[Previous entry: "Huge cache of explosives recovered, one arrested in Nagaland"] [Next entry: "‘Political solution should be permanent’"]

10/03/2005: "Twin bomb blasts rock Indian town"

Twin bomb blasts rock Indian town Monday Oct 03, 2005: Police say at least 28 people were killed when two bombs exploded in the main commercial centre of India's north-eastern state of Nagaland. (Source : BBC Online News) India Monitor
At least 100 people were injured, many of them seriously, in Saturday morning's blasts in Dimapur town. The largest explosion occurred at the railway station, which was crowded with passengers at the time. The other bomb went off in the local Hong Kong market. It is not yet clear who was responsible for the explosions. There are many separatist rebel groups in north-east India.

There has been an insurgency in Nagaland since 1956, but for the last seven years the state's major separatist group, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), has been negotiating with the Indian government, and its fighters are observing a ceasefire with the government's security forces. Both factions of the NSCN have condemned the explosions. Indian intelligence officials say they suspect rebels based in the neighbouring state of Assam to be behind the latest attacks.

Carnage Eyewitnesses say the two explosions occurred within a minute of each other. Local trader Alok Pareek said limbs and severed heads were strewn about the railway station and the market, which is openly used to sell contraband goods. He said the entire structure in front of the station master's office had collapsed.

"Many who died were trapped in the debris in the railway station," he said. Doctors have warned that the death toll could rise. BBC correspondent Subir Bhaumik says eyewitnesses report that passengers who were waiting for trains at the station were flung on the tracks by the force of the explosion. He adds that many of them had been delayed in Dimapur for several days because of a strike in the neighbouring Karbi Anglong district of Assam, which connects Nagaland to the rest of the country. An indefinite curfew has been ordered in Dimapur. Another explosion on Saturday, in the Santipur market of Kokrajhar district, in the neighbouring state of Assam, killed one trader and injured seven others.
A Bodo tribal guerrilla was killed in an encounter with police in the same area.
Explosive carrier arrested Morung Express News October 2
Dimapur: Police personnel led by the Officer in Charge of the GRPS Atu Zhumvü today apprehended the person who had escaped from the Railway Station, Dimapur. The arrested, identified as Lala Umpuii (22), hailing from Khomoi Village, Churachandpur, Manipur was arrested at Full Nepali Kashiram. Yesterday, Lala had darted off when he was challenged by two Assam Rifles jawans who had grown suspicious of his luggage. After he fled the scene, a huge cache of explosives was recovered from the bags he was unloading at the Railway Station. Investigations to the case are on.
NSCN (I-M) reacts to Corporal’s torture Morung Express News October 2 Imphal: The NSCN (I-M) has vented its anger towards Imphal Police commandos. According to a press release issued by D Joy Rudolph, the outfit’s Executive Officer, Khurmi region, a corporal in its ranks, by the name of Rex, had earlier been arrested by personnel of the Imphal West Police on September 29. At the time of his arrest, Rex was reportedly on leave as his wife and son were ill. He was not in possession of anything that would threaten anyone, according to the release. "He has been kept in the Interrogation Cell and tortured inhumanly. Not satisfied with their evil act against Corporal Rex, the NSCN camp was made to listen to the cry and suffering of Rex in the telephone. The blood-thirsty commandos used mobile number 9436060984," Rudolph said. The NSCN has further cautioned all concerned authorities not to take the silence of the NSCN as ‘inability to act befittingly.’ "Waking up from all illusions will mean being brutally honest with the principles and ethics of the Police," the release said.
Spiral in north-east fuelled by drug abuse NDRONIL ROYCHOWDHURY The Financial Express
KOLKATA: More than anything else, drug abuse has characterised the surge of HIV- positive cases in the north-eastern states. Drug-trafficking is an old problem and sharing of needles among injecting drug users (IDUs) have contributed largely to the problem. Manipur and Nagaland are ‘high prevalence’ states, defined as a HIV rate of more than 5% among high-risk groups and at least 1% among ante-natal women —- a consistent status through three rounds of surveillance under the National Aids Control Programme (NACP), beginning 1999. Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura are classified by the National Aids Control Organisation (Naco) as ‘low prevalence’ states, where the HIV infection rate is below the parameters mentioned earlier for high prevalence ones. Yet, given that the region is land-locked, the high prevalence states are a threat to all the others.
