"I personally feel that the government decision to hand over power projects to private companies is the best thing that has happened in the history of Meghalaya. Everything has been done in a transparent manner," Mr Sangma told reporters on Wednesday.

On the demand raised by various quarters, including a number of ministers in the MDA Government, for scrapping the "controversial" decision, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds Power portfolio, pointed out that it would require a collective decision of the Cabinet to annul the deal on the power projects.

"The decision of the December-7 Cabinet meeting cannot be termed as invalid just because some ministers were not present. Before that, on December 3, the Cabinet met and minutes of that meeting were clear indications of what was going to take place on December 7," Mr Sangma said.

Stating that the projects were given to private companies on Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis, the minister said "when BOOT was done in the case of construction of National Highway 40, nobody shouted but when the same was done with regards to the power projects, there was opposition."

"If ministers like RG Lyngdoh can go to the USA or Paul Lyngdoh to Israel to attract foreign investors, I don't see why investors from our country should not be invited to develop the power sector in our State," Mr Sangma argued.

He also claimed that the companies who had been invited to develop the power projects were reputed ones with past experience in the power sector.

"Anybody who talks about the power sector knows Jaypee Group or Athena Group," he said, adding, "With the kind of Power Policy that have adopted, we can provide free power to the people. The fact that many big players are coming to Meghalaya to invest in the power sector is a good sign and it is going to benefit the North-East as well," Mr Sangma said.

On the contention of KSU and other NGOs that power projects worth over 100MW should be routed under International Competitive Bidding (ICB), he said the decision of the Cabinet had been taken in order that no detailed project report (DPR) would be required which, according to him, could delay the projects.

"Today, if we have to go through competitive bidding, tell me which projects in the State have gone though the process involving preparation of DPRs. That is why the best way is to go through joint venture basis," Mr Sangma asserted.

Regarding handing over of the 720-MW Nangalbibra thermal power project to Dharampal-Satyapal Group, the Power Minister said as per the Indian Electricity Act 2003, any developer was free to execute and run a thermal project even without experience in the field, provided the company had the capital to invest in the project.

The two-day KSU-sponsored office picketing against the decision of the State Government on power projects ended peacefully on Wednesday but it continued to affect government functioning with most offices in the city and headquarters of Khasi and Jaintia Hills districts registering skeletal attendance.

Most of the State Government offices in the city were more or less empty and functioned with only senior officials turning up for duty. The Main Secretariat wore a deserted look due to scanty number of employees attending office.

The percentage of attendance in government officesduring the day was lesser than that recorded on the first day of the picketing.

Sources said the percentage of attendance in all State Government offices and semi-government institutions was below 20 per cent.

Banks, post offices and Central Government offices also remained closed throughout the day.

KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling told The Shillong Times that the students' union would decide its future course of action at its Central Executive Committee meeting on Thursday.

KSU will not compromise on the issue. We will intensify our agitation, if the government stays adamant on its stand, he said.

Mr Dohling, however, appreciated the public, especially government employees, for supporting KSU during the two-day office picketing.

Meanwhile, joining the movement against the government decision to allot power projects to private parties, NCP has asked acting Governor SS Sidhu to intervene in the matter.

"There are many reasons why these power projects are questionable. It (government decision) violates the State Power Policy and the very spirit of the election code of conduct as Assembly elections are due soon," NCP's youth wing said in a representation submitted to Mr Sidhu.

SHILLONG: Taking serious note of environmental clearance given by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to UCIL for uranium mining in the State, Meghalaya People's Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has appealed to the Lapang-led Government not to bow down to Centre's "pressure tactic" and threatened to move the Supreme Court if the State Government issued no objection certificate to the Corporation to go ahead with the project.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, MPHRC secretary general Dino G Dympep said the State Government should not bow down to the Centre's pressure tactic by giving no objection certificate (NOC) to UCIL to mine uranium in Meghalaya. MPHRC will go to the Supreme Court, if the State Government issues NOC to UCIL, he warned.

"Before the public hearing at Nongbah Jynrin, MPHRC had filed a PIL at Gauhati High Court. The court has recognised the right to health as part of human rights," Mr Dympep said.

