Rehabilitation of closed industries

— Anal Kumar DasAssam has been passing through problems one after another. This is not something unusual, as, a living society is bound to confront problems. Problems have different dimensions - political, economic, educational, cultural, environmental and so on and so forth. It is also a fact that all problems do not come necessarily at a time. With the problems too, there are ebbs and tides. While some are sudden needing urgent effective approach, some linger baffling solution and some are even kept under carpet. The foreigners issue is one such problem-solution of which has remained elusive. Terrorism, flood, erosion, land grabing, deforestation, health, education, social tension for search for new identity through enlistment as scheduled tribes by ethnic communities have claimed pointed attention. However voices raised for these problems, have shadowed vital problem like unemployment with which the young generation and so the future of the State is involved. In matter of creation of job avenues, government option is limited. Some ray of hopes was sparkled in the last seventies setting some industrial activities in motion. In reality substantial jobs in industries related with oil, paper mill, spinning mill,, were createdmore particularly in lower Assam.

Unfortunately the industrial units which once raised so much promises like Ashok Paper Mills at Jogighopa, Spinning Mills at Bijni, Tihu, Boitamari are all closed. At present there is no major initiative in sight for employment generation other than the Gas Cracker Project. The clasure of Ashok Paper Mills and three spinning mills at Manikpur, Tihu, Boitamari and also Match Factory (WIMCO) at Dhubri has thrown out about 5,000 direct employees out of jobs, the indirect employment being many more.

With too much of technology upgradation, competition for marketing, the industrial units may not be prospective for revival although demands are there. It ought to be mentioned that lower Assam, more particularly the undivided district of Goavara passed through phases of agitation in the last sixties. People took to the streets ventilate their grievances which also received political colour. The economic frustration created political emotion taking the shape of demand for autonomous State like Kamatapur Rajya. Nonetheless the demand was region inclusive. Later the demand became ethnicity centric culminating into Bodoland. The demand for Kamatapur Rajya was kept under the carpet, but it did not die. The demand has again resurfaced with a new dimension when the demand has become community centric.

There may be different interpretations of the demands like autonomy, separate State, or even for sovereign country, but none can deny that economic factors like regional backwardness and unemployment have played the dominant role in making the people restive. While efforts must be there to provide gainful employment to the unemployed, the economic slow-down, factors of globalisation, rise of private players will affect the government’s initiative for new industries. It is a harsh reality.

The above reinforces the demand for revival of closed industries. But even then as revival is not in sight and which is a distant possibility, consideration has to be applied to reuse or rehabilitate the resources and capital invested in the closed industries and,to be more specific in Ashok Paper Mills, Spinning Mills at Bijni, Tihu, Jagiroad, Boitamari etc. The case of Ashok Paper Mills is more focused in the sense that the revival of the Mill constituted a part of the historic Assam Accord in 1985. Since 1985 more than 20 years have elapsed and still revival is not in sight and for all practical purposes, the mill is folded up forever. That the government has not taken the revival issue seriously is clear from a statement in the floor of Parliament where the government has stated that a committee has been constituted to assess the technological feasibility of the revival of the mills. If that be the response of the government after 28 years of the Assam Accord, one can easily understand that the revival issue of the mill has taken the backseat in government’s scheme of things.

It was also heard that Ashok Paper Mills was to be taken over oy Hindustan Paper Mills Corporation (HPC). But as it has not materialised till now perhaps it is simply an eye wash. Although it is a certainty that the mill is not going to be revived, people welcome the efforts of revival of Ashok Paper Mill. But considering that materialisation is a distant possibility, it is essential that some consideration is applied to save and reuse the assets of the mill to the best possible extent.

No matter whether the mill is revived or not, all existing employees should be given a golden handshake with cle arance of all dues. It is in order to put an end to their hardship and suffering. As of now there are more than three hunderd employees sitting idle in the mill campus.

In lieu of revival, the alternative will be the rehabilitation or reuse of its assets which stand till today and can be reused or rehabilated through a decision. The rehabilitation of the assets may be possible through schemes of agricultural ventures, rubber plantation, tea garden, horticultural farms and fish farms - which the spacious site of about 2270 bighas of land can ideally offer.

Alternatively, the township with cluster of houses, playground, recreation club, guest house, canteen, market, electricity and water supply and other infrastructural facilities, can be considered for conversion into an educational centre for establishment of Novaday Vidalaya, Engineering College, ITI etc.

There is a proposal of a river port at Jogighopa which will require a residential township. The present mill site can be considered for such a need.

In the light of the above suggestions, some exercise can be underaken for rehabilitation of the assets lying idle in spinning mills at Tihu, Bijni and Boitamari which will at least save some amount of capital, besides creating alternative avenues of jobs. source: assam tribune

North East News

No headway in probe

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday talked tough and warned terrorists against trying to destabilise the country, even as the investigators are still groping in the dark over Thursday's serial blasts in Assam.

Ruling out any compromise in the fight against terror, Dr Singh indicated he would take up with Bangladesh the possible involvement of militant outfit HuJI based in that country in Thursday's serial blasts in Assam.

"If other governments are involved we will take up the matter with them," the Prime Minister said without naming Bangladesh.

"Whosoever is responsible for these dastardly act... we will take effective measures," he told reporters at the Gauhati Medical College Hospital after visiting the injured here accompanied by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Meanwhile, rejecting the charge levelled by BJP that his government was soft on terror, the Prime Minister said "we are not going soft on terror. There can be no compromise with terror."

Asked about the identity of those involved in the blast, he said "we will look into the clues available and it will not be proper on my part to come to any conclusion."

"Proper investigations are on to find out the culprit," Dr Singh said.

But the investigation agencies of both Centre and State were yet to make much headway on Thursday's blasts in lower Assam except some general statement that the attacks might be a joint operation of HujI and ULFA.

What had been confirmed by the state police that all the bombs of Guwahati and Barepeta Road were kept in cars.

Assam Police IGP (Law and order) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta told newsmen that the investigating team had tracked original owners of some of the vehicles, used in the blasts.

''It has been found out that in each of the cases either the vehicles were sold off long time back or stolen. But as a precautionary measure we have picked up some of the owners,'' he said adding that so far four persons had been arrested.

The arrival of SMS to a local television channel had further made the scenario complex as it was apparent that a highly sophisticated communication network was being resorted to by using the phone numbers of some genuine customers to divert the investigation. '' After we got the news of the SMS, we swung into action and caught the original owner of the number of Nazeer Ali. It seemed that his SIM was copied and used by someone else simultaneously, '' Mr Mahanta said.

'' This could be diversionary tactics or may be a genuine one. we are not leaving any stone unturned to come to a conclusion, '' said Mr Mahanta adding special investigation team for the bomb blast would be led by IGP Chanranathan.

The terrorists had used three separate Maruti cars, which were recently bought from the second hand car market.

Later addressing a high-level meeting attended by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, his Cabinet colleagues and top army, police and civil officials, Dr Singh assured all help to the state government in tackling terror.

He reviewed the law and order situation at the meeting held at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport and said the Centre would support the state government in "this hour of crisis" and expressed his government's firm resolve to fight terror and ensure security to the people of Assam.