According to data available from the State Aids Control Society (Sacs) of the respective states, up to November 2003, Nagaland had 1,830 registered HIV-positive cases; Assam had 198; Tripura, 77 and Meghalaya, 72. Oddly, neither Naco nor Sacs has updated figures for Manipur, but a projection of the data with both shows a 50% growth rate for the state since 1992. Mizoram, according to K Ropari, director of its SACS, had 1,253 cases till December 2004. This is also a growth of above 40%, in view of the 677 actually found cases up to November 2003. In Nagaland, of the 1,830 found cases, 857 are IDUs; in Mizoram, 298 of 677 and in Assam, 24 of 198, as up to November 2003. Four districts of Manipur (Imphal, Churachandpur, Bishnupur and Thoubal) and three in Nagaland (Kohima, Tuensang and Mokokchung) are particularly affected. Apart from the IDU factor, poor health conditions, a population prone to having sex with multiple partners and without condoms and men having sex with men (considerably under-reported, due to social stigma) are contributory factors. There are, in the entire north-east, 46 treatment centres for drug abuse. But, interventions among the population at risk to detect HIV has not been wide enough, according to a UN Aids report. A study of ante-natal clinics, STD treatment centres, of female sex workers and of internet sites frequented by IDUs leads to the conclusion that infection figures are understated by a factor of five.
Health Minister appeals people for donating blood Source: North East Press Service Kohima, October 01: Nagaland Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr TM Lotha has today stressed the importance of blood donation saying that "human blood cannot be manufactured like other commodities". Addressing on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation Day organized under the aegis of the Nagaland State Blood Transfusion Council and India Red Cross Society, Nagaland State Branch here at the Red Cross Complex today, the Minister said they were fortunate to be alive and healthy while some of their fellow country men were in need of life-saving blood even "at this moment as we are having our meeting (now)". Stating that human life was fragile, Dr Lotha explained that there was no guarantee that they too would not require human blood to survive.

He recalled how Nagas in the past and even now were reluctant to freely donate their blood due to “certain misconceptions and wrong information about giving away blood”. “That was why we used to buy blood from the professional blood donors whose antecedents and status of health are questionable," he stated. Fortunately, after the Supreme Court order, buying blood was banned from 1st January 1998 and further directed the Governments to constitute National and State Blood Transfusion Councils to oversee the functioning of Blood Banks and to promote Voluntary Blood Donation, he added. Appealing to all to learn the true facts of blood donation and remove the doubts and misconceptions and come forward to save another human being by donating their blood, Dr Lotha also urged the volunteers and different organizations to broaden their network of awareness campaign and redouble their motivational efforts. Dr V Khamo, Blood Bank, NHAK, spoke on the topic of "Importance of Voluntary Blood Donation." Dr SI Tushi, Secretary, IRCS, Nagaland Branch also gave exhortation. Povotso Lohe, Chairman, IRCS, Nagaland Branch, chaired the function while Dr Vinito Chishi, Joint Director, NSACS delivered Vote of Thanks.
NSCN (I-M) decries Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Oct 2 : Khurmi Region, GPRN/NSCN has strongly condemned and questioned the principle and ethics of police commandos in torturing one of its arrested cadres. In a statement, executive officer, central administered region, Khurmi region, GRPN/NSCN D Joy Rudolph asserted that corporal Rex was not on duty when he was arrested by the Imphal West Police Commandos on September 29 nor did he possess any document or arms that could threaten any one. He was on leave as his wife and son were seriously sick at home in Tseminyu, Nagaland, he added. Despite that he has been subjected to torture and kept in the Interrogation Cell, Rudolph complained, while informing that the NSCN camp was also made to listen to the cry and suffering of Rex through the telephone.
This act is very unusual and the degree of humiliation and insult to the NSCN is too much, he added.
Rudolph further said that the NSCN has been maintaining maximum restrain from avenging the crime perpetrated against its cadres by the Commandos and IRB personnel so far. However, the action of the State armed forces against the NSCN during all these years of cease-fire has become intolerable, he said. He warned all concerned authority for straightening things before it is too late and said that ‘it will be wise not to take the silent of the NSCN as inability to act be fittingly’.
Allegations against top district officials The Morung Express DIMAPUR, OCt 2 (MExN): It is learnt that a number of high-ranking Judicial officers, SDOs, EACs and particularly, some administrative personnel from the clerical ranks are still engaged in clandestine issuance of illegal gun licenses in the districts of Mokokchung, Dimapur, Wokha, and even in the state’s capital, Kohima. It is reckoned that approximately 50,000 to 65,000 illegal arms licenses have been issued so far since the last two years by various high-ranking officers in their respective Administrative departments and HQs in connivance with lower working staff. Another startling information was that almost 65% of the illegal licenses were issued to individuals from out side the State suspected to be acting as supply conduits to arm Naxalites, local criminal gangs and local warlords in States like Bihar and West Bengal and more recently Chattisgarh.
