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04/09/2007: "Protests over non-implementation of Delimitation Act heats up Kuknalim.com"

Protests over non-implementation of Delimitation Act heats up Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, April 8:: Protest over the non-implementation of controversial Delimitation Act 2002 or Readjustment of state assembly seats appeared to have reached its peak Saturday as the public of Peren, Wokha, Longleng, Kiphire districts and Tseminyu sub-division of Kohima...

district took the issue to street in the form of mass protest rally in their own respective headquarter. At Tseminyu, the rally which began at 10:00 am stretched to 2:00 pm as various speakers outpoured their discontentment against the manipulative tactics of the state government and the Associates Members of the delimitation commission, while demanding that the last Nagaland Legislative Assembly resolution to maintain status quo in regard to the implementation of Act, or readjustment of assembly seats be done away with and the Act be implemented in letter and spirit. The protesters’ placards and banner said it all as they took the matter to the street pointing out that the manipulative tactics of the State government and the Associate members is a total discrimination and injustice against the minor tribes. In a representation submitted to Justice Kuldeep Singh, Chairman of the Delimitation Commission through Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Tseminyu during a protest rally on Saturday, the Rengma Hoho said that they are holding the public rally against the blatant injustice done to the Rengma by the unscrupulous actions of the Associate Members and member of the delimitation Commission for Nagaland state depriving the tribe of the entitled assembly constituency seat.Rengma Hoho also rejected the alternative proposal sent by State government, and demanded that the Act be fully implemented in letter and spirit and the Commission proposal for creation 47 Tesophenyu and 48 Tseminyu assembly constituencies.

“The alternative draft proposal which dropped the proposed 47 Tesophenyu assembly constituency from the list of new draft proposal for Kohima district was arranged and prepared by the other tribes without the knowledge and consent of the Rengma Hoho. Thereby, depriving us of one seat which is entitled to the Rengmas”, said the representation signed by its President, Kegwanye Lorin and General Secretary Zukeya Woch, adding that the populations of 53,000 Rengmas were placed under 12 Tseminyu AC alone, whereas the 8 Angami AC has only 25, 618 populations. It is a total injustice, the representation stated. Similar reports of mass protest rally were also received from Longleng, Kiphire, and Wokha districts yesterday. Source said that all the rallies have written a representation to the Delimitation Commission Chairman through their respective deputy commissioners for the implementation of the Act in toto.

In Peren district, where there are two assembly constituencies, each seat has about 45,000 voters. “It is a disgrace to have only 2 MLAs for 90,000 people”, said Idialung Thou, the Jt Secy. of the JAC, adding that the people of the district has been deprived of their right for too long, and this time they are not going to let go the opportunity. He also urged upon the people to support the issue without favouritism or dragging in the party colour.

