North East - Developments & Debate

[Oracle]

Shillong 'safe haven' of Myanmarese smuggling arms

Shillong, July, 23 (IANS): Myanmarese nationals have made Shillong as their "rendezvous point" for arms transaction with Northeast rebels, a top intelligence official said on Thursday.
A central intelligence agency has recently alerted the Meghalaya Police of former 'captain' of Chin National Army (CNA), Tialkulhtang, of smuggling arms and ammunition from Mandalay in Myanmar. Chin are an ethnic group of Myanmmar.

"Tialkulhtang, a known arms smuggler, is in the process of smuggling consignment of arms and ammunition meant for some rebel groups operating in the region," the intelligence official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

Tialkulhtang is believed to be operating from somewhere here in Shillong.

The arms are likely to enter India through Mizoram via Siakhumphaivaphai area of Champai district, he added.

India shares a 1,600-km unfenced border with Myanmar. The porous international borders, thick with forests, along the northeastern States of Assam, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura have been used by the illegal weapons syndicate to smuggle small and medium arms and ammunition, besides explosives, to northeastern militant groups.

"These Burmese Mizo (read Myanmarese ethnic Chin) have made Shillong as their safe haven taking advantage of tribal Indian Mizo identity who have settled here," a senior Meghalaya Police requesting anonymity, said.

The police official, however, claimed that a number of Myanmarese Chin arms smugglers have been arrested from Shillong.

When IANS asked, Inspector General of Border Security Force (BSF) R.C. Saxena said that there are some "elements of CNA hiding here in Shillong" and the security agencies are on their look out.

"We are trying to find out if any of the members are hiding here in the region," Saxena said.

An intelligence official said: "Many of these militants from Myanmar maintain a good relation with northeast groups and they are getting protection for procurement of arms and ammunition."

The official further added that although it is unclear where the arms and ammunition would land it is certain that talks are on for a possible transaction in this regard.

Most of the weapons, including AK-47 and AK-56 assault rifles, mortars, 40 mm rocket launchers, pistols, revolvers and grenades come via the Arakans - a mountainous area in Myanmar - from parts of Thailand and Cambodia, he added.

The arms consignments are often routed by sea through the Bay of Bengal to its destination in the Arakan forest in Myanmar, which is across Mizoram, before making their way to rebel groups active in the northeast.

The area is controlled by Arakan insurgent groups opposed to the military junta in Yangon.

Intelligence officials in the region have confirmed the presence of sophisticated range of weapons with militant groups in the northeast, including surface-to-air missiles.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2310/at03

 

[Oracle]

Barpeta violence pre-planned: pro-talks ULFA
Staff CORRESPONDENT
DIBRUGARH, July 22 – President of the pro-talks ULFA faction, Mrinal Hazarika, today said that yesterday's Barpeta violence was a pre-planned act by certain sections to stop updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) of 1951.
The update of the pilot project for the National Register of Citizens, 1951 had started from June 7 at Barpeta revenue circle in Barpeta district and in Chhaygaon revenue circle in Kamrup district to identify illegal Bangladeshis and enlist Indian citizens in the State.

Hazarika while addressing mediapersons at the Dibrugarh Press Club here said the violent situation in which four persons lost their lives yesterday was a conspiracy hatched by vested interest sections to suspend updating process of the NRC so that foreign nationals of Bangladesh were protected. "Every sequence of the violent and undemocratic protest and subsequent killing was managed by certain political parties and organisations who have been deriving political and other benefits from the foreign nationals," he said. The pro-talk ULFA leader held the All Assam Minority Students' Union, AIUDF and Jamiat responsible for the bloodbath and for the subsequent halt of the updating process of NRC. NRC has to be updated in the State under all circumstances, Hazarika underlined and further said that no organisations or political parties would be allowed to create situations to stop updating the NRC, Hazarika maintained.

Hazarika further said that there should be no separate rule or modality for updating the National Register of Citizens for the State. Assam being part of India should be treated like any other States of the country while updating NRC, he suggested. He called upon the citizens of the State to fight unitedly against the alien forces to protect the State from being snatched or encroached.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2310/at09

 

[Oracle]

Haldar may meet ULFA leaders in jail
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, July 22 – Central peace interlocutor between the banned ULFA and the Government of India PC Haldar today met Chief Secretary NK Das, and Principal Secretary, Home department, Subhash Das and is expected to visit the Guwahati Central Jail tomorrow to meet the jailed members of the outfit's central executive committee.
Haldar, who reached Guwahati, on Wednesday, is also likely to meet Dr Hiren Gohain and other members of the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan tomorrow.

