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04/07/2007: "'Use your potential to become good citizens of the society': Ramakrishnan Kuknalim.com"

'Use your potential to become good citizens of the society': Ramakrishnan Kuknalim.com

KOHIMA, April 6:: Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, R. Ramakrishnam (IAS) said that students should be responsible members and utilize their potential to become good citizens of the society.
Exhorting the gathering after inaugurating the school building of the Government Middle School, PWD Colony, Kohima this morning, the Deputy Commissioner said that communitisation has benefited the society in many ways and the completion of the school building in time under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) depicts the involvement of the community in promoting wards.

The Deputy Commissioner said that the purpose of the SSA is striving for more enrollments and he expressed happiness over the good number of students, a total of 434 enrolled in the school. He urged upon the people to reap the benefits of the SSA and also said that the school can always be recommended for upgradation if the necessary criteria are fulfilled. He further assured that he will look into the construction of more rooms and providing computer education and donated Rs. 25,000/- to be utilized either for constructing a toilet for teachers or for clearing liabilities.
Convener, Construction Committee, Avio, presenting a report on construction of the building said that under SSA, the construction of the School building, boundary wall, water supply and electrification was completed at the cost of Rs. 4,53,660/-. He thanked the Chairman of the Managing Board and the teachers for their cooperation and support in timely completion of the project.
Vote of thanks was tendered by Chairman, PWD Panchayat, K. Puro. The programme was chaired by WEC Chairman, Thapi Semy. (DPRO, Kohima)

Insurgency affecting fruit exports from NE Kuknalim.com
NEW DELHI Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) General Manager Pravin Gupta has said that insurgency was a major roadblock in Assam, Manipur and Nagaland. Nagaland in increasing exports of fruits from the North-eastern region. He said cold storage facilities either did not exist or those that did were extremely inadequate, and similar was the position in respect of marketing arrangements.

Gupta said out of APEDA’s total exports, North East’s share was a dismal 0.003 per cent last year, which was in marked contrast to the true potential of the region. “It has been found that a large proportion of exports from the region take place through illegal routes to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar,” he said. Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland share a 1,643 km border with Myanmar while the international boundary shared by Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram with Bangladesh stands at 1,880 km.

Gupta said to educate enterpreneurs of the region, the agency plans to launch various market development initiatives and send exporters to foreign exhibitions and fairs.
Gupta said the agency will also start various quality and R&D programmes in the North East.

At a recent NEC meeting in Guwahati, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh had asked APEDA to initiate steps for improving exports from the region.– PTI

Angry crowds confront police after commandos shoot three, Encounter claims police, fake says public; Bandh 5am to 6pm today The Imphal Free Press

imphal, apr 6: Three youths were slain by a team of the Imphal west police commandos in controversial circumstances this morning at around 9:55 am, at Kwakeithel Heinou Khongnembi Laishram Leikai, provoking strong public protests. Police claimed the three youths attacked a frisking party with grenades, and were shot in retaliatory fire, but family and neighbours of the victims, refusing to accept the police version, blocked the Tiddim road at Changangei for some hour today. A state-wide bandh has also been called from 5 am to 6 pm tomorrow over the incident. A police statement, describing the incident, said the three youths, who were heading towards Kwakeithel bazar along the Haobam Marak road, were signalled to stop by a police frisking party near Kwakeithel bazar, but the riders turned and sped towards Akham Leikai.

As police gave chase, one of the pillion riders hurled a hand grenade, which fell in a nullah and did not explode. The statement said the police continued the chase, firing in the air and shouting at them to stop. The statement said at Kwakeithel Heinou Khongnembi Puthabi, the pillion rider sitting in the middle took out another hand grenade and hurled towards the police party, and the latter retaliated in self-defence. The youths were hit and died on the spot, it said.

The Honda Activa on which the youths were riding, and an unexploded grenade was recovered from the spot. Another unexploded grenade was also recovered from Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, the statement said.
Local sources however said the youths were fired upon by the police team for failing to stop when signalled to do so. The sources said one of the three youths was hit in the gunfire, while the other two were nabbed alive. The latter were shot dead in police custody, the sources claimed.

The three deceased are identified as Sapam Paka Singh, 25, of Chanangei, Taorem Bobo, 26, of Changangei Uchekon, and H Thangkhenmung, 30, of Sangaiprou. Denouncing the police act, local residents of Changangei blocked the Tiddim road near Imphal airport till late this evening.

