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01/22/2006: "Patil optimistic about ceasefire being extended"

Patil optimistic about ceasefire being extended Kuknalim.com
NEW DELHI, Jan 21: Emphasizing that parleys with Naga leaders have helped maintain peace and tranquility in the region, Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Saturday said the government was trying to take into confidence those people who had chosen the path of violence. The Home Minister was talking to Karan Thapar in an interview for CNN-IBN news channel.

On NSCN leader Th. Muivah's reported comments that the Government was only interested in extending the ceasefire, he said "Muivah has been considering this matter for a pretty long time and he understands the difficulties involved in it. We know more than anyone else what he says and what he does not say."

Asked whether Naga ceasefire, which is to expire on January 31, will be extended, Patil said "I think it would be but then there are two parties to this agreement and depends on the attitude."

It may be mentioned the next round of parleys between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) will be held by the end of this month. On the defreezing of London bank accounts of Bofors accused Ottavio Quattrocchi, he said "What the government has done is based on the facts...In certain cases, the matter is pending for a long time, investigation has taken place, different governments have looked into the matter and the officers working with them have collected the information and the courts have given the judgements acquitting the persons against whom allegations were made.

"At some point or the other, Government which is in a position to take the decision and which is responsible for taking the decision, has to take a decision," he said. (PTI)
'Naga women should be given equal political opportunities as Naga men':
Each year, kuknalim.com gives away it's Members' Choice Award to one of the conestants at the Miss Nagaland beauty pagent. Last December, Vini Asumi walked away with it. We caught up with her for an interview...

Kuknalim.com: Congratulations on winning the kuknalim.com Members' Choice Award 2005. Were you confident of winning the title?
Vini: Thanks. I was confident that I stood a fair chance

Kuknalim.com: How has contesting for Miss Nagaland affected your outlook in life?
Vini: Contesting for Miss Nagaland has made me feel that life has so much to offer--so many opportunities, so many wonderful people 2 befriend and it has made me realize that being young I have a long way 2 go.

Kuknalim.com: How was the Miss Nagaland experience? Was it an enriching one?
Vini: Yes, Miss Nagaland was an enriching experience because I had a great time and got to meet so many nice people, not only the contestants but those involved.

Kuknalim.com: Who were your best friends among the contestants?
Vini: Khrieletuonuo Thenuo, Khrielhoutuo-u-Lhoungu, Tiajungla Jamir, Vili Chopy, and Rachel Chang.

Kuknalim.com: Do you feel that men and women get equal opportunities in Nagaland?
Vini: No I don’t think so because Naga women are not treated equally in all fields. I believe that unless and until political opportunities are given to Naga women we can't be at par with Naga men.

Kuknalim.com: You are in great shape. How do you maintain your fitness?
Vini: It’s in my genes. I don’t work out.

Kuknalim.com: What do you have to say about kuknalim.com and the importance of internet in today's world?
Vini: I think that it’s a cool website 2 meet people. Internet is so important because it helps us gain so many information and knowledge about the world but I also think that it has its own disadvantages because it also has many websites that are not good for young kids.

kuknalim.com: What is your favorite...
Vini:
a) T.V Show: Oprah Winfrey and Friends
b) Food: Chicken Biriyani
c) Book: No greater love by Danielle Steel
d) Film: My best fiend’s wedding
e) Musician: Celiene Dion and Maroon 5

Kuknalim.com: Anything you'd like to tell our readers?
Vini: I just want 2 say that m very thankful to all the people who voted for me. This wouldn’t have been possible without their love and support.

