Prior to anti-Gautam Roy rally, 144 CrPC in Hailakandi

SILCHAR, Oct 30: Prior to the proposed public rally at Ainakhal near Hailakandi to be attended by political enemies of Gautam Roy, the district administration has clamped 144 CrPC apprehending the rally might disrupt the law-and-order situation.

The rally, convened by Progressive Students’ Youths Forum, would be attended by AGP leader Sahidul Alom Choudhury, former district AUDF president Anil Nath, Siddique Ahmed, the associate Congress MLA of South Karimganj Mantaj Ali, who foiled a no-confidence motion allegedly instigated by Excise Minister Gautam Roy to retain his chair of president of Karimganj Zila Parishad. Siddique Ahmed and Mantaj Ali would be felicitated in the rally, which PSYF president Abdul Malik Meera termed as purely non-political.

However, in the backdrop of recent Roy versus Siddique-Mantaj turmoil, the rally in the home town of the former has assumed much political significance.

Roy had yesterday attended a number of meetings in Karimganj including a cultural programme where he amused the spectators with a Bengali song. Roy had, in his usual care-free style, announced that he was the only Bengali face in State Cabinet and nobody could remove him. Roy even claimed that heavy-weight leader like Sontosh Mohan Dev had to taste defeat after trying to pull his legs.

But leaders like Ahmed and Sahidul Alom claimed that the way Roy had compelled the district administration to clamp 144 CrPC was the clear indication that he was scared.

Both Ahmed and Sahidul Alom told The Sentinel over telephone that Roy had conceded ‘moral defeat’ by instructing the administration to clamp 144 CrPC. Siddique Ahmed, who was once known to be a close aide of Roy, told that Mantal Ali and he would definitely attend the rally as it was organized by a non-political youth forum.

“Roy is unnecessarily trying to impose political colour to the rally”, maintained Ahmed terming the administrative move as murder of democratic rights. Pooh-poohing the Hailakandi district Congress Committee’s demand to expel Ahmed and Ali on the charge that they would be sharing platform with AUDF and AGP leaders, Ahmed said, when the statue of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had been unveiled in Hailakandi, Roy shared the stage with BJP leader Kabindra Purkayastha. “Actually Roy is scared that his misrule and misdeeds are being focused every day and now he wants to use force to disrupt the rally”, Ahmed added. He made it clear that both Ali and he would be attending the rally and if some untoward incident happens, Hailakandi district administration and Roy would be responsible.

Former Minister Sahidul Alom Choudhury told The Sentinel that Roy had actually connected ‘moral defeat’ with his attempt to disrupt a non-political rally by using state machinery. He said, Roy, in spite of being of a State Cabinet Minister was busy in ensuring his influence in Karimganj Zila Parishad but found no time to visit the Kalain-Gumra NH 44 which was blocked by common people for 36 hours.

Refuting the claim made by Roy that Rs 50 crore had been sanctioned for the national highway by the Centre, Sahidul Alom said, Roy had misguided everyone, as more proposals had been sent. He said, Roy claimed that Binny Construction, a firm close to Roy, had been entrusted with the job to repair the highway but no tender was floated. Sahidul Alom said, to conceal his misdeeds Roy now wanted to create tension. Claiming that he had already cautioned the Deputy Commissioner that clamping of 144 CrPC would further deteriorate the law and order situation, Sahidul Alom said, he would definitely attend the rally.

Meanwhile, Gautam Roy Fan Club of Lala threatened that they would resist the rally by any means. On the other hand, PSYF leader Meera said, they have organized the rally to focus on the failure of the administration as well as public representatives in materializing various government schemes. THE SENTINEL

30/10: Bereaved family to get PM’s compensation

SILCHAR, Oct 30: A year of utter pain and remorse has been completed today, but the Sinha family of Bhakatpur, a suburb of Silchar town, was yet to come to terms with life. And the family was not sure whether they will ever be able to lead a normal life as they used to do before October 30, 2008, the fateful day when Jyotsna Sinha, mother of three children, died in one of the gruesome bomb blasts at Ganeshguri, Guwahati.

Mahendra Sinha, husband of Jyotsna, wept unconsolably as he told The Sentinel that the 30/10 blasts had disrupted the normalcy of their life. To add insult to the mental injury, the Sinha family was yet to get any financial compensation from the Government, as promised by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the serial blasts. Jyotsna Sinha, a school teacher who went to Guwahati along with her son Prabhaskar and was waiting at Ganeshguri as the latter rushed to the relative’s place they had been staying in to get some papers. The blast had taken place and Jyotsna lost her life. It is to be mentioned that Jyotsna Sinha was the only victim in 30/10 blasts from Barak Valley.

Mahendra Sinha, who had retired from IB on January last, said he had received Rs 3 lakh from the State Government. But, till date the family is yet to receive compensation from the Centre. Sinha said, “Jyotsna’s name was at number three in the list of those who had died in the blasts”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Ganguli said the district administration had not been informed about the compensation from the Centre. However, Rs 3 lakh from the State Government was given to Mahendra Sinha soon after the incident, Ganguly added. THE SENTINEL

Cachar BJP submits memorandum to the President

SILCHAR, Oct 30: BJP Cachar district has submitted a memorandum to the President of India though the Deputy Commissioner. The memorandum requests the kind attention of the President for the colossal problem of price rise being faced by the general people of Cachar district and the State as a whole. Prices of essential commodities have been rising abnormally during the last few months and the current condition of the State is known to all, but no concrete step has been taken so far by the government. Petrol, diesel and LPG prices have been increasing for the last few years affecting transportation in the Northeastern region. The opposition’s memorandum to the President condemned the present situation and blamed the ruling party for its lack of responsibility. The memorandum states that the condition of the State is alarming due to the existence of syndicates in the State.

Hence, through the memorandum, the party seeks president’s intervention to save the poor and downtrodden people from the jaws of starvation.

In an another memorandum to the DC Cachar, BJP Cachar committee has sought the administrative intervention for the redressal of problems affecting Cachar district. The problems mentioned in the memorandum are—broken roads, traffic jam and drainage system beside the pathetic condition of National Highway-44 and 53. Both the memorandums were submitted on behalf of BJP Cachar district today.

The signatory members are — in-charge president of Cachar BJP Kirit Bhusan Purkayastha, Sashanka Sekhar Dhar, district general secretary Nitya Bhusan Dey, Dr Rumi Nath and others. THE SENTINEL

NE Girls and Delhi

They are a community most vulnerable to the ‘mainland’ libido in the country’s capital. Just because their features are ‘un-Indian’ and they dress up very casually, girls from the Northeast in Delhi turn out to be a very different species for the city’s perverts. The gruesome murder of Ramchanphy Hongray, 19-year-old Naga girl from Manipur, by IIT-Delhi PhD scholar Puspam Kumar Sinha following her resistance to his sexual advances at the kitchen of her rented house in Delhi’s Munirka Village — home to most from the Northeast in the national capital — must now be a wake-up call to her likes who opt for Delhi for greener pastures. An Arunachali girl too was molested by school boys in Delhi last week. These are not isolated incidents, but a trend that has become only too monstrous by the day. For one, a typical attitude is at work: those from the country’s hinterland that looks so different from the rest of the country in terms of features of people and their culture, tradition and lifestyle, should be treated differently. For another, and to put it bluntly, given the kind of Western attire worn freely and jelling so very well with their features, girls from the Northeast in Delhi are a very attractive community, who the Delhite obsessed with them would think they must be winnable too! The man also knows they are a minority, hence powerless. Should, therefore, our girls in the national capital change their attire and lifestyle? Why should they? It is a free world. They should rather ensure that their houses are locked properly, that they live as a group, that they avoid secluded places and night to venture out alone, and, most importantly, that they are backed by an assertive and effective helpline. And yes, Delhi is as much their city as anyone’s. They should now prove that they are capable of defeating an exclusive sexual terror there. THE SENTINEL

Silchar-Shillong road will remain close today

SILCHAR, Oct 29: The Silchar-Shillong road would remain closed for at least 24 hours on Friday as the four-decade-old Bailey bridge at Gumra along the Assam-Meghalaya border would be repaired. The bridge, constructed in 1971, recently developed some cracks at certain joints.

It was reported that Public Works Department (PWD) (NH) engineers had earlier inspected the cracks on the bridge and it was decided that the bridge needs to be repaired immediately. It was also reported that further delay in repairing the bridge might create serious problems in communication process. Moreover, this road connects South Assam, Mizoram and Tripura along with the rest of the country.

A PWD (NH) source said they will try to complete the repairing work within 24 hours. A separate six-feet long bridge would be installed over the existing one, the source said. THE SENTINEL

Congress sniffs ‘communal’ over Sunday rally

SILCHAR, Oct 29: The Hailakandi District Congress Committee (HDCC) expressed concern over the proposed public rally convened by the Progressive Students’ Youth Forum at Ainakhal on Sunday which will be attended by Sahidul Alom Choudhury of the AGP and other leaders like Siddeque Ahmed, Mantaj Ali and Anil Nath. The district Congress has sent separate memoranda to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita and Karimganj District Congress president Satu Roy to take action against Siddeque Ahmed, an associate Congress MLA from South Karimganj and Congress leader Mantaj Ali who is also president of the Karimganj Zila Parishad.

Addressing a press meet at Hailakandi yesterday, district Congress president Ashok Duttagupta, APCC member Hilal Laskar and Samsul Islam Barlaskar were apprehensive that the proposed rally could be aimed at disturbing communal harmony in the district.