There were brief confrontations between the slogan-shouting public and the police who attempted to clear the road for traffic. Local womenfolk also forced the OC of the Nambol police and a constable to apologize after the latter allegedly threatened to beat up an elderly woman.

The local MLA RK Anand also visited the spot. The respective families meanwhile refused to claim the dead bodies which are still at RIMS morgue. A cousin of the deceased S Paka said the latter was a drug user, but not involved with any underground group. A joint action committee has also been formed in connection with the incident, and it has called a Manipur bandh against the incident from 5 am to 6 pm tomorrow. The JAC is also pressing for constituting a judicial enquiry, the dismissal of the police personnel involved, and payment of ex-gratia to the families of the deceased. It was also decided not to claim the bodies of the deceased until an agreement is reached with the government on these demands. The JAC has also convened a meeting for various civil society organisations of the state tomorrow at 1 pm at the Malom Tuliyaima Awangge Ibudhou Pakhangba community hall to discuss the further line of action. The Siamsinpwlpi, Imphal block has meanwhile condemned the killing of the three youths, and demanded that the concerned authorities look into the matter and stop the high-handedness of the police.

Police still clueless as other angles to Senapati killings surface The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Apr 5: Police are still clueless about the motive behind the murder of the two Senapati school boys even as evidence and circumstances indicate the two kids, Hriinii Hubert and Moheni Martin, may have been murdered somewhere else and abandoned at the top of the hill near the Viewland village where the skeletal remains were found, within a short period after the abduction. Police are also investigating the suspect Manekho`s link with the family members of deceased Moheni Martin to establish the reason behind the abduction of the children. Police has unconfirmed reports that Manekho attempted to avail loans from the bank where K Daili Mao, the father of deceased Moheni Martin, worked.

A highly placed police source said that the police investigation into the case has made remarkable progress and collection of most of the materials which could be used as evidence in the case is underway. Police are facing difficulty in establishing the cause of death of the two children as their remains were detected after the bodies were completely decayed, including the stomach parts, a senior police officer who did not want to reveal his name disclosed.

The stomach, which usually helps in detection of the cause of death in many cases, was in a state of decay beyond analytical observation, he said. It was earlier observed that the children could have been pierced with some sharp weapons.

The investigators are yet to send the clothing and other exhibits collected from the spot where the dead bodies were found and the remains of the bodies for forensic test as the same are being dried in a dark room as drying the clothes in the sun may damage some of the evidences required for forensic examinations. If the forensic expert could establish the pierce marks on the clothes, the only evidence for the cause of death would be murder by stabbing.

Police during the spot investigation said no blood stains were found at the ground in the surrounding area or at the spot itself. Even though the children were killed long back, if they were killed at the spot and heavy bleeding occurred, then the blood would have been absorbed in the soil and would remain there for a long time, according to experts.

The exhibits are likely to be sent within two to three days, he disclosed. Apart from this the post mortem report is also likely to be submitted by the doctors shortly. "We are expecting the medical report by Monday," he went on to say. Going into the history of the days since the abduction of the two children it was suggested that Manekho, one of the prime suspects in the case, was seen moving near the house of K Daili Mao since morning at around 8 am on the day of abduction of the two children (December 14 last year). Simultaneously, when the families of both children and villagers started searching for them, Manekho was found missing.

Later, on the same day he was abducted by some persons said to be cadres of an outfit. Later, it was reported that NSCN(IM) had taken him into their custody. Police registered the case over the disappearance of the two children on the next day after the families lodged a complaint. When the police made enquiries about the circumstances leading to the disappearance of the children, the family of K Daili said they suspected Manekho Mao and Brown Tangkhul. But police could not arrest them for interrogation as Manekho was already in the custody of the NSCN(IM) and Brown was not found at his home. Police raided the house of Brown at Senapati on December 16 last year after three days of the abduction and on the next day registered a case. Later it was reported that he was in the custody of the NSCN(IM).

Reliable reports collected by the police said that Manekho applied for a loan at the bank where K Daili Mao, the father of Moheni Martin, was working as manager. Even though Manekho`s name was included in the list of applicants who could avail loan, he could not get it as he could not produce a guarantor. He reportedly insisted on Daili to disburse the loan anyhow but in vain, another angle to the sordid crime revealed.
On the possible cause of death it was stated that since the two children were not too small to know the faces of the abductors, their release would not have been safe, police suggest. However, as far as investigation into the facts and circumstances leading to the abduction and murder of the two children is concerned, police have not been able to go further as their findings have to be supported by the disclosures made by the alleged culprits, the senior officer finally said.

