Mrinal Hazarika and Dilip Nunisa come together for BG completion

Silchar, Feb 27: Mrinal Hazarika of the 28 battalion of the ULFA, which had laid down arms, and Dilip Nunisa of the pro-talk faction of the DHD made a scathing attack on the government for dilly-dallying the implementation of the Silchar-Lumding Broad Gauge project. The surrendered militants of both the ULFA and DHD (Nunisa) cried together for speedy implementation of the BG project during a convocation organized by the All Cachar Karimganj Hailakandi Students’ Association (ACKHSA) and All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) on Friday.

Nunisa, while addressing the meet, said the broadgauge work was slow even at places where there were no militant activities. He also alleged that the newly constructed bridge meant for the BG near Jatinga had already collapsed before any train moved over it. Hazarika, on the other hand, said Barak Valley is a part of Assam and it is the duty of all political and non-political organizations to initiate a joint movement for the speedy completion of the BG project.

Former president of Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya O Samskritik Sammelon Prof Subir Kar, in his speech as the chief guest, lambasted the intellectuals of Barak Valley saying they were afraid of the police and hence do not openly claim their demands.

Others who spoke on the occasion included former CPI-M MLA Dipak Bhattacharjee, ACKHSA president Rupam Nandi Purkayastha and ADSU president Prafulla Hafila. THE SENTINEL

RSS chief to visit Silchar on March 5

RSS chief to visit Silchar on March 5

Silchar, Feb 26: RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat will pay a three-day visit to Silchar from March 5. Bhagawat, during his stay, would attend a Sadbhavna Sammelon to be held on the day of his arrival. On the following day, he would be meeting RSS office bearers from the south Assam zone.

On March 7, Bhagawat is likely to address a public rally at 3 pm in Town Club ground. Local RSS leaders informed the schedule in a press meet today. THE SENTINEL

Update on Silchar-Lumding broad gauge expansion project

RAJYA SABHA

On Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam, Badarpur-Kumarghat gauge conversion project, earthwork, major and minor bridges, tunneling and ballasting etc. have been taken up. Overall physical progress is about 45 per cent. The progress is adversely affected due to law and order problems in the region.

Cost of the project has increased due to various reasons including price escalation, change in scope of work, standard of construction etc. The anticipated coat as per Budget 2009-10 is Rs. 2500 crore. The project is targeted for completion by march 2012.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Shri E. Ahamed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

AKS/HK/LK/TR

Source: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=55659On

ERDF planning for two new colleges in Barak Valley

ERDF planning for two new colleges in Barak Valley

From our Staff Reporter

Silchar, Feb 22: “ERD Foundation is planning to set up a pharmaceutical college and a women science college in Barak Valley by 2012,” stated its chairman Mahbubul Haque. Expressing grave concern at the present education scenario of the valley, Haque stressed upon the change of mindset of the students, guardians as well as educationists.

Haque further said it was a pity that adequate number of educational institutions were not coming up with innovative curriculum to cater to the demand of the present times. He cited the instance of the upcoming shopping malls which require a good number of floor management staff and said vocational training should be imparted to the unemployed youths to meet the demand. He also added the traditional education system ends up churning out loads of graduates who are not prepared for career prospects in the future.

Haque said institutions under ERDF have always stressed on forging tie-ups with various organizations so that students, after completing the course, could be easily employed. He further said Asom University, Silchar, in spite of having adequate funds has failed to rise to the expectation only because it was unable to introduce job-oriented syllabus.

“The foundation will organize an international seminar on global warming in its newly established engineering college in Ri-bhoi district,” he said. He also praised the Meghalaya Government for extending assistance to the ERDF for setting up an engineering college. THE SENTINEL

AATS seeks security for displaced Reangs

38 jhum-cultivating families forced to vacate their land

From our Staff Reporter

Silchar, Feb 18: Members of the All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) have urged upon the Cachar Deputy Commissioner to depute security forces for accompanying the members of the organization during their visit to Kanglaipahar in Dholai on Saturday. AATS secretary Galim Gangmei said the appeal to the DC was made after one Alainzad Barbhuya allegedly forced the Reang families residing in Kanglaipahar to vacate the place.

