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04/20/2009: "Peaceful re-polling at three Nagaland booths Indopia"
Peaceful re-polling at three Nagaland booths Indopia
Kohima , Apr 20 Re-polling today in three booths in Nagaland for the Lok Sabha election was peaceful recording over 90 per cent voter turnout, CEO office here said.
The Election Commission ordered re-polling following damages to EVMs at two polling stations at Chizami in Phek district and at Tuensang in Tuensang district, while a booth at Pungro in Kiphire district polled excess number of eligible electorates registered at the station. The election to the lone parliamentary seat and by-poll in four assembly segments in the state on April 16 recorded 90 per cent voters turn out and the exercise was by and large peaceful.
K Asunga Sangtam of Congress was locked in a straight fight with C M Chang of ruling Nagaland peoples Front (NPF) in the Lok Sabha while there were nine candidates in the fray in the four assembly seats. The fate of the candidates will be known on May 16 when counting will he held at 12 centres across the state.
CM Rio is now ‘Warrior’ of Nagaland morungexpress
Chief Minister Neiphiu-u Rio in traditional war attire along with the elders of Mezoma Village during the 23rd ASU biennial general conference held at the village recently. (Morung Photo / Kuzhovesa Soho)
Mezoma, April 20 (MExN): Referring to what our forefathers called a man with special skills in the field of battle – Great Warrior – the Chief Minister of Nagaland, Neiphiu-u Rio, was traditionally anointed as ‘Warrior’ of Nagaland by the Mezoma community. Rio was given this honour during the 23rd biennial general conference of the Angami Students’ Union (ASU) held from April 17 to 19 last, here at Mezoma Village.
Describing Rio politically as the father of Nagaland, the organising committee stated that the CM looked after the affairs of the state despite facing many hardships and difficulties; thereby he can be rightly termed as the warrior of the State, they asserted. The Chief Minister was gifted with significant warrior’s gear – the Spear, to fight enemies and hunt wild animals; the Shield, to protect oneself from the enemies’ spears; the Dao, to be utilised for necessary needs, and a gear head, a symbolic crown of honour, etc.
According to Mezoma tradition, the person who usually put on this attire was someone who had been given the prestigious title of ‘Warrior’. Stating that Rio, being the guardian of the State, was eligible to put on the traditional warrior attire, the committee declared him ‘Warrior’ of Nagaland and wished him prosperity and success in all his upcoming endeavours while dealing with affairs of the State. As you have put on the traditional warrior attire, from now on you will be called the Warrior of the Nagas, declared the organising committee.
Many condemn rape and murder of Zeliangrong child at Delhi The Imphal Free Press From Daniel Kamei
TAMENGLONG, Apr 18: The individuals and different organizations of Zeliangrong community at Tamenglong district strongly condemned the barbaric act of rape and murder of an innocent child at Mahipalpur in Delhi on April 17 and appealed not to repeat such acts. The victim, Gaipuilu, 9, was the daughter of Martin and her mother Aluna is serving as nurse at Indian Spinal Injury Centre at Delhi. They were residing at Mahipalpur. Her original village is Sempang village in Tamenglong but went to reside at Jaluke of Nagaland.
A family member narrated to IFP last night that the incident took place on April 17, when her mother went for duty leaving behind the victim and her grandmother. The child went up to the roof to dry clothes and as the girl did not return after some 20 minutes the grandmother went up and found her missing. She immediately rang up her mother and started searching and finally found the girl in the water tank of another building block. Her post mortem confirmed that she was raped and murdered, the source said.
In the meantime, Sira Kharay, president of the Naga Students Union Delhi (NSUD) informed the IFP that after condolence service at Emmanuel Baptist Church of Zeliangrong Christian Fellowship at Rajniwaz, Delhi a public rally under the banner of “Is the law of the land merely a scarecrow without a law keeper?” was organized and submitted a memorandum to the commissioner of Delhi police HQs, the source said.
Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong Students Union, Tousem area and the Zeliangrong Pui (Woman) Baudi strongly condemned the barbaric act of rape and murder. While condemning the act Ramning, secretary of the Zeliangrong Pui (Woman) Baudi and Ileilung Newmei, convener of ZSUTA said that the north east students were not secure in Delhi. “This is not the first time such incidents happened in Delhi to the north east girls. The concerned authority should book the culprits and befitting punishment awarded to the culprits,” they maintained.
