that the Government was giving him the security cover to enable him to carry out irregular financial transactions.

Patowary further demanded that the CBI should question the ministers allegedly involved in the scam.


The AGP president pointed out that though the Chief Minister has been making tall claims of development, the recent incident makes one wonder whether the development funds are going to the pockets or garages of some individuals. He also demanded that the Centre should launch a probe into utilization of the Central funds by the State Government. He further said that the roads constructed under the PMGSY were broken within a year and there should be a probe into the quality of the work.

The AGP president further dared the Chief Minister to keep his commitment of making the lists of properties of the Ministers public.

Meanwhile, the Assam Pradesh unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his failure in checking rampant corruption in the State and investigation into all cases of financial irregularities at the earliest. The party also pressed for asset assessment of the ministers and carrying out search in their respective houses.

The BJP has congratulated the CBI for the recovery of a huge amount of money yesterday from the residence of a relative of RH Khan, and called upon the investigating agency to unearth all hidden truths without bowing before political pressure.

Addressing media persons here, State BJP president Ranjit Dutta said that the meaninglessness of the big claims of the Tarun Gogoi government regarding transparency and accountability in all matters was proved yesterday. "It is now for the people to judge the actual status of transparency and accountability of the Tarun Gogoi government," he said.

Dutta, while slamming the Congress for patronizing corruption, said that the Congress has been traditionally extending a protective hand to the unscrupulous and Tarun Gogoi too has kept this tradition intact by initially refusing to hand over the investigation to CBI.


Dutta further said that apart from the scandal in NC Hills Autonomous Council, financial irregularities were noticed in other autonomous and development councils, too, and demanded CBI inquiry into the reported anomalies.

"Corruption is rampant in NRHM, PWD, and DRDA and we demand CBI inquire into the anomalies in these departments too," insisted Dutta.

On the other hand, Dutta said that every common man in the State has the right to know how a government employee can amass crores of rupees.

The All Assam Students Union (AASU), in a statement here, also accused Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi of protecting those involved in corruption.

The AASU said that the recovery of crores of rupees in the residence of a relative of RH Khan, proved that huge amounts of public money was indeed siphoned off in the hill district.

The AASU pointed out that by refusing to order a CBI probe, Gogoi tried to protect those involved in the scam and only due to intervention of the Centre, he was forced to hand over the case to the CBI.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1710/at07

 

[Oracle]

Centre for permanent end to NH blockade
Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 16 – The Centre has asked the Nagaland Government to convince Naga Hoho and Naga Students' Federation (NSF) to persuade All Naga Students' Association of Manipur (ANSAM) to lift the blockade permanently.
Union Secretary Gopal Krishna Pillai chaired a meeting here today with the Chief Secretary of Manipur, DS Poonia and Additional Chief Secretaries of Nagaland, A Jamir and Toshi Aier, to discuss issues relating to movement of vehicles through NH-39 and NH-53.

Official sources said the meeting took note of the fact that the Naga Students' Federation had withdrawn the economic blockade in Nagaland from 6 pm yesterday. It also took note of the Gauhati High Court's order to the Central Government and the State Governments of Nagaland and Manipur that NH-39 and NH-53 be kept free from all obstructions.

All sides reiterated the importance of keeping the National Highways open for movement of goods and people. The Government of India is committed to keeping the NH-39 and NH-53 open. The first convoy of goods for Manipur, as informed by the State Government, is expected to move to Imphal on Saturday.

The permanent arrangement of National Highway Protection Force for protecting and keeping open NH-39 would also be put in place, sources said.

Sources said at least five companies of Central para-military forces are likely to be deployed on the NH-39 to thwart any attempt to block it in the future.

The move comes in the face of the threats by the agitating Nagas that they were temporarily suspending the agitation and may revive it later, if their demands were not met.

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[Oracle]

50 gays in State test HIV positive
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, June 16 – Homosexuality, which so far was a less discussed issue in the State, is becoming more visible with 50 gays diagnosed as HIV positive till April this year. Though Assam is a low focused State as far as the HIV/AIDS menace is concerned, it is in a highly vulnerable position with high focused States like Manipur as neighbours.
It needs to be mentioned here that the Assam State Aids Control Society has estimated the number of homosexual men affected with HIV at 1300. "In Assam, gay activities, which were less visible until a few years back, have been increasing," said Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma before mediapersons.