He said nearly 38 Reang families have been residing in the area earning their livelihood through jhum cultivation. Gangmei said the AATS is planning to rehabilitate the displaced Reangs and has sought assistance from the DC in this regard. A memorandum seeking security arrangement for the Reangs was also handed over to the DC in this regard, he added. THE SENTINEL

‘Reangs not involved in recent kidnapping’

Our Staff Reporter

Silchar, Feb 17: “Reangs are not involved in the kidnapping of forest guard Nizamuddin Majumdar,” claimed a spokesman of the newly formed United Democratic Liberation Front of Barak Valley (UDLFBV), Assam. He, while talking to The Sentinel, hinted that it might be the handiwork of Atabur Bahini, a gang of goons operating along the Assam-Mizoram border of South Hailakandi.

Majumdar was kidnapped at gun-point last week and unidentified miscreants have contacted his family members demanding Rs 10 lakh and 10 sets of mobile hand sets. Sources said the miscreants were speaking in broken Bengali and it was assumed that they might belong to the Reang community.

The outfit, UDLFBV, had recently come up after the Panchuram Reang-led United Liberation Front of Barak Valley (ULFBV) surrendered to the State Government while another Reang outfit United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA) almost perished following the arrest of its leader Dhanyanram Reang.

On the other hand, Muslim militancy was on the rise along the sensitive border area as Atabur, once an accomplice of Dhanyaram, formed his own outfit and currently his group was active in the region. THE SENTINEL

‘Permanent police patrol post in Kalain soon’

‘Permanent police patrol post in Kalain soon’

From our Staff Reporter

Silchar, Feb 17: “A permanent police patrol post will be coming up soon in Kalain,” said State’s Excise Minister Gautam Roy today. The decision was taken by Roy after the recent kidnapping of Kalain Tea Estate assistant manager Chinmoy Kanti Paul was in news.

Roy along with his cabinet colleague from Barak Valley Dinesh Prasad Goala took up the matter to set up a patrol post with the IGP and it was decided that the post would come up in the near future.

Meanwhile, mystery shrouded over the kidnapping of Paul as no outfit has till now claimed the responsibility or demanded any ransom. Kalain, the entry point to South Assam has, in the recent times, become an easy prey-field for the militants from the neighbouring district as well as for local goons.

In 2002, Harshika Serawat, four-year old daughter of an assistant manager of Kalain TE, was picked up from her official quarters by suspected Dimasa militants. IGP (SB) Khagen Sarmah played a vital role in getting Harshika released from the clutches of the abductors, though the identity of the miscreants was not made public till now.

Subsequently, assistant manager of Bickrampur TE Junia Jagai was abducted by miscreants but was later released after he reportedly paid ransom to his abductors. In recent times, Faruq Ahmed, Majid Raja and Himangshu Das were also kidnapped and the miscreants eventually released them after getting a good amount of money, sources said.

But in the Chinmoy Paul kidnapping case, the most intriguing trait was that till now no outfit has claimed responsibility of the kidnapping neither any demand for ransom was made.

The Army swung to action immediately but success still eluded them. Sources said a gang of forest mafia involved in illegal collection of stones was behind the kidnapping. It further hinted that, forest officials were in no mood to co-operate with the army officials as well as the investigating police team. THE SENTINEL

Bhuban Hill toll rises to three

From our Staff Reporter

Silchar, Feb 16: Some pilgrims visiting Bhuban Hills to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on Maha Shivaratri Day were destined never to come back as three bodies of the devotees were found from the hill till now. One Shobha Rajbhor (14) died on the spot when a stone fell on her. Her body was recovered on Friday. 

