Centre directs Assam to draw up action plan on security

The Centre has asked the Assam government to chalk out a comprehensive security plan to prevent violence during the ensuing Lok Sabha election.

The Centre has directed the Assam government to draw up an action plan to ensure that militant attacks do not take place in Guwahati city, the two troubled hill districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar and other vulnerable areas of the state, official sources said in Guwahati on Friday.

The directive came after a high-level meeting held in Guwahati recently which was chaired by Union Cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekar and attended by top officers of the army, police and para military forces, they said.

The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation in the state in the aftermath of the serial blasts in Guwahati, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, sources said.

The meeting assessed the security force requirement in the North Eastern states to ensure violence free and fair election, they said.

The army and the state police gave separate presentations before the Central team with the police particularly pointing out the ULFA hand behind the blasts in collaboration with Pakistan’s ISI.

The police apprised the meeting that National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) members are on ceasefire and staying in designated camps but there is an anti-talk faction of the outfit, which is out to create trouble in the disturbed Kokrajhar district of the state.

The Central official revealed that more companies of para military forces will be sent to Assam particularly in view of the government’s request for more reinforcement during poll.

At present, 140 companies are engaged in counter insurgency operations and with the Centre agreeing to deploy additional force taking the total number of company’s deployment near to 200, sources said.

Although the army, which is currently deployed for counter insurgency operations in the state, will not be engaged in poll duty but kept as a stand by.

Rebel link slur on Opposition

Tarun Gogoi at the news conference on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, April 10 : Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that some Opposition parties were hand-in-glove with the secessionist and proscribed Ulfa.

Leaders of the A and C companies of Ulfa’s 28 battalion had recently stated that the outfit had helped parties during successive elections, thus lending credibility to popular perceptions about a militant-politician nexus.

All major political parties, in a rare show of unanimity, had, however, denied the assertion. The leaders had not named the parties the outfit had helped.

Addressing a news conference at Rajiv Bhawan here this evening, Gogoi said his charge was based on available reports. He also did not name the parties allegedly having a nexus with Ulfa saying: “We have reports and are verifying them.”

“There are reports about Ulfa creating problems during the polls with help of some political forces. I won’t name the parties as we are trying to verify the reports. You can also assess for yourself as to who is supporting Ulfa and who is soft on Ulfa, which is a pawn in the hands of foreign powers.” Gogoi said. The happenings in Pakistan and Bangladesh were a warning to all of us to remain vigilant, he added.

Dismissing the demands of the AGP-BJP that Gogoi should resign, he said the performance of his government was better than that of the AGP-led governments. Gogoi also reminded everybody present that the Congress won the panchayat elections that followed the Beltola incident on November 24, 2007. He took a dig at the BJP’s Bijoya Chakravarty for joining hands with “secret killers” (meaning the AGP) with which the BJP has an electoral tie-up.

The other parties were swift to react. AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharjee said, “Coming from a responsible person such as the chief minister, the allegation only reflects the government’s inability to tackle the situation. One fails to understand why he had to go public before verifying the facts. This only reflects his irresponsible nature. We have always condemned violence. How does it help if we take the name of Ulfa? Will these incidents not happen then? Will innocent people stop dying?”

The BJP went a step further with its spokesman Charan Deka accusing the Congress of having a nexus not only with some militant groups of some northeastern states but also of Pakistan.

“The Congress is encouraging extremist groups of Pakistan and also anti-Assam activities of Muslim fundamentalists. Gogoi is levelling this allegation only to cover up the guilt of his own party. Therefore, Gogoi should stop levelling such baseless allegations,” Deka said. 

As proof of better governance, Gogoi cited figures about the number of incidents, security personnel and civilians killed in the five years of the AGP regime between 1996 and 2001 and the Congress-led government from 2001 to 2009. “Things have improved under us. From an annual average of 528 incidents, death of 80 security personnel and 307 civilians during the AGP-led government, the average during our tenure has come down to 425 incidents, death of 28 security personnel and 199 civilians.”

