North East - Developments & Debate

[nandu]

Two NDFB militants surrender

TEZPUR: Two militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), belonging to the Ranjan Daimary-led anti-talks faction and suspected to be involved in two bomb blasts on rail tracks last week, surrendered to the police here in Sonitpur district on Wednesday.

Birman Basumatari and Gagan Basumatari were allegedly involved in the blasts on the tracks near Batasipur in Sonitpur district and Mazbat in Udalguri district. The militants, who surrendered at the Missamari station, deposited two 9 mm pistols, three rounds of ammunition and a hand-grenade.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/15/stories/2010071553140100.htm

 

[Oracle]

Governor submits report to PC
Spl correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 15 – Assam Governor J B Patnaik on Thursday met union Home Minister, P Chidambaram to brief him about the prevailing scenario in the State and the situation arising out Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the financial scam in North Cachar Hill district.
The Governor met the Union Home Minister at his North Block Office this afternoon for about half-an-hour and submitted a report, sources said.

The meeting, coming as it does in the backdrop of the political turmoil over 'Rs 1000 crore' scam in N C Hills and alleged involvement of few ministers, is significant. The recent arrest of Niranjan Hojai has added another twist.

The Governor, who has a direct role to play in the affairs of the hill districts, has been under pressure following growing demand for a similar probe into the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council.

Last month, the main Opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) had submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding a thorough probe into the role of MLAs, MPs and ministers in the scam. The Opposition party had called for widening the scope of the CBI probe into the scam.

Sources hinted that the issue of the talks with ULFA sans its military chief Paresh Barua and the initiative of the civil society group, Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, also figured.

The Governor also briefed him about the State Government's stand on the issue and the demand for release of the detained leaders to facilitate talks. Assam Government is keen on holding negotiations with the jailed central committee members of ULFA ahead of the 2011 Assembly polls.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1610/at05

 

[Oracle]

House apprised of NC Hills fund position
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, July 15 – The North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council received an amount of over Rs 648 crore under different schemes from Central and State Governments during the period from 2001-02 to 2009-10. This was disclosed by the Minister in charge of Hill Areas Development, Khorsing Ingty in reply to a question by Keshab Mahanta in the State assembly on Wednesday.
The Minister said that the figures did not include the funds allocated for the schemes implemented by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), National Rural Health Mission, Sarba Shiksha Abhijan, Backward Region Grant Fund, Rashtriya Sama Vikas Yojana and the PMGSY. The figures also did not include the non plan funds allocated for payment of salaries, wages, repairing and maintenance.

The Minister said that up to 2006-07, the Council used to receive funds directly from different Government departments, but since then the Council has been receiving funds through single window system from the Hill Areas Department.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1610/state07

 

[Oracle]

High alert in Assam following bomb explosions

GUWAHATI: A railway bridge was damaged in a powerful blast in Udalguri district and an IED planted at Fancy Bazar area here exploded while being defused leading to high alert being sounded across Assam Friday.

No one was injured in either of the blasts, officials said.

The bomb planted under the railway bridge over a river at Dhansiri between Rowta and Mazbat railway stations went off at 9 am damaging the bridge and the tracks, they said.

Train movement over the bridge came to a halt after the blast which is suspected to have been triggered by the anti-talk Daimary faction of the NDFB, they said.

Last night in Guwahati, a powerful improvised explosive device hidden in a bag near the Shani Mandir in Fancy Bazar exploded as it was being defused by the bomb disposal squad.

Following the explosion in Guwahati, a joint CRPF and police team arrested three Manipur's Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) cadres from Chandmari area.

During interrogation, self-styled captain Benjamin and the other two revealed that at the instruction of the NDFB's anti-talk faction, they had smuggled in four bombs, one of which exploded at the Fancy Bazar.

The security forces were searching for the three other bombs and the people urged to to report suspicious looking objects to the police immediately.

Rs 1 lakh in Indian and US currency, a laptop, several CDs and documents were seized from the three militants.

All police stations have been put on maximum alert and additional security forces mobilised in vulnerable areas, police officials said.

Meanwhile, army and Assam Rifles halted traffic between Tezpur and Dhekiajuli for three hours during the day on the National Highway-52 in Sonitpur district stating that a bomb was planted under Dipota bridge.

The security forces allowed vehicles to move after 7.30 am following defusal of the bomb.