Both Siddeque and Mantaj Ali have been associated with the Congress, but they will now share platform with anti-Congress leaders like Sahidul Alom and Anil Nath, wondered the district Congress leaders. They demanded intervention of the Chief Minister as well as of the APCC chief against Siddeque and Mantaj. THE SENTINEL

BJP cries foul play in Susmita’s first Board meet

SILCHAR, Oct 27: The BJP has alleged that Silchar Municipality Board (SMB) Chairperson Susmita Dev was trying to hush up the rampant corruption and nepotism of her mother Bithika Dev while she was leading the previous SMB board. BJP leader of the civic body Dilip Paul said that Susmita was able to get approval for her 32-point agenda on the first Board meeting that was held yesterday.

Paul said Susmita easily passed with her 32-point agenda only by virtue of majority that her party enjoyed in the civic body. He alleged that not a single point mentioned on the 32-point agenda was meant for the welfare or the development of the common people of Silchar. Instead, he said the 32-point agenda was only about payment of contractors. According to the agenda, Rs 64,000 was approved but Paul alleged that a different amount had already been paid to the contractors.

Paul further said that BJP representatives of the civic body had earlier objected to the proposal of empowering the chairperson with unlimited financial power. Moreover, it has been reported that SMB had paid Rs 1.29 lakh to junior engineer of Silchar Development Block (SDB) Ramu Guglia, owner of Poonam Traders, a businessman close to Susmita’s father and former Union Minister Santosh Mohan Dev. Paul questioned as to how could SMB pay money to a SDB junior engineer despite having two engineers of its own?

Along with Dilip Paul, the press meet was addressed by BJP district vice president Kirit Bhushan Purkayastha and six ward councillors. THE SENTINEL

Cachar DC takes steps to solve problems of Silchar

SILCHAR, Oct 27: Cachar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Gautam Ganguly took part in a discussion on the vital issues rocking Silchar. The discussion took place in a press meet held at the Cachar DC’s conference hall today.

During the discussion, the issue of prise rise was discussed. As a solution to this problem, the DC said that potatoes, pulses, onion etc would be sold to consumers through fair price shops as these shops would sell the things at a lower price as speculated by the district administration.

He also said that boards would be put up in the municipality market areas in Silchar indicating the price of essential commodities. He added that the above steps had been taken to control the price hike and to check the evil intentions of a section of unscrupulous traders who were hoping to reap maximum benefits from the circumstance.

Cachar DC Gautam Ganguly, during the discussion, instructed the PWD (NH) executive engineer to complete the task of repairing and construction of all National Highway roads in Silchar as soon as possible. He also gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the PWD engineer to complete the Katogorah-Kalain road.

Besides Gautam Ganguly, ADC Laskar, ADC Nath, ADC Madhumita Chowdhury, Executive Engineer (PWD) roads Imran Hassan Chowdhury, a BRTF official, Information and Public Relations Deputy Director Haran Dey and mediapersons were present at the discussion. THE SENTINEL

Army recruitment rally at Silchar

SILCHAR, Oct 27: In a press release given from the Army Recruitment office, it has stated that from November 9 to 13, a recruitment rally will be held for candidates of general soldiers, technical, nursing assistant, clerk and players at Silchar police parade ground. A Common Entrance Test will be held on November 29.

The educational qualification required for appointment to the posts of soldier general duty is class 10th standard pass. The educational qualification for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates is class-VII pass. The candidates qualifying for soldier clerk, soldier technical and soldier nursing assistant must be class 12 standard passed. THE SENTINEL

Katigorah-Malidahar point road blockade peaceful

Katigorah road blockade peaceful

SILCHAR, Oct 26: Thousands of local people, including school students, took to the streets to block the NH-44 at Katigorah-Malidahar point in protest against the administration’s indifferent attitude towards the renovation of the national highway which connects South Assam, Mizoram and Tripura with the rest of the country.

According to sources, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Gautam Ganguly, in a meeting with Katigorah MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya as well as engineers of various branches of the PWD, said he fell sick after travelling on the road during the Puja.

The sources also said that Ganguly had ordered patch work within three days and completion of the renovation work within a month. But his assurance failed to deter the United NH-44 Development Committee, a platform of four truck owners’ association formed by 370 vehicle owners from Badarpur, Katigorah, Panchgram and Kalain, to stage the bandh.

The Committee had called a 36-hour road blockade from this morning. The agitation was supported by the BJP, AGP, AUDF. It was also reported that although the ruling party did not support the agitation officially, local Congress leaders personally extended their moral support to the agitators.

Today’s blockade was held at five points –– Gumra Petrol Pump, Katigorah Chourangi, Kalain, Malidahar and Lakhicherrs. According to the sources, agitators blocked the car of Badarpur MLA Anwarul Haque and Katigorah MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya.

Also the local police and the administration did not resort to foil the blockade realizing the public sentiment.

Earlier, on Sunday evening, Katigorah Circle Inspector Debadhish Baishya held a meeting with the agitators but it failed. Baishaya was told that the agitation was necessary to send the message to Dispur and Delhi so that funds could be released for the renovation of the road.
THE SENTINEL


Mazdoor Union meeting held at Silchar

SILCHAR, Oct 26: The Silchar Mazdoor Union, a labourers’ union of NF Railway Silchar division, organized its 22nd annual meeting yesterday in Silchar. Financial implications of the sixth pay commission and the problems barring its implementation were discussed as the core theme in the meeting.

According to sources, the railway management differed with the opinion of the Union members’ view towards the implication of the sixth pay commission as the management is reportedly trying to implement the commission’s implications internally by reducing the existing man power potential. According to reports, many group C and D workers are supposed to be vacated from the job.

The Mazdoor Union, on the other hand, opined to strengthen the service sector in its operational, track maintenance and commercial aspects. The Union emphasized the role of apt man power management for assuring financial augmentation and implementation of the pay commission scheme.
THE SENTINEL


YAM stages dharna demanding arrest of murderers

SILCHAR, Oct 26: Nearly 125 volunteers of the newly formed Yuva Aikya Mancha (YAM) today staged a dharna in front of Lala Police Station demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the sensational Janmejoy Das (Raju) murder case. Raju, (20), son of Dr Jayanta Das, went missing on September 18 under mysterious circumstances and later on his body was found abandoned in a deserted place near Khleriate in Meghalaya.

According to sources, the police has been dilly-dallying in solving the murder mystery after that. Meanwhile, Hailakandi Police Circle Inspector SK Das reportedly said that they had almost solved the murder mystery and the culprits would be booked within a few days.

The sources also said that Raju was running a shop at Mandhira Market in Lala town which dealt in mobile phone accessories.
THE SENTINEL

Repair of road to be started soon

SILCHAR, Oct 25: Prior to the 36-hour road blockade called by a platform of various vehicle owners’ associations from Monday morning, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Gautam Ganguly had said that the Malidahar-Katigorah road would be completed to the satisfaction of the passengers as well as to the local people with in one month. Ganguli had made it clear to Pronab Singha, executive engineer of PWD NH division, that he would not entertain any further protest over this issue. Earlier on Friday, Katigorah MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuya discussed the pathetic condition of the road with the Deputy Commissioner and sought his intervention. Majharbhuiya was critical about the role played by the NH division of the PWD and branded the road as the ‘Shame of Barak Valley’. It is to be noted that a forum of transporters called a 36-hour road blockade at Katigorah-Malidahor, the entry point to Barak Valley, from Monday morning in protest against government’s indifferent attitude towards renovation of the important road. Meanwhile, Excise Minister Gautam Roy and Karimganj MP Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya had approached Central Surface and Transport Minister Kamal Nath in Delhi, who reportedly assured them of immediate work on the road. THE SENTINEL

Badruddin Ajmal defers Barak Valley tour again

SILCHAR, Oct 25: AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal cancelled his Barak Valley trip on Monday, for the second time in a week. AUDF MLA from Katigorah Moulana Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya today told The Sentinel that Ajmal had cancelled the proposed trip as he was busy with the two bi-elections in Dekhiajuli and South Salmara where his son was the party candidate. Ajmal will visit Barak Valley soon after the elections, Majharbhuiya added. THE SENTINEL

BJP: Roy-Ahmed clash will foment communal flare-up

SILCHAR, Oct 25: The ego clash between Excise Minister Gaurtam Roy and South Karimganj MLA Siddique Ahmed may create communal flare-up in sensitive Karimganj district, apprehends Biswarup Bhattacharjee, district BJP president. Maintaining that it is improper to make comment on the internal affairs of another party, Bhattacharjee said the BJP is only worried over the law-and-order situation in the border district as both Roy and Ahmed foment communal flare-up for their personal benefit.

Bhattacharjee said both Roy and Ahmed level allegations of rampant corruption against each other, and as such it has been proved that the government funds are misused by both of them. THE SENTINEL

Renovation of MG line within 2 months: DRM

SILCHAR, Oct 25: Work for the much-awaited Lumding- Silchar broad gauge conversion will resume soon as normalcy has returned to NC Hills district following the surrender of the Black Widow, said Ajit Pandit, DRM of NF railway here at Silchar today. He added the renovation of the existing meter gauge line between Lumding and Silchar will be completed within two months to facilitate speedy running of two express trains, services of which were resumed recently.