He informed that MPHRC, through Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, had submitted a representation to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest, describing the reasons for the Council's opposition to proposed uranium mining in the State.

The Union ministry has not given any response to our representation. This only indicates the intention of the Centre to exploit indigenous people of Meghalaya by going ahead with uranium mining, Mr Dympep added.

SHILLONG: Construction of the proposed State Zoo at Mawlein-Mawkhan in Ri-Bhoi is likely to be delayed with the Forest and Environment Department planning to submit a preliminary report to the State Government and the Finance Commission on yearly recurring expenditures required for maintainance of the zoo.

Earlier, the Twelfth Finance Commission had awarded Rs 30 crore for the project which, officials believed, was adequate for construction of the State Zoo but authorities felt that other issues like meeting international standard and guidelines of Central Zoo Authority (CZA) would have to be considered before going ahead with the project.

"The yearly recurring expenditure required for maintenance of the proposed zoo needs to be taken into account before starting the project. For this we have to prepare a preliminary report to be submitted to the State Government and the Finance Commission for their consideration," Principal Chief Conservator of Forests VK Nautiyal told The Shillong Times on Wednesday.

According to Mr Nautiyal, the Forest and Environment Department will require around Rs 6 crore annually as recurring expenditure for maintenance of the State Zoo.

There is also the need of consultants for architectural design in view of the fact that designing a zoo is different from other construction projects.

The Forest and Environment department had spent Rs 185.16 lakh as land compensation for the State Zoo.

Land for the zoo was acquired by the Ri-Bhoi district administration on June 26, 2002 and handed over to the Forest and Environment Department on August 12, 2002 after the area was identified as ideal in both climatic and bio-geographical conditions for keeping animals and birds by the State Level Site Selection Committee set up in January 2001.

The total size of the area was 72.74 hectares.

The conceptual master plan for the project was approved by CZA. In February 2007, the department had invited bids for preparing the master plan for construction of the zoo but none of the firms responded.

The authorities were contemplating making certain modifications in the master plan before calling for fresh bids from interested firms.

Shillong: Chief Secretary Ranjan Chatterjee on Wednesday said the State Government was mooting a law to ensure protection of the basic rights of domestic workers in the State while pointing out the necessity of having a legalised basic minimum standard of wages for the domestic workers.

Speaking as chief guest at a function observing the International Domestic Workers' Day here on Wednesday, Chatterjee said the contributions of domestic workers to the society needed to be acknowledged.

He emphasised the need to provide children of domestic workers with education.

Meanwhile, coordinator of North East Regional Domestic Worker Movement Sister Theresa Joseph said the movement had approached Chief Minister DD Lapang to include the domestic workers under the purview of Domestic Violence Act, 2005 in order to protect them from any kind of violence and exploitations by their employers.

Keeping in mind the sensational murder of Rinehskhem Kharsohnoh, a domestic help at the residence of former DGP WR Marbaniang, last year and other forms of abuse on domestic workers, the movement felt the urgent need for the Government to initiate steps for their protection.

They are subjected to harassment, verbal, physical and sexual abuse even though their contribution towards society is immense. Domestic workers are virtually denied all legal rights.

On social security, Sr Joseph said the movement, which has been encouraging the domestic workers to open savings accounts or insurance policies, has recorded 23 domestic helps having a life insurance policy registered in their name.

According to Sr Joseph, at present, there were 3000 registered domestic workers, 180 groups of domestic workers in 42 localities of Shillong city alone and 12 domestic workers fora, who are the "motors of domestic workers' empowerment and development".

On the other hand, the growing trend of employing child domestic helps has put a question mark on the future of the children, she said.

"Shillong has a large percentage of working couples. This is only possible because of the daily hard work of thousands of domestic workers. They contribute largely to the city, but are poorly paid, abused and not recognised as workers," Sr Theresa said.

On the occasion, Chief Secretrary Ranjan Chatterjee also distributed prizes to Lumsohphoh Group II on being selected as the best group of 2007.