It is also learnt that 11 MLAs from Peren, Kiphire, Longleng, Wokha and Tseminyu will leave for New Delhi on Easter Sunday to meet the Delimitation Commission. The students’ union of Lotha, Rengma, Sangtam, Phom and Zeliangrong tribes has also threatened to call a dawn to dusk total bandh in their respective jurisdiction on Monday to voice against the state’s government refusal to implement the Delimitation 2002 in letter and spirit and for immediate revoking of the Nagaland legislative assembly resolution of maintaining of status quo over the delimitation issue.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Delimitation Commission, Kuldeep Singh was reported to have stated that the Associates Members of the Commission from Nagaland are not extending cooperation for smooth implementation of the Act. It also alleged that the members are reporting one thing to the Commission, while speaking different things back at home. “Such partial attitudes of the Associates members, who are all from the major tribes is a clear case of discrimination and injustice”, said Nillo Rengma, Ex- Minister, who also spoke at the Tseminyu rally. (MExN)
Naga Student in Delhi have New President.By R. S. Mayori Naga Nation
The Naga Students’ Union Delhi had their election on 7th April 2007 for the tenure of 2007-2008 at R K Puram Sector-12, Nagaland House. Naga Student Union Delhi got a woman president for 2007-2008 tenure for the first time in the history of NSUD
The Election Commissioners, NSUD Election 2007, took the privilege of announcing results of the winning candidates of “Executive Council” NSUD for 2007-2008 tenure at around 5:30 pm.
There were three candidates running for the post of president and Ms Thejasenuo Meyase won the election over Living Stone Maram over a slight margin. NSUD is having a woman president for the first time in the history of NSUD. Ms Thejasenuo was the ex-president of the Angami Students’ union in 2005. The rest of the candidates were declared un-opposed, Vice president Ms Savanai T. H. Veronica from Poumai, General Secretary Leivon Robert Lamkang, Social and Cultural Secretary Lucy Ngouri, Games and Sports secretary Ms Zhoi Lohe and Public Relation Secretary is Humbumthing Aristo Zimik.
The ceremony of oath taking was followed by blessing of the executive members by Mr. Bernard Makang. The function came to an end with a dinner party in the Nagaland house. The Delhi seniors congratulate the incoming post holder members for a successful tenure of 2007-2008.
Banana Republic Editorial Sangai Express
We are sure if this had happened in other parts of the country, say in Maharashtra or Andhra Pradesh or West Bengal, New Delhi would have responded to the situation differently. It is more than clear, that as long as it serves the agenda of the political mandarins at Delhi, the North East region can go to hell or rot there. How else does one explain the farce that is being enacted in connection with the kidnapping and murder of the two school going kids, Muheni Martin and Hriini Hubert ? The two kids were kidnapped on December 14 last year and the cries and appeals for their safe release culminated in the discovery of their skeletal remains on March 27, that is after more than hundred days. As things stand today, three main suspects are in the custody of the NSCN (IM) at Camp Hebron and despite the deadline set by the Core Committee formed in connection with the kidnapping and later murder of the two children, the outfit has already sought seven more days to complete their “investigation.” What is pathetic is the way the State agencies have been left groping in the dark. That the State police utterly failed in dealing with the case is something which has been stated time and again, but their contention that they are facing major handicaps since the suspects are in the custody of the NSCN (IM) merits some consideration. This was precisely the reason why the State Government had to approach New Delhi to pile the pressure on the NSCN (IM) to hand over the suspects to the State agencies to proceed with the investigation of the case. That the outfit is not ready to listen to the case of the State Government is now amply clear and this in a way makes it more than obvious that the IM is running a parallel Government and New Delhi is happy to let the status quo exists.
As an armed outfit which has been waging a bush war against the Government of India for decades, we can understand the logic of the NSCN (IM) in trying to portray the image that it is a also a Government in itself but how does one explain Delhi's stand on this point ? The murder of the two boys is not only a question of some criminals letting their baser instinct get the better of them, but is also a direct challenge to the morale and collective conscience of the people of Manipur and this is precisely the reason why the people demand that justice should be delivered. New Delhi is obviously not ready to understand the sentiments of the people over the issue and everything indicate that they are ready to play footsie with the NSCN (IM) as long as the peace process or, whatever they call it, is not jeopardised. If a similar case had happened in say, Andhra Pradesh and the suspects were in the custody of the Maoists, can Delhi afford to behave the way it is currently behaving ? We are more than sure that Delhi would react differently for it cannot afford the world to see parts of Central and Southern India become a Banana Republic. As for the North East, particularly Manipur, Delhi cares a damn. And our question stands, “Of what use is the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell headed by a high ranking Army officer, albeit retired ?”
Northeast Echoes PATRICIA MUKHIM The Telegraph
Makeover, at what cost? Monday The Assam Government’s initiative to create new townships around Guwahati in accordance with the draft masterplan crafted by the Guwahati development department (GDD) is commendable. Guwahati is bursting at the seams. Shopping malls have sprung up amid mounds of rotting garbage and stench. Drainage around the city is either nonexistent or in an appallingly unhygienic condition.
Come monsoons and citizens have to wade through the slushy waters that spill over into the thoroughfares. Many of the residential complexes that have mushroomed have no garbage disposal facility. This is apparent from the huge piles of trash that litter every nook and corner of Guwahati. Moreover, reckless tapping of groundwater threatens to turn Guwahati into a desert zone. Hence, the masterplan unfolded by GDD minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will hopefully cater to basic civic amenities, which will turn Guwahati into a modern urban township for which citizens pay their taxes.
Church woes In a city with a burgeoning number of vehicles coupled with a humungous influx of floating population, parking lots are a dire necessity. Hence, the Tarun Gogoi government is setting its sights on a couple of vantage spots for parking space. Unfortunately, this well laid out plan encroaches into previously occupied area, including church property.