Poll observers ambushed

Nagaon, April 9 : Suspected DHD (Jewel Gorlosa) militants today ambushed a convoy of central elections observers in North Cachar Hills district but nobody was injured in the attack.

Elections for the Diphu seat will be held on April 16.

The attack at Gunjung, about 45km from the district headquarters town Haflong, is the third ever since the poll process got under way with Ulfa triggering a blast close to the election venue of external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee on March 31 and a string of explosions across the state on Monday on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit.

Sources said Ulfa was likely to step up its disruptive activities targeting the elections in the coming days.

The observer, Arun Chanda Singh, an IAS officer from Bihar, was travelling to Umranghsu when his convoy was ambushed. Security personnel escorting him fired back. The encounter lasted for nearly 15 minutes after which the militants fled.

Police said the official was in a bulletproof car and accompanied by inspector of schools, Phanindra Jidung. There are three observers for the Diphu seat which covers North Cachar Hills and adjoining Karbi Anglong district where another militant outfit, the Karbi Longri North Cachar Liberation Front (KLNLF), has imposed a 36-hour bandh.

“The militants attacked the fifth vehicle while Singh was in the second. Security forces retaliated as soon as the rebels started firing from sophisticated weapons,” a police source said. An IED planted at the site was later recovered by the team after the militants left the spot. A high-level team of NC Hills administration, led by deputy commissioner S. Jagannathan, superintendent of police Mridulananda Sarma and officials of the Assam Rifles reached the spot just after the incident.

The observer cancelled his scheduled visit and returned to the district headquarters. “Investigation is on to find out which group was involved in the attack,” Jagannathan said.

This is the second strike in the constituency since last night. Around 9.30pm, suspected KLNLF rebels attacked a police patrol jeep in which a constable was seriously injured. 

According to Diphu police, militants targeted the Maruti Gypsy at Tissomgaon under Manja police station. The rebels exploded an IED on the road and then fired on the vehicle from sophisticated weapons. These incidents occurred just two days after a high-level meeting of Karbi Anglong police in which DGP G.M. Srivastava took part to review the law and order scenario.

Srivastava said in Guwahati today that parking of vehicles within a 50-metre radius of election offices of political parties has been banned across the state, indicating that the police were not taking any chances in view of increased militant activities in the run-up the elections.

‘Why are we the targets?’

Last straw, cry residents

Relatives of blast victims break down at the GMCH on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections Guwahati, April 7 : Residents of Maligaon gave vent to their anger this afternoon following the powerful blast that left seven dead and several injured in the busy area today. Police, fire-tenders and even mediapersons bore the brunt of the wrath of the people over the spate of bomb blasts in the city in recent times. A few photographers, police and fire brigade personnel sustained minor injuries as bottles and stones rained on them in a throwback to the scenes at Ganeshguri after the October 30 blast in the busy commercial area. Police had to resort to a mild lathicharge to restore order amid chants of “government murdabad”. The people lambasted the government for failing to provide security, which had resulted in militants carrying out blasts as per their whims. The anger among the residents erupted after the initial phase of shock and anguish, brought about by scenes of bodies strewn around on the road, wounded victims lying in pools of blood, gasping for breath and mangled frames of charred bikes, giving the place a war-ravaged look. Much of the public ire was directed towards the government and the police for their alleged failure to protect the lives and properties of the citizens. “How long can we remain quiet with people getting killed and maimed on a regular basis? Look at our vulnerability, the bomb was planted within near Jalukbari police station,” Sanjib Das, a local resident, said. “Enough is enough. We want the government to firmly deal with these blood-thirsty demons,” he added, before joining the group that was shouting slogans against the government and local legislator and health and family welfare minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma. “Guwahati has become like any of the Pakistani towns and cities where blasts have become commonplace, killing and maiming people at regular intervals,” said Anup Saha.  Today’s was the second blast in the city within the span of a week. On March 31, a blast was triggered at Jyotikuchi.  “The magnitude of the blast at Maligaon was much bigger. The scale and pattern of the blast brought back horrific memories of the serial blasts that rocked the city on October 30,” said Ratul Chakroborty, a local trader.  “For some strange reason, the terrorists apparently have developed some grudge against the Maligaon area, he claimed, pointing out that the cosmopolitan locality was targeted more than once. “It is strange that despite being a militant target, there is hardly any visible presence of security personnel in the locality despite the fact that the NF Railway headquarters and several other important offices are located here,” Chakroborty said. Why are we targeted again and again? What did we do to deserve this? Why is the government not able to do anything to prevent the carnage? These were some questions Chakroborty sought answers to, even as he checked on his family and friends, calling them on his cell phone.  “Thankfully, they are all well… but for how long?” he mumbled.