Earlier today, the former IB chief set up his office at the Assam Police Special Branch headquarters in Kahilipara.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2310/state07

 

[Oracle]

Don't pay extortion to militants, Meghalaya officials told

Shillong, July 25 (IANS): Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh today asked government officials to inform the police about extortion notices issued to them by militants and threatened legal action if they complied with the rebels' demands.
"We have received some information about GNLA (Garo National Liberation Army) sending extortion notices to some government officials," Lyngdoh told IANS, adding that police have started their investigation.

The GNLA, a tribal militant outfit operating in Garo Hills region in western Meghalaya, had sent extortion demands ranging from Rs 30 lakh-40 lakh each to three government officials through mobile text messages. The outfit had sent extortion demands to the District Transport Officer and Block Development Officer in East Garo Hills district, while a Sub-Divisional Officer (civil) at Resubelpara received an extortion note signed by GNLA finance secretary Jagpil Sangma.

"The government has directed all government officials to report to the police on extortion notices served on them or else face legal action if the government found them complying to the militant demands," Lyngdoh said.

East Garo Hill Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said that police have registered a case following complaints lodged by the officials and a probe is on to nab the militants.

A Cabinet minister in the previous DD Lapang ministry revealed in March that he had received a number of text messages from the GNLA asking him to "contribute to the organisation or face the consequences". The former minister, who did not wish to be named, claimed some Garo legislators too had received such text messages.

The GNLA had earlier slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore on petrol pump owners, coal dealers and businessmen in the coal-rich districts of Garo Hills.

Champion R Sangma, a Deputy Superintendent of Police-turned-rogue, is believed to be heading GNLA, whose cadres are deserters mostly from the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) and Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF). Police are on the lookout for Champion R Sangma.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2510/at032

 

[Oracle]

CM sounds alarm over Left wing extremism
Spl Correspondent
NEW DELHI, July 24 – Even as the ULFA peace process is getting under way in fits and starts, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi sounded an alarm over the possibility of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) rearing its ugly head in Assam seeking extension of the special schemes to the vulnerable districts .
"LWE is yet to surface in the State but its possibility cannot be ruled out and it may make in roads into the vulnerable communities," he said.

It is also a fact that Assam has been affected by the violent activities perpetrated by militant outfits over the last three decades. As Left Wing Extremists and militant outfits exploit the perception of neglect and feeling of alienation among the sections of population, it is necessary that special programmes for development of the backward and remote areas including border areas are undertaken, Gogoi suggested.

The Chief Minister then urged the Prime Minister, who is also the chairman of the NDC to extend the critical infrastructure development scheme meant for the LWE affected areas to the affected districts of Assam also, so that funds are provided exclusively for these districts to meet the infrastructure gaps.

Earlier, inaugurating the Conference, the Prime Minister also referring to the problem called out for special attention to LWE affected areas. "Our development schemes have not worked well in these backward and impoverished parts of our country, particularly the areas inhabited by the adivasi population."

There should be no doubt that the security challenge posed by Left Wing Extremism has to be met and it will be met, with the Centre and the States cooperating fully with one another, he said.

Significantly, Gogoi wasn't the only chief minister of the North-east to raise alarm over spread of insurgency in the region, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Dorjee Khandu also said that his State is under the active grip insurgency.

At least 62 cadres of various underground organisation surrendered in Tirap district in the last one year. The Government is actively considering the adoption of a surrender policy for the State, he added.

However, security scenario in the two eastern districts of Tirap and Changlang is quite delicate due to presence insurgents from outside the State – mainly Manipur, Nagaland and Myanmar.

In addition, cadres of banned organisations of Assam are making their presence felt in the foothills of West Kameng, Papumpare, Lohit, East Siang and lower Dibang Valley through sporadic incidents.

In his address, Nagaland, Chief Minister, N Rio said that there could be many lessons to learn from the Naga insurgency.

Today, the uniqueness of Naga political issue is known and acknowledged. The State has been born out of a political agreement and from its inception, it was recognised that the State was not economically viable. Nagaland for the last several decades was be-seized with violence and political unrest, hindering growth and development, which has subjected the State to the vicious cycle of indebtedness and dependence, he said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2510/at07

 

[Oracle]

NE gets three greenfield airports

SHILLONG, July 24 – To improve air connectivity, the Centre has approved three greenfield airports in the North-east, an official statement said today, reports PTI.
The one at Pakyong in Sikkim is already under construction at a cost of Rs 264 crore, while the other two will be at Itanagar and Cheithu (Nagaland), it said.