People in the area, however, claimed they had neither seen a bomb nor its being defused.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...owing-bomb-explosions/articleshow/6176820.cms

 

[Oracle]

Pack your bags, rev up bikes, India's NE beckons

NEW DELHI, July 18 (IANS) - Time to get hold of your biking shoes and ride across broken tracks, dense jungles and snow-covered hills in India's picturesque Northeast. A biking expedition is set to take 30 explorers through terrain that is often out of reach.
Motorcycle brand Royal Enfield has started a new route for avid bikers - Tour of Northeast - a 12-day road trip, covering a distance of approximately 3,000 km from Sep 10 to 22.

The ride will capture the picturesque beauty of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh where unexpected rainfall and cold weather will welcome you, while bad roads will challenge your riding skills.

So you will ride along the Brahmaputra river, originating from the Mansarovar lake in Tibet, that meanders through the wooded hills and the rolling plains of Assam or meet the rising sun in Arunachal Pradesh - Northeast India's remotest State also known as the "land of the dawn-lit mountains".

"The reason to have this road trip was that many people want to travel to these states but give up because of security reasons. So we have chalked out a safe route for our riders where they will enjoy riding in a completely different terrain," Kanwardeep Singh Dhaliwal, assistant manager of Royal Enfield, told IANS over phone from Chennai.

Unlike Royal Enfield's other biking expeditions - Himalayan Odyssey, Southern Odyssey, Tour to Rajasthan - this trip will be a bit different.

With not many luxurious accommodations around, bikers will be taking solace in the lap of nature by camping around or putting up in traditional places like a gompa - monastery or hermitage.

"Also, unlike all other places here, finding a roadside tea or coffee stall is very difficult. So one has to come prepared for all this experience," said Dhaliwal.

In all, 30 participants - men as well as women - will be selected on a first come, first served basis. They will have to apply on the Royal Enfield website. Each biker will have to pay Rs.15,000 for facilities, including breakfast, accommodation, support crew of mechanics and doctors and a backup vehicle for luggage.

Looking at the condition of the roads and terrain, this trip will not have pillion riders, as some mountainous passes and roads might be very challenging and gruesome.

Guwahati-based Diwash Ghatraj, an event manager, is eager to participate in the trip and is hoping that he will be one of the lucky 30 participants.

"This is my native land; still when I saw the route map, I thought this would be the best way to explore it and enjoy the lush green region," Ghatraj told IANS.

Delhi-based Gaurav Sinha, a student, is also eager to participate in the ride, as he wants to click some good pictures and enjoy local food.

"I have heard about the northeastern region, but, again, one can't think of going there alone; so while every time we friends make plans to visit that region, something or the other comes up and everything goes for a toss," Sinha said.

"Here I have an opportunity to meet bike lovers, ride and explore - click some good pictures and, yes, I want to taste local food as well, I have heard a lot about it," he added.

The trip will start from Guwahati in Assam and head for the Nameri wildlife sanctuary and then enter the state of Arunachal Pradesh through Tawang and then move on to the Bomdila-Sela pass, Tawang-Bumla pass, Tawang-Mandla pass, Bana-Sepa-Pasa village, Doimukh and then re-enter Assam through the Majuli islands before ending at Kaziranga close to Guwahati.

The best time to visit Arunachal Pradesh is mid-September to mid-December and mid-March to mid-June and for Assam it is October-April.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1810/at045

 

[Oracle]

State Govt ready for CBI probe from 1985
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, July 17 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today told the State Assembly that the Government was prepared to get the financial dealings in the NC Hills (Dima Hasao) Autonomous Council investigated by the CBI with effect from 1985.
Taking part in a debate on the multi-crore scam in the Autonomous Council that has kept the political atmosphere of the State charged for the past several months, he said that the Government was for probity in public affairs. It will facilitate the CBI probe into the scam and will extend full cooperation to it, he said.

However, he cautioned against unnecessarily blowing up the cases of corruption in the hills districts, saying this will further alienate the tribals. Corruption is taking place in the plains districts too, he said.

Stating that the hills district did not receive an amount of Rs 1,000 crore between 2008 and 2009 fiscals, he called for efforts to evolve a mechanism to check corruption.