Dr Singh and Gandhi, accompanied by Union Minister of Heavy Industries Santosh Mohan Dev, who arrived here amidst a statewide bandh called by several organisations, left for Delhi after the visit.

Streets of Guwahati were deserted at the time of visit of the two leaders because of a statewide bandh called by the BJP and the VHP. The bandh was total all over the state.

The lawyers of the Guwahati submitted a memorandum to the two leaders demanding fulfillment of various demands including full-proof security to the court complex.

DEATH TOLL UP: Meanwhile, the death toll in Thursday's serial blasts on Saturday rose to 81 with four more persons succumbing to their injuries here. While three died at Gauhati Medical College Hospital, another died at Basistha Army Hospital, official sources said, adding that the condition of 20 other injured was critical. ( With inputs from our correspondent & agencies)

Bodo leaders condemn reports on ISF-IM

Kokrajhar: Bodo leaders on Saturday condemned the reports of existence of little-known outfit Islamic Security Force-Indian Mujahideen (ISF-IM) here and its involvement in the serial blasts, saying it is a "political conspiracy" to malign the Bodo people.

"There is a deep rooted political conspiracy to malign the Bodo people and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area by substantiating claims of the Islamic Security Force-Indian Mujahideen to be behind the blasts in Assam," BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary said.

Denying the presence of such an organisation in BTC area and its formation in 2000 to fight the BLT and NDFB, Mohilary, a former leader of the disbanded insurgent outfit BLT, said, "the political conspiracy is to disturb peace and incite communal hatred in the BTC areas."

Mohilary, whose Bodoland Peoples Progressive Forum is a partner of the ruling Congress in the state, demanded clarification from the government that such an Islamic organisation was created against the Bodos.

"If it was created then, why did the authorities and police officials keep silent for so long? This proves a security and political nexus with this outfit," he alleged while speaking to reporters here.

Discounting media reports quoting official sources about the existence of ISF-IM, he said BLT was created for a separate statehood movement and "there was no element of fighting or targeting of any community for their removal".

BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyari said the security system in the State would be responsible in case of any panic or exodus due to "this kind of sensation."

The ISF-IM on Friday in a SMS to a local private TV channel claimed responsibility for the serial blasts that killed 77 people on Thursday in Assam.

The hitherto little known outfit had in the SMS also warned of more bomb blasts in the state other parts of the country. "We thank all our holy members and partners," said the SMS, received in the mobile phone of the channel's input desk from a Reliance mobile number 98646-93690.

The mobile phone was subsequently switched off and security forces traced it to Moirabari in Nagaon district registered in the name of one Nazir Ahmed.

Three persons, including Nazir Ahmed, have been arrested in this connection, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta told reporters here.

Deal situation with highest national priority: AGP

The AGP on Saturday asked the Centre to deal with the situation arising out of the serial blasts in Assam with "highest national priority".

"The situation of the Northeastern region would become worst than that of Kashmir if the central government fails to realise the urgent need of dealing with a highest priority," AGP general secretary and MP Sarbananda Sonowal said here.

Accusing Congress of being casual on the country's security in the wake of serial blasts which claimed more than 70 lives, Sonowal appealed to all political parties to raise their voice against the ruling party in Assam.

"The Congress party has attempted to communalise the security concern of the country. Number of instances are available whereby it could be concluded that the party has been adopting a casual approach in dealing such anti-Indian forces," he said, adding "the intensity of their activities are growing with an alarming rate day by day posing a great threat to the national security".

BJP condemns blast

Our reporter adds: BJP's Meghalaya Minority Morcha has condemned the recent serial blasts in Assam in which 82 innocent people were killed and hundreds injured.

In a release issued by president, State Minority Morcha of the BJP Sharif Ahmed, the BJP put the blame on the UPA Government for its failure to check cross-border terrorism which is responsible for the blasts. The BJP also demanded immediate resignation of Tarun Gogoi for his complete failure to fulfil his duties towards the public.

Pranab to attend Buddha Mahotsav

Itanagar: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will attend the eight Buddha Mahtosava to be held at Tawang from November nine.

Mukherjee will be the chief guest at the inaugural function of the three-day festival. Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and Minister of State at PMO Prithviraj Chavan will also attend the programme, an official release said here on Saturday.

Work is going on in full swing to restore the vital road link from Balipara in Assam to Tawang, which was breached at several points following recent flash flood at Rupa, before the commencement of the festival.

Pawanhans has recently introduced daily chopper service between Guwahati and Tawang, the picturesque land of Monpas housing the second largest Buddhist Monastery in the world after the one in Lhasa in Tibet.

An alternative 450 km route from Rawta in Assam via Balemu-Kalaktang-Rupa-Bomdila is being made operational for light vehicles by today, the release added. (PTI)

Bomb hoax

Agartala: Panic gripped the autorickshaw union office at Akhaura Road here after an anonymous caller rang up and said that bombs were kept in the unclaimed bag lying in the office, which later proved to be a hoax, police sources said on Saturday. The anonymous caller rang up the union office last night and said bombs were kept in an unclaimed bag lying in the office. The office bearers immediately rang up the police, who rushed to the spot along with the bomb squad personnel, sources said. The bomb squad personnel after checking the bag found no bombs inside it, sources said adding some substances looking like bombs were kept inside it. (PTI)

Tripura to have reserve for jumbos soon

From Our Correspondent

Agartala: Tripura Board for Wildlife, in its first meeting, approved a number of plans for overall development of wildlife wealth in the State.

The meeting that was presided over Chief Minister Manik Sarkar here on Friday gave its nod to the plan for setting up of an elephant reserve at Atharamura hills in West Tripura district.

The District Magistrate has been asked to form a three-member team to study various aspects including rehabilitation of 800 indigenous families likely to be evacuated if the plan is implemented.

According to preliminary survey, around 800 families will be uprooted if the project is implemented.

The committee that would be led by District Magistrate, will have to submit its report within the next three months. "Final decision will be taken after studying the report of the three-member panel" an official of the Forest Department said.

Latest census indicates an increase in the number of elephants in the State. As on today, the number of elephants stands at 59.

Besides this, decisions for setting up conservation centre for mammals at Hatipara and critical wildlife habitats were also taken up in the meeting. Chief Wildlife Warden AK Gupta, who was present in the meeting, informed that the number of elephants has increased in the State. He also informed that work was underway to make Sipahijala Wildlife Sanctuary as a national park for clouded leopard.

Later, Chief Minister also unveiled a newsletter on State's wildlife.

Speaking at the meeting, he exhorted to make a film on State's wildlife life wealth.

Ultras abduct firm employee

Agartala: An employee of a private construction firm engaged in border construction work has been kidnapped by the insurgents of Borok National Council of Tripura from remote Durjoyroajapara tribal hamlet in Dhalai district, police said on Saturday. A group of ultras raided the tribal hamlet on Friday and kidnapped Manik Saha (28) at gunpoint when he was supervising border construction there. Saha was employed in a private construction firm, police said adding the ultras kidnapped him for ransom. (PTI)

Aizawl hotspot for Myanmar bike lifters

Aizawl: Aizawl that borders Myanmar has become a hotspot for its bike lifters as made-in-India bikes such as Bajaj Pulsar are in great demand in the neighbouring country. Aizawl police, who have recovered stolen Pulsar and Yamaha R15, which were being carried to Myanmar recently, said this was only a tip of the iceberg.