Sarma said the government is concentrating on strengthening public awareness on the major health hazard and is particularly targeting the youth of rural and semi-urban areas with less access to information.

"During the days when the Red Ribbon Express will touch different stations in the State, we will try to bring maximum people to the train to get information, counselling and to get tested," said Sarma.

The Red Ribbon Express Project, largest campaign in the country against HIV/AIDS which is in its second phase, will this time provide information on swine flu also to the general public. This eight-coach exhibition-cum-education train will reach Fakiragram station tomorrow and its final destination will be New Tinsukia Station on July 5.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1710/city06

 

[Oracle]

RH Khan kin remanded to CBI custody
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 16 – The Special Judge, Assam, today remanded two relatives of RH Khan, the main accused in the financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council, to the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a period of five days.
After recovery of Rs 13.45 crore from the residence of Amjad Hussain, the brother-in-law of RH Khan yesterday, the CBI arrested Hussain and one Amjad Ali, a nephew of Khan. They were produced before the Special Judge today and were remanded to CBI custody.

Meanwhile, the court also admitted the prayer of the CBI to keep the recovered money in safe custody and directed that the amount be kept in the custody of the State Bank of India, Panbazar branch.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1710/city07

 

[Oracle]

India asks B'desh to maintain status-quo
Raju Das
SHILLONG, June 16 – India today asked Bangladesh to maintain status-quo in "areas of adverse possession" till the Joint Working Group (JWG) from both nations meet next month and try work out a solution on bilateral boundary dispute.
The matter was conveyed at the highest level after Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) opened fire on Indian villagers cultivating their land in several areas in Jaintia Hills sector of Meghalaya along the Indo-Bangla border, yesterday.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is in New Delhi, has taken up the matter with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram. Subsequently, India has asked its eastern neighbour to maintain status- quo till the JWG meets next month.

The Centre must take steps, Sangma said, to provide security to the people residing along the Indo-Bangla border.

Tuesday, BDR opened fire on Indian villagers in Muktapur, Jaliakhola, Naljuri, Amdoh, Amjalong, Hawai Tilla along the Indo-Bangla border in Jaintia Hills district.

BSF (Assam-Meghalaya) Frontier chief, RC Saxena said the situation in the Jaintia Hills sector was tense and so the BSF has heightened its security.

About 551.80 acres of Bangladesh land is under adverse possession of India.

India claims 226.81 acres of its territory is under adverse possession of Bangladesh. There are 11 such areas of dispute in the Meghalaya sector.

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[Oracle]

8,000 Tripura ultras surrender in 17 years

AGARTALA, June 16 – With insurgency on the wane in Tripura, nearly 8,000 insurgents, including those of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura and All Tripura Tiger Force, have surrendered to the authorities in the last 17 years, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said.
Since May,1993 till date 7,992 insurgents belonging to various organisations, had surrendered, the Chief Minister told the Assembly on Monday.

Sarkar, who is also the Home Minister, said in 2009-10 alone 225 insurgents had bid farewell to arms while 24 insurgency-related incidents happened during the period.

He said that the number of insurgency-related incidents in 2007 was 113 which came down to 80 in 2008. Last year it was only 24. – PTI

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[Oracle]

Troops arrive in Manipur to clear blockade

Over 80 Central Reserve Police Force personnel reached Manipur on Wednesday to clear the two-month-old economic blockade by Naga students on two national highways in the state, which has led to a critical shortage of essential supplies.

The contingent of 88 CRPF personnel drove straight to the CRPF headquarters at Langjing, about 10 km from Imphal, after reaching from Delhi, official sources said.

The deployment of central forces on the National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati) and 53 (Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar), considered the lifelines of Manipur, was decided at a meeting Union Home Secretary G K Pillai held with the Manipur Chief Secretary and two additional chief secretaries of Nagaland in Delhi on June 16.

Prices of essential commodities have sky rocketed due to the blockade by All Naga Students Union Manipur (ANSAM), which has affected both the valley and the hills.

The ANSAM's blockade since early April was in protest against the holding of elections to autonomous district councils in the hills.

