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04/23/2007: "Anger over torture of tribal youths spawns arson in Dimapur Nagarealm.com"

Anger over torture of tribal youths spawns arson in Dimapur Nagarealm.com

Kohima, April22 [TI] : After thriving on public support for long, the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) has suddenly found itself on the wrong side of people power. An outpouring of public outrage against the militant group’s alleged arm-twisting tactics today led to arson on the streets of Dimapur, Nagaland’s commercial hub, and left several houses gutted. Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed. Hundreds of Sumi youths went on the rampage in retaliation to the torture of three Naga boys last night by militants suspected to be from the NSCN (I-M). The mob set over 30 houses ablaze and damaged property at the Tangkhul Naga Colony in Dimapur’s Purana Bazaar. The three Sumi boys were allegedly picked up last evening and tortured in the same colony, where most of the top NSCN (I-M) leaders reside. Those behind the retaliatory mob attack said the boys were brutally tortured by NSCN (I-M) members.

A witness said the Sumi youths stormed the well-fortified colony despite militants firing blank cartridges to scare them away. Most residents of the area fled the area immediately. Policemen, paramilitary personnel, fire service personnel and NSCN (I-M) were mere spectators to the riot. The rampaging youths warned them not to intervene, saying they were there to “flush out” members of the Tangkhul community. Thuingaleng Muivah, the general secretary of the NSCN (I-M), is a Tangkhul tribesman. Sources in the Dimapur administration and the police said they were “prevented” from entering the area. The mob seized three AK 47 rifles, a shotgun and a large quantity of ammunition from several houses. Dimapur superintendent of police Didu Shekhar said the police were trying their best to bring the situation under control. The reason why the three boys had been tortured has not been confirmed. A source said they may have been targeted for being alleged sympathisers of the NSCN (I-M)’s rival faction, led by S.S. Khaplang. NSCN (I-M) activists allegedly tortured to death another youth at Selophe near Dimapur last Tuesday. The source said today’s incident was the “direct fallout” of last Tuesday’s incident as well as the recent bombing of NSCN (Khaplang) general secretary Kitovi Zhimomi’s residence at Amiphoto Colony in Zunheboto. The Sumi Hoho was the first to issue a statement condemning the NSCN (I-M)’s role in the Zunheboto incident.

Mob fury singes Tangkhul Colony• Anger over torture of Sumi youths spawns arson in Dimapur Kuknalim.com

DIMAPUR, April 22:: After thriving on public support for long, the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) has suddenly found itself on the wrong side of people power. An outpouring of public outrage against the NSCN-IM's alleged arm-twisting tactics today led to arson on the streets of Dimapur, Nagaland’s commercial hub, and left several houses gutted. Property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed. Hundreds of Sumi youths went on the rampage in retaliation to the torture of three Naga boys last night by men suspected to be from the NSCN (I-M). The mob set over 30 houses ablaze and damaged property at the Tangkhul Naga Colony in Dimapur’s Purana Bazaar.

The three Sumi boys were allegedly picked up last evening and tortured in the same colony, where most of the top NSCN (I-M) leaders reside. Those behind the retaliatory mob attack said the boys were brutally tortured by NSCN (I-M) members. A witness said the Sumi youths stormed the well-fortified colony despite militants firing blank cartridges to scare them away.

Most residents of the area fled the area immediately. Policemen, paramilitary personnel, fire service personnel and NSCN (I-M) were mere spectators to the riot. The rampaging youths warned them not to intervene, saying they were there to “flush out” members of the Tangkhul community. Sources in the Dimapur administration and the police said they were “prevented” from entering the area. The mob seized three AK 47 rifles, a shotgun and a large quantity of ammunition from several houses. Dimapur superintendent of police Didu Shekhar said the police were trying their best to bring the situation under control. The reason why the three boys had been tortured has not been confirmed. A source said they may have been targeted for being alleged sympathisers of the NSCN (I-M)’s rival faction, led by S.S. Khaplang. NSCN (I-M) activists allegedly tortured to death another youth at Selophe near Dimapur last Tuesday.

The source said today’s incident was the “direct fallout” of last Tuesday’s incident as well as the recent bombing of NSCN (Khaplang) general secretary Kitovi Zhimomi’s residence at Amiphoto Colony in Zunheboto. The Sumi Hoho was the first to issue a statement condemning the NSCN (I-M)’s role in the Zunheboto incident. (The Telegraph)

The Morung Express Adds: DIMAPUR, APRIL 22:: Tragedy struck Wungram Colony at Purana Bazaar Dimapur around 12 noon today when several houses were set on flames by an angry and uncontrollable mob that refused to allow assistance to douse the flames. Several houses along with all the belongings were razed to the ground as helpless fire brigade personnel looked on. The only route that led to the colony was sealed off by the mob that was blocking the entry and exit of the area. It all began last night around 7:00 pm when three college students from Wungram Colony were coming back after having a few drinks, when an auto passed them and shouted out at them. Thinking it was a friend they shouted back. This led to an exchange of words which culminated in a fight between the boys and a non-local auto driver, who was then beaten up. In the course of the fight the rear view mirror of the Auto was smashed. In this confusion, the auto owner, identified as a local, stepped in; and was later beaten up by the three students. Some 30 to 40 minutes later, a mob of more than 100 people gathered at the said colony but some elders and the NSCN (IM) Town Commander had asked the crowd to go back to their houses saying that the matter would be discussed the following day.

