Addressing the opening day of the Budget session of the Assembly, Dr Sidhu said power, agriculture, roads, tourism, social sector, poverty alleviation and employment generation had been given top priority in the State during the 11th Plan.

"The State has to accelerate its developmental and economic efforts so that it can grow at a faster rate than envisaged in order to catch up with the rest of the country. Besides, more Central assistance and private investment, larger investment in physical, social and economic infrastructure is required to achieve the target," Dr Sidhu said.

The Governor said intra and inter-regional disparity in infrastructure and human development index across districts and communities in State would be closely analysed and resolved.

"Funds from the Planning Commission, DoNER Ministry, North Eastern Council (NEC) and various ministries will have to be leveraged to a greater degree to address our resource limitations for augmenting public services like education, health care, water supply, sanitation, etc.," Dr Sidhu said.

Stating that there was provision in the Power Policy for additional resource commitments for such sectors and that an expert committee was constituted to suggest means for mobilisation of additional resources, the Governor said various master plans had been drawn up for sectors like roads, tourism, power, besides perspective district integrated plans for development of agriculture and border areas.

He said online computerisation of all treasuries and sub-treasuries would be completed within this year to facilitate monitoring of receipts and expenditures, including expeditious transmission of civil accounts to the Accountant General.

According to the Governor, revenue collection by the Taxation Department had exceeded the Rs 100-crore mark for the first time in 2003-2004, adding collection of revenue had since increased by more than 100 per cent over the last three years, with Rs 211.65 crore collected in 2006-07 alone.

"With the introduction of Value Added Tax in 2005-2006, the revenue increased to Rs 74.93 crore from Rs 55.04 crore in 2004-05. Liquor was brought under the VAT net in 2005, and the additional resources mobilised were worth Rs 24 crore," Dr Sidhu said

The Governor said four-laning of the Jorabat-Umiam portion of National Highway 40 would be carried out by National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT)-cum-annuity basis for which competitive bids would be floated soon.

He also said the much-awaited Shillong By-Pass was likely to be approved soon.

On the power sector, Dr Sidhu said two more electricity schemes were being taken up at Umtru, Ri-Bhoi and Ganol, West Garo Hills to meet the shortfall in power generation.

Leshka power project would be commissioned in 2008-2009. Misa-Byrnihat and Agia-Nangalbibra transmission lines would also be completed soon to draw additional power of 300 MW from the national grid, he added.

The Governor said under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojna, 61 villages of the State would be electrified during 2007-2008.

He informed that, apart from establishing 195 large and medium industries in industrial areas, the State Government had set up 6070 small-scale industries in Meghalaya.

Referring to urban development, Dr Sidhu said City Development Plan (CDP) for Shillong had been accepted by the Union Urban Development Ministry.

The State Government has made proposals for setting up of Seed Certification Agency and "Horti-Hub" in every district of the State to assist farmers and new pig breeding base farms in West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills. A State Bamboo Development Agency would be set up with the support of the Centre to coordinate bamboo-related activities, besides survey of bamboo resources, the Governor said.

On the Information Technology front, he said State-Wide Area Network (SWAN) and Common Services Centres would be set up in the State, besides Wi-Fi hotspots in Shillong.

For improvement of the education sector, an Education Satellite Project (EDUSAT) with interactive terminals will be inaugurated soon in 50 educational institutions, midday meal scheme extended to all upper primary schools during 2008-09 to minimise drop-out rate among students and new industrial training institutes set up in sub-divisional headquarters for skill development in the State, Dr Sidhu said.

Regarding health care services, the acting Governor said health indicators on maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) would be improved and blood banks set up in all district headquarters, adding three accident trauma centres would be set up at Nongpoh, Jowai and Tura.

He further said the State Government would provide land to Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) to set up a premier institution in Shillong to train doctors and nurses and that a nursing college would be established in private-public partnership mode with assistance from NEC.