Campaign to control TB

Guwahati, April 7 : The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, the permanent association of the Catholic Bishops of India, has come forward to spread awareness regarding tuberculosis in the remote areas of the Northeat.

District tuberculosis officer (Kamrup), Monty Hazarika, said the CBCI was operating under the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) here to spread awareness against the disease.

“The CBCI was selected keeping in mind the large network of churches and missionary schools under it,” she said, adding that the awareness campaign against the disease was expected to receive a much-needed booster with the tie-up.

“There is no healthcare infrastructure in many villages. However, the churches have reached those areas years ago. We can spread awareness against tuberculosis in those places through the tie-up with CBCI,” she added.

“Under this agreement, we have trained members of the Catholic body on how to administer DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment-Short) course to patients. They will administer the drugs to patients in their locality,” said Hazarika.

“There are several churches under the CBCI and this will help us to administer the DOTS course to the patients as it is not possible for the district officers to visit the remote areas every now and then,” she added.

“We have written to the Assam government to set up sputum collection centres in consultation with the CBCI at selected locations. This would help poor patients in remote villages who cannot come to the existing sputum collection centres,” she said.

Assam on maximum alert, toll in blasts rises to 10

Guwahati, April 7 A maximum security alert was sounded in Assam Tuesday, a day after a series of explosions rocked the state ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s arrival here for poll campaigning. The toll in the blasts rose to 10 with two of the 61 injured succumbing to their injuries.

A woman injured in the explosion here and a youth injured in the Dhekijuli blast died Tuesday morning, police said.

The prime minister arrives in the eastern tea growing town of Dibrugarh Monday afternoon to campaign for the Congress party.

“Security forces have been put on a state of high alert to prevent any further rebel attacks. Police, army and paramilitary troopers have been deployed in strength across the state,” Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS.

Security forces have launched a massive hunt to nab the bombers. The government has blamed the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for Monday’s four explosions and two grenade attacks.

“The ULFA is behind the attacks and I would say such senseless killings of innocent civilians would achieve nothing. We all should stand up against such barbaric terror attacks. I have asked the security agencies to make sure the bombers are captured,” the chief minister said.

A powerful explosion rocked Guwahati’s busy Maligaon area Monday, while another explosion shook Dhekiajuli town in northern Sonitpur district, about 150 km from here.

The third explosion took place in eastern Karbi Anglong district injuring two people, while another grenade attack in northern Udalguri district had no casualties.

There was another grenade attack at a police station late Monday in Mancachar in western Dhurbi district in which one policeman was killed and two injured.

Assam Lok Sabha Election, ADSSCP takes out rally in favour of Rani

MAJULI, April 3 : The All Deori Shwayatta Shasita Congress Parishad (ADSSCP) today took out an election rally in favour of Lalhimpur LS Congress candidate Rani Narah to help her win the elections. The rally was taken out from Rani’s residence where the ADSSCP members assembled and later took the rally through Dhakuakhana, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Naoboichia, Sadiya, Doomdooma and Chabua. This was stated in a press release.

