Several individuals and NGOs recently put Mr Sangma in a spot of bother by filing a complaint with Mr Kharbhih that the NCP leader had circulated among public a CD containing controversial clips of the September-30 2005 firing incidents to draw political mileage. The twin firing incidents claimed nine lives, including students while protesting the alleged government move to bifurcate MBoSE headquartered at Tura nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

Mr Kharbhih, however, found no objectionable scenes in the CD and gave Mr Sangma a clean chit on Wednesday.

"We have received the reply and also examined the CD today," Mr Kharbhih said, adding the district administration did not find anything objectionable in the CD.

According to Mr Kharbhih, there is no prima facie case against circulation of the CD. Nothing untoward will happen even if it is circulated among people.

Mr Sangma will contest the March-3 polls from Tura constituency.

Relatives of victims of the firing incidents had earlier demanded that the video clippings be deleted from the CD.

The CD titled "Chakat A'chik Me 'a Me'chik", which means "Arise Garo men and women'", was supposed to be part of NCP's election campaign. It shows Mr Sangma speaking on the need to bring about a change for betterment of Garo Hills as well as Meghalaya. The CD also shows Mr Sangma meeting several top leaders of the world, including former US President Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth of England and the king of Saudia Arabia.

SHILLONG: Raising fears that the coming elections could be rigged by power-hungry politicians, candidates for a few constituencies of the State are allegedly seeking help of surrendered HNLC men to cross the electoral barrier.

Police have got information that some candidates are trying to coerce voters to support them in the elections. The matter is under investigation. Strong action will be taken against candidates involved in such "unlawful activities," police sources said on Wednesday.

"The main objective of HNLC men returning to the mainstream was to start a new life, not to terrorise the society," the sources added.

BJP continues Cong bashing

Continuing its Congress bashing, BJP on Wednesday claimed that the four-and-a-half-year-old Atal Behari Vajpayee-led NDA Government at the Centre was far better than the fifty-five-year rule by Congress.

Addressing a party meeting at the residence of BJP nominee for Mawkhar constituency WL Lyngdoh, BJP MP from Karnataka HT Sangliana hit out at Congress for failing for over five decades to work for development of the country.

Urging the people of Mawkhar to vote the BJP nominee to victory, Mr Sangliana said BJP was neither communal nor anti-Christian as claimed by other political parties. "People of Mawkhar, which is an intellectual constituency, should understand that BJP is not anti-Christian. The whole country also understands the significance of BJP," the MP said.

He also accused Meghalaya Congress of indulging in corruption and neglecting the real needs of the people.

"Meghalaya lacks infrastructure as the State has been ruled by selfish politicians and corrupted bureaucrats," Mr Sangliana added.

SHILLONG: Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar has lashed out at the Congress-led MDA government for "underdevelopment" in the state.

"The Congress has failed on all fronts. If the NCP is voted to power, we will bring about development in Garo Hills and all over the state," the NCP leader said while addressing a series of election rallies at Mahendraganj, Phulbari, Betasingh and Zikzak on Wednesday.

Lambasting the Congress for "political instability" in the state, Mr Pawar said the "tallest leader" from the North-East was none other than Mr P A Sangma and he was the only one, who had the "ability of genuinely bringing about stability and development in Meghalaya."

"The people have been deprived of good governance so far and under Mr Sangma's leadership, the NCP will fulfil the people's aspirations. The NCP is not a party, which depends on money, rather we believe in human values," he claimed.

He asserted that a pro-people party, interested in the state's development, should be voted to power, not the Congress.

The NCP is contesting 49 seats in the 60-member House, while the Congress is contesting all the seats in the coming March three Assembly election.

Mr Pawar will kick off his two-day election campaign in Khasi and Jaintia Hills on Thursday.

According to party sources, Mr Pawar will address an election rally at Baridua near Byrnihat, Ri-Bhoi district on Thursday at 11 a.m. and will be accompanied by NCP general secretary Mr Sangma and Rajya Sabha member Robert Kharshiing besides other party leaders.

The NCP leader will go to West Khasi Hills in a chopper to address a poll rally at Mawkyrwat and Mairang. He will also address another rally at Sohiong, East Khasi Hills at 3.10 p.m.

Mr Pawar will also visit Jaintia Hills on the same day to hold a party rally at Jowai in the evening. On Friday, he will address another election rally at Upper Shillong before leaving for New Delhi. ( With inputs from UNI & Our Reporter)

JOWAI: Though UDP and NCP are among its major rivals in the run-up to the March-3 Assembly elections, Congress in Jaintia Hills appears to be in a better position in most of the seven constituencies of the district.