In the aftermath of the arrest of one Harishankar Singh in January, 2005 for possession of fake licenses, suspicions of a larger racket were raised for the reasons that the licenses originated from elevated branches of District Administrations. In spite of the fact that issuance of gun license remains banned in Nagaland for the last 10 years, it is learnt that more than 27,466 gun licenses illegally procured, duplicated or fake ones from various districts have been issued illegally since the last 5 months, particularly from the administrative regions of Mokokchung and Wokha district. Virtually, the number of gun licenses issued illegally in spite of the ban or validity of the licenses themselves, would be much higher than investigations have thrown up. For instance, only about 715 gun licenses of the approximately 2,315 gun licenses issued from Mokokchung district last year have been found to be genuine while 1600 of them were fake. These licenses were transferred to Dimapur for verification, and subsequently handled and scrutinized for renewal and authenticity. Sources from the Administration said that although the Dimapur DC had written to all the districts to submit for verification the arms licenses, there has been no response from the other district higher-ups till now. It was also learnt that the Arms branches are resorting to dubious means to make money from fake licenses by issuing bogus protocol documents, No Objection certificates, gun permits, and certain "special permits". Such certificates were being issued/approved with proper signatures by certain EACs and SDOs. Furthermore, a complete ‘set’ of verification certificates/forms are being issued by certain EACs.
According to detailed investigation carried out by The Morung Express, it is also learnt that Gun-house managers serve as the main brokers between customers and the clerks. These managers pay anything around Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 for BBLs licenses, single barrel guns and other modified small arms guns. For .22 single shot rifles, the price for a fake license cost around Rs 11,000 to Rs 16,000. The clerks get paid anywhere from Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000. Regarding the approximate amount paid to the higher ups for getting the final sanction, it is understood that hefty payments are made. Latest information also suggests that the high-ranking officers are being "put under surveillance" especially in Dimapur and Kohima and that some of them have been identified. However, one investigating officer, following up with the investigations from the Harishankar Case revealed that some politicians and governmental departments are attempting to hush up the arms license case as well as hindering any attempt to arrest officers involved in the racket.
The modus operandi In Nagaland, it is learnt that since issuing of new gun licenses remains banned, the racketeers, in connivance with certain key-officers or staffers obtain old licenses citing various reasons of renewal, replacement or even on the pretext of getting new plastic covers for the license booklet. The booklets are then ‘renewed’ and transferred to a new booklet while entering the same license number but changing the photograph as well as the name and personal information of the licensee on it. Another technique in making fake gun licenses includes ‘networking’ with some clerical staff, go-betweens, gun-house owners/managers, touts, brokers’ et al. Here a blank/new copy of the booklet is obtained and filled up with real names, addresses and relevant information for example, of those listed in office documents, particularly of students, retired people and deceased persons. Then it is passed through the involved clerks (if any) to the officer concerned on the pretext of renewal. ‘Commissions’ are paid according to the nature of their respective jobs. However, it could not be established how the fake booklets are approved or "passed through" despite the fact that it is a protocol for verification on the part of the concerned officer.
Nagaland BJP condemns Tura shooting New Kerala
Kohima: The Nagaland unit of BJP has expressed shock at the Tura shooting and condemned ''the kiling of 11 students and injury to several others by police personnel''. In a release here today, BJP sopkesman and state general secretary O Mozamo Ngullie came down heavily on the Meghalaya government and said the tragic killings of students could have been avoided if the state government had taken up ''alternative measures''.
He described the incident as ''one of the most barbaric blunders'' ever committed by any state government against the student community.

While lamenting the loss of lives, the BJP alleged that the ''cold blooded killings of students happens mostly in states under the reign of the Congress''. These states include, Nagaland and Manipur, the party said, underlining that the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) and the Lotha Students' Union (LSU) observe Martyrs' Day each year ''demanding stringent action aginst the culprits''.The state BJP also said the party supports the demands of the Nationalsist Congress Party (NCP) for imposition of Presidents' Rule in Meghalaya. ''The state (Meghalaya) did not have the moral right to run the government,'' the party.
Lt Gen Pattabhiraman becomes first sapper to take over as VCOAS New Kerala New Delhi: Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman today took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff, setting another milestone in his distinguished career by becoming the first Sapper to rise to the post. Hitherto the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the frontline Western Command, he succeeds Lt Gen B S Thakur, who retired on September 30. Lt Gen Pattabhiraman laid a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate this morning and inspected a Guard of Honour outside South Block before going to his office. He was received here by GOC Delhi Area Maj Gen P C Bhardwaj.
Commissioned into the prestigious Bombay Sappers (Corps of Engineers) in 1966, Lt Gen Pattabhiraman has held a number of key posts, both command and staff. An active paratrooper, his prominent command assignments include command of the 54 (Bison) Infantry Division and the XI (Vajra) Corps. He was the first Director General, Information Systems, when the Army Commanders' Conference authorised setting up of the post last year to augment and co-ordinate the force's information warfare capabilities -- a vital constituent of the modern-day, automated battlefield.

Lt Gen Pattabhiraman followed the footsteps of a legendary predecessor from the same unit -- Lt Gen Premindra Singh Bhagat -- in commanding a frontline Army Command (Western). Lt Gen Bhagat, the first Indian recepient of the Victoria Cross in the Second World War, had been the first GOC-in-C of the Northern Command, when it was set up after the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Though Lt Gen Pattabhiraman spent only eight months at Chandimandir after taking over from Lt Gen J J Singh, who took over as Army Chief, he left a profound mark on the frontline Command.