Extortion spree by Naga ultras in Margherita SC Pathak Assam tribune
TINSUKIA, April 6 – Two districts of Arunachal Pradesh, Tirap and Changlang that are adjacent to the Margherita subdivision of Tinsukia district were hotbeds of NSCN (Khaplang) militants earlier, but presently the other NSCN faction led by Issac-Muivah has also been equally dominating these two district.
It is a well-known fact that both the factions of NSCN are running parallel governments and extorting money from the businessmen, traders and government servants. Both the groups have of late extended their activities to the neighburning areas of Margherita subdivision.

In the foothills of Patkai mountain range, the Tirap area is rich in coal, petroleum, tea and Naga militants are eyeing the resources for long and have increased their subversive activities here. Moreover, the presence of some Naga villages in this area too boosts their plans to extend the areas of their proposed greater Nagalim. The presence of Naga militants and their extortion activities have been becoming the latest headache of the Assam police as this falls under Lekhapani and Margherita police stations of Tinsukia district. The Naga militants extort money from the traders, small industrialists, tea cultivators, contractors, employees of Coal India, Oil India posted in the areas. Furthermore, some illegal coal miners used to get protection by paying good amount of protection money which encouraged the militants to try for more. To make the scene worse, the militants have started terrorising the areas by attacking petrol tankers and killing people. A few days back suspected NSCN(I-M) militants attacked two petrol tankers that were going to collect crude oil from Kharsung with sophisticated weapons on the road at Namphai forest reserve under Lakhapani PS of Assam killing two persons and it was believed that the attack was for denial of payment of demand money. For the same reasons, militants also assaulted and looted valuables from some farmers of the area some weeks ago. It may be mentioned here that the area is also known to be a stronghold of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) which uses the area as gateway to Arunachal Pradesh or Myanmar. But due to the intensive anti-insurgency operations launched by both Army and police in the aftermath of mass killing of labourers from Bihar by the ULFA militants since January last, ULFA militants are presently lying low in this area. The security forces, it seems are not taking any strong action against the Naga militants most probably due to the ongoing ceasefire. But if the state government does not take proper measures, urgently the situation might spiral beyond control.

Arunachal leadership crisis deepens Our Spl Correspondent Assam tribune
NEW DELHI, April 6 – Is the long innings of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Gegong Apang finally over? It may be, if his detractors are to be believed. AICC has asked him to rush to Delhi along with State Congress president to the Capital. When Chief Minister Gegong Apang and PCC chief Omen Deuri arrives in New Delhi this weekend, the Party High Command may show him the door, asking him to step down. The Congress High Command’s action came after days of deliberations to resolve the deepening crisis in the State. Party said that Union Minister of State for Labour Minister Oscar Fernandes and Congress president, Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary, Ahmed Patel, held a meeting last night to settle the leadership issue.

“The High Command has summoned Apang and Deuri to Delhi for discussions. Hopefully we will have a new Chief Minister soon,” State Agriculture Minister and a dissident leader Tsering Gyurme told newsmen. Apang lost the trust of his MLAs and lost confidence of CLP when 29 of the 33 Congress legislators in the 60-member Assembly passed a resolution opting for a leadership change. The dissident MLAs have projected State Power Minister Dorjee Khandu as Chief Minister. Adding to Apang’s woes dissidents claimed that they also had the support of two NCP MLAs, a legislator from the Arunachal Congress and 11 independents. To AICC’s discomfitures, the rebels have hinted at switching parties lock, stock and barrel, if their demand was not met.
“We are expecting a decision from the high command within a day or two,” Gyurme said. Parliamentary Affairs Minister and spokesman of the group Tako Dabi said, "We have many grievances against Apang but we do not want to disclose them right now. We have no confidence in Apang's leadership".
Apang became Chief Minister for the fifth term after assembly elections in October 2004, after a brief hiatus. Rebels claimed that they were very upset with Apang's style of functioning. They have alleged that Apang seldom consults them and their status have been relegated to that of 'yes man'. However, disillusion over portfolio distribution and attempts to promote his son Omak Apang were also some of the reasons behind the open revolt by the MLAs.

The Party High Command itself was not too happy with Apang's open defiance of the Central Government. He literally brought about a constitutional crisis when he awarded contracts to set up power plants to private bidders like Reliance and JP Group snatching from Government-owned NHPC. It took all of Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde's might to somehow retrieve some of the projects from the reluctant Sate Government. However, Apang did not relent and succeeded in awarding some of the power projects to the private players.

