Santosh Mohan Dev moves PM, gets panel formed

NC Hill firing echoes from Delhi 
Source:  Sentinel Assam
NEW DELHI, May 15: The Centre today assured Union Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise Minister Santosh Mohan Dev that it would ensure security to the people working at the two connectivity projects — the NH-54 and the Railway Gauge Conversion — in North Cachar Hills where killings by suspected DHD(J) militants continue unabated.

According sources, in the Cabinet meeting today, Dev sought intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh into the situation in NC Hills where as many as 11 people were killed today putting the works of the two connectivity projects to a grinding halt. Without wasting any time, the Prime Minister asked his security advisor MK Narayanan to look into the matter and take immediate action whatever necessary. This was followed by a meeting between Dev and Narayanan during which the latter told Dev that he had already formed a core committee to look into the security aspects of workers of the two national projects in NC Hills. Narayanan told Dev that he would make the members of the committee public tomorrow. Narayanan further assured Dev that the Centre would ensure tight security at the project sites so as to ensure their timely completion.

Narayanan further said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the Home Commissioner have been asked to send a detailed report on NC Hills situation to the Centre. “They have been asked to keep in touch with the Centre,” he added.

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Committee for Railways Chairman Basudev Acharya blamed it on the State Government for its failure to provide security to the workers at the project sites in NC Hills. Acharya also put the blame on the Centre as the two connectivity projects are national projects.

Surprisingly, the Rail Bhavan had no information on today’s attack on a train by militants in NC Hills. As Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is in Singapore, this correspondent contacted the Railway Board Chairman as if to inform him of the incident. The Railway Board Chairman said that he would have to collect the information from the NF Railway.

Flyover

Silchar: The Union ministry of transport, shipping and national highway has cleared a proposal for raising a second flyover in South Assam’s Cachar district in Srikona village.

Black Widow strikes terror

The outfit, which has killed at least 55 people this year, has stepped up its attacks

Guwahati, May 18: The Black Widow is no ULFA (the United Liberation Front of Assam). Neither is it anywhere close in organisational strength to the two factions of the NSCN that are active in neighbouring Nagaland and Manipur. But when it strikes, it hits as hard as any other armed group in the Northeast.

This week, the group, which is fighting for an independent homeland for the Dimasa tribe, struck twice in a big way in the North Cachar Hill district, killing 23 people since Saturday last. On Sunday, the group attacked a railway construction site at Fiding and killed eight labourers and on Thursday, 10 truck drivers and helpers were killed at Umrongsho in the district.

Intelligence agencies put the total strength of the Black Widow—also known as the Dima Halam Daoga (J), with ‘J’ standing for its leader Jewel Gorlosa—at about 300. They are armed with about 100 AK-series rifles and a handful of rocket propelled grenade launchers.

Black Widow is a breakaway faction of the Dimasa outfit Dima Halim Daogah (DHD) and was formed after Jewel Garlossa, then DHD president, was defeated in a coup by Pranab Nunisa, the DHD military wing chief, on June 24, 2004. Nunisa’s faction, however, has been in a ceasefire with the government for over three years.

The Black Widow has become more aggressive following several major losses it suffered in the past few weeks, which included the arrest of its ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Franky Dimasa from a locality in Guwahati on March 22. The police had also arrested one of its area commanders, Daniel Gorlosa, on March 18.

It was on March 24 that Assam Police Special Branch IG Khagen Sharma received a faxed message from the Black Widow commander declaring “unilateral ceasefire” for three months. The government, however, did not take this offer seriously because it was only on March 13 that the group had abducted five persons of a private company working on the East-West Corridor project.

While the group has killed at least 55 people in the district this year, they also alleged that 12 of its cadres were killed in an encounter with the army on May 10. The army, however, denied it, with its Four Corps HQ spokesman Lt Col Rajesh Kalia saying had it been true, the army would have been happy to claim such a success.

The outfit that survives by engaging in large-scale extortion from local businessmen, politicians and government employees, has of late been targeting contractors engaged by the Railways and the National Highways Authority of India. While the Railways are laying a new broad gauge track in the 100-year-old Lumding-Silchar hill section, the NHAI is working on the East-West Corridor up to Silchar in southern Assam through this troubled district.

Contractors working on these projects have often stopped work following renewed strikes by the militants. Last year, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced that ex-servicemen would be recruited as SPOs to protect these contractors. But so far, only 400 SPOs have been sent to the district.

The biggest advantage the Black Widow has is the difficult terrain of the North Cachar Hill district. The district incidentally has only four police stations and most of the places are inaccessible.

“The difficult terrain makes it difficult for us to keep a watch over the entire district,” said a senior officer in the Assam Police. But the militants are local boys who know the terrain well, he said. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/311431.html

Both Dispur and Delhi ignore Assam hill district: leader

GUWAHATI, MAY 18: The Deputy Commissioner is on leave on health grounds, and the Superintendent of Police has gone abroad for training, “but even when they are here, the two top officers of the district hardly respond to what we say,” complained Depolal Hojai, Chief Executive Member of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), here on Sunday.

The NCHAC is the elected local government that runs the administration of the hill district under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, with Hojai of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), a regional political party, heading the Council.

“But even as we run the local government, the responsibility for maintaining law and order is vested with the State Government under the Sixth Schedule. But whenever there is any problem in the district, they tend to put the blame on us,” Hojai told The Indian Express here today. Hojai, whose ASDC party runs the Autonomous Council in coalition with the BJP, added that the Deputy Commissioner and SP also disregard the recommendations of the Autonomous Council on matters of law and order.

“While the law and order situation in the NC Hills has gone from bad to worse in the past few weeks, our feeling is that the Congress-led government in Dispur is happy over it. We had defeated and wrested the Autonomous Council from the Congress in the January elections. That is the reason why the state Government is not responding to us,” he said.

Ever since militants belonging to the Black Widow or DHD(J) group caused havoc in the hill district by targeting employees and contractors of the Indian Railways and the NHAI, the railways have suspended all operations in the NC Hills and have also evacuated its employees from there. As a result, work on two vital national projects—the broad-gauge track between Lumding and Silchar and the East-West Corridor—have come to a standstill. Yet, both Dispur and Delhi do not seem to bother, Hojai said.