Admitting he had enjoyed his tenure here, he was responsible for co-ordinating the 'Vajra Shakti' exercise last May, which validated the 'Cold Start' concept of the Army's first-ever War Doctrine, foreseeing a 'short and intense' war under the backdrop of nuclear weapons and terrorism. The concept postulates the use of brigade-sized, integrated battle groups to take the initiative as soon as war is declared, rather than wait for the 'Strike Corps' to mobilise and reach the battlefront. Lt Gen Daljit Singh, hitherto the GOC of the Nagaland-based III 'Spear' Corps has taken over as the new GOC-in-C of the Western Command.
Bamboo flowering draws Rs 105 crore from Centre
Aizawl | October 03, 2005 10:43:11 AM IST Yahoo
The Central Government has allocated Rs 105 crore for the action plan to address the natural ecological phenomenon of gregarious flowering of muli bamboos, which is expected from this year. The states, expected to be affected by the bamboo flowering in varying extents include, Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura, Assam, Nagaland and Meghalaya, official sources said. The alloted sum will be shared among these states. The funds would be utilised for constructing and repairing rural godowns, rodent control and surveillance, a diversified cropping system, small and medium bamboo industries, development of horticulture plantations, protection from diseases associated with rodents and survey of land for permanent farming.
Sources underlined that the Ministry of Environment and Forestes has already agreed to allocate a sum of Rs 45 crores to Mizoram alone under Bamboo Flowering and Famine Combat Scheme (BAFFACOS) for five years from 2005. A steering committee, headed by a secretary, has also been formed under the Ministry to deal with the situation with the aim to look at three areas --- harvesting, regeneration of the area and the rodent control. The government has also submitted a proposed project under BAFFACOS for all the departments, which would be implemented within five years. ''An amount of Rs 566.55 crores has been demanded from the Centre to this end,'' the sources informed. UNI SNR RH AKP1008
Remembering to heal Akum Longchari The Morung Express Editorial In life, we suffer the loss of loved ones but none could be more painful when one loses them to unnatural circumstances. Many innocent Naga lives have been cheated off their youth and from their aspirations to becoming fully conscious of their potential to generate life giving realities. It is perhaps the painful experiences of having a loved one killed, violated, missing, threatened or humiliated that gives the most anger and may often seem unforgivable because faith and confidence one destroyed are not easy to rebuild. These are circumstances most experienced in situations of armed conflict. The pain and hurt emerging out of these experiences creates two forms of dilemmas: the dilemma of truth and the truth about dilemma. Recognizing that there is in every story a view and the other point of view it is of utmost importance to acknowledge the various views in a balance manner that would make transcendence possible. In the final analysis the key towards transformation lies in our ability and will to address issues of hurt, injustice and humiliation.
During these moments of dilemma, we are faced with our own internal-self as the enemy within. The reasoning side of us wants justice, while ‘feeling’ cause emotions of rage, anger, hate, fear, shame, humiliation and insecurity. If not appropriately addressed, the ‘reason’ is co-opted by ‘feeling’ and there is an instinct to equate revenge with justice because there is an assumption that revenge will vindicate and relieve the anger, fear, shame and humiliation. Revenge could provide feelings of relief, vindication and pride but it does not last, since through the act of revenge the victim becomes the offender and more negative energy is created. However, it only leads to internalized shame and guilt with internal contradictions abound.
The process of acknowledgement and being heard are therefore critical steps in opening up space to move forward. Indeed, the act of remembering represents a symbol of recognition and is empowering. A symbolic act of remembrance may help each of us to feel like we can all do something and to live out the visions by striving and embracing the ideals of our common humanity. By remembering we have a choice to see it as an invitation that is nudging us towards healing to make spiritual, emotional and societal transformation possible. It is in the desire to open our hearts and renew ourselves that we commit to lead a life of involvement and participation to reclaim dignity; embrace those feeling disempowered, and to support those whose loved ones are gone from our physical earth. This involves empowering and caring for those who have survived traumatic situations and by doing so it leads to a deepening faith, renewed vision and practical ways to nurture the processes that bring God’s healing, hope, justice and peace to individuals, communities and nations as a whole. If the Nagas are to be a dignified Nation of nations it is essential that we Remember to Heal.