It was intensified after the Manipur government opposed the visit of NSCN-IM general secretary T Muivah to his ancestral village, Somdal, in Ukrul district early last month.

In Kohima, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said his government would provide security on the state's sector of the NH 39 if truckers felt insecure in running their vehicles even after the the 'temporary suspension' of the economic blockade by the Naga Students' Federation (NSF).

Maintaining that truckers should have faith in his government, Rio told newsmen at the Dimapur airport after arriving from Delhi that the police have been providing security escort even during normal times.

If the truckers felt that security should be increased, the state government was ready to do so, he said.

Rio thanked the NSF for calling off the blockade and hoped that the Naga Hoho, NSF and civil society groups would be able to persuade the ANSAM to lift the blockade in Manipur.

Meanwhile, police here said no truck either from Manipur or Assam entered Nagaland for past two days even though the NSF has 'temporarily lifted' the economic blockade.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/17/troops-arrive-in-manipur-to-clear-blockade.htm

 

[Oracle]

ULFA heading for a split, says Gogoi
Spl correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 17 – Confirming that outlawed ULFA is heading for a split, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said Paresh Barua should see the writing on the wall, even as he ruled out the possibility of releasing the jailed leaders and also declaring an unilateral ceasefire.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the Chief Minister dealt with a host of issues and gave a brief account of his meetings with Central leaders inclu-ding Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Union Minister for Water Resources Paban Kumar Bansal and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, among others.

On the ULFA issue, the Chief Minister said that the militant outfit was heading for a split and sharp cracks have surfaced. He said half of the central committee members are in jail and the rest are outside the soil of Assam. "Yes, there is a division within the outfit," he observed.

Paresh Barua is not keen for talks. But even then we are trying, though we are prepared to go ahead even without him," he said, adding that Government is prepared to grant him safe passage, in case he turns up for talks.

"If he is willing to come, definitely we will consider," Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister, though candidly admitted that it was not numbers but the ULFA military chief's firepower and the potential to create trouble that is bothering the government.

The Chief Minister also ruled out the possibility of declaring a unilateral cease-fire, asserting that the government has information that Paresh Barua's group is still trying to foment problem in the State. "We know the areas where they are operating. There is no question of slowing down operations," he asserted.

Gogoi disclosed that Barua's is not opposed to dialogue but he wants to discuss about sovereignty, which Government does not want to discuss. "Sovereignty is non-negotiable and we have made it clear," he said.

Paresh Barua should see the writing on the wall and gauge the mood of the people of the State, said, pointing out that the support base of insurgency has shrunk in Assam.

About the peace process, Gogoi said that government is not talking about releasing the jailed leaders now. "We have not discussed this but we have conveyed to them that we will give all facilities to the jailed leaders," he said.

"The State Government cannot release them. They have to apply for bail before the court. The law is very clear and it depends on the courts. But all these issues will come later," he added.

Clarifying Government's thinking, he said Government wanted to move step by step and first interlocutor would be appointed. Former IB chief PC Haldar is tipped to take over. The interlocutor would talk to them and then we will decide on the modalities. After that the question of demands would come, he stated.

Declining to a give a specific time-frame, the Chief Minister said he first wanted the process to start. He also clarified that there was no pre-condition from ULFA's side. "Whereas we have made it clear that we do not have the authority to disintegrate the country and they are also not insisting," he said, referring to the demand for sovereignty.

About the role of the State Government in the peace process, Gogoi said it would be limited to facilitating the negotiations. "They would like to talk to the Government of India and we will facilitate that," he said.

The Chief Minister again reiterated that he was not prepared to reveal in what form the government has received the signal for talks from the pro-talk group. "We have to go step by step and we expect 60-70 per cent of the cadres to join the peace process. Why wait for 100 per cent of the cadres to join the process," he said.

The Chief Minister also gave out figures to butress his claim that the internal security situation in the State has improved considerably during the past few years and insurgency is on the wane.

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[Oracle]

Meghalaya moves Centre for security to border residents

Shillong, June 19 (PTI): In the wake of recent firing by BDR towards India along the international border, Meghalaya Government has sought Home Minister P Chidambaram's intervention in providing adequate security cover to residents along the Indo-Bangla boundary here.
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who met representatives of border residents last evening, said the Chief Secretary has written a letter to the Home Minister on the "lack of confidence on commitment of the BSF towards protecting the life and property of the border people". "We would like to know from the Centre whether the BSF is ready to provide 100 per cent security to our people," the Chief Minister said.