Two more dead bodies of the pilgrims were recovered from Bhuban Hill today, taking the toll to three. One of the dead persons has been identified as Laxmi Narayan Nunia (55), a rickshaw puller of Koiya Tea garden in Lala, and the other has been identified as Kanan Bala Paul, a teacher of Karimganj. The bodies were recovered from a place called Hatubhanga in Bhuban Hill. 

On the other hand, one Hari Narayan Kurmi was found unconscious on the hill while a 60-year-old woman Chanmani Rabidas of Kashipur is missing till today. THE SENTINEL

Culture is the sum total of ways of living

From our Correspondent

KARIMGANJ, Feb 16: The Pramesh Chandra Bhattacharyya Memorial Lecture 2009-10 was delivered by Prof Sarat Chandra Panigrahi of Department of Philosophy, Utkal University (Bhubaneswar), on Monday at Karimganj College. 

He spoke on the “values in Indian culture.” Culture, he said, is the sum total of the way of living built up by groups of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another. 

Culture is integrally related to values, Prof Panigrahi said adding that the theory of purusarthas is one of the central classical theories of human values or philosophy of life. Dharma one of the four purusarthas, does not mean religion, he said. “Dharma also does not stand for tradition, custom and ritual. Tradition, custom and ritual vary from person to person and from place to place and Dharma stands for those regulative and constitutive principles which are eternal in nature,” he added. 

Prof Panigrahi said the philosophy of Gita is the major source of values in Indian culture. The Bhagavad Gita has been viewed as a canonical text, a philosophical treatise, a handbook of ethics and a piece of philosophical poetry. The message of the Gita, he said, is the core of all religions system and philosophies.

Prof Panigrahi also said the global scenario today is one of utter decadence in all spheres of human existence. Humanity is passing through a transition when the age-old values are crumbling alongwith them the social, political and religions institutions which thrive on them and philosophy is not an exception. “Humanity, today embraces faulty paradigm of ‘progress’ where man is constructed as predominantly biological and psychic being. As a result there is proliferation of knowledge and know-how which can help man to improve his physical lot,” he said. 

He further added, in the contemporary perspective, it is not difficult to see the necessity of nurturing values that will create a good man and an ideal society. The function was presided over by advocate Abdul Basit Choudhury, the president of the Governing Body, Karimganj College. THE SENTINEL

Dusty roads, broken drains causing health hazards in Silchar

Dusty roads, broken drains causing health hazards in Silchar

SILCHAR, Feb 15: On the 40th Foundation Day of Silchar Press Club, various speakers articulating their views on health hazards posed by dusty roads and open drains of this town expressed their serious concern at the apathy of the district administration and civic authorities to improve the basic facilities of connectivity and hygienic services for the citizens.

Initiating the submission on the theme “Health risks of broken, dusty roads and exposed drains,” eminent journalist Atin Das said the lack of basic civic facilities “have posed before the media to activate the authorities concerned for remedial measures.” He added to say under Article 19 of the Constitution, every Indian has the freedom to enjoy basic civic amenities. It is his fundamental right to ask public servants like ministers, MPs, MLAs, DCs and officials for explanation since they are being paid by people. He also reminded that aggrieved people on various counts approach the media for remedies.

The Greens president Shankar Chakraborty, while campaigning for an eco-friendly environment, referred to Article 21 of the Constitution which ensures pollution free living for every citizen. He was sad to note that people are deprived of the basic rights to free air, pure water and healthy life. He further pointed out at the worst condition of dirty, dusty and bumpy roads of this town as well as the open drains which have become hazardous, endangering life.

Dust from the roads mixed with the exhaust of vehicles, chemical wastes and refuses of all sorts are playing havoc with the life of citizens. He lambasted the pollution control board for its neglect and its failure to maintain ambient air quality caused by noise and air pollution.

Dr Bhabatosh Roy of Silchar Medical College in his submission said the roads and drains of this town are a major risk to the lives of common people. Diseases like that of skin, ENT, liver, lungs and other parts of the body are affecting the longevity of human life. According to him, because of pollution, nearly 6,000 children die every year in this region and 90 per cent people in general are victims of this phenomenon. It was an alarming situation and called upon the media to compel the administration for corrective measures.

