Barak News

Mimicry on terrorism
Special Correspondent
Silchar, Dec 5: To surrender to terrorism is another name of cowardice. The cult of violence seems to engulf the world and India seems to be worst hit by it. In order to convey the message about terrorism and its manifestation, a group of youngsters joined together to create the mime through their physical gestures and facial expressions.

Mausam Dutta who conceived, composed and directed the mime quoted Rabindra Nath Tagore who in one his poems rightly said : to allow terrorism to grasp and grow is self-humiliation and to be subdued by it is defeatism. One has to be courageous to stand boldly and fight against this spectre of terrorism.

He referred to Sukanta Bhattacharjee, another poet, who in one of his poetic compositions, tried to take us to the root of terrorism.

A new born baby one the earth without right direction and proper education as he grows up gets himself enmeshed into vortex of social, political and economic complications and is ultimately pushed to the alley of darkness. Once he goes astray without job, he becomes frustrated and drifts towards extremism.

Based on the poem “Chharpatra” by Bhattacharjee, the mine as presented by the group is a silent denunciation of terrorism.
Mausam Dutta said this mimicry is a humble effort to rouse people’s voice against the hydra-headed menace of terrorism in order to eliminate this evil once for all from this world.
It only calls for united efforts and stand. Choreographed by Papiya Mazumdar, it has music by Kanai Lal Das and the lighting has been planned by Bapi Sarkar and Bappa Chakraborty. This unique creative art was presented before audience at Gandhi Bhawan on Wednesday which received wide applaud. source: sentinel assam

Harmony race and cycle safari for peace
Special Correspondent
Silchar , Dec 1: BSF of Cachar-Mizoram Frontier organized a security awareness cycle safari of jawans from Karimgang to Silchar and harmony race of youngsters in the town.
Both the safari and the race terminated at District Sports Association Ground here on the occasion of the 44th raising day of the Force.

BSF officials and jawans led by IG S N Tiwari welcomed the participants of both the safari and the race.
It was unique to watch the safari jawans entering the stadium with the slogans “we are with you Indians and that the borders of the country are safe in our hands”.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest before modest assembly of BSF officers and jawans as well as people in general, Sontosh Mohan Dev, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, showered praises on BSF for its exemplary role in guarding the frontiers against heavy odds and at great risks to their lives.

He said “the jawans are alert in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, borders of China, Bangladesh and Burma”.
He described BSF as a most disciplined force which besides protecting “our borders, helps the civil administration in distress”.
Dev pointed out BSF is a mini India organization that maintains cordial relations with border people. “We feel safe because our borders are in safe hands, he said.
In the siege of Mumbai by jehadis and its liberation from their clutches, along with NSG, CRPF, Air Force and other forces, BSF too played key role, he pointed out. source: sentinel assam

NC Hills-bound detonators, gelatine sticks seized from train
From a Staff Reporter
Silchar, Nov 23: A linkman of the Black Widow was nabbed by security forces from a Lumding-bound train at a place between Ditekcherra and Bandarkhal and recovered a number of detonators and gelatine sticks from him. The man identified as Arabinda Das hails from Bihara under Katigarah. Arabinda reportedly confessed before the police that the explosive materials which he was carrying were to be supplied to the Black Widow at an undisclosed place near Mahur. Arabinda has been kept at Harengajao police station and the suitcase with the explosive materials is with the Army. Acting on a tip-off, security personnel searched a passenger train coming from Badarpur. At about 8.30 am, Arabinda Das was nabbed along with the suitcase. While Army claims that Arabinda was actually nabbed by its 8th Sikh Regiment, the police says its personnel apprehended the linkman. source: sentinel assam

Traffic arrangement for Guwahati ODI
GUWAHATI, Nov 23: Selling of tickets for the ensuing One Days International will take place on November 25 and 26 at Judges Field, Guwahati. The following places have been earmarked for parking of vehicles coming from various places of Guwahati City.
For the vehicles coming from Bharalumukh, Fancy bazar side - By the side of the Judges field (southern side) and on HB Road on Nehru park side (northern side).
For the vehicles coming from Chandmari, Ulubari side etc.- Tayabula Road (along the Dighali Pukhuri side) and on LNB Road between Helmet point to RBI point (both side).
For the vehicles coming from Uzanbazar, Baruwari, Silpukhuri side etc. - Parking on BC Road (one side) and MG Road beyond Planetarium point on wards (one side).
As the parking places would be manned by security personnel or traffic staff, it is requested to all concerned to park their vehicles in the earmarked parking places only, said Superintend of the Police (Traffic), Guwahati City today. This was stated in a press release. source: sentinel assam