Shillong: The State Government has directed the ANVC not to participate "in any manner" in the coming Assembly elections "directly or indirectly". The State Government's directive came up during the first-ever meeting between senior Government officials and ANVC leaders in Tura on Wednesday.

The State Government, while following the activities of the outfits, felt the need to urge upon them to desist from trying to commit public crimes such as "forcible collection of donations, extortion and imposition of taxes on goods sold in the market".

It was also agreed upon that, henceforth, monthly meetings will be held between State Government officials and the ANVC, to be chaired by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner.

Meanwhile, expressing eagerness to be equipped with vocational skills, a proposal for imparting different trainings was also mooted for the ANVC cadres.

During such monthly meetings, discussion on developmental aspects would be followed after the discussion on prevailing law and order situation.

It was also decided that the inspection of weapons would be conducted by the West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, who is the Nodal Officer for the purpose, every six month.

The meeting also agreed that the District Level Committee will be formed in East and South Garo Hills with the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Deputy Superintendents of Police of district headquarter and a representative of the ANVC as members of the committee.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner of Divisions PW Ingty, Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) SB Singh, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police of West, South and East Garo Hills, ANVC joint secretary Janggam Momin, organising secretary Torik JN Marak and publicity secretary Artist Sengrang N Marak.

Three AK series rifles, four AK series magazines, 143 AK series ammunition, five .31 rifles, four country made bombs, a hand grenade, a grenade launcher and three launching grenades were seized during the operation.

Militants, however, managed to escape taking advantage of the dense jungle.

After 60 years of our Independence, India has emerged as the biggest democracy in the world and its tri-colour symbolizing unity in diversity flies high at the ramparts of Red Fort. The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru made a tryst with destiny on the night of 14th August 1947 when the whole world was sleeping.

The Indian Constitution has guaranteed all the citizens various fundamental rights. The Directive Principles of State Policy clearly spell out social and economic justice as the removal of poverty and inequality among the people. But these are not mandatory for the State to implement. The time has come to assess as to what extent we have achieved these goals through governance.

Though India has achieved about a 9 per cent growth rate annually (passing the critical phase of the mythical "Hindu rate of growth" of 3 to 3.5 per cent annually), and has emerged as the third country with the largest technical manpower in the world with a booming software industry; yet the grave fact remains that about 26 per cent of our people continue to live below the poverty line.

In addition, there not only exists a huge army of the unemployed youth but also the income disparity is increasing. Young children (at the cost of their childhood) are engaged in hazardous works despite a ban and about 30 per cent of the people are still illiterate. While a large population is inflicted with various diseases.

Nowadays, with the term "good governance" being very much in vogue, three major international bodies have focused on its different aspects. As the World Bank, defined in 1994, "good governance is epitomized by a predictable open and enlightened policy making (that is, transparent processes); a bureaucracy imbued with a professional ethos; the executive arm of the Government accountable for its actions; and a strong civil society participating in public affairs; and all behaving under the rule of law."

Secondly, the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) takes a broader view of good governance as comprising mechanism, process and institutions through which citizens and groups articulate their interests, exercise their legal rights, meet their legal obligations, and mediate their differences.

The Economic and Social Council for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) similarly considers governance good only if genuine steps to minimize corruption are taken, if the views of the minorities is taken and the voices of the most vulnerable sections of society in decision-making is ensured, and if it is responsive to the present and future needs of a society. Further, it has identified 8 salient features of good governance as: i) Participatory in nature. ii) Consensual in orientation. iii) Accountable. iv) Transparent. v) Responsive. vi) Effective and efficient. vii) Equitable and inclusive. viii) Rule of law.

To elaborate, participation refers to the people's participation in different public activities in letter and spirit at every stage from formulation of a plan scheme to its implementation to monitoring to evaluation.

For instance, a Gram Panchayat is to spend some money in a particular year for development. It should select the schemes in a Gram Sabha's public meeting openly. But, in practice, in most of the States, especially in the northern States, the village headman and the favourable ward members select the schemes but get fake signatures of the Gram Sabha members.