As per the memorandum, the Naga Students Union Delhi have demanded the commissioner of Delhi police arrest the culprits involved immediately, and deploy more police 24x7 in the localities where the vulnerable sections of the society like the north eastern communities reside. Further, the memo demanded setting up of a commission to check the negligence and discrimination by the Delhi police personnel towards the north eastern population, and book them according to the law for dereliction of duty and discrimination towards the minorities like SC/ST.
The memo also demanded setting up of a nodal police officer in charge of north eastern population in South Delhi police station under the capacity of Deputy Police Commissioner, for speedy delivery of justice, like the one set up in North Delhi the memo stated. The memo was signed by Sira Kharay, president of the Naga Student Union Delhi (NSUD) and its general secretary Zuben Ovung.
NSCN on Sianlem incident morungexpress MIP/GPRN
The Easter Sunday morning, i.e. 12 April 2009, incident at Sianlem village under Laju sub-division in Arunachal is most disgraceful. The combined forces of KIA, ULFA, UNLF and NSCN (K) numbering around 80 armed cadres attacked the Naga Army stationed there where one UNLF cadre Haubijun alias Kokillakva was killed. The NSCN (K) group knowing fully well that the Naga Army personnel would be observing Easter Sunday led the attack.
The NSCN (K) can no longer hide its nefarious agenda of fighting its own people with the help of other revolutionary groups. And Naga people are not naïve to pass judgment on your wicked plans. Naga people are very clear of their political issue so also who are genuinely working for the Naga people and who are not. Let it be known that the KIA, ULFA and UNLF are fishing in troubled water for the Naga Army will appropriately dealt with anything to come in its way. These groups would gain nothing by fighting the Nagas. The true revolutionaries do not meddle in other people’s affairs but only the mercenaries do. We believe the KIA, ULFA and UNLF represent their peoples’ aspirations. Fighting the Nagas will not lead you to anywhere.
Nagaland CM seeks PM's intervention in child murder case Indopia
Kohima , Apr 20 Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh&aposs intervention to ensure justice in the recent alleged rape and murder case of a six-year-old Naga girl in New Delhi.
"It is a matter of serious concern that people from North-east, because of their different ethnic background, appearance and culture have been increasingly subjected to various forms of discriminations and made targets of violence by anti-social elements in New Delhi,"Rio wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister.
The alleged rape and subsequent murder of the minor girl on Friday at Mahipalpur in the national capital, has evoked strong reaction from various organisations of the North-east, particularly from Nagaland. This trend has already made the national capital most unsafe place for the people of north-eastern states, particularly for girls and children. It has to be immediately brought to a halt, the chief minister asserted. Rio urged the Prime Minister to intervene so that people of the region were assured of their safety in the national capital. The victim&aposs body would be brought to her native village in Nagaland&aposs Peren district, leaders of her community said.
NSCN on recent defections MIP/GPRN morungexpress
It is shameful for the defectors who tried to clean themselves by joining other organization. Indiscipline and corruption always bring bad name to the government. And they never felt comfortable and secured due to the sense of guiltiness. Recently, when some Lothas defected to K-group they leave behind a record of their own that compels them to take shelter in K-group.
Sgt. Maj. Samuel Mozhui of Yamparosa Village was discharged from national service for drug abuse and willful disobedience of government order. Sgt. Maj. Chumben Kithan of Sanis Village was involved in extortion. He exploited the GPRN’s name to fill up his pocket. He extorted Rs.2 lakh of NREGS without the knowledge and authorization of GPRN. Myinthungo Humtsoe Pajou Peyu of Yonchucho Village and Pte. Tsulanthung Kikon of Sanis Village has turned themselves as misguided elements.
These sorts of elements in the organization with anti-social character will never contribute towards the process of reconciliation and unity. If K-groups Kilonser RM Lotha can reform these tainted national workers, well and good. The Nagas shall remain grateful to him. But everything is not as made to believe by RM. Lotha.
Fear and despair stalk NC Hills Imti Longchar | EMN
DISEASES, FOOD SHORTAGE LOOM LARGE FOR THE DISPLACED IN RELIEF CAMPS
HAFLONG (NC HILLS), APR 20: North Cachar Hills in Assam is once again caught up in a disturbing conflagration of displacement with the Zeme Nagas facing the brunt of the subversive motives of the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD-J) militants.