The Lumding-Silchar Hill Section is like a lifeline for Barak Valley in southern Assam as well as for Mizoram, Tripura and south Manipur, with essential commodities including foodgrains and cement being transported by the railways through the single metre gauge track. On an average, six trains run between Lumding and Badarpur every day to transport various kinds of essential commodities.

These include four goods trains that, between them, carry about 2,880 tonnes of foodgrains, one rake of petroleum products, as well as sugar, cement, bitumen and raw materials for the HPC paper mill at Panchgram. Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/story/311382.html

Rail link to Barak Valley cut off

Source: Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, May 15: In a fresh spate of violence unleashed by suspected Black Widow militants, at least 11 people have been gunned down in two separate incidents in North Cachar Hills this morning leading to total suspension of train services in the Lumding-Badarpur hills section for an indefinite period. Rail link between the Barak Valley and rest of the country has been completely cut off.
In view of the volatile situation in NC Hills, two special trains have been pressed into service to evacuate the railway workers from various rail heads in the hill section but not before a violent protest by hundreds of railway workers and their family members demanding security at divisional headquarters of NF Railway at Lumding.

First incident took place at around 7.30 pm between Kalachand and Mupa railway stations when suspected DHD (J) militants opened fired at a patrol train killing its driver NN Bora and seriously injured two others — assistant driver PK Deb and gangman Ramesh Takhuria. Both the injured have been shifted to the Lumding Railway Hospital, railway sources said.

This incident was followed by another attack by suspected DHD(J) militants at around 8 am at Kurnalangshu, about 20 km from Umrangshu, where at least 10 people have been gunned down. Four of them have been identified as truck drivers Shambhu Debnath (45), Baburan Singh (60), Ramkumar Shyam (35) and Norattom Das (40). All of them have been stated to be the residents of Lanka.
According to sources, the militants had anticipated a convoy of nine trucks loaded with cement and bamboo heading for Lanka from Umrangshu and set afire five of them. The militants dragged out the drivers and labourers from the trucks to the nearby jungle and fired on them indiscriminately from point blank range. Ten people died on the spot. At least six more labourers have been missing, police sources said.

According to Samir Goswami, chief public relation officer of NF Railway, in view of yesterday’s NC Hills bandh called by a few organizations demanding peace talks between the Government and the DHD(J), the petrol train has been sent to the hills section before resuming passenger train services. The patrol train left for Haflong from Lumding with 10 RPSF personnel and 20 engineering staff in its two compartments.

However, after crossing the tunnel near Mupa, the militants started indiscriminate firing when driver of the train NN Bora got down sensing something wrong in the rail truck. Despite being injured badly, Bora ran back to the engine of the train and pushed back it into the tunnel, saving the life of the passengers. But he could not survive as the militants continued firing targeting the train in the tunnel.

After the incident, Divisional Railway Manager SS Narayan, accompanied by other officials, rushed to the spot in a special train from Lumding. The Silchar-bound passenger train was controlled at Dibjobra station and sent back to Lumding. Likewise, the Lumding-bound train had been sent back to Silchar from Damchera station. Train services in the hill section have been suspended temporarily in view of the prevailing situation, the CPRO said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of agitated railway employees and their family members ransacked the railway control room, station office, divisional headquarters and officers rest house at Lumding at around 12.30 pm in protest of inadequate security to railway workers working in the hills section. About 10 vehicles have been damaged in the protest.

In view of the prevailing situation, the railway authorities provided two special trains — one from Lumding and other from Badarpur — to evacuate railway workers from various locations of the hills section to safer places, sources from Lumding said.

Tears flowed freely on Mother’s Day : Debojit Saha

Tears flowed freely on Mother’s Day

HSLC results on May 27

By Our Correspondent Source: Assam Tribune
 GUWAHATI, May 13 – Results of the High School Leaving Certificate/Assam High Madrassa examination for the year 2008 would be announced on May 27 at 11 am simultaneously in all the district headquarters of the State. The officer-in-charge of the examination centres have been asked to collect the results /Marksheets from their respective zones, informed a press release from the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA).

The press statement further clarified that no results will be available in the SEBA office on that day.

NC Hills faces blockade

SARAT SARMA & SANTANU GHOSH

Lumding/Silchar, May 17: An economic blockade looms over North Cachar Hills district, with truck drivers planning to join the railways in suspending services to the district indefinitely.

After North East Frontier Railway suspended train services on Thursday for an indefinite period, truckers today said they would follow suit as there was no security along the route.

“We called an urgent session of our executive body this morning, which was postponed because the bodies of the 10 truckers were yet to reach Lanka. We are yet to finalise our future strategy, but none of the drivers will ferry anything to the hill district as there is no security to life and property,” said the general secretary of Lanka Truck Drivers Association, Himansu Das.

The drivers’ association called a bandh today to protest the killing of truckers by the Jewel Gorlosa faction of the Dima Halam Daogah in Krumgminglangsu on Thursday.

North East Frontier Railway authorities today said they would not resume services to the south Assam districts unless the central and state governments provide security in trains plying along the hill section metre gauge line and at the railway stations.

Chief public relations officer Samir Goswami told the media that the situation was still not congenial for running of trains — both passenger and goods locomotives — in the district in view of the threat by militants.

The railway employees serving in the hill district have fled following the militant attack on a special patrol train near Mupa in which the driver was killed and three others injured.

“I am not thinking of returning to NC Hills. It will be wiser to resign instead of going there,” said a railway employee serving at Hatikhali station.

“I will never forget that horrible morning,” said Rathindra Chakraborty — a train driver undergoing treatment in Lumding railway hospital.

Security has been beefed up at Lumding station after railwaymen and their families went on a rampage at the station on Thursday following the attack. The traders are already feeling the impact of the economic blockade.

“I brought 200kg mangoes from Bengal to sell in Maibong. I do not know how these will reach their destination,” rued Arjun Sah, a trader from West Bengal.

Sah, along with his wife Lakshmi, sells fruits and readymade garments in the weekly markets of NC Hills.

“I am doing business in the district for the last 15 years, but now I think it would be wise to stop it,” he added.