KYKL too imposes ban on KCP(P) The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Oct 2: Following in the footsteps of the UNLF, the underground Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL, has also imposed a blanket ban on the underground KCP(P) charging it of terrorizing innocent people in the name of revolutionary movement and undermining the movement being undertaken by various revolutionary outfirs in Manipur. THe outfit also anounced that anyone found siding with KCP (P) and ignoring the KYKL decision will be termed as anti-people and will be given capital punishment. A statement issued by Apabi Mangang, deputy secretary, publicity and research, KYKL said the outfit`s decision to ban KCP (P) was taken after minutely studying the activities of the said outfit for months and after taking due consideration of pros and cons of the possible reaction which might come up after the decision. Comments from different sections of the people, who have crossed the tolerable limits due to the threats and harassment by cadres of the KCP(P) were also taken before arriving at the decision, it said. Terming the KCP(P) as a ghost organisation working in line with an organized gang, the KYKL statement charged KCP(P) of indulging only in criminal activities and extorting huge sums of money by terrorizing people. Apart from lacking objectives, KCP(P) have been indulging in violent activities which are not related with the revolutionary movement, but are only excuses for extorting money, it said. Lauding the decision of the UNLF which imposed a blanket ban on the KCP (P) earlier, the KYKL statement further said such a step should also be taken by other revolutionary organisations before the activities of the KCP(P) begin jeopardizing the genuine revolutionary movement.
The KCP tried to venture into many of the issues confronting the people of Manipur, but their intention was only collection of money. As such the outfit`s threat to medical practitioners, public and the ban on filming and exhibition of digital films, maligned the image of revolutionary organisations, the KYKL statement said and expressed apprehension that some vested groups and forces trying to malign the image of revolutionary movement in Manipur could be siding with the KCP(P). Urging parents and guardians of those working for KCP(P) to prevent their wards from taking part in the activities of the outfit, the KYKL statement also appealed to people to extend cooperation to the efforts made by the revolutionary groups to root out KCP(P).
BREAKING NEWS ULFA ask government to declare ceasefire NET News Network Guwahati, Oct 2: Reiterating its stand once again on the issue of ceasefire, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) categorically made its intention clear of not declaring ceasefire until a political solution is reached to the “Assam- India conflict”. Informing this in its latest version of mouthpiece “Swadhinata” the outfit in fact asked the Indian army to call ceasefire in order to find a political solution to the conflict. It may be recalled that a section of society suggested the outfit to declare ceasefire after the death of few senior members of the group during Dibru Saikhowa operations. Launching scathing attack on the government’s offer for peace dialogue, the proscribed outfit termed the offer as artificial with no real intention to end the turmoil in the state. The mouthpiece justified the allegations by citing examples of arms operation in Dibru Saikhowa and Dihing Patkai.
Meanwhile, explaining its stand behind the constitution of People’s Consultative Group (PCG), the outfit confirmed that it recognized the collective effort of the members to find a political solution to the conflict without supporting military solution. “ The members may not support ULFA’s ideology but sincerely came forward to assist in finding a solution,” said the mouthpiece. The outfit expressing hope of sincere cooperation from the Indian government towards the PCG initiative also urged the people of the state to cooperate with the group members.
Activists air hill people`s grievances The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Oct 2: Rice distributed under the food for work programme for the year 2005 was not of good quality and some bags of rice were not safe for consumption by humans and had to be served to domestic animals. This was disclosed by some social activists led by Wilubou Newmai while speaking to IFP about the grievances being faced by hill people particularly in the PDS, education sector and road communication networks. Further charging that items distributed under PDS in the state particularly in the hills are being siphoned off by elected representatives of the people for political mileage, these social activists said the vigilance department should be pressed into service to investigate into the matter so that proper implementation of the programme is carried out in the interest of the people. On the state of education in hill areas of the state, they said hardly any students attended government schools due to prolonged absence of teachers. They observed that salaries given to irregular teachers will more beneficial if used in developmental works. The condition of roads in the hills also remain deplorable as no improvement works are being taken up since the past many years, they said demanding holding of district council elections in the hill areas so that the development process can be expedited. The Manipur government from time to time is passing only lip service to the people of the hills, they lamented adding that the slogan `Ching-tam amatani` has no meaning without taking any concrete steps to develop the deplorable condition of roads in the hill areas.
ULFA says it is ready to talk For the first time, the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has responded to the Centre’s invitation for peace talks.
A letter from ULFA ‘chairman’ Arbinda Rajkhowa to PM Manmohan Singh, accepting the talks invite sent in May, was delivered to National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan on Friday. Rajkhowa is suspected to be operating out of Bangladesh.
According to sources, the letter states that the ULFA is ready to negotiate with the Centre to find a solution for Assam for which it has nominated an 11-member People’s Consultative Council. Apart from discussing the modalities of the dialogue with the Centre, the council will interact with and collate views from the people of Assam, the letter says. It’s also learnt that the letter has not set out any pre-conditions for the peace talks. Earlier, the ULFA had specified three conditions in this regard: talks should be held abroad before a UN representative; ‘‘sovereignity’’ had to be the core issue; and, release of two of its central committee members. The Centre did not respond to any these demands but reiterated that it was ready for the talks. The ULFA letter comes a few days after military operations against the outfit in Assam were suspended temporarily. The Army’s Tezpur-based III Corps and local police had launched a massive offensive against ULFA camps in the Tinsukia forests, cornering at least 50 suspected militants two weeks ago. The ULFA subsequently threatened to withdraw from the peace process. The Centre is yet to give a date for the first rounds of talks with the people’s council but sources indicated that they may be held this month. After the modalities are worked out, the Centre would want a ceasefire agreement to be finalised, they added.