Besides, the viability gap funding to Alliance Air for providing air services in the NE region has been approved for the years 2010 and 2011 at a cost of Rs 94.14 crore.

The development of Tezu airport, at a cost of Rs 79.00 crore, has been approved during 2009-10, the statement said adding that the project is being implemented by the Airports Authority of India and is expected to be ready by March 2012.

"So far, about 596 km length has been completed during the year 2009-10. About 2319 km of roads and highways have been developed in Arunachal Pradesh. Bids have already been received for four projects with a total length of 776 km to be awarded shortly. The Trans-Arunachal Highway forms an important part of this initiative," the statement added.

It said the mega rail-cum-road bridge at Bogibeel over river Brahmaputra which has been taken up will provide an important link between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

"Conversion of the metre gauge routes - Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam, Badarpur-Kumarghat and Rangiya-Murkongselek - to broad gauge is being done on priority. The capital cities of the NE states are getting progressively connected by rail. Guwahati and Agartala are already connected. Projects for connecting the capitals of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have been taken up," it said.

The construction of the Assam gas cracker project, which is expected to generate substantial downstream investment and employment in the region, is in full swing and Rs 744 crore has been spent till March.

The project is scheduled for completion in April 2012, the statement added.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2510/oth05

 

[Oracle]

IT revenue from NE touches Rs 2964 cr
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, July 24 – Asserting that the general tax payers in the North East region have become more conscious about their duties and responsibilities, Chief Commissioner of Income Tax (CCA) Guwahati, PK Ray today informed that revenue collection in the form of income tax from the region had catapulted to a whopping amount of Rs 2964 crore in the last financial year.
Ray, who was speaking during a function commemorating 150 years of Income Tax in India at the Guwahati Aayakar Bhawan, further informed that the target for the next financial year has been estimated at Rs 3341 crore.

"I am pretty confident that the department with the able support of its officials and the tax payers would be able to achieve the target," Ray said.

The Chief Commissioner also released a Citizen's Charter besides the public version of a book 'Let us Share' to mark the occasion.

He also gave away certificates of merit to Income Tax department officers including TM Das, Director of Income Tax(Investigation), NER, Santhanu Saikia, Additional Director of Income Tax (Investigation) and Subhendu Dutta, Assistant Director of Income Tax. A host of other senior officials besides presentatives of Tax Bar Association, FINER, Institute of Chartered Accountants and Chambers of Commerce were also present on the occasion.

Earlier, an exhibition of books, paintings, art and crafts was also organized.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2510/oth06

 

[Oracle]

ULFA call to jailed leaders over sovereignty
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, July 24 – The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today appealed to its jailed leaders not to give up the demand for sovereignty.
In a release here, the ULFA said that there is no alternative to sovereignty of Assam and if the outfit gives up the demand, it would mean bowing down before the enemy.

The ULFA called upon its jailed leaders not to give up the demand for sovereignty just to get out of jail. The outfit reminded its jailed leaders that more than 12,000 youths sacrificed their lives fighting for sovereignty and their sacrifices should not be allowed to go in vain. The ULFA told its jailed leaders that the Government of India would not be able to finish off the struggle by keeping them in jail as "South Africa could not finish the struggle of Nelson Mandela by keeping him in jail for 27 years".

The release was signed by self-styled Lieutenant of the ULFA, Anu Buragohain, who is a member of the central publicity wing of the outfit.

It may be mentioned here that PC Haldar, the Centre's interlocutor for talks with the militant outfits of Assam, met the ULFA leaders including the chairman of the outfit Arabinda Rajkhowa in Guwahati jail for preliminary discussions.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2510/state05

 

[Oracle]

4 SSB personnel killed, 3 hurt in Assam encounter

GUWAHATI, July 26 (PTI) - At least four Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel were today killed and three others seriously injured in an encounter with National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) militants in lower Assam's Chirang district.
The personnel, who were on patrol, were attacked by the militants at around noon and an encounter followed at Amlaiguri under Bijni police station in which the casualties occurred, Additional Superintendent of Police P Langhang said.

The deceased personnel were identified as Kishore Kant, Pratao Singh, Amit Tiwari and Haisu Serfa. The injured were rushed to the Kokrajhar civil hospital.