A preliminary election survey carried out by The Shillong Times in the district indicated that out of the seven constituencies, the party is expected to win in as many as five seats from the district including those seats held by the party.

In the coal rich Rymbai constituency, there are five candidates in the fray and include sitting legislator Nehlang Lyngdoh (Congress) coal trader Balios Swer (UDP), Tariang Massar (KHNAM), former JHADC chief Obil Kyndait and former legislator Simon Siangshai (NCP).

A tough electoral battle is expected to be between Congress, NCP and HSPDP. However, poll observers said that Mr Lyngdoh is likely to make a come back in the constituency.

In Sutnga, the sitting legislator Shitlang Pale (Congress) is locked in a triangular contest against sitting MDC Richard S Lyngdoh (UDP) and Bison Paslein (KHNAM). The main contest will be between Mr Pale and Mr Lyngdoh with indications that the former is likely to be re-elected from the seat.

In War Jaintia constituency, six candidates are in the fray with sitting legislator Riang Lennon Tariang (UDP) expecting a good fight from the Congress candidate, Lahkmen Rymbui and KHNAM nominee Camillus Albert Lamin.

Poll observers in the constituency said that Mr Tariang is likely to make a comeback. The main factors for his present strength is due to division in the local Congress party and the presence of several candidates in a constituency having 20,497 voters.

Twentysix-year-old Sniawbhalang Dhar (Congress) from Nangbah-Wahiajer also is being talked about as the likely winner from the seat amidst tough fight from former Congress leader Edmund S Lyngdoh (MDP) and Thaw-ain Plain (UDP) besides Darling Wavel Lamare (KHNAM). However, it is difficult to make any conclusion at present since the Congress, MDP and UDP candidates are all neck in neck in most polling stations.

Further, in Raliang constituency, the fight is mainly between sitting legislator Mihsalan Suchiang (UDP) and political greenhorn, Comingone Ymbon (Congress), who is considered as very strong. Besides, the presence of a strong lady candidate Rita MV Lyngdoh (MDP) will make the even fight more interesting this time round.

In the prestigious Jowai constituency, indications are that sitting legislator Sing Mulieh (UDP) is likely to get re-elected again from the seat despite tough fight from former JHADC chief Moonlight Pariat (NCP) and former minister Roytre Christopher Laloo (Congress).

"Yes, the good fights will be between NCP and UDP but Mr Mulieh is expected to win again," said a prominent citizen, who did want to be named.

In Nartiang constituency, the sitting legislator Draison Kharshiing (Congress) is locked in a four cornered contest and appeared to be in a better position than his rivals.

Mr Kharshiing, who was initially elected on MDP ticket in 2003, faces two experienced candidates and former legislators - Dr Henry Lamin (UDP) and H Britainwar Dan (HSPDP). Further, former JHADC chief EC Boniface Bamon (NCP) is also very strong in the constituency. However, most of the people in the constituency said that the main contest will be between Congress and NCP.

Shillong: BJP on Wednesday flayed the Congress-led governments in the State and at the Centre for their failure on all fronts, at a party meeting held at Nong-thymmai here on Wednesday.

Several speakers at the meeting enlightened voters on the policies and ideology of BJP, a party statement said.

They urge the people to bring about a change in the government by voting in favour of BJP for all round development.

BJP candidate Basil Lamin questioned the credibility of the present Congress MLA, who despite fifteen years as a legislator, did not bring any real development for Madanrting.

He also alleged that the locality, which has more than twenty thousand residents, did not have a community hall, ambulance or other civic amenities.

Shillong: The Central Executive Committee of MDP’s Youth Wing met recently at Shillong and expressed deep concern over the lack of political consciousness among the youth in the State.

According to a party statement ussued here on Wednesday MDP’s Youth Wing said that the youth could play a major role by influencing public mandate to form an efficient government in the State.

"But this seldom happens with today's youth" the statement added.

MDP being a political party would impress upon its members and other youth in the State to come forward to take lead and be a part of changes to come.

Youth Wing president Hilarious Warbah said that "it's time that the youth should decide to be part of the change and ensure that the Government focuses on youth related problems like unemployment, education, special employment avenues and opportunities."