The Assam government has, by a sleight of hand, directed one of the oldest Christian churches in the region to hand over its land to build a car-parking lot. Established in 1845 by American Baptist missionaries, this church is an important landmark of the Panbazar Mission Compound, if not a heritage site.
Now the church is sought to be razed to rubble to accommodate the much-needed parking lot.
What do you call such a plan if not an outright sacrilege and assault on the secular character of the Indian Constitution? How can a place of worship be a trade-off for a modern amenity? Would chief minister Tarun Gogoi have the daredevilry to order the demolition of a Hindu temple or a Muslim mosque, for instance? Would this not affect his votebank?
Christianity is a non-aggressive faith and is not organised along political lines. Its ideology is to build peace and goodwill among all mankind. In the Northeast and elsewhere, Christianity has focused on providing healthcare and education. Like all other religions, Christians do evangelise because that is part of their mission and people convert to Christianity not because of any inducements but because they are touched to become a part of it. The Mission Compound, located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra that cuts across the city, is also the headquarters of the Council of Baptist Churches in North East India (CBCNEI), the largest Baptist group in southeast Asia, with a membership of more than a million people.
Sacred space Baptist Christians of Guwahati and those on a temporary sojourn in the city worship regularly in the church and in an auditorium in the compound. They belong to different ethnic groups of Assam and the nearby states of Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya.
Currently, the membership of the 162-year-old church stands at 641. The numbers are growing and a new church building is, in fact, needed to accommodate the growing numbers. Besides the church council offices, the other buildings include the Lewis Memorial Hostel for college students, established in 1919, which accommodates nearly 60 students from all over the Northeast. The hostel auditorium is used throughout the week for worship and other religious and training programmes.
Within the campus is the Christian Literature Centre, one of the oldest bookshops in the region, a conference centre complex, including a guesthouse and canteen, staff quarters, shops and offices of various para-church organisations, including the regional office of the Christian Medical Association of India and the Emmanuel Hospital Association. The council also runs five hospitals in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya. Notably, the campus also houses Snehalaya, a shelter for streetchildren run by Don Bosco, a Catholic group. Ironically, the government of Assam has “identified” this entire occupied area as “vacant” and ordered the council to hand over both plots to build a multi-storeyed car parking lot vide order number RSS 398/2005/83, dated February 15, 2007 and addressed to the Northeast India Baptist Council.
While it is agreed that land is a precious commodity and a rapidly diminishing resource in Guwahati, the government order smacks of religious disrespect and gross intolerance. Is this because Christians are the least likely to protest and make an issue out of the government diktat? Or is Tarun Gogoi so lacking in foresight that he does not see what repercussions might arise out of a senseless decision such as the one under discussion? In all probability, Gogoi was bulldozed by his right-hand man Himanta Biswa Sarma, on whom he appears to rely very heavily.
Passive ethos Except for Tripura, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, all the other northeastern states have a predominantly Christian population.
This population has been rather long-suffering and passive even when Christian missionaries were persecuted in different parts of this country. Perhaps the Christian ethos — live and let live — has always guided the thinking and action of believers.
One has hardly encountered any confrontation between Christian groups and the powers that be. Is that why they are being treated like dumb animals?
Compare this to what Badruddin Ajmal, the perfume baron, had threatened to do to expose the inimical stance of the Assam (Congress) government towards Muslims in relief camps of Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon. Ajmal said he would take about 500 Muslims to Uttar Pradesh to expose the loathsome manner in which they have been treated by the government. Obviously this is a political ploy to spoil the Congress’s chances in Uttar Pradesh. Following the Uttar Pradesh adventure, Ajmal said he would take his acolytes to New Delhi to meet the President and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Gogoi has, of course, not responded to Ajmal’s threats. But Ajmal represents a new breed of fundamentalists who would use religion to score political points.
Perhaps the patience displayed by Christians is taken a sign of their weakness, hence the oppressive order.
Sensitive issue In a multi-ethnic state like Assam and a pluralistic country like India, religion is one issue that needs to be handled with sensitivity. Can a piece of land which is already being used very purposefully by a certain religious group to promote, above other things, micro-economic activities for women and youth, be identified for public purposes? What does the law say about such issues? Are there precedents in any part of this country?
These are important questions because what the Assam Government has just done could add to the mounting conflict in a region that is already torn by ethnic strife. The last thing we need at this juncture is a religious backlash. It is rather strange that a Congress government should trample upon minority rights and go against the very grain of the party ethos.
While we do not subscribe to the notion of pandering to minorities for the purpose of earning votes, we do expect a modicum of respect for the sentiments of minority groups, which are not inclined to be fundamentalist. Gogoi needs to take a second look at the controversial order. (The writer can be contacted at patricia17@rediffmail.com)
Tea board bid to promote small growers in State By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, April 8 – The Tea Board of India has been providing a number of subsidies to the small tea growers to promote their ventures. It needs mention here that small-scale tea growing has become a social movement in many parts of the State, which is plagued by a burgeoning unemployment problem. According to knowledgeable circles, the Board is providing subsidy at the rate of Rs 38,000 per hectare to the small tea growers developing plantations in the traditional areas. It is also providing subsidy at the rate of Rs 69,000 per hectare to these growers if they resort to plantation in the non-traditional areas like, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, said the sources.