Other matters highlighted by the Governor include speedy construction of the Assembly building at Upper Shillong, construction of Governor's Guest House at Tura and judiciary buildings in all the districts, uplift of Captain Williamson Sangma Museum with technical assistance from both Victoria Memorial Hall and Indian Museum, Kolkata, construction of centres for Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Lalit Kala Akademi in the State.

A delayed report received here said a senior faculty of the Neurology Department of NEIGRIHMS Dr VN Mishra sexually assaulted a male security guard in his quarter on March 8 last. Dr Mishra called the security guard to his quarter before sexually humiliating him at 9.30 am. Shocked at this, the security guard ran out of the doctor's quarter and then narrated the incident to other staff at the Guest House of the hospital.

Confirming the incident, a NEIGRHIMS doctor, who did not wish to be known, told The Shillong Times on Monday that Dr Mishra committed "the shameful act."

The doctor also said an investigation into the incident was carried out, adding the interim report said the doctor was found guilty of sexually assaulting the security guard.

He, however, said action against the doctor was still pending as the health institute did not have a permanent director at the moment.

The security guard in question belongs to Sishupal Security Agency.

Meanwhile, an organisation called Meghalaya Society Welfare Association (MSWA) has condemned the incident and demanded that strong action be initiated against the guilty by the authorities concerned.

In a statement issued here on Monday, MSWA president RD Bamon expressed grave concern over the incident and appealed to NEIGRHIMS authorities, NGOs and the local Dorbar to take serious note of the matter, saying, "This (the incident) is not only spoiling the name of the institute but creating a fear psychosis among other patients as well."

Delivering his opening speech at the Budget session of the State Assembly on Monday, Governor Dr SS Sidhu said the State Education Policy, aimed at streamlining the education system in the State, was nearing finalisation.

On the much-awaited mining policy, Dr Sidhu said the draft policy had already been prepared, and the process was under way for its examination by the departments concerned before its finalisation.

"The government would focus on the need for balancing environmental concerns and desirability of mineral-based development activities in the State," the Governor said.

He also said in view of enhanced incentives provided under the North Eastern Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy 2007, the revised State Industrial Policy was expected to come into force within a few months.

"The process for revision of the State Industrial Policy 1997 has already begun," he said.

The Governor said the State Government would soon finalise the Sports Policy based on a focussed approach and road map to promote sports and games in the State.

The Sports Policy will also focus on incentives to encourage sportspersons, categorisation and prioritisation of various sports and development of sport infrastructure to promote excellence among gifted sportspersons.

Reacting to Mr Sharma's accusation, Mr Sangma told reporters on Monday that Assam legislators should not interfere with the political affairs of Meghalaya.

"Meghalaya legislators are elected by the people of Meghalaya, not by the people of Assam. The tribals know how to govern themselves," Mr Sangma said.

Accusing the NCP leader of promoting "family politics" in Meghalaya, Mr Sharma on Sunday said, "Mr Sangma claims to be the leader of the North-East. But with the type of family politics he is patronising, he has lost the little respect he commanded (as a political leader)."

It may be noted here that Mr Sangma and his two sons had successfully contested the recent Meghalaya Assembly polls.

SHILLONG: KSU has urged Power Minister Conrad Sangma to scrap the controversial power deal struck by the earlier MDA government.

The deal to hand over six power projects to private companies was kept on hold due to stiff opposition from KSU, non-Congress parties and other NGOs.

"The projects were allotted to the companies without inviting international competitive bidding (ICB) as envisaged in the Power Policy," KSU president Samuel Jyrwa said in a memorandum submitted to the Power Minister of MPA government on Monday.

Meanwhile, he said the KSU welcomes reforms and restructuring of MeSEB "in accordance with the Power Policy".

"The entire process of restructuring of the Board should be made transparent by providing ample opportunities to all sections of people to give their suggestions in this regard," Mr Jyrwa said.

A person infected with meningococcal meningitis normally suffers from fever, rash, sore throat and cold.

The disease, which also affects the brain of the patient, has been detected in areas like Rymbai, Khliehriat and Barapani.