Sangma said the Centre should intervene as the state had "very little to do on the issue". "The Centre must take the matter in the right perspective," he said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1910/at056

 

[Oracle]

3 suspected KLO terrorists held

Siliguri, June 19 (IANS): Three suspected terrorists of Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) were arrested from this West Bengal town, police said today.
The police raided the house of Indrajit Roy, one of the militants, in Patiramjote area of Matigara here on Friday night and arrested him along with two other insurgents. One of those arrested, Tirtha Burman, was a hardcore militant. He had been trained in Chittagong of neighbouring Bangladesh, Darjeeling district Police Superintendent DP Singh told reporters.

Tirtha Burman was the north Bengal in-charge of the KLO, which has been demanding creation of Kamtapur State comprising six districts in the northern part of the State and nine others in Assam. While Tirtha Burman hails from Habibpur in Malda district, the other arrested Pratap Burman has two houses in Malda and South Dinajpur districts of north Bengal.

Thirteen rounds of bullets, a 9 mm pistol and mobile SIM cards of north Bengal and Assam were seized from them.

The KLO had been weakened after the Bhutanese army demolished its camps on its soil in 2004. However, it was now trying to regroup and the three were involved in abduction and extortion to raise money for reorganising the group.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1910/at068

 

[Oracle]

State Govt likely to order CBI probe
R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, June 19 – The Assam Government is contemplating instituting a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the financial dealings of the autonomous councils, which are facing serious charges of irregularities. However, the final decision in this regard will be taken only after the completion of the preliminary investigation by the State Government.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, the Minister in charge of Welfare of Plains Tribes and Backward Classes, Pramila Rani Brahma admitted that there have been allegations of large-scale irregularities in several autonomous councils of the State and the Government has constituted a committee comprising senior officers to investigate into the matter. She revealed that the committee has started investigation of documents relating to financial dealings of the Mising, Tiwa, Deuri and Rabha autonomous councils. The committee has already checked the relevant files and physical verification will start immediately after completion of the process of checking the files.

Brahma said that the issue of instituting CBI probe into the irregularities was under serious consideration of the Government. However, she said that the Government would wait for the report of the committee formed to examine the financial dealings of the councils "so that we know the extent of the irregularities committed before handing over the cases to the CBI," she added.

The Minister admitted that some glaring irregularities were noticed in the financial dealings of the Mising Autonomous Council during a preliminary investigation. She said that a huge amount of money was released in the name of some non-government organisations but no one knew for sure where the money was spent. She said that orders for release of substantial amounts were issued on plain papers without mentioning the projects for which the same was released, which was a violation of the financial rules. Similarly, orders for release of funds were issued on plain papers in the Deuri Autonomous Council also, while, personality clashes among leaders of Deuri community also created problems for the Government, she added.

Brahma admitted that there was an urgent need for bringing in financial discipline in all the autonomous councils and the WPT and BC Department had already requested the Finance Department to ensure that the financial dealings of the councils were audited regularly by competent authorities like the Accountant General. She said that there was also need for going for training of the members of the autonomous councils on financial dealings.

The Minister also admitted that in the discussions with the Government, the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), which was formed under the provisions of the amended Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, called for audit of the accounts of the Council to dispel doubts from the minds of the people.

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[Oracle]

Centre giving top priority to NE States: Azad
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 19 – Union Minister for Health, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that his ministry has accorded priority to the States of the North East Region and have given special relaxation in required criteria for setting up medical colleges.
While inaugurating a one-day seminar on Immunity 2010 on the theme 'initiatives taken by the UPA Government in the health care sector for the development of the Northeast Region' at Rabindra Bhawan here, he pointed out that even the norms like optimum utilization of buildings, number of laboratories coupled with required bed strength and enrolment of patients in the medical colleges have been relaxed for these States.

"For the NE, and three other hill-States; Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and J&K, we have reduced the required land for establishing a medical college from 25 acres for rest of the States to 20 acres, and that too, could be in two-three plots in a radius of 10 km," he said.