The subsidy is provided to the growers in the form of reimbursements in instalments. However, to avail the subsidy, the growers must own the land on which the tea is grown. And to prove their landownership rights, they must possess valid documents.

Moreover, the land should be suitable for growing tea and the Tea Research Association’s Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat or the institutions like the Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, etc., should certify the suitability of the land for the purpose, said the sources.

However, only about 2,927 small tea growers of the State are registered with the Tea Board despite the claim made by the small tea growers that their number is over 42,000. Here, the problem arises as many of the small tea growers do not have the valid documents against the land on which they are growing tea, said the sources.
Since 1989-90 fiscal, the Board has provided subsidy to 2,619 small tea growers for plantation.

The Board is now encouraging small tea growers’ self-help groups for purchase of vehicles, weighing scales, construction of leaf-sheds and purchasing plastic crates/leaf carrying bags.

Though for purchasing of trucks 50 per cent subsidy is paid, the self-help groups should have a provision for procuring and storing 1,000 kg of green leaf per day during the peak season – that is, between July and September, said the sources. The leaf-sheds should be so planned that for every 2,000 kg of leaf harvested by the societies or the self-help groups, there should be a shed. The Board provides cent percent of the cost of the leaf-sheds or Rs 30,000, whichever is lower.

The Board also provides 25 per cent subsidy for pruning machines. The norm in this case is that there should be one pruning machine per 10 hectares of the holding. There is also a provision of cent percent subsidy for fabrication of racks to accommodate leaf carrying plastic crates, the sources said. Big planters: Nevertheless, the Board also provides subsidy to the big tea planters for re-planting at the rate of Rs 52,000 per hectare. This subsidy is payable in three instalments in a period of three years after completion of the re-plantation. Moreover, for rejuvenation and infilling of old plantations of over 25 years of age, the Board provides subsidy at the rate of Rs 16,000 per hectare in three instalments after completion of pruning and infilling. There is also the provision of another subsidy for rejuvenation pruning, infilling and inter-planting at the rate of Rs 22,000 per hectare payable in three instalments in three years after completion of the process.