Director of Health Services Dr KH Lakiang had earlier said 53 suspected cases of meningogiococal-meningitis had been detected in hospitals by health experts. He, however, said it was too early to say there was an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis, adding, "Blood samples of the patients have been sent to Delhi to verify it."

According to Dr Lakiang, the first case of such a disease was detected in a patient at Bethany Hospital, Shillong.

He asked the people not to see the disease as an outbreak of a plague, saying "meningococcal meningitis is not rare as it comes seasonally between January and April and it's very much preventable."

The minister, however, asked the people "not to keep close contact with the affected person as it is transmittable."

Dr Pariong said an investigation team, headed by Dr Lanong, had been formed to provide medical assistance to the affected and take up preventive measures at the earliest.

The two-day celebration was inaugurated by the Director General Assam Rifles Lt Gen Paramjit Singh. Addressing all the ranks in the force, Lt Gen Singh recalled the past achievements and laurels brought the force in bringing about peace and security in defending the nation and the North Eastern region in particular.

The DG said that the force had shown the best in combating the insurgency in the North East despite facing difficulties. He urged the personnel to live up to the expectation in serving the people and the nation at large.

The DG also laid a wreath at the War Memorial in Happy Valley, Shillong. The DG also complimented all the ranks and their families and interacted with the troops.

When asked whether he would join politics and contest the MDC election from Dienglieng, he indicated that it depends on the people's choice.

Is the law finally catching up with our polity? Or, is it our netagan’s penchant to anoint themselves as the law that is proving to be its nemesis? And, has the Central Bureau of Investigation’s fatal attraction for political cover-ups and clean chits made it into the Central Bureau of convenience, connivance and corruption, with the devil taking the hindmost!

Call it coincidence or what you may, but last week the much-derided system indeed did catch up with our political masters. In a totally unexpected development, India’s best known secret was unwrapped as never before. Namely, that even our netagan are fed up with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and want its image makeover along with sweeping changes.

Importantly, a Parliamentary Standing Committee report on the "Working of the Central Bureau of Investigation," has recommended that the CBI be made into an ``enforcement agency" and be given an "independent and autonomous’’ status to prevent political interference in its functioning. It also mooted that it be granted power to investigate and prosecute through a separate statute called the Central Bureau of Intelligence and Investigation Act. And be given the same status as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US to allow it to independently take up cases of high-tech crime..

Appreciating the image of the CBI in the country as a premier investigating agency, the committee was, however, severely critical of its internal composition. The report called the deputation of IPS officers to the CBI an "avoidable luxury’’ and recommended an increase in direct recruitment. Adding, "Officers without sufficient experience of service and knowledge" are inducted on deputation for complicated jobs in CBI but were not the "decision making class’’ within the agency. No matter their professional competence and expertise in niche areas such as corruption cases, securities and finance transactions, defence purchase related transactions, etc

Significantly, our Right Honourables confessed candidly that granting sanction for prosecution was one of the "bottlenecks" in providing autonomy to the CBI. Pertinently, it cited many instances where prosecution sanction was denied bringing the CBI into "disrepute’’. And even where sanction had been granted, invariably courts pulled up the agency for slip-shod handling of the case (the Rs.5,000-crore bank scandal, sugar, UTI), lack of evidence and unavailability of witnesses or just glossing over vital leads (infamous hawala case) et al. Surmising, that it was time that the CBI make sure that the prosecution was foolproof, or else the judiciary would step in.

Further, it recommended strengthening the CBI in terms of resources and legal mandate. Pointing out the CBI’s failure to get conviction in cases with international ramifications, it favoured that a separate international crimes division be carved out to specifically deal with Interpol, extradition and international crimes. It is another matter that it was the Congress-led UPA Government in connivance with the CBI that ‘intentionally’ bungled and made an international mess of its case in La Affaire Quottrocchhi of the Bofors gun scam and got egg on its face. First the Government advised the UK Government to "defreeze" the Italian businessman’s accounts. And, when he was finally arrested in Argentina, the CBI failed to extradite and the Argentinian Court let him go scot free.