A massive search has been launched by the police and Army to track down the militants who managed to escape.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2610/at013

 

[Oracle]

PDS items, free seeds being smuggled out to Bangla
R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, July 26 – Cattle smuggling to Bangladesh always remains a major cause of concern, but what is more disturbing is that items distributed through the Public Distribution System (PDS) at subsidized rates to poor families as well as seeds distributed free of cost to the farmers are also being smuggled out to the neighbouring country.
Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that a number of PDS items, particularly blue kerosene and sugar are being smuggled out to Bangladesh, which is a major cause of concern. Sources said that there should be a proper survey of the people living in the char areas located near the international border and ration cards should be issued accordingly so that the allocation of food items is fully need-based. Only the Border Security Force (BSF) cannot stop smuggling of PDS items as it is done in small quantities and not in bulk and there is need for coordination among the district administration, police and the BSF to check the menace.

Sources revealed that there have been instances of seed distributed to the farmers free of cost being smuggled out of the country and to deal with this problem also, proper coordination is required. The boats plying between Dhubri town and the chars located near the international border should be checked thoroughly by the authorities concerned, sources added.

Though seizures of cattle by the BSF along the international border increased substantially and the border guarding force seizes cattle worth more than Rs 2 crore along the international border every year, the problem has not been checked completely. Sources said that cattle smuggling should be taken seriously by the Government as it can have other ramifications as there have been instances when the BSF seized fake Indian currency notes from cattle smugglers and thus cattle trade poses the risk of sustaining a flourishing fake currency racket. Sources said that the militants can also take the help of cattle smugglers to cross the international border or to smuggle in weapons to India. Moreover, as the BSF hands over the seized cattle to the Customs department for auctioning the same off, the possibility of the smugglers purchasing the same cannot be ruled out. Sources said that the laws need to be made more stringent to prevent cattle smuggling as no one can be booked under the present laws if the cattle are not seized right on the zero line.

Recently the BSF seized a huge number of boats used for smuggling out forest produces including stones and timber from the West Khasi Hills area which proved that smuggling of forest produce is going on. Though the BSF carries out patrolling on the riverine international border, this is not adequate and there is need for increasing police vigil on the banks of the river on the Indian side to deal with smuggling through the river routes, sources added.

Sources said that to improve the situation, the work of fencing the international border should be expedited and there should be a second line of defence behind the BSF all along the international border. More police stations can be set up on the banks of the river Brahmaputra so that the riverine border is guarded properly, while security vigil on the chars needs to be intensified immediately, sources said. It may be mentioned here that the BSF has also been stressing the need for a second line of defence to improve border management and the issue has been raised by the senior officers of the border guarding force on different occasions at various levels.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2710/at09

 

[Oracle]

Manipur saw 524 bandhs in 5 years
Correspondent
IMPHAL, July 26 – Manipur has witnessed 524 bandhs and 104 blockades in the last 15 years, from 1995 to 2010, causing a loss of Rs 2-3 crore per day due to bandhs and blockades on the highways connecting the State with the rest of the country.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh disclosed this while replying to a question by opposition leader O Joy of Manipur People's Party in the State Assembly recently.

These bandhs and blockades have, Ibobi said, been called by numerous students' organisations, civil societies, political parties and even underground groups with demands ranging from "purely localised issues to political, religious, administrative and other such matters".

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2710/oth07

 

[Oracle]

AUDF leader flays Rockybul's accusation
Correspondent
KALGACHIA, July 26 – "The evil politics by different parties about the agitation of the AAMSU at Barpeta on July 21 in demand of preparation of a correct NRC is quite deplorable. I challenge the irresponsible remarks made by Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain accusing the AUDF and me of being introduced in the Barpeta incident. In this regard, I want to say that showing moral support to each minority and suppressed people through democratic demonstrations is desirable. AAMSU is the backbone of the minority people. Minority people from different parties like Congress, AUDF, AGP, etc., took part in the agitation for the sake of their moral responsibilities and not at the instigation from any quarters. As an ex-president of AAMSU and as a guardian, I have cooperated with the organisation and by participating in the procession of July 21, I performed my pious duty."
This was stated by AUDF's general secretary Abdus Samad Ahmed in a press meet held at Ruposi on Friday. Expressing sorrow over the killing of four innocent people, the AUDF leader said that being an eyewitness, he observed that the district administration was completely responsible for the unexpected incident. Without giving any warning and without using teargas, the police fired at the innocent mob. He demanded a judicial investigation into the inhuman act and adequate compensation for the victims.