Earlier, the Opposition castigated the role of the Government in the multi-crore NC Hills (Dima Hasao) District Autonomous Council scam, even as the Treasury Bench tried everything to bulldoze the Opposition charges as meaningless. The discussion on the scam was initiated by the Treasury Bench under Rule 50 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Assam Legislative Assembly.

It needs mention here that the Opposition stalled the functioning of the House on the first two days of the current session of the State Assembly demanding Speaker's approval to a discussion on the issue through an adjournment motion.

Initiating the discussion, Wajed Ali Choudhury (Cong) said that the Treasury Bench was for a thorough CBI enquiry, covering all the departments, in to the financial irregularities taking place in the Hills district since 1996.

Leader of the Opposition Chandra Mohan Patowary in his address said that the rejection of the adjournment motion by the Speaker as well as the Government to discuss the matter had sent a message to the people that the Government was not keen on getting the NC Hills scam probed.

Now by taking recourse to Rule 50 to initiate a discussion on the issue, the Government has left scopes to doubt that there it is a ploy to lead the people's opinion astray, Patowary claimed.

He said that even after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) stating in its report that the CBI should be engaged to enquire into the hills district scam, the Central investigating agency was not asked to go in to the scam.

The State Government asked the CBI to be engaged to enquire into the scam only after pressure from the Central Government. But it handed over only a limited number of cases to the CBI.

The Manisana Singh Commission, which went into the scam, was not given additional powers to enquire into the cases involving the implementation of the NREGA schemes and the like in the district.

He also pointed out to the fact that present Governor of the State J B Patnaik had submitted a report to the Union Home Minister on the scam a few days back. Furthermore, DHD (J) chairman Jewel Garlosa had told the media that the Commander-in-Chief of his militant outfit Niranjan Hojai went into hiding with the full knowledge of the administration.

Taking part in the discussion, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also called for a CBI enquiry, covering all the departments since 1996, into the NC Hills scam. He suggested that the House should adopt a resolution stating that the CBI would be trusted and extended full cooperation.

This is needed to ascertain the fact that the enquiry being conducted by the Central investigating agency is not being doubted as it was done earlier in the Veterinary Letter of Credit (LoC) case. And no one should move the Governor with the plea that the CBI request to prosecute one should be disapproved, he said.

He also reminded the members of the House that the appointment of the Manisana Singh Commission was criticised by the BJP as a politically biased move. The Government is sure that it would come out clean in the NC Hills matter, he said and reminded the members that the Constitution of the country has prevented State Government's intervention into the Sixth Schedule matters.

Even the State Assembly has no authority to discuss the Sixth Schedule issues, he said and read out from the relevant provisions of the Constitution to substantiate his assertion.

Dr Aditya Langthasa (AIUDF) and Abdul Khalek (Cong), Bhuban Pegu, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Bidya Singh Engleng, Ananta Deka and Minister Rokybul Hussain also took part in the discussion among others.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1810/at08

 

[Oracle]

2 ULFA men held in B'desh

DHAKA, July 17 – Two suspected leaders of banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were arrested by Bangladesh authorities from Bhairab sub-district of northern Kishorganj, officials said, reports PTI.
The two suspects were arrested with arms and small bombs by the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) troops in a predawn raid.

"We have arrested ULFA leaders Ranjan Chowdhury, more known as so-called Major Ranjan, and Pradip Marak from Lakhipur area of Bhairab," RAB spokesman Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Sohail told PTI.

Without making any elaborate comments immediately, he said the two were arrested along with a sophisticated pistol, a revolver and four small bombs during the predawn raid.

The announcement came when Dhaka is believed to have extended hands in arresting ULFA chief Arbinda Rajkhowa from Bangladesh territory along with several accomplices and subsequently handing him over to India as he was hiding in Bangladesh.

Dhaka at that time declined the report of his arrest from Bangladesh and subsequent handing over to India.

Another ULFA stalwart Anup Chetia was arrested from Dhaka during the past 1996-2001 Awami League regime and still is in "security custody" despite the expiry of his jail term for cross border intrusion.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1810/state05

 

[Oracle]

'India awaiting Bangladesh confirmation on ULFA arrest'

Shillong: India is awaiting official confirmation from Bangladesh of the arrest of two United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) rebels, Home Secretary G K Pillai said on Sunday.

"We have seen it (arrest) in the newspapers, but Bangladesh authorities will officially inform us of the arrest through diplomatic channels," Pillai told IANS.