Besides, the Committee asserted that certain acts like terrorism, human trafficking, smuggling and black marketing should be labeled as federal crimes and should be taken up directly by the CBI. On terrorism, it recommended the setting up of a separate anti-terrorism division in the CBI to work solely with the aim of preventing terrorist activities. "The Central government should be given adequate powers to take prompt and effective action on the intelligence available to them in place of the current system where the home ministry merely hands over intelligence inputs to the State Governments."

Calling for an end to infinite debating, the Committee emphasized that the time was ripe to implement these suggestions. However, this is easier said than done. The moot point is: Who will cast the first stone and translate words into action? Who will give the CBI its much-needed autonomy? Is our polity ready to call a spade a spade and bell the big fat cat of corruption?

Alas, as oft happens, this all-important report has been lost in the mountain of diatribe and gabble churned out during the Budget session of Parliament. Like the first report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Home Ministry in 1994 did. Forget some remorse, all continue in legitimizing crime and corruption. Who has the time for introspection on what and where things went wrong and correct the course? Such is the nasha of power that all conveniently choose to merrily make political capital.

Worse, against the backdrop of there being as many an as 1,300 cases pending against MPs and MLAs in various courts. These include cases being investigated by CBI against Railway Minister Lalu Yadav, who is being tried in relation with the fodder scam, and those against current and former UP chief ministers Mayawati and Mulayam Singh respectively in the disproportionate assets cases. What to say of Maya bhenji’s Taj corridor scam and the over hundreds of crores received as gifts from her poor Dalit swayam sevaks, who go hungry to pave their messiah’s path with gold. Not only that. Five ‘tainted’ ministers continue to adorn the Treasury Benches. Justified by our honest Prime Minister as "the compulsions of coalition politics."

Is the CBI more sinned against than sinning? Are politicians the main culprit? Is the pot calling the kettle black? The truth is mid-way. Both work in tandem in furthering their own interest. Consequently, the system becomes self-perpetuating. Over the years, the threatened political elite have given more and more powers to the CBI to get their way and have their say. Therein, sullying the agency’s reputation, replete with its "failure" to back up charges with required evidence. Worse, the CBI seems to have adopted a brazenly opportunistic policy of playing safe with Governments of the day and its willingness and commitment to serve the national cause by putting self before the country.

As the Committee has rightly pointed out, at the crux is the issue: Who should control the CBI? Needless to say, a Catch-22 question for our power-greedy polity to honestly answer and for us to stupidly expect. Witness the sweet irony. When Vajpayee was the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha in the late 1990’s he had demanded an independent CBI and even promised one if he came to power. But Vajpayee the Prime Minister not only conveniently forgot his promise but continued to retain the CBI under his charge, just as his predecessors had done. Beginning with Indira Gandhi, who concentrated all instruments of effective power in her own hands.

Manmohan Singh too is happily following the tradition. Over the past year he has talked ad nauseum of weeding out corruption, but is mum on making the CBI an autonomous and indeed, an independent agency. According to two former CBI directors, Joginder Singh and Kartikaiyan there is no such thing as autonomy. This is a fallacy. For two reasons -- the agency administratively comes directly under the Prime Minister. Two, officers are dependent on their political bosses for their careers ---postings, transfers and seniority. If they perform well they are adequately rewarded in various ways, including extensions and even berths in prestigious and statutory bodies.

Of course, the CBI can be set right. However, this requires clear and firm political will. The foremost corrective (from which others will flow) is to ensure that the appointment of the CBI Director is truly above board and is based on his genuine expertise, integrity, competence and commitment. He should have no political affiliations, lest he is dubbed as the Prime Minister’s hatchet man. His impeccable record of absolute honesty would go a long way in establishing the utility and credibility of the agency down the rank and file. This would ensure an impartial, just and unbiased assessment of all important cases. And, bring in the much-needed accountability to inspire confidence among the disgusted public.