As complains of missing bikes keep pouring in the Aizawl police stations, a good number of bikes with Mizoram registration numbers were reportedly seen in Myanmar towns bordering Mizoram, police added. Three Myanmarese were, meanwhile, arrested along with an Indian driver who transported the stolen bikes recently.

Police intercepted the thieves near Seling town, about 40 kms from here when they were evidently heading for Myanmar. This was not for the first time that police have intercepted the stolen bikes being carried to Myanmar. (UNI)

Over 6 lakh youth jobless in Manipur

Imphal: More than 6.33 lakh unemployed educated youths have registered with employment exchanges in Manipur, official sources said on Saturday. Sources said altogether 6,33,451 educated youths including 1,73.645 females have registered at different employment exchanges in nine districts of Manipur till Semptember 2008. Sources said the total population of Manipur is about 23 lakh people.(PTI)

Manipur celebrates harvest festival

Imphal: The Kut festival, a post harvest festival of the Kuki Chin Mizo groups of Manipur was celebrated on Saturday with pomp and splendour.

Hundreds of people thronged the Manipur Rifles ground here to participate in the main function where cultural programmes of various Kuki Chin Mizo tribes were organised.

The day has been declared as a holiday by the State Government to celebrate the post harvesting festival.

Dignitaries like Governor Gurbhachan Jagat, Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh, Cabinet ministers, MLAs and senior civil and police Officers participated in the progarmme to enjoy the colourful festival.

Governor Gurbhachan Jagat said the festival symbolizes gratitude, compassion and gaiety.

It also provides a platform to people cutting across the barriers of caste, creed and religion to make a sincere introspection of their own thoughts and values.

''Let the Kut 2008, spread the message of peace,harmony,brotherhood compassion and forgiveness and usher in peaceful co-existence in Manipur'' he added.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said, spirit of Kut is all about sharing and understanding harmonious co-existence co-operation and merriment.

'' The best way to celebrate festivals like Kut is to strive for building a harmonious society and work for strengthening the bond of amity'' he added. (UNI)

2 armed activists killed in encounter

Imphal: Two armed activists were killed in an encounter between Assam rifles personnels at Behing village in Manipur's Churachandpur district and bordering with Myanmar on Thursday last, according to delayed sources said here on Saturday.

Sources said that some armed activists attacked at the 9th Assam Rifles post at Behing village.Assam rifles jawans retaliated and exchange of fire continued for two hours. During the surch operation the next day two bullet riddled bodies were recovered by Assam rifles jawans from nearby hill and jungle areas.

The identity of the two deceased are yet to be known, sources added. (PTI)

B’desh intelligence, ISI, ULFA behind blasts, Army tells PM

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By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Nov 1: Top-level Army officials present at the meeting of the Asom Cabinet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in presence of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and top-level officials at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport informed Dr Singh that Bangladeshi intelligence, ISI of Pakistan and the ULFA were behind the October 30 serial blasts in the State, sources said. In his reply, the Prime Minister told the Army officials that if the involvement of the foreign intelligence agencies was proved, the Centre would definitely take up the matter with the said countries.
Assam Police spokesman Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, on the other hand, informed newsmen today that Maruti 800 cars were used in the blasts in Guwahati. The Maruti car used in the blast at Ganeshguri had been purchased from Itanagar, and the State police is contacting Itanagar DIG (SB) on the matter, Mahanta said, and added: “A PTD switch was also found at the site of the Ganeshguri blast.”
Mahanta said the police has arrested Tikendrajit Saikia as the car used in the blast at the CJM Court had been purchased by him from Pallabi Motors of Guwahati in 2004. Saikia, however, told the police during interrogation that he had handed over the car to Pallabi Motors for sale in 2006, and received Rs 92,000 as price of the car. Mahanta said the police is investigating the case with Pallabi Motors.
“The motorcycle used in the blast at Bongaigaon was that of Biswa Borgohain of Kahilipara in Guwahati. Borgohain, however, said his motorcycle was stolen, and a case was also lodged at Dispur police station in this regard,” he said, and added that Borgohain was also arrested.
Meanwhile, based on the statement of government advocate Pradip Kar on the two suspects who might have triggered the blast at the CJM Court, the Assam Police is going the draw the sketches of the suspects with the help an artist from Kolkata.
According to Mahanta, the police picked up Moirabari Reliance Service owner Najmul Haque (Babul) and Baharul Cell Point owner Baharul for interrogation in connection with the serial blasts. Meanwhile, Nagaon police handed over Tikendrajit Saikia, his wife Jonali Saikia, Zulfiqar Ali, Arif Mohammed Nizam and Amrul Haque to Guwahati police.source: the sentinel assam

ULFA: No ties with fundamentalists
By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Nov 1: The ULFA today said that it had no understanding with any religious fundamentalist groups nor would they go for any such understanding in the future. Reacting to the media reports about the possible involvement of the ULFA in the October 30 serial blasts in the State, the rebel group said in the editorial of its mouthpiece Freedom that the ULFA was not involved in the serial blasts. The editorial further said Asom Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma knows the perpetrators of the serial blasts, but he is protecting them.
source: the sentinel assam

Assam to get 245 MW from Tripura project

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CORRESPONDENT
AGARTALA, Oct 26 – Four mega power projects in northeastern region will be operational by 2012 to meet the country’s energy requirement, said Union Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh.

The Union Minister, who came here to mark the commencement of construction work for the 726 MW power project at Palatana in South Tripura district, told reporters that the Central Government has pushed the plan for commissioning four power projects in the North East on schedule.

He said that of the four power projects, two will come up in Arunachal Pradesh (2,000 MW and 750 MW) while one each will be set up in Assam (600 MW) and Tripura (726 MW). Besides, a 500 MW coal- based power project is expected to be implemented in Garo Hills of Meghalaya.

Regarding Palatana project, the Minister said that the construction work of the proposed power plant will be over by end of 2011 while the power generation will commence in April, 2012.

The ONGC, which owns 50 per cent share in the project, has embarked upon a massive exploration drive in Tripura to increase gas production, he said.

According to the power purchase agreement, Assam will receive 245 MW while Tripura will draw 200 MW power from the project, said the Minister.

On being asked how heavy equipments will be transported to Palatana in Udaipur sub division, Ramesh said that the Central Government had approached the Bangladesh Government to allow using Akhaura in bringing equipments meant for the power project.

But Dhaka has turned down the proposal, he said adding that the issue would be taken up with the Bangladesh Government in the next round of dialogue.

Ramesh, also Minister of state for Commerce will visit Dhaka on October 31 to discuss bilateral trade issues with the Bangladesh Government.

He further said the Union Government is mulling to bring heavy equipments through Assam-Agartala National Highway (NH-44) if Dhaka sticks to its stand.