Asked whether India would ask Bangladesh to hand over the arrested ULFA rebels, the home secretary said: "We will surely do that through proper diplomatic channels."

On Saturday, Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) paraded the detained ULFA rebel leader Ranjan Chowdhury alias Major Ranjan and his Bangladeshi aide Pradip Marak before the media in Dhaka.

Chowdhury is a former general secretary of the Dhubri district unit of ULFA. The RAB recovered a pistol, a revolver, four handmade bombs and bomb-making material from the hideout.

Chowdhury illegally entered the country through Kurigram district in September 1997 to meet ULFA military wing chief Paresh Barua in Dhaka.

In 1995, Indian law enforcers had arrested Chowdhury on his way back to India from Bhutan after his meeting with ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia, who has been convicted in several cases and is now in jail in Bangladesh since 1997.

Last December, the Bangladesh authorities facilitated the arrest of ULFA chief Arabinda Rajkhowa, Raju Barua and eight others of the group.

Dhaka also handed over Ranjan Daimary, chief of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), to India where he is wanted for ordering bomb attacks.

Daimary is the fifth top separatist leader to be evicted out of Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh have stepped up cooperation in handling crime, militancy and terrorism since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took office in January last year.

http://sify.com/news/india-awaiting...fa-arrest-news-international-khss9ecgbdc.html

 

[Oracle]

Pala inaugurates Shillong skywalk
Correspondent
SHILLONG, July 18 – Tourists visiting here can now have a bird's eye view of picturesque 'Scotland of the East' from a 76-metre-tall skywalk installed atop the seven-storied Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures (DBCIC) at Mawlai.
Dubbed as 'Don Bosco Museum Skywalk' the skywalk is a wiry mesh of stainless steel and has a 360 degree circumference, complete with sound of nature and animals.

Church authorities said a powerful telescope would be installed soon to make the skywalk experience more exciting.

Started one year and a half ago, the skywalk project designed by architects from New Delhi, was completed in June this year at an estimated cost of over Rs 25 lakh.

"The skywalk is a unique experience since it provides a 360 degree view of Shillong city"¦a view perhaps clearer and better than from Shillong Peak," DBCIC, Shillong Director, Fr Joseph Puthenpurakal said.

Union Minister of State for Water Resources, Vincent H Pala, inaugurating the skywalk complimented the works done by Salesians of Don Bosco. "This is a unique structure and would help promote tourism in the State further," Pala said.

The Minister promised to donate Rs 25 lakh to the museum from his MP scheme. "People should also help in promoting this museum and skywalk," he urged.

Don Bosco Museum houses an amazing repository of information on the eight Northeastern States in a 56,000 square feet floor space and 15,154 square feet wall, displaying artifacts of indigenous culture of the region.

In all the seven floors of the museum there are 17 galleries displaying cultural artifacts of the Northeastern region under one roof, and is Asia's largest museum of indigenous cultures of its kind.

All the galleries in the Don Bosco Museum are provided with multimedia presentations. The museum was opened to the public in 2003 and also offers study and research facilities.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1910/oth06

 

[Oracle]

'Dry' Mizoram to produce wine after 13 years

AIZAWL, July 18 – After 13 years of prohibition, grape cultivators in Mizoram are expected to produce quality wine by September this year.
To pave the way for the manufacture of wine, the stringent dry law in force since February 20, 1997 was relaxed by an amendment made in the Prohibition Act, April 2007, allowing upto 16 per cent of alcohol in it.

Managing Director of the Grape Growers Society Vanlalruata Chenkual said that wine-making would be monitored by experts from wine major Shaw Wallace.

The wine to be manufactured in the two wineries at Hnahlan and Champhai, he said, would contain 14 per cent of alcohol volume by volume.

The wine to be made from Lubrusca variety of grape also known as Bangalore Blue would have a brand name of 'Zawlaidi' meaning love potion in the Mizo language.

He said that the fermentation of the grapes in the two wineries would begin on July 16 and Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA) imported from Uttar Pradesh would be used to neutralise the sour taste of the grapes.

"We expect that we will be able to produce at least one lakh 750 ml bottles of premium grape wine this year, he said, adding that they would only be sold in Mizoram.

In Hnahlan village 80 per cent of the total population of 670 families were engaged in producing grapes and 325 in Champhai area.

