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01/03/2009: "NDFB expels founder president for Assam bombings Agencies"



NDFB expels founder president for Assam bombings Agencies

GUWAHATI : The frontline Assam tribal separatist group National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) on Thursday expelled its founder president D.R. Nabla alias Ranjan Daimary for his role in the serial explosions in Assam in October which killed nearly 100 people. The decision by the outlawed NDFB to expel its former president follows a confessional statement by arrested rebel leader Ajay Basumatary that the serial explosions Oct 30 in Assam were masterminded by Nabla.
"We are shocked and surprised that D.R. Nabla was directly involved in the series of explosions. The NDFB, therefore, unanimously decided to expel Nabla from the outfit as a disciplinary action," B. Sungthagra, the new president of the NDFB, said in a statement. "The act (serial explosions) is undoubtedly an act of terrorism and can never be part of a revolutionary struggle," the rebel statement said.
The NDFB replaced its Bangladesh-based president last month with a new leader and announced its decision to contest next year's parliamentary elections either 'directly or indirectly'. The NDFB general assembly that met Dec 15, 2008 replaced its founder president Nabla and appointed his deputy Sungthagra alias Dhiren Boro as their leader. The NDFB is a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo tribe with the outfit in a ceasefire with New Delhi since 2005. The ceasefire expired Wednesday but the central government is yet to extend it.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram told journalists in New Delhi on Wednesday that the ceasefire extension with the NDFB would depend on the report of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) currently probing the Assam bombings. "We have asked the central government not to extend the ceasefire with the NDFB," said Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday. Nabla last week claimed he was still the president of the NDFB despite the outfit's national assembly deciding to remove him from the post.

Why more factional violence in 2008 than 2007 Nagaland Page
The fact is that there should be peace and unity among the Naga brothers. And it has been the solemn expectation of general public to see working together all Naga national workers. Unexpectedly it appeared to be part of the peoples¢ expectation that had happened in 2007 that some Sumis defected from the NSCN-IM faction knocking the ear doors of Th. Muivah and Isak Swu and formed unification group on 23rd November 2008. But contrary to the expectation, within a brief time of four months, the unification group rejoined Khaplang group on 8th May 2008. Hence more bloodshed took place again among the Naga brothers and K- group faced heavy loss of lives. Remarkably, after they accepted the FGN Army who deserted on 6th May 2008 with 10 arms from Sumi Region, such as when fighting took place with IM group on 16th May 2008 at Patkai College area, 14 of them were killed and took away all of their arms and ammunitions by IM group. Again on 4th June 2008 at Xelhoshe village, Dimapur, 12 of them were killed and captured their arms by IM group, also on June 23 to 26, 2008, nine of them were killed and 43 vehicles were burned down when their camp at Vihokhu village was over run by IM group.
It had noticeably happened in the past too that when K- group violated the peace of January 1991 with the NNC/FGN they have faced loss of lives. In 1993, they fought against the FGN Army in Ao Region, they have lost many lives, and the leader who ordered to fight against the FGN Army was also fell in the hands of IM group and killed. On November 26, 1996, K- group who were stationed in and around Jotsoma village, took away 3 FGN Army from Kohima Town and tortured them brutally. There, it had happened on 24th December 1996 that, one of K- Army personnel from that Jotsoma Camp fired upon his fellow men and killed three of them and caused injury to Head Chaplain of K- group, lastly he turned his gun on himself and committed suicide. Who tortured FGN Army was also faced vehicle accident and fractured his knee, and later died of cancer. Again in May 2000, P.Y. Chingmak Chang, Dy. Kilonser of K-group abducted FGN Kilonser Eno L. Palang along with Naga Army and took away four arms from them. Then after, P.Y. Chingmak faced thundered and died of it after four months.
After 1980, killing among the Nagas was started instead of fighting against the aggressors, and more factional violence had been taking place after the so-called NSCN split into two factions in 1988. The NSCN leaders had gone astray from the path God is leading Naga nation and killing among them is being taking as part of divine punishment. Because the Almighty God foretold them several times that if they do not obey the word of God, the killing among them would surely happen. It is the need of hour to realize that God is leading the Naga nation and must come into the path God is leading the Naga nation, which is the meeting point for all of us to reunite and to have peace among us. Let this year 2009 be the year of peace among the Naga brothers.
Thomas, NNC Member.