Then there is the issue of setting up North East Water Resources Authority, a pet project of Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. The Project has failed to move even an inch despite pressures from the PMO, mainly because of the objection by Apang. While Chief Ministers of all other NES have supported the Prime Minister's proposal, Apang has refused to relent. A series of meeting convened by the Minister of Water Resources has failed to break the logjam.

Under the circumstances, it is unlikely for the High Command to bail out Apang. Though top AICC leaders are going through the motion of talking to all concerned including the rebels holed up in a five star hotel here, Apang's fate seems more or less sealed. The only supporter backing Apang is PCC president and former CWC member, Omen Deuri. She was instrumental in having Apang installed as the Chief Minister in place of Mukut Mithi. However, with no love lost between Congress High Command and Apang, she may find the going tough this time around.
Naga Nation - nationtourists pay a call on one of the most isolated people in world By AFP 7 April, 2007 Malay Mail
High in the mountains of northwestern Myanmar, tribes of former headhunters dress themselves in tiger fangs and bear claws to celebrate their new year after the mid-January harvest. The members of the Naga tribes living in Myanmar are among the most isolated people in the world.

But for a handful of intrepid travellers, their villages have become an alluring if unlikely tourist attraction. The 100,000 Nagas in Myanmar have little contact with the outside world, even with the 1.2 million Nagas living across the border in India. Myanmar’s government only opened up to the outside world two decades ago, and until a few years ago, this region was completely off-limits to foreigners because of rebel movements and lack of transportation.

But over the last 10 years, the Nagas have begun using their New Year ceremony to receive small groups of well-heeled tourists who are willing to pay hundreds of dollars a night to sleep in a dirt-floored hut for the chance to have an authentic tribal experience. This year, some 45 tourists, mostly from Western countries, made the trek to the village of Lahe where hundreds of Nagas donned their traditional finery for a two-day ceremony ringing in their new year.

Known historically for their tattoos and their tradition of headhunting, the Naga warriors at the ceremony don’t exactly look like welcoming hosts. For the Nagas, this is the only time of year when their 49 clans, which sometimes speak completely different languages, gather to celebrate together. Some younger Nagas have studied in India and use English to communicate between clans. The warriors drape themselves in the fangs, claws and skins of their trophies, with headdresses made of fur and adorned with the long feathers of hornbills, while women and children in handmade red cloth parade nearby.

They raise a pole at the centre of a field near a ceremonial hall built to hold a feast. At night, they light a bonfire to give thanks for the just-ended harvest. The spectacle is like witnessing a National Geographic special which tourism officials say is why travellers are willing to spend thousands of dollars to join the event.

“We are definitely seeing travellers looking not just for new experiences, but for the real thing,” said John Koldowski, a spokesman for the Pacific-Asia Travel Association in Bangkok. “These people are really searching for something that hasn’t been spoiled,” he said, not just in Nagaland but in small communities around Asia.
Truly remote locales like the Naga villages in Myanmar attract only a trickle of tourists, said Win Tin, managing director of the Journey Nature and Culture Exploration travel agency in Yangon.

His agency provides a trip from Yangon for about US$1,300 to join the festival, including the journey by plane, boat and jeep to the ceremonial site. The price tag is expensive because transportation and communication is so difficult, Win Tin said. Some of the money goes directly to the Nagas, which has helped them make small improvements in their living standards, he adds.
“If we look overall, the Naga new year festival is not only good for their tribe, but also good as a source of business,” he says.

“Their lifestyle has changed a little as more visitors go there. In the past, they didn’t wear clothes and they had little sanitation. Now, they have more awareness of their health. But I don’t want this festival to become part of mass tourism because I don’t want it to have any negative impact on their tribe, nature and culture,” he adds. PATA’s Koldowski says high costs are one way that countries can protect the culture of isolated communities like the Nagas, noting that the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan imposes steep visa fees for the same reason.

“You can see theatre, dance and cultures and so forth in the capital of any country, but this is one subgroup that is real,” Koldowski says. This kind of journey is not for the fainthearted. Getting to Lahe requires a flight to the town of Hkamti – the Naga’s biggest settlement – then a three-hour trip upriver on a fishing boat, followed by a six-hour drive in a military four-by-four vehicle.
Although Myanmar has signed ceasefire deals with many of the rebels over the last decade, insurgents still roam these mountains, including Naga fighters battling for their own state in neighbouring India. Myanmar only allows tourists to visit two Naga villages because of safety concerns, and soldiers escort the travellers along the entire route, Win Tin says.
15 Thai cos keen to invest in NE By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, April 6 – To explore the North East market, several leading Thai companies have come forward to invest in the region. Disclosing this at a press conference here today, MK Saharia, chairman, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), North East Initiative, informed that ICC has so far received queries from 15 Thai companies covering different sectors. “They are keen on investing in infrastructure, IT and tourism sectors”, he said.