"To make the wine competitive and conform to international standards, experts from Shaw Wallace would train and guide the local wine makers," Samuel Rosanglura, the State Horticulture director said.

The price of a bottle of 'Zawlaidi' was yet to be determined as it was still not yet decided how much the State Excise and Narcotics department would levy excise duty, he said.

"We are appealing to the State Government to give exemption on excise duty as the wine is to be made from horticulture produce," he said.

He said that it would be a good incentive for the grape growers if the government arranged a tax holiday for a few years at least. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul1910/oth07

 

[Oracle]

Crucial round of Centre, NSCN(IM) talks soon

NEW DELHI, July 19 – A crucial round of talks between NSCN-IM and Centre's interlocutor RS Pandey will be held soon to carry forward the Naga peace process.
"We have held a few rounds of informal talks with the NSCN-IM leadership. Formal talks will begin in the next few days," Pandey told PTI.

However, no date has been fixed for the proposed dialogue.

Top leaders of the rebel group, including general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, are currently in the capital to participate in the meeting.

Muivah has come here after wrapping up his nearly one- and-a-half-month-long peace mission across Nagaland.

Undertaking the peace mission that began in first week of June, the Naga leader visited all the districts of Nagaland except Mon and called for reconciliation and understanding among the Nagas basing on the principle of "forget and forgive" to have a unified voice to be presented before the Government of India.

So far over 60 rounds of peace talks were held between the two sides during the course of 13-year-long peace process initiated in August 1997.

Initially, Muivah embarked on a journey to his native village in Manipur's Ukhrul district on May 5, but deferred his plan following stiff opposition from the Ibobi Singh government which saw his visit as a "threat to communal harmony" in the State. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2010/at09

 

[Oracle]

142 cases pending against Muivah in Manipur
Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, July 19 – Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today informed the State Assembly that 142 cases are pending against NSCN(IM)'s general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and its cadres.
Replying to a question by opposition MLA RK Anand of Manipur People's Party during the day's Question Hour, the Chief Minister said Manipur Government has registered 324 cases against the NSCN-IM leader and its cadres since August 1,1997 till June-end this year in connection with crimes committed in Manipur.

Ibobi added that out of 324 cases three are submitted in charge sheet, 179 cases are returned in FR while another 142 cases are pending.

Recalling the recent proposed visit of Muivah to his native Somdal village in Manipur's Ukhrul district in May last, the Chief Minister said that his government's stand against Muivah's visit to his native village will not change.

He said he even had a heated dialogue with the Union Home Minister over the recent proposed visit of NSCN-IM leader in May last.

Narrating his dialogue with the Union Home Minister, he said, "I boldly told them (Centre) that we will definitely arrest (if he enters)." The Home Minister tried to explain that the NSCN-IM leader is a bonafide citizen of the country and the group is no more an unlawful organisation. The Centre might have to stop extension of unlawful organisation tag after the signing of ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and NSCN-IM, he felt.

Regarding the ongoing ceasefire agreement, he opined that they (NSCN-IM leaders) should be confined within the State of Nagaland as per the ceasefire agreement. Even in Nagaland they shouldn't be allowed to move here and there freely. They should be confined in the designated camps, he said.

Ibobi also informed the House that presently 19 Kuki militant organisations having around 1,800 cadres, operating in the State, are having a suspension of operation(SoO) with the State and Central Governments. Ten designated camps are being constructed at Chandel, Churachandpur, Senapati and Ukhrul districts for their accommodation during the ongoing SoO, he added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2010/oth06

 

[Oracle]

ULFA militant killed in police encounter

The Assam police killed a hardcore militant of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam and arrested another militant in two separate operations in eastern Assam on Tuesday.

The police informed that a ULFA militant identified as Nitul Gogoi was killed following an encounter at Borbeel in Jokai area in Tinsukia district of Assam.

The police recovered a UMG gun and 22 rounds of ammunition from the slain militant.

In a separate operation police arrested another ULFA militant from Namrup area of adjoining Dibrugarh district.

Meanwhile, security forces acting on a tip-off dug out explosives kept inside a LPG cylinder from near Assam-Arunachal boundary at Missamari in Sonitpur district of north Assam on Tuesday.

The explosives were suspected to be stored under the ground by militants belonging to the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland.