The committee also elected office-bearers which include Ronjinus Synnah as Working President-cum-Treasurer, Kyrmen Rynhang and Lurshai Fevian Khongmawpat and Joshua Sohtun as the Vice-Presidents, Khrawkupar Sohtun as joint secretary, Wankitbok Pohshna as Asst. Secretary and Joannes Lamare as publicity secretary.

The meeting also offered special prayers for all the contesting candidates of the party in the ensuing election.

Shillong: Mylliem legislator Pynshai Manik Syiem has landed in a controversy over alleged misuse of MLA schemes in his constituency.

In a latest case of misuse of MLA schemes, the MLA was accused of claiming to have implemented few projects and some "ghost" projects also, according to information pooled out through separate RTIs by a group of residents from Mylliem constituency.

Documents received through the RTI applied in this regard, revealed that the MLA claimed to have taken up improvement works on "grounds for Khasi traditional dances" at Mawnianglah, Madan Iing Syiem, Mawri, Pomkaniew and Mawkhan villages under the Intensive Art and Culture Development Programme (IACDP) of 2001-2002 and 2003-2004.

Meanwhile, vice president of Seng Khasi Mylliem and senior member of the traditional body, Phad Sing Nongkhlaw said on Wednesday that he was not aware of the existence of the grounds in all these villages.

He further stated that for any traditional dance festival, the Seng Khasi leaders would opt for available football grounds or any other grounds fit for dancing, in all these villages, which the MLA claimed to have developed special grounds for the purpose.

"It was shocking that the MLA would try to fool the electorate in such a manner concerning the traditional belief and practice of the Khasi people," Mr Nongkhlaw said, adding this is totally unacceptable to the traditional bodies, which are responsible for protection and preservation of traditional practices.

The documents further revealed that the Mylliem legislator had taken credit for constructing a Market Stall at Mylliem village at an amount of Rs 2,00,000 from the SGSY Scheme of 2004-2005, which does not exist, Mr Nongkhlaw said.

According to the RTI documents, Mr Syiem has also claimed to constructed the office-cum-residence of Mylliem Madan Iing Syiem at the cost of Rs 1,50,000 from the Chief Minister's Development Fund of 2004-2005, another resident of Mylliem Syllai Ulor, Mr Spar Lyngdoh said.

Interestingly, when inquired, the Rangbah Shnong of Mylliem Madan Iing Syiem, Mr Wanbor Sohlang said since he took over as the headman of the village in 2003, there was no such construction in his locality.

Mr Sohlang also alleged that the MLA had illegally "withdrew the amount that was claimed for the construction of an office-cum-headman residence under the name of a fictitious headman - Lit Sohlang".

Another allegation was on a project for extension of building, which housed the Seng Maitphang Creche at Banuin village under the SGRY Scheme of 2004-2005. The extension never takes place.

On Wednesday some reporters, who went for spot verification, found out that most of allegations against the Mylliem legislator as true.

Meanwhile, Mr Syiem was not available for comment.

In a brazen act, China has taken exception to Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s assertion that Arunachal Pradesh belonged to India and has lodged a protest against it. Beijing has conveyed to New Delhi that it was "not proper" for the Indian Prime Minister to make such a comment at a time when the two countries were engaged in talks over the boundary question. Reacting sharply to China’s protest, the Minister for External Affairs, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee contended that "We are aware of the stand of China and they are aware of ours." The issue flares up periodically when Chinese troops—at regular intervals—intrude into Indian Territory to "demonstrate" their claim on the land. India has, however, been seeking to play down these incursions by arguing that these were a result of "differences in perception". China’s protest will add a sour note to the relations between the two countries.

Late Nani Palkhivala’s classic that the peacock should not have been our national bird, but the ostrich! Certainly, there has been euphoria on occasion, that now that Mao has smiled, we can start dismantling our defences along the Himalayas. Or, now that we have a government in Delhi that is going to kiss and make up with all our other neighbours, we can start major reductions in defence expenditure. The response of the uniformed fraternity to this has been. "You have to work on the capabilities of potential adversaries and not on their intentions. The smile can change overnight to a frown, and capabilities take long to create." Calculations of capabilities must however, be modulated by political judgement as to the probability of a clash of vital interests. Here the vital interest of China is to grab Arunachal Pradesh, may be even by use of force, if Indian defences are not strong.

If this not done, to give an extreme example, Canada might have to create adequate forces to deter the USA! But this political judgement must be the result of something much more than a deep breath and intuitive ‘because I think so’! It must be based on systematic analyses, with different levels of national aims for a given time frame, each spawning a different threat level. None of these can happen without a multi-disciplinary planning infrastructure, which is lacking all along the Sino-Indian border.