A total of 28 houses were reportedly destroyed in the incident with 13 houses burnt down and 15 houses damaged by the mob and eight vehicles damaged. Around 250 women, children and old men who were stranded inside the colony were finally evacuated late in the evening in three buses after long and intense negotiation by organizations like Naga Hoho, Western Sumi Hoho, Naga Council, NBCC, NDO etc. who were reasoning with the mob to allow them to exit the area.

The police, administration, IRB, CRPF and the Army present on the scene were unable to contain the highly volatile situation as they remained mere spectators of the whole occurrence. Terming the incident as a disgrace to the Nagas, an eye-witness on account of anonymity vehemently recounted the inaction of the police and administration saying that they were functioning with zero efficiency merely waiting for reinforcement which was taking eternity to reach.

When asked about what was being done to contain the situation, Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, K.N. Ngullie stated that they were trying to control the situation even as the smoke bellowed uncontrolled from the burning houses. A top official of the Police justified the inaction of the police saying that they had been thinking of the long-term consequences and continued that the matter was not skin deep. One church leader who did not wished to be named expressed his displeasure at the District Administration opining that the administration should take a stronger stand against the prevention of such incidents. The 250 odd residents of Wungram, mostly women and children who were evacuated have been taken to NAP Training Centre in Chumukedima. The Catholic Church headed by Bishop Joe Mukala and Sisters from Holy Redeemer provided relief for the victims with food and some immediate needs. Commissioner T.N Mannen who arrived at the NAPTC at 9: 10 pm termed the whole incident as madness saying that if such instances continued Nagas would never be able to live with one another. He said that he could not comment on the part played by the district administration because he had not been present in the spot but he personally opined that a proper inquiry would be required to look into the whole incident. Regretting that such a gory incident had taken place on Sunday, Mannen said that he would meet the Chief Minister tomorrow and brief him on the whole matter. The Commissioner further appreciated the different NGOs and Church leaders for bringing the incident under control and on an individual level, appealed to everyone to come forward and provide relief, assistance and support to the victims of the Wungram arson. Chief Secretary Lalhuma who arrived at the NAPTC Auditorium around 9:55 pm, refused to comment on the matter but merely stated that they were assessing the situation at the moment.
Fiery Sunday shocks Dimapur The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, APRIL 22 (MExN): Tragedy struck Wungram Colony at Purana Bazaar Dimapur around 12 noon today when several houses were set on flames by an angry and uncontrollable mob that refused to allow assistance to douse the flames. Several houses along with all the belongings were razed to the ground as helpless fire brigade personnel looked on. The only route that led to the colony was sealed off by the mob that was blocking the entry and exit of the area.
It all began last night around 7:00 pm when three college students from Wungram Colony were coming back after having a few drinks, when an auto passed them and shouted out at them. Thinking it was a friend they shouted back. This led to an exchange of words which culminated in a fight between the boys and a non-local auto driver, who was then beaten up. In the course of the fight the rear view mirror of the Auto was smashed. In this confusion, the auto owner, identified as a local, stepped in; and was later beaten up by the three students. Some 30 to 40 minutes later, a mob of more than 100 people gathered at the said colony but some elders and the NSCN (IM) Town Commander had asked the crowd to go back to their houses saying that the matter would be discussed the following day.
A total of 28 houses were reportedly destroyed in the incident with 13 houses burnt down and 15 houses damaged by the mob and eight vehicles damaged. Around 250 women, children and old men who were stranded inside the colony were finally evacuated late in the evening in three buses after long and intense negotiation by organizations like Naga Hoho, Western Sumi Hoho, Naga Council, NBCC, NDO etc. who were reasoning with the mob to allow them to exit the area.
The police, administration, IRB, CRPF and the Army present on the scene were unable to contain the highly volatile situation as they remained mere spectators of the whole occurrence. Terming the incident as a disgrace to the Nagas, an eye-witness on account of anonymity vehemently recounted the inaction of the police and administration saying that they were functioning with zero efficiency merely waiting for reinforcement which was taking eternity to reach.
When asked about what was being done to contain the situation, Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur, K.N. Ngullie stated that they were trying to control the situation even as the smoke bellowed uncontrolled from the burning houses.