Five Zeme Nagas hailing from Boreneu (Choto Nianglo) and Tungie Pungo villages were shot dead and three others injured in a serial killing spree by the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD)-Jewel and Dimasa National Protection Force militants in the month of February (dated-11) and March (dated 19 & 23).
In the last killings on March 23, the DHD (DNPF) militants reportedly turned up at Boreneu village and told the villagers that they were NSCN-IM activists who had come to protect them. The militants then shot dead two youth and injured another even as they were preparing food for them.
An estimated 1100 Zeme Nagas inhabiting the 120 km stretch of the Kohima-Leike road area onward to Haflong, Assam, have taken shelter in Laisong, Lodi and Mahur villages where relief camps have been set up. Another estimated 375 are said to be taking refuge in the villages of Tousem, Phoklong and Mandeu villages under Tamenglong district in Manipur.
A visit to the affected area along with a Naga Hoho team and apex Zeliangrong organisations revealed the pathetic conditions of the relief camps. Rations were found to be in short supply and health conditions, especially of the children, are in a poor state. Moreover, there is no electricity in the area and the displaced villagers are clearly living in constant fear due to lack of protection around the camps.
Cultivation of paddy, maize and vegetables is their only means of earning and livelihood, but normal life has been completely paralysed for most of the eighteen Zeme villages under the area, with womenfolk seeking shelter in the relief camps while their husbands and sons stand guard in various pockets of bunkers and gates.
Starting from the first village Heralwa after passing the Zero Point-Ngam junction of the Nagaland, Assam and Manipur border, most of the villages could be seen reinforced with spiked bamboo barricades, gates and bunkers put up by the villagers themselves.
With regard to government action, besides an isolated visit from the administration to the relief camps with around 50 bags of rice, there has reportedly been no other measures ever since. As for protection, the DC is stated to have told the Naga Hoho delegates that no security has been deputed to the area because of lack of manpower due to election duties.
While most of the men appear to have resigned themselves to their new profession – that of guard their villages and families, they voiced deep worry due to inadequate weapons with only muzzle-loading arms and some shotguns to defend themselves. “If we must fight to protect ourselves and our soil, we need proper arms and ammunitions and also training,” a youth said while asserting that there are already around 70 volunteers waiting to take a stand against the militants.
Zeme Naga leaders and apex organisations on Sunday announced that there is now no question of compromise between the Dimasas and Zeme Nagas in the NC Hills after the recent killings.
The problem of the present misunderstanding originated from the proposal of the Autonomous Council of NC Hills to alter the nomenclature of the district to ‘Dima Hasao Rahi’ meaning ‘Dimasa’s Kingdom’, Zeme leaders stated.
The DHD militants are also stated to have made a three-charter demand that 80% government jobs should be reserved for the Dimasas, all lands be transferred to their ownership and Inner Line Permit (ILP) to be obtained by the rest of the indigenous tribes (non Dimasa tribes).
This proposal was strongly opposed by the Zeme Nagas and supported by non-Dimasa sister tribes such as the Khasis, Hmars and the Kukis through the formation of the Indigenous People Forum (IPF),’ I Zeme, senior leader and former Tatar said.
A Zeme leader also alleged that the NSCN-K cadres were staying with the DHD militants in the area.
According to latest reports from sources, DHD-J militants are stated to be sheltering at Intanki Reserve Forest while the newly formed DHD (Dimama National Protection Force) led by one James is said to be holed up in Jiribam, Assam-Manipur border.
The ratio of population in NC Hills is Dimasas - 37 percent and non-Dimasas - 53 percent.
Naga Hoho assures solidarity with Zeme community Reporter EMN
HAFLONG, APR 20: In a gesture to show solidarity with the suffering Naga brethren in the backdrop of communal flare up resulting in the loss of lives and properties, the Naga Hoho team led by its Speaker HK Zhimomi, Deputy Speaker N Hurui and Information Secretary C Daipoi visited North Cachar Hills and visited members of the aggrieved community.
It may be noted here that five Zeme Nagas were killed and three others injured reportedly by the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD-J & DNPF) militants during the month of February and March.