Youth Gospel Olympus at Phaijol
Special Correspondent
SILCHAR, Nov 23: Besides being engaged in counter insurgency operations in the trouble-torn areas of Cachar and maintaining law and order in close coordination with the civil administration, the army has been carrying out various humanitarian works for the welfare and uplift of common people in the remote and isolated areas, deprived of basic facilities and amenities of civic life.
The 72 Field Regiment with its camp at Labac has been conducting humanitarian works under Winning Hearts and Minds of People (WHAM) project. The holding of Youth Gospel Olympus and Annual Conference in the village of Phaijol is one such recent and classic example.

The Regiment on being approached by the Evangelical Churches Association of the area gladly came forward to help them by providing generator, ration and tarpaulins for the successful conduct of the five day long camp that concluded recently.

The Regiment offered its games instructors to referee the games and ensured free and fair holding of games and sports. The tips given were useful and inspiring to the budding sportsmen. Apart from the humanitarian gesture, the army jawans have been vigilant and maintaining surveillance around Phaijol and its adjoining villages of Phaitol, Lalpani, Shehpu and Tatluong inhabited by more than 300 Kukis. Major Manish of the Regiment while addressing the villagers on the occasion of the Olympus assured them of all kinds of support and cooperation and his interest to take up such programmes in future too and maintain the cordial army-civil relations. source: sentinel assam

Liberal economy and privatization behind current economic crisis
Special Correspondent
Silchar, Nov 23: “The present looming economic crisis in the country is the culmination of wrong and misdirected policies followed by the successive governments in New Delhi since the 90’s”, observed Amitabh Nandi, eminent trade union leader and MP of West Bengal, while speaking at the memorial lecture as a homage to Dwijesh Sen, a trade union leader of this valley, organized by the United Bank of India Employees’ Union at Gandhi Bhawan today.

Consistent with the theme of the memorial lecture entitled: Mukta Arthanitir Agrasane Sramiker; Avastha O Kartabya (The duty and status of labour in the context of liberal economy), Nandi said with the fall of Soviet Union, it was predicted by the prophets of doom that capitalism would be now the order of the day. The left-thinkers described it as a temporary phase because such a system could not prolong and serve and protect the interests of working class people, the backbone of economy.

When the global economy including that of the most opulent America was hit by recession, worst than that of 1929, India, Nandi said “is yet to feel the heat” and all this, as he said, because of the stand of the Left MPs in Parliament, objecting to the abject surrender of the country to the great powers and their diktats for toeing their theory and practice of economy to encourage liberalization and globalization.

Referring to the days of Dr. Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister in 1991 and his advocacy for open economy, the country had to face influx of market goods from various countries, but “our products hardly had any substantial takers which was adversely telling on Indian economy”. The collapse of share market today was a foregone conclusion, he said. He did not see immediate threat to banking system in this country due mainly to left-oriented trade unionism.

The NDA regime which too became protagonist of liberalism and globalization had to face stiff resistance from the Left parties because it was striking hard at the very base of Indian economy and proving detrimental to the interest of working class people and the proliteriate. Amitabh Nandi reminded, Atal Behari Government had to face general strike by the employees across the country five times for its brazen and blatant economic policies.

Nandi came hard on UPA government which he said not only failed to implement the 20 point Common Minimum Programme (CMP) but put the stake of the country on auction by entering into nuclear deal with America. He dubbed it “as slavery to America and an affront on the dignity and sovereignty of the country”. Giving a grim picture of the fall out of the deal, he said bound by the agreement, India would have to send its soldiers to Afghanistan and Iran if America decided to wage war against these two countries.