At the end of the day, are we going to mortgage our conscience to corrupt and tainted leaders? The powers-that-be must desist from playing further havoc. A question that needs to be urgently answered is: Will the CBI be guided by the law of the land? Who will cast the first stone? Kiska danda, kiski laathi aur kiski bhains? Enough is enough! ---- INFA

Taslima Nasreen's departure from India marks perhaps the lowest point in the history of Indian secularism.

Significantly, it is not the supposedly anti-secular Hindutva brigade which has forced her into exile, as has been the case with respect to M.F. Husain. Instead, it is the self-proclaimed champions of liberalism - the Congress and the Communists - who have compelled her to leave the shores of the world's largest democracy.

Arguably, there is now little difference between India and its smaller neighbour Bangladesh, which had earlier made life too dangerous for the controversial author to remain in the land of her birth.

If it is the fanatical mullahs of Bangladesh who had taken up the cudgels against her for her admittedly provocative views on the position of women in traditional societies, especially in Muslim countries, in India it took no more than a few hours of street violence by a little known Muslim outfit in Kolkata to make the "progressive" Left Front government of West Bengal put her on a plane leaving the city.

The reason why the Communists capitulated so meekly to Muslim fundamentalists is not far to seek. Since Muslim peasants constitute a sizeable number of those resisting the acquisition of land in the wake of the Left Front government's industrialisation drive, the comrades have been wary of antagonising Muslims any further, especially after the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, a well-established organisation, joined the anti-government protests.

Evicting Nasreen, therefore, was seen as an easy way to win back Muslims on the eve of the forthcoming panchayat elections and a possible general election later in the year. The Left's ally at the centre, the Congress, too, was evidently feeling uneasy about her continued stay in the country while several retrogressive Muslim organisations continued to demand her ouster. The party clearly did not want to lose the support of Muslim voters who might be influenced by the fundamentalist campaign.

While the Congress has always been extra cautious on this score, as the ban imposed by its government on Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses" in 1988 showed, the Left had been able to manage till now to sustain its pretence of being truly secular. The comrades could do so because they did not have as high a stake at the centre as at present when they are able to virtually dictate the government's policies on several counts, such as the nuclear deal.

Besides, their government in West Bengal is engaged in engineering a U-turn in its policies by putting socialism, their avowed dogma, on hold and embracing capitalism. Since this new, virtually heretical approach has disoriented many in their ranks, presaging an erosion in their previously unassailable base of support, the communists evidently do not want to create fresh problems for themselves by standing up for artistic freedom.

In its campaign against the nuclear deal, the Left identified US "imperialism" and communalism as two main threats facing India. But its retreat before the Muslim extremists shows that the comrades regard only Hindu communalism as a danger, not the Muslim version.

It is a position that can only substantiate the claim of the Hindutva lobby that the Left and the Congress want only Hindus to practise secularism while Muslims are free to engage in their bigotry and intolerance.

The Left's retreat on the question of Nasreen's stay in India is bound to cause further dismay among its supporters within the intelligentsia. Unable to accept the wooing of the private sector in West Bengal, the intellectuals will see the latest issue as yet another example of the erosion of the Left's commitment to principles.

This is not to deny the starkly opportunistic nature of the Bharatiya Janata Party's support for Nasreen. It backs her - as it does Salman Rushdie on the question of the ban on "The Satanic Verses" - simply because they offend Muslims. But the Hindutva camp does not extend this logic to Husain, who has been hounded out of the country for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments.

The fallout of these cynical games played by both the Left and the Right, with the tacit support of the Congress in the middle, is that the intellectual climate in India is gradually becoming suffocating. No writer or filmmaker or artist can expect to give free expression to his or her thoughts without the fear of some self-appointed upholders of public morality taking to the streets.

As is known, Nasreen came close to being physically assaulted by Muslim protesters in Hyderabad while Husain's exhibitions have been routinely vandalised by groups of Hindus. An art student in Vadodara in Gujarat was even jailed for a while for one of his "offensive" paintings. More recently, a ban has been demanded on a biography of the Rani of Jhansi, the legendary opponent of the British in 1857, for suggesting that she had an affair with an Englishman.