Others who spoke on the occasion included The Mizoram Post editor Nilotpal Chowdhury, Mihir Lal Roy, Shasanka Shekhar Paul. Silchar Press Club general secretary Shankar Dey conducted the proceedings while press club president Sanat Kumar Koiri presided over the programme. The Press Club would hold a year-long programme to celebrate and commemorate its 40-year long eventful journey. THE SENTINEL

Biplobi Fulosena recalled

Biplobi Fulosena recalled

SILCHAR, Feb 15: Arjuni Manipuri Prakashani, Kalinjar, Silchar remembered Biplobi Fulosena Sinha through a literary meeting at Kalinjar on the outskirts of Silchar town on Sunday. The memorial meeting was presided over by Krishna Bhallab Sinha and was attended, among others, by social workers and litterateurs Kamadev Sinha, Manoranjan Sinha, Mangal Babu Sinha, Gandhi Sinha, Jogendra Sinha, Champalal Sinha, Rasamoy Sinha, Babul Sinha, Moni Kanta Sinha, Mihir Sinha and Banabir Sinha. Arjuni Manipuri Prakashani also released its special issue (magazine) edited by Sudhanya Sinha in memory of Biploabi Fulosena Sinha. THE SENTINEL

Demand for separation of Barak Valley is not a new demand

UTDC reiterates demand for separation of Barak Valley

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, Feb 15: Union Territory Demand Committee (UTDC) has reiterated its demand for separation of Barak Valley from Assam. Paritosh Paul Chowdhury, president of the Committee, while briefing mediapersons today said, “This is not a new demand of the people of this valley.” The movement for separation has been going on since 1948 which he claimed was the first of its kind in the country, he added.

In fact, Indian National Congress in principle did accept the demand, but the formation of State Reorganization Commission in 1954 created certain hurdle in the process, he pointed out.

Paul Chowdhury revealed the movement was rechristened under the banner of Cachar State Reorganization Committee and a memorandum on the mass demand as “Purbachal Reconsidered” was submitted to New Delhi for taking decision on the issue. He further said on the eve of the formation of Meghalaya in 1967, another memorandum signed by the prominent leaders of the time which included Mahitosh Purkayastha, Jyotsna Chanda, Nihar Ranjan Laskar, MPs and MLAs was presented to New Delhi, but there was no response. When the Mizoram Accord was signed between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and MNF Chief Laldenga, the demand was placed in front of the Prime Minister who sought the opinion of Sontosh Mohan Dev, a powerful political figure of Barak Valley. Dev gave his opinion in favour of separation.

Again, when Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram were made Union Territories in 1971, the movement for separation was spearheaded under the banner of the Union Territory Demand Committee, Paul Chowdhury said. The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Home Minister KC Pant, whom a delegation of the Committee met and briefed on the demand, gave assurance of sympathetic consideration. He regretted to say that despite the demand being justified, he blamed the leaders of this valley cutting across party lines for their failure to give any direction or dimension to the movement.

Paul Chowdhury pointed out in order to further strengthen the movement, a 100-member delegation of UTDC would sit for dharna at Boat Club in New Club on March 7 joined by the supporters of the national capital. The Committee would also hold a press meet in order to bring the demand in the lime light and thereafter submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Sonia Gandhi for their intervention and acceptance of the demand of 35 lakh people of this valley. THE SENTINEL

Infighting Cachar BJP continues

From our Staff Reporter

SILCHAR, Feb 14: An important issue –– demand for security for the Lumding-Silchar and Agartala-Silchar-bound trains –– is lying at the back as mud slinging among the party members of the district BJP unit continues with the existing lobbies, one led by district BJP president Kirit Bhushan Purkayastha and the other led by Kabindra Purkayastha’s son Kanad Purkayastha.