Pandit, who was accompanied by senior officials like Rajneesh Kumar and Hiralal Sarkar, Divisional Commercial Manager, said in the Badarpur-Agartala route, halting agents will be deputed by NF Railway to avoid problems regarding issuance of travelling tickets at the smaller section where till now no staff has been posted. Responding to the demand for changing the time schedule of Agartala-bound trains from Silchar, Pandit said NF Railway authorities have been considering the matter with sympathy.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the All Barak Youth and Students’ Association met the DRM and demanded speedy renovation of meter gauge line to facilitate normal running of two express trains. The ABYSA demanded declaration of the Badarpur junction as a model junction.

Journalist Federation of Assam representatives also met Pandit and handed over a memorandum to him demanding media passes to the working journalists of Barak Valley from Silchar station itself. The Cachar unit of JFA was represented by its president Uttam Saha and general secretary Subir Dutta. THE SENTINEL

ACKHSA explains agitation for Gauge Conversion and EWC project

SILCHAR, Oct 24: The All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association (ACKHSA), along with the All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU), organized a joint press meet at a hotel in Silchar today. In the meeting, ACKHSA elaborated on the various agitational programmes organized by the association since 2006 to put pressure on the government for properly implementing the two most important projects in Silchar–– the Broad Gauge Project or the Gauge Conversion Project and the East-West Corridor (EWC) Project.

ACKHSA central committee president Rupam Nandy Purkayastha, in the meeting, said that the association had submitted its first memorandum to the Assam Chief Minister on December 13, 2006 asking him to implement the two important projects of Silchar properly. But the project did not materialize after that. Purkayastha further added that the association, once again, submitted a memorandum to the General Manager (Constitution) on November 1, 2007 demanding speedy implementation of the Gauge Conversion Project from Silchar to Lumding.

According to reports, the projects lay dormant even after repeated pleas and a people’s convention was formed with as many as 31 organizations of south Assam. These organizations, in the convention, gave the responsibility to ACKHSA to steer an agitation against the government demanding implementation of the Gauge Conversion Project and the EWC Project.

It has been alleged that Barak Valley was lagging behind in the communication sector only because of the Assam Government’s apathy towards it. Sources said that due to non-implementation of the Gauge Conversion and the EWC projects, development of South Assam along with Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura was almost impossible.

Therefore, a joint demand note was placed before Railway Standing Committee Chairman Basudev Acharya on June 16, 2008 on his arrival at Silchar. After that, the ACKHSA and ADSU jointly held a press conference at Silchar on June 23, 2008 and expressed their displeasure towards the Assam Government for not implementing the twin projects.

Also, a students’ strike was observed on August 1, 2008, at NC Hills and Barak Valley which was called by both ACKHSA and ADSU. ACKHSA president Rupam Nandy Purakayastha also said that a 12-hour bandh was called by the association when UPA president Sonia Gandhi came to Silchar. He said this was done to draw the attention of Gandhi so that they could keep their demands in front of her.

Purkayastha said that a public convention would be summoned on December 6, 2009 to pressurize the Assam Government to look into the issue of Gauge Conversion project and the EWC project as soon as possible.

Along with Rupam Nandi Purkayastha and Prafulla Hafila, the press meet was attended by student leaders of both the unions like Kaji Abu Laskar Salim, Bishwajit Deb, Subrata Das, Animesh Burman and Probin Zidung. THE SENTINEL

Assam Government distributes land pattas in Cachar

SILCHAR, Oct 22: As the action plan of the Assam Government completed 100 days, the functional distribution of land pattas among the tea-tribe and ex-tea tribe communities of Cachar district was held in the District Library auditorium in Silchar. State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman distributed the land pattas to the beneficiaries.

Cachar DC Gautam Ganguly explained the purpose of the meeting and said the indigenous people of tribal villages and the residents of forest areas are receiving titled lands as government aids currently. He said it is being done to uplift the economic condition of the poor people. Ganguly also reiterated that the government-donated land could not be sold and on displacement or removal of the owner, the land would not again be taken as revenue land by the government.

Sources said 130 titled lands were distributed to forest land occupants of Cachar district and 410 land allotment certificates were issued to the tea garden and ex-tea garden employees of Cachar district. So far, 447 cheques of Rs 5,000 were distributed to the beneficiaries. Also a hundred cheques were donated at the programme held today.

According to Dr Burman, India is a socialistic state and every citizen must have in his or her possession a piece of land for settlement. The minister also announced that slum dwellers in Urban areas would also be taken under the scheme.

The meeting was attended by Borkhola MLA Dr Rumi Nath, Sonai MLA Kutubuddin Ahmed, Paliamentary Secretary Ajit Singh, Silchar Municipality Chairperson Susmita Dev and others. THE SENTINEL

Niranjan Hojai in Nepal to dispose of property

SILCHAR, Oct 22: With permission from the State Government, Niranjan Hojai, self-styled commander-in-chief of the Black Widow, went Nepal to dispose of the landed property which the outfit had procured in the neighbouring country, police and district administration sources said.

Hojai and Jewel Garlosa, chairman of the outfit, had been at Kathmandu for a couple of years during which they had purchased land, hotel and some resorts at various tourist spots in Nepal.

Sources said Hojai, along with Mawrong Dimasa and some other accomplices, left for Kathmandu on Monday, and they are supposed to return by Monday next. But whether they were escorted by police officials or not could not be confirmed. Sources said Hojai would negotiate for the disposal of the outfit’s property in Nepal.

Meanwhile, another source hinted that Dinob Dimasa, a cadre from the splinter group of the outfit who ultimately surrendered arms, refused to accept the leadership of Hojai. Dinob said till Jewel is released from Jail, no decision on joining politics should be taken. A source close to Garlosa hinted that cadres belonging to the splinter group who had laid down arms have been housed at Dihangi designated camp and they have distanced themselves from the main leadership of the Black Widow. James Dimasa, leader of the splinter group, has not surrendered as yet. The police, however, denied any rift among the surrendered militants. THE SENTINEL

Land for Karimganj FM station handed over to AIR authorities

KARIMGANJ, Oct 21: The primary hurdle for fulfilling the long-awaited demand of the people of Karimganj for establishing a radio station at Karimganj has been finally removed. Sources said that the district administration handed over a plot of land measuring 2.36 acre to the All India Radio (AIR) authorities recently.

The land is located at Inatpur, on the outskirts of Karimganj town under Mouza Inatpur, Pargana-Kushiarkul, of Karimganj police station. With the taking over of physical and formal possession of the land under Dag No. 544, 545, 546 (partly) and 547 (partly), the people of Karimganj have heaved a sigh of relief as the matter related to the selection of site was about to be abandoned by the AIR authorities two years back, the sources said.

“The file was re-opened when the then Union Minister for Heavy Industries Santosh Mohan Deb took up the matter with the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting,” said Sabyasachi Roy, secretary of the Karimganj district committee of the Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya Sanskrit Sammelan (BUBSSS). This premier literary and cultural organization of the valley has been pursuing the issue of the proposed radio station at Karimganj. Though it would not be a full-fledged station, but a “one KW FM transmitter” will be established without further delay, the sources added.

The deputy director of AIR for the north-eastern zone formally took over the required land a week back, and said that though it would be an FM station, limited studio facilities would also be provided. THE SENTINEL

36-hour Kalain road blockade on Monday

SILCHAR, Oct 21: The United NH-44 Development Committee, a platform of various transport organizations, has called a 36-hour road blockade and chakka bandh of NH-44 on October 26 in protest against the government’s indifferent attitude towards the renovation of Kalain-Gumra road.

Sources said picketers would block the road at Malidahar-Katigorah point which connects Barak Valley, Tripura and Mizoram with rest of the country.

The decision of the agitation was taken today at a citizen’s meet held at Kalain MV school. The meeting was presided over by senior citizen Sukumar Bhattacharjee. Also many leaders from various political parties attended the meeting.

Local AUDF MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya, while speaking on the occasion, lambasted the State Government for its failure in maintaining the road. He said this road is a perfect example of the government’s step-motherly attitude towards Barak Valley. Katigorah ZP members Subrata Chakraborty and Bhrigulal Das also extended their support to the proposed bandh. THE SENTINEL

Memorandum against existing Indian Red Cross Society committee submitted

SILCHAR, Oct 21: Representatives of Silchar citizens today submitted a memorandum to the Cachar DC stating various problems of the Silchar branch of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS). It was stated in the memorandum that the hospital was out of service for nearly 18 days.

Sources said that patients were denied treatment by the IRCS due to non-availability of doctors within the hospital. It was also stated in the memorandum that the hospital was not a private property of any committee and, therefore, the closure of the hospital without any logical reason was taken as an offence against the weaker sections of the society.

Through the memorandum, the people here demanded immediate steps to be taken to grant new membership to citizens who have been applying for it.

On the other hand, a separate meeting was held today at the Silchar Gandhi Bhavan by the existing committee of IRCS. Moreover, the committee, in the meeting, was trying to wash off its hands from the allegations by saying that the State Headquarters was not giving permission to hold AGM maintaining the status quo. THE SENTINEL

Barak Valley Express and Cachar Express services resume in NC Hills

SILCHAR, Oct 20: After a period of 16 long months, the North Frontier (NF) Railway resumed operation of the Barak Valley Express and Cachar Express, regular trains running between Silchar and Lumding, from today. Both the express trains were cancelled following regular attacks by Dimasa militants.

However, after the surrender of the Black Widow and responding to public demand, the NF Railway started special trains in the hill section during daytime, sources said, and added that the Dimasa militant outfit used the trains as a target to unleash terror in North Cachar Hills district.

NF Railway PRO Nripendra Bhattacharjee said the railway authorities decided to resume the two express trains from Tuesday after the assurance of security given by the State Government.