The Chinese ace of yore on statecraft, Sun Tzu, always advocated a unique tenet in his deliberations: "Keep the other side guessing." This is precisely what China’s leaders have done to their Indian counterparts at the recent visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to that country. Compounding it all, the joint statement issued on the conclusion of this visit contains virtually the same political platitudes as those reflected in a similar statement that was floated after Atal Behari Vajpayee’s 2003 sojourn.

The border dispute, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bangguo has already seen through two of our National Security Advisers one after another and is now playing footsie with the third one. This dispute has so far retained its original format because all that is reportedly discussed at these meetings is the weather, cuisine-cum-liquor, picturesque spots of the meeting place, and maps of the Line of Actual Control as an afterthought.

Every meeting invariably ends with both incumbents trumpeting how "meaningful" it was. When specifically queried about the key to the border dispute, namely Aksai Chin, the Indian man looks embarrassed while the Chinese one looks brazen. In sum, New Delhi builds castles in the air and Beijing stays smug.

The usual refrain after a summit level visit is that Sino-Indian relations can be settled through the trade route coupled with progressively increasing people-to-people contact.

Our first error here was shouting our heads off on Tibet and the Dalai Lama: we need to shut our mouth in this regard. The same goes for Taiwan, as it is none of our business. We also went on China’s wrong side by not only surreptitiously allowing Tibetan refugee camps to flourish on our soil but needling these refugees to make a nuisance of themselves whenever Chinese dignitaries visit India.

And for heaven’s sake, we must drastically curb our loose canons like an earlier Defence Minister who announced "China is our number one enemy" when asked about Pokhran II; incidentally, the same gentleman runs a Tibetan refugee centre at his official residence. We must not interference in Myanmar’s internal matters knowing well enough that China and Myanmar are very close. No comments should be passed on China’s relations with Pakistan, North Korea or Japan, nor for that matter on China’s activities in West Asia.

The bottom line is, unless the border problem is settled as a first priority, an undesirable status quo situation will continue to prevail as heretofore. We need to comprehend the real reason behind Chinese incursions into our territory and not pass them off as mere politico-military foibles. The way out is to convert the LAC into a formal border, something that Rajiv Gandhi had understood.

Even as India has become more accommodating and forbearing in its dealings with China, Beijing has hardened its position on territorial issues. Since 1981, the two countries have been engaged in regular border-related talks in what is the longest and most barren negotiating process in modern world history. Of late, however, China has pugnaciously pressed its claims. A classic instance was last November when the Chinese ambassador—backed by his foreign ministry—publicly renewed China’s claim on Arunachal, stoking an unusual diplomatic spat on the eve of president Hu Jintao’s visit to India.

Sino-Indian negotiations, although rich in symbolism, have yielded little progress for three main reasons. First, China has sought to stretch the talks to keep India under strategic pressure. It has employed negotiations as a diplomatic tool to engage India, not to reach accord. This tactic dovetails with China’s broader strategy to present a friendly face while building up its capabilities to go on the offensive.

Second, China persuaded India in 2003 to shift from the practical task of clarifying the frontline to the abstract mission of developing "principles", "concepts" and "framework" for an overall border settlement. This shift was intended to release Beijing from its 2001 commitment to exchange maps with India of first the western sector and then of the eastern sector—a pledge it had already breached by missing the mutually agreed deadlines. (INAV)

Rabble rousing has been the centrepiece of the Mumbai-based Shiv Sena's political philosophy since its inception. For decades it has substituted genuine vision with nuisance value. That approach has paid handsome dividends, particularly in terms of giving its founder Bal Thackeray and his family members a sway over the affairs of the city way out of proportion to its actual contribution.

Now his rebellious nephew Raj Thackeray is taking a page out of his uncle's book as he goes about building his splinter group Maharashtra Navnirman Sena into a force of some influence. Since he has been reared on a culture of unvarnished political thuggery, the best option he could think of was to allegedly launch a completely disingenuous attack on the movie icon Amitabh Bachchan. Whether Bachchan has used Mumbai strictly for utilitarian purposes, as Thackeray junior has strenuously argued, is secondary to the more serious question of the kind of polity India's financial hub wants to tolerate.