Interview and pictures taken by Thungrhoni Kikon on behalf of kuknalim.com
Damage to Dzukou may take time to heal
While informing that the damage caused to Dzukou Valley by the recent raging fire may not be permanent, government officials cautioned that the regeneration of the vegetation may take time.
Kohima DFO L. Kire speaking to The Morung Express also disclosed that this was not the first time that fire has ravaged the tourist spot. Some 2 decades ago a similar fire had broken out in the area and had caused extensive damage, but the vegetation could regenerate though it took time to heal, Kire informed.
Although, aerial survey team could not make out the exact area of damage on Dzukou valley due to poor visibility on Friday, the assessment made by the IAF pilot revealed that about 72 Sq km, 18 km in length and 4 km in width has been ravaged by the fire that broke out a week ago.
The Kohima DFO who was part of the survey team, said that though the team members could not make out the extent of the damages; the pilot who had prior experience in such surveys had put the area of damage at 72 sq km.
Kire also said that the survey which was carried out despite the inclement weather there was no more any sign of fire and it was safely concluded that the fire had been completely extinguished.
However, Kire cautioned that anything may happen anywhere, and appealed to the people to be aware of the havoc the fire could wreak on flora and fauna of the State.
For more than a week, villagers and youths of the southern Angami areas, Assam Rifles, Police, Fire Service and other state agencies put all efforts to put out the fire. The State Forest department has apprised the central team of the damage done by the fire.
Kire also said that the Dzukou fire had created awareness in the state and at the national level. “It is quite an experience for us”, he said, pointing out that the magnitude of the fire was not the type that could be handled by the state forest department or the state government alone.
“The centre gave due importance this time, not because of the fire but because Dzukou biodiversity is unique, said Kire. Otherwise, the state could not have been able to make the entire damage control assessment due to the difficult terrain of Dzukou valley”, he added.
First community owned hydro power project in Nagaland
Kohima | January 22, 2006 5:32:27 PM IST Webindia

The first ever community owned mini hydro electric power project of Nagaland was inaugurated by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at Tsukroki, near Chizami under Phek district.
The hydro power project with a capacity of 100x2 kw, was jointly undertaken by the Chizami village council and the Sumi village council. Addressing the inaugural function here yesterday, Mr Rio lauded the joint efforts of the two neighbouring village councils for turning the project into reality and said,'' it is the greatest success story in the region''. He wished the project would benefit the entire state, apart from the neighbouring villages and the Phek district.
He also assured all possible help from the government including installation of power evacuation and metering facilities at an estimated cost of Rs seven to eight lakh and to wipe out the loan component of Rs 82 lakh from the Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA). He also assured of providing all technical help in running and maintanance of the power project.
The Chief Minister revealed that the state required around 75 MW and the same was purchased from neighbouring states at Rs 14 per unit. While it was sold to the public at Rs 2.50 per unit, the outgo per annum for the purchase of power amounted to Rs 67.02 crore. The project initially started in 1999 and approved in the subsequent year with an estimated cost of Rs 2.21 crore, was subsequently hiked to Rs 2.32 crore and then to Rs 2.54 crore due to cost over run. The Ministry of Non- Conventional Energey sources sanctioned Rs 1.50 crore for the project, Rs 82 lakh came from IREDA as loan and the state government's share was Rs 21 lakh. UNI AS DT SP SS BD1624
Zeliangs appeal Naga groups on violence Newmai News NetworkJanuary 21
Imphal: Unhappy with the violence incidents, the Zeliangrong Union of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (ZU-AMN) today reiterated its earlier appeal to Naga underground organizations to answer to its proposal with certain initiatives. ZU-AMN president Dinkambui told NNN this morning over phone from Tamenglong that in order to felicitate in bringing peace in the Zeliangrong areas, his organisation had proposed to the NSCN-IM, NSCN-K and the NNC with 4/5 points of initiatives but it was only the NSCN-IM that had fed back to the proposal dispatched by the ZU-AMN.
The increasing violent cases in the Zeliangrong areas recently has compelled the ZU-AMN again to appealed the two Naga UG outfits who had not given response to the union’s call for peace, feed back to the proposals so as to do away the violent path once and for all. Appealing with despair, Dinkambui has said that killing among the brethren would not solve any problem but it would amount to make things more complicated. The ZU president stated that the path of Christianity is non-violence “and we are all Christians and that killing is not the path that we should tread on”.
Dinkambui further expressed that under the reconciliation programme of the Naga Hoho, the ZU-AMN had also undertaken the measures to shun violence. The Zeliangrong Union’s reiteration for peace appealing to the underground organisations comes in the wake of the ongoing clashes between the NSCN factions in Tamenglong district. The clashes between the two factions have been ongoing since December-2005 in the district. Reports of clashes have been received from time to time even today. The worst affected villages due to the clashes have been the Makhom/Marangjing village and its adjoining areas near Noney. The latest cases being reported from Khoupum area of Tamenglong district. Unconfirmed reports said that there have been problems between the cadres of NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K in the area some four/five days ago.
No contacts could be made to ascertain the reports of factional clashes in the Khoupum.
Future economy lies in villages: Imtilemba
North East Press Service
Alisopur (Tuensang), Jan 22 (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for Transport and Communication and Labor and Employment, Imtilemba expressed about the fast changing global scenario and the migration of urban based economy to the rural based economy.
Addressing Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the Alisopur Baptist Church here today, the Minister highlighted how the South East Asian countries were trying to co-work with the people of the North East Region (NER) and how to materialize the dream of the Government of India’s “Look East Policy.” He said the people had been fast changing their mindsets and started realizing the importance of “economic development in the villages.”
“The people who are in the urban areas have decided to go to the villages and set up their enterprises there, because they have realized that the great economic potential lies in the villages,” Imtilemba said. “Earlier, villagers didn’t find the market but now they can sale and market their things in their own villages only.”
This trend with the DAN Government’s declaration of 2006-07 as the “Year of Farmers” would surely benefit the people of the State, he pointed out, advising the villagers to approach the competent authority of the Government to explore the potentials.
The Minister also paid rich tribute to those who pioneered for the Alisopur Baptist Church 75 years ago. “75 years in God’s service would be mature enough for the people in the village (Alisopur) to further spread the true message of God to others,” he said.
He further described the Alisopur Baptist Church as “hospital” on its completion of 75 years and further stated it should be made a “center’ for healing everything for humanity.
ST Sangtam, DIGP (Modernization and Planning) also spoke on the occasion, while Associate Pastor of Women Sangtam Baptist Church, Kohima S Alemla spoke on the theme “Liberated Women.”
Large number of people and invitees from the village and other neighboring villages, Tuensang District administration officials also attended the historic celebration of the Alisopur Baptist Church.