This was more evident when the district committee of the BJP led by Kirit Bhushan staged a dharna in front of the Cachar DC office protesting against price rise. Kabindra’s “followers” reportedly maintained a clear distance from the act of the district committee though he himself along with some of his close party men were seen at the dharna.

On the other hand, the BJP ward commissioners had sought permission from the district unit president to convene a press meet focusing on the irregularities going on in the Congress-led Municipality Board but were reportedly denied the permission. On this, it was further reported, BJP leader Dili Paul organized a press meet at the Silchar Circuit House without the permission.

At this Kirit Bhushan reacted sharply and lambasted on the party ward commissioners alleging that they had not taken prior permission from the district committee for organizing the press meet. He said this kind of acts will weaken the party base and give ample scope to the opposition to fight back in the 2011 Assembly election. THE SENTINEL

ADSU, ACKHSA to hold mass convention on BG, E-W Corridor

ADSU, ACKHSA to hold mass convention on BG, E-W Corridor

Special Correspondent

Silchar, Feb 14: In order to put presure both on the Central and the State Government for early completion of Silchar-Lumding BG and East – West Corridor, All Dimasa Students’ Union and All Cachar Karimganj and Hailakandi Students’ Association have arranged a mass convention on February 26 here at Gandhi Bhawan.

Asit Deb Roy, general secretary of ACKHSA central committee, said student and youth leaders of Tripura, Mizoram, Brahmaputra Valley and North Cachar Hills, besides Barak Valley, would attend the convention.

This convention would chalk out the course of action in order to make the movement for the two important projects of this  region with the public support of the neighbouring states and districts.

Asit Deb Roy said that so far the authorities concerned have been blaming insurgency as the cause of delay in the completion of BG and Super Highway.

ACKHSA leader said now that militant organizations of North Cachar Hills have laid down arms and ammunitions and normalcy has returned, work on both the projects should be taken up in right earnest by the ministry of railways and the national highway authority of India. He cautioned if nothing came out concrete in this regard, all the student and youth organizations of the areas and states concerned would join a mass movement. THE SENTINEL

Devotees throng Sidheswar temple on Shivaratri in Hailakandi

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, Feb 12: Hundreds of devotees today visited the famous Sidheswar Shiva temple at Kapilagram, Panchgram in Hailakandi district, 30 km from here, located on the bank of river Barak and by the side of NH-53. The uniqueness of the temple is that it stands on the rocky defile built up in natural course of time, defying the sweeping currents of the river during monsoon.

This pilgrimage destination is thronged by devotees from different parts of this valley and even beyond which has its own background and history. On the day of holy “Shiva Chaturdashi” the devotees besides offering prayers and performing other rituals and rites for seeking the blessings of Lord Shiva take a dip in Barak in order to absolve themselves of sins, as if it were, in accordance with the religious tradition. According to legend, Kapil Muni, creator of Sankhyadarshan, is believed to have meditated at this temple and thereafter it has also come to be known as Kapilashram. It is also said that since it has also been a place of meditation and prayer for fulfilment of one’s wishes, the temple is also known as “Sidheswar Tirtha.”

In the distant past, according to another legend, vast stretches of the area and land were under the domination of tribals. Eminent historian Rajmohan Nath quoting census of India, 1961, Assam, and district census handbook of Cachar says “another tradition speaks of the shrine being installed by one Pura King, a local chief who was a vassal either of the Tipperah king or of Lokenath, a governor of the Joytunga – Varsha, today’s Jatinga Valley, under the suzerainty of the Tipperah King.” It was at the initiative of this Tipperah King that the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built up.

On the holy occasion of Baruni Mela held in April every year, the pilgrimage is also visited by devotees for bathing in the river which according to their belief and tradition becomes as pure as the Ganges.

Among the milling crowd of devotees was Shakal Deb Roy, a CWC worker, and his family members consisting of his three and half year old son Biswajit Kumar, who is said to be born by the blessings of Lord Shiva, when Shakal was serving at Badarpur. They came all the way from Patna to offer prayers at the shrine for being blessed with a son. Janaki Mohan Das (80) who was paralysed came around, overcoming the deformity, was also at the temple to offer a cow as donation to the Ashram as he had prayed for his recovery.