The animus that the Sena and its ideological offspring like Raj Thackeray has nurtured against those they perceive to be outsiders has frequently led to serious conflagrations over the past three decades. These chauvinist groups' targets of hate have changed over the years depending on the political expediency of the time. It has shifted from being anti-south Indian to anti-Gujarati to anti-Muslim to anti-north Indian based on purely cynical political calculations. For instance, the relations between the city's Maharashtrian and Gujarati populations, which were once seriously strained, are now being described by Raj Thackeray's group as between "milk and sugar".

Those who have been trained in the brand of politics crafted by the Sena have come to see themselves as the arbiters of the city's destiny and every time they sense a danger to that role, they resort to tactics which would have no place in any civil discourse. From all available accounts, Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has not been able to fashion any role of influence for itself since its founding two years ago. The best way to draw attention to itself and in the process gain some political traction is to indulge in precisely the kind of rhetoric that Raj Thackeray did.

In many ways the Marathi versus non-Marathi debate is reminiscent of the Americans versus illegal Latino/Mexican immigrants in the US. The influx of non-Maharashtrians into Mumbai and that of Latinos/Mexicans into the US are both fuelled and sustained by the vast opportunities that exist in the menial sectors of the economy. For instance, it is being increasingly argued that "bhaiyyas", as migrant labour from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are pejoratively called, are willing to do the kind of work that the more literate Maharashtrians are not. This is exactly the argument one hears about why illegal Latino/Mexican aliens are able to find work in sectors such as agriculture, construction, housekeeping and so on. The constant refrain of the Sena and its ideological offspring like Raj Thackeray's group has been that non-Maharashtrians take away jobs that would have otherwise gone to "Marathi Manus" or local Maharashtrians. One hears precisely the same argument in the US about how Mexicans and other Latino migrants ea into the job market at the cost of legal American residents.

The question that does not get seriously addressed when such frenzy is whipped up is whether Mumbai can tolerate such parochialism and still hope to emerge as a major global financial centre. The simple fact is that most of the economic vibrancy of the city is a result of its demographic mix. It is debatable whether the city would have acquired its primacy had it remained insular and dominated by just one ethnic group.

Having said that though, it is necessary to recognise that migrants from other parts of the country do bring with them some of the less than edifying cultural predilections, which are often the cause of friction with the city's native population. Mumbai has by and large distinguished itself as a metropolis that respects merit above everything else. However, as the influx into the city creates a more diverse ethnographic mosaic, it also creates cultural strains in terms of attitudes towards gender equality, language, religion and class. At some level, the tensions between the Samajwadi Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are emblematic of two political groupings that have practised a certain brand of politics that is often bereft of finesse and subtlety. A large presence of people from Uttar Pradesh in the city offers a natural constituency to the Samajwadi Party, which also sees in them their chance to upstage the Shiv Sena and its progeny.

In any event, both these parties will have to fundamentally alter their political philosophy if they seriously want Mumbai to rise to the level of global influence it is so capable of.

Sir,

The local newspapers deserve kudos for their coverage of the issue of allotment of power projects to private parties by the State Government, which, it was said, could go against the interest of Meghalaya. There is an urgent need for generation of additional electricity to meet the increasing power requirement of the State. This problem should be addressed transparently and without any involvement of vested elements. Now, the concern is whether the newspapers and pressure groups have blown the matter out of proportion by highlighting the negative side of the deal, ignoring the main issue of acute shortage of power and the need of harnessing the tremendous hydel potential of the State, which the government or MeSEB can hardly manage to do due to financial crunch. The kind of euphoria, or rather paranoia, mixed with parochialism that is so identical to the North-East, only discourages good companies to take up investment in this socio-politically and geographically sensitive region. In the context of the present power scenario in the State or region as well the country, where huge investment is required to tap their dydro-power potential, let's have a look at where Meghalaya or MeSEB stands.

The present government has misused the State exchequer at the behest of vested interests. MeSEB in connivance with State Government has raised Rs 250.00 crore as loan with very high interest through public bond, inviting liquidity crunch and thereby putting the already loss-making electricity board at further financial risk. Also, another loan amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees is also being raised through public bond, HUDCO, REC and other banks with a very high interest.

Although MeSEB does not require the total amount of loan being raised at one go (for the so-called requirement in regard to hydel projects), the Board is taking the huge loan at the rate of 11 % interest while keeping the money idle in the bank at 5-6% interest resulting in a huge loss on interest. This has also put a heavy financial burden on MeSEB, besides encouraging misuse of public money. The loan money is raised for the various hydel projects but a major chunk of the amount is meant for benefit of vested interests. This will have damaging ramifications in the reforms and power sector development in the State as the loan liability will be passed on to the new reformed entity.