We had a discussion with Border Roads Organization (BRO) to improve the NH-44 so that heavy equipments could be transported to Palatana, he said.

When asked whether the 104 MW power project at Manarchak has been abandoned, Ramesh said that this would also come up by 2012.

The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) will get necessary clearances including Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) within next one and half month, he added. source: assam tribune

North East Today

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Bank deposits safe, says Prime Minister
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured the Lok Sabha that deposits in PSU and private sector banks are "entirely safe" but said the nation must be prepared for a "temporary slowdown" in the economy. In his statement, the Prime Minister said that the banks, both in the public sector and in the private sector, are financially sound, well capitalised and well regulated. He struck a note of caution against the backdrop of a stock market crash and fears of global crisis hitting the Indian banks. Exuding confidence over huge capital investment in the pipeline, he said, "nevertheless, we must be prepared for a temporary slowdown in the Indian economy".

RBI cuts repo rate by 100 bps to 8%
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
In an expected but significant move, the Reserve Bank of India on Monday cut the key short-term lending rate (repo) by 100 basis points or one percent to 8 percent. It is the first time since 2004 that the central bank has reduced the repo rate. The rate cut comes into force with immediate effect and would help boost liquidity in the Indian markets. It will also help lower interest rates and spur consumption to keep the economy ticking. The repo rate cut would make the banks' borrowing from the RBI cheaper.

Lok Sabha adjourned over Assam violence
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second time on Monday as Assam MP S K Bwiswmuthiary staged a sit-in protest over the ethnic violence in his state that has claimed 49 lives earlier this month.
When Lok Sabha re-assembled at 12 noon, Bwiswmuthiary entered the house holding photographs of the violence in Assam and walked right up to the speaker's podium. On Friday also, he had protested because the house did not refer to the people killed in clashes in the state. Bwiswmuthiary said Muslims had insulted the indigenous Bodo religion and that a Bodo woman had been gang raped. The speaker then said he would be allowed to speak after the initial proceedings of the house are over. When Bwiswmuthiary got the chance to speak, he attacked the Muslim community and detailed the incidents of violence that shook the region. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MPs interrupted him and objected to the words used by him. The speaker then asked him to stop his speech and let the house conduct other proceedings. Bwiswmuthiary then marched to the speaker's podium again and accused the United Progressive Alliance government of being responsible for not checking the violence. He staged a brief sit-in near the podium and there was pandemonium in the house as BJP MPs raised slogans in his support. Left MPs criticised his actions and the speaker warned him that he would be suspended if he continued to protest. The Assam MP was later led to his seat, but as he continued his protests, the speaker adjourned the house at 12.35 pm till 4 pm.

Rape slur on CRPF in Udalguri
NE TV Correspondent, Udalguri
20 Oct
Once again there is tension in Udalguri and this reports coming from the troubled area say the peacekeepers are responsible for the fresh tension arising out of a rape incident. Two women were allegedly raped by CRPF jawans deployed in areas under the Udalguri police station.
Tension has gripped Udalguri once again. Even as the troubled Lower Assam district is slowly regaining normality, the latest incident of CRPF Jawans involved in two rape cases could lead to further unrest. The two women one a Bodo aged 45 years and another a Rajbonshi woman aged 35 years have alleged they were raped by the CRPF Jawans in Udalguri area. It may be mentioned that since the communal violence erupted beginning this month in Udalguri, CRPF Jawans had been deployed all over Udalguri and Darrang districts to maintain law and order. However this latest incident has once against cast a slur on the security forces who are supposed to help bring back normalcy. The victims already reeling under the impact of the violence have suffered untold miseries after the incident.

One of them recounts, she was gathering her cattle from the fields when the Jawans chased her and raped her at the field.

The women had initially not wanted to come out in the open against the rape incident out of shame and fear of further harassment. But with the help of nearby people both of them decided to seek police help. Even the police didn't cooperate with the hapless women, they alleged. At the police station, they alleged the police tried to frighten them citing 144 CrPC and curfew in their attempt to prevent the women from lodging any complaint.

The police meanwhile say they are conducting an investigation, now that a complaint has been registered, but they have made no arrests so far. Talking to NETV the officer in Charge of the Udalguri police station said that CRPF's 136th company has been deployed in the area to prevent further outbreak of clashes. The police are yet to act against the guilty Jawans.
The rape incidents are generating protests from various quarters.

Several Bodo and Rajbonshi organizations have condemned the rape incident and called for stringent measures against the guilty CRPF personnel involved. They also threatened to launch agitation if action is not taken immediately.

President awards 1,059 villages for sanitation drive
NE TV Correspondent, Guwahati
20 Oct
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Monday issued a clarion call to implement the ''total cleanliness mission'' in all villages of the country by 2012. Giving away Nirmal Gram Puraskar to the village heads of 1,059 villages of 13 states in the eastern region, she expressed happiness that the rural people were showing interest in the ''total sanitation'' campaign, focussing on points like high dropouts in the school due to lack of sanitation facilities as well as solid waste management.

President Pratibha Patil on Monday presented Nirmal Gram awards to 1059 villages of Eastern region for total cleanliness under the Total Sanoitation programme. The awards were presented in a solemn function held at the Karmabir Nabin Chandra Bordoloi Indoor Stadium. This year, 328villages of Westr Bengal, 226 vilages of Chattisgarh, 156 villages of Bihar, 142 villages of Jharkhand, 94 of Orissa, 37 of Sikkim, 30 of Tripura, 14 of Assam, 11 of Meghalaya, 8 each of Mizoram and Nagaland, 4 of Arunachal Pradesh and one village of Manipur were selected for this year's Nirmal Gram award, presented under the Centre's Total Sanitation programme. In the first phase, 3213 villages of North India were presented the award in a function held at Hissar of Haryana on October 17. While presenting the awards, the President urged the non-government organisations and the government to work in close cooperation with the people in this direction. Stating that sanitation was a key issue as nearly 250 crore people in the world lacked toilet facilities, she said the international community, including the United Nations, was taking steps to motivate the people to go in for complete sanitation. The UN had declared 2008 as International Sanitation Year. She added that the best way to honour womenfolk would be to provide proper sanitation facilities in homes. The President expressed concern that for lack of proper sanitation in schools, girls had to sometimes even quit their studies.

Recalling that the Centre had launched the ''total sanitation mission'' way back in 1999, she exhorted the people to realise the vision of Mahatma Gandhi who had asserted that ''cleanliness was even more important than freedom.'' She appealed to the women and children to play a yeoman role in implementing the ''total cleanliness campaign'' in their areas of influence.
Addressing the function, union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that the Centre has allotted Rs 14,000 crore for implementation of the total sanitation programme in the country.

Assam Governor SC Mathur spoke about the objective of the Nirmal Gram award.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi, who was also present in the function, announced to give top priority to total sanitation and safe drinking water.

The programme was also attended by union minister of state for rural development Chandrasekhar Sahu, Assam revenue minister Dr Bhuumidhar Barman and Public Health Engineering minister Rihan Daimari among others. The Union Rural Development Ministry had introduced the Nirmal Gram Puraskar scheme in 2003 as an initiative for the Panchayati Raj Institutions. Last year about 5,000 villages were awarded and this year the number had increased to over 11,140. However, the programme has not attained much success in the Assam as only 14 villages of the state managed to win the award this year.