AUDF promises help to AGP-BJP candidate

BARPETA, April 3 : With Congress being kept aside, AUDF candidate has declared his willingness to help AGP and BJP alliance candidate Bhupen Roy at no 6 Barpeta Loksabha constituency this time. Roy, while addressing a press meet said that there is a wrong idea among the minoity people that if the AGP-BJP come to rule, the minority people may be harassed, which is totally a fake rumour of the Congress to mis guide the minority.

Bhupen Roy again said that his foremost duty is to solve the burning problems of the Barpeta constituency such as unemployment, flood, erosion, and other burning problems of the area. Rehabilitation of the victims of communal clash in Kokrajhar and Udalguri district will be the important topic after his victory as an MP in this Lok Sabha polls.

In this press meet, BJP Kisan Marcha president Ranjit Das said that Congress’ influence is about to disappear because of their exploitation. Their false assurances made the people enraged and for that very reason this term congress will be defeated, he confirmed.

HC rejects MLAs’s bail petition

Guwahati, Apr 3 : The Gauhati High Court today rejected the bail petition of Assam MLAs - Kushal Duowri and Jiten Gogoi - who were accused of vandalising the Kaziranga National Park.

The MLAs were absconding for the past fortnight, sources said adding they moved to the High Court in a bid to procure anticipatory bail but Justice I Ansari rejected the petition.

Both the MLAs, formerly militants, were accused of vandalising the world famous Kaziranga National Park and attacking the rangers for preventing them from fishing inside the park.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi informed that police would use special task force(STF) to nab the offending MLAs.

”They are hiding. They will be caught eventually. We will not spare them,” he said.
Both the MLAs are Independent and supporting the Congress.

Court frames charges against former union ministers

New Delhi, April 3 A city court Thursday framed charges against former union ministers Sheila Kaul and P.K. Thungan in three separate cases, paving the way for their trial for alleged out-of-turn allotment of shops in the capital in 1990.

Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge S.P. Garg ordered the prosecution of Kaul, who had held the urban development portfolio as a cabinet minister, and others for various offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to criminal conspiracy, misappropriation of funds and abuse of official position.

The court would start recording evidence in the cases from June 1.

It also charged Thungan, former union minister of state for urban development, in two cases along with Kaul for similar offences.

In one case, Kaul and her deputy Thungan had sanctioned 42 shops and stalls through her order of June 7, 1995, allegedly in contravention of the procedure of the Directorate of Estate regarding licences in respect of markets in the posh locality of Lodhi Road and other places, said CBI counsel Naveen Kumar Matta.

Besides the former ministers, 37 other accused include Vivek Kaul, maternal grandson of Kaul, who was charged with forgery, and then senior officials N.L. Sharma and Shruti Lal Yadav.

Kaziranga guards injured

Guwahati, April 2 : Attacks by animals on forest guards at Kaziranga National Park since last night have left two injured.

The director of the park, S.N. Buragohain, said Bijoy Chetri, a forest guard was seriously injured when he was attacked by a rhino inside the Bagori range last night.

The nature of injury of Bir Bahadur Chetri, the other guard who was attacked by a herd of buffaloes this morning in the Kohora range, however, was not serious, he said.

“Bijoy has been shifted to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital,” Buragohain said. The increase in animal population inside the park could be the reason behind the attacks, he said.

A forest guard was killed and five others were injured in recent attacks by animals. A rhino was also shot dead by the forest guards.