To woo more investments in the region, the trade body is organizing a mega ‘Business Summit’ in New Delhi from April 10 with a two-day programme. The summit will have a series of discussions covering aviation, tourism and food processing sectors in which top business firms will take part. Giving more details in this regard, Saharia, said that the summit would lay emphasis on the tourism sector in the region. “ Despite vast tourism potential, we have not been able reap the benefit and, therefore, we have decided to keep a special session so that the companies can come to the region”, he added.
Replying to a question about the Restricted Area Permit (RAP), he said that everything would be discussed in details. “The RAP has affected the growth of tourism and we will demand for removal of RAP”, he said, adding that the power sector is also one of our thrust areas.

Commenting on the border trade with South East Asian countries, Saharia observed that the summit would highlight the problems faced by the traders during export and import. “The Indo-Myanmar trade pact which was signed in 1994 needs immediate review in order to increase the volume of trade between North East and Myanmar. Moreover, the traders of the region have been demanding inclusion of more items in the list of trade to explore Myanmar, we will draw attention of the concerned minister during the summit”, he added.

3 killed under contrasting claims, bandh called today Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Apr 6 : Under contradictory claims, three youths in their late twenties were shot dead by Imphal West District Police Commandos at Kwakeithel Heinou Khongnembi Puthabi at around 9.45 am today. While the police claimed that the three youths were killed in self defence as they hurled hand grenades at the pursuing commandos, the local people debunked the police claim by asserting that the youths were unarmed and were killed in cold-blood. In protest against the killing, the JAC formed in connection with the incident has also called a Manipur bandh from 5 am to 6 pm tomorrow. The victims have been identified as Sapam Paka alias Brojen (27) s/o S Gosai of Malom Tuliyaima Awang Leikai, Waheng-bam Bobo (28) s/o Rajen of Changangei Ucheckon and Thangkhenmung alias Thamung (27) s/o Vungkham Hangzo of Paite Veng.
According to a statement issued by the SP of Imphal West District Clay Khongsai, a team of Imphal West District Police Commandos was on frisking and checking duty at Kwakeithel Bazar near the house of (L) Kullabidhu Singh when they saw three persons coming on a Honda Activa from Haobam Marak side towards Kwakeithel Bazar in a suspicious manner. The police party signalled them to stop but the riders turned and sped towards Kwakeithel Akham Leikai. Immediately, the police party chased them but one of the pillion riders threw a hand grenade towards the police party. Luckily the grenade did not explode and fell into the roadside nullah.
The police party further chased them by opening blank fire in the air and warned them to stop, said the SP added that instead of stopping the youths continued to race and when they reached Kwakeithel Heinoukhongnembi Puthabi, the pillion rider sitting in the middle took out another hand-grenade and hurled it towards the police party. The police also retaliated in self defence and they were hit and expired at the spot.
During spot inspection, one Honda Activa black in colour bearing registration number MN-1Q/3132 and one unexploded hand-grenade were recovered from the spot. Another unexploded hand-grenade was also recovered from the nullah at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai, the SP informed.
However, debunking the claim of the police, the local people claimed that all the three youths were shot dead by the police commandos in cold blood.
Giving the accounts of eye witnesses, Leimarol Leishem Yaipha Thouram Kannalup, Kwakeithel Heinoukhongnembi Nongshaba Lambi (Puthabi) Meira Paibi accused the police commandos with killing the three youths in cold-blood. In a statement, the women’s body said that the police commandos who were in a vehicle came chasing after the three youths riding a Kinetic Honda and shot at the last pillion rider killing him on the spot. After the Kinetic Honda broke down, the police commandos picked up the two youths and subjected them to thorough body search and were made to remove their shirts. It was only after they were made to put on their shirts again, that the police commandos made them to lie down on the black-topped road and shot them dead.
On seeing the two youths struggling for lives, the Meira Paibis ran towards them to do whatever they could to save their lives, but the police commandos resorted to blank firing to dissuade any person from coming nearby, the women body charged, while condemning ‘such brutal nature.’
According to information culled from the site of the incident, after the three youths did not stop their Kinetic Honda and sped off towards Kwakeithel Akham Leikai where the office of the AMUCO is located, the police commandos chased them and started opening blank from in front of the gate of MLA of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa A/C RK Anand.
But as the youths did not stop, the commandos directly fired at the person who was pillion riding at the back. After the pillion rider was hit, the Kinetic Honda skidded at Heinoukhongnembi Puthabi area. The injured pillion rider succumbed to the injuries there.
The hand-grenade which the police claimed to have been hurled at them but missed and fell into the road side nullah was recovered from the nullah running in front of the house of one Kshetrimayum Manjuri Devi of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai. The hand-grenade was found wrapped in a handkerchief red in colour. Normally, bomb experts were called in to remove the hand-grenade or any other explosive materials, but today the police commandos did not felt such need and were seen picking up the hand-grenade with their bare hands.
Among the slain youths, Paka was working as a salesman in a garment shop at Paona Bazar. He was pillion riding at the extreme back. The bullet that hit him from back side of this head is found to have been exited through his mouth. Boba was pillion riding in the middle. There were bullet marks on his head, chest and near the thigh joint. Slain Thangkhenmung is said to be married man and father of one child. His father is a Paite while his mother and wife are both Meetei. The Honda Activa belonged to him. There was on fatal bullet mark on his forehead. All the three bodies have been picked up and kept at the mortuary of RIMS. The family members of the three slain persons have refused to take back the bodies. It is said all of them might be drug abusers but do not have any connection with any underground organisations. Soon after the incident, a large number of women- folk came out to protest the killing and blocked the Tiddim Road at Malom Tuliyaima. But the police personnel arrived and dispersed them. After the police team left, the agitating womenfolk came out and resumed the road blockade in the afternoon.
A JAC has also formed in connection with the incident and a memorandum highlighting the demands of the JAC submitted to the Chief Minister. The memorandum was handed over through Minister Th Debendra. The demands of the JAC include instituting a judicial inquiry, termination the service of all the guilty police commandos and payment of ex-gratia to the bereaved families. Along with announcing its decision of launching various agitations in pursuance of these demands, the JAC has also called a State-wide bandh from 5 am to 6 pm tomorrow. Meanwhile, Siamsinpawlpi Imphal Block (Paite Students’ Welfare Organisation) has also come out strongly against the alleged high handedness of the police commandos in killing of the innocent three youths. The student body has also appealed to authority concerned to look into the matter for taking up necessary action.