Asking AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjya to stop his conspiratory and extreme regionalist statements he dared him to come to Barpeta and prove where the Bangaldeshis attacked the indigenous people. A correct NRC should be prepared on the basis of the 1971 voters list, excluding all foreigners and including all Indian citizens, Ahmed maintained. He appealed to all sections of people in the State to maintain peace and harmony.

The press meet was attended by Liyakat Ali Khan, executive member, AUDF, Mazibur Rahman Khan, Barpeta district president of the party Hafiz Rafiqul Islam, general secretary, State Yuva Morch, Khandakar Zakir Hussain, State secretary, Aminul Islam, Ruposi AP chairman and Shajida Khatun, secretary, Mahila Morcha.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2710/state06

 

[Oracle]

Opp leaders call for peace, harmony in Barpeta
Correspondent
BARPETA July 26 – The Bharatitya Janata Party (BJP) has termed the Barpeta violence as unfortunate and has demanded commencement of updating of National Register of Citizens in all the districts and demanded that all the culprits involved in the carnage of the July 21 should be brought to book and arrested immediately.
Talking to newsmen on her arrival here for an on the spot assessment, the national vice president of the party and Member of Parliament Bijaya Chakraborty said that the incident that happened at Barpeta is very much untoward and it could have been avoided by the administration . "There may be some sort of misunderstanding among the common people but the vandalisation and destruction of public property by any one is not at all acceptable and at the same time killing of civilians by the security forces is also not tolerable", Chakravorty said and added that peace and harmony must prevail in the State for the development of all.

Referring to the statement by the Chief Minister and some of his colleagues that there is some third party behind the incidents, she demanded that the Government should identify the third party and punish it. The third party reference by the Government is an evasive and instigational statement. She said and reiterated that the culprits should be arrested in no time. She emphasised that the work on the pilot project of the NRC should continue at any cost.

The forthcoming 14th August is the 25th anniversary of the historic Assam Accord and any kind of hurdle in the NRC preparation is not only a negligence toward this accord but also averse to the national interest", she said and added that names of any person, whether Hindu or Muslim, coming to India on or before the cut off date of March 25, 1971 should be included there.

Terming the decision of the State government to suspend the NRC updating process as a very weak one, she and demanded that such a Government should resign from power. The party also demanded that the process should begin in all the districts of the State from August 15. She also demanded that all the land of the State encroached by the suspected Bangladeshi should be freed by the Government.

In a significant statement, the BJP leader said that though the district administration is responsible for the incidents to a great extent the removal of the Deputy Commissioner or the Superintendent of Police will not solve the problem.

Meanwhile, the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has alleged that the State Government is directly responsible for the incidents in Barpeta and said that it is a vote bank politics of the Congress party. Addressing mediapersons in Barpeta on Saturday, after visiting several areas in the district including the residences of those killed in the police firing that day the leader of the opposition in the state assembly and the president of the party said that what happened in Barpeta Chandra Mohan Patowary was very unfortunate.

He alleged that as all parties and organisations in the State have expressed consensus as to the cut off date for the preparation of the National Register Citizens, it has become inevitable on the part of the Government to complete the process. But as the ruling party is apprehensive of vote banks it has adopted roundabout way to avoid the work. He warned the government to desist from vote bank politics and resume the works on the pilot project in the greater interest of the nation and condemned the announcement of the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to suspend the work on the project. At the same time he urged the Government to clarify all the anomalies that have arisen so that no genuine Indian citizen is left out for any mistake in the process.

The Opposition leader also requested all concerned to maintain peace and harmony and cooperate in the process of the preparation of the NRC. Patowary claimed that he had visited several areas in the district, talked to cross sections of the people and realised that everyone wants a smooth passage for the updating process.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul2710/state05

 

[RAM]