Machinery subsidy to the tea planters at the rate of 25 per cent of the total cost of machinery and civil construction within a maximum limit of Rs 25 lakh is also there. This subsidy was introduced in 2003-04 fiscal for the tea planters of the country. In Assam, this subsidy was provided to four factories in 2003-04, to 77 factories in ’04-’05, to 122 factories in ’05-06 and to 127 factories up to January 2007 (during the 2006-07 fiscal). The Board has so far spent an amount of around Rs 2,500 lakh on this subsidy meant for quality upgradation of machinery, said the sources.
PM for improving road connectivity in NE The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, APRIL 8 (MExN): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today reiterated the Centre’s commitment to improving the road connectivity between the North Eastern states. “The Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North East will construct new roads and help improve existing roads. It will connect state capitals, district headquarters and remote areas. In the first phase, we will be covering 1310 km of roads by investing Rs 4618 crore”, the Prime Minister stated while laying the foundation stone for a 2nd Bridge over river Brahmaputra, in Guwahati today.
A copy of the Prime Minister’s speech received here stated that the new bridge over Brahmaputra will serve the people of Assam as well as the States of Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. “It will provide a new path towards progress and prosperity”, he said adding that the construction of the bridge will reduce the overall travel time and distance between the North East region and rest of India.
The Prime Minister also stated that the Bharat Nirman programme was launched under which the Centre is investing in rural roads, telephones, safe drinking water and electricity in every village. Improved road connectivity will help in taking your agricultural produce to markets and create new possibilities of employment, and reduce poverty. With this objective in view, UPA Government is investing thousands of crores of Rupees in road construction, he further stated.
He also disclosed that the Centre was planning to implement an ambitious programme of Rs 2,20,000 crores till 2012 for improving the National Highway network. Several stretches will be improved to 4-lane or 6-lane width across the country. Most of these works will be taken up on a Public Private Partnership basis, Manmohan stated.
One killed in blast as PM arrives in Guwahati Guwahati, April 8 (PTI): One person was killed and 14 others were injured in a bomb blast carried out by suspected ULFA militants in Kumarpara here today minutes before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in the city to lay the foundation for a bridge over the Brahmaputra river. The blast occurred near a mosque in Kumarpara, Additional Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh said.The bomb was hidden in a motorcycle in the busy area and exploded at about 5.45 p.M. One person died on way to the hospital while 14 others were seriously injured. The site of the blast was not on the route scheduled to be taken by the prime minister on his way to the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Amingaon to lay the foundation stone for the city’s second bridge over the Brahmaputra. It was also not on his route to the Raj Bhawan where would halt overnight. The entire area was sealed off and combing operations launched by secuity forces. Security across the city was further intensified, officials said.
ULFA reiterates plebiscite demand The Morung Express
GUWAHATI, April 8 (AGENCIES): The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today reiterated its demand for a plebiscite on the issue of sovereignty of Assam and assured that the outfit would abide by the verdict of the same. The ULFA also called upon the people of Assam to celebrate the ensuing Rongali Bihu in a subdued manner.
In a statement issued to the media on the occasion of the foundation day of the ULFA, the chairman of the outfit, Arabinda Rajkhowa said that the outfit was for a political solution to the conflict and formed the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) to hold initial parleys with the Government of India to pave the way for direct talks. The ULFA chairman said that the Government of India did not want a political resolution to the conflict and refused to talk on the issue of sovereignty. He asserted that any talk with the Government must be held only on the issue of sovereignty of Assam and said that sovereignty is the birth-right of the people of Assam. He said that the people of Assam had to sacrifice a lot in the last 27 years. He paid homage to the sons of the soil who sacrificed their lives in the struggle for freedom. He said that human rights organizations and others extended support to the struggle of the ULFA in the last 27 years and hoped that they would continue to do so. Meanwhile, the ULFA chairman said that the people of Assam should celebrate the Rongali Bihu in a subdued manner to express solidarity with the wives of the ULFA men missing since the operations in Bhutan. The wives of the missing ULFA men have launched a fast unto death while, members of the People’s Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam also resorted to fast unto death demanding that the Government should declare the whereabouts of the missing ULFA men. He said that the people of Assam should teach the children about the significance of Rongali Bihu during the celebrations.
ULFA firm on sovereignty, wants negotiated solution Nagaland Post
Guwahati (PTI): ULFA today asserted its stand on 'Assam's sovereignty' but at the same time expressed its desire for a peaceful negotiated political solution to the state's problem.
ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in his speech on the occasion of the outfit's 28th Raising Day, said the outfit would continue with both "armed and political struggle" to establish Assam's sovereignty. The ULFA leader in his speech, a copy of which was e-mailed to the media here, further said that the outfit had suggested a plebiscite on the issue of sovereignty and "we are prepared to accept whatever the result will be and so should the Indian government".
"We took the initiative for peace by constituting Peoples' Consultative Group (PCG) which held three rounds of talks with representatives of the Indian government but no progress was made", Rajkhowa said.
"We, however, still want a political settlement to the issue though within the context of sovereignty", he asserted. He also expressed the outfit's solidarity with the wives of missing ULFA leaders who had launched an indefinite hunger strike from March 21, demanding information about their husbands, release of jailed central committee leaders and holding of talks for peaceful solution of the problem, but were arrested and subsequently hospitalised on March 30. Rajkhowa also urged people to extend their support to the agitating women and thanked several organisations and intellectuals for their support to their cause.
PM promises rapid industrialisation of India's northeast By IANS
Lepetkata (Assam) April 9 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday pledged New Delhi's support for rapid industrialisation of the northeast, saying the region requires investments to help ease its spiralling unemployment problem. 'Rapid industrialisation and development of the northeast has been the topmost priority and unshakeable commitment of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government,' the prime minister said here.
Manmohan Singh was speaking at a massive public rally at Lepetkata, 520 km east of Assam's main city Guwahati, after laying the foundation stone for a Rs.54 billion gas cracker project - the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd. 'This is a historic day for not only Assam but also for the entire northeast. This project would herald an era of economic growth, peace and prosperity for the region. 'This gas cracker project would open up new productive employment for the youth of Assam. I am told some 100,000 people would get direct or indirect employment opportunities,' he said. He added that the northeast could become a potential investment zone with the central government announcing a new industrial policy for the region.
'We have raised capital investment subsidy to 30 percent in the new northeast industrial policy. India is marching ahead and we want the northeast to prosper in terms of economic growth and industrialisation,' Manmohan Singh said.The gas cracker project is to be implemented by the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) with 70 percent equity participation in five years time. The remaining 30 percent equity would be shared equally among Oil India Ltd (OIL), Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) and the Assam government. The mega project is being set up at Lepetkata.
'Some 8,500 people would get direct employment while some 100,000 people would get employment opportunities as a result of investments in downstream plastic processing industries and allied activities,' Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS. According to preliminary estimates, at least 500 plastic processing industries are likely to come up in the region when this project becomes operational. 'There would be plastic parks in the area as part of the project and would surely benefit the people of Assam in a big way,' Gogoi said. The petrochemical complex would comprise a cracker unit, downstream polymer and integrated off-site utilities plants.
The products from the proposed project would be 220,000 tonnes of polythene, 60,000 tonnes of polypropylene, 55,000 tonnes of raw pyrolysis gasoline and 12,500 tonnes of fuel oil per year.
As part of Assam's aggressive policy to give a fillip to industrial activities, it was agreed to grant exemption from entry tax on capital goods, works contract tax during construction period, sales tax and VAT (value-added tax) on feedstock for 15 years from the date of commencement of production. The project was proposed as a part of the historic Assam Accord of 1985. The project was gathering dust since 1991 when New Delhi issued a letter of intent (LoI) to the Assam Industrial Development Corp, a government undertaking. In February 1997, the LoI was transferred to the Reliance Assam Petrochemicals Ltd (RAPL) - a joint venture company of Assam Industrial Development Corp and Reliance Industries Ltd. APL was granted various concessions to implement the project. But the deal with RAPL was shelved in 2005, with Reliance virtually backing out of the project citing technical reasons like non-availability of sufficient feedstock. The prime minister, during his two-day visit, also laid the foundation stone for a second bridge over the Brahmaputra near Guwahati Sunday. He will leave for New Delhi later Monday.
Blast in city mars PM’s visit By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, April 8 – Even when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his high-level entourage were in town amid a thick security blanket, a blast killed one person and injured several others at a site only about a kilometre from the route that his cavalcade was to take. The blast took place at FA Road connecting the arterial AT Road with Kumarpara Chariali grievously injuring one Inamul Haque, who died while being taken to the hospital. Seven persons were injured, who have been admitted to the MMC and GMCH Hospitals.