The Hoho team was also accompanied by the president of the Zeliangrong Baudi Akhang Kamai, Vive President Raitu Elu and Speaker D Abraham along with other members of the Zeliangrong organizations. Relief materials in the form of medicines, clothes and cash were presented by the visiting team to the displaced villagers.
The team first made a stop at one of the relief camp at Laisong village and proceeded towards Haflong where a meeting with the leaders of Zeme apex bodies namely Zeme Council (Assam), Zeliangrong Baudi (Assam) and Zeme Pui Baudi (Assam) were held.
In a series of meeting with the aggrieved members, Naga Hoho speaker assured the Zeme Nagas that all the Nagas are behind them who also said that the sacrifice made today is for the future. ‘You are not taking trouble for your daily bread alone but for all Nagas,’ Zhimomi said while adding that the sacrifice made today is for the future generation.
A written statement detailing the history, situation and the sequence of events of the killings was handed over to the visiting Naga Hoho delegation by the Zeme leaders.
I Zeme, senior leader and former Tatar, informed that the present misunderstanding between the Dimasa and the Zeme communities had originated from the proposal of the Autonomous Council of NC Hills for altering the nomenclature of the district which was strongly opposed by the Zeme Nagas.
The Zeme leaders also requested that a person from the NC Hills area be appointed as Executive member of the Naga Hoho.
Later, the team sought appointment with the DC of NC Hills and deliberated on the conflict at hand and requested for assistance and protection to the Naga villages inhabiting in the area.
Mentioned may also be made here that as a consequence of the fall out, people of Zeme community in thousands had fled their villages and have sought shelter in neighbouring Manipur and Nagaland states. Some were reported taken shelter with their relatives in nearby villages in NC Hills.
North East: "Paradise unxplored" or insurgency brewing ET Bureau Economic Times
"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction" -- John F. Kennedy
Three people died on average everyday in the Indian states of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur in 2008. First quarter 2009 already threatens to challenge the 2008 figure. Wreckage, devastation, black thick smoke crowning the fires that burn below, mangled and charred dead bodies, scores of limbless injured dripping blood and hundreds of weeping relatives, their faces stark with terror that stems from the fear insurgency has injected into them!
That is the North East today, a cluster of seven states of this republic, which the tourism ministry in all its wisdom and nonchalence still prefers to brand "Paradise Unexplored" !
Welcome to one of the greatest ironies of Free India, 62 years after Independence as the country conducts its 16th Lok Sabha Elections ! Call it the world’s greatest political circus or whatever you will, it is thumbs down in this far-flung corner of India, where poverty rules, development is fairly insignificant in modern-day terms and the earth is soaked red in the blood of people who die on it every day. The only silver lining is Tripura, where militancy has declined, while Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mizoram are relatively peaceful in so far as insurgency goes. But then, the north eastern sky has always been dark for decades and even if shifting clouds do make away for a spot of silver now and then, you never actually know whether it will last.
In Assam, Nagaland and Manipur there are over 50 insurgency outfits, of which 34 are in Manipur alone. In 2007, Manipur had recorded 388 deaths, caused by militancy, a figure that rose to 484 in 2008. The killed were of all kinds: security forces, civilians and militants too. But what’s interesting is, if you average it all. In 2007, therefore Manipur on average, accounted for 1.06 insurgency-related deaths a day, while in 2008, it was 1.32 deaths a day ! Year-on-year therefore, Manipur’s degree of devastation rose by 24.74%, which is something that those who canvass for votes every election season should perhaps chew on. Overall, Manipur accounted for 47% of the total number of militant murders of the North East.
In 2008, Assam accounted for 384 such causalities and Nagaland 201. Along with Manipur, the three states together lost 1069 lives in calendar 2008, or at the rate of three lives a day. In the last 8 years there were 605 bomb blasts in Assam alone, while in the last three and half months of 2009, more than 20 incidents involving IEDs and grenades have taken place in the state.
During this period 49 civilians and 35 militants have got killed, while 307 from different militant outfits have been arrested while 130 have surrendered. Police claim that in last three months 79 incidents of bomb blasts were prevented and 376 kg of explosives seized in different places of Assam. Still, violence goes on unabated.