According to officials, the Centre is likely to follow the NSCN (I-M) model when engaging the ULFA

Curfew still on in Tura, relaxed in Williamnagar From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
TURA, Oct 2 – The indefinite curfew imposed by the West Garo Hills district administration in Tura since ‘bloody Friday’ continued to be enforced for the third day today, with no sign of a let-up.However, at Williamnagar, East Garo Hills, the district administration lifted the curfew for three hours, from 9 AM to 12 noon, and there was panic buying in most markets of the town. Many shops were exhausted of all their commodities as consumers purchased food items in bulk fearing long bouts of curfew. The West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, L R Sangma, informed this scribe that the district administration was contemplating relaxing curfew for a couple of hours on Monday. She, however, declined to give the period of relaxation. She also appealed to the citizens not to fall prey to rumours. Meanwhile, one column each of the army have been deployed at Tura and Williamnagar to prevent further escalation of violence even as the situation appears to be limping back to normalcy. No untoward incidents were reported from either of the two towns under curfew. A column each of the Rajput Regiment from Umroi cantonment are on standby at these two places.

A flag march was undertaken by the army at Williamnagar on Sunday morning to boost “confidence” in the administration.Meanwhile, the magisterial enquiry report into the Friday incident at Tura and Williamnagar will be submitted in fifteen days time. At Williamnagar, where five civilians, mostly students, were shot dead by CRPF-state police personnel, the enquiry is being headed by Iona R Sangma, senior magistrate and she has asked to submit her report by October 17. At Tura, the probe is being headed by the new Additional District Magistrate, Arleene N Sangma.East Garo Hills district administration today termed the incident on Friday as a pre-meditated plan by vested interest groups to flare communal passion in the Garo Hills. Williamnagar DC, A Kharlyngdoh, denied that the security forces had over-reacted and claimed that they fired in self-defence. When he was asked as to why water cannon, tear gas and lathi-charge was not used to disperse the crowd, the Deputy Commissioner informed that the fire brigade personnel who was to man the water cannon was hit on the head by a stone before anything could be done.

Indefinite road blockade by Garo students, curfew relaxed NET News Network Shillong, Oct 2: Indefinite Curfew was today relaxed for three hours in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills District. With the situation remaining tense in Tura, West Garo Hills, the Curfew, clamped on Friday, continued to remain in force with relaxation today. Indefinite curfew was imposed on September 30 after nine deaths, including two teenaged boys in police firing on thousands of protestors at Willimanagar and Tura. There was no fresh report of violence from the area as security personnel patrolled the entire districts. BSF, CRPF and Specail Operation Team personnel including a two column of Army were deployed in the two districts of Garo Hills in Western Meghalaya. In Williamnagar, the East Garo Hills, District Majistrate A.Kharlyngdoh relaxed for three hours from 9 AM to 12 PM amid tight security. Reports reaching here said people were seen rushing to market to get their essential commodities. In Tura, the district headquarter of West Garo Hills, tension prevailed amidst the busy town is slowly limping back to normalcy. Tight Security personnel were deployed in every nook and corner to prevent from any untoward incident. West Garo Hills, District Magistrate L.R.Sangma said Curfew passes will be issued to only those people who are in need of it. She said the administration would assess the prevailing situation for Curfew relaxation. Meanwhile, the Garo Student’s Union (GSU) Khasi Hills Zone has decided to launch an indefinite road blockade at Byrnihat from October 3 as part of the apex GSU non-cooperation movement demanding review of the State Level Committee report. The Union urged parents and office-goers to refrain from sending their children to schools, colleges and attending office.
The Joint Action Committee of the Shillong-based Garo NGOs and public in general led by All India Garo Union (AIGU) and A'chik Citizens' Welfare Organisation, Shillong (ACWO), in a meeting held on Friday, urged the Garo employees serving in the State, Central government, public sector undertakings and other organisations to take mass casual leave on Monday to express solidarity with the victims and their families.