A top official of the Police justified the inaction of the police saying that they had been thinking of the long-term consequences and continued that the matter was not skin deep. One church leader who did not wished to be named expressed his displeasure at the District Administration opining that the administration should take a stronger stand against the prevention of such incidents. The 250 odd residents of Wungram, mostly women and children who were evacuated have been taken to NAP Training Centre in Chumukedima. The Catholic Church headed by Bishop Joe Mukala and Sisters from Holy Redeemer provided relief for the victims with food and some immediate needs. Commissioner T.N Mannen who arrived at the NAPTC at 9: 10 pm termed the whole incident as madness saying that if such instances continued Nagas would never be able to live with one another. He said that he could not comment on the part played by the district administration because he had not been present in the spot but he personally opined that a proper inquiry would be required to look into the whole incident. Regretting that such a gory incident had taken place on Sunday, Mannen said that he would meet the Chief Minister tomorrow and brief him on the whole matter. The Commissioner further appreciated the different NGOs and Church leaders for bringing the incident under control and on an individual level, appealed to everyone to come forward and provide relief, assistance and support to the victims of the Wungram arson. Chief Secretary Lalhuma who arrived at the NAPTC Auditorium around 9:55 pm, refused to comment on the matter but merely stated that they were assessing the situation at the moment.
NNC brigadier, others defect to NSCN(IM) Nagarealm.com
TAMENGLONG, April22 [IFP] : Six activists of NNC led by one brigadier of the outfit and five cadres of NSCN (K), altogether 11 cadres with 13 different types of weapons, have left their respective organizations and joined the NSCN(IM). According to the convener of the Zeilad Region, GPRN, NSCN (IM) six activists of the NNC led by brigadier Chici Thapa joined the NSCN (IM) with nine weapons. The weapons were one US carbine, one SLR, one D/14 Japan make, one M-21 semi rifles and five action rifles.

The five NSCN (K) cadres also joined the outfit with two AK-56 rifles, one M-21 semi rifle and G-3 rifle, he added. They joined the outfit on April 19 last and a reception function of their joining NSCN (IM) was held yesterday at general headquarter of the outfit at Phek district of Nagaland, he added.
Rio ends his two days tour of Mon district Kuknalim.com
NAGINIMORA, April 22:: As a part of his two-day tour of Mon District, the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio arrived at Naginimora at around 3 pm to inaugurate the Sub-Treasury Office and the new ADC Office Building at Naginimora town...

A short function at the new ADC Office followed the inauguration of the two buildings where the Chief Minister called on the people to be equally responsible for progress and not merely depend and wait on the government to bring development. Earlier in the function, the President of Konyak Union, Naginimora Unit gave the welcome address and presented the Chief Minister with a bouquet, muzzle loading gun and the traditional loin cloth and also presented all the Parliamentary Secretaries with a the traditional Loin cloth and a bouquet.

The KU, Naginimora further presented the Chief Minister with a memorandum for NST buses from Naginimora to Mon and Naginimora to Dimapur and also for improvement of the neglected water supply by the PHE Department. Following the function, the CM proceeded to unveil the foundation stone of United Christian Higher Secondary School, Naginimora. Rio said that as the only private Higher Secondary Institution in the entire Mon District, he could see a lot of scope for the Higher Secondary School to grow. The Chief Minister and his entourage then made their way to the Tiru to inspect the Tiru Coal Mine. (MExN)

Attack on Tangkhul community at Nagaland
Mob torch over 30 houses at Wungram Colony, Dimapur Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 22: A large number of people belonging to the Sema tribe turned into a mob and set on fire over 30 houses at Wungram Colony, Dimapur today. Wungram Colony with about 200 houses is inhabited by the Tangkhul community and following the incident all the menfolk are reported to have fled while the women and children have been shifted to the Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre at Chumukedima. According to a well placed source, a number of NSCN (IM) members, including some of its top ranking cadres are settled at Wungram Colony.

Sources from Dimapur said that tension reigned in the area after some Tangkhul youths suspected to be kiths and kins of NSCN (IM) members thrashed a Sema auto-rickshaw driver severely breaking his teeth. Enraged by the incident a large number of people from the Sema community gathered near Wungram Colony early morning today and demanded that the culprits be handed over to them. Even as the people were demanding that the culprits be handed over to them, words started doing the round that the culprits had been taken to Hebron, said sources.

The gathering soon turned into a mob and they started ransacking vehicles, some of them belonging to NSCN (IM) functionaries. Thereafter the mob started setting the houses on fire.