Moreh residents take anti-AR protest to no-man`s land From Our Correspondent

MOREH, Jan 21: Hundreds of Moreh residents, mainly women and children, crossed the international border at Moreh and squatted in the no-man`s land between India and Myanmar from this afternoon in a dramatic move that is expected to draw international attention to their campaign to oust the 24 Assam Rifles from Moreh.

The step was taken at the initiative of the all-community Women`s Joint Action Committee, Moreh, in keeping with the resolution adopted at the protest meeting yesterday to abandon their homes and move into no-man`s land if the 24 AR is not removed from Moreh within 24 hours.

At around 3:30 pm, today, dozens of women and children, many bearing their packed belongings, began moving into no-man`s land, and till this evening, there was no end to the flood.

Attempts by the civil police to stop them failed as the protestors continued to cross into no-man`s land from every direction.

In view of the dramatic development, Myanmarese authorities have again closed all border gates on their side of the border. The gates, which had stayed closed since the Namphalong bomb blasts of January 8, were re-opened by the Myanmarese authorities only this morning.

The number of protestors now squatting in no-man`s land is estimated to be upward of a thousand.

Earlier, today, Brig RA Lewis, commander of the 26 sector Assam Rifles again convened a meeting with various community leaders in an apparent bid to stave off further protests. The brigadier, in the meeting, again pledged to prevent further excesses on the part of the security forces, but reiterated that it was not in his power to remove the 24 Assam Rifles from Moreh.

It may be mentioned that a similar meeting between Brig Lewis and other AR officials and civilian community and women leaders yesterday had failed because Brig Lewis could not give an assurance for the removal of the 24 AR.

The women leaders, who had staged a walkout then, did not attend today`s meeting. At this juncture, the AMSU, Chandel district committee has joined the fray, announcing their intention to call an indefinite Moreh bandh from 6 am tomorrow if the authorities fail to bring back the womenfolk currently squatting in no-man`s land back to their homes. The AMSU has also declared that an indefinite fast onto death would be launched from January 23 onwards if no positive response from the authorities to resolve the situation.