Even the Supreme Court has now ordered the excision of a few passages from James W. Laine's biography of Shivaji. This book too was banned for a while in Maharashtra after the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune, where Laine had conducted his studies, had been ransacked.

The situation may not be as bad as when Galileo was forced to recant his view that the earth moved round the sun since it offended the religious sentiments of the time in Europe. But it's not easy to be a man of letters in India today. (Amulya Ganguli is a writer on current affairs. He can be reached at aganguli@mail.com)

Madam,

We are so relieved to hear that Mr Lapang and his Congress party have failed to dupe the people this time. With Mr Lapang's exit the politics of corruption and non-action has been halted. It was rather surprising to see how the people of Nongpoh constituency still preferred to elect Mr Lapang in spite of his dirty politics and his tainted image. It is rather shocking to see the RBYF which had for long been anti-Lapang, suddenly switching allegiance at the election time. In this it is evident that money power has been the tactic of Mr Lapang and still many fall victim to this. The emergence of unity and convergence in the MPA throws a ray of hope in Meghalaya. Their determination to topple the Congress and to stick their heads together shows that they really mean business this time. It indicates that there is a strong resentment to the corruption and the politics of non-action perpetrated by the former government. A new government and a new leadership augur positive signs for the people. With a chief minister who has a doctorate in Economics we are sure to see the economy of our state surging ahead in the coming five years.

With other prominent politicians like PA Sangma, Mr EK Mawlong and others at the helm, we hope to see the MPA ship sail smoothly towards the shore of development and progress. We wish MPA government God's blessing and we hope and pray that they will always put public welfare before their party interest.

Our little advise to this government is: "think globally, act locally"; "behave more like statesmen and less like politicians" and "Consider your responsible positions as an opportunity to contribute and not to loot".

Yours etc.,
B Mawrie & Khasi Catholic students
Italy

Madam,

Being a regular reader of and an occasional contributor to The Shillong Times, I along with all my esteemed co-readers, will miss Manas Chaudhuri. The people of Meghalaya have lovingly trusted on him a new role, responsibility and power. May God enable him to perform his political role as efficiently as he did his journalistic one in the capacity of editor.

Patricia Mukhim is too well-known to the readers of The Shillong Times and the latter would have been totally disillusioned and disappointed had anybody else been chosen for the much-coveted post of editorship. Congrats, Kong Pat! May God give you the wisdom to run the widely circulated daily as efficiently and responsibly your predecessors did.

Yours etc.,
Omar Luther King
Camp: Kench's Trace, Shillong-4

Kohima: The Nagaland government on Monday presented a 'people friendly' budget keeping the present tax structure unchanged.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tabled a deficit Budget of Rs 425.77 crore for the next financial year in the State Assembly and emphasised consolidation and streamlining of the revenue collection machinery in the State.

Pointing out that internal resources over the year had witnessed an upward trend, the Chief Minister did not make any fresh tax proposal in the budget.

The total revenue receipt from different sources was projected at Rs 4,263.47 crore against the total expenditure of Rs 4,232.61 crore leaving a negative balance of Rs 57.53 crore taking into consideration the negative net public account of Rs 88.39 crore.

However, because of the estimated negative opening balance of Rs 368.24 crore in the previous financial year, the year 2008-09 is estimated to close with a negative balance of Rs 425.77 crore.

Exuding confidence that the state government would achieve the target of revenue collection of Rs 225 crore during the current year, the budget targeted internal resource mobilisation at Rs 259 crore.

The Chief Minister clarified that although the Planning Commission was yet to finalise the state plan size for the year 2008-09, the Government opted for presenting the full-fledged budget keeping the plan allocation at the current year's level of Rs 906 crore. (UNI)

The interim report submitted by DIG Rohini Kumar Bania said total of Rs 15,85,92,732 was found to have been drawn fraudulently in the 10th AP Battalion, Kahilipara, during 2001-02 and 2002-03, Cabinet minister Rockybul Hussain informed the Assembly on Monday.