Hard work, perseverance key to success
 

By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
 GUWAHATI, May 17 – Nabanita Chakrabarti of Guwahati has done the State proud by securing the 16th position in the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Significantly, a total of four candidates from Assam has cleared the coveted civil services examination this year. The other three candidates are Nayanjyoti Nath of Jamugurihat (Sonitpur), Rahul Kotoky of Sivasagar and Neelabh Roy Dasgupta of Nagaon.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, an upbeat Nabanita said that although she was confident of clearing the examination, she never thought of getting a place among the top 20. “This came as a surprise and is like a bonus,” she said.

Nabanita, who did her MA in English Literature from JNU, New Delhi, after graduating from Guwahati’s Cotton College, attributed her success to hard work and perseverance. “Success in the civil service exams entails exhaustive as well as selective reading. It is also important to remain focused on your goal,” she said. Incidentally, it was her fourth attempt at the UPSC examination. Her optional subjects were History and English Literature.

Urging the youths of the State to go for the UPSC examination, Nabanita said that the State had no dearth of talents, as corroborated by the success of as many as four candidates of Assam in this year’s examination. “This year’s results show that we have enough talents. I think this will also inspire more aspirants to vie for the civil service examination,” she said.

Nabanita, who is a resident of Dispur Post Office (near Christianbasti) , did her schooling in the Central School, Khanapara. She is the daughter of Syamal Chakrabarti and Nina Chakrabarti.

Our Sivasagar Correspondent adds: Unlike most other successful UPSC candidates, the affable and soft-spoken Rahul Kotoky of Sivasagar Boarding Road never dreamt of a career in the civil services until a sad twist of destiny changed his path.

Although both his parents wanted him to pursue a career in the civil services, it was the death of his dear ‘Mom’ in 2004 that made him opt for the UPSC examination, giving up a busy career as a journalist of TradeIndia.com in New Delhi.

Undeterred by a couple of unsuccessful attempts in 2005 and 2006, Rahul, a Commerce graduate from Dr Zakir Hussain College, New Delhi, proved to be a third-time lucky as he claimed the 160th position this time. He had History and Political Science as optional subjects.

Attributing his success to a ‘persistent and meticulous approach’, Rahul told this correspondent that his stay in Delhi had also provided him with the much-needed exposure. “This is particularly important at the initial stage but there is no short cut to success, with hard work and sincerity being the keys to my accomplishment,” he said.

Born on July 16, 1978, Rahul did his schooling in Lakshminath Bezbaruah Sishu Bhawan and GBM School before joining St Edmunds High School, Shillong. He passed his senior secondary school from Narangi Army School, Guwahati.

Rongali Bihu celebrated at Silchar

From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
 SILCHAR, May 17 – Bihu dominates the cultural landscape of the entire State and it was reflected in Silchar town on May 10 and 11. On both the days there were lots of cultural activities with huge gatherings. This festival is being organised at Silchar town since 1950. It was organised in Deshabhakta Tarun Ram Phukan school premises.

On the first day, the flag of the festival was hoisted by Benudhar Bora, president of celebration committee which was followed by inauguration of cultural programme by KK Dutta, executive engineer, Pollution Control Board. On the first day there were lots of competitions.

On the next day evening the committee’s souvenir was released. After this the cultural activities took place. A lot of participants from the entire State participated in the celebration.

In his presidential address of Rongali Bihu Sanmelan committee, Benudhar Bora said that it is a great occasion that this Bihu festival is being organised after lots of hindrances. As it is the pride of Assamese people it should be part of Silchar town itself. But since years it has been found that this spirit is always present in the state. He further said that Bihu is a secular festival and all should come forward to be a part of this festival.

Karuna Thakuria, secretary of Rongali Bihu festival in Silchar said that there are lots of problems in organising this festival. On the two days there were several competitions like Bihugeet, Bongeet, Bahi Badan, Gagana Badan.

It’s good news for people of Assam. Four candidates from the soil of Assam have cleared Civil Service Examination, 2007. The results of the examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission have been declared on Friday. The successful candidates from the state are namely Nabanita Chakrabarty of Guwahati, Rahul Kakati from Sivasagar, Nayanjyoti Nath from Jamuguri in Sonitpur district, Nilav Chandra Sen Gupta from Roha in Nagaon. Source: Assam Times

Silchar Bypass project Delay with a Rs 63cr price tag
 

May 12: Procrastination, civic construction organisations’ favourite sport, just got a new price tag — Rs 63 crore.

The Silchar Bypass project, which was mooted in 1995, blueprinted in 2000 and has since firmly remained a plan on paper thanks to consistent dillydallying by various official agencies, will cost the exchequer Rs 63 crore more than its original estimate of Rs 100 crore if taken up now.

The organisations guilty of the delay are Cachar district administration, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the Union ministry of the surface transport, shipping and highways.

The project was to link National Highways 53 and 54 stretching along the eastern and southern ends of Silchar town by a bypass for easing the growing traffic, which chokes the arterial roads.

Sources said the Border Road Task Force (BRTF)’s 36 battalion, an agency of the Border Roads Organisation, drew a blueprint in 2000 for the project.

“It had envisaged laying of a 5.5 metre wide road for the 20km long bypass. The road would take off at Ramnagar, about 6km west of Silchar, and terminate at Kasipur, about 10km on the eastern flank to link NH 53 and 54,” said the source.

While NH 53 links Silchar to Imphal, the NH 54 stretches from the town to Aizawl through the hills.

Sources in the 36 BRTF said the central agency lost its zest to undertake the construction, which was to have a long road bridge over the Barak at Sonabarighat, as the Cachar district administration continued to dilly-dally with acquisition of land.

The BRTF washed its hands off this bypass road construction scheme in 2003, alleging inordinate delay by the land settlement branch of the Cachar district administration in acquiring the land.

Thereafter, the Centre had to hand over this project to the state public works department’s national highway division.

The notification to transfer the responsibility to construct the road from the BRTF to the PWD was issued early last year.

Following a fresh survey by the NHAI, the total outlay of this project was re-estimated from its original Rs 100 crore to Rs 163 crore.

An NHAI official said the escalation was the price to be paid for the alleged lethargy on the part of the land settlement and acquisition branch of the Cachar deputy commissioner, which eventually delayed the execution of the scheme.

Official sources said Rs 10 crore had already been paid as compensation to the scores of landowners for the bypass project.

Anjan Chanda, the executive engineer of Cachar PWD (national highway division), said the construction was expected to begin sometime next winter.