Jamir for end to dowry system DIMAPUR, JAN 2 (NPN):


Vice Chancellor of University of Mumbai Dr Vijay Khole presents a portrait of Smt Savitribai Phule to the Governor of Maharashtra and Chancellor of the University S. C. Jamir on Friday at Mumbai.
Pitching the need for a change in the perception of Indian society towards women, Governor of Maharashtra S. C. Jamir Friday said putting an end to the menace of dowry system would go a long way in addressing many problems faced by women. He was speaking at the inauguration of a two-day National Seminar on ‘Gender and Caste’ organised by the Women Development Cell and the Centre for Human Development of the University of Mumbai. Asserting that the dowry system lay at the vortex of discrimination against women, Jamir said the society should overcome its deep mental blocks about women’s efficiency and capacity to participate in the decision making process. “Overcoming such mental blocks is the first challenge to women’s empowerment” he said.
The Governor also expressed the need to have separate provision for women in the budget and felt that the legislature should have focused its discussion on women’s issues. Jamir pointed out that the President of India has recently constituted a Committee of Governors to study and recommend strategies for speedy economic development and empowerment of women. He said that the Committee has recommended establishment of a women’s council at the national level to be headed by the Prime Minister and a similar women’s council in the State to be headed by the Chief Minister. These councils having women representatives and NGOs as members will review the progress of implementation of programmes relating women’s development.
Vice-Chancellor of University of Mumbai, Dr Vijay Khole; eminent feminist historian, Dr Uma Chakravarty; Chairperson of Women Development Cell, Dr Kranti Jejurkar and Co-ordinator of the Centre for Women Development, Dr Ritu Dewan also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, the Governor garlanded the portrait of Smt. Savitribai Phule.
The Bodo battleground: Ominous portents DATELINE Guwahati/Wasbir Hussain The Sentinel
The National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), one of the region’s frontline separatist groups, has split into two factions (pro and anti-talks), and that’s official now. The group’s exiled president Ranjan Daimary alias D. R. Nabla was replaced by his deputy, vice-president B. Sungthagra alias Dhiren Boro last month. Nabla responded by claiming he continues to be the president and dubbed the Boro faction as having literally sold-out to the Government. On the first day of the New Year, January 1, the Dhiren Boro group expelled Nabla from the outfit. This after an arrested NDFB cadre told police that the October 30, 2008 serial blasts that had rocked Asom was carried out under direct orders from Nabla.
But, that is not the big news anymore on the Bodo insurgency front. The big news is that the Government has not extended the ceasefire with the NDFB that expired on December 31, 2008. “The truce has not been extended. I agree that the situation is nebulous now and action will be taken by the security forces against NDFB cadres who are outside the designated camps,” a top Assam Government official told this writer on Thursday. But, in all probability, the ceasefire with the Dhiren Boro faction will be extended sooner than later, particularly after this group has made enough demonstration of having distanced itself from the Nabla group. Dhiren Boro has since described the October 30 blasts as a clear act of terrorism.
That the Bodo insurgent group, on a ceasefire with the Indian Government since May 25, 2005, has actually split had become clear on December 15, 2008 when some of its top leaders held a ‘general assembly’ at a truce-time designated camp in Assam and replaced its exiled president Nabla. NDFB vice-president Dhiren Boro, physically present and in the open in Asom, was elected president, leading to speculations in the media whether the rebel group has split into pro and anti-talk factions.
Nabla himself set aside all speculations on December 27, 2008 when he sent an e-mail to journalists confirming the split. Daimary, believed by Indian authorities to be based and operating from Bangladesh, said: “…I am still the president of the NDFB that has been fighting for the last 22 years for the right to national self-determination, independence and sovereignty of the Boro people.” The exiled NDFB leader made it clear that he was not representing those of his group’s cadres who, he said, have “capitulated the ideology and principle of the NDFB by submitting a memorandum on the 30th September, 2008 to the Government of India and who have adopted a resolution to take part in Indian elections.”