Ulfa jailbreak brain netted

Shillong, July 28: The BSF apprehended an Ulfa cadre, who had masterminded a jailbreak, in West Garo Hills in the wee hours today.
Columbus Marak, 27, arrested by West Garo Hills police for carrying out criminal activities, including extortion, in Garo hills in February 2008, escaped from Tura Jail with three others the next month after beating up the warden. After the guard fell unconscious from the beating, the gang took the key from him and opened the gate of the prison to walk free. Columbus, a member of the 109 battalion of Ulfa, had been at large since then and was on the wanted list of Meghalaya police. The BSF said acting on a tip-off around 2.30am today, the troops deployed in West Garo Hills apprehended Columbus from Hathimara, 350km from here. The militant, from Dalu in West Garo Hills, was apprehended while he was trying to infiltrate into Indian territory.According to the BSF, Colombus had undergone training in Bhutan in 2003 before he was sent to operate in Garo hills where he was engaged in largescale extortion. He would also target people for extortion along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
Last year on October 24, a homeguard foiled a jailbreak attempt in West Garo Hills district by firing at a gang of undertrials in Tura Jail, injuring one as another made a suicide bid to evade arrest. The 13 undertrial prisoners, however, were not as lucky as the gang of seven led by Full Moon Dhar that pulled off a sensational escape from Shillong Jail on May 31.
In a separate incident around 3.30am today, the BSF at Mahendraganj border outpost in West Garo Hills arrested Ulfa linkman, Golzim A. Sangma, 19, of Chibongre village in the West Garo Hills.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100729/jsp/northeast/story_12740799.jsp​

 

[171K]

Demographic Invasion of India From the North East

http://www.indiandefencereview.com/2010/07/demographic-invasion-of-indian-north-east.html

 

[ajtr]

'Pastors trafficking NE children for church grants and foreign donations'​

NEW DELHI: Promising proper education, pastors are trafficking children from the north-eastern states to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka with an oblique motive to get grants from churches and abroad, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights said in a damning report to the Supreme Court.

Inquring into recent rescue of hundreds of children trafficked from the NE states and housed in Homes illegally run by pastors in the southern states, NCPCR found that girls were even asked to give massage to the directors of these Homes and molested.

Analysing the situation in a detailed report, NCPCR said insurgency coupled with the virtual absence of government officials at the sub-district and block level to address the education, health and developmental problems have made the entire north-east an easy hunting ground for middlemen to lure out children from parents in the name of providing them proper education.

"All-out effort are being made by pastors and other category of persons who are reaching out to source areas through middlemen for getting children in order to obtain financial support from churches within the country or donations from outside," the NCPCR said in response to a direction from the apex court to inquire into the incidents.

The source areas for the pastors are Tamnglong, Senapati, Chandel, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Imphal in Manipur, North Cachar Hills in Assam and Meghalaya. The destination states are TN, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

"The main reason for children being sent out by the poor parents to far off places in southern states is due to their high expectation of quality education for their children which is not available at their own places," the Commission said.

The other main reasons for the parents agreeing to send their children far away were no easy access to schools; lack of basic infrastructure such as road connectivity, power and hospitals; insurgency and lack of a sense of security among parents to send children walking to schools; poor financial status of parents preventing them from putting children in boarding schools; and absence of governance in sub-district and block level to address education, health and developmental problems of vulnerable families.

This provides a perfect opportunity for middlemen to exploit the situation and is being taken advantage of by pastors. But, the children get caught between the devil at home and the deep sea in the Homes in southern states, NCPCR said.

"Mostly these children from north-east who are brought to TN and Karnataka are put in Tamil and Kannada-medium schools for study. It is not easy for these children to have education in the languages which are not spoken in their states," the Commission said.

Apart from giving a series of recommendatory directions to the NE states to improve the educational and health facilities, NCPCR asked the Union HRD ministry to supply data about the number of schools and hostels in the north-east currently occupied by the armed forces.

While asking the HRD ministry to open Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas and model schools in the affected areas, the Commission said the Union home ministry must ensure that "the para-military forces vacate the schools and hostels occupied by them and submit an action taken report within two months to the SC".

Read more: 'Pastors trafficking NE children for church grants and foreign donations' - India - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...nations/articleshow/6262576.cms#ixzz0vok0RGMt

 

[ajtr]

Buddhists Under Threat to Embrace Christianity in Arunachal Pradesh​

By sinlung / On : 10:18 PM/


By Jyoti Lal Chowdhury
Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India is a home to 20 major and about 100 sub tribes. They have been living peacefully for centuries.

A Tikhak family with monks. The Tikhak Tangsa tribe is under severe pressure to convert to Christianity by fundamentalists with the help of local militants

But, they are now in perpetual fear, particularly after the Chinese aggression of 1962, of extinction of their distinct culture and tribal faiths at the hands of Christian missionaries. In fact, this oasis of peace in the turbulent frontier region has also come under the impact of feverish proselytisation design. Although there was not a single Christian in 1951, their number rose to 1438 in 1961, 2,593 in 1971 and in 2001, the trend is quite alarming.