At the time of filing this report, over 30 houses have been gutted in the arson, said a source from Dimapur police station (East). During the mayhem, the enraged mob prevented the police, fire brigade and even the media from entering the area. Three AK 47 rifles were recovered from one of the gutted houses. Later the Sema community resolved that no Tangkhul will be allowed to return to Wungram Colony and settle there.

Prohibitory order under CrPC 144 was imposed today evening. Wungram Colony is located about 5 kms from Dimapur towards Kohima. There is no report of any human casualty.

Newmai News Network adds from Dimapur : The commercial hub of Nagaland, Dimapur is burning literally and socially. Though it does not amount to a communal clash, nevertheless, a huge mob from a particular Naga community (tribe) burnt down 30 houses and six four wheelers belonging to a separate Naga community (tribe) in Dimapur today. On hearing the built-up tension at Wungram Colony near Purana Bazar in Dimapur media persons who went there to get a first hand account of the incident saw a furious mob armed with assorted weapons storming the Wungram Colony and burning down houses including concrete buildings.

IRB, Assam Rifles and police personnel were present at the spot but the mob prevented them from doing "their duties".
The mob comprising of more than a thousand strong people of a particular community and carrying different types of weapons barged into Wungram Colony and set on fire the houses.

Four fire brigades rushed to the colony but the mob did not allow them to proceed further. The fire tenders were forced to return. However the fire tenders and fire fighters stationed themselves nearby the colony. Wungram Colony is a village set up by a particular community. The mob started storming the colony from 6-7 am but the act of setting the houses on fire began at around 11.30 am. Reports said that all the menfolk of the Wungram Colony have fled while the children and womenfolk have been taken to a safer place by the security personnel.