In another development, with the reopening of border gates by the Myanmarese authorities, border trade resumed today, but at a fraction of its former pace with Myanmarese authorities putting in place stringent security measures in an apparent bid to prevent a recurrence of the Namphalong blast.

Everyone seeking to enter Namphalong market or Tamu town were required to give their names and addresses, and submit to being thoroughly frisked. Later in the however, following complaints over the slow pace, the Myanmarese authorities stopped recording names and addresses. A token system has also been introduced for all Indian visitors from today onwards. This afternoon, a meeting was also held between local Myanmarese authorities and government officials and community leaders of Moreh at the Namphalong Billiards Hall. The meeting agreed to introduce identity cards for coolies ferrying goods across the border. Further, all visitors would be frisked by both Myanmarese and Indian security personnel before being allowed to cross the border. Monthly meetings would also be held between Moreh community leaders and representatives of the Namphalong Development Committee to monitor developments and to coordinate their activities.
Lt Col, 4 ultras killed in encounter NewMai News Network/ UNI January 21 Imphal: At least four United National Liberation Front (UNLF) militants and a Lt Col of 13 Dogra Regiment, were killed in an encounter at Parbung in Churachandpur district yesterday.
Official sources said here today that troops under the 57 Mountain Division had launched an anti-insurgency operation at Churachandpur district.
The troops went into interior areas of the district, a militant stronghold, when they were dared by the UNLF ultras and in the ensuing encounter, the Lt Col and four militants were killed.
Four AK rifles were recovered from the slain militants, sources added.
The identity of the slain Lt Col has been established as Rajiv Bakshi. Confirming the report of the attack, a PIB (Defence Wing) statement, said troops of Red Shield Division began its operations in the interior areas of Tipaimukh sub-division in Churachandpur district in the early hours of Friday.
Unconfirmed reports, however, put the casualty much higher.
A multi-pronged operation had also been launched now at Churachandpur and Jiribam areas. Heavy firing between the UNLF and Army personnel were also reported in interior of the two districts. Meanwhile, Jiribam police have registered a case and the body of the Lt Col has been taken to the Silchar Mashimpur Army Hospital, said an Imphal based newspaper in today’s edition.
In another development, out of the four security personnel including three personnel of 26 Rajput Rifles, who drowned when their boat capsized at Barak river while going towards Parbung on January 17 for launching a mass operation, only two bodies have been recovered so far, added a report of the daily newspaper.
The identities of the personnel whose bodies have been recovered are Rifleman of 26 Rajput Rifles Abhilkumar Nayar and Dinglien s/o Gunadhor of Sotobekra.
The bodies of Subedar V Mohon and Lance Naik Sitaram Rajkuwar of 26 Rajput Rifles are still missing, said the newspaper.
The body of Rifleman Abhilkumar Nayar was taken to Jiribam on Thursday without conducting post-mortem while Dinglien’s body has been handed over to family members after the post-mortem.
According to reports, the father of Dinglien, Guna-dhor was killed when a bomb planted by suspected underground activists exploded at Phairen-thang Pungi some six months back,stated the daily.
Andro women confront AR in aftermath of UG ambush The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Jan 21: At least one security man suffered minor injuries in an ambush by underground elements suspected to be PLA cadres on a convoy of 32 Assam Rifles this afternoon at around 12.30 pm at Andro Khunjil some 10 km south of Yairipok police station. In the follow up action, the Assam Rifles soldiers beat up around eight villagers, whom they came across while chasing the escaping UGs. A tense situation resulted as womenfolk of the area turned out at a public ground to protest the securitymen`s harassment of civilians. However, the timely arrival of the Thoubal police prevented any untoward incident.