The police and army have intensified operations in the wake of intelligence inputs about NDFB's plan to carry out series of explosions in the state.

Forces are also keeping a close watch on movements of ULFA militants, as the efforts to initiate talks with the outfit has failed to bear fruit so far.

The ULFA is carrying out a well-coordinated and widespread extortion drive in eastern Assam areas.
K Anurag in Guwahati

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/20/ulfa-militant-killed-in-police-encounter.htm

 

[Oracle]

Army chief inaugurates Assam Rifles war memorial

Shillong, July 21 (IANS): Chief of Army Staff General VK Singh on Tuesday inaugurated a war memorial in Meghalaya commemorating 1,088 troopers of Assam Rifles who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the nation.
"The memorial is an imposing structure befitting the sacrifice made by many officers and men of the force protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country," General Singh said.

The war memorial is located at the Assam Rifles headquarters' at Laitkor, about 20 km from here.

Lt Gen KS Yadava, who heads the Assam Rifles, the oldest paramilitary force in the country, said the memorial was completed in a record time of nine months.

The memorial service that followed was a crisp and smart drill by Assam Rifles soldiers to the resounding and soulful rendition by the buglers of the "Last Post" and "Rouse".

"The memorial is a replica of the 'canopy' that stands near the North and South Block overlooking the Rajpath in New Delhi," Lt Gen. Yadava said.

The canopy is supported by seven pillars, each representing a state from the northeast where the force has been deployed for the last 175 years.

The Assam Rifles has 46 battalions deployed in nine sectors across northeastern India. One battalion comprises around 1,000 personnel.

According to an Assam Rifles spokesman, another 26 battalions would be raised soon to curb militancy and man the volatile India-Myanmar border. Of the 46 battalions, 15 are deployed along the 1,643-km border.

Assam Rifles, known as the 'Sentinels of the Northeast', functions under the administrative control of the union home ministry and the operational command of the army.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2110/oth04

 

[Oracle]

Deadly cattle disease breaks out in Barpeta
Correspondent
BARPETA, July 20 – Hundreds of buffaloes here perished due to a deadly infectious disease, suspected to be haemorragic septicemia, and at least a hundred others are suffering from the symptoms, foretelling a bleak future for buffalo rearers in Barpeta district. Scores of buffalo carcasses were floating on the Hablakhoa Beel, a notified fishery of the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation, situated by the Amrikhowa Majdia Road, south of Amrikhowa village.
Significantly, even after the passage of almost two months since the outbreak of the contagious disease which has already taken an epidemic turn and caused extensive damage to livestock and milk farmers, the Veterinary Department and the district administration have allegedly done little to cope with the situation so far.

There are a number of buffalo farms (locally known as mahkhuti or bathan) in Amrikhowa and its adjoining areas in the eastern part of the district bordering Nalbari district. A considerable section of the people in that part of the district live by selling milk. There is a wide and open grazing reserve surrounding Kapala, Salmara, Hablakhowa and Silla beels. But during April and May, there is scarcity of grass and water and the buffaloes are taken to the char areas of the Brahmaputra in the neighboring Nalbari district for grazing.

Like in the previous years, the livestock were taken to the Laupara area along the Brahmaputra this season, too, and the disease reportedly broke out there. The bathan owners took home their animals only to face the dire consequences.

"I have lost 15 baffaloes so far and three more are sick," said Dinabandhu Nayak, a milk farmer. The plight of Damodar Nayak is even worse as he lost all five cattle which were the only source of income for him. He said that the sale of green fodder is now the only means of livelihood for him.

Other milk farmers who have suffered losses include Kanak Das, Lohit Deka, Hiteswar Deka, Batu Das, Uttam Deka, Manoranjan Deka, Dhano Barman, Raham Ali and Hiren Deka.

The cattle farmers alleged that the Veterinary Department has not taken any effective steps to prevent the disease. They have to buy medicines from the open market at exorbitant prices. The medicines marked 'not to be sold' were bought from pharmacies, giving a clear indication that some corrupt Veterinary personnel have taken advantage of the helpless condition of the poor farmers.

Meanwhile, a health hazard is imminent in the area as movement along the Amrikhowa Majdia PWD Road has become quite impossible due to the stench emanating from the rotten caracasses. It is feared that the disease could spread to other localities and other animals as the grazing reserve is the main source of fodder for more than 100 villages in the eastern part of the district. The water bodies in which the caracasses have been disposed of are used by most of the local people .