Second, good governance must ensure that there is a regular and dynamic process of consensus-making. Firstly, there should be consultations between the Government functionaries, the NGOs and the public. The second stage should be the consideration of the different views; the third stage should be taking their consent on a broad area; and finally consensus should be attempted after all conflict-resolution. But, there should not be a consensus by pressure or compulsion. It should be open and dialogic. The third feature of good governance is accountability. That is, from the policy-makers to the implementers, all should be held responsible for their omissions and commissions. Everybody at the helm of affairs should be answerable for allocation, the use and control of public fund and other assets.

The fourth feature of good governance is transparency i.e., openness, no covering, no camouflaging and no window-dressing. In other words, the people are at liberty to know the policies and strategies of a democratic Government under the Right to Information Act. Be it in regard to making public accounts verifiable, the basis of a decision, healthy criticism of policies and their implementation and making available correct and timely information. This ensures that there is uniformity in decisions for all without duress, pressure, bias or favour/disfavour.

The fifth feature of good governance is responsiveness. This means that Government functionaries should respond timely to a problem and not digresses from the issue for 'reasons unknown.' Responsiveness ensures that there is no pretension of any kind, rather fairness.

The sixth feature of good governance is efficiency and effectiveness. Efficiency means doing work at a fast speed and effectiveness means doing things effectively focusing on the results. Thus, both timelyness and result-orientation are to be ensured.

The seventh attribute of good governance is equity and inclusiveness. Equity denotes equality with justice while inclusiveness includes encompassing the entire population --- without any discrimination based on caste, creed, class, and religion, place of birth, language, race or region. In fact, the have-nots and the vulnerable sections of society should get a level playing field with the 'haves.'

The last feature of good governance is the rule of law, i.e. everybody is equal before the law, (equal protection of human rights) on the one hand, and there should be a justice system through due process of law for all, on the other hand. It means that all rules and regulations should be similar for all the citizens in similar circumstances. These features ultimately ensure the citizens of a nation to live and work with dignity. ---INFA

The democratic dynasty rule in South Asia, for instance in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is loved and hated in equal measures. So for as India is concerned the inescapable reality circumscribing the idea of a dynasty is the legacy of the Gandhi-Nehru family, with names entwining in all manner of combinations to sustain an aura that will continue to captivate for a long-long time. So we are comfortable with the idea of the dynasty in our political life. Is it a facile premise? But what is it that feeds the collective supplication to this anti-democratic nostalgia for a dynasty? Are we unique in our predilection? Or is the idea of a dynasty worked into our subliminal collective consciousness, true not just for Indians but the entire human race? And if so, is the mystification of some "first family" the logical outcome of such a mindset, where the dynasty is the basic yearning of common people?

The English taught the modern world all about democracy (albeit borrowing from the Hellenic tradition). But it remains, till date, a monarchy. As does sundry progressive countries like Denmark and the Netherlands. Even in America, there remained in the Deep South around the mid 1850s, families that were more loyal than the king, humorously referred to by Mark Twain as the FFVs (or the First Families of Virginia!).

As a first premise, the idea of a destiny obtains of the idea of the basic family unit. The idea of primogeniture is no unique to kingship; it is practised among most people of the world in the sphere of family functions, hereditary rights, etc. There is one difference, however. From ancient Egypt to modern England, rulers perpetrated (with active collaboration from ecclesiastical authorities) the "Divine Right of Kingship" theory, mystifying the role of the ruler into one where He or She was "God’s ordained on earth". Extrapolate his logic into a modern, secular world, and you will find the same element of mystification, sans possibly the sanction of the Almighty. Thus, it appears, dynasties are born.

Someone it strikes the public eye, though entrepreneurship or political leadership occupies an elevated public space. The halo around the public figure feeds the public’s romantic fascination for "success" and lo and behold, out comes a mediocre progeny with a spectre attached to his twiddling thumb. He is willed by the common imagination to do (or even outdo) his ancestor’s deeds, and thus perpetuate the legacy of yet another dynasty. Speaking from the exalted platform of a family’s legacy, even the mot asinine remark can transform into a front page sound bite. Such is the power of the dynasty.