The temple is a complex of Durga, Bishnu, Bhairob and Kapil Muni, besides that of Shiva. After Giri family priests, it is now the Chakraborty clan who have taken over the responsibility of performing day to day function, prayer and other rituals of the temple. People in general have been demanding to bring this holy pilgrimage on the tourist circuit of Assam. THE SENTINEL

Opportunities in Plastics Engineering and Technology

Special Correspondent

SILCHAR, Feb 10: “There is ample opportunity for unemployed youths in plastic industries which calls for proper training and guidance,” pointed out Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology coordinator Rajib Das, while speaking at the one-day awareness programme held in the Gandhi Bhavan premises today. He said more than one lakh unemployed youths could be self employed by exploring the employment avenues based on the plastic of gas crackers.

He revealed four such awareness programmes were arranged in different parts of the State. CIPET, he added, is a certified institute of the Central Government to impart quality training and technical services. Inaugurating the awareness programme, Cachar DC HK Dev Mahanta expressed that such exercise by the institute would go a long way in helping the unemployed youths to set up plastic industries which are available in the State in coordination with the newly established Brahmaputra crackers and polymer limited.

Others who addressed the trainees included ADC SK Das, DICC general manager MK Sanyal and Guwahati BCPL chief manager A Khound who presided over the function. The speakers in an identical tone advised the youths who attended the programme to have the basic knowledge and acquire aptitude to go for small scale industries which have wide prospect as well as market for their benefit and employment. CIPET offers long term and short term courses in plastic processing and testing, mould technology, entrepreneurship development, skill come technology upgradation, computer-based training, technical services as well as consultancy and advisory services. THE SENTINEL

Bangladesh grabs 300 acres of India's land

Bangladesh grabs 300 acres of Madanpur TE

From our Staff Reporter

Silchar, Feb 9: Due to poor fencing work along the sensitive Indo-Bangladesh border in Karimganj district, nearly 300 acres of land belonging to Madanpur Tea Estate in Karimganj district along the border has been occupied by Pallartol TE of Bangladesh. Sources said the fencing work was being done by the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC).

Karimganj district administration sources alleged that the fencing work along the border by NBCC was very poor and that it was easy for the tea estate on the other side to capture the area belonging to the country. The sources further informed The Sentinel that the Karimganj DC had earlier visited Madanpur TE, located around eight kilometres away from Nilambazaar, to inspect the quality of the fencing work and had expressed his concern over its poor condition. He said that he received regular complaints from various quarters regarding the poor border fencing and assured to bring the matter to the notice of the Union Home Ministry.

The sources further said that erection of pillars and setting of fence was done in such a manner that 300 acres of land belonging to Madanpur TE happened to fall on the other side of the border. The tea estate had earlier tried to re-occupy their legitimate land but Bangladeshi goons allegedly foiled their bid to save the land, the sources said and added that the BSF surprisingly maintained silence on the issue.

According to reports, Madanpur TE had filed a case in the Gauhati High Court but till now nothing has materialized. Dr Angamuthu, on the other hand, said “not an inch of Indian land will be allowed to be taken away by Bangladesh.” However, the sources questioned how the NBCC could erect pillars without a proper map? THE SENTINEL

Parimal Shuklabaidya challenges Dinesh Prasad Goala to come clean

Shuklabaidya challenges Goala to come clean

‘What has the Urban Development Minister done for Barak Valley?’

SILCHAR, Feb 8: BJP MLA of Dholai Parimal Shuklabaidya has challenged Urban Development Minister Dinesh Prasad Goala to come clean on the implementation of Centrally funded schemes and projects in his Lakhipur constituency. He threw the gauntlet before the Minister when the latter was addressing a public meeting and called him “worthless” as a people’s representative.