The mob ransacked the houses before putting them on fire and recovered 3 AK 47 rifles with one shot gun along with ammunition. The recovered weapons were damaged. Bursting of LPG cylinders and bombs were also heard as the fire engulfed the houses. The incident was prompted by an alleged case where an auto-rickshaw driver dropped some passengers near Wungram Colony last evening when three boys from the area came out and reportedly asked the auto-driver as to which community/tribe he belonged. It was alleged that as soon as the driver disclosed his tribe the three boys then told him they were from a particular tribe and started assaulting him.
Ghaspani declares bandh to protest factional clashes The Morung Express
Dimapur, April 22 (MExN): The west villages under Medziphema sub-division will be staging a peace rally and bandh against the continued factional clashes and highlighting the plight of the people who have suffered civilian casualties and damage to properties. The bandh/protest rally is being held under the aegis of Ghaspani-II West Villages Union on April 25th within their jurisdiction. A note from the union’s president Khekiho Ayemi and general secretary Mhiesisato Vupru informed the public that the Ghaspani-Punglwa road starting from Sirhi Kuki village to New Moava and Molvom-Jharnapani road will come under the purview of the bandh. No vehicular movements will be allowed except for magistrates on duty, army, police, the Press/Media, medical personnel and health patients. Students and office-goers hailing from the area either studying or working at Medziphema town are also requested to show their solidarity “by not attending to their respective works/activities” on the said date.
The rally procession will start at 8:00 am from each respective village and converge at Khaibung local ground at 9:00am. The bandh will come into force from 5:00am till 5:00pm. “The rally/bandh has been necessitated owing to the continued factional clashes, despite numerous appeals, in the past few months resulting in not only injury of villages but damage to properties and burning of houses and granaries of member villages of the union. The clashes have also created apprehensions among the farmers and school-going children” the note reminded. It also appealed to the public to bear with the inconvenience that might be caused by the bandh and also extend their valuable support and cooperation.
Zeliangrong body irked by disturbances The Morung Express
Imphal, April 22 (NNN): The Zeliangrong Union of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (ZU-AMN) has been irked by the disturbances meted to the construction agencies along the Khangsang-Tamenglong road by some elements.
Following this development the apex Zeliangrong body has fervently appealed the concern elements not to disturb development works in the area. Given the situation where the people in the Tamenglong district have been facing hardships ever since Manipur attained statehood, the ZU-AMN said that atleast better means of transport will reduce the plight of the general public in the district to a certain extent. General Secretary of the Zeliangrong Union of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland Kalotdi Kamei informed NNN this evening that the Khongsang-Tamenglong road is the life-line of the district for majority of the people. The ZU-AMN then stated that after having had noticed the hardship faced by the people in the district Governor of Manipur Dr SS Sidhu had initiated the handling of the said road to the BRTF last year in which the work agency has started the work few months ago.
With this the ZU-AMN appealed that no organisations/individuals serve any monetary demands on the work agency for having had taken up the job.The Zeliangrong body then said that Tamenglong District is a nature-paradise but owing to the bad road system and poor communication facilities things are dashed at the bottom for worse. The union on humanitarian ground entreat everyone to extend helping hands in making the district progress and developed.
Poppy threat to Arunachal Pradesh The Morung Express
LAZU (ARUNACHAL PRADESH), APRIL 22 (NDTV): Vast areas in Arunachal Pradesh are now under poppy cultivation and slowly the fields are turning commercial.
The poppy pods are cut with a blade and the latex is collected in a can, which contains opium. Each of the cans sell for Rs 100 and when smeared on cloth, it fetches Rs 400 right at the spot.
When it’s traded it sells for Rs 80,000 a kilogram inside India and internationally the price fluctuates. Arunachal’s Tirap, Changlang, Lohit and Upper Siang districts are the region’s poppy belts. The first three districts border Myanmar while Upper Siang shares its border with China.
Central enforcement agencies visit these fields once a year to destroy poppy plants.
Poppy fields destroyed This year they destroyed more than 800 hectares with the help of school children since villagers refused to cooperate.
‘’Especially in districts of Tirap, Changlang, Lohit and Upper Siang. These four districts are doing poppy cultivation,’’ says M Sarania, Spdt, CBN. ‘’Recently we uprooted standing crop. The problem there is that habitually they are addicts. Without opium they cannot survive’’.
‘’Whatever opium they are cultivating they consume, a little they sell or barter with their fellow tribes,’’ Sarania said. Traditionally the tribes are opium addicts and grow poppy for local consumption. But what’s alarming is some of the fields are slowly becoming commercial.
Biggest opium growing country The Morung Express
With Myanmar as one of the biggest Opium growing and heroin manufacturing countries next-door, it’s just a matter of time before the drug lords gain control of these fields.
These areas are already under total control of NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) militants.
‘’In cultivation of opium there is no involvement of militant but the problem is open poppy cultivation just across the border in Myanmar so if we stop cultivation here it freely comes to India and these poor people buy it from there so Myanmarese traders benefit from that, ‘’ added M Sarania. The British had induced opium addiction in the North East to gain control over the tribes and ran their opium empire. Even today North East continues to be the worlds’ drug corridor with Myanmar producing opium and Manipur cultivating cannabis to allow poppy fields to spread in this region means proliferating the drug trade. Weak implementation of the law makes it even favourable for operators to expand their lucrative trade.
North-eastern states chalk out road map for economic, infrastructure development ASHOK B SHARMA Financial Express
NEW DELHI, APR 22: Chief ministers of the north-eastern states have drawn up road maps to boost not only the region’s industry, but also the rural economy. The north-eastern leaders urged for more emphasis on infrastructure development with a view to integrating their economy with the rest of the country, as well as with neighbouring Bangla-desh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal.
North-eastern India consists of eight states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Tripura is the second largest rubber producing state in the country. According to state minister for industries, commerce & information technology Tapan Chakraborty, about 35,000 hectares are under plantation and about 18,000 tonne rubber are produced annually. He urged entrepreneurs to set up rubber-based industries. The state government has launched a rubber mission and has planned a rubber park with all common facilities. The state government has also launched a bamboo mission with the expectation for further investment in export-oriented cane and bamboo handicrafts. Tripura produces major fruit crops like pineapple, orange, jackfruit, litchi and spices like ginger, turmeric, chilli, black pepper and cinnamon, with ample scope for setting up of processing unit, said Chakraborty and added that the state produces about 7.8 million kg tea each year.
Tripura has set up growth centre project on the outskirts of the state capital—Agartala. Infrastructure at land customs stations for trade with Bangladesh is being upgraded. The state is power-surplus, outside 6-hour peak period and the power tariffs are among the lowest in the country. There is a long-term potential for exploration of natural gas and the state announced an information technology (IT) policy with special incentives to the industry concerned.
The Meghalaya chief minister, DD Lapang is also eager to boost trade relations with Bangladesh. He said that his state produces citrus fruits, flowers, spices, bamboo, boulders and has good reserves of coal, limestone, clay, granite and quartz. Byrnihat railhead has become a hub of industrial activity with setting up of an export promotional industrial park. Two railhead projects are being proposed at Kasi and Garo hills. A scheme is under implementation to connect Garo hills with Umroi airport in Shillong. The state has industrial estate in all district headquarters.
Lapang said “The state government is acquiring 182 hectare land at Mendipathar in East Garo Hills for setting up of an industrial growth center. There is great scope for IT industry, tourism and traditional medicines.” Mizoram governor MM Lakhera said the state is backward in terms of infrastructure development, yet there are distinct prospects for boosting trade relations with Myanmar. Mizoram has potential for generating around 3,100 mw hydro power, on river Chhimtuipur alone it is estimated to generate around 530 mw power. The state has prospects for industries based on electronic, IT, bamboo, timber, fruits, textiles, handloom and handicrafts, plantain fibre, hill brooms, tea, rubber, coffee and minerals. Nagaland governor K Shankarnarayan also projected prospects for hydro power generation and pointed to the rich deposits of coal, dolomite, limestone, graphite, marble, lead, zinc, natural gas and crude oil alongwith scope for food processing and tourism industry. Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh complained about shortage of power in the state and hoped that the situation will be made better on the completion of some power projects. A food park is being set near Imphal. He urged for boosting trade relations with Myanmar.
Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio called for marketing of high quality organic fibreless ginger, turmeric passion fruits, banana, citrus, pineapple produced in the state. He said Nagaland produces hottest chilli, tallest rice plant and the tallest Rhododendron. Nagaland has a good reserves of chemical grade limestone, coal, marble, decorative stones, nickel cobalt chromium and bamboo. Exotic flowers grown in the state are finding ready markets outside the country.
Sikkim has come out with its new industrial policy. The state is a major source for timber, forest produces, copper, zinc, lead, coal, dolmite. Quartzite, graphite and talc main crops grown are rice, wheat, maize, large cardamom and ginger. It has potential for hydro power generation.
Sun Rising in The East By Nirendra Dev Channel Times
Mumbai, For long, eastern India has been designated as the laggard region in terms of adopting newer technologies including IT. But there has been a major change in the scenario during the last four-five years with the region making a bid to catch up with the rest of the nation.