Facts are little relevance here. Cut again to the example of the Gandhi-Nehru family. When Attenborough was shooting Gandhi in rural India, many mistook Ben Kinsley for the Mahatma. So what’s that got to do with dynasty? Nothing, till you realise how the same people believe Priyanka Gandhi is related to Gandhi, plus Nehru to boot! The jumble in the rumble is easily glided over when it is expedient for political reasons to do so. No quarrels with those taking advantage of the ignorance of the masses. The point being made is that dynasties enforce a logic that stretches beyond the boundaries of credibility and truth, and succeed in doing so only because the people by and large are happy to canonise the idea of a dynasty. The pre-eminence of a dynasty is reinforced even in history texts that the educated (hopefully) read. Sample this from an Internet download on the ancient Egyptians.

"Pharoah Akhnaton (born Amenophis the Fourth) was King of Egypt in 1350 B.C. Several generations before Akhnaton, Egypt had been occupied by invaders from the North (Hyksos). The Egyptian rulers, at that time, had fled into Africa. This exiled community began their (sic) recovery with pharaoh AhMoses (beginning of the 18th Dynasty, 1575 BC, followed by ThotMoses I in 1520 BC). Later, in 1479 BC, ThotMoses III applied revolutionary leadership in overthrowing the reigning pharoah, Atchepsut, (his transvestite aunt). The 18th Dynasty continued to expand the Egyptian territory beyond the mouth of the Nile…"

So is the future to belong to dynasties? Can mankind never escape the apparently inescapable logic of inheritance? Can only Bush Junior, "Vadra-Gandhi unnamed" and Benazir Bhutto guide the destiny of the world? Not to mention the Ambanis, the Tatas and the Birlas and many other Ahs. Well maybe not. It is quite possible the glamour of the dynasty has quite lost its ancient sheen. Today Internet world cuts the chords of communication restraint. Also, the new economy, abetted in part by "new politics," has little patience with that which is rhetoric and non-professional.

One recalls an interesting article by S. Ankhleshwar Aiyar in this context. Entitled something like "Let’s have more playboys," the piece went on to argue how corporate houses ought to move into the control of professional and non inefficient scions. These progenies could take their millions and live the lives of playboys while the company their father (or great-grandfather) founded continued to prosper under hands that were best qualified to run them. He took the example of various US companies and hoped Indian would follow suit. One can’t speak of exiting mega conglomerates, but newer companies are already owned by their employees (Infosys, Wipro spring to notice) through stock options, etc. One does not know if Narayanamurthy has a child, and if so what is his/her name. Amen. But then, if only the political class would wake up to the viability of stock options, where all the citizens of the country are allowed a stake in the country’s fortunes.

The sad events surrounding the ruling dynasty of India’s post-Independence political history stand out as a cruel pun—dynasty sounds more like ‘die-nasty’. Maybe the future will change all that. Maybe ‘Vadra-Gandhi unnamed’ will create another Infosys, or maybe just be. INAV

The jumble in the rumble is easily glided over when it is expedient for political reasons to do so. No quarrels with those taking advantage of the ignorance of the masses. The point being made is that dynasties enforce a logic that stretches beyond the boundaries of credibility and truth, and succeed in doing so only because the people by and large are happy to canonise the idea of a dynasty. The pre-eminence of a dynasty is reinforced even in history texts that the educated (hopefully) read. Sample this from an Internet download on the ancient Egyptians.

Sir,

Apropos the letter "NEEPCO Conundrum-fiction or facts" (ST Jan 7) certain baseless allegations have been levelled against two senior functionaries of the Corporation which may lead to misconception in the minds of readers unless clarified.