There are apprehensions that milk production will substantially decrease due to the death of the milch animals. When contacted, veterinary surgeon Dr Bhagirath Deka, posted at the State Veterinary Hospital at Sarthebari, informed that he came to know about the outbreak of the disease only on July 14 and had informed the matter to the district authority immediately. Vaccines were supplied and administered the next day itself, he claimed. He also informed that though the vaccines are supplied by the Government free of cost, most medicines for treatment have to be bought from the open market.

But the farmers contradicted Dr Deka's claims and alleged that no vaccines were administered to the buffaloes and these were administered to a few cows at random in the village.

The local people here demanded that the rest of the cattle in the area should be treated free of cost and the farmers who suffered losses should be provided with adequate compensation to cope with the situation.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2110/state07

 

[Oracle]

Four student activists killed in police firing in Assam


GUWAHATI: At least four students were killed and 50 injured when police opened fire on rampaging protesters who tried to stop updating of the National Register of Citizens in Assam's Barpeta town on Wednesday.

Trouble erupted when a group of All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) activists pelted stones and set ablaze a building in the premises of the deputy commissioner's office in a bid to stop updating of NRC work in progress there.

Police opened fire when they failed to disperse them using teargas shells, Barpeta SP Debojyoti Mukherjee said.

He said three students died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The students thereafter went berserk and tried to attack shops and business establishments but police brought the situation under control, he said.

The injured were admitted to the Barpeta Civil Hospital and those with serious injuries to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The NRC is being updated to identify and enlist Indian citizens in the state. In March, the Assam Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to update the NRC of 1951 by taking 1971 electoral roll as the basis.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...olice-firing-in-Assam/articleshow/6197042.cms

 

[Oracle]

Ten Kuki militants killed in gunbattle

IMPHAL, July 22 (PTI) - Ten militants were killed and four injured in a fierce gunbattle between two Kuki groups at a remote area in Manipur, police said today.
The gunfight between the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) and Kuki National Front-Presidium (KNF-P) took place in interior Seijang hill area on the border between Imphal East and Senapati districts yesterday and lasted for five hours, they said.

The gunbattle could be the result of a fight for territorial control of areas inhabited by the Kuki tribes, police said.

The injured were brought to a private hospital here and the condition of some was stated to be critical.

Security personnel have rushed to Seijang hill area.

Official sources said both KNF-P and KLA were signatories of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement with the State government and security agencies for initiating the peace process.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2210/at02

 

[Oracle]

Militants kidnap 3 in Manipur

IMPHAL, July 21 – Unidentified militants kidnapped three persons, including two children, from different parts of Manipur while a medical student who was abducted by the ultras has been rescued, police said today.
L Nganba Meitei (12) and N Kuber (10) were kidnapped when they were playing at a local playground near their houses at Chingarel in Imhal East district on Monday.

Meitei and Kuber were in VIII and VI standards, respectively, police said, adding efforts were on to trace them.

Reports said Meitei's elder brother Poireinganba (15) was also kidnapped by militants in June 2008 and he is still missing.

In another incident, Y Manaoba, 23, was abducted from Yourbung area two days back, police said, adding the victim is son of Y Megha, secretary of Lamlai local council of CPI.

Megha said some persons claiming to be from the militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party-Mobile Task Force (KCP-MTF), City Meitei faction, had called him up to say that his son was in their custody.

The callers told Megha that senior CPI leader and Manipur Health Minister Ph Parijat had refused to reserve ten posts for the militant outfit at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), which is under the State Health department.

They said that Parijat had also failed to give contract work to the outfit and asked Megha to out pressure on the Minister to agree to the militants' demand if he wanted his son back, police said.

Meanwhile, Kunal Chakravorty (38), a medical student hailing from Tripura, has been rescued from near Kangavi in Churachandpur district after he was abducted by Kuki National Organisation, Jackson faction yesterday, they said.

The militants, however, managed to escape in the nearby jungles, they said, adding the abduction could have been for ransom.

Officials said some militant outfits had kidnapped several children in 2008 to recruit them in their ranks but after widespread public protests, they began claiming that the children came to them on their own, officials said.