This development—that is likely to trigger fresh fratricidal clashes among rebel factions in Asom’s western and northern Bodo tribal heartland— raises questions as to whether going for a ceasefire with insurgent groups is a right approach in the quest for peace. For more than three years after the NDFB-New Delhi truce, it appeared as if the entire NDFB top-brass was on board. That it was not the case became clear when several NDFB cadres were found to have been involved in the deadly bomb explosions in Asom on October 30, 2008 that killed 89 people and injured more than 500 others. Besides, recent video footage showed Nabla himself inspecting a passing out parade of new NDFB recruits at a base, which intelligence sources say, is located in Bangladesh despite the group being on a ceasefire with the Government.
If Nabla —founder president of the NDFB (formed on October 3, 1986)— was keeping his fighting machine oiled, leaders like Dhiren Boro and general secretary B Swmkhwr alias Govinda Basumatary went out of their way to extend the olive branch to the authorities, particularly after the heat in the wake of the October 30, 2008 blasts. The Asom-based leadership sought to distance itself from Nabla & Co. and quickly replaced him with Dhiren Boro as the new president. Besides, to halt the long arm of the law, the Assam-based leaders announced they would directly or indirectly participate in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. “…We are thinking of playing a role in the elections,” the pro-talk NDFB faction has said. The group headed by Dhiren Boro and Govinda Basumatary tried hard to hammer home the point to the authorities that the entire NDFB as a group cannot be blamed for acts of terror that may have been committed by a faction in the group or those owing allegiance to hardliners like Nabla. The divide was clear and Nabla’s statement on December 27, 2008 only confirmed the split.
The Government now has new challenges in hand—the possibility of clashes between pro and anti-talk NDFB factions is indeed high. Secondly, the Government, both at the Centre and the State, have suddenly realized that Bodo insurgency was not going to end after all even if a peace agreement was reached with the NDFB group headed by Dhiren Boro and Govinda Basumatary. The Nabla faction too is aware of the challenges facing the group. Therefore, the clever ploy by Nabla to seek peace with the cadres of the now disbanded Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT). “Today, as president of the NDFB, I declare to stop all enmity between NDFB and ex-BLT members on the basis and spirit of 1999 agreement between BLT and NDFB. So I appeal (to) our members and ex-BLT cadres to refrain from attacking each other for the greater interest of the Boro nation,” Nabla said in the statement. The exiled NDFB leader knows that he cannot afford to have both the pro-talk NDFB faction and the former BLT men as his enemies.
Aside from the challenges at hand, the Government’s strategy of postponing peace by letting the ceasefire with rebel groups on a truce mode linger on needs tough questioning. Examples of insurgent groups on ceasefire in the Northeast getting restive and breaking away can be found in plenty. The two best examples are the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah faction) or the NSCN-IM and now, the NDFB. The NSCN already had two factions (the other being the Khaplang faction or the NSCN-K), but the tortuous road to peace as evident by the inability of the group and the Government to reach any agreement had led to infighting and eventually a split. The formation of the NSCN (Unification) on November 23, 2007 by some NSCN-IM cadres headed by its one-time ‘home minister’ Azheto Chopey is a case in point. The latest turn of events within the NDFB leading to the split is another example of long ceasefires without any tangible resolution of the conflict triggering factionalism within insurgent groups.
The security establishment might actually be happy that groups like the NSCN or the NDFB have suffered splits. But as things stand on the ground, these are not welcome developments in so far as finding lasting peace in any insurgency theatre is concerned. Aside from having to deal with internecine violence, the Government in such a faction-ridden insurgency theatre will be required to accommodate the socio-political aspirations of several factions within a small playing arena. In the Bodo heartland of Asom, for instance, three major rebel forces are currently at play: (a) the former BLT militants who have since transformed into a political party called the Bodo People’s Front (BPF) and is in power at the autonomous Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC); (b) the Dhiren Boro faction of the NDFB that is the faction on a ceasefire and making its intention of joining electoral politics clear, and (c) the hardline NDFB faction headed by Nabla that is obviously outside the purview of the truce. This means, three major forces, aside from the mainstream political forces, are fighting for the same political space, all promising to work for the interest of their community, the Bodos.