Mr J. Barkakati assumed additional charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director of NEEPCO on 11.09.2007. Ever since he assumed charge of the post, he has been trying his best to bring about all round development of the Corporation. It is quite natural that being the head of the Corporation, he is required to visit Delhi and other places within the country in connection with official works. NEEPCO being a Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, visits to Delhi on official works by senior functionaries of the Corporation cannot be avoided. However, such visits have not affected the functioning of the Corporation, rather helped in sorting out many critical issues in the recent past such as Techno-economic clearance of 110 MW Pare H.E. Project, supply of 0.5 MMSCUMD of natural gas for 104 MW Tripura Gas Based Power Project, revival of 60 MW Tuirial H.E. Project, signing of MoU for execution of 90 MW Mawphu H.E. Project and 500 MW Garo Hills Thermal Power Project to cite a few. Although the work of 600 MW Kameng HE Project initially suffered due to geological and design constraints, Mr Barkakati with utmost dedication and sincerity and with an objective to improve the power scenario of the N.E. Region, took up all critical issues concerning the project at various levels and resolved them in shortest possible time. Today, the Corporation takes a pride in achieving progress in regard to various structures of the Kameng H.E. Project including completion of more than 4 Km of tunnel boring and 1 Km Adit in the challenging Himalayan geology.

As regards visit to Germany, it may be mentioned that CMD visited Germany along with Director (Finance), NEEPCO and Director (Finance) of Ministry of Power in order to hold discussion with kfw, Germany for tying up funds for the Pare H.E. Project in Arunachal Pradesh. The visit was duly approved by the Ministry of Power. His visit to Spain was for the purpose of participation in the 'Hydro 2007 Conference' held at Granada, Spain followed by Post Congress Technical Tour to some Pump Storage Schemes in the said country under Transfer of Technology Programme as approved by the Ministry of Power. It may be further mentioned that the Chairman & Managing Director, NEEPCO went to Goa on LTC as per entitlement and with approval of the competent authority.

Mr I.P. Barooah, Director (Personnel) holds a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Indore and hence professionally qualified and adequately experienced to hold the post of Director (Personnel) in the Corporation. He obtained his Masters Degree before commencement of his professional career.

It is a figment of imagination that he uses the Corporation's Guest House at New Delhi for his daughter's education. While his eldest daughter has already completed her studies, the younger one is presently pursuing her studies at Delhi and both of them stay in a hostel in New Delhi and not at NEEPCO Guest House as alleged. They, however, join their father whenever he visits New Delhi and need his help.

It may be mentioned that transfer and posting of Engineers are done based on requirement and in the interest of works of the Corporation. However, due to exigencies of work, a very limited number of Engineers could not be transferred from their respective place of posting for acquiring field experience in the past and therefore, fell short of the stipulated field experience for promotion to the next higher level, although very marginally. It was in respect of these officers that the requirement of field experience was relaxed as one time measure with due approval of the Board.

Considering the importance of timely execution of Kameng H.E. Project , the Corporation had posted five General Managers and five Deputy General Managers to ensure speedy execution of the project. Therefore, retirement of one General Manager from service will not hinder the progress of work as apprehended.

The Design Wing of the Corporation is headed by an experienced Executive Director. It is a fact that four Engineers of Design & Engineering Wing have resigned in the recent past in order to take up employment in the Private Sector. There is no dearth of capable engineers in the Corporation to effectively tackle any situation.

The Corporation agrees with the writer and considers it unfortunate that NEEPCO does not have any Guest House of its own in important places like Shillong and Guwahati where the Guest Houses are being run in rented premises. It is, therefore, in the fitness of things that the Corporation has now decided to have its own Guest house at Guwahati and Shillong in order to fulfil this pressing need felt by all officers and staff for quite sometime.

Yours etc.,
LA Kharmawphlang,
Manager (PR),
NEEPCO, Shillong

Sir,

All members of the Association of Engineers, NEEPCO Ltd. are deeply pained by the letter written by Ms. Pompa Hazarika casting aspersions on the sincerity and integrity of their senior officials. Her letter is not only based on falsehoods but also distorts the facts by presenting them out of context.

The members of this Association, therefore, believe that the letter has been written at the behest of vested interests with the malafide intention of tarnishing the image of NEEPCO, which is one of the very few Central Government PSUs functioning from the NE region and wholly dedicated to the service of the North East and meeting about 60% of the power requirement of the region.