The bypass project, which aims at diverting the flow of traffic from and to Manipur and Mizoram, is a high bridge over the Barak.

The state PWD (national highway division) has also chalked out a Rs 60 crore project to construct a flyover at Srikona village on the NH 53 over a railway track for easing the traffic to the town. Source: telegraph india

Night trains between Silchar and Lumding off rebel route

Nagaon, May 12: The night train between Silchar and Lumding became a casualty in Dima Halam Daogah’s latest cycle of attacks which claimed two more railway labourers in North Cachar Hills today.

Eight workers engaged in construction of railway quarters in Faiding, under the same police station as today’s site of attack in Migrengdisha, were gunned down by the Jewel Gorlosa faction of the Dimasa outfit yesterday afternoon.

The latest round of violence was triggered by an encounter between the outfit and the army on Saturday in which, according to the outfit, 12 rebels were killed.

The army, however, said it had not found a single body despite a massive search in the area after the encounter.

Continuing its killing spree, the outfit today opened fire on a team of labourers of Sachi Hitech at a construction site near Migrengdisha railway station.

An unskilled labourer, Dinesh Mahato, died on the spot, while his co-worker, Sanju Nunia, died of his injuries on his way to hospital.

Two others were admitted to Haflong Civil Hospital in a critical condition.

“All the labourers were engaged in the construction of a channel near the railway station when they were attacked by the militants,” said a senior police official in the district.

Following the DHD attacks, the railways decided to stop running night trains between Lumding and Badarpur through the North Cachar Hills district.

According to the railway sources here, the Cachar Express from Silchar to Guwahati via Lumding would steam off from the terminus at the Cachar headquarters at 4.40am every day till further instructions.

The Barak Valley Express will, however, continue to leave Silchar station every day at 8.25am.

A shaken Dispur rushed IGP (law and order) R. Chandranathan to review the situation.

An unconfirmed report said the outfit also sprayed bullets on a BSF camp in Umrangshu last night. There have been no reports of any casualty.

Not willing to take chances, Dispur posted commandant of the 2nd Assam Police Task Force Battalion, Prabin Chandra Saikia, as superintendent of police since the incumbent Dipak Kedia is on leave.

“We are keeping the Centre posted about the developments because of the projects and the objective now is to ensure the projects are not hampered,” a source said.

Union home minister Shivraj Patil, however, will bypass the “killing zone” of North Cachar Hills district when he arrives in the region on a two-day visit to Meghalaya and Nagaland tomorrow.

Home secretary Madhukar Gupta said the home minister would not visit Assam as he has a packed schedule in Shillong tomorrow.

“Many visits have already been made to Assam but since there have been killings by militants the Centre is constantly in touch with the state. We will see if there is any need for a team to visit,” said Gupta.

Cachar Cancer Hospital a boon for needy patients

KARIMGANJ, May 12 – Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre under the management of the Cachar Cancer Hospital Society is poised to become one of the premier cancer treatment centres in the country.

Founded in 1992 at the initiative of a small group of social activists and a few doctors, the Cachar Cancer Society waged a relentless battle against the dreaded disease in the Barak Valley and adjoining areas. It was an uphill task but due to indefatigable efforts and financial sustenance received from many quarters, the Cancer Society took roots and is currently aiming high to become one of the premier cancer treatment centres in the country dispensing treatment at an affordable cost.

Recently, Dr Ravi Kannan, an eminent oncologist has taken over as the Director of this hospital. At a press meet recently, Dr Chinmay Chaudhury, general secretary provided a brief outline of the progress of the society from 1992 till date. Dr Kannan spoke highly of the achievements of the Cachar Cancer Hospital and also outlined his plan for the future. With few more facilities added, the Cachar Cancer Hospital would be in a position to offer quality treatment at an affordable cost. He said that a surgery of the esophagus at any major centre of the country would cost at least Rs 1.5 lakh whereas the same operation could be done here at a cost of only Rs 20,000. Source: Assam Tribune
 

Karimganj BJP threatens stir over Malegarh fencing issue
From Debasish Banik
 BADARPUR, May 12 – In protest against keeping the historic Karimganj Malegarh out of barbed wire fencing agenda, the Bharatiya Janata Party of Karimganj unit and Barak Banga have jointly threatened to launch a strong movement. In this connection, the BJP has already submitted a memorandum to Karimganj Deputy Commissioner, in which, it has mentioned that historic Karimganj Malegarh, near Latu in Karimganj district, could not be kept out of barbed wire fencing. “If the government does not change its decision immediately, then the party will be bound to start a widespread movement alongwith all sections of people,” it said.

Expressing the deep concern, BJP’s general secretary Sudhangsu Das, vice-president of the Yuva Morcha State Committee Sudip Chakraborty, Mahila Morcha president, Sipra Goon and several other leaders of the party told this correspondent that on June 23, 2007 the party celebrated the 150 years of Sepoy Mutiny, hoisting the National flag. During the function of 150 years of Sepoy Mutiny, several speakers in their speeches strongly urged the Central Government to keep the historical Malegarh within the jurisdiction of India. But even after that, the Central Government gave the order to keep the historical Malegarh out of barbed wire fencing to the astonishment of the BJP leaders.

They also said that, the matter has already been informed to MLA Mission Ranjan Das.

Meanwhile, a large number of people of Latu-Malegarh area met with the members of Barak Banga and requested them to take immediate steps to keep the historical Malegarh within India’s jurisdiction, as the people of that area will face hardships in future if the historical place is not fenced.

Talking to this correspondent, the Karimganj district committee secretary of Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitya-O-Sanskriti Sammelan, Sabba Sachi Roy informed that as per demand of the Barak Banga, the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 20 lakh for setting up a tourism centre at Malegarh of Karimganj. After that a delegation of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) made an expenditure plan of Rs 20 lakh, visiting the Malegarh and sent it to the Central Government. Besides this, the former State Tourism Minister Misbahul Islam Laskar also inspected the historical site and advised setting up of a tourism centre at Malegarh. Source: Assam Tribune

BVP rendering yeoman’s service in Karimganj
From Our Correspondent
 KARIMGANJ, May 12 – Bharat Vikas Parishad, Karimganj since its inception has engaged in various development activities. Karimganj branch Bharat Vikas Parishad rendered their service for the uplift of the socio-economic conditions of the rural people.