Addressing the seminar, he said that the initiatives taken by the UPA Government in the past six years in the health, education, road and other sectors have brought about drastic improvement in these fields.

Highlighting the achievements in the NRHM, Azad said that under the Mission, 650 district hospitals, 5,000 CHCs, 25,000 PHCs, 1.5 lakh sub centres have come up and 7 lakh ASHA workers have been appointed in the past five years, an official statement mentioned.

The Union Health Minister further added that his ministry has written to the Government to provide additional financial assistance to doctors who serve in inaccessible and far-flung areas. He pointed out that the Government would give 10 per cent marks to students passing out MBBS in the National Entrance Examination if they serve in rural areas on contractual basis for one year, 20 per cent marks for 2 years and 30 per cent marks for 3 years rural posting. "It's a win-win situation for them as they only get marks but also earn while they work in rural areas," he added.

Stressing on the need of controlling malaria, he said that a war has to be launched jointly by the Central and State Governments against malaria.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also assured on the occasion that more pro-poor schemes would be taken up in different sectors. Gogoi announced that assistance under Chief Minister's Jibanjyoti Bima Achoni, insurance cover would be raised from Rs. 25,000 to Rs 50,000. He also announced a new health scheme called the Rajiv Gandhi Student Health Care Scheme for students, under which, a financial help would be extended to students for their medical care and treatment. "The State Government will earmark Rs 10 crore for this purpose," he added. The Chief Minister also declared merit scholarship for 6,000 students.

The Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma requested the Union Minister to accord permission to develop the 500-bedded hospital at Amingaon to a super speciality hospital on PPP mode under NRHM. "It will go a long way in arresting the flow of patients from the region to other parts of the country," he said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2010/at07

 

[Oracle]

Manipur truckers unwilling to ply through Nagaland
Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, June 19 – Despite Centre's effort to ensure free movement along the National Highways connecting the State by June 19, frequent road blockades, reports of harassment and various forms of alleged taxes imposed against the Manipur transporters have prompted them to use the 220 km Jiribam-Imphal sector of NH 53 as an alternative to the Dimapur-Imphal sector of NH 39.
Meanwhile, unknown persons damaged three trucks carrying essential items including fertilizer for entering Manipur via Nagaland sector of National Highway 39 this morning.

Even after the All Naga Students Association Manipur suspended the economic blockade on the National Highways connecting Manipur 'temporarily' from June 18 evening, the Transporters & Drivers Council (TDC) of Manipur, an apex body of transporters has reaffirmed their stand that they would not ply their vehicles on NH 39 connecting the two States until they were compensated for losses suffered by the Centre and Nagaland Government besides giving assurance that no illegal taxes will be levied in future. On May 4, seven trucks were burnt in Nagaland by unknown miscreants.

Representatives of the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Association also held a similar view. "We will not resume our services on NH 39 unless the authorities assures us of no more blockade on this route", Budha Luwang, President of the Association said.

Considering frequent blockades and various forms of taxes, the truckers are also willing to use NH 53. Some of the transporters even wanted to have godowns of essential items at Jiribam-Silchar sector.

According to reliable sources, each truck passing through Dimapur-Imphal sector of NH 39 has been paying a 'huge amount' of money to the 'underground groups' operating along the route for every trip. On an average 250-300 goods laden truck enters rolls into Manipur daily.

Considering all such factors even the Manipur Government is eyeing at NH 53. Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who chaired a Cabinet meeting on June 15 had resolved to urge Centre to hand over maintenance of the Jiribam-Imphal sector of the NH 53 to State PWD. Two units of Border Road Task Force under Border Road Organisation were presently engaged in the maintenance works of the route.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2010/oth06

 

[Oracle]

Illegal industries thriving in Dibrugarh
Staff Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, June 19 – Illegal growth of industries within the municipality here has posed a serious threat to the life and property of the public. A lot of industries mushrooming in municipal areas have been creating fire hazard and public nuisance, blocking public roads, throwing industrial waste and contributing to pollution.
There are provisions under the Assam Municipal Acts 1956 and The Assam Town and Country Planning Act 1959 for proper setting up of industries in industrial areas only. Section 228 of the Municipal Act 1956 contains that factory cannot be established without permission of the municipal board in the municipal area. Prior permission in this regard is to be granted by the deputy commissioner. Further, the zoning regulations are prescribed under Master Plan for residential zone, commercial zone, and industrial zone. The municipal authority grants license basically for setting up industries in municipal area. But over the years it has been seen that the licensing inspectors of Dibrugarh municipality are either ignorant or are unwilling to enforce the provisions of zoning regulations.