This is clear from the census report of 2001. Of the total population of 10,97,968, 7,05,158 are schedule tribes, constituting 64.2 per cent of total population. Of the total population of ST, 47.2 per cent has been returned as "other religion followers", besides 26.5 per cent of STs are Christians, 13.1 per cent Hindus and 11.7 per cent Buddhists. Sizeable population among Adi, Nishi, Nocte and Wancho have been converted to Christianity. Khampti, Monpa, Momba, Sherdukpen and Singpho are mostly followers of Buddhism.

Foreseeing the alarming trend of conversion activities of the missionaries, it is to be recalled, all the tribal organisations started mass movement against it and ultimately the territorial Assembly passed the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Indigenous Faith Bill 1978 providing legal and constitutional protection from conversion to other faiths alien to Arunachal Pradesh, "by force, fraud, inducement and allurement."

But despite the Act and the inner line restrictions on movement of non-tribals, missionaries could make considerable headway in bringing a sizeable number of tribals into Christian fold, particularly in Lohit and Subansiri district. Arunachalees still recall with gratitude the fold stand taken by Lt. Governor K A A Raja and the then Chief Minister Prem Khandu Thangon for the enactment of the Religious Freedom Bill in the face of stiff opposition by the Christian political leaders of Meghalaya and Nagaland and the influential 'Shillong Churches Committee'.

The dreaded terrorist outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland led by Isac Chish Swu, chairman, and Thuingalem Muivah, general secretary, better known as NSCN (IM) and regarded as the fountain-head of insurgency in north east region, which is claiming and campaigning for the inclusion of Naga inhabited areas of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh in greater Nagaland, has hidden its design to convert the people of these contiguous areas into Christianity.

After Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh is now the soft target of the missionaries with enormous funds from Uncle Sam's country. It was not long ago that a group of 11 American and Canadian missionaries in the name of four-day harvest and healing festival near Itanagar induced the innocent people of the state for religious conversion. They not only camouflaged their identity but also their intent and purpose, besides four if them could make their entry in the state on the strengthen of two visas and two passports.

The Buddhists monks said that in the last days, of May 22 NSCN (IM) rebels armed with AK 47 and SLRs warned the villagers to convert to Christianity by June 4 or else face dire consequences. They have identified the militant commander leader Mitchel Lingam Tangkhul. Both the Buddhists monks have drawn the attention of the government, security forces and international Buddhists Forum towards the NSCN (IM) threat.

He threatened them to embrace Christianity and cautioned them not to celebrate any festival in glory of Buddha. The role of catholic priests of Miao Bishop's is also reported by the Forum.

Some background information on Arunachal Pradesh's various tribes

Tangsa is a major tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. There are more than 17 sub-tribes in Tangsa. The Tikhak is one of the sub-tribes of it. The Tikhaks are inhabitants of Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.

Some of these people have settled in Tinsukia district of Assam, adjacent to Changlang district.

The Tikhak is the oldest group to arrive at the present locations, probably in AD 1300, after the appearance of the Ahoms in Assam, India.

They have a rich culture and traditions. Their dances, like Ongle Tam, Ongle and Bongtom, are the classical form of dances. They have classical songs called Bayangsai and Rung Wang.

Famous heritage sites of Changlang district are Second World War Cemetery, Stilwell Road, Hell Gate, Ashoka (Buddha) Stupa. Namdapha National Park and Pangsau Pass on the Indo Myanmar

(Source: Easternbookcorporation)

 

[ajtr]

Govt funds used to aid Assam terror group: NIA​

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Tuesday filed charges in an Assam court against 16 people, including politicians and government servants, for allegedly channelising crores of rupees of developmental funds to a terrorist gang to procure arms.

A charge sheet submitted to the chief judicial magistrate at a special court in Guwahati named government servants, contractors, politicians and terrorists of the insurgent outfit Dima Halam Daogah in the case.



The accused include members of the autonomous hill council Mohet Hojai and Golon Daulagupu, government engineer Karuna Saikia, social welfare officer Radaul Hussain Khan and contractors Jibangsu Paul, Phojendra Hojai, J.K. Ghosh, Sandeep Ghosh and Debashis Bhattacharjee.

They have been accused of "conspiring to defalcate huge amounts of developmental funds allocated to the North Cachar Hills Council (now Dimahasao district) for the procurement of arms and for other activities of the terrorist gang in order to wage war against the state," a home ministry statement said here.