Centre to rebuild flood-ravaged houses in Assam
NE TV Correspondent, Guwahati
20 Oct
The houses damaged in this year's flood will be reconstructed by the Centre. This was announced by union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh in Guwahati on Monday.

In a press conference held in Guwahati on Monday, union rural development minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said that all projects under the Bharat Nirman will be completed by 2010. He also promised to allot funds for the developmental projects in 90-10 pattern in stead of the previous 75-25 pattern. He also said that the Northeast has made remarkable progress in rural development.

The minister also told NE TV that the Centre would rebuilt all the houses damaged in the recent flood in Assam. He also informed that his ministry has already released a fund of Rs 6,000 crore for the development of Assam.
He also cautioned against the misuse of machineries of the NREGA scheme. According to the minister, altogether 9 lakh families of 27 districts of Assam have been provided job cards. Besides, 4 lakh bank accounts have also been opened so far in the state.

Security tightened ahead of President's visit to Tezpur
NE TV Correspondent, Tezpur
20 Oct
Security has been tightened in and around Tezpur and adjoining areas in Sonitpur district in view of the president's visit to Tezpur to lay the foundation stone of the fifth Medical college of Assam. Police said they are keeping strict vigil over the venues where the president will be visiting. Besides, the foundation stone laying ceremony, Patil will address a gathering at Tezpur and attend function of the 4 corps of the army.

Meghalaya all set to welcome President Patil
NE TV Correspondent, Shillong
20 Oct
Just ahead of the maiden visit of the country's first citizen to Meghalaya governor RS Mooshahary has termed her visit as very important for the state and all the people are geared up to welcome her when she lands in Shillong and Tura.
The sleepy town of Tura is all set to welcome President of India Pratibha Patil in Tura, the district headquarter of West Garo Hills in Meghalaya. All elaborate preparation is being made to welcome the president for the historic visit. She will be inaugurating the long pending Baljek airport on October 23 and is schedule to address a public gathering at MP stadium Tura. Her excellence will also be meeting senior citizens, NGOs leader and public.

Former Meghalaya CM EK Mawlong laid to rest at Mawprem
NE TV Correspondent, Shillong
20 Oct
Former Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong was finally laid to rest today, to days after his body was kept out of public view as per Khasi tradition. Mawlong was buried as per Catholic Church rituals at the Shillong Cemetery.
Prominent leaders of Meghalaya, different churches, and a large gathering of people took part at the funeral service of the former Chief Minister of Meghalaya EK Mawlong, as he began his last journey from this earth. The funeral service was performed as per Catholic Church rules. A large gathering of clergy and church members were present for the funeral services. Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy, Former Chief Minister Dr. DD Lapang, leaders of the UDP, a party which Mawlong had co-founded, his family members and a large gathering of people of all walks of life from his Umroi constituency and from other parts of the state as well took part in the funeral. Wrapped with the UDP flag, Mawlong was laid to rest at the Mawprem Cemetery. The Meghalaya government accorded him a state funeral and also announced a daylong state mourning on Monday. The Tricolour also flew at half-mast in all government establishments. In his condolence message Donkupar Roy recalled Mawlong's tenure as Chief Minister in 2000-01 and his active service to the state and people. He termed the demise as a great loss for the people. Condoling the death leader of the Opposition DD Lapang said the state had lost a noble son who was loved and respected by the people.

George Lyngdoh the eldest son of EK Mawlong was also present at the funeral. He recalled the days with his father and a determined politician who dedicated himself for his state.
Former Meghalaya chief minister and sitting UDP legislator E.K. Mawlong died on 18th October at Shillong Civil Hospital at the age of 62. He is survived by four sons and two daughters. Mawlong was not keeping well ever since he won the Assembly elections in February on a UDP ticket from Umroi constituency in Ri Bhoi district, defeating Congress candidate Stanlywiss Rymbai. Mawlong started his career as a schoolteacher in 1968 and taught till June 1971. He later worked in the Accountant General's office. As chief minister, Mawlong could complete only a short tenure in office — from March 2000 to December 2001. As the Speaker of the Assembly from 1983 till 1988 and again from 1998 to 2000, Mawlong was known for strictly maintaining the dignity and decorum of the House. In 1972, he was elected to the Khasi Hills District Council as an Independent. Three years later, Mawlong joined the Congress and became president of the Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress and also served as an Indian Youth Congress member. Before Mawlong joined the UDP, he strengthened the Hill State Peoples' Democratic Party (HSPDP) as its president. He was elected president of the UDP in 1997 and continued as its head till 2001. Prior to his death, Mawlong served as the chairman of the State Development Reforms Commission with the status of the chief minister.

Dasmunsi shifted to Apollo hospital from AIIMS
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who was admitted to AIIMS following a severe heart attack, was on Monday shifted to corporate Apollo hospital for further treatment of his neurological condition. He was shifted at 10.30 am on Monday. His family wanted to shift him for further treatment of his neurological condition. The condition of 62-year-old Dasmunsi, who has been under treatment at AIIMS for the past eight days, continues to remain the same. American neurologist Den Henley, who is here to examine Dasmunsi, had earlier an informal discussion about the minister's health with the multi-discipline team of doctors treating him. The 62-year old minister was admitted to AIIMS following complete left ventricular failure on October 13.

Countdown for Chandrayaan-1 begins
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch Chandrayaan-1, the country's first unmanned moon mission, with the beginning of 49-hour countdown on early Monday.
The countdown for the launch of Chandrayaan-1, which began at 5.22 am on Monday is progressing smoothly. The unmanned spacecraft using India's tried and tested rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle would be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC) in Sriharikota. All operations were progressing satisfactorily for the launch of the spacecraft. The 49-hour countdown has number of activities including the major propellant filling of PS-2 and PS-4. Earlier the countdown was set to 52 hours. But since all the formal activities for the launch was finished three hours earlier from the original schedule, the countdown time was set at exactly 5.22 am. The officials are optimistic that weather will not interrupt the launch of Chandrayaan-I. According to the statistics given by the SDSC officials, Chandrayaan-I spacecraft carrying 11 payloads weighs about 1,380 kg at the time of its launch and was shaped like a cuboid with a solar panel projecting from one of its sides.