In retrospect, it was only in the late seventies and eighties that militant trade unionism in the gateway state of West Bengal and administrative slackness in Bihar that kept corporate houses wary. The business establishments at various layers being the initial adopters of IT, the technology boom was only seen in hubs like Bangalore, Hyderabad and outskirts of Delhi like Gurgaon. Our interactions with partners reveal that these changes are owing to many factors. The principal factors among them being the shift in the government policy in West Bengal, change of government and a visibly improved official apparatus in Bihar.

Augmenting all these is the Prime Minister s look east policy. The response from the channel from across the region is that there has been change in the policies of almost all the state governments for the better. In other words, the ground feeling is that the government functionaries know that they can refine the welfare of the people through IT.

Eastern India, comprising Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, Bengal, Assam and seven other states, has been lately witnessing steady demand for IT products and infrastructure facilities like networking, not only from the respective state capitals but also from the upcountry markets.

Partners like Pawan Kumar Agarwal, Datamation in Guwahati finds tremendous growth in demands for PCs, printers besides the proliferation of notebooks and digital cameras.

In fact, in some northeastern states there has been an overwhelming 100 percent growth and resellers are already talking about post-sales service, warranty replacement woes, etc. In Orissa, unlike earlier, all three key distributors Ingram Micro, Redington and Neoteric have established their offices and people no longer have to run to Kolkata for meeting various IT needs.

Resellers in Bhubaneshwar strongly voice their opinion about the varying prices for the same product. It creates confusion in the channel community and there is also a possibility that some vendors are overcharging resellers in this state, they complain. This is more detrimental as Bhubaneshwar is a major hub for Orissa and any such issue will harm the growth of the business for further penetration in the state. Among the products that are doing well in Orissa are laptops and camera phones. The brands that are strong in these two categories are Lenovo, HP, HCL and Samsung for laptops and Nokia, Sony for camera phones.

D-Link seems to be one of the preferred brands for networking although there are bigger players like Cisco as well. In the lesser known district town of Angul in central Orissa, the partners are able to push 40 desktops a month, the demand being mainly from the home and SOHO segments.

In effect, people see a general turn around in the attitude and as a result vendors are also pumping in money with greater emphasis on hunting for prospective partners. However, there are certain inherent issues which ought to be studied in their totality. Recently in Meghalaya's capital Shillong, partners could not capitalize on a Rs 1.5 crore project for a microprocessor based traffic signal system as the order was passed on to Webel Mediatronics, a company owned by the West Bengal Government. The biggest dampener is the payment cycle, and ironically the smaller the states are the more is the trouble. Some states in the region like Nagaland or Manipur are perennially in financial crisis since 1990 when the government of India brought in a significant change in funding pattern following Ninth Pay Commission report. "With the government of Nagaland it is in terms of Rs 10 lakh and pending for years as the state is never out of financial crisis," laments Guwahati-based Mukesh Singh of Anku Computers.

True, the channel cannot do much about it. But the industry and the government coming together can help tackle these issues and use the opportunity for greater IT penetration both for improving the quality of life by enhanced e-governance initiative as well as making fast buck by the vendors. Enhanced focus from vendors on this region can enable the cities and smaller towns here to develop their own market and win new and retain existing customers. And I do see things already moving in that direction.