The NIA alleged that "huge amounts of developmental funds were defalcated and transferred to the terrorists through Kolkata with the help of couriers and hawala operators".

According to the statement, the funds reached arms dealer Vanlalchhana of Mizoram.

The arms dealer supplied ammunition to the terror outfit on the directions of its leaders Niranjan Hojai and Jewel Garlosa.

A large number of sophisticated arms including 27 AK and M-16 rifles were recovered during investigation.

The NIA has arrested two members of the group, Ahshringdao Waris and Samir Ahmed, who were allegedly associated with Garlosa.

The investigation of the case was spread over Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Karnataka and West Bengal.

"The case also had international dimensions with the leaders of the DHD reaching out to Nepal, Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar for conducting and supervising operations in North Cachar Hills by remaining away from the areas of operations," the home ministry statement said.

The terrorist leaders used contacts in Myanmar to organise the procurement of arms utilizing the funds and then channelled the supply of arms through the Mizoram-Myanmar border.

 

[ajtr]

ULFA rebels step up recruitment drive in Assam​

Guwahati, Nov 3: At a time when the Assam government has been trying to start the process of talks with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the hardliners in the outfit headed by the commander-in-chief, Paresh Barua have launched a fresh recruitment drive to increase the strength of ULFA.

Buzz up!
Sources say though they are not able to recruit good members, but youths in small numbers are being recruited.


Further reports say the ULFA still has strong bases in Myanmar according to inputs available. At least 150 members of the outfit are staying in the camps in the neighbouring country with its senior leaders.

Despite repeated request from the public to remove them, both the Myanmar government and the Assam Rifles has failed to carry out operation to evict the camps of the ULFA rebel groups and now the militants are able to relocate the camps by taking advantage of the terrain.

 

[Oracle]

Call for strong action against NE ultras

NEW DELHI, Dec 19 – Advocating tough measures against militants in the North-east, Congress president, Sonia Gandhi has also underlined the need to keep the option of dialogue open.
Addressing the 83rd Plenary Session of the Congress Party, Gandhi said in parts of the North-east, militant groups disrupt peace and normalcy and have turned extortionist. "We would not be serving the national interest, if we ignored the true nature and character of those who use violence as an instrument. These elements have to be combated with all the means at our command," he added.

However, she also stressed the need for negotiated settlement. "Yet, in the troubled parts of our country, the door of dialogue has to be kept open, the prospect of political accommodation kept alive," Gandhi opined.

That is how over two and a half decades ago, Rajiv Gandhi brought peace back in Punjab, Assam, Mizoram, Tripura and Darjeeling. This is the only way to reconciliation and enduring peace, she said.

"To make this approach truly meaningful we must be sensitive to understanding what causes this violence and keeps it going. In some areas, long-unresolved socio-economic issues provide a fertile ground for anti-national forces to operate and generate sympathy," she observed.

About the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, Gandhi said the issue of alienation of a whole new generation of youth that has known nothing but conflict, must be addressed. "Our security forces are facing a difficult situation with courage and fortitude. At the same time, the political process must get new energy and focus. That is what our government has sought to do by appointing interlocutors," she said.

About Naxal violence, the Congress president called for resolution of issues of daily concern to tribal communities particularly the loss of land and livelihoods and the absence of even the minimum basic services. "This must go hand-in-hand with upgrading police capabilities and effectiveness," Gandhi said.

It was on the issue of communalism that Congress president sounded tough and strongly defended the party's secular stand.

"What is communalism? It is the abuse of religion for narrow political purposes. It is the abuse of religion to spread hatred and bigotry. It is the abuse of religion to polarise our society and to divide us," she said.

"We cannot ignore the pernicious impact of individuals, institutions and ideologies that distort our history, that thrive on spreading religious prejudice and that incite people to violence using religion as a cover."

"The Congress Party makes no distinction between organisations of the majority and of the minority communities who indulge in communalism and related acts of terrorism. They are all dangerous," they must all be defeated" Gandhi said without naming any party or organisation.

Meanwhile, party general secretary, Rahul Gandhi, however, skipped any mention about the recent Wikileaks and saffron terror, focusing instead on organisational matters and UPA Government's flagship programmes.

"Human resource is the fuel of the 21st century. Connectivity is the catalyst that links this fuel to the engine of progress,"he said.

Source: AssamTribune