In the last 13 years, 3,754 people officially got killed in different insurgent related activities in Assam. During 1996 to 2001, a total of 2,644 cases of violence had taken place, that is at an yearly average of 528. In the period also, 400 security personnel were killed with a yearly average of 80, while 1,536 civilians lost their lives at an average of 307 ! In the period 2001 to 2009, 3,405 incidents of violence had taken place in which 226 security personnel got killed at an average of 28 per year, while 1,592 civilians lost their lives too at the rate of nearly 200 people annually.
When civilians or security personnel are not the target, the militants go about killing each other in what might be called a unique example of selective hysteria about blood. Consider Nagaland and the frequent clashes between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-IM (NSCN-IM) and National Socialist Council of Nagalim-K (NSCN-K). Atleast 13 cadres of the fledgling National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Unification) got butchered at Seithekima-C village, 15 km off Dimapur in May last year and this wasn’t the only instance of its kind.
In Manipur, extortionists have forced many an estalishment to close down. Every institution is open to extortion including places of worship, educational institutes, health centres, commercial establishments et al. Kanan Devi Memorial School at Pangei in the Imphal East District was closed for an indefinite period. Extortion demands forced the closure of two Government colleges in Imphal. Two private hospitals were closed down due to extortion demands. Several doctors at the state’s premier healthcare establishment, the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) have fled.
In all three states, common ordinary people are afraid to venture out of their homes. Even the home is not safe because you never know when the militants strike. The deadly blast at Maligaon in Guwahati city on April 6 have left an entire group of students of a local primary school, funded by the Prime Minister’s MP fund, so traumatised that they have not been able to attend classes since. In the troubled North East, they have actually started believing "Ignorance is Bliss" if the cost of education has to be paid with the life of a child. In Assam, everybody tells everybody else at home "Avoid crowded places", because that’s exactly where the last 20 serial blasts have happened.
Indian business students snap up copies of Mein Kampf The Telegraph UK Monty Munford in New Delhi
Sales of Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler's autobiography and apologia for his anti-semitism, are soaring in India where business students regard the dictator as a management guru.
Some Indian management students regard Adolf Hitler as a business strategy role model Photo: PA
Booksellers told The Daily Telegraph that while it is regarded in most countries as a 'Nazi Bible', in India it is considered a management guide in the mould of Spencer Johnson's "Who Moved My Cheese".
Sales of the book over the last six months topped 10,000 in New Delhi alone, according to leading stores, who said it appeared to be becoming more popular with every year.
Several said the surge in sales was due to demand from students who see it as a self-improvement and management strategy guide for aspiring business leaders, and who were happy to cite it as an inspiration. "Students are increasingly coming in asking for it and we're happy to sell it to them," said Sohin Lakhani, owner of Mumbai-based Embassy books who reprints Mein Kampf every quarter and shrugs off any moral issues in publishing the book. "They see it as a kind of success story where one man can have a vision, work out a plan on how to implement it and then successfully complete it".
Jaico Publishing House, one of the publishers in India, said it reprints a new edition of the book at least twice a year to meet growing demand. "We were the first company to publish the book in India and there are now six other Indian publishers of the book, although we were first to take a chance on it," said Jaico's chief editor, R H Sharma, who dismissed any moral issues in publishing Mein Kampf.
"The initial print run of 2,000 copies in 2003 sold out immediately and we knew we had a best-seller on our hands. Since then the numbers have increased every year to around 15,000 copies until last year when we sold 10,000 copies over a six-month period in our Delhi shops," he added. Senior academics cite the mutual influence of India and Hitler's Nazis on one another. Mahatma Gandhi corresponded with the Fuhrer, pro-Independence leader Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army allied with Hitler's Germany and Japan during the Second World War, and the Nazis drew on Hindu symbolism for their Swastika motif and ideas of Aryan supremacy.
Dr J Kuruvachira, Professor of Philosophy of Salesian College in Nagaland and who has cited Mein Kampf as a source of inspiration to the Hindu nationalist BJP, said he believed the book's popularity was due to political reasons. "While it could be the case that management students are buying the book, my feeling is that it has more likely influenced some of the fascist organisations operating in India and nearby," he said.
India is not the only country where Mein Kampf is popular. It has been a best-seller in Croatia since it was first published in while in turkey it sold 100,000 in just two months in 2005. In Russia it has been reprinted three times since the de facto ban on the book was overturned in 1992. In Germany the book's copyright is held by the state of Bavaria where its publication is banned until 2015, 70 years after Hitler's death.