Under the Prime Minister s Office Look East policy the government is encouraging greater IT penetration under various schemes under North Eastern Council (NEC) and also eyeing to foster better working relations with southeast Asian countries. Vendors are also moving in, even as I see partners and small time sub-distributors trying to leverage the opportunity by doing among other things, plunging into tie ups with channel partners in larger cities like Kolkata and Bhubaneswar. As the traditional phrase goes, there is truly a goldmine.
Assam: No End to ULFA Bibhu Prasad Routray Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management
The military offensive that began on September 24, 2006, in Assam’s northernmost or Upper Assam Districts and the adjoining State of Arunachal Pradesh, after the Government of India called off a six-week ceasefire with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), blaming the militant outfit for stepping up violence and extortion, is said to have achieved ‘significant success’. Till April 15, 2007, 48 ULFA cadres had been killed (including 20 top militants of ULFA’s ‘28th battalion’), 81 arrested and another 88 had surrendered. Given the fact that the group’s fighting cadres are estimated to be no more than 500, the neutralisation of 217 of these can be considered a serious setback. Regrettably, there are several indications that the fighting days of ULFA, active since 1979, are far from over. The Upper Assam Districts of Tinsukia, Sivasagar and Dibrugarh have been the traditional hunting grounds of the ULFA, especially its ‘28th battalion’, which is headquartered in Myanmar. While the group’s top leadership and bulk of its fighting cadres are sourced from these Districts, the bordering and densely forested areas of Arunachal Pradesh serve as a link between Assam and ULFA’s camps in Myanmar. ULFA’s cadres, traversing the thickets and mountains between Myanmar and Assam, have used Arunachal Pradesh to set up a chain of transit bases and also escape routes in the wake of security force operations in Assam. ULFA’s January 2007 operations targeting Hindi-speaking migrant labourers in the Upper Assam Districts were mainly carried out by the ‘28th Battalion’ temporarily based in the Manabhum Reserve Forest in Arunachal Pradesh. ULFA’s other surviving unit, the 709th battalion, led by Hira Sarania, remains active in Central and Lower Assam Districts, including Kamrup in which the capital Dispur and adjoining city of Guwahati, are located. The battalion, however, is no longer considered to be an operationally significant entity. The objectives of the current military manoeuvres, simultaneously targeting areas under frequent militant attacks and the principal militant routes, in the words of the Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, were to "clear separatist bases in the jungles and to restore normalcy and instil confidence among the people". To this effect, a total of 140 companies of central para-military forces (CPMFs), consisting of about 14,000 personnel, were engaged in operations along with battalions of the Assam Police. Army para-troopers were being air-dropped at different points of the Manabhum Reserve Forest in Arunachal Pradesh. Troops are being backed by a fleet of helicopters for reconnaissance missions, to track the militants located in forested and other remote areas. Sophisticated jamming devices have been used to block ULFA's communication signals. The Army also claims to have cut off ULFA’s supply lines for rations, medicines and weapons. Achievements of the rather elaborate ongoing military exercise have been significant, in terms of elimination of senior cadres of the 28th battalion. On April 10, 2007, troops killed eight ULFA cadres, including two women, in an encounter near Lathou in the Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh. The dead included two top ULFA leaders: ‘Corporal’ Jun Bhuyan and ‘Sergeant’ Pranab Rajkhowa of the ‘28th Battalion’s C company’. Previously, on March 30, Himesawr Borsaikia alias Rameshwar Borsaikia, ‘commander’ of the ‘C company’ of the ‘28th battalion’, along with another cadre, Bapu Moran, was killed in the Manabhum reserve forest area in Arunachal Pradesh, near the inter-state boundary with Assam’s Tinsukia District. On April 13, 2007, hardcore ULFA cadre Pradip Gogoi was shot dead at Nagaon Tiniali in the Tinsukia District. A day later, on April 14, ‘sergeant major’ Jaan Hazarika alias Arup Arandhara alias Bhadu, was arrested by troops of the 7/11 Gorkha Rifles in the Khouji area of Tinsukia District.
Even before the successes of the ongoing military manoeuvres, ULFA’s sporadic activities, largely consisting of blasts on oil pipelines in deserted areas and the killing of unprotected and unarmed migrant workers, provided substantial indications of the group’s largely diminished ability to carry out ‘high-quality’ attacks. This indicated significant reversals in an outfit that has not only been in business for nearly three decades, but is also known to have been backed up by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan and the Bangladeshi Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), for a considerable period. This has lent credence to the assertions by the security forces (SFs) that, while ULFA has weakened over years, the current operations would incapacitate it even further. ULFA’s meek reactions to recent strikes against its interests underline the SF claims of declining insurgent capacity. In the only incident of its type, on April 16, 2007, suspected motorcycle-borne ULFA militants hurled a grenade at stationery Army vehicles at the sub-divisional township of Namsai in the Lohit District of Arunachal Pradesh. The grenade missed its target and hit an auto rickshaw injuring one person.