Seven killed in road mishaps

- 11 schoolchildren injured in Kokrajhar accident

The remains of the bus after it collided with a truck at Dergaon in Golaghat on Wednesday morning. A Telegraph picture Kokrajhar/Dergaon, April 2 : Seven persons were killed and over 50 injured in three separate road mishaps in Kokrajhar and Golaghat districts since last night. Four persons died on the spot and 44 others, including 11 schoolchildren, were injured when a bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a ditch at Narabari, 4km from Kokrajhar town, around 2.30pm. The bus was travelling from Kokrajhar to Bilisipara in Dhubri when the accident took place. “We were near a bridge when the bus skidded off the road while making way for a truck coming from the opposite direction,” Nirmala Brahma, one of the injured, said. “All on a sudden the bus rolled down turning twice,” Birsa Mondol, another injured passenger, said. The injured were being treated at Kokrajhar Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital. Fifteen passengers were admitted to the hospital while the rest were released after being administered first aid. The dead have been identified as Jaynal Sheikh, Kalachand Sheikh, Gazi Rehman and Md Raizal Ali — all in the age group between 35 and 40 and residents of Dhubri district. Kokjrajhar deputy commissioner Carol Narzary and BTC member Dhaneswar Goyary rushed to the hospital. Two persons died and 15 sustained serious injuries when a bus collided with a truck in the wee hours today at Dergaon in Golaghat district. According to police, the mishap occurred on National Highway 37 near the ASTC Dergaon station under Dergaon police station around 5.45am. The police said a Jorhat-bound night bus coming from Guwahati (AS-01-B-C-0331) and a coal-laden Guwahati-bound truck (AS-23-G-2544) collided head on. Abdul Ali, 35, the bus driver and the driver of the truck Satish Singh, 45, died on the spot. Of those injured, the condition of Ami Konwer, 35, of Sivasagar, Shekh Saidul, 40, of Calcutta and Subhash Dutta, 41, is stated to be critical and they were shifted to Jorhat civil hospital. Anil Rajkhowa, 46, a businessman of Dergaon, was run over by a speeding vehicle around 8pm last night at the same spot.

Mob beat up cops for ‘dilly-dallying’

Guwahati, Apr 1: A mob today beat up two policemen, including a sub-inspector, for allegedly responding late to a call by residents over a body found in the Jyotinagar area of the city.

Residents of the area complained that the body of Charu Charan Das, an employee of the Maligaon branch of the Assam State Electricity Board, was detected in a drain early in the morning and they had accordingly informed Chandmari police station. However, the police team turned up at the site after almost three hours.

“Some residents noticed the body lying in a pool of blood in a drain after offering namaz at the Jyotinagar mosque around 5.45am. We immediately called the police control room by dialling 100. The police control room, however, did not respond,” Farooq Ali, an eyewitness and a resident of the area, said.

“Then we informed Chandmari police station around 6am. But the first police party reached the spot around 8.45am. The police personnel were, however, not prompt in their action. Suddenly there was rain, which eventually swept away the body. Several residents who were waiting near the body then became very angry and created a scene,” Ali said.

Pitambar Choudhury, another resident alleged that despite repeated public requests to lift the body and send it for post mortem, the police handled the case casually. He said the police should have handled the case sensitively.

Additional superintendent of police (city) Debojit Deuri said it was an unfortunate that the sub-inspector of Chandmari police station, S.C. Suklabaidya and constable Uday Deka were assaulted by the mob while discharging their duties.

He refuted the allegation that the police were not prompt in their action and said the legal process before taking away a body takes time.

“First the police need to take a photograph of the body for records. The SI of Chandmari police station was looking for a photographer. There were some spots of blood at the recovery site and the police were trying to encircle the spots for investigation. The police party even took a sweeper to recover the body. Suddenly there was rainfall for which police cannot be blamed. The residents should have co-operated with the police,” Deuri said.

He said a case has been registered.

According to the dead man’s neighbours, Deka left home around 9am on Monday and did not return throughout the night.

“He was a gentleman and lived happily with his wife Kanaklata Das and two sons,” Basanta Rai, a neighbour, said.

“It is suspected Das was murdered by some goons late Monday night at Jyotinagar. There were spots of blood at the site where the body was recovered,” a resident said.