Barak Valley Express today started its journey from Silchar this morning while the Cachar Express left Silchar railway station this evening. THE SENTINEL

JFA demands accredita tion cards for Barak Valley scribes

SILCHAR, Oct 20: The Cachar unit of the Journalist Federation of Assam (JFA) has urged State Information and Public Relation Minister Rockybul Hussain to issue accreditation press cards to the working journalists of the three districts of Barak Valley. The federation further urged the NF Railway general manager to issue media cards to the journalists of Barak Valley in accordance with the assurance of Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee about the introduction of I-cards for accereditated journalists.

In a memorandum to Hussain, the members of the Federation said at present at least 10 daily newspapers were being published from Barak Valley and quite a good number of journalists were working in these newspapers. But due to some unknown reasons, the district-level journalists are being deprived of the accreditation card and, as a result, they fail to avail the facilities provided by the government to journalists.

In a separate memorandum to Cachar Deputy Commissioner Gautam Ganguly, the federation members demanded a magistrate-level probe into the mysterious death of Satyendra Chandra Das, a senior scribe of Katigorah, whose body was found lying on the road on September 27,2008.

The federation delegation was represented by Uttam Saha, Subir Dutta, Gopal Das Sinha, Anshuman Acharjee, Manjur Ahmed Barbhuiya, Sujit Chanda and others. THE SENTINEL

Corruption slur on Gautam Roy

SILCHAR, Oct 20: Karimganj Zilla Parishad president Mantaj Ali, who surprised everyone by winning the no-confidence motion instigated against him recently, has alleged that Excise Minister Gautam Roy was involed in a corruption case and was trying to hush up the act by instigating the no-confidence motion against him. Ali said an amount of Rs 5.5 crore was withdrawn from the fund disbursed by the Central Government for NREGA.

Ali said he had already sought the intervention of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi whom he met in Dispur along with South Karimganj MLA Siddeque Ahmed after the no-confidence motion was moved. “We told Gogoi that in the last general election, we had assured Muslim support to the Congress against AUDF. But now Roy is insulting the Muslims,” said Ali and added that they had left the matter for Gogoi to handle.

Meanwhile, Abdul Ajiz, who was Roy’s candidate for the post of chairman of the Zilla Parishad, told mediapersons that Siddeque Ahmed and Mantaj Ali were playing the communal card for their own interest. Therefore, if communal tension grips the sensitive border district, the Ahmed-Ali duo would be held responsible for that. THE SENTINEL

Conclave of Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur and Mayangmati held

Exclusive

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Oct 20: Separated for centuries together during which even their language had to die an unnatural death at the very place of its origin, the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur had a nostalgic meeting with their brethrens in Moyangmati i.e. places outside Manipur like Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh at the venue of the 140th birth anniversary of Sri Sri Bhubaneswar Sadhuthakur at Diphu in Karbi Anglong district yesterday.

Talking to this reporter over telephone from Diphu late last night, Assam State Committee vice-president of Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sanskriti Parishad (NBMSP) Shimu Sinha said: “The conclave between the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur and the office-bearers of the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM) was possible because of NBMM interlocutor and vice-president Anil Singha Gautam and T Chandra Kanta Singh of Manipur. During the cordial discussion, those from Manipur who continued to defy their Bishnupriya Manipuri identity over the years mainly due to the socio-political situation in Manipur admitted with tears in their eyes that they are Bishnupriya Manipuris even though they neither speak nor know the Bishnupriya Manipuri language. In order to make the merger of the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Mayangmati (places outside Manipur) and the Bishnupriya Manipuris of Manipur possible and to put an end to the language barriers, the conclave laid stress on reintroducing nuptial relationship between them.”

An elated and nostalgic Shimu Sinha said though the meeting is just the initiation for reunion of the community that was scattered in diverse directions like the Barak Valley in Assam, Tripura, Burma and Bangladesh during the exodus following the historic Burmese attack (Owar Bhagan) in the 18th century, it can be considered a mile stone achieved. He said the 10-member Bishnupriya Manipuri team from Manipur comprising T Chandra Kanta Singh, T Nimai Singh, an esulpa (singer) of rasakirtan, Maniranbam Maniton Singh, who conducted a detailed study on Sadhu Thakur and read out a paper on him, and others has invited a delegation of the NBMM to Manipur in order to strengthen their fresh bond.Talking to The Sentinel, NBMSP general secretary and Bishnupriya Manipuri Writers’ Forum president DILS Lakshmindra Sinha said: “It’s a laudable step. This step will enable us to make stride in the days and years ahead.” THE SENTINEL

Siddeque Ahmed, Mantaj Ali to seek Gogoi’s intervention

SILCHAR, Oct 19: South Karimganj MLA Siddeque Ahmed and Karimganj Zila Parishad president Mantaj Ali have decided to seek the intervention of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in containing Excise Minister Gautam Roy’s unnecessary intrusion in politics in Karimganj district. In the backdrop of Mantaj Ali’s victory in the no-confidence motion, allegedly instigated by Roy, the Ali-Ahmed duo had already announced that the people of Karimganj would no more tolerate the ‘‘dadagiri’’ of Roy.

Sources said Ahmed, once a blue-eyed boy and now a hard-core enemy of Roy, had a closed-door meeting with veteran Congress leader Srikanta Bhattacharjee. Sources added that Bhattacharjee was earlier denied the post of Karimganj Municipality chairman to pave the way for Dr Manas Das who was being backed by Roy. The incident had shaken the district Congress and the leaders could realize that Roy wanted to control the politics of Karimganj from his home-district Hailakandi.

On the other hand, people close to Roy said that Mantaj Ali won the no-confidence votes only because the Muslims made up a team to teach Gautam Roy a lesson.

Meanwhile, another source indicated that Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmah and Forest Minister Rokybul Hussain had been backing associate Congress MLA Siddeque Ahmed to clip the wings of Roy. Ahmed was once promoted by Roy to defeat veteran Congress leader Muktadir Choudhury in South Karimganj, although Muktadir was the political godfather of Siddeque, sources added. This Roy-Siddeque collaboration continued for quite a long time and Siddeque won the 2006 Assembly election as an independent candidate pushing his one-time mentor Choudhury in the fourth position. But along with his victory came the beginning of the end of his good relationship with Roy as both blamed each other over the misuse of border roads funds.

It was reported that Ahmed had openly branded Roy as an anti-Muslim, and based on these comments, Roy instigated the Zila Parishad members to initiate a no-confidence move against Mantaj Ali who was hobnobbing with Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Roy tried his best to refute his alleged involvement in the no-confidence motion instigated against Mantaj Ali, but found no buyer for his theory. THE SENTINEL

INTUC forms new body with Kamalendu Bhattacarjee

SILCHAR, Oct 19: The Congress trade wing INTUC, backed by Silchar Municipality Workers’ Federation, formed its new body with former Rajya Sabha MP Kamalendu Bhattacharjee as its president. Sources said Bhattacharjee was expelled by the Congress for his anti-party activities for six years.

The Federation had earlier hinted that their relation with the new Silchar Municipality Board (SMB) chairperson Susmita Dev would not be a cordial one. The Federation also said that although SMB chairperson Dev was a newly elected body of the Congress, Dev was more dependent on the left trade union of the Municipality. The new committee of the Federation has elected Kishor Bhattacharjee, who is a staunch critic of Susmita’s father Santosh Mohan Dev, as its advisor, sources added. THE SENTINEL

Wings clipped, Roy distances himself from Mantaj episode

Silchar, Oct 18: Excise Minister Gautam Roy today tried to put up a defiant look under-toning the victory of Mantaj Ali, the president of Karimganj Zila Parishad, in the no-confidence motion yesterday. Roy related the result with AUDF maintaining that Badrauddin Ajmal’s party had taken revenge against him for the last general election where Congress candidate Lalit Mohan Suklabaidya defeated AUDF Rajesh Mallah by a narrow margin in the last round. Talking to media in Karimganj today, Roy said he had never tried to influence the functioning of the Karimganj Zila Parishad. However, he also admitted that 17 ZPC members consulted him before initiating the no-confidence motion against president Manjit Ali. "I told them if they were unsatisfied with the present president, they were at liberty to move a no-confidence motion", he added.

He further said that at the initial stage three AUDF ZPC members took initiative in moving no-confidence motion against Ali, and till the last moment they were with Abdul Ajiz, who was projected as the next president. But, during the vote, the AUDF members backstabbed casting their votes against the motion. Roy, however, admitted that a section of Congress leaders was also instrumental in defeating the no- confidence motion. ‘Action would be taken in due course against them", Roy hinted. Presence of AUDF MLA from Badarpur Anwarul Haque along with South Karimganj MLA Siddique Ahmed, an arch-rival of Roy all along with Ali yesterday raised many a question. The procession brought out after the result, was attended by Ali-Ahmed Haque with ‘Himanta Biswa Sarmah Zindabad’ slogan echoing in the air. It is assumed that, Sarmah had been backing Ahmed, an Associate MLA of Congress, to slip the wings of Roy who had been desperately placing himself as the ultimate boss of Karimganj.

This had irritated a section of district Congress leaders who found their very existence in the brink of collapse when Roy intended to project his trusted lieutenant Gautam Gupta as the next MLA candidate in Badarpur, a Muslim dominated constituency. This had irritated the Muslim Congress leaders as well. On the other hand, Roy earned the wrath of a section of Congress leaders when he made Dr. Manas Das, a fresher in politics, the chairman of Karimganj Municipality Board, depriving a more deserving and veteran candidate Srikanta Bhattacharjee. After the victory of Mantaj Ali, Bhattacharjee came out openly announcing that from now onwards, Karimganj would be freed from the colonial rule of Roy. In other words, Gautam Roy, who projected himself as an all-powerful leader of Barak Valley, got a blow, as he, according to a certain section, deserved.