India 5 wickets away from a memorable win
NE TV Bureau
20 Oct
India piled up a run mountain and then Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma knocked the daylight out of Australia's riposte to put the host five wickets away from a memorable win in the second cricket Test in Mohali on Monday.
Chasing 516 for an improbable win, Australia got off to a rousing start before Harbhajan mowed down the top order with his triple strikes and Ishant had them in complete disarray, dealing a double jolt on the penultimate day. Their top order blown away, Australia were gasping for breath at 141 for five wickets when stumps were drawn. Michael Clarke (42) and Brad Haddin (37) would return tomorrow, hoping to delay the inevitable. With a 201-first innings lead behind them, India declared their second essay at 314 for three with Gautam Gambhir (104), Virender Sehwag (90), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (68 not out) scoring bulk of the runs at a brisk pace. In reply, Matthew Hayden (29) and Simon Katich (20) counter-attacked, scoring at seven-an-over before Harbhajan ran amock. Hayden fell to the second delivery of Harbhajan and the off-spinner then removed Katich with his last delivery of the over. In his next over-- on the other side of the tea break -- Harbhajan trapped in-form Michael Hussey (1) for is 299th Test victim. Ishant responded in style, castling his bunny Ricky Ponting (2) and then removing Shane Watson (2), Australia's topscorer in the first innings. Clarke and Haddin stemmed the rot with an unfinished 83-run stand but that may not prove enough in the end. Earlier, with Brett Lee out of action in the morning session, Delhi duo Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir knocked the sting out of the attack with their strong-arm nonchalance. Dhoni promoting himself at number three was a statement of intent and Sourav Ganguly also stepped on gas. Dhoni pulled and pumelled his way to his second fifty of the match, taking up the gauntlet whenever Lee offered a bouncer. The Indian captain remained unbeaten on 68 off 84 balls with the help of three boundaries and a six.

Political parties slam attacks on north Indians
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Political parties of various hues today strongly attacked the Maharashtra government over its "failure" to curb violence against north Indians in the state by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena cadres. RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh slammed the Congress-led Maharashtra government while CPI(M) Polit bureau member Brinda Karat and BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain condemned both the Central and state governments for the attacks on north Indians. Prasad, while strongly condemning attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra termed the incident as the failure of the state government. Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh also joined the Opposition parties in criticising the attacks.

10 mn tonnes of soil lost to unplanned mining, cultivation, says Meghalaya Governor
Uranium mining a win-win situation for Meghalaya, claims Mushahary as he allays fears of radiation
NE TV Correspondent, Shillong
20 Oct
Sooner or later, Meghalaya will start what has been a much debated issue in the state… uranium mining. The worst fears expressed by people of Meghalaya have been what happens to them after the radiation. Meghalaya has lost much of its top soils to the unscientific mining and jhum cultivation being practiced in the last many decades and the governor of the state says worst will happen in the next 20 years if the practice continues. RS Mooshahary however allayed people's fears of the impact of radiation from Uranium mining.

Meghalaya governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary on Monday cautioned that Meghalaya has already lost over 10 tonnes of soil to various forms of unscientific mining and particularly the jhum cultivation being practiced over the years. The state is poised to lose more of its top soils in the next 20 years if the trend continues. Speaking at a book release function in Shillong, the Governor has called for scientific approaches to any practice, be it mining or agriculture, that might have a bearing on the future of the state and its people.

On the much debated issue of Uranium mining which has suddenly shot to prominence and necessity especially after the Indo US Nuclear agreement, the governor allayed fears of the people on the likely impact the radiation from the mining could have on the people. Mushahary strongly favored scientific uranium mining in Meghalaya which accounts for more than 16 % of the country's uranium deposit. Citing empirical evidences from the other mining sites, the governor emphatically said there was no evidence of any harmful radiation and consequences on account of uranium mining. He also informed about the Centre's measures to ensure that mishaps do not occur.

Calling upon the government to convince the local people who are the primary stakeholders, on the development, the uranium mining will trigger, the governor said the mining is going to be win-win situation for the state.

He also dispelled apprehensions that mining will lead to influx of outsiders citing the Umiam power project which has become the base of the state's development amid strong protest in the initial years of its implementation.

Sensex loses shine late afternoon
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Indian equity markets opened strong on Monday taking cues from the positive opening in other Asian bourses. The Bombay Stock Exchange's benchmark, the Sensex, regained the 10k mark in early trade and continued to stay in the green through the afternoon. At 2:00 pm, the Sensex was trading at 10,184.44 levels, up nearly 210 points. However, that was far lower than the highs earlier in the day, when the Sensex had jumped over 470 points. Similarly, the broadbased National Stock Exchange's Nifty was up nearly 1.43 percent by 2:00 pm, hovering at 3118.30 levels.

NE Challenge Cup Hockey tourney from tomorrow
NE TV Correspondent, Guwahati
20 Oct
All states of the northeast except Sikkim and Mizoram are participating in the Northeast Challenge Hockey Tournament, which gets underway tomorrow at Bhetapara Hockey stadium in Guwahati. Manipur will meet Nagaland in the opening match while last year's Champions Assam will take on Tripura in the second match of the opening day. Olympian Thoiba Singh of Manipur will inaugurate the tournament in the presence of NE Hockey Association President GM Srivastava and other dignitaries from host state Assam. The finals will be held on 25th October.

Pakistan violated ceasefire pact 58 times since 2003: Govt
NE TV Correspondent, New Delhi
20 Oct
Pakistan had violated the five-year-old pact on ceasefire 58 times since the ceasefire agreement came into effect from November 2003, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday. Replying to a question in Parliament, Defence Minister A K Antony said since January 2008, Indian positions on the Line of Control have been fired upon 34 times, while the total ceasefire violation by Pakistan has occurred on 58 counts. On measures taken up by the government to prevent recurrence of such incidents, Antony said, protests are registered through the established mechanisms of hotline, flag meetings as well as weekly talks between the Director General of Military Operations.

Tripura sounds bird flu alert along Indo-Bangla border
NE TV Correspondent, Agartala
20 Oct
An alert has been sounded along the porous Indo-Bangla international border in Tripura following reports of bird flu in the neighbouring country, said a news agency quoting Tripura govt officials.
Sylhet, Srimanagal and Habigunj districts of Bangladesh, bordering Khowai subdivision of West Tripura district and Kamalpur subdivision of Dhalai district, have recently been affected by avian influenza. Border Security Force (BSF) was keeping a close vigil along the 856 km-long border to prevent the entry of chicken and poultry in the border markets. The state government also alerted all the district administrations and was organising workshops with the employees on disease control.

Tension grips Dimapur after trader's death
NE TV Correspondent, Dimapur
20 Oct
Tension grips Dimapur town following the killing of a local cable operator by some miscreants. A businessman, who was abducted 4 days ago by armed miscreants, was found dead on Sunday morning. Prasenjit Dhar was abducted from his residence in Lhomthi Colony, Dimapur on October 16 by some miscreants. After three days, his dead body was recovered from Bor Lengri, Karbi Anglong with his throat slit. Dimapur Police, which is investigating the case, has not been able to establish any facts. According to sources this is the fourth incident in Lhumthi colony where businessmen have become the target of armed miscreants. Meanwhile, the traders' community of Dimapur have downed their shutters on Monday in protest against the continuous attack on the non-local traders. They also held a meeting with the district administration officials seeking security.