The police recovered a tata truck bearing registration no. MN-01-5204 used by the underground cadres in laying the ambush and impounded by the AR in their follow up action from Andro Kharam village near the foothills of Nongmaiching some 1 km towards east from the ambush site. The police also seized another civilian truck from near the ambush site which had been parked there before the ambush took place. The truck with registration no. MN-01A-3716 had a shattered front windshield which was hit by the bullets fired during the ambush. The handyman of the 407 truck who was at the side of the vehicle when the ambush took place was missing in the aftermath of the ambush and till late his whereabouts could not be traced out. As per disclosure made by the personnel of the AR who were involved in the incident, the ambush targetted the rear vehicle out of the four vehicle convoy coming out from their post at Andro for Keithel Manbi post.

The attackers came from the opposite side and fired many rounds towards the rear vehicle resulting in injury to the driver of the AR vehicle. The vehicle also went off the road, ending up in a paddy field. Thereafter, the attackers made good their escape in the same tata truck which was later found abandoned.
The injured driver was evacuated to the hospital immediately and was stated to be out of danger.

The villagers of Andro Kharam where the truck was found abandoned recounted that the truck had come carrying seven persons with weapons in their hands. Out of them, four were seen in the cabin of the truck and remaining three at the back. Soon after the truck stopped at the village the gunmen climbed up to a hill. Later, the security personnel followed the truck, the villagers said and added that they called out three villagers who were working at a house and assaulted them with a stick. Some youths who were there were also made to lie on the ground and many rounds were fired in the air near the place where the attackers made their escape. Many people who were uphill cutting trees could not come down due to fear of possible harassment by the security men. Some climbed down towards Maring Khul on the other side. Till late evening all the entry points to Andro Khunjil and its surrounding areas were kept cordoned preventing entry of any person, even the people of the area returning to their homes. Frisking and checking of passersby and vehicles at all the roads leading to the village and Ngarian road were intensified by the Assam Rifles.
The womenfolk, in the meantime, gathered at the public ground of Andro Khunjil and there was high tension until the Thoubal police intervened.
Serial blasts rock Assam, two killed By Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Jan 22 (IANS) Rebels in Assam Sunday stepped up violence in the run-up to India's Republic Day celebrations, with at least two people being killed as the militants triggered eight blasts and engaged security forces in a gun battle. At least one person was killed and eight others, including five policemen, were seriously wounded in two grenade explosions and a bomb blast in the heart of Assam's main city Guwahati. The blasts occurred one after the other around 7 p.m.
A policeman was killed in heavy fighting that erupted Sunday evening between security forces and rebels of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in eastern Golaghat district.
The rebels also blew up three gas pipelines and a power installation in separate incidents in eastern Assam. The pipelines that came under attack were in Dibrugarh district, 450 km east of Guwahati.
There was another powerful bomb blast inside a bus station in eastern Assam's Jorhat district although there were no casualties. Though no group claimed responsibility for the attacks, police official have blamed them on the ULFA.
Referring to the blasts in Guwahati, Inspector General of Police Dilip Bora told IANS: 'One civilian was killed and five policemen and three civilians were wounded in the three blasts in the city.'
Two of the explosions took place outside the main police reserve complex in the city. Two policemen were wounded and several vehicles parked in the area were damaged.
'First there was a grenade attack and then possibly a bomb planted earlier went off near the police reserve,' Bora said. At around the same time, militants lobbed a grenade on a paramilitary patrol, wounding three troopers and four civilians.