He brought upon himself more trouble as it came to the fore that a powerful leader like Himanta Biswa Sarmah had been backing Siddique Ahmed. Roy, however claimed that Sarmah had spoken to himself on Saturday night and clarified that he had no role whatsoever in the entire episode. Meanwhile, circle close to Roy, alleged that the Muslims have teamed up to thwart his emerging influence but in reality both Hindus and Muslims teamed up to clip the wing of Roy. THE SENTINEL

Senior advocate kidnapped in Hailakandi

Silchar, Oct 18: A gang of miscreants had kidnapped Tafajjul Ali Barbhuiya, a leading advocate of Hailakandi, at gun-point from Triganga village in Jamira near Assam-Mizoram border on Saturday night. Barbhuiya was staying at the residence of his relative Jalaluddin at Triganga where he was supposed to attend a talk regarding his property there on Sunday. Police sources said, a gang of at least 14 miscreants, dressed in army attire, attacked the residence of Jalaluddin and kidnapped Barbhuiya at gun-point. Saidur Rahman and Abidur Rahman, sons of Jalajuddin and Nejamuddin, tried to resist the miscreants. The gang reportedly started firing injuring Saidur and Abidur. They also beat up Nejamuddin. Miscreants later whisked away Barbhuiya towards dense forest near Assam-Mizoram
border.

After the arrest of Dhanyaram Reang, the boss of Bru militant outfit UDLA, it was assumed that peace would now prevail in the disturbed South Hailakandi bordering Mizoram. But the Saturday night incident has proved the assumption wrong. Monoranjan Das, officer-in-charge of Jamira police outpost told that the kidnapping was most probably the handiwork of Ataur-Bahini, a newly formed outfit which has resorted to kidnapping and extortion in the border area.

Meanwhile, Aziruddin Laskar who had accompanied Barbhuiya to Triganga, returned to Hailakandi. He said, the miscreants have also taken the mobile phone of Barbhuiya. Family members have rushed to Triganga. Interestingly they tried to contact him over cell phone, and one of the miscreants had reportedly told the family members of Barbhuiya that they would contact them later. Since then there has been no response from the miscreants till Sunday evening. Excise Minister Gautam Roy, who had cordial relation with Barbhuiya, has asked the police to start combing operation. Roy has also spoken to the DIG (Southern Reang). Police source said, chances of the involvement of Ataur-Bahini is bright in the kidnapping of the senior advocate. Some local Muslim youths have formed this gang in collusion with UDLA to extort money. THE SENTINEL

Beginning of the end of Gautam raj: Ahmed

SILCHAR, Oct 16: Buoyed by the victory of Mantaj Ali in the no-confidence motion in the Karimganj Zilla Parishad, the controversial South Karimganj MLA Siddeque Ahmed, who was once the blue-eyed boy of Gautam Roy and now an arch-rival, today claimed that it was the beginning of the end of Gautam Roy’s unwanted interference in Karimganj politics.

Addressing a press meet jointly with Ali, Siddeque Ahmed, an Associate Congress MLA, who had in recent times forged a rapport with Himanta Biswa Sarmah allegedly said people of Karimganj from now on would not tolerate the dadagiri of Roy.

On the other hand, Azizur Rahman, who lost it to Ali today along with Amaresh Roy, the former vice-president who had earlier resigned at the instruction of Roy, today claimed that Gautam Roy had never poked his nose in Zilla Parishad affairs.

They further added that their struggle against Ali’s misrule would continue.

District BJP president Biswarup Bhattacharjee welcomed the victory of Ali and made a dig at Roy saying that for the first time, Roy had failed despite flexing his money and muscles. THE SENTINEL

Mantaj Ali wins trust vote, foils Gautam’s ‘ploy’

SILCHAR, Oct 16: Karimganj Zilla Parishad president Mantaj Ali today defeated Azizur Rahman by 10 votes, although he needed only seven to sail through, in the no-confidence motion in the Zilla Parishad (ZP). Rahman had earlier claimed that the 21-member body had lost confidence on Ali. It has been alleged that the no-confidence motion was instigated by Excise Minister Gautam Roy.

Sources said the relation between Ali and Roy had started to sour recently and the latter had instigated ZP members to move a no-confidence motion against Ali to put him under pressure. But Mantaj Ali proved otherwise and did not bow down to Roy, whom he branded as an “outsider” in Karimganj.

It was also reported that Roy had directed the members of the Karimganj Municipality Board to elect Dr Manas Das as chairman by defeating veteran Congress leader Srikanta Bhattacharjee. But the district Congress was alarmed and suspected the intention of Roy who wanted to become the ultimate leader in the district, sources said.

On the other hand, Roy has already assumed the tag of being an “anti-Muslim” following his clash with Associate Congress MLA from South Karimganj Siddeque Ahmed, sources said. And now if Roy clips the wings of Mantaj Ali, the anti-Muslim label would be more prominent, the sources added. As such, Roy has been promoting Ajijur Rahman as the next president of the Zilla Parishad.

A Congress source said that a major group of the party had formed a team to teach Roy a lesson by making Ali a winner in the no-confidence motion passed against him. But Roy, sensing foul play, had been in constant touch with AUDF, BJP and ZP members. It was also reported that Roy was planning to gift a Bolero car to the ZP members who would vote against Ali.

Earlier, ZP vice-president Amaresh Roy responded to Roy’s instruction and accordingly resigned from the party. A legal expert said that in these circumstances the Deputy Commissioner might take over the charge of the ZP. THE SENTINEL

On Deepawali: A festival of lights

Deepawali, the festival of light, brings us immense pleasure and happiness. But for many of us, it may also be the cause of darkness to life, because of burns and injuries that might occur during the festival. These incidents can be avoided by following a few careful steps while palying in Deepawali. They are––

l We should light earthen lamps or candles only at a certain height. Being careful with clothes also helps.

l Crackers should be ignited only at open places. No cracker should be ignited iniside the house or in congested areas.

l We should never try to ignite crackers by holding them with bare hands as it is dangerous. A common firework, popularly known as Kalgash, though supposed to emanate only flame and sparks, quite often burst causing serious burn injuries of hands.

l Sparklers should not be thrown while they are burning.

l Children should never be allowed to play with crackers unattended. Guardians should be with them while lighting crackers.

l Crackers with loud noise and sparks should be avoided. Besides, causing noise and air pollution, lots of burn injuries occur from these types of crackers.

l Always keep a bucket-full of water near you, whenever you are enjoying fireworks. This may be required any time.

But despite these precautions, incidents of burns have not ceased to occur. “Safe handling of fire gives us light and happiness and unsafe handling only brings only darkness and misfortune. Let the light of Deepawali bring happiness in your lives.”

By Dr Bhupendra Prasad Sarma

THE SENTINEL

Our demand for Dimaraji still stands: Dilip Nunisa

SILCHAR, Oct 14: “The pro-talk faction of the DHD will not inch back from its demand for Dimaraji, a separate State for the sons of the soil,” stated chairman of the outfit Dilip Nunisa.

Prior to the tripartite talk with the Centre and State Government on October 22 in Delhi, Nunisa told The Sentinel that until and unless a separate State for the Dimasas was granted, their agitation would continue. Nunisa, however, ruled out the possibility of him joining active politics or floating any political party. “As of now, our sole motto is Dimaraji. Let it be materialized, then I will think about joining politics,” Nunisa said.

On the Black Widow, the Dimasa militant outfit which laid down arms on October 2 and which is now reportedly bargaining with the government to usurp the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, Nunisa said he has nothing to comment. “People have seen the violence unleashed by the Black Widow. They have also seen how the Black Widow has stalled development works in the district. But if the government entrusts the surrendered Black Widow militants with the charge of the Autonomous Council, people will have to decide,” he said.

Nunisa, on Tuesday, also joined the agitation by the Autonomous Council employees who have not yet received their salaries for the last seven months. Lambasting the State Government, Nunisa said the government has been playing a dirty game with the Council employees. Nunisa told The Sentinel that he had taken the side of the agitating employees purely on humanitarian grounds and nobody should smell any politics in it. THE SENTINEL

Kabindra will develop borak

SILCHAR, Oct 13: Without applauding Rahul Gandhi’s apparently successful catch-them-young formula, the BJP has also decided to field younger candidates in the 2011 Assembly election, hinted party MP Kabindra Purkayastha from Silchar.

In an interview with The Sentinel, the veteran leader sarcastically confessed that 78 years of ago, he was not supposed to be thrown at the electoral battle-field. Rather he was to enjoy a retired life. “But situation was such that the party high command ordered me to compete in the last general election”, explained Purkayastha, who already announced that he had played his last election this time.

At 78, Purkayastha was still agile and physically fit. “But that’s not the point”, he argued. “Young generation should be given more preference,” he said. At the same time, he maintained that preferring younger candidates did not mean that veteran politicians will be neglected. In 2011 Assembly in Asom, the BJP candidates list would be a well-balanced one with both senior and junior faces, as the ‘bottomline’ would be an image as well as ‘winnability’ of the candidate.

Refuting the allegation that Asom BJP had neglected to take in the younger generation so far, Purkayastha said, Dr Rumi Nath, an out and out fresher in politics was nominated by the party in 2006 and she had won the election in the Barkhola constituency.