When asked about his reaction to this insinuation, the Dholai MLA spoke to The Sentinel, “I would like the Minister to make public all the utilization of development funds by displaying it against each and every project and scheme implemented by him as I myself have done.” He hit back at Goala and questioned “what prevents him from putting on hoardings or bill boards naming the projects, its details and amounts allotted.”

Shuklabaidya claimed himself to be the first MLA to bring the attention and information of the grievances of the people of his constituency, the lists of roads, bridges, culverts and welfare schemes for scheduled caste and other backward class people corroborated with photographs which have been completed by him and also specifying the sanctioned funds against each of them. He invited the Minister to come and see for himself the “transparency” and “accountability” maintained by him.

The MLA as a specific case referred to the improvement and the upgrade of the important road link from Amraghat to Mohankhal which has been completed under the annual plan at the estimated and sanctioned amount of Rs 14,57,900 as proposed by him. He asserted, “There is no hidden agenda with me. The three blocks under his constituency, Narsingpur, Borjalenga and Palanghat, have now better road connectivity.”

The people of his constituency (SC) are economically backward and live in adversities who need support for their betterment. “To play ducks and drakes with their money is a crime,” Shuklabaidya pointed out. The MLA rued though he represents the SC constituency, hardly does he get sufficient funds or grants in aid to take care of the people in distress. He alleged how a close relative of the Minister Ram Jeevan Rabidas of Dubribasti got a Tata Sumo (AS 11 B – 3404) from money sanctioned at his instance from the SC component fund. Continuing his tirade, he asked Goala to come clean also on his assets and properties.

Shuklabaidya reminded the Minister that he is in charge of Barak Valley but what has he done for its development? He was more critical when he said the minister has never taken up the burning issues of NH-44, now in worst shape, or the Silchar-Lumding BG as well as the East-West Corridor with the Surface Road and Highway Ministry or the Railway Ministry. He also reminded him when he was the PHE Minister, he never floated tenders for works and allotted them to his chosen persons arbitrarily. THE SENTINEL

Parallel alternative to NH-44 demanded

SILCHAR, Feb 7: The demand for revival of the century old parallel alternative to NH 44 has been revived by the people of Barak Valley in view of the frequent mishaps, landslides during monsoon and traffic congestion, besides tortuous hilly terrain and unending curves. In the event of heavy downpours, the highway remains blocked for days due to landslips. In fact, in the past existed a route connecting both the Jaintia hills and the Cachari kingdom through which the soldiers of Jaintia kingdom used to enter on the place of Cachar to impose the domination of Jaintia kings on Cachari subjects by collecting taxes. This was stated by Bidyutjyoti Purkayastha, former deputy inspector of schools, who has relevant records and documents with him.

In order to combat the Jaintia invaders, the Cachari king deputed Manipuri warriors who settled on the border line. It is said that the present inhabitants of the Manipuri villages near Jalalpur are the descendants of those warriors. After the coming into being the Cachar division of Assam forest department in 1946, a jeepable road was constructed from Natanpur tea garden to Umkiang of Meghalaya for inspection of forest of the north – west areas. After the partition, Sylhet – Shillong road link was disconnected and it was felt necessary to connect Cachar with Shillong, then Assam capital. The construction of Jowai – Badarpur road was therefore started by the Assam PWD in early 50’s. The contractor engaged for the construction as the record shows was a British identified as W Gill improved the said forest road and used it for collection of ration for the workers from the Jalalpur market. The road was popularly known as Capline. Shillong – Jowai – Badarpur – Agartala road was declared NH 44 in 1971 and taken over by BRTF from state PWDs for development and maintenance. Purkayastha quotes a resident of Kushiarkul village of Jalalpur Pargana, and elected chairman of Silchar Mahukama Parishad, who wrote a letter to Dr. Lutfur Rahaman, then PWD minister of Assam, in 1974 requesting him to divert the NH 44 from Umkiang of Meghalaya to Gumrah of Assam via Jalalpur. Dr. Rahaman recommended the proposal to Central Minister concerned Raj Bahadur. An enquiry as ordered by the Centre was conducted by a BRTF engineer S.Biswas. The report submitted by the engineer favoured a link road from Umkiang to Gumrah. As nothing tangible came out, Purkayastha collected the road map survey from the PWD and wrote to I K Gujral, the Prime Minister of the time, justifying the parallel link to NH 44 on several counts. As directed by the former Prime Minister, BRTF conducted the survey and submitted thereport vide letter no. 206/JBC/129/62 dated October 18, 1997, pointing out among others that the construction of this proposed road is quite justified. But this also failed to yield any positive result.