The Left Front Government in West Bengal which is in power for the last 30 years has remained committed to the welfare of the working class people without giving in to the dictation of capitalists and exploiters. With its thrust on rural economy and better panchayat system, the government has created the best of climate for investment. Yet, it faced conspiracy from the advocates of capitalism and expansionism, he pointed out. He called upon the bank employees for remaining vigilant and united to hold aloft the ideals and principles of trade unionism in order to defeat the evil machination of a handful of capitalists and power mongers who “are hell bent to destroy our economy”. source: sentinel assam

Mizo poll code: A model for nation
Special Correspondent
SILCHAR, Nov 22: It has been well said by observers and analysts that Mizoram needs no guidelines of the Election Commission as it has its own model code of conduct. Two watchdogs — the newly floated Mizoram Peoples’ Front (MPF) and Young Mizo Central Association (YMCA) — have come out with their directives to all political parties and their leaders on how to maintain peace and goodwill among rivals in the fray in the run-up to the Assembly polls slated for December 2.

Adhering to the diktats of the forum that comprises all denominations of Churches and YMCA, the parties have decided not to have colourful posters, banners and door-to-door campaign. Candidates are to address meetings organized by the forum. They have to depend for campaign on SMS and local TV channels, that too with care and caution.

Front vice-chairman Zosangliana Colney made it clear that there should be no money power, extravaganza or any sort of spectacular show in canvassing in order to cut unnecessary expenditures. Obviously, there is no heat and dust. Journalists interview candidates and their supporters on television. The forum monitors all public meetings.

Along with this comes the directive of the Election Commission to all public carriers not to display party flags or symbols without its permission. The traditional festive colour and carnival spirit is missing. Gone are the days of colourful rallies and singers lending their voice to make campaign musical. This is to keep election and electioneering a dignified and decent event.

Significantly, all political parties and their leaders have vowed not to have any nexus with underground outfits. Forum general secretary Lalbiakmawia Ngente personally met the leaders of NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and HPC (D) as well as Zomi Revolutionary Party and impressed upon them not to meddle in politics or influence the election process in anyway. Other insurgent groups have also been approached through them to keep away from polls. The Congress and MNF which allegedly have entered into a tacit understanding with either faction of HPC have been advise to revoke it.

In all fairness, the pre-poll scenario in Mizoram is all serene and solemn. It has evoked deep appreciation from special Election Commission observer Debashis Sen. In this milieu, the major political fronts — the Congress, ruling MNF and United Democratic Alliance of Mizoram People Conference and Zoram Nationalist Party — along with their allies have been on election campaign caught between the guidelines of Election Commission and Mizoram Peoples’ Front to woo 6,11,124 voters who are to exercise their franchise for the 40-member tenth Legislative Assembly in as many as 1,026 polling stations on December 2.

ACKHSA’s ultimatum on road and drainage
Special Correspondent
SILCHAR, Nov 22: All Cachar Karimganj and Hailakandi Students’ Association (ACKHSA) on Friday gave ultimatum to the district administration on the worsening conditions of roads of this town and the resultant public sufferings. The Association also drew the attention of the administration to the half-hearted approach by the contracting agency in the construction of drainage system.

It noted with concern at the quality of work and the progress so far made in the construction of road from the Capital Travels point to Holy Cross, a stretch of 3.5 km, for which Rs. 5 crore has been sanctioned under CRF. Public impression is that work is not being done according to specifications.

The Association pointed out it is really shocking to look at the way the drainage cum footpath has so far been completed. There is no progress on the work, involving Rs.158 crore. There is neither supervision nor monitoring. The work of both road and drainage has been going on in a haphazard manner which is only adding to the sufferings of common people and all sorts of vehicle owners. Looking at the pace, quality and method of work, it projected the views of citizens to say this should not be allowed further.

Roads have become dusty, dirty and are in shambles, posing health hazards to pedestrians, passengers and drivers. In fact, the network of most roads are in deplorable condition. Even the ongoing double laning of the Airport or VIP road is being done in a most questionable manner as metalling is giving way, exposing the road to craters and potholes.

The ultimatum signed by Rupam Nandi Purkayastha, President, and Biswajit Deb, Secretary, ACKSHA, while submitting the representation to Banhishikha Dutta, ADC, in the absence of Gautam Ganguli, DC, urged upon the administration to exert its good offices so that work on construction of road and drainage is done in a proper manner and completed at an early date.
If no assurance from the deputy commissioner was forthcoming, ACKSHA leaders said they will have no option than to go for agitational course of action which would paralyze normal life of this town. ACKSHA, according to a leader, would form human chains at selected points of the roads, block all sorts of vehicular traffic and bring normal life to a halt on Tuesday.