The State Government is supposed to give subsidies to make up for MeSEB's financial loss and bring relief to the public in view of the ever-increasing electricity tariff. The Government is also supposed to give the State's share for implementation of the new power projects. All this has not happened and instead importance has been given to raising high-interest loan, while giving huge subsidy to fat industrial consumers, causing heavy financial loss to MeSEB.

The public should protest against this financial indiscipline at MeSEB and insist that the State Government allocates its due share of Central Plan assistance for development the State power sector. Apart from the Plan assistance, the Government of India provides other grants under APDRP, RGGVY, NLCPR, NEC, MOP, etc to make the power sector strong and beneficial to the public. Instead of using MeSEB as a milch cow, the State Government should ensure that the Board does not fall into a high-interest debt trap, making the public suffer for no fault of their own.

Yours etc.,
C. Kharpuri
Shillong-3

According to the latest report prepared by Forest Survey of India (FSI) on state of forest, India has lost about 728 square kilometres of forest in just two years, from 2003 to 2005, while another 630 square kilometres of productive forest has been turned into degraded patches with little ecological value.

Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the worst-affected during 2003-05, the FSI report, prepared on the basis of satellite imagery and ground-based verification, said.

The report also revealed that the rich forest cover in some of the northeastern states depleted due to bamboo flowering.

The forest cover of the North-East has shrunk at such a rate that Forest Commission has called for deployment of special protection staff and para-military forces to prevent illicit tree felling, land encroachment, timber smuggling and wildlife poaching, particularly in forests located along the international borders and in insurgency-affected areas.

Meanwhile, another report released by Forest Commission has blamed the state governments for the loss of the valued forest cover of the country.

"A large number of reports and recommendations have been made, but none of them have been implemented (by the state governments)," the Commission said its report submitted to the Prime Minister.

The report alleged that there was a nexus between corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and contractors and that it could affect the pace of development in states like Assam, Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, compelling "the exploited tribal people to try to take revenge."

Forests affect the life and life-styles of people of the North-East more than any other states of India, the report said.

To make matters worse, there are boundary disputes between the states of the region, besides problems of wood, wildlife poaching and timber smuggling with neighbouring countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Inter-state border disputes have resulted in the absence of effective government control over disputed areas, encouraging large-scale encroachment and destruction of forests. Moreover, there are problems of illegal felling of timber along Tripura-Bangladesh border and its illicit trade in areas along Manipur-Myanmar border, the report said.

The status of demarcation of forest areas is very also fluid, and there are instances where encroachments are legalised to the benefit of encroachers in the absence of appropriate maps and boundaries.

Apart from inter-state disputes, shifting cultivation and private land tenure pattern has contributed to depletion of forest cover of the region, the commission report said.

In Meghalaya alone, more than 72 per cent of the forest area is under private ownership, the report pointed out, while recommending settlement of jhumias and bringing more and more land under protected area category.

The North-East is considered as one of the "hot spots" of biodiversity in the world. There are 39 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the region, covering an area of about 13555 sq km, which works out to 5.31 per cent of the geographical area of the states.

Anamika Choudhury, the top three finalist in Zee Tv’s ‘Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li’l Champs, was flown in to Assam yesterday before the budding star headed for London for the final showdown.

The Anamika Fans Club, floated to garner support for her, had organized a performance by Anamika at the local stadium in Mariani town, which went on till well past midnight.

Trouble started after at the end of the show, when a section of the crowd, engaged in confrontation with the organizers, burst onto the stage and destroyed the musical instruments.

Anamika was, however, escorted away safely.

Titabor SDPO Debashish Bora, who was overseeing security arrangements at the venue, said that the secretary of the organizing committee was detained following verbal complaints.

He was, however, later released after the complaint was withdrawn following a mutual understanding.

Earlier in the day, thousands had defied an ULFA-sponsored Assam bandh to welcome home the "Little Champ" as they lined up the streets from Jorhat airport to Mariani town, with a car convoy of over 50 vehicles taking Anamika home.

She was also scheduled to perform in Jorhat town yesterday but the show was cancelled due to security concerns. Anamika is also scheduled to perform in neighbouring Titabor town on Wednesday before returning on Thursday. (UNI)

Police commandos attached to Imphal West district police frisking passers-by at Kwakeithel Moirang Purel area late last night detected two persons moving in a suspicious manner. (PTI)