What Mahatma means to the students? By MA Rahman Shah (DIG – (AP II) Editorial Sangai Express (Contd from previous issue)
We should learn a lesson out of this and try to become independent but along with it learn a lesson, which teaches us the importance of time in student’s life, for “time and tide waits for none”. Gandhiji devoted whatever free time he had towards spinning wheel for he knew the value of time. When spinning wheels are out of sight nowadays a student is expected to spend the time at home in doing home works and helping their parents instead of wasting the time, which is so valuable. To us Gandhiji means self-discipline. I think discipline is never complete if it is imposed. He therefore stressed upon self-discipline and respect for time, and told that students should not allow themselves to sink into a stage of despair even if the situation appeared unfavourable. Students should take discipline as a foundation of their future or career. It is part and parcel of life and is necessary in every walks of life. It increases ones status among friends and society besides a source of social order. To us Gandhiji means a calm sea whose depth cannot be measured but his decisions were like strong currents, enough to drown the mighty ship of the British Empire. We wonder in awe that a half-naked father stood against the regime of the English, causing massive upheaval, making them look most ordinary. We can conclude that the mental strength such as he possessed spread an aura of awe and respect among the British. He drew the Indian masses towards his magnetic personality. Under his supreme guidance, the British Empire wilted and submitted. No wonder the man was called “Mahatma” for he was a pure soul. To Martin Luther king, he was like Jesus Christ who was crucified for the cause of Truth. To us Gandhiji means equal respect for all religions. Gandhiji said, “I am a believer in the truth of all the great religions of the World. There will be no lasting peace on earth unless we learn not merely to tolerate but to appreciate the faiths as our own. A reverent study of the different teachers of mankind is a step in the direction of such mutual respect." So we have learnt respect, tolerance, understanding and patience of all religions, because they all sing the chorus of mankind as equal ones and one Almighty God from Whom did we came and to whom will we return. An irreligious person or act is a source of crime. That is the reason Gandhiji was deeply religious. Despite tight schedule he never failed to perform prayer daily. Students should also be religious and love other faiths too.
To us Gandhiji means Ahimsa or non-violence. The Mahatma of a non-violent person has his origin in compassion. He should avoid destruction of the smallest of creatures and try to protect them. A non-violent should practise Ahimsa in thought and in deed and be free from hate. According to Mahatma violence always give rise to cycle of counter violence and creates only a vicious circle of violence, which brings with it only horror and hatred. In South Africa, when Gandhiji was thrown out of the train in which he was travelling with a 1st class ticket, by the Whites, he opposed it peacefully. According to Gandhi non-violence is a unifying force not a sign of weakness but one of strength. To us it is more of non-violence that Mahatma was able to muster the Indians towards his struggle against foreign occupation – the British rule. Non-violence is more relevant today. Today our society is strife stricken due to racial, religious, ethnical, communal and regional grounds. Some of the causes ascribe to youth unrest and their physical participation in party politics out of the school on the streets and resorting to violence. Violence is as cheap as any thing to them. Is it wise for the students to do so? How long can they keep their flesh and blood safe? It is for them to choose violence or peace with pen, which is mightier than the sword.
In the context of some misguided youths in some insurgency infested states, they are shedding their blood and the blood of others by taking to arms in the name of restoration of sovereignty. This has snowballed into a cycle of violence resulting in the deaths of thousands of youths irrespective of race and place; rendering thousands of girls without a hope for married life and thousand others into widows. The society has already felt the effect of this imbalance and is further going to add to the existing genesis of crime and bad head. India is a ‘SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC’ wherein elected representatives are leaders from to time. No one is above or below others. All are equal. When our elected representatives are sitting in both the houses of the Parliament, the people of these disturbed states are as equal partners as that of the other states. No one is an occupier or an occupied.
Today let us cleanse ourselves and resolve to shun violence before it is too late and too complicated. Enough is enough. Fighting for cessation or independence is a vexed issue except digging our own graves and the graves of others. To us Gandhiji means plain living and high thinking. It is also a quality that attracted millions of people to him. To the students it is more relevant. Students should learn to be thrifty otherwise they are likely to fall victim of bad livelihood, drug addicts and anti-socials that cannot go with study. Lavish expenditure in food, clothes life style will make a student most likely a bad head of himself. For a plain living these things should be simple and cheap too. High thinking simply means working hard towards a goal and big objective like a better placement in job or a successful professional.
This is only an essay and cannot cover the whole aspect of Mahatma's activities and good deeds. However, one can find useful in going by the words of Mahatma in his or her student career. The following are few of Mahatmaji's words to the student: “We are not paying due attention to the youth of the country to channelise their excessive energies along constructive lines and naturally this finds an outlet in an aggressive and rebellious attitude against the conservation and the accepted modes of life”.