To cite some examples, M/s Sharp Engineering Works at Sani Mandir Road here, which was dealing with welding works with domestic cylinder caught fire on March 23, 2008. It had posed threat to the neighbours. However, DMB renewed their trade license. This workshop was reportedly asked to stop denting, cutting and grinding activities by the regional executive engineer, Pollution Control Board, Dibrugarh. Further the case of M/s Viswakarma Steel, also at Sani Mandir Road was referred to member secretary, Pollution Control Board, by the regional executive engineer, Pollution Control Board, Dibrugarh for closure notice due to noise pollution near Marwari Hindi School.

Similarly illegal construction and functioning of wooden furniture manufacturing workshop in the residential premises of Sardar Resham Singh, at Shani Bari Road here has come to the knowledge of this newspaper. It is gathered that Singh obtained a trade license from Dibrugarh Municipal Board for a wooden furniture showroom only at Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh. But on the strength of the license, Singh very cleverly and secretly established full fledged electrically operated wooden furniture manufacturing workshop with 10 KW load in 2006 in his residential premises, just next to the bedroom of a neighbour and operates with electrical machines like bench saw, circular saw, wood planner, wood lathe etc. On receipt of complaints from neighbours, the Dibrugarh Municipal Board, Pollution Control Board and Dibrugarh Town Planning and Development Authorities reportedly issued notices and recorded their findings. The Pollution Board had also declared the unit as not suitable in residential complex. Dibrugarh Development Authority (DDA) had also show caused the unit regarding the building permission.

After reasonable warning notices, the Dibrugarh Municipal Board vide order DM/EStd/2006/216-220 dated 02-06-2008 sealed the illegal factory in running condition on June 5, 2008 on the ground that it was violating section 219 (8), 228 (1) and 221 of Assam Municipal Act 1956 and zoning regulation No 6.2.2 (c) and (h) under section 10 (2) read with section 13 of the Assam Town Planning Act 1959 (amended) because the same is not allowed to be established in municipal area as per the said regulations. Moreover, the writ petition filed by Sardar Resham Singh in Gauhati High Court was reportedly dismissed. However, Resham Singh is still running the workshop without complying with orders.

There are several other illegal furniture manufacturing units which run showrooms at the front and operate inside with heavy electrical machines. Whether playschools, medical clinics and garages etc. should be allowed in the residential areas also needs to be examined.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2010/state05

 

[Oracle]

Rinpoche urges Tibetans to fight for freedom
Correspondent
GANGTOK, June 19 – Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, Samdung Rinpoche, arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit of Sikkim. After his arrival, Rinpoche held a meeting with the members of the Tibetan community at the Tsokhasum Hall at Nam-Nang. He advised the community members to continue their good job for the cause of Tibetan freedom and the welfare of Tibetans especially those in Tibet. He also appreciated the support of the community members and emphasised the middle path as espoused by the Dalai Lama.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2010/oth07

 

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NDFB planning to trigger blasts in State
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 20 – The anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) is planning to trigger off explosions in different parts of the State to show its strength, while, the police and security forces are being kept on high alert to thwart such a move after receiving inputs in this regard.
Highly placed police sources told The Assam Tribune that Guwahati city is considered most vulnerable to possible NDFB attacks as any blast in the city would give the militants maximum possible publicity, while, the other major towns in the north bank of the Brahmaputra including Tezpur are also considered vulnerable. There is no dearth of explosives for the NDFB and the outfit has the expertise of making powerful Improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Sources said that in recent times, the NDFB suffered

severe setbacks as a number of hardcore members have been eliminated during counter-insurgency operations, while, several top leaders including Ranjan Daimary have been arrested. The members of the outfit have been planning to trigger off explosions to show its strength for some time, but they have not been able to do so because of strict vigil maintained by the security forces.