Commenting on the formation of the Cachar district unit of the party, Purkayastha said, nothing had been finalized yet as the party is concentrating on explaining its base in the district enrolling new members. Names of Partha Sarathi Chanda, Kirit Bhushan Purkayastha and Parimal Suklabaidya have come up for the post of district president till now, though he hoped, more names would be projected in due time.

Purkayastha said, during his present tenure as MP, he would mainly thrust on the completion of two national projects namely the Silchar-Lumding broad gauge and East-West Corridor. “I will go to any length to get these stalled projects get going again,” he added. THE SENTINEL

Dhaba-call girl-police nexus brings the other side of midnight in Silchar

SILCHAR, Oct 12: Instead of getting kudos for busting a sex racket in a road side dhaba at Ramnagar, Silchar police found itself at the receiving end facing allegations that the sex racket was actually controlled by a section of second-rank police officers.

Sources said, it has been alleged that Silchar police collected at least Rs 10 lakh per month from these road side dhabas as well as hotels as Rangirkhari-Nagatille area along the Silchar-Aizwal road where unlicensed bars and flesh trade were the prime attraction for a section of people who could afford to cough up money for easy sex. A second rank engimatic capacity to stall transfer order year after year was the kingpin of the whole episode. A source close to a dhaba told The Sentinel that, in recent times, police allegedly started hiking their demand every month and whenever a dhaba or a hotel failed to meet with their demand, the police reportedly resorted to raid.

The source openly admitted that unlicensed bars and sex racket were running in these road side dhabas allegedly in collaboration with a section of police. Meanwhile, the arrest of middle class family women from the Punjab dhaba sent a shock to the sober society of Silchar town unveiling a new reality it was unaware of. Sources said, even some housewives from well-to-do families had allegedly joined the flesh trade for minting money.

Moreover, Silchar police reportedly could not provide a satisfactory answer as to why Khusbu Jain, daughter of a garment trader, was released on bail though she was among the 11 people who were picked up by police after the raid at Punjab dhaba. Sources said, a controversial police officer, who allegedly controlled the dhaba-culture had reportedly allowed Khushbu to run away from the women cell of Sadar Thana. But when SP PK Bhuiya came to know about the incident, he ordered the officer to pick up Khushbu who was accordingly brought back to Sadar Thana, only to be shifted to Civil Hospital as she complained of nausea and stomach ache. From there, she moved to her house straightaway while the other 10 were produced in the court and later sent to judicial custody.

It is to be noted that Khushbu’s father Lunkaran Jain was recently arrested as one of his employees committed suicide alleging that he was tortured by his employer as he had seen the latter murdering someone. Police could not furnish any charge sheet against Lunkaran and he was recently released on bail. THE SENTINEL

RTI workshop held in Silchar

SILCHAR, Oct 12: A one-day workshop for effective implementation of the Right To Information Act-2005 was held at the Zilla Parishad Conference Hall in Silchar today. The workshop was sponsored by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.

Due to corrupt practices which started from the early 60s in India and which later subsequently institutionalized, official transparencies and accountabilities have been in question in public mind. Under these circumstances, Government of India’s honest initiative to check corruption came to be implemented through different laws time and again and one such law in its most potential form is the Right to Information Act.

India’s Right to Information was enacted on June 15, 2005, but subsequently came into force on October 12, 2005. The jurisdiction of the right covers the whole of India, except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. All government public sector institutions, including government funded organizations, schools, hospitals, NGOs etc. come under RTI jurisdiction.

RTI is a part of the fundamental right incorporated to the freedom of speech and expression, recognized by the Constitution, and in the various Supreme Court decisions taken currently. It is directly linked with the Right to Life and denial of information is accepted to be denial of right to life, as mentioned in today’s workshop. The law has been mainly brought in force to promote transparency and accountability in government offices and public sector institutions.

Cachar DC Gautam Ganguly admitted that among the 27 districts in Asom, Cachar district in Barak Valley has a record of greater number of applications filed, from here, on account of Right to Information Act. In a slide presentation at the workshop, it was shown that in Cachar district, BDOs, DRDA and Zilla Parishad office received maximum amount of applications.

The workshop was attended by Cachar DC Gautam Ganguly, ADC BC Nath, ADC SK Das, ADC Madhumita Chowdhury, Cachar Zilla Parishad CEO Indrabati Das and ADC HA Laskar. THE SENTINEL

Politician-contractor nexus stalling development in Barak Valley

SILCHAR, Oct 11: If politician–militant nexus is behind keeping alive militancy, then politician–contractor tie-up is responsible for stalling development in Barak Valley. It is most ironic and puzzling as well that despite sanction and release of crores of rupees by the Centre for development works in this valley, there is no improvement of road connectivity and civic life.

BJP MP Kabindra Purkayastha has hipped out at this nexus and said this nexus is creating logjam in proper utilization of centrally sponsored implementation of schemes and projects.

Specific instances can be sited in this regard. Former Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Sontosh Mohan Dev is on record to say that he could impress upon Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to sanction special assistance funds for improvement of major roads, lanes, by-lanes, drainage system of both urban and rural areas and accordingly Rs 63 crore was released. He was also able to release Rs 158 crore for storm drainage system cum footpath of the town. Detailed about both the schemes were given out with specific amount of funds released for each of the schemes in Silchar and the six Assembly constituencies of Cachar – Sonai, Udharband, Lakhipur, Dholai, Katigorah and Borkhola. But in keeping with the tradition of this valley, the implementation of schemes for better roads and drainage system with footpath are now in the wrangling of politician–contractor nexus. Minister of Urban Development Dinesh Prasad Goala at a Congress party meeting recently raised the utilization of Rs 63 crore, out of which Rs 20 crore has been released in the first phase. The Delhi-based Gautam Construction, he revealed, got Rs 16 crore. But the said contractor on 15-20 per cent commission has given sub-contracts which can never ensure quality work and proper utilization of funds. The question is who brought this construction company in the picture, depriving the Asom-based contractors.
It came out from the statement of Dev that just after the amount of Rs 63 crore was sanctioned and released by Ministry of Surface Transport, Shipping and Highways, the local contractors could not submit tenders under political pressure. Who did create the pressure ? This brought the question of Rs 158 crore drainage schemes for the town. The work was allotted to National Building Construction Corporation of Delhi without the knowledge of Dispur. Of the Rs 4 crore released, the Construction Corporation could utilize Rs 1.17 crore only and left the work. Who is or are the politicians behind the mess ?

The BJP MP was straight in his assertion that people of Barak Valley have to suffer due to politician-contractor nexus. The same if the fate of the stretch of National Highway 44 between Kalain and Malihadar whose maintenance and improvement has been handed over to State PWD (R) from BRTF. Since then the 15 km-long highway has turned into veritable death trap for vehicles with deep potholes and craters. Quite mysteriously, the work has been contracted to yet another Delhi-based Binni Construction at the instance of a minister of Barak Valley. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the improvement of NH 44 in Barak Valley of which as Gautom Roy said Rs 2 crore has already been released. But there is no work on the ground. THE SENTINEL

Gangetic dolphin’s preservation to get boost

SILCHAR, Oct 11: “The protection and preservation of Gangetic dolphins will get a boost with the declaration of the animal as a national aquatic”, said Pawlen Singh, convenor of Cachar College Science Society.

He made this observation with particular reference to Barak Valley where the dolphin is enlisted as endangered and on the verge of extinction. If there is no sincere and serious efforts by the Forest Department and the naturalists to save it, the day is not far off when like many species, dolphin will also become extinct. According to records of the Forest Department, even three decades ago, the number of dolphins in the river system of this valley have been quite impressive. Pawlen said with the fast depletion of greenery, growing human population and pollution, the number of dolphins has been on the decline. According to their survey, 14 dolphins were spotted in river Barak all along 115 km route starting from Narayandahar to Harinagar where the river bifurcates into Kushiara and Surma that finally meander into Bangladesh. The area surveyed included 12 km of hills and 103 km plains. During their survey of 2008 – 09, the number has come down to 8 only. “This decline in the population of dolphin is cause of enough concern”, pointed out Singh. There have been several instances in the past when the endangered animal has been hauled up from the rivers of this valley for commercial exploitation and in fact no preventive measures have been taken. Dolphin has disappeared from other major rivers. Like the vultures and other birds which once dotted the skyline of undivided Cachar, dolphins too have their play time in the rivers in sufficient number.

The focus now being on the protection and conservation of dolphins across the country, Singh hoped both the Forest Department and the NGOs of nature lovers will become active for the sake of whatever number remains of the animal.

Speaking about the efforts being made by Science Society, he said since its inception it has been carrying on systematic and sustained campaign against the destruction of the species by making people in general conscious about their own responsibility in this regard and to take the help of the administration in their conservation efforts.

Citing specific steps by their Society, he pointed out with the involvement of the Cachar administration and forest wing, the entire stretch of river Barak from Sonai to Silchar has been declared ‘habitat zone’ and fishing declared prohibited. Though the usual practice of handing over the stretches to lasses for fishing has been abandoned, it has its negative impact. The area of river declared as out of bound for fishing is now no man’s land with hundreds of fisher men spreading their nets, some quite harmful. This has to stop for which the Society will again move both the administration and the Forest Department. THE SENTINEL

Three NE films to be screened in Vatavaran film festival

NEW DELHI, Oct 10: Three films from the Northeast will be screened in the fifth CMS Vatavaran, Environment and Wildlife Film festival, which will start from October 27 to 31 next at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

One of the films Sesh Asha (The Last Hope) will highlight the problem of floods and need for conservation of animals in the Kaziranga National Park. The film has been directed by Guwahati based film maker Dip Bhuyan.