Another question can be asked: can the Nabla faction of the NDFB be isolated? Or, will the Nabla faction become irrelevant in Bodo politics with the passage of time since a major group is out in the open and is talking of reconciliation with New Delhi? That may not quite happen because if the authorities now come to take the Dhiren Boro faction for granted and adopt their favourite strategy of postponing peace by not putting the peace talks on the fast track to reach a possible solution, it could well be this faction (headed by Dhiren Boro) that may end up getting isolated. If that happens, the Nabla faction will once again come to call the shots and make a comeback with fresh recruitments and fresh acts of violence. Will the Government then start afresh by extending an olive branch to the Nabla group? This can be a never ending process really.
It is time the Government reviews its step-by-step approach at peace-making in the country, particularly in the Northeast. As things stands today, ceasefires with insurgent groups are clearly nothing but a time-buying mechanism adopted by the authorities to restore a semblance of order in the insurgency theatres across the region. Often the authorities are clueless as to how they are going to take the peace process to the next level after reaching a truce with a rebel group. On their part, rebel groups agree to truce offers or offer truce on their own as a tactical ploy to get the pursuing security force off its back and regroup. The Government needs to think if it should henceforth make it mandatory for the top leaders of any insurgent group to agree to come out from hiding and stay in designated camps before a ceasefire agreement is signed.
IM forces bullet trucks to turn back By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 2: For the second time, 19 LPG carrier bullet trucks have been reportedly forced to return from Maram area inspite of the presence of escort personnel by armed cadres of the NSCN (IM) today. In connection with its demand for payment of Rs 15 lakhs as godown tax from the LPG distributors and the LPG bottling plant of the AOC (AOD) at Awang Sekmai, the outfit had forced 20 bullet trucks from Imphal to turn back on December 8 last and one of the LPG loaded truck was detained on December 10 last.
According to information received by the press, in all 19 LPG carrier bullet trucks left Imphal along with escort.
However the trucks were intercepted by some armed persons who identified themselves as cadres of NSCN (IM) at Maram area who told the driver of the first truck to turn back saying that the report of signing an ‘agreement’ published in newspapers and broadcasted on radio was false. However, before the armed persons could stop two of the trucks escaped and managed to reach Khuzuma.
Talking to mediapersons, one truck driver identified as Dhanga Prasad of Charhajare informed that the armed persons threatened them not to come that side until the demand is met. Otherwise, they would be shot dead without any warning.
Prasad recalled that it was around 12.15 pm when the trucks were stopped by the armed persons and the place was not far from Don Bosco School, Maram. Confronted by the armed persons, some of the security personnel who were escorting the trucks in five Gypsies suggested that it would be better for them to return as there is no agreement while some others insisted that they should go forward and they (security personnel) were there to protect them.
Afterward, caught in a perplexing situation, all the remaining 17 trucks turned back while the escort party went ahead to Mao to bring back bullet trucks and other oil tankers which were expected to arrive from Assam, the driver informed, adding that they were also detained by the Senapati OC at Senapati Bazar for almost one hour.
It may noted here that following the December 8 last incident of forcing the bullet trucks to return back, transporters launched a cease work strike and the functioning of the bottling plant at Awang Sekmai came to a grinding halt from December 16. On December 27, transporters met the Chief Minister. During the meeting which was also attended by Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Home), Commission (IFC) and DGP, the Chief Minister convinced the transporters they can called off their agitation as the matter had been brought to the notice of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell of the Government of India and Naga rebel group. Consequently, the transporters resumed their service from December 29. Out of 64 trucks that had left Imphal since the resumption of service, 33 loaded trucks arrived on December 31 and the work at the bottling plant resumed on January 1 and supply of the domestic LPG cylinders continued till today.
Meanwhile, the dejected truck drivers who were forced to return back empty-handed today have decided not to ply their trucks until the resolution of the impasse. Over and above this, they have also decided to stop transportation of filled domestic LPG cylinders from the bottling plant at Awang Sekmai.
Mastermind of city blasts identified
Correspondent Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Jan 2 – City police today released the photograph of Pranjal Deka alias Biju Saraniya alias Bhambhal (20), the dreaded cadre of ULFA’s 709 battalion, who according to security agencies, masterminded all the three blasts in Guwahati on January 1. Additional SP (City DSB) Joyshree Khersa today claimed that Deka, who hails from Dwarkuchi village in Baksa district, is still holed up in the city along with at least five other cadres of the outfit.