In India, any book more than 25 years old is free of copyright, which has paved the way for six separate publishers to print the book.
PM call to bridge regional divide A STAFF REPORTER The telegraph
Guwahati, April 19: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today sought to resolve the insurgency problem of the Northeast by bridging the regional imbalance.
Addressing the media at Amingaon here, Singh said if the Congress was voted back to power, the party would give more attention to bridge the imbalance between the region and the rest of the country by equal distribution of wealth.
The region needed a growth rate of nine to 10 per cent to bridge the gap and tackle poverty, Singh said. Backwardness and underdevelopment are perceived to be behind insurgency in the region. Singh said he along with his wife Gursharan Kaur would vote in the forthcoming elections in Guwahati.
He could not cast his vote during the 2006 Assembly elections. The insurgent activities were matter of concern for the Centre as well as the Assam government and needed to be tackled with more determination, Singh said. According to him, the Congress’s poll prospect will not be dented by the incidents of violence as the people know only the Congress is determined to solve the problem.
Addressing a rally at Amingaon, Singh appealed to the militant groups to come forward for talks, saying that the government was always ready to hold dialogues with them provided they abjure the path of violence.
He also welcomed the move by the pro-talks Ulfa leaders to shun violence. “One cannot do any good for the poor or the downtrodden through the barrel of the gun,” he said.
Earlier, while dwelling on flood and erosion in the state at the news conference, Singh told journalists that whatever promises his government had made to mitigate the perennial problems would be pursued with renewed vigour if the Congress was voted back to power. “Already some steps have been taken to solve the problems of flood and erosion in Majuli and other parts of the state. Seventy-five projects are being implemented to solve the problem, but I do recognise these are not enough.”
Singh said his earlier proposal of setting up a North East Water Resources Management Agency could not materialise because of a lack of unanimity among all the northeastern states on the issue. A renewed attempt should be made to set up the agency, he said adding that the twin problems of floods and erosion were perceived as national problems.
On the emergence of the AUDF, Singh said: “It will only divide secular votes and to an extent play a disruptive role. Communalism is a serious threat to the unity and integrity of the country.”
“I, therefore, appeal to all those who believe in secular values to unite and vote for the Congress.” He exuded confidence that the Congress would fare well in the elections and said that the Congress-led UPA would again form the government at the Centre.
Abduction bid foiled, 5 ultras shot Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, April 20 – Army today claimed to have foiled a high-profile abduction bid after it, acting on a tip-off, launched an operation against a group of NDFB and MULTA militants, killing all of them during the course of a fierce exchange of fire, which lasted for almost four hours in Akabasti area under Sonitpur district last night. Of the five militants who were killed during the Army operation, three of them belonged to the NDFB, while the other two represented MULTA.
“The team of five militants were planning to abduct Parash Gurung, a local transporter from Lokhra area, situated couple of kilometres from Balipara,” said Lt Colonel Rajesh Kalia, public relation officer of Army’s 4 Corps Headquarters while talking to The Assam Tribune.
The army, according to Kalia, launched the operation after it received a late night intelligence input about the movement of the militants in the area.
“The army after confirming the presence of the militants cordoned off the area where they were taking refuge. Soon, the militants resorted to indiscriminate firing after which security forces retaliated,” Kalia divulged.
“The operation, which started around 9:30 last night continued till 1 in the morning,” he said. The three NDFB militants were later identified as Prabhat Basumatary, Krishna Basumatary and Daithang Basumatary, of which Prabhat is said to be the mastermind of April 6 Dhekiajuli blast. Babul Ali and Younis Ali were the killed MULTA militants. Army also recovered five 9mm pistols, a Chinese grenade, five kilograms of explosives, 10 detonators and 107 rounds of live ammunitions of AK series rifles.
10 truckloads of arms for ULFA seized Assam Tribune
DHAKA, April 20 – A top Bangladeshi intelligence official has been arrested in connection with the sensational seizures of 10 truckloads of weapons, believed to be destined for ULFA militants in Assam, reports PTI. National Security Intelligence field officer Akbar Hossain Khan was arrested as investigators found clues of his involvement in the arms haul, a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) official told PTI. The weapons were suspected to be bound for ULFA hideouts in northeastern India.
“Khan is now being interrogated after he was remanded in custody for two days under a court order following his arrest,” the official said.