Bodo bodies’ appeal to restore peace process Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
UDALGURI, April 6 – “Peace should be restored in Bodoland Territorial Council area and anyone involved in the Medaghat incident on March 26 last should be punished. The Government of India should come forward to solve the pending NDFB imbroglio at the earliest and Hagrama Mohilary, chief of BTC administration and the leaderships of National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) must sit together to minimise differences between BPPF (H) and the outfit in the greater public interest.” This was the summary of the crucial but constructive joint parley of the Bodo organisations of the region held at Udalguri circuit house on April 1 last.

Held under the auspices of Udalguri district Bodo Sahitya Sabha, the joint parley was chaired by its president Rabiram Ramchiary. Other Bodo organistions like BPPF (H) faction, BPPF (R) faction, All Bodo Peace Forum, All Bodo Cultural Forum, All Bodo Women’s Justice Forum, National Democratic Front of Boroland, All Bodo Farmers’ Association, Udalguri district Bodo students’ Union and All Bodo Women Welfare Forum participated in the parley and appealed to all concerned to restore peace in the region. The joint parley also condemned the Medaghat incident of March 26 last where the NDFB liaison office was ransacked and an NDFB cadre was killed on the spot. The parley was attended by Kamala Kanta Mochahary, secretary of Udalguri unit of BSS, Bhramon Baglari of ABPF, Doleswar Boro, former president of BSS, Kartick Ch Boro, president of Udalguri district committee of BPPF (H). M Gerema, agriculture secretary of NDFB, Sailendra Brahma, principal of Udalguri College, Salindra Mochahary, MCLA of Rowta constituency, Maheswar Boro, MLA of Kalaigaon LAC, Jihusua Daimari, secretary of BPPF (R) Udalguri district unit Bimali Daimari of all Bodo Justice Forum, Nirupoma Basumatary, secretary of All Bodo Women Welfare Forum among many others. The joint parley appealed to both NDFB and BPPF (H) to restrain themselves.