“Students cannot afford to have party politics. They may hear all parties as they read all sorts of books, but their business is to assimilate the truth of all and reject the balance. That is the only worthy attitude that they can take”. “Innocent youth is a precious possession not to be squandered away for the sake of a momentary excitement miscalled pleasure”.“I hold it to be quite wrong on the part of students and pupils to take part in political demonstrations and party politics. Such agitation interferes with serious study and unfits students for solid work of future citizens”. “Whilst I have pleaded for the removal of restrictions on the speech and movements of students, I am not able to support political strikes or demonstrations. Students should have the greatest freedom of expression and of opinion. They may openly sympathize with any political party they like. But in my opinion, they may not have freedom of action whilst they are studying. A student cannot be an active politician and pursue his studies at the same time”. “I am an autumnal leaf on the tree that might fall off at any moment, the teachers are the young sprouts that would last longer, but fall off at their proper time, but you, the students, are the branches that would put forth new leaves to replace the old ones”. “All the world over, students are playing a most important and effective part in shaping and strengthening national movement. It would be monstrous if the students of India did less. In India where political consciousness has till recently been unfortunately confined in a large measure to the English educated class, their duty is, indeed, greater”. “A student has no business to multiply delicacies and luxuries of opinion”. “Students must not take part in party politics. They are students, searchers, not politicians”. “I ask you (young men) to go to villages and bury yourselves there, not as their masters or benefactors, but as their servants. Let them know what to do and how to change their modes of living from your daily conduct and way of living. Only feeling will be of no use, just like steam which by itself is or no account unless it is kept under proper control, when it becomes a mighty force”.
In this essay, an attempt has been made to highlight how much Gandhiji's message means to the youth. Gandhiji was not a man who created a doctrine, as for example Buddha. Gandhi was a deeply religious man who respected all religions and still lived on his own ethics and philosophy. That is what is so fascinating about him. One need not be interested in anyway to copy him as there is nothing like Gandhism, and should not be. One must be concerned about understanding the deeper value of his sayings and to translate his ideal into the culture and the time of the day, to be open to suggestions that one can get out of life. He was a man of action. “My life is my message” so he expressed it.
The essay concludes with the remark below on the Mahatma Gandhi by Jawaharlal Nehru - the first Prime Minister of India - with a piece of last but not the least an advice from the author to the students.
“People talk of memorials to Mahatma in statues of bronze or marble or pillars and thus they mock and believe his message. What tributes shall we apply to him that he would have appreciated? He has shown us the way to live and the way to die and if we have not understood that lesson, it would be better that we raised no memorial to him, for the only fit memorial is to follow reverently in the path he showed us and to do our duty in life and death”. In a land of patricide, matricide, fratricide, sororicide, homicide, regicide, uxoricide, suicide, infanticide, genocide, parricide, mariticide - can anybody live a peaceful life anywhere with sigh of relief. Who are committing these homicidal crimes? Are the youth particularly the students’ communities today able to differentiate between the good and the bad, legal and illegal, war and peace, violence and non-violence? Education means enabling one to know these things. Are you on the right track of education? This is a million dollar question. Please answer it, as you are to survive one hundred years of your lives. You and only you can shape your life yourself, none else. To day is the right day for you to start a brainstorming session. — Concluded

Weeding out the pseudos Sagain Express Editorial
The decision of the UNLF and the KYKL, two major underground organisations operating in Manipur, to ban the KCP (P), is a telling story of the social and political reality in Manipur today. It is not the case of this column to comment on the merits or demerits of the decision taken to ban a supposedly armed organisation, but in many ways it is an acknowledgement by the UNLF and the KYKL of the presence of numerous armed groups whose ideologies and aspirations are not clear. In a way it also reflects the confusion and the manner in which the seeds of fear psychosis are sown amongst the general public. Today there are numerous armed groups, especially in the hill districts, which are active in their areas of operation and the greatest tragedy is no one seems to know whether these groups have sprung up under a clear cut ideology or have simply been floated to pursue their own agenda. With guns being cheap, human lives in Manipur too have become extremely cheap and it is this fear factor that some armed persons under the name of an organisation have taken advantage of to pursue their agenda or interest. There have been numerous stories of drivers being abducted along NH-39 and NH-53 only to be released once the required fees are coughed up. There have also been some high profile kidnappings and abductions with no clear cut motive and when the hostages are released, the conditions under which they were set free are never spelt out in clear cut terms. In certain cases, there have been rival armed groups accusing the other of teaming up with security forces such as the Assam Rifles in attacking them. Such a scenario is extremely confusing and this we are afraid will not do anything good to the underground movements which have been launched under a clear agenda and ideology.
Violence and fear. These are the two keys which have been used by all armed groups to attain their goal and aspirations. And at times these two key factors have been used indiscriminately by some of the armed organisations, which do not have any clear cut ideology, for their own benefits or to fill up their coffer. Today Manipur has entered a crucial phase, socially, economically and politically. With the world increasingly becoming a global village, the people of Manipur can no longer afford to remain cut off from the rest of the world and with the changing political and economic scenario in the whole world, the armed organisations too need to change according to the need of the time. If Lenin used a certain tactic under an ideology during the Russian revolution it was in keeping with the need of that time, which was to rouse the workers in a predominantly industrialised Europe. In China the revolution led by Mao Zedong concentrated on the peasant movement as the Chinese society at that point of time was predominantly an agrarian society. It is this reality that should be kept in mind when any armed organisation go about with their mission and of course the first is to weed out the pseudo revolutionaries. Manipur has suffered enough because of the presence of numerous armed groups and the most effective means to check this is to work out a unity formula which should be acceptable to all the organisations concerned.