The 10 truckloads of weapons, which included over 27,000 grenades, 150 rocket launchers, over 11 lakh ammunition and 1,100 sub-machine guns, were seized after the arms were unloaded at a government jetty on April 2004.
Investigators earlier said one Hafizur Rahman organised the unloading of the weapons from a ship to two fishing vessels in the sea and then loaded them in 10 trucks after their landing at a state-run fertiliser factory in Chittagong on instructions of ULFA leader Paresh Barua.
They had earlier questioned 26 Navy officials, who were serving at that time in Coast Guard. The officials could be called for further interrogation.
The arrest came weeks after the investigations indicated involvement of political bigwigs in the weapon haul, giving a new twist to the case.
Officials said Hossain had reportedly hired the 10 trucks under the fake name of National Security Intelligence (NSI) field officer ‘Abul Hossain’ to carry the weapons.
Officials said there was a deliberate attempt on the part of the then administration under former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party to suppress facts in the case to weaken it. “We have got the leads from confessional statements (of the suspects) that the weapon consignment was meant for ULFA,” public prosecutor Kamal Uddin last month told reporters after two businessmen and major suspects in the case — reportedly engaged by ULFA for transporting the weapons to India — gave confessional statement before a court.
The Prothom Alo newspaper earlier said that their own investigation had found that the ULFA had planned to smuggle the weapons using the Bangladesh territory. The paper also named a lawmaker who is now hiding abroad to evade the murder charge of a television model.
Bodo Peace Forum to support BJP in Mangaldai Correspondent Assam tribune
KALAIGAON, April 20 – Bodo People’s Forum for Peace and Rights has suddenly declared their support to BJP candidate Ramen Deka in No. 8 Mangaldai HPC. The support will be significant as Bodo Peace Forum has been known as the consulting body of NDFB.
At an urgently called press meet at Kalaigaon AGP-BJP election office on Sunday, Srimal Eaglari, president of Kabirali Anchalik committee and Bhabi Ram Kachari, president of Kalaigaon Anchalik committee of Bodo Peace Forum, told media persons that, following the decision taken by their high command, Bodo Peoples Forum for Peace and Rights had declared their conditional support to BJP candidate Ramen Deka in Mangaldai HPC.
Both of them alleged that NDFB cadres, staying in the designated camps, had been unhappy at the peace process with the Government of India. According to them, the Government of India has totally failed to solve the Bodo problems. Niranjan Singh, president of Udalguri district BJP, formally welcomed the Bodo Peace Forum officials at the press meet.
AGP leaders Dhaneswar Deka, secretary, Kalaigoan LAC election committee and Dhruba Saikia also attended the press meet. Replying to a question, Bhabi Ram Kachari said that the decision to support BJP in Mangaldai HPC was taken after consultation with NDFB leaders. He also said that they would arrange at least 1.5 lakh more votes in favour of Ramen Deka of BJP in Mangaldai HPC. Niranjan Singh claimed that with open support of NDFB, BJP would secure at least 5 lakh votes, enough to make Ramen Deka the winner. But the Bodo leaders failed to give reasons for their supporting Congress candidate, Mani Kumar Subba in Tezpur HPC.
Violence refuses to die down Three NDFB, 2 MULTA militants gunned down Sentinel
TEZPUR, April 20: Five militants — three from NDFB and two from MULTA — were killed in a gunbattle with a joint team of the Army and Assam Police at Akabasti in the Khonamukh area under Charduar police station in Sonitpur district in the wee hours today. A large quantity of weapons and explosives were recovered from the militants.
The gunbattle began at midnight on Sunday and it continued for about three hours. According to sources, acting on a tip-off that a group of NDFB and MULTA militants were camping in a house in the village with a specific mission to exchange arms and kidnap a businessman for ransom, the Army and police cordoned off the area. When security personnel was zeroing in on the house, the militants fired at them from inside. The security forces retaliated the firing and the encounter continued for three hours during which five militants were shot dead, while others fled taking the cover of darkness, sources said.
Five kilograms of explosives, 10 detonators, 141 live cartridges of AK-47 Rifles and one Chinese grenade were recovered from the dead militants who have been identified as NDFB cadres Prabhat Basumatary, Krishna Basumatary and Deithang Basumatary, and MULTA cadres Babul Ali and Yunus Ali.