Rupak Dey, a member and Amit Roy in-charge publicity of Karimganj branch BVP, said that free health check-up-cum-medicine distribution camps were organised at their adopted village Nathupur on a regular basis. During the last year, near about 1000 patients attended the camp where free medicines worth of Rs 72000 were distributed. Two free Artificial Limb distribution camps were also organised during the last year. In the first camp 45 patients were examined and in the second camp, 83 patients were treated.

Archana Vikalang Sahayata Kendra of Guwahati helped the Parishad by deputing technicians to make the camps successful. Patients were given necessary limbs, calipers shoes, etc.

Under the self-employment generation scheme, a tailoring training centre was established last year at the village Maizgram. Karimganj unit of BVP is also running a crafts and cane training centre at the same village.

Under the project on environment, BVP observed World Environment Day in June, 2007. This year they planted saplings of Debdaru behind the statue of Rabindranath Tagore at Sambu Sagar Park in Karimganj. To inspire the school students for the protection of nature, BVP planted tree saplings in a few schools. Saplings of ‘Ashok’, ‘Debdaru’, ‘Arjun’, ‘Krishnachura’, ‘Haritaki’, ‘Guava’, etc were planted in the school campus.

‘Sanskriti Saptaha’, one of the major events, was celebrated from July 29 to August 5 last. During this period BVP organised nine programmes.

The branch organised NGSC and folk song competition simultaneously at Karimganj College auditorium on September 2, 2007. These programmes are the major ‘sanskar’ programmes of the parishad. The object of the programme is to spread the message of nationalism among the students.

Amit Roy, i/c publicity, disclosed that Karimganj branch participated at the State-level National group song competition and national Sanskrit group song competition held in Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra Auditorium, Panjabari, Guwahati on September 30 last year.

The first annual State conference of Assam (W), Meghalaya and Mizoram was organised by Karimganj unit on February 9 and 10, 2008.  Source: Assam Tribune

Barak, NC Hill students join hands

GUWAHATI, May 12: Concerned over the current spate of violence in North-Cachar Hill district pushing the two major connectivity projects — East West Corridor and Railway Gauge Conversion — towards an uncertain future, the two students’ bodies of Barak Valley and NC Hills have resolved to go together to put pressure on the Government to tackle the militancy problem in the hill district more effectively. A decision in this regard has been taken at a joint meeting of the All Cachar-Karimganj-Hailakandi Students’ Association (ACKHSA) and All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU) here today.

The ACKHSA and the ADSU have jointly urged the Centre and the State Government to ensure completion of the twin projects within the stipulated time. Today’s meeting also appealed to the militant groups operating in NC Hills to shun violence and join the mainstream of society. “We are going to submit a memorandum to the Centre and the State Government to ensure adequate security for smooth execution of the two projects,” said Rupam Purakayastha, ACKHSA president, while talking to the press later. He said it is lack of sincerity on the part of the Government that created the present situation in NC Hills.
Prafulla Hafila, ADSU president, blames it on the Government for the current situation in the hill district. He said on the pretext of the militancy, the State Government and the Centre have turned their backs to the connectivity projects that have been long pending. Condemning the recent killing of the labourers in NC Hill, he said the Government does not seem to be serious enough to bring the militant outfit to the negotiation table. Source: Sentinel Assam

Railways to seek security on the Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam gauge conversion project.

New Delhi, May 13: Home minister Shivraj Patil stressed on an integrated security system for vital installations yesterday but the railways are not part of that integration it seems.

Waking up to repeated attacks on labourers working on railway projects in Assam, the ministry of railways will this week write to the ministry of home affairs for additional security on the Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam gauge conversion project.

Sources in the railway ministry conceded that work on the national project has stopped following killings in the last three days.

Both Delhi and the Assam government have lost face on their commitment to provide security to labourers who are mostly Hindi-speaking people.

Even as two more labourers were killed today in the North Cachar Hills district, the railway ministry woke up to the worsening situation by deciding to write to the home ministry.

The needle of suspicion for the killings points to the DHD (Jewel Gorlosa) or the Black Widow group.

After 12 of its members were killed by security forces last week, the militant group is allegedly on the rampage again. However, security forces are not ruling out the involvement of other groups.

The railways have, however, refused to take up liability of the deceased labourers. Railway ministry sources said the contractors would provide compensation to the deceased.

The dual projects of Lumding-Silchar-Jiribam and Badarpur-Kumarghat in Assam and Tripura are estimated to cost Rs 1,181 crore. The deadline for implementation is March 2011.

However, following sustained attacks by militants, work and shifting of responsibility between the Centre and the state leaves the project on uncertain ground.

“The work is adversely affected because of militant activities. The security cover at all the sites is yet to be provided by the Assam government,” a railway ministry reply in Rajya Sabha on April 25, stated.

Till now, earthwork and work on tunnels and bridges were in progress making it an extremely labour-intensive project. The Assam government has argued that the contractors have not offered accommodation to security forces.

With a solution not in sight and even home minister Shivraj Patil bypassing the area to visit Meghalaya and Nagaland, the national railway project is held to ransom by militants.

The project will provide connectivity to the entire Barak Valley as well as to Mizoram.

Railway connectivity in Manipur will also depend on when a railway track will reach Jiribam.

Patil stressed on the need for an integrated security system for vital installations at a daylong conference on Security of Installations in Key Sectors, mainly comprising oil & natural gas, power, and port sectors organised by the ministry of home affairs. Source: telegraph india

Bitter pill for ‘unfit’ jawans

Jamshedpur, May 13: Jawans who thought the worst was over when they submitted medical certificates to escape enrolling for special counter-insurgency training in Assam have reasons to worry.

Superintendent of police Naveen Kumar Singh said the training is being provided to jawans to build a special task force for combating extremism and they should grasp the opportunity.

“But those who try to escape by means of false medical certificates would be dealt with sternly. I will conduct an exclusive medical check-up for such candidates and if their pleas are found false, they will be dismissed from service,” warned Singh, adding that those who submitted medical certificates would be made to undergo a fresh medical test soon.

About 101 policemen from East Singhbhum are undergoing special training at Silchar district in Assam.