He was replying to a question by Opposition AGP legislator Phani Bhusan Choudhury.

As many as 14 officials of 10th AP Bn, including two IPS and two APS officers, were suspected to be involved in the scam, which first surfaced in 2006. The commandants of the battalion during the period were also indicted in the interim report. (UNI)

GUWAHATI: Assam Government has taken a decision to provide bulletproof vehicles and augment security cover to the employees at Kopili Hydel Power project of the Central sector power corporation North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) that is under constant threat from tribal militants in North Cachar Hills district of the State.

A highly placed security source informed that Assam Government has decided to procure at least eight bulletproof vehicles for transporting NEEPCO staff and their personal security men from their residential colony at Umrangsu to the Kopili project site that is under constant threat from the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel Garlosa) or Black Widow militants.

The Black Widow militants had slapped a Rupees two crore extortion notice to the company.

The State Government has also requested the NEEPCO authorities to procure a few bulletproof vehicles on their own as soon as possible in addition to such vehicles being procured by the Government.

Meanwhile, additional security have also been posted in the power houses of the Kopili project to thwart further attacks by the militants.

The marauding Black Widow ultras has affected the functioning of not only the NEEPCO power plant but also severely hampered implementation of Railways' mega project and the East-West Corridor project of National Highway Authority of India.

A senior Assam Police official in the rank of Inspector General of Police is likely to be posted in the insurgency ravaged hill district, at least for a period of three months to supervise counter-insurgency operations.

Replying to a question from Andrew Lalherliana of Zoram Nationalist Party, Home Minister Tawnluia said the case was investigated by a special investigation team of the state police which submitted its final report to the Additional District Magistrate (Judicial) on December six and the court had already accepted the final report.

The pastor was found dead in his official residence at Khatla here on the morning of October one, 2007. Controversy was fueled by the fact that he was the chairman of the MPF, formed by conglomerate of churches and major NGOs to reform political and electoral process in the State.

Tawnluia also said the police investigation did not reveal any possibility of homicide and all the evidences pointed towards a sucidal death.

Opposition members, however, alleged that insurgents might be involved with his death and demanded that the case be re-opened and the CBI should be asked to take up the probe. They also accused the Government of trying to hush up the case by concealing some evidences revealed by some witnesse including the daughter of the dead church leader. "The church did not believe that Rev Chanchinmawia committed suicide which was eloquent from the fact that he was given a burial with all church honours and the majority of the people, except hard-core ruling party workers, believed that he died homicidal death," Lalherliana, who is also a church elder, said.

He said that anybody, who has fresh evidences, could approach the court and seek reopening of the case. (PTI)

AGARTALA: Opening and closing of designated gates on the fenced Indo-Bangla border has emerged a major problem for farmers living in the border subdivisions across the State.

Though there is a clear guideline for the opening and closing of gates along the border, but it doesn't implement at the grass-root level causing chaos in some areas, said Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in reply to a calling attention in Assembly here on Monday.

The State Government was of the view to erect barbed wire fencing from zero line but it could not be maintained due to strong Opposition from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), he said adding that a sizable areas of cultivable land and home went out the fencing.

Keeping in mind of the safety of the Indian villagers whose land went beyond the fencing, the BSF authorities identified some emergency gates so that people could cross over the fencing in case of any emergency need.

"Now it does not take place along the border due to lack of briefing of local BSF officials", he said adding that the state government was in constant touch with BSF officials to remove the problem.

MLAs from both Treasury and Opposition benches tried to bring the problem into the notice of the Chief Minister saying that BSF authorities had declined to man the gates on the ground of reduced number of jawans.

Admitting the problem, the Chief Minister also informed the House that there was no shortage of BSF personnel at all. "The shortage of land has been hampering the BSF plan to establish new BOPs along the international border. However, the State Government will try its best to provide land for 64 new BOPs," he said.

According to the Chief Minister a total of 642 km of Indo-Bangla border has been fenced so far out of total 856 km. The work is going on to complete the remaining work as early as possible.