The other two films to be screened in the festival are from Manipur. Loktak, The Lake in Peril is a Manipuri film dubbed in English directed by Rajkumar Robindro Singh. The other film Deer of the Floating Park to be screened in the festival has been directed by Thoudam Brajabidhu Singh. the sentinel

AIRDO slams PCRDCNEI

SILCHAR, Oct 10: The All India Rongmei Development Organization (AIRDO) has, in a statement today, slammed the Poupei Chapriak Research and Development Council North East India (PCRDCNEI) for allegedly misleading the Nagas living in Barak Valley. AIRDO Information Secretary Ringampou Panmei said that the PCRDCNEI is an organization formed by people with vested interests with the soul objective of reportedly dividing the Rongmei Nagas on religious grounds.

Panmei charged that the PCRDCNEI led by its chief Lungthaorei Kamei has been allegedly befooling people by distorting the historical date and day of Rongmei’s biggest festival call Gaan Ngai which is a crime against the indigenous religion of Rongmei Nagas. He also alleged that the PCRDCNEI has been formed by some opportunists to meet their selfish end at the cost of the ignorant Rongmei population of this valley. Panmei, therefore, urged the Rongmei Nagas of Barak Valley not to fall into the reportedly evil design of Lungthaorei Kamei and his associates. THE SENTINEL

Cash siphoned off from bank accounts

SILCHAR, Oct 10: A huge amount of money deposited in individual bank accounts, both savings and fixed, has been siphoned off by a racket inside the Federal Bank branch located at Shillongpatty in Silchar town.

According to the investigating officers, BD Sharma and DL Bapui, it was the third time that account holders of the bank have lodged complaint with the police against siphoning of money from their accounts. It was first noticed by Aftarun Begum Laskar of Berenga Part III near this town who, while drawing money, discovered fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 1.36 lakh from her account.

According to the investigation police officers, this fraudulent withdrawal in the bank branch was master minded by a dealing assistant, Kutub Uddin Choudhury, in cooperation with other staff members. Till date, a staggering amount of Rs 20 lakh to 30 lakh has been believed to have been siphoned off.

Thomas Mathew, manager of the bank, said clerk Kutub Uddin Choudhury alias Babul is absconding. Drastic disciplinary action is being contemplated against him. Police investigation is on, and it is indicated that the amount siphoned off might be higher. THE SENTINEL

Realignment of NH-44 is the best option

SILCHAR, Oct 10: Heavy downpour of the last 48 hours in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, consequential landslides at Sonapur and disruption in the movement of all sorts of vehicular traffic on National Highway-44 have again brought into focus the question of realignment of the highway. Hundreds of vehicles on either side of the landslide site near the highly active seismic zone, 100 km from here, has been hit with poor supply of essential commodities, besides causing inconvenience to the travelling passengers. It is to be noted that this highway is the lifeline of supply not only for Barak Valley but also for Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura.

Sonapur has been identified as a highly landslide prone zone by the Geological Survey of India. In view of this, the BRTF had earlier planned to construct an alternative route to bypass the troubled-area. According to the plan, it was decided to divert the highway upwards and take it through a bridge over Lubha River and then through tunnelling, ensure all weather-movement of vehicles, passengers as well as commercial.

After the survey and critical examination of the geophysical features of the area, the Ministry of Surface Transport, Shipping and Highway gave the nod to a 120 mt-long and eight mt wide tunnel at Sonapur without any realignment which was built at a cost of Rs 117 crore by Project Setuk of Border Road Organization. It was inaugurated by the then Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and Union Minister for Defence in 2008 M M Raju.

Questions were raised in competent circles: Will the tunnel make the highway at Sonapur trouble free? Past records show that there have been mishaps on the disturbed Sonapur zone. A Mizoram State Transport Corporation bus and two loaded trucks coming from Shillong had a miraculous escape. Before the vehicles slided in slush and mud, the passengers and drivers managed to come out of the vehicles. Most tragic was the death of seven people travelling in a private passenger bus which, in torrential rains, skidded in the slush on the spot and rolled down the river Lubha. A series of landslides in the past and even in 2007 blocked the highway for a month.

Many factors like the rising bed of the river meandering along the zone, unstable land mass which is considerably sinking have been attributed as reasons for the landslides by experts. The tunnel covers 110 metre leaving 190 metres of the highway exposed to the vagaries of nature. Experts opine that the proposal of BRTF for realignment in consultation with the Border Road Research Institute and Geological Survey of India would be the best option. THE SENTINEL

Meet on disaster management held

SILCHAR, Oct 9: A district-level meeting on preparation to meet emergency situations due to possible earthquake was held under the presidentship of Cachar Deputy Commissioner Gautam Ganguly in his conference hall yesterday. In the meeting, various methods and strategies were formulated to respond quickly during natural disasters. Barak Valley, like the entire Northeast, is prone to tremors and the history fact-sheet records many quakes during the last five decades.
The Deputy Commissioner said that Cachar falls in the fifth zone of earthquake prone area and this warrants adoption of various preventive measures as well as foolproof strategy. The most important aspect of this disaster management is public awareness for pre-emptive steps.

It was decided at the meeting to divide the entire town of Silchar into four zones and every development block will be one zone. Common people have to be made conscious of their own responsibility along with the protective methods in order to minimize loss of life and property. Different departments of the government have been advised to submit their planning within seven days along with a list of materials to be kept ready in the event of natural calamity. It was also revealed by him that a demonstration by the Army would be arranged for creating awareness among people.

The Water Resources Department has been advised to strengthen the embankments and the PWD (R) to keep a close watch on the network of roads. The Silchar development authority has been asked to examine the structural conditions of weak houses and the Education Department to inspect the school buildings. Cachar Municipal Board Chairperson Susmita Dev, Vice Chairman Bijoyendra Prasad Singh, Silchar Development Authority Chairman Sujan Dutta, ADCs, Army, police, home guard, ASEB and PHE officials were also present in the meeting. THE SENTINEL

Centre considering ATR in NE

SILCHAR, Oct 9: The UPA Government at the Centre is considering to launch ATR flight service in the seven north-eastern States, said Sharifujjaman Laskar, general secretary of North East Congress Coordination Committee, here today. Addressing a press meet here, Laskar said the coordination committee as well as the Northeast MPs’ Forum urged the Centre to streamline air service in the Northeast. THE SENTINEL

Silchar-Shillong road blocked
SILCHAR, Oct 9: A massive landslide near Sonapur in Meghalaya blocked vehicular traffic in the Shillong-Silchar road since Thursday night. THE SENTINEL

BW to press for Jewel’s release
SILCHAR, Oct 9: The Black Widow will urge the State Government to release its supremo Jewel Garlosa, who is in jail, sources said. Gopinath Garlosa, elder brother of Jewel Garlosa as well as a Congress leader, has also been persuading the Government to free the Black Widow chief. Confirming this, Gopinath, who had met Jewel in Guwahati yesterday, told The Sentinel over telephone that he was trying for the release of Jewel in his personal capacity and hoped that Niranjan Hojai, ‘commander-in-chief’ of Black Widow, would reiterate his demand for the release of Jewel at a meeting with State Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma this week. Gopinath further hinted that the JNH, the apex body of the Dimasa community, would also press for the release of Jewel Garlosa as the Black Widow had surrendered and deposited their arms. THE SENTINEL

Pathetic roads led to Congress defeat in general election

SILCHAR, Oct 9: The blow of defeat to the Congress in the last general election is still fresh in the party and this was visible in the recent verbal war that took place between Santosh Mohan Dev and Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala in a party meeting. The meeting was also attended by APCC leader Manjusree Pathak. According to sources, pathetic condition of the roads in Silchar was one of the main reasons for the defeat of Congress candidate Sontosh Mohan Dev.

Referring to the much talked about Rs 63-crore road project for Silchar funded by CRF, Goala said, the construction firm, Gautam Construction, has created problems by distributing the work among sub-contractors giving them 25 to 30 per cent commission. Sources said Gautam Construction was known to be very close to Dev, who got the project sanctioned when he was a Union Cabinet Minister despite resistance from Dispur.

Dev also said that when the Rs 20-crore project was sanctioned for the first phase, no contractor was allowed to even submit any tender. “Where was Goala then? What did he do?” an excited Dev bounced back. Goala, on the other hand, alleged that the Rs 170-crore Storm Water Drainage project was entrusted with the NBCC keeping the State Government in complete darkness. It is to be noted that Dev was instrumental in entrusting the mega project to the NBCC, which left the project halfway creating more complicities in finishing it.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader as well as Silchar MP Kabindra Purkayastha alleged: “Ego clash among Congress leaders are the main hurdles in the completion of various road projects as the latter has hidden nexus with contractors.” THE SENTINEL

Silchar Police busts sex racket

SILCHAR, Oct 9: Silchar police today produced 10 youths, including four girls, in a local court. The youths were found in a compromising situation inside a roadside dhaba last night. One of the girls was released last night and she is under treatment in Silchar Civil Hospital. Others who were picked up have been identified as Rejaul Haque Barbhuiya, son of Abdul Haque Barbhuiya of Ghaniala area of Silchar town, Samar Das, son of Suraj Das, Kanchan Das, son of Ranjan Das, Manoj Jain, son of M Jain, Kamrul Islam Barbhuiya, son of Riajul Ali Barbhuiya of Katigorah and four girls. THE SENTINEL

Night landing at Silchar airport awaits inauguration

SILCHAR, Oct 8: Night landing facilities at Kumbhirgram Airport, Silchar, are ready for operations, but since it has not been ceremonially inaugurated by any politician, the passengers are subjected to immense harassment.