“Combing operation is on and we have intensified vigil across the State,” Khersa said, adding that Deka is wanted in connection with several other recent blasts. City police is in touch with its counterparts in Baksa to secure more information about the dreaded militant.

Meanwhile, police picked up over 30 suspects in the last 24 hours from different areas of the city in connection with the serial blasts. Suspected ULFA militants, on Thursday, triggered serial blasts in three different areas of the city, that claimed five lives, including a minor, besides leaving over 50 others injured. Of the 43 injured admitted at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, the condition of five is still stated to be critical. At present, the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital is housing 14 blast victims and condition of each one of them is said to be stable. Meanwhile, the dead have been identified as Manser Ali(25), Arifa Begum(40), Ridus Salam(13), Kamal Das(29) and Sahil Sheikh(8).
All the five dead, according to sources at the GMCH and MMCH, were brought dead cases.

Another senior police official, when contacted, meanwhile, informed that police, based on intelligence inputs gathered on Wednesday evening, carried out search operations across the city but could not get hold of Pranjal Deka.

“We intercepted the cell number (9707528063) Deka was using to co-ordinate with his associates and came to know that he was hiding somewhere in the Rehabari area. We could only zero in on about a 3 kilometre radius but could not figure out the exact hide-out,” said the senior police official, conceding that it was not feasible on their part to physically check each and every house.

Later, the police made a call to the said number and asked the militant to defuse the explosive as he had been identified by the police.

“This is making us believe that the bomb which went off in Bhootnath area was to be planted in crowded areas like Athgaon and Machkhowa markets,” the police official claimed.

He further stated that a team of senior police officials is probing the incident and is likely to make breakthroughs soon.

Meanwhile, rumours about bomb recovery across the city kept the city police on its toes throughout the day.

“We urge the people not to indulge in such activities for the greater interest of the society. Anyone found indulging in such mischievous act would not be spared,” the senior police official asserted.
No quarter to militancy, says HM Nagarealm.com
GUWAHATI, JAN02 [PTI] : Talking tough after serial blasts rocked Assam, Home Minister P Chidambaram today said that no quarter will be given to militancy and those threatening the country’s integrity and sovereignty will be dealt with ‘decisively’.

“If leaders of the banned organisations are listening to this as I speak now, or read about it in tomorrow’s newspapers, or watch it on television later in the day, they must get this clear message that the chief minister and his government will deal with development issues and security forces will deal with members of banned organisations which threaten India’s sovereignty and security,” he said. Chidambaram was talking to media persons after a two-hour meeting of the Unified Command a day after three blasts in the city left five dead and over 50 wounded.