According to police the blast took place at 5.35 pm and it blew off the rear portion of a black Honda Unicorn bike in which the bomb was being ferried. It has been suspected that the bomb went off after the bike hit a speed breaker at high speed. Some window panes of nearby structures and billboards were damaged by the blast. Among the injured were Gaisuddin Ahmed, Manowar Ali, Manirul Haque, Ajay Sarkar, Amarjit Pandit, Billal Ali and Sikandar Ali. When contacted at the blast site, a top official of the police revealed that it would be premature to point the needle of suspicion at the ULFA for today’s blast. He also refused to confirm that the dead person was driving the bike. It may be mentioned that the site of the blast is close to some other places where several more bombings have taken place in recent times.
3 more youths gunned down in Manipur Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, April 8 – After gunning down of three youths by police commandos, three more youths were killed in two separate insurgency-related incidents in Manipur.
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two of them near Singjamei bridge over Imphal river in Imphal West district around 8.30 on Friday night while troops of 7 Assam Rifles gunned down a UG suspect Oinam Amu (32) of Keirenphabi Maning Leikai in broad daylight. The deceased in the Singjamei killing have been identified as G Meghajit alias Gandhi and S Premjit of Moirang.

Both Gandhi and Premjit were reportedly called out from their respective houses, said sources. AR troops on the other hand recovered one AK 56 rifle and a magazine containing 17 live rounds from the slain cadres. Manipur Police commandos busted four camps of proscribed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup in Keibul Lamjao area inside Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district on Friday night. A huge quantity of combat fatigue, utensils, gas stove, battery and other essential items of daily use were recovered from the outfit’s camps. However they couldn’t nab a single cadre of the outfit during the operation.

According to L Kailun, Superintendent of Imphal East district, the Friday night operation was conducted following the disclosure of an arrested KYKL self-styled corporal identified as Th Borajao alias Biseshwor (27), a resident of Wangoo Sabal Mayai Leikai. Borajao was arrested by a frisking team of Imphal East district police commandos in Imphal East district around 11 am on Friday. As revealed by the cadre, a joint operation was immediately conducted in Keibul Lamjao area under the command of Additional SP of Imphal East district, he said in a statement issued here. On March 22, troops of 7 Assam Rifles had busted a similar camp of the same outfit at Keibul Lamjao area in Manipur’s Bishnpur district.

Meanwhile, police commandos and Assam Rifles personnel also arrested one underground member each of proscribed PLA, KCP and KYKL from Lamphel Sanakeithel area in Imphal West district and Thoubal area. The arrested PLA man has been identified as K Thoiba (28) of Heingang while the KCP cadre was R K Khelen (35) of Lalambung and M Ibomcha (22) of KYKL of Ningel. Police recovered one 9 mm pistol, 2 live rounds, nine rocket propelled bombs from the possession of the PLA cadre Thoiba, police sources added.