On Wednesday, IC-253 flight carrying 140 passengers, destined to Silchar, could not take off from Kolkata airport due to some technical snags. The flight was scheduled to return to Kolkata carrying 135 passengers from Silchar airport. An airport source said, the technical snag was to be corrected by Wednesday evening, but since the night landing facility was not operative in Silchar, the flight could not take off from Kolkata. It resulted into harassment for the passengers.

Meanwhile, the restaurant inside the Silchar airport has been closed since August 26 and as a result all the 135 passengers had to wait at the airport without any refreshment, supposed to be served by the airlines authorities. It was another issue of utter negligence by the authority at Silchar airport that there were about 50 chairs to accommodate 135 waiting passengers. THE SENTINEL

Random encroachment of footpaths for private occasions

SILCHAR, Oct 8: The local people here, it is alleged, are indulging in encroachment of the footpaths for their personal use causing inconvenience for the pedestrians. As seen in the photograph, a pandal has been constructed on the footpath along the busy Central Road for some social function.
The situation has worsened due to lack of proper administrative vigil by the civic and civil administration as well as an indifferent attitude of the police and an equally passive approach of the citizens. Therefore, such encroachments by businessmen, to extend their business premises, vendors as well as construction-builders to deposit their materials like sand, chips and bricks on footpaths are quite common.

All this goes on despite prohibitory orders being in force as promulgated by the district administration not to encroach footpaths and violation of it will invite action as per the provisions of law. But, all this goes unabated with nobody to take any action against it. THE SENTINEL

‘Skeleton staff strength hits policing in Cachar’

SILCHAR, Oct 8: Policing system in Cachar district is seriously affected by manpower shortage. Cachar Additional SP Jayanta Chowdhury, in an interview with this correspondent, admitted that investigating officers of the rank of sub-inspector fall short of the present requirement. In a district where yearly 3,000 cases are registered against crimes and law-and-order violations alone, the shortage of manpower is really a pressure on the department. At present the number of pending cases is more than 1,900. Before six months, the number of pending cases was more than 2,700, said the ASP who was posted to the district four months back.

Chowdhury said Cachar is otherwise a peaceful zone, barring the fact that the district is being used as a corridor by the extremist elements from Manipur, Mizoram etc. places via Jirighat, Kachudharam etc.

Special reported cases such as murder, rape etc are considerably higher here, which the Additional SP (headquarters) is supposed to supervise.

Till April 12, 2009, non-bailable arrest warrant pending cases numbered up to 510 in police records. According to Chowdhury, shortage of manpower in Cachar police has seriously affected the traffic system in Silchar. Besides road congestion, increasing public vehicles and carriers have added to the woes. THE SENTINEL

Sahidul does a volte-face, playing Bengali card now

SILCHAR, Oct 8: In the 1980’s, Sahidul Alom Choudhury had created a furore in Barak Valley by declaring that the colloquial Bengali language spoken in the valley had no resemblance with the mainstream Bengali language. He was of the view that rather the language of the valley had immense similarities with Asomiya language. Sahidul Alom, then an upcoming politician desperate to find a footing in the AGP, had made this comment during the Hailakandi session of the Axom Xahitya Xabha (AXX).

Organizations like the Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya Sammelon condemned the comment, but Sahidul got his desired lift in the State politics and became a trusted lieutenant of the then Chief Minister Prafulla Mahanta. During the AGP regime, Sahidul was the boss in Barak Valley, both at the party and administration levels.

But, times have changed as Sahidul Alom tasted defeat in the last Assembly elections in his fort, Algapur, against Rahul Roy. His mentor Mahanta has returned to the AGP, which has already inked an alliance with the saffron brigade, BJP, till the 2011 Assembly elections. Sahidul Alom has realized that if this alliance continues, the Muslim votes will elude him in the next election. A desperate Sahidul Alom is now out to play the Bengali linguistic card.

He is playing the role of a catalyst to create a chemistry between the AIUDF and the Trinamool Congress arguing that the former champions the cause of the Bengali Muslim while the latter will get the support of the Bengali Hindus.

Sahidul explained that Bengali Hindus constitute 20 per cent and Bengali Muslim 30 per cent of the total population, and if both the communities combine under the umbrella of AUDF-TMC alliance, Bengalees would be a force in Asom. Sahidul Alom has already declared that he has distanced himself from the AGP led by Chandra Mohan Patowary, who asked the Hailakandi AGP to send a report on Sahidul’s recent remarks on the basis of which disciplinary action could be taken against him. In Gautam Roy’s Hailakandi, none of the Opposition parties has a powerful leader except Sahidul Alom.

The Hailakandi AIUDF leaders have made it clear that they will not accept Sahidul Alom as their leader. Sahidul recently created quite a sensation by distributing lungis during Idd under the banner of Ajmal Foundation, an NGO run by AIUDF boss Badrauddin Ajmal. People started to believe that Sahidul would join the AIUDF. THE SENTINEL

ABYSA to stage dharna in front of Rail Bhavan

SILCHAR, Oct 8: A 61-member delegate of the All Barak Youth and Students’ Association (ABYSA) left for New Delhi on October 7 to stage a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan in protest against the delay in the change of nomenclature of the Silchar Railway Station as the Bhasa Swahid Railway Station. ABYSA leader Baharul Islam said they will stage dharna in front of Rail Bhavan on October 12 and 13. THE SENTINEL

Rongmei Naga cultural centre inaugurated

SILCHAR, Oct 8: The much awaited Cultural and Research Centre Hall of the Rongmei Nagas at Kagaluang Rongmei Naga village, Meherpur, near the southern fringe of this town was inaugurated with all the verve and gaiety yesterday. Attired in their traditional dress and costumes, old and young, men and women of the Rongmei Naga community attended the occasion with full enthusiasm.

With the arrival of the chief guest and guests of honour, the morning session began with huai-ding (mass prayer) led by Eraipow Kamei, Chaluthau Kamei, Lungaifunnang Riamei and Babusing Gangmei.

It was followed by the inauguration of Asom Rongmei Naga Cultural and Research Centre Hall built under the centrally sponsored tribal development fund of Rs 11 lakh passed by Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala.

Poupai – Chapriak Research and Development Council, North East India, secretary Lungthaurei Kamei welcomed the August Assembly who, in brief, spoke about the background of the Centre and the objectives before it.

It was, as he said, to protect, preserve and promote Rongmei culture and heritage, besides carrying on research work on their ethnicity and history, delve deep into the past and present and explore the unexplored in the interest of the community.

The welcome cultural dance was presented by Ragailuang of Ujantarapur and the other cultural troupe Kaguilang of this town. Besides presentation to the chief guest and guests of honour, village elders of the community were also felicitated on the occasion. Chief guest Dinesh Prasad Goala, while addressing the gathering, expressed his deep appreciation towards the efforts of the Rongmei Nagas across Barak Valley for their peaceful coexistence and their sincere endeavours to work to keep their tradition and culture alive.

Goala said that he was confident with the inauguration of this centre and that it would provide them all the incentives and inspiration to improve further in their noble cause.

WEP and BC and Agriculture Minister Promila Rani Brahma, an invited guest, could not attend due to the tragedy at Baliachung. Rongmei Naga village elders wished all the best for the Centre in their message of good will. Competitive cultural dance by villagers and traditional songs by Tuna Le Gaan and Lakpui Le Meipu delighted the audience. The programme came to an end with the vote of thanks offered by Poupei Chapriak Research and Development Council, North East India vice president Thaingampow Kamei. THE SENTINEL

Stage being readied for clash in Cachar BJP

SILCHAR, Oct 7: The stage is being readied for another fight between the Kabindra Purkayastha and the anti-Kabindra Purkayastha lobby for deciding as to who would be the next district president as well as who would be the party candidates in Silchar and Katigorah in the ensuing 2011 Assembly elections. After the sudden demise of former Silchar MLA Bimalangshu Roy, who used to lead the anti-Purkayastha lobby, a vacuum has been created in the district BJP.

Buoyant with the victory in the Lok Sabha election, Purkayastha is now aiming to keep the house in order with people close to him. Moreover, without discussing the matter with anyone in the district committee, Purkayastha made his son, Kanad Purkayastha, his nominee for the MPLAD functions, and, this created much resentment in the district committee.

Kanad had virtually monitored the Silchar Municipality Board election and miserably failed as the party could win only in six wards, though in the general election, BJP was leading in 23 out of the 28 wards in the Silchar Municipality area.

Kanad was also allegedly charged with collecting money from party sympathisers, but, Purkayastha later defended his son arguing that he personally had advised Kanad to collect donation which was subsequently distributed among the candidates. In a retaliatory move, the district committee had issued show cause notices to some leading members of the district alleging them that they had sabotaged the party in the civic body poll.

In this backdrop, activities had been geared up for the formation of new district committees scheduled in November-December. Kabindra Purkayastha is in favour of former principal of GC College Partha Sarathi Chanda, who was expelled from the party for alleged sabotage in the 2006 Assembly elections when Bimalangshu Roy lost it to Bithika Dev of the Congress.

A major portion of the district committee was virtually allergic to Chanda, who, however, had a close relation with the VHP and RSS.

In an interesting twist to the whole episode, the anti-Purkayastha lobby had been backing Kiritik Purkayastha, younger brother of Kabindra Purkayastha. The motive was simple; to stick the label of family rule on Kabindra babu’s back. THE SENTINEL