“No quarter will be given to militancy. Broad guidelines have been given to the army, paramilitary forces and Assam Police. These will be finalised and more sharply focused operational strategy will be drawn up by the operations group,” he said. Without naming ULFA and NDFB, Chidambaram said it is ‘regrettable’ that leaders of at least two banned organisations have found ‘sanctuary’ in Bangladesh.

“Bangladesh has not had an elected government for some time. Fortunately, elections have taken place in Bangladesh and the prime minister-elect has made a very positive statement that she will not allow the country to be used as launching pad for terror and she will join India in fighting terror,” he said. Chidambaram said “we hope to make a new beginning and we can neutralise the leadership of these banned elements which have found sanctuary in Bangladesh”.

The home minister, who visited the Guwahati Medical College Hospital to meet some of those injured in yesterday’s blasts, complimented Assam Police ‘for acting swiftly’. Rejecting the charge of Intelligence failure, he said the Centre had inputs about the blasts. “In fact, Intelligence was building up over the past few days and on the evening of December 31 we had shared the Intelligence with the state government. On first (January) morning, I spoke to the chief minister,” he said.

“Assam Police nearly succeeded in apprehending him (a suspect). But just that little bit of luck was not there. He escaped...This time Assam Police was not lucky. This time that chap was lucky. Next time Assam Police will be lucky,” he said. “We condemn these bomb blasts and we are determined to catch the perpetrators...I have full faith in the ability of Assam Police to capture them,” he said. Referring to ceasefire with NDFB, he said the term of the truce ended on December 31 and a decision on future action would be taken in a day or two. “I have told the negotiators that the Suspension of Operation (SOO) agreement must be observed in letter and spirit. There cannot be that a government suspends operations but somebody else continues to do whatever he wants to do,” he said.

Chidambaram warns of action against NE militants Nagapage
GUWAHATI, JANUARY 2: In a tough message against the backdrop of New Year-day serial blasts, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said security forces will deal with banned outfits in the north east "decisively" if they threaten peace and integrity of India but said talks could be held with ULFA if it gave up sovereignty demand.
"The leaders of banned organisations if they are listening as I speak now or read it in tomorrow's newspapers or watch television later in the day, they must get this clear message that security forces will deal decisively with the members of these banned organisations who threaten peace and integrity of India," he said.
Addressing a press conference here after a review meeting with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also chairs the Unified Command in the northeast, Chidambaram said "no quarter would be given to militants."
Condemning Friday's blasts here in which five people were killed and over 50 injured, he said police knew who were behind them and expressed confidence that the Assam police would capture them.
The Home Minister regretted that two-three top leaders of the banned groups of the north east were taking shelter in Bangladesh and saw the "positive" statement emanating from the prime minister-to be on dealing with them. On the ULFA, he said, "they have to drop their sovereignty demand. I have seen a change in the stance of its `a' and `c' companies (of the 28th battalion).
"I am examining them. The broad policy is that talks are held with anyone who abjures violence and makes no claim on sovereignty".
Chidambaram said "If they (ULFA) give up their demand for sovereignty we will talk. If they do, I see no reason why not talk with them...This is my personal opinion and not a policy statement."
On the statement of Awami League chief, who is set to become the Prime Minister, that Bangladesh would not not allow its soil to be used for export of terror to neighbours, he said "I hope it will be a new beginning and the terrorist forces having sanctuary in Bangladesh will be neutralised."
The minister said "South Asian region's yearning is for peace and development. Maldives and bangladesh both voted for peace and development."
On the two-hour long meeting with the Unified Command, Chidambaram said he appreciated the good work done by them, which is to be continued. "Regarding Thursday's blast, we had intelligence input. In fact intelligence was built up over the last few days. On December 31, we shared intelligence with the state government after which Assam police acted swiftly", he said.
"A massive manhunt was launched for a person who was involved in yesterday's blast. Police knows who he is, his name and his face. The police had almost succeeded in apprehending himon Thursday night", he added.
"But a little bit of luck eluded the police as a result of which he managed to escape after throwing the grenade and it exploded injuring people there. The DGP (Director General of Police) has told me that he will be able to capture him", he said. (PTI)

PM visits blast victims at GMCH Staff reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Jan 2 – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today arrived at the city. Governor SC Mathur and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi received him at the Borjhar LGB International Airport this evening. The Prime Minister is accompanied by his ministerial colleagues Manishankar Aiyer, Kapil Sibal and Prithivraj Chouhan.