According to sources, the East Singhbhum district police authorities, at the behest of the state director-general of police, had served a circular among policemen below the age of 35 years for enrolment. However, only 150 applied for training. Some declined the offer on grounds of unfit medical conditions.

Sources added that after screening, only 101 police jawans were selected for the training.

They left for Silchar last week.  Source: Telegraph India

N.F. Railway seeks MHA aid

By MANOJ ANAND

Guwahati, May 13: With more than 12 construction companies deciding to stop the work on ambitious Rs 1,700-crore broad gauge conversion project in Assam’s North Cachar Hill district following a string of rebel strikes, the Northeast Frontier Railway authorities have asked the railway board to take up the matter of security with the home ministry.

Disclosing this on Tuesday to this newspaper, Northeast Frontier Railway chief public relations officer Samir Goswami said: "In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, the railway authorities have also been compelled to stop the night running of trains. Besides passenger trains, this would affect the transportation of foodgrains to the area." He also clarified that the railway authorities are also in touch with the state administration but in view of the militants’ threat, the matter has been referred to the railway board.

The representatives of the construction companies who do not want to be quoted here told this newspaper that they have been forced to suspend the ongoing work on Lumding-Silchar broad gauge conversion projects. "We are also pulling out more than 3,500 workers from the worksite in view of the frequent militant strikes," he said, clarifying that they have also informed this to the railway authorities. In a fresh string of attacks, the rampaging Dima Halam Daogah rebels have killed 12 construction workers in the last four days. Source: http://howrah.org/india_news/12160.html

Situation in gastro-hit Bilaipur area normal: Hailakandi DC
From Our Correspondent Source: Assam Tribune
 HAILAKANDI, May 13 – The Health and the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Departments are doing their best in the gastroenteritis affected interior hilly villages of South Hailakandi through organising health camps, awareness campaign and the distribution of water purifying packets with live demonstration among the villagers, said the Deputy Commissioner of Hailakandi, Tapan Chandra Goswami. A team of specialist doctors from Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) also visited the affected Bilaipur and its surrounding areas recently. Goswami said that the enquiry is going to ascertain the actual figure of the death and it is hampered due to the remoteness and the inaccessibility of the area. But he said that the situation is now almost under control and there is no need of any panic. The Deputy Commissioner also personally visited Bilaipur area to take stock of the situation.

On the other hand, the Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma in Guwahati said that the doctors and the staff are facing extreme problems to reach the area due to the difficult geographical locations in Dhalcherra-Bilaipur gaon panchayat in Mizoram bordering southern Hailakandi district.

It may be mentioned here that the elected Panchayat and the District Tribal Sangha have alleged that at least 47 persons have died till Sunday due to gastroenteritis in the various inaccessible villages under Dhalcherra-Bilaipur gaon panchayat. But the administration sources informed that they are conducting enquiry to ascertain the number of deaths.

The Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) of NRHM and the medical teams from Hailakandi and Lala have been conducting intensive health check up camps and the distribution of medicines including the testing of blood samples for malaria during the last two weeks. The Joint Director of Health Services in Hailakandi, Dr. Samir Kumar Das said that he has personally visited with the medical teams in the villages like, Bilaipur, Kacharithal, Balicherra, Lalcherra, Kachapcherra, Nunaicherra, Reangbusttee, Kundanullah, Dhalcherra etc. remote inaccessible villages. He said that the doctors and para-medical staff are providing yeoman service to the people of the area. Dr. Das said that the people are getting affected due to the consumption of impure water. It may be mentioned here that the entire area doesn't have any pure drinking water sources.

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has also taken steps to create awareness among the villagers of the area through the distribution of leaflets on diarrohea and holding group discussions with the opinion leaders. The Health Department is also distributing water purifying packets along with the demonstration in collaboration with the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. The additional chief engineer of PHE, SU Laskar from Guwahati also visited the area to observe the present situation and also held the view that the people are not consuming pure water. The non-availability of rain during the last few months also dried up the water sources and the water has become dirty.

The people of the locality and the panchayat have demanded the setting up of a water supply scheme in Kundanullah area. The area is inhabited by about 4,000 people mainly by the tribal people. The area also doesn't have any road communication. On the other hand, the Health Department is also organising health check up camps in Chandipur, Algapur and its surrounding areas to prevent malaria there. They are also distributing free medicines, water purifying packets and also collecting blood samples for malaria test.

Anandita steals the show in HS science

Centre to launch regional airline for NE

Agartala, May 13: The Centre would launch a dedicated regional airline for the northeastern region by January next year, union minister for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Mani Shankar Aiyar said here on Tuesday. He said: “The proposed airline would be a joint venture project with a private organisation and the process is on to select the private operator.” IANS

Record pass percentage in HS exams
By A Staff Reporter Source: Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, May 14 – Improvements in the pass percentage have been observed
in the results of the Higher Secondary Examination conducted by the Assam
Higher Secondary Examination Council, which were declared today. A
comparison of the pass percentage of the last ten years showed this
year’s as the best, with the highest climb in performance recorded in the
Science stream.

The pass percentage in the Arts stream was 65.33 per cent, noticeable
improvement over 61.50 per cent registered last year. A total of 1,37,270
candidates took the test out of which 5,882 achieved first division,
21,397 got second division and 62,400 were placed in third division.

Among regular candidates, the pass percentage of male students was 69.98
and that of female students was 68.52 per cent.

Significantly it was a candidate from Nalbari, Mukul Haloi, who appeared
in the examination as “institutional private”, and secured the coveted top
rank in the examination. His total marks stood at 449.

In the Science stream, Anindita Borah of Salt Brook Academy with Nitul
Khataniar of Cotton College occupied the first rank. Each of them scored
456 out of 500 marks.

The pass percentage in the Science stream was 80.73, markedly higher than
last year’s 68.44 percent and 72.52 per cent of 2006. Of the total 15,093
candidates, 4,629 attained first division, 6,368 passed in second
division, and 1,188 got third division.

Interestingly the female candidates among Regular and Institutional
Private candidates outclassed their male counterparts. Among regular
female candidates the pass percentage was 85.41 while among institutional
private the pass percentage shot up to 91.23.

In Commerce stream, it was Nikita Jhabak of Gauhati Commerce College who
secured the top position with 430 marks out of 500. Of the total 10,429
candidates who took the test, 7,296 passed putting the pass percentage at
69.96, an improvement compared to last year’s figure of 67.14 per cent.