More details on Central team’s visit
Special Correspondent
SILCHAR, Nov 19: It was exactly nine years ago on August 18, 1999 that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had sent its joint secretary GK Pillai for an on-the-spot study of the border management of the Karimganj sector. His day-long visit was programmed to include State Home Secretary Mrinal Kanti Barua and a five-member AASU team lead by its chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharjee and a group of 10 Guwahati-based journalists.

AASU expressed its displeasure on the fact that the Centre had been dithering on the construction of roads and fencing along Asom’s border with Bangladesh as envisaged in the Assam Accord. The construction work was delayed by four years. Since the visit of Pillai and AASU team a few years ago, the ground reality has not changed. The fencing and road construction are yet to be completed.

This time jolted by the serial bomb blasts in Asom and its link with jihadi forces in Bangladesh, the Central team headed by Jarnail Singh, Border Management Secretary of the Union Home Ministry, visited certain specific points on the border which included immersion ghat, Chand Srikona, Sadarisha, Lakhibazar, Lafashail and Sutarkandi trade centre to see for themselves how the border still remains porous and vulnerable.

The team discovered many chinks in the border management. The police check-posts at Kushiara and Sutarkandi that record the entry and exit of people of both the countries came out with startling facts. Besides being in disarray, these check-posts do not maintain records and documents regarding the entry of Bangladeshis to India. It came out that 37 Bangladeshis who entered India with visa this year have done the vanishing act. Documents and contact numbers given by them have turned out to be fake.

The team scrutinized some specific cases of Bangladeshis entering India. One Hussain entered India with visa on October 20 for a 10-day stay. As he continued to overstay, the police issued arrest warrant but the address and contact number given by him were found to be false. The same was the tale of Abdul Manan and Sahidul Siddique. One of the officials in the team contacted these persons over the telephone numbers but failed to get any response. Either the telephone number did not exist or it was false.

The Home Secretary during scrutiny could not find any relevant papers about the arrest warrants issued to the missing persons from Bangladesh. The in-charges of both the PCPs were caught unaware. Several anomalies and irregularities were discovered in the visas, passports and other documents of people who entered from the other side of the border.

The only thing which came to notice of consequence was that the check-posts have started taking photographs of Bangladeshis entering India, a practice not followed earlier. The police, it was also revealed, has not shown any seriousness to check and cross check documents, addresses on this side of the border as produced by the entrants from Bangladesh. It is for this laxity that the Bangladeshis can easily disappear and melt into vast multitude. source: sentinel assam

The Central team after winding up the visit could understand that the Karimganj border is unsafe and unprotected. Work on border fencing and road is continuing at snail’s pace. The team recommended in their meetings with the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of Cachar and Karimganj for expeditious completion of fencing and road, modernization of police check-posts with computer and digital camera in order to add teeth to security measures, besides serious scrutiny of visas and passports. source: sentinel assam

Laskar concerned over anti-minority drive
From our Staff Reporter
SILCHAR, Nov 19 : Chief Secretary level meeting would be held between Asom and Meghalaya to sort out the problem of minority labourers from Barak Valley being allegedly tortured by various student bodies in the neighbouring state. Asom government had already taken up the matter with its Meghalaya counterpart. This had been informed by the state Congress Minority Cell chairman, Misbahul Islam Laskar. Addressing a press meet here today, Laskar said that the Minority Cell had talked to the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi regarding the problems faced by Muslim labourers from Barak Valley in Khleriate and Ladrymabai as Khasi Students Union and Garo Student Association had recently started agitation to drive out ‘illegal Bangladeshis’ from their state. “These student bodies demand identity proof from the Bengali Muslim labourers from Barak Valley and when they produce the document the cadres of the student bodies destroyed those papers”, alleged Laskar. He says, this could not continue for long and as such the Minority Cell had urged upon Gogoi to take up the matter with Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy. “Gogoi had already talked to Roy and a chief secretary level discussion is on the card”, informed Laskar. He further said that Minority Cell had demanded that exclusive work permit should be given to the labourers from Barak Valley working in the coal mines of Meghalaya. Even if not Permanent Residential Certificates, the government should provide these poor labourers with Residential Certificates, Laskar further suggested. Laskar, a former minister in Gogoi’s erstwhile ministry, today blamed the BJP for its communal politics. He said that the BJP’s politics of hatred would ruin the secular fabric of the nation and this party should be given a raw deal in the next election. source: sentinel assam