After his landing at Borjhar, the Prime Minister rushed to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital to meet the injured ones of the yesterday city blast cases.

The Prime Minister also held discussion with the Governor and the Chief Minister on the present law and order situation of the State. He will stay at the Raj Bhawan tonight and leave for Shillong to inaugurate the five-day 96 th session of the Indian Science Congress on the North East Hill University (NEHU) campus there.

He will leave Shillong, via Guwahati, for Delhi at 12-30 pm, said official sources here.

Spl Correspondent from New Delhi adds: Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has said that Government of India would stay steadfast in its determination to root out terrorism and that the measures taken recently in this direction would be taken to their logical conclusion.

While expressing grief over the loss of lives of people in the serial bomb blasts at Guwahati, the Prime Minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those deceased, the Prime Ministers Office announced today..

It has been further announced that Rs 1 lakh would be paid each to the seriously injured from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund.

The Prime Minister had, yesterday condemned the terrorist blasts in Guwahati. He expressed his condolences to the near and dear ones of those killed in the blasts and his sympathies to those injured.

AFSPA victim recounts ordeal By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Jan 2: “My daughter wished to become a nurse and serve sick and elderly persons”, recalled Radhamani whose daughter Robita was killed in firing by security forces at Pangei in 2002.
Taking part in the relay hunger strike being staged at Porompat PDA complex since December 10 last under the aegis of the Sharmila Kanba Lup, Radhamani prayed that no such cruel fate that shattered her life may ever befall upon any mother.
Demanding repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 from all Manipur and to save the life of Irom Sharmila, Radhamani from Waiton said that it was spine chilling and heart breaking to recall the day when the dead body of Robita who was always lively and energetic was brought home.
It was in one unexpected moment that Robita who went out for college fell to the bullets of security forces on that fateful day, she lamented.
The moment was a cruel blow to Radhamani who had already lost her husband. It literally turned her life upside down. She had only two children, a daughter and a son. But one man-made tragedy or a cruel stroke of fate had robbed off her only daughter.
“For the loss of my child, I was given Rs one lakh as ex-gratia by the Government. But I cannot help remembering my daughter whenever I see my brother’s daughter who has now completed nursing course and entered service”. Today’s relay hunger strike was participated by Waiton Women Development Nishabandh Association, Haotan Meira Paibi Lup, Waiton Meira Paibi Nupi Lup, Khurai Nandeibam Leikai Meira Paibi Lup and NH 53 Kanglei Ching-Tam Leima Lup.
Speaking in today’s leg of the relay hunger strike Nupi Samaj president K Taruni questioned as to how long mothers of Mani-pur should live with fear and threat every moment for the safety of their children.
Noting that every mother this day is preoccupied with the persistent thought whether their sons/daughters would fall victim to bomb blasts, whether they would be caught in cross-fire or whether they would be pronounced guilty after being killed, Taruni conveyed the helpless condition and predicament being faced by mothers in Manipur.
Social activist Shilleima observed that the violence and crime rates have been raising day by day since the imposition of AFSPA in Manipur although the Act was enforced to contain insurgency in the State. She asked the authority concerned to repeal AFSPA and watch the resultant changes.
Advisor of the NH 53 Kanglei Ching-Tam Leima Lup Taruni asserted that the remaining population of Manipur that survives after 20 years would be leading a life of slavery in case the present trend of daily killings continues.
“For the sake of future generations and the life of Irom Sharmila, repeal AFSPA from all over Manipur”, she cried.


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