'One of the civilians injured in the grenade blast died in hospital,' Bora said.
The there pipelines that were damaged in the blasts in Dibrugarh district belong to state-owned Assam Gas Company, which supplies natural gas to domestic and industrial consumers.
'The attacks on the pipelines will result in heavy financial loss,' said company spokesman C. Phukan.
The serial blasts Sunday were the latest in a string of explosions that have rocked Assam since Friday.
Suspected ULFA separatists Saturday night wounded five policemen in a grenade attack, besides blowing up two gas pipelines and two power installations in different parts of Assam.
On Friday, rebels exploded a bomb at the entrance of a state-owned petroleum refinery in Guwahati, killing one person and wounding eight paramilitary troopers and two civilians.
ULFA and five other rebel groups have called a 17-hour general strike from 1 a.m. on Jan 26 to protest the annual Republic Day celebrations.
Militants in the seven insurgency-racked northeastern states have for years been boycotting national events to protest New Delhi's rule over the oil and timber-rich region.
The run-up to the events has always been violent, with rebels striking vital installations including crude oil pipelines, trains and road and rail bridges, besides targeting federal soldiers.
'Security forces are on maximum alert across the state. We are not taking any chances and are prepared to thwart all plans by the militants to sabotage the Republic Day celebrations,' said Assam's Home Commissioner B.K. Gohain.
There are some 30 rebel groups operating in the northeast with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy and the right to self-determination.
Oil officials prohibited from moving without security cover Businessman shot dead, militants on attack mode NET News Network
Guwahati, Jan 21: Perturbed by ULFA’s demand note to ONGC and Republic Day boycott call, a marathon security meeting today decided to spread extensive security blanket across Oil installations in the state with providing special powers to army to supervise security arrangements across the state. The meeting presided by Assam DGP and attended by senior officials from IB, State Home department, CISF, CRPF, Army, OIL, ONGC, GAIL, IOC decided to implement multi-layer security system with coordinated support from various security agencies to already stationed CISF personnel in vital installations. Taking special note of Oil sector security, the meeting asked the senior officials from the sector not to move out without adequate security cover. Security will be beefed up in both offices and residences of the officials to thwart any subversive attempt.
The Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) has also taken precautionary security measures in view of the ULFA extortion note to the ONGC. ''We are taking special precautions, particularly for our staff-members living outside our colony here," a senior GAIL officer told northeasttribune.com.
Meetings have been held with the Army, CRPF, Sibsagar district administration and the police which have assured of providing security men as per the availability of additional forces, officer said.
Meanwhile, close on the heels of grenade attack at Guwahati Refinery on Friday evening and two blasts early this morning on crude oil and gas pipelines of the Oil India in Sivasagar district, suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants today triggered off twin blasts in Lakhimpur district of Assam injuring three.
The first blast took place at around 7:10 pm in Kowargaon village, followed by another in Hindutiniali at 7:45 injuring three.
The injured have been identified as Nipen Hajong (security guard), Romen Kalita, a sub inspector and Mukesh Kumar Sarma, a CRPF jawan.
In another incident, suspected ULFA militants on bicycles shot dead a grocery shop owner, Iswar Chand Jain at Teokghat in Sibsagar district this evening. He was believed to have been served Rs 15 lakh extortion note, the police said. It may be mentioned, on early Saturday morning ULFA triggered two more blasts on crude oil and gas pipelines of the Oil India Ltd.
District superintendent of Police Bishnu Ram Medhi said that the militants exploded a powerful bomb on a pipeline deep inside the Rangoli Reserve Forest in Sibsagar district damaging a 400-foot length, besides bombing a gas pipeline running parallel to the crude oil line causing a gas leak.

