The arrested, Mominul Haque of Laban area in the city, confessed to having written the e-mail which was sent to two local dailies on Wednesday night. Though the e-mail was issued in the name of IM's self-styled 'North East Field Commander' one Ali Hussain Badr, police are yet to ascertain if Mominul and the seven suspects have any links with the newly-formed Jihadi group that has already unleashed a reign of terror in the country by setting off a series of blasts in a number of cities including national capital New Delhi.

As the news of the e-mail spread like wild fire in the city, the State police acted swiftly, arresting Mominul and rounding up seven others. While the State Government assured the top BJP leader of foolproof security during his visit to Shillong, an unperturbed BJP said Mr Advani would go ahead with his 'Sankalp Yatra' in the city on Monday next.

Threatening e-mails or messages from IM are nothing new, but the e-mail issued to the city-based papers was a strongly-worded one which accused Mr Advani of portraying Muslims and other minority communities, specially Christians, as "inveterate enemies of the Hindus," besides blaming his party BJP, RSS, Bishwa Hindu Parishad and Sangh Parivar for "Babri Masjid demolition, Gujarat massacre and the recent attacks on churches in Orissa, Karnataka and some parts