Police said that according to information available with the security forces, the strength of the outfit would be around 300 and the zonal commanders are 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 outfit KYKL. Interestingly, in recent times, the NDFB has started efforts to rope in persons from other indigenous groups of people of Assam and a Karbi boy Sanbijit Ingty has been given important position in the outfit in an attempt to set up bases in the hill district.

Sources revealed that the finance secretary of the outfit, G Rifikhang is another of key members of the NDFB and he was one of those allegedly involved in the serial blasts in 2008. Though a number of NDFB men involved in the serial blasts have been arrested, Rifikhang is still elusive and his whereabouts is also not known. Sources said that some of the other key members of the outfit include Sushil Boro, Onthai, B Bokho etc and the security forces are on the lookout for them to prevent major act of violence by the outfit.

Moreover, 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 security forces. The outfit is also trying to strengthen its batches in the north bank of the river Brahmaputra and the security forces are handicapped by the fact that there is very little intelligence input about the movements of the militants and the recent success of the counter-insurgency operations depended largely in technical inputs.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2110/at07

 

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Tripura CM for better Dhaka-NE connectivity
Correspondent
AGARTALA, June 20 – Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has strongly advocated for waterway and air connectivity between Dhaka, Agartala and Guwahati to tap the potential of the Northeastern region in the field of trade and commerce.
The Chief Minister, who was speaking at a Stakeholder Consultation on Indo-Bangla Trade at Prajna Bhavan here on Sunday, said the basic physical infrastructure including better connectivity needs to be improved to facilitate better facilities to the industrialists.

Urging trade players to raise their voice for opening of waterway and air connectivity between Dhaka and the North East, the Chief Minister said that initiatives should be mulled immediately to connect Tripura's river Gomati with Meghna in Bangladesh.

"Time has also come to connect Guwahati and Agartala with Dhaka by air service to boost trade and industries", he said.

The Chief Minister ridiculed the 'obsolete' rail connectivity in Agartala. "We are putting pressure on the Centre to convert the metre gauge into broad gauge up to Agartala", he said.

The Chief Minister recalled his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Delhi in January. "The Bangladesh Prime Minister was extremely positive during the meeting", he said.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also responded positively in reply to a letter written by me recently wherein he mentioned the issues related to Tripura which were discussed with the Bangladesh Prime Minister during the SAARC meet meet in Thimpu, capital of Bhutan", he said.

State Industries and Commerce Minister Jitendra Chowdhury, in his speech laid stress on removing imbalance in bilateral trade. The volume of bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh which was Rs 4.12 crore has increased to Rs 140 crore in the last financial year but the State's share was only 0.75 per cent.

The Consumer Unity and Trust Society, an international research based policy advocacy, networking and capacity building organisation staged the Indo-Bangla meet.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2110/oth05

 

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World War-II missing plane found

ITANAGAR, June 20 – Wreckage of another US fighter plane missing in action since World War-II was recovered by an amateur trekker from a dense forest in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, officials said today.
Parts of the wreckage, a bullet, a metal plate with words "Black Hawk" inscribed on it and some human bone parts were received from a villager of Chayang Tajo circle, Deputy Commissioner of the district T Bam said.

The young villager claimed that he spotted the wreckage, strewn over several places, in a dense forest amidst towering mountain ranges where he reached after trekking for a week.

Bam said he is awaiting instructions from higher authorities from the State capital for forensic examination of the remnants and for recovery of the whole wreckage from the spot.

Several US fighter planes had gone missing in Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring areas while maintaining supply line to allied forces fighting against the Japanese during WW-II.

A US Defence team had conducted a search in different places with the help of IAF helicopters last year for detection of more wreckages. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2110/oth06

 

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Manipur forces withdrawn from Mao Gate
Correspondent
IMPHAL, June 20 – Manipur police commandos deployed at the two entry points along the Nagaland-Manipur border to prevent NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah's visit to his home village in Ukhrul district, have been withdrawn, sources said.
State forces including police commandos, Manipur Rifles and India Reserve Battalion were stationed at Jessami and Liyai village in Manipur's Ukhrul and Senapati districts since June 3 following reports that Muivah will visit his native village Somdal in Ukhrul.

Sources said Muivah is presently staying in Jotsoma village near Nagaland capital Kohima after his recent visit to Pfutsero town in Phek district. Earlier, he had stayed at Viswema for almost a month.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2110/oth07