Several social organisations have condemned the kidnappings of children. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2210/oth05

 

[san]

Stray violence mars AAMSU Assam bandh

GUWAHATI, July 22 – Incidents of firing and road blockades were reported today from minority-dominated areas of lower Assam during a state-wide bandh called by minority students to protest the death of four activists in a police firing, reports PTI.
During the 12-hour bandh called by the All Assam Minority Students Union, armed protesters attempted to block a road connecting Sonitpur district with upper Assam and fired at the police at Poruwa Chariali area in Tezpur, police said.

Police picked up some bandh supporters who attempted to close shops at Baruah Chowk and Garowaripatty areas in Tezpur.

The Army was alerted to assist the administration in minority-dominated areas in Sonitpur district if the situation worsened, officials said.

Our Correspondents add:

BARPETA: The call for Assam bandh today in protest against the killing of four persons in firing by the security forces yesterday in Barpeta during an agitational programme evoked partial response in Barpeta district.

Though the shops and business establishments in some minority-dominated areas were closed, there was no effect at all in other areas. The bandh did not have any influence in Barpeta town where all the business establishments were open and State Government offices functioned normally.

However, communication in the district came to a grinding halt as all types of vehicles were off the road. Bandh supporters blocked the road in several places harassing the commuters. One Kamal Deka of village Byaskuchi was attacked by the bandh supportes in Khongra on the Barpeta-Daulashal road when he was going to Guwahati by motorcycle . He was injured in the attack requiring hospitalisation and the motorcycle was also badly damaged.

In another incident a police vehicle was attacked in Goroimari on the same road under Sarthebari Police Station by the bandh supporters . The police had to open fire in the air to disperse the violent mob. Though there is tension in all over the district, there is no any further untoward incident till filing of this report.

Meanwhile in yet another incident, a group of AAMSU activists burnt effigies of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, MP Ismail Hussain, Congress leaders Sukur Khan and Abdul Khalek and SP of Barpeta Debajyoti Mukharjee at Bahari Bazar alleging failure of the government and the administration.

Mangaldoi: The 12-hour Assam bandh called today by AAMSU in protest against the Barpeta police firing evoked partial response in Darrang distrct.

The bandh was total in minority-dominated Dhula, Kharupetia end Dalgaon areas but failed to have impact in other parts of the district including district headquarters Mangaldoi.

Vehicles on the NH-52 were seen plying under police escort. There have been no reports of any untoward incidents till filing of this report.

Srirampur: The 12-hour Assam bandh called by AAMSU in protest against the killing of four AAMSU activists at Barpeta yesterday, passed off peacefully in Gossaigaon subdivision.

However, in a stray incident of violence the bandh supporters set ablaze a motorcycle (WB-70B-0744) at Padmabil under Gossaigaon PS. Gossaigaon police later arrested four bandh supporters.

Kalgachia: Called in protest against the unprovoked killing of four AAMSU supporters by the police at Barpeta the 12-hour Assam bandh was widely observed in and around Kalgachia area.

During the bandh, government offices, financial institutions and shops remained closed. However, there were no reports of any untoward incidents.

On the other hand, effigies of Barpeta DC, SP and AASU adviser were burnt at Balagaon Chariali by the supporters of AAMSU today at 10.30 am.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2310/at05

 

[san]

Four student activists killed in police firing in Assam


GUWAHATI: At least four students were killed and 50 injured when police opened fire on rampaging protesters who tried to stop updating of the National Register of Citizens in Assam's Barpeta town on Wednesday.

Trouble erupted when a group of All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) activists pelted stones and set ablaze a building in the premises of the deputy commissioner's office in a bid to stop updating of NRC work in progress there.

Police opened fire when they failed to disperse them using teargas shells, Barpeta SP Debojyoti Mukherjee said.

He said three students died on the spot while another succumbed to injuries at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The students thereafter went berserk and tried to attack shops and business establishments but police brought the situation under control, he said.

The injured were admitted to the Barpeta Civil Hospital and those with serious injuries to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital.

The NRC is being updated to identify and enlist Indian citizens in the state. In March, the Assam Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to update the NRC of 1951 by taking 1971 electoral roll as the basis.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...olice-firing-in-Assam/articleshow/6197042.cms

Those students ( I highly doubt they are actually students) are Bangladeshi. Outside Assam, they may be minority students but for native assamese they are illegal bangladesi protected by Indian government.