Carrying out recruitment drives, largely involving hunts for potential fighters through existing cadres using a combination of threat and enticement, has been the conventional ULFA response to the depletion of its strength during military operations. ULFA is known to have carried out several such drives in the Upper Assam Districts this time as well. The Army, however, maintains that it would be operationally difficult to replace the neutralised trained cadres with new recruits.
Indeed, of late, ULFA has been forced to rely on a brand of young recruits lacking in adequate preparation and insufficiently trained to use sophisticated weapons and explosives. While accessing high quality weapons and explosives appears to be a limited problem for the outfit, due to its ‘contacts’ in Bangladesh, its mostly ill-trained cadres have been constrained to use low capacity hand grenades and crude explosives, failing to engineer attacks on high value targets. This has been a matter of great frustration for ULFA’s sponsors in the ISI and the DGFI and has also led to situations where semi-trained or untrained ULFA cadres have themselves been killed while carrying crude explosives, most recently in the April 8 incident, when an ULFA operative was killed after the explosives he was carrying detonated when his motorcycle collided with an autorickshaw in Guwahati’s Kumarapara locality.
It will, however, be premature to predict the end of ULFA. The group clearly has its back against the wall, but is adopting survival tactics which are yet to be neutralised by an effective strategy of response. It is using local businessmen to channel revenues from extortion to the outfit’s top leadership, as was revealed with the April 4, 2007, arrest of Debendra Lahoti, a resident of Nazira town in the Sivasagar District. Lahoti was channelling extortion revenues into the militant group’s coffers on instructions from the group’s ‘B Company’ ‘chief’ Ram Singh. Several other businessmen in the District are also suspected to be involved in similar rackets, though arrests are yet to be effected. The Police are, however, in the process of gathering evidence. Similarly, ULFA is also known to be using newly formed groups like the All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) to carry out extortion in the tea estates in the ‘tea districts’, including Golaghat. The AANLA – believed to have been armed by the ULFA, and which claims to be fighting to safeguard the tribal culture of the plantation workers – is said to have 100 cadres working in about 40 tea estates. It passes off a major chunk of the monies it extorts to the ULFA in return for arms and training support. Assam Police’s reported inability to control such extortion has led several business houses and trade bodies, including those representing the tea industry, to approach the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directly in March 2007, seeking greater protection. ULFA has also been ‘outsourcing’ its operational activities in recent times. While it has been customary for ULFA’s cadres to avoid direct confrontation with the security forces, the group is now hiring unemployed youth and even school children to lob grenades, distribute extortion notes and collect ransom. For example, ULFA hired the services of two dacoits, paying them INR 50,000, to carry out two explosions in Jorhat District on March 15, 2007. The explosions damaged power transformers on the outskirts of the District headquarters.
In a major embarrassment to the Police, on April 17, 2007, ULFA militants abducted Food Corporation of India (FCI) Executive Director and head of FCI’s Northeastern region, P.C. Ram, from Guwahati’s Ulubari area and, on April 19, demanded a ransom of INR 210 million. The Police learned of the abduction only after Ram used a mobile phone in ULFA’s possession to call up his son who, in turn informed the Police. The failure to create an adequate security net for senior Public Sector officials in the most protected town of the State underlines the lack of Police preparedness in dealing with the long-standing insurgency. Ram’s driver, who was also abducted, has since been released. Freak incidents like these, however, neither represent an augmentation of the outfit’s strength, nor underline its ability to sustain its low-scale random operations. ULFA’s survival tactics, unless aided by an ill-conceived political move to again relax the operational pressure on the outfit and allow it to regroup, are expected to remain just that – tactics that ensure bare survival. Alarmist statements emerging from high echelons of the Army and other official sources linking ULFA with the jehadi elements in Bangladesh mirror similar claims by the ULFA’s top leadership and are, at this stage, declarations of uncertain intent, and are yet to be reflected in operational arrangements on the ground. Similarly, the MHA’s ‘assessment report’, which has found ready mention in many newspapers, linking ULFA with the ‘Muslim groups’ such as Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and the Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA) vastly exaggerate the realities of such ‘tie ups’. MULFA ceased to exist within the first year of its formation in the mid-nineties, and MULTA has never, in the history of its existence since 1996, posed any significant threat to Assam and its people. These are, at worst, notional groups at this juncture, and building their operational capacities to a level where they can contribute measurably to an ULFA resurgence. Assam has recorded a measure of improvement in militancy-related fatalities in recent years. Compared to 315 fatalities in 2004 and 254 in 2005, 242 people died in militant violence in 2006. While this has been termed as an achievement by the MHA, militancy-related incidents actually increased from 267 to 398 and further to 413 over the corresponding years. Clearly, ULFA’s intent remains unaltered, though its operational capacities have evidently suffered a measure of decline.