In Arts stream the districts with better pass percentage included Jorhat,
Lakhimpur and Nagaon, while in the Science stream Dibrugarh, Nalbari and
Lakhimpur had high pass percentages. Candidates of Commerce stream did
well in the districts of Hailakandi, Dhubri and Sonitpur.

Several districts, however, showed low pass percentage. Cachar, Karbi
Anglong, and Kokrajhar fared poorly in the Arts stream, and in the Science
stream Kokrajhar, Morigaon and Tinsukia recorded lower pass percentages.
The performance of Commerce candidates was discouraging in Karbi Anglong,
Kokrajhar and Karimganj districts.

It was a mixed bag of fortune for Cotton College when it came to its
students figuring in the merit list. While it at saw ten of its Science
students feature in the coveted merit list, only two of its candidates
were in the top-ten list of the Arts stream.

Our Correspondent adds: Nitul Khataniar of Cotton College, who topped in
the science stream, while reacting to his success, said, “I never expected
to top the list though I was confident of securing good marks.”

“I would now try to pursue a course in Electronics Engineering preferably
outside the State,” he said. Nitul, who had secured 15th position in the
HSLC examination, thanked his parents, teachers and friends for playing a
pivotal role in making him realize his dream.

Commerce stream topper Nikita Jhabak of Gauhati Commerce College, and
resident of Kumarpara, Guwahati, who attributed her success to her
dedication, while expressing her happiness said, “I never craved for
positions but now that it has come, it is giving me an altogether
different feel.”

“I have been preparing for Chartered Accountant course for quite a while
and would prefer to go for it along with my B Com simultaneously for the
next three years,” she said.

Sidhartha Phukan of city’s SK Hazarika College, and a resident of
Sivasagar, who notched the sixth position in the Arts stream, said, “The
real race in pursuing our goal has just begun and it’s time to be extra
cautious and think twice before putting a foot forward.”

BARPETA: Krishnaguru Sewashram Nasatra in Barpeta district added another
feather to its cap when a student of Krishnaguru Mahabidyalaya situated in
the Ashram Junmoni Phookan occupied fifth position in the Higher Secondary
(Arts) examination.

Junmoni, daughter of Budhin Ram and Deepa Phookan of Golaghat secured
letter marks in all the five subjects.

Krishnaguru Mahabidyalaya showed an excellent performance with all its
candidates being successful in the examination. Nasatra and the
surrounding villages are agog with festivities over the success of the
local educational institute.

In the district headquarters of Barpeta, Madhab Choudhury College showed
outstanding performance with 70 per cent and 80 per cent success in
Science and Arts streams respectively.

Barpeta district as a whole recorded 67.16 per cent and 79.23 per cent
success in Arts ans Science streams respectively.

BADARPUR: The entire Barak Valley including Badarpur has done extremely
well in the HS examination 2008, setting a record in the process. Most of
the HS Schools and Colleges of Barak valley showed excellent results
eclipsing previous years performance.

Arpita Gang of Karimganj College and Saugat Dasgupta of Ramanuj Gupta
Junior College, Cachar bagged the third and tenth positions respectively
in the science stream, bringing glory for the entire Barak Valley. Talking
to The Assam Tribune the two toppers said that apart from their hard work
and determination, guidance and inspiration from their teachers, parents
and well wishers had been instrumental in their success.

MANGALDOI : Mangaldoi has been made proud by two toppers – Sameem Akhtara
and Smita Bharati, both Institutional Private candidates, who secured the
fifth and tenth positions respectively in the HS (Arts) exam.

DIBRUGARH : Three students here secured places in the list of the toppers
in the recently held higher secondary examination held under the Assam
Higher Secondary Education Council, the results of which were made public
today. Among them is the HS (Science) topper, Anindita Borah.

All the three rank holders here are from the Salt Brook Academy,
Dibrugarh. All the three toppers coming from Science stream are Anindita
Borah, Abdul Aziz and Biswajit Sarkar. Her aggregate was 456 marks while
Abdul, ranked 5th, garnered 450 marks and Biswajit Sarkar with total 443
marks was placed in the eighth place in the merit list.

JORHAT: Students from the district have shined in this years Higher
Secondary examinations, especially in the Science and Arts streams, the
results of which were announced today.

Ankita Bihani of the Titabor-based Pragjyotika Junior College bagged the
eight position in the examination, securing 443 marks. She had bagged the
17th position in the HSLC examination in 2006. Ankita desires to get into
a medical college.

Samiran Saikia did the hometown proud by getting the third position in the
HS (Arts) examination. He appeared from Jagannath Barooah College.

TOPPERS LIST ARTS

List of successful candidates securing the first 10 positions: 1st –
*Mukul Haloi: 449 (Engl, Mass, PoSc, Econ, Loph, Sans), Institutional
Private, Nalbari. 2nd – *Kranti Baruah: 436 (Engl, Mass, PoSc, Anth, Loph,
Econ), Institutional Private, Bajali, Barpeta. 3rd – *Samiran Saikia: 432
(Engl, Mass, Posc, econ, loph), JB College, Jorhat. *Pallabi Konwar: 432
(Engl, mass, Educ, Econ, Loph, Posc), Institutional Private, Nagaon. 4th –
*Archana Deka: 430 (Engl, mass, educ, loph, anth, posc), Institutional
Private, Bajali, Barpeta. *Imrana Begum: 430 (engl, Mass, Educ, Loph,
Posc, Geog), Kalongpar Vidyapith Jr College, Nagaon. *Runa Moni Kalita:
430 (Engl, Econ, Loph, Educ), Kalongpar Vidyapith Jr College, Nagaon. 5th
– *Sameem Akhtara: 429 (Engl, Alte, Posc, econ, loph, educ), Institutional
Private, Mangaldai, Darrang. *Jugasmita Das: 429 (Engl, Alte, Educ, Geog,
Loph, Posc), Cotton College, Kamrup. *Junmoni Phukan: 429 (Mass, Econ,
Posc, Educ, Loph), Krishna Guru Mahavidyalaya, Nalbari. 6th – *Happy Saha:
427 (engl, Loph, Econ, Educ, Posc), Institutional Private, Tangla,
Udalguri. *Siddhartha Phukan: 427 (Engl, Mass, Educ, Loph, Soci), SK
Hazarika Jr College, Guwahati, Kamrup. 7th – *Dulu Mani Talukdar: 426
(Engl, Mass, Posc, anth, Loph, Econ), Institutional Private, Bajali,
Barpeta. *Hemanga Barman: 426 (Mass, Loph, Econ, Educ, Posc),
Institutional Private, Bajali, Barpeta. 8th – *Devaroopa Sharma: 425
(Engl, Econ, Math, Csca, Stat), Cotton College, Kamrup. 9th – *Madhusudan
Borpatra Gohain: 423 (Mass, Econ, Loph, Educ), Kamargaon College,
Golaghat. *Arifa Tabassum: 423 (Engl, Posc, Educ, Loph, Econ), Ascent
Academy Junior College, Guwahati, Kamrup. *Pankita Borgohain: 423 (Engl,
Mass, Posc, Anth, Loph), Institutional Private, North Lakhimpur. 10th –
*Smita Bharali: 422 (Alte, Posc, Educ, Loph), Institutional Private,
Mangaldai, Darrang. *Aradhana Singha: 422 (Engl, Alte, Posc, Educ, Loph,
Econ), S Shankar Academy Junior College, Guwahati, Kamrup. *Manashi
Saikia: 422 (Engl, alte, Loph, Econ, Educ, Posc), Kalongapar Vidyapith Jr
College, Nagaon.