Source: the netvindia.com

Assam News

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President Pratibha Patil’s maiden Northeast visit begins tomorrow
Security beefed up ahead of President’s visit
NE TV Correspondent, Guwahati
18 Oct
President Pratibha Patil will begin her five-day tour to Assam and Meghalaya from Sunday. In Guwahati, the President will present the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Award to noted film personality Shabana Azmi and Journalist Shekhar Gupta on Sunday. On Monday, she is scheduled to give away the Nirmal Gram Awards. Gram panchayats comprising from 13 states of the Eastern and North Eastern part of the country will receive these awards formally. During her visit, President Patil will also address a meeting of the self-help groups. Besides, she will lay the foundation stone of the Tezpur Medical College in Sonitpur district. The President will also to attend the centenary celebration of the Laban Bengali Girls Higher Secondary School in Shillong and will inaugurate the Baljek Airport in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. Tight security arrangements have been made in view of her visit.

Centre offers help to Assam govt in probing Darrang, Udalguri clashes
NE TV Correspondent,
18 Oct
Though the Centre has been reiterating its commitment to solve the illegal influx issue, plaguing the Northeast, in reality, it has no keenness to solve the problem. This became evident from the statement of a responsible union minister, who downplayed the threat posed by the illegal Bangladeshis to the demography of the northeast by saying that infiltration of foreign national is quite natural as the border is porous. Moreover, he even tried to justify the influx and said that the Bangladeshis come to India in search of job as there is no job opportunity in the neighbouring country. The minister's comment at a time when there has been widespread allegation that the recent ethnic clashes in Darrang and Udalguri were the handiwork of the HuJi and other jehadi groups that are using the illegal Bangladshis for materializing their sinister designs.

CPM backs police claim of ULFA, ISI hand in Agartala blasts
NE TV Correspondent,
18 Oct
The ruling CPM has backed the Tripura police claim that the ULFA and the ISI were behind the recent serial blasts in Agartala. The CPM state secretary Bijan Dhar said that the ATTF, with the help of the ISI and the ULFA had triggered the blasts that led to the death of several people. It is to be mentioned that the Tripura police on Friday had ascertained the involvement of ULFA and ISI in training and motivating the proscribed militant outfit ATTF for engineering the October one serial blasts in Agartala..

Meghalaya mourns death of former Chief Minister E K Mawlong
NE TV Correspondent,
18 Oct
Former Meghalaya Chief Minister and six time MLA E K Mawlong died on Saturday at civil hospital in Shillong. A science gradate and a contemporary of PA Sangma he rose from a simple clerk to become most popular leader of the state, Chief Minister of Meghalaya. The former winner of the best citizen of India Award in 1998 by the International Publishing House, New Delhi has contributed a lot to the development of communications, and transportation in Meghalaya. His death has brought a pale of gloom in the entire state. Long time friend and party member Chief minters Donkupar Roy termed his demise as a great loss for Meghalaya and said a vacuum has been created by his demise. UDP spokesperson Ampareen Lyndgoh expressed grief over his death and said that Meghalaya has lost a father figure. He had attended a number of conferences of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference at Nairobi, Egypt, New Zealand, Malaysia and Philippines.

EC still undecided over J&K poll dates
NE TV Correspondent,
18 Oct
The Election Commission (EC) announced dates for Assembly elections in five states - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Mizoram and Rajasthan - on Tuesday but said that no decision has been taken on holding polls in Jammu and Kashmir. It seems more than the political parties, it is the EC, which is a house divided on the issue of holding election in Jammu and Kashmir. However, this assessment is taking too long to happen and it may be due to the division of opinion within the three-member EC though the Commission itself denies any differences over the timing of the Jammu and Kashmir elections. While the two ECs seem to agree on holding elections as early as November, Gopalaswamy apparently thinks otherwise. The CEC thinks it’s not yet the right time. Even as security remains his big concern, reports that the state is yet to recover fully from the Amarnath land row has worked as a deterrent. The EC is also worried that weather will play a spoiler in the election process, with winter setting in fast. A low turn out in case of bad weather will therefore not amount to fair polling.

Gold prices plunge 3% on weak global trend
NE TV Correspondent,
18 Oct
Gold fell for the second day in futures trading today by losing three per cent largely on weakening global trend amid sluggish demand from traders. The precious metal for April month contract plunged the most by falling 3 per cent to Rs 12,850 an ounce on the Multi Commodity Exchange, in trading of one lot. Gold for February contract also fell by 1.31 per cent to Rs 12,707 per ten gram with trading volume of 374 lots, while December delivery rose by 1.28 to Rs 12,621 in trading of 22,741 lots. Trading sentiment remained weak after reports that gold dipped below 800 dollar an ounce in global market.

Curfew lifted in Kandhamal after 54 days
NE TV Correspondent,
17 Oct
Curfew has been lifted in parts of Orissa's troubled Kandhamal district where anti-Christian violence has claimed at least 36 lives over the past seven weeks as normalcy is gradually returning to the region. Curfew was imposed in all areas under the district's nine police stations and prohibitory orders under Section 144, which bans the assembly of four or more people in one place, were clamped across Kandhamal after communal riots broke out following the August 23 killing of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and four of his aides. Now prohibitory orders will remain in force only in areas under five police stations and there will be curfew at night in towns in the same areas. Christians and their places of worship in Kandhamal, some 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, have been facing mob attacks since Aug 23, when VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati and four of his aides were killed.

Zimbabwe power-sharing talks fail
NE TV Bureau,
18 Oct
Zimbabwe's opposition leader said on Friday that four days of "intense" negotiations have failed to break the deadlock in power-sharing talks and called for intervention by regional and African leaders. The Leader of the Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai addressed reporters after talks with President Robert Mugabe ended late on Friday evening without resolving the impasse that has left Zimbabwe rudderless. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has been mediating talks since Tuesday. Mbeki brokered a September 15 deal between Mugabe and Tsvangirai to form a unity government. The MDC narrowly won the March parliamentary elections. But the formation of the new government has been delayed over disagreements on the allocation of Cabinet posts. Under the deal signed, Mugabe's party was to have 15 Cabinet posts, Tsvangirai's 13 and the minor opposition faction led by Arthur Mutumbara was to have three. Last weekend Mugabe unilaterally claimed the most powerful posts for his own party in a move widely condemned as power-grabbing.

Sachin scripts history in test cricket, surpasses Lara as highest run getter
NE TV Correspondent,
India’s master batsman Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar cruised past West Indies great Brian Charles Lara’s record of 11,953 runs to become the highest run-getter in Test cricket. The feat came on the first day of the second Test match against Australia. When the match began, Tendulkar needed 15 runs to surpass Lara's record and overtook the West Indian legend when he took three runs after gliding the first ball after the tea break towards third man off rookie pacer Peter Siddle. He walked in to bat after India lost the wicket of former skipper Rahul Dravid with the scorecard reading 146/2and reached the landmark in the company of another former India skipper Sourav Ganguly. Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was among the first players to shake hands with Tendulkar after he claimed the record.

The day the entire cricket world has been waiting for came… in the afternoon. Soon after tea in Mohali on the first day of the second Test between India and Australia, Sachin Tendulkar got the record that always seemed destined to be his. He made the 15 runs he still needed to overtake Brian Lara’s mark 11 953 – to reach the most number of runs scored by a batsman in Test cricket. Before the close of play, Tendulkar was out for 88, with his total now standing on 12 027. There has been a lot of talk of the older players in the Indian team retiring soon, but it would be hard for the cricket world to let Sachin go just yet… whatever the Indian selectors might think. He can also extend that record to make it harder for the next man to break. Lets have a quick look at the illustrious profile of this Little Master Blaster..

source: netvindia.com

AASU, ABSU meet Governor

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Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, Oct 18 – A joint delegation of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) today sought the intervention of Governor SC Mathur in safeguarding the interests of the indigenous populace of Udalguri and Darrang districts in the wake the recent group clashes in some parts of the districts. The two student bodies called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to him, highlighting the situation in the violence-affected areas.