The Association condemns in the strongest possible words the baseless action of Ms. Hazarika in attempting to malign NEEPCO as well as its senior officials whose integrity and character are beyond reproach.

Yours etc.,
A Paul,
General Secretary,
Association of Engineers NEEPCO Ltd, Shillong

"We are not putting up conditions. It is the ULFA which is placing conditions. We are ready for talks within the framework of the Constitution," he said.

Talking about the growing jehadi activities in the region, Gogoi told PTI in an interview that "Assam is surrounded by different countries and they are encouraging all sorts of activities. Even jehadis are there. I don't say the countries are directly involved. But elements are there and they are not dealing with these elements firmly."

"They (countries) are not flushing out these elements. Even the Centre has not received as much response as was expected from the neighbouring countries, particularly Bangladesh, I can say," Gogoi said.

"These problems definitely go on if these countries give shelter to the ultras. It is very difficult to root them out as their bases are there," he asserted.

On whether a "third force" was behind the growing Adivasi uprise in the State, Gogoi said, "Definitely there is. I do suspect the Naxalites from Jharkhand even though I don't have concrete proof.

"I have seen they (Adivasis) have established links in Jharkhand and have gone there also. That is why there is suspicion. If there problem in Assam, it should be solved here," Gogoi said.

Asked whether a flexible approach is the right way to solve the ULFA problem, he said, "Everybody knows it has to be solved within the framework of the Constitution. The Centre is prepared to hold discussions with the group but the sovereignty issue has to be dropped. That is the main thing.

"Even for other insurgent groups as in the case of NSCN (both IM and K factions), the erstwhile Mizo National Front, the government talked with them within the parameters of the constitution. Definitely the same principle will apply to ULFA or other militant groups," he said.

"Let them withdraw the issue of sovereignty and we may sympathetically consider releasing these five people," he said.

"If they (the five members) come for talks, we don't mind releasing them. They never said they will come for talks, only Mamoni (talks facilitator Indira Mamoni Roisam Goswami) said. The ULFA never conveyed to me that these arrested people will come for talks," Gogoi said.

The ULFA has demanded the release of five of their top jailed leaders before any discussion is held. (PTI)

Official sources said that incidents of violence and booth-capturing were reported from parts of Hailakandi, Nagaon, Morigaon and Barpeta districts. Polling was suspended in several booths in the districts.

Hailakandi was the worst-affected district where polling was not held in many centres as supporters of rival political parties allegedly 'captured' several booths and rigged polling.

Repoll is likely to be held in more than 100 polling stations, but a final decision will be taken by on Thursday as detailed reports are yet to come in.

Congress and Asom United Democratic Front supporters clashed at Moirabari in Morigaon districts leading to suspension of polls for nearly two hours.

Meanwhile, one of the polling personnel died after a heart attack at Bhairabnagar in Karimganj district.

Polling was held amidst tight security and the Army recovered a five kg bomb from the Golokgunj area in Dhubri.

Polling in the third phase was held in 141 constituencies of Zilla Parishad members, 741 Anchalik Panchayat members, 741 gaon panchayat presidents and 7410 gaon panchayats members in the districts of Dhubri, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Nagaon, Cachar, Hailakandi, Karimganj and parts of Morigaon district. (PTI)

AGARTALA: Setting aside all speculations, Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan on Wednesday said that the Assembly election in Tripura would be held before March 19. The tenure of current Assembly is set to be over on March 18.

Balakrishnan, who arrived here to review the election preparation in the state, held meetings with Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash, Director General of Police (DGP) KTD Singh and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) GSG Ayyangar.

A new government will be formed in Tripura before March 19 and the Commission will announce election in due time, Balakrishnan said at a press conference here before heading for Delhi on Wednesday.

According to sources, the Assembly election will be held in February well before the expiry of current Assembly.

Terming his visit as routine, Balakrishnan said that he had detailed discussion with Chief Secretary, DGP and CEO on how to ensure free and fair election in the State.

The Commission has given permission to the State Election Department to publish final rolls on January 10," he added.