COMMERCE

List of successful candidates securing the first five positions: 1st –
*Nikita Jhabak: 430 (Engl, Alte, Acou, Bust, Econ), Gauhati Commerce
College, Kamrup. 2nd – *Dhanendar Dugur: 426 (Engl, Acou, Bust, Caes),
Gauhati Commerce College, Kamrup. *Suruchi Jain: 426 (Engl, Alte, Acou,
Bust, Econ), Gauhati Commerce College, Kamrup. 3rd – *Pooja Jain: 424
(Engl, Acou, Bust, Caes), Darrang College,

Sonitpur. 4th – *Priyanka Mour: 422 (Engl, Alte, Acou, Bust, Econ),
Gauhati Commerce College, Kamrup. *Sunaina Jain: 422 (Engl, Alte, Acou,
Bust, Caes), KC Das Commerce College, Kamrup. 5th – *Akshita Jajodia: 419
(Engl, Acou, Bust), Gauhati Commerce College, Kamrup. *Monti Agarwal: 419
(alte, Acou, Bust, BNkg), KC Das Commerce College, Kamrup. *Swati
Ajitsaria: 419 (Engl, Alte, Acou, Caes), Nowgong College, Nagaon.

SCIENCE

List of successful candidates securing the first 10 positions: 1st –
*Anindita Borah: 456 (Engl, Alte, Chem, Phys, Math, Biol), Salt Brook
Academy, Dibrugarh. *Nitul Khataniar: 456 (Engl, Mass, Chem, Phys, Math,
Stat), Cotton College, Kamrup. 2nd – *Sudipta Dipak Baruah: 453 (Engl,
mass, Math, Phys, Biol, Chem), Cotton College, Kamrup. 3rd – *Gauranga
Dutta: 452 (Engl, Mass, Chem, Phys, Math), Cotton College, Kamrup. *Arpita
Gang: 452 (Engl, Alte, Chem, Phys, Math), Karimganj College, Karimganj.
*Dipankar Mahatto: 452 (Engl, alte, Chem, Phys, math, Stat), Biswanath
College, Sonitpur. 4th – *Smarjeet Sharma: 451 (Engl, Alte, Chem, Phys,
Math, Stat), Cotton College, Kamrup. 5th – *Abdul Aziz: 450 (Engl, Alte,
Phys, Chem, Math), Salt Brook Academy, Dibrugarh. *Kangkan Kalita: 450
(Mass, Chem, Phys, Math), Cotton College, Kamrup. 6th – *Raj Lakshmi
Dutta: 448 (Engl, Alte, Chem, Phys, Biol, Math), DR College, Golaghat. 7th
– *Jahidul Islam Sarkar: 447 (Engl, Alte, Chem, Phys, Math, Stat), Cotton
College, Kamrup. 8th – *Biswajit Sarkar: 443 (Engl, Alte, Phys, Chem,
Math, Biol), Salt Brook Academy, Dibrugarh. *Ankita Bihani: 443 (Engl,
alte, Chem, Phys, Biol, Math), Pragjyotika Jr College, Titabor, Jorhar.
*Nabankur Barman: 443 (Mass, Chem, Phys, Math), Cotton College, Kamrup.
9th – *Bhayolina Bora: 442 (Engl, Mass, Chem, Math, biol, Phys), Cotton
College, Kamrup. 10th – *Sandipan Saha: 441 (Engl, Alte, Phys, Chem, Math,
Biol), BH College, Barpeta. *Saugat Dasgupta: 441 (Engl, Chem, Phys, Math,
Biol), Ramanuj Gupta Jr College, Cachar. *Nilomoni Borah: 441 (Engl, Mass,
Chem, Phys, Math), Cotton College, Kamrup. *Darshana Borah: 441 (Engl,
Alte, Chem, Phys, Math, Stat), Cotton College, Kamrup.

Gogoi should quit over NC Hills violence: BJP
By A City Correspondent Source: Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, May 14 – Condemning the recent escalation of violence in the NC
Hills district, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assam Pradesh on
Tuesday said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi should accept the
responsibility of the bloodbath and step down from office immediately on
moral grounds.

The BJP, while expressing deep concern at the prevailing situation in the
hill district said that the Congress government’s failure to improve law
and order in the hill district will hamper all future developmental
activities in the State. “The recent incidents and the subsequent
developments will go against the interest of the State,” said the BJP.

It may be mentioned here that the killings in the hill district has
triggered an all-pervading fear psychosis which has led to the exodus of
labourers engaged in the ongoing railway and road projects. Work has come
to a halt with the terrorist outfit Black Widow targeting the labourers
engaged in the projects.

Terming the government’s inability in providing security to the labourers
engaged in the projects as shameful, the BJP has asked the government to
resign.

“In the last eight years, the government has failed to initiate any
pragmatic steps to resolve the insurgency problem,” accused the BJP.