According to the AASU and the ABSU, which visited the two districts recently, the indigenous people were not getting adequate security and they “should be fully protected from the arms and weapons of the anti-Indian and fundamentalists.”

The other demands include protection of villages vacated by indigenous people from being looted; security arrangement for safe return of the affected families; supply of food items for thousands of affected families; medical care for the affected populace; compensation to families for loss of life and property; and a CBI inquiry into the incidents of violence.

The student bodies further blamed the State Government for the violence and also for failing to initiate necessary measures in the aftermath of the violence. source: assam tribune

Assam Politics

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Congress skips Assembly meet on Asom situation
By our Staff ReporterGUWAHATI, Oct 10: Sincerity of the Congress on the current situation in Asom can be gauged from the very fact that none of the 52 legislators of the party in the State Assembly (barring the Speaker) was present at the all-party meeting of the House on the current situation in the State that was called by Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai following an advice from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. None from the BJP was also present at the meeting. However, BJP leader Mission Ranjan Das told the Speaker over telephone that his party had full support to the decision taken by the all-party meeting today. Das said that the BJP would be a part of the all-party delegation that would visit the riot-affected areas of the State.According to sources, a delegation of the Assembly will visit the riot-affected areas in Darrang and Udalguri districts on October 16.The meeting was attended by AGP’s Chandra Mohan Patowary, Ramendra Narayan Kalita and Nurul Hussain, AUDF’s Rashul Haq Bahadur and Ataur Rahman Mazarbhuyan, and CPI’s Dhrupad Borgohain. The meeting appealed to the people to exercise restraint to restore peace in the State. source: sentinel assam
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AGP-P, TGP, PLP leaders in dark
By our Staff ReporterGUWAHATI, Oct 10: Though the AGP and its offshoots AGP-P, TGP and PLP have been working to meet their October 14 date for their grand reunification at Golaghat, the unification modalities are not yet ready. The AGP-P, TGP and the PLP are still in dark about the rehabilitation of their leaders in the united AGP.In order to get the picture clear, AGP-P general secretary Hemanta Kalita wrote a letter to AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary and unification committee convenor Phani Bhushan Choudhury asking them to make the unification modalities ready before October 12 when the general council of the AGP-P will meet to put its final seal on the proposed unification. Meanwhile, when contacted, AGP unification committee convenor Phani Bhushan Choudhury said: “The modalities for AGP unification will be ready on or before October 12, and all the AGP factions will be united on October 14 at Golaghat.” source: sentinel assam

Twist in Asom’s murderous cycle

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DATELINE Guwahati/Wasbir Hussain
Twist in Asom’s murderous cycle
I am not one bit surprised by the latest carnage in Asom. This murderous cycle has come to hit the State at regular intervals and may blacken its image again. Moreover, statistics do not bother me because that does not reflect the magnitude of the riots or its impact. For the record, close to 60 people have died in the recent clashes between Bodo tribes-people and Muslim settlers in Udalguri and Darrang districts, almost 150,000 displaced from their homes in thirty of more villages and around 700 houses set ablaze. The trauma of those affected cannot be imagined or understood by many of us, and the biggest casualty, as always in such incidents, is that one thing called trust that is so essential to co-exist in this world.What amazed me this time round were certain twists in the story. I found it a bit peculiar because I have myself covered such mayhem between Bodos and Muslim settlers in 1993, 1994, 1995, and the Bodo-Santhal riots thereafter. The first thing that struck me was that a section of the media, including a few so-called national television channels, sought to describe it as a clash between Bodos and Bangladeshi migrants. If that was so, it would mean that it was a clash between Indians and Bangladeshis in Indian soil. The authorities, if that was the case, would have had two tasks in hand: to quell the riots and round up the Bangladeshi migrants and throw them out of our borders.That was not the case. The rioting in northern Asom was between Bodos and Muslim settlers who trace their origins to erstwhile East Bengal, East Pakistan and now Bangladesh. The key question to ask is whether these Muslim settlers had migrated to India (Asom in this case) after March 25, 1971, the cut-off date set in the Assam Accord to detect and expel illegal Bangladeshi migrants. It is possible that some of the Muslim settlers who clashed with the Bodos in the latest orgy of violence may have entered Asom from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971. Such people must be detected and expelled without any second thought. But what about those settlers who had been living here after migrating (from wherever) before the cut off date? Signatories of the Assam Accord like the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the government would do well to clarify things and set at rest the doubts about the citizenship of this section of people, the settlers.Pressure on land, the vital question of identity and murky local politics have always been behind such group clashes in western and northern Asom. But, the focus must certainly be on addressing the question of identity. Unless that is done, a section of migrant settlers would always be exposed to dangerous external influences or turn radicals themselves. I still don’t think that radical Islamist ideology has come to establish a grip among Muslims in Asom, indigenous or otherwise. But, considering the lack of education and an uncertain future over the citizenship issue, migrant Muslim settlers would be prone to be influenced by radical thoughts that can even translate into undesirable action. The government as well as the key players in Asom’s society ought to take note of this fact.The second thing that set me thinking was the disclosure by the State Government as well as the leaders running the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) that the rebel National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) had fuelled and escalated the violence. BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary went on record to say on television that NDFB militants have tried to cash in on the situation by targeting the Muslim settlers. He said they were moving about with weapons. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi backed his political ally, Mohilary, saying, “We are investigating reports that some NDFB men are involved. If the charges come true, we may even review our ceasefire with the group.” The NDFB, of course, denied the charges. “The NDFB is tolerant to all communities, including Muslims. The charges against us are totally baseless,” NDFB spokesman S. Sanjarang said in a statement.The Government could possibly think that the NDFB was actually engaged in ‘ethnic cleansing’ to rid the area of the settlers so that they could gain control of the land or villages vacated by them. I won’t like to give the NDFB a clean chit, but what puzzles me is the timing. Would the NDFB engage in such a pogrom when it has just set the process of peace talks rolling after being on a ceasefire mode for more than three years? Insurgent as well as mainstream politics in this country is always unpredictable, and observers like us often find it hard to grasp!I cannot but highlight the point that needs to be noted in this context: it is this that Mohilary and his colleagues in the Bodo Council are aware that if the NDFB is to clinch a peace deal with New Delhi in the coming days, they will lay a claim to the same politico-administrative space that the former Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) rebels are now occupying in the Bodo heartland. Now, that will be a tough concession to make for a group headed by Mohilary who has tasted the strapping of power just five years ago, in 2003, when they ended their violent campaign after signing the Bodo Accord with the Centre. I am not adding another twist to the story. I am just dropping a broad hint! sourcE: sentinel assam