Kali Ranjan Deb, ex-MLA of Katigorah on being pursued by Bidyutjyoti Purkayastha pressed the NEC for the inclusion of this schemes. The NEC too conducted detailed survey, but everything was confined in files. Purkayastha thereafter filed PIL no. 11/2005 before the Gauhati High Court which in its order declined to interfere into the executive jurisdiction of the government, but directed the respondents to take decision within 6 months.

He then approached Sontosh Mohan Dev, former Union Minister, whose intervention ultimately moved the NEC to link the road from Gumrah to Rymbai of Meghalaya and then to extend it to Ladrymbai which would align with NH 44. If the parallel road could be completed, it would not only shorten the distance but also make the movement of vehicular traffic and passengers safe and secure as it will avoid the hazardous hilly terrains and the landslide prone zone of Sonapur, besides easing the congestion on NH 44.

People demand that the proposed road should be built according to NH specifications in order to make it all weather link of communication for Barak Valley, Manipur Mizoram and Tripura. THE SENTINEL

Bishnupriya Manipuri literary body appeals to AXX

Revive SSS: B Manipuri literary body to AXX

SILCHAR, Feb 3: The Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Parishad (NBMSP) has appealed to the Axom Xahtya Xabha (AXX) to revive the Sanmilita Sahitya Sabha (SSS) that did a lot to accommodate the literary issues of various ethnic groups of the State when it was in existence.

Speaking as an invited speaker at the sixth special annual session of the AXX at Baithalangso in Karbi Anglong on Monday, NBMSP general secretary DILS Lakshmindra Sinha, while welcoming the inclusion of the Bishnupriya Manipuri in the Minority Development Board, demanded of the State Government to fulfil the long-standing demand of the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasabha (NBMM) for the setting up of a Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council. He also appealed to the AXX to put pressure on the State Government to make the Bishnupriya Manipuri Development Council a reality. DILS Sinha also appealed to the AXX and the State Government for the setting up of a cultural complex that can accommodate cultures of all ethnic groups of the State. He also requested the State Government to take steps for upgrading Bishnupriya Manipuri language and languages of other ethnic groups of the State from Class VI onwards and complete the process of teacher appointment without further delay. THE SENTINEL

Kanad Purkayastha hits back at Sontosh Mohan Dev

From our Staff Reporter

SILCHAR, Feb 2: Following Union Minister Sontosh Mohan Dev’s comment on Silchar MP Kabindra Purkayastha as a helpless and failed person, Kanad Purkayastha, son of the Silchar MP, lashed out at Dev. He said Dev should introspect his own career before making such derogatory remarks on others.

Dev had earlier made a scathing attack on Purkayastha alleging that the latter had no access to the Parliament and that he had failed to place the issue of the Silchar-Lumding broad gauge project at the House.

Kanad Purkayastha said Kabindra Purkayastha, after being elected as MP last year, had raised the two burning issues of Barak Valley –– the Silchar-Lumding BG and the East West Corridor –– again and again in the Parliament. He further added that his father had unearthed some hidden information about the shelved Storm Water Drainage Project which was under Dev while he was the Union Minister. Kanad alleged that Dev was trying to cover his misdeeds by attacking Purkayastha unnecessarily. Kanad further lashed out on Dev’s wife Bithika Dev alleging that she had never taken the initiative to speak about the two projects in the Assembly. THE SENTINEL