Security stepped up in oil installations By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Jan 21 – The security of the oil installations including the pipelines passing through the vulnerable areas of the State will be beefed up in view of the recent attacks on the oil companies by the militants belonging to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). The issue of security of the oil installations was discussed in detail in a meeting of the oil security coordination committee, held in the Assam Police headquarters this afternoon. The meeting was attended among others by the senior police officials, officers of all the oil companies operating in the State and the administrative and police officials of the districts, which have oil installations. Police sources said that the meeting is a regular affair, held every three months, but this time it assumed special significance in view of the recent attacks on the oil installations by the ULFA. Sources pointed out that the militants had always been targeting the oil installations before the Republic Day and Independence Day and this time, it was no different and security measures have already been beefed up.

The ULFA has also sent an extortion note demanding Rs 500 crore from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and the issue was also discussed in the meeting today. Police said that the security agencies have decided to boost the security of the officials and installations of the ONGC in the state to prevent any subversive activity by the ULFA and the officials of the oil companies have been requested to take precautions to prevent any attempt of mischief by the militant outfit.
It may be mentioned here that apart from slapping an extortion note to the ONCG, the militants belonging to the ULFA have started hitting the oil installations in different parts of the State including a grenade attack near the main gate of the Guwahati refinery last evening, which resulted in the death of one person and at least eight others were injured in the attack. The attacks started on the night of January 15 when the militants blasted an oil pipeline near Dhaligaon in Chirang district, which was followed by the recovery of explosives in Upper Assam. The recovery prevented possible attempt of the outfit to blow off an LPG plant by the ULFA. Our Duliajan Correspondent adds: a gas pipeline of the Assam Gas Company Limited was blown off by suspected militants in Rongali reserve forest near Moran last night. The Namrup-Moram pipeline of the company was damaged in a blast at around midnight but no one was injured in the incident. Assam Gas Company sources said that steps have been initiated to repair the pipeline and the job would be completed within a day or two.
Serial blasts rattle StateULFA punches holes in Assam security shield Our Bureau Sentinel
With inputs from Guwahati, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, Tingkhong
Jan 22: Barely ten minutes after IGP (SB) Khagen Sarma claimed that the situation in the State was normal, the outlawed ULFA today triggered serial explosions throughout the State apparently targeting security personnel and gas pipelines. Today’s strikes by the rebel group have proved beyond doubt that the Republic Day security arrangement in the poll-bound State is not as tight as claimed by the State police administration.
Around 5.55 this evening, suspected ULFA militants lobbed a powerful grenade near Gauhati Commerce College in the city where security personnel were on their routine checking. Police constable Damodar Das, CRPF jawans Ajay Kumar Dro, BG Krishna, Dado Jadav and Purno Boro were injured in the attack. Minutes later, a grenade was hurled in front the Assam Police Reserve at AT Road in the city. One Rahim Ali succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Fifteen minutes later, while a team of security personnel was in a search operation in the police reserve area, militants detonated an IED, planted in a requisitioned bus, injuring Panbazar OC Mahendra Rajkhowa and constables Jogen Tisso and Rafiqul Hussain. DSP Mirinda Kadam Ingtpi had a narrow escape.
Meanwhile, in the first instance of militant attack within Jorhat district this year, suspected ULFA militants triggered a blast in the precincts of the ASTC building here around 7.05 p.m, injuring a person identified as Krishna Das. The casualty was minimum as there was not many travellers within the ASTC complex at that hour.
In yet another strike, two gas pipelines —one at Chetiapathar under Chabua PS and the other at Bokulia Chariali under Duliajan PS — were blown up successively this evening. No casualty has been reported so far.
A late night report said that yet another gas pipeline running through Lengri TE under Tengakhat PS in Dibrugarh district was blown up by militants around 9 p.m.
Last night, the ULFA blew up a power tower of NEEPCO at Bhoju in Sivasagar.
At Konwar Gaon near Lakhimpur, ULFA militants blew up a transformer near the Madharam Gogoi LP School around 7.15 p.m. yesterday. Another transformer was blown up at Hindugaon Tiniali just 30 minutes later. Three security personnel — Ramen Kalita, Riten Hajong and Mukesh Kumar — sustained injuries in the strike. Another gas pipeline was blown up by militants at Mahmora Silgrant under Namrup PS in Dibrugarh district last night.
The proscribed outfit broke the lull of about 100 days —the longest so far —by blowing up an IOC pipeline at Dalgaon hours before Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was to arrive in the State. The ULFA had designated the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) to hold the first round of talks with the Prime Minister on October 26 to prepare the ground for direct talks between it and Government peace negotiators. Since then the outfit had refrained from indulging in subversive activities.
Memo demands planning board in KA Diphu NewsletterFrom our Correspondent Sentinel
DIPHU, Jan 22: Expressing utter disappointment over the Government’s failure to create district planning board in Karbi Anglong district even after 58 years of Independence, the District Development Board and the Village Planning Board Demand Committee demanded immediate creation of the district planning board, subdivisional planning board and village planning board in the district in accordance with the Article 244(2) of the Constitution on the basis of the recommendation of the Pataskar Commission Report, 1965.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, the committee stated that the government’s failure was a gross violation of the Clauses and Sub-clauses of Article 244(2) of the Constitution. The committee claims that the Government’s ‘refusal’ to implement the Pataskar Report, 1965 severely hurts the decentralized planning system in the district. The non-implementation, according to the memorandum leaves some areas badly deprived of development at schemes and abets the alarming growth of regional imbalance.