When asked about the security threat during the election, Balakrishnan said that the Commission would take all possible steps to ensure peaceful elections. "Central paramilitary forces will be engaged after assessing ground situation," he said.

Balakrishnan added that Chief Election Commission would visit the state shortly after January 15.

The two -- Bhaimon Changmai alias Nabin Dutta and Bina Payeng alias Rima Bora alias Jinti deposited a 9-mm pistol, one magazine and six rounds of live ammunition in Dibrugarh city.

Dibrugarh deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri, superintendent of police Anurag Agarwal, CRPF commanding officer G S Sodhi and army 11 Guards Regiment commanding officer Col D K Singh were present on the occasion. (PTI)

Itanagar: A young girl was kidnapped from her residence here and paid with her life the price for her brother's love interest. Twenty-year-old Jyoti, who hailed from Dhemaji in Assam, was allegedly forcibly taken away from her house here along with her father and brother in two vehicles by a person named Takam Tagin on January 4, according to an FIR lodged by her father Suren Sarma. Her brother Bhupen was reportedly in love with Tagin's daughter and had been warned by him to keep away from her.

The FIR said while her father and brother were freed, Jyoti was herself taken 200 km away to Palin in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh bordering China, where her body was found the next day. Jyoti's body was handed over on January 7 at Ziro to her father, who was told she had committed suicide at Palin by hanging herself. The post mortem was later conducted at the general hospital here, police said on Wednesday.. (PTI)

"We will be observing a National Shame Day across the country, hopefully coinciding with the Women's day March 8, to tell people that women must be respected."

New Delhi: Almost half the women sexually harassed in the Indian capital and its neighbourhood are from the North East, says the North East Support Centre. Two sisters from Manipur who were molested and beaten up last weekend were only the latest victims from the region.

Madhu Chandra, the man behind the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline, a help centre dedicated to youth from the North East living in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), said they were flooded with complaints related to sexual harassment.

"It's been just three months since we launched the Northeast Support Centre and we have received more than 10 reports of sexual harassment," Chandra told IANS.

"From what we have researched and according to media reports, we have found that nearly 50 percent of the cases of sexual harassment are targeted at women from the North East."

The Delhi-NCR region has nearly 85,000 people from the North East. More than 4,000 northeastern youth take admission to various undergraduate and other courses in Delhi University every year.

Chandana Saikia from Assam, who graduated from Delhi University and is now working in a public relations firm in the capital said that even after seven years of staying in this city, she didn't feel safe or secure.

"Every other day we keep hearing of cases of molestation and sexual harassment in Delhi. Although I take all of this in my stride, my parents back at home are always worried and give me panic calls if they can't get through my phone," Saikia told IANS.

"But despite giving everyone an impression that nothing scares me, I am always on my guard. Even after seven years of staying in the capital, I don't feel at home here," she added.

Similarly, Lara Subba from Manipur, who lives with her friend in north Delhi, said she doesn't feel secure in the capital at all and constantly feels threatened.

"The other day I and my friend were coming in a rickshaw when two men started following us, calling us 'chinkies' and passing lewd remarks. Scared, I started screaming at the top of my voice, which made them change their route," Subba said.

"Just because we look different and wear more Western outfits, people think that they can take us for granted. That's why we usually stick together, with people from our own community."

In May 2005, a 19-year-old Delhi University student from the North East was raped by four men in a moving car after dragging her from a roadside eatery in south Delhi's Dhaula Kuan area. The sensational case made headlines for days.

Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research and president of Women Power Connect (WPC), said this issue is more prevalent in the northern belt because of the mindset of the men.

"In the northern belt, the mindset is such that the men believe they can control women physically. That's why they can't stand the freedom of sexuality that men and women in the North East enjoy," Kumari said.

"There's no way out of this problem but for women to take charge of these issues.

"In this regard, we will be observing a National Shame Day across the country, hopefully coinciding with the Women's day March 8, to tell people that women must be respected."

DC Srivastava, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, north Delhi, however, said that in the past year-and-a-half, they have registered just two cases of sexual harassment against northeastern women. "The number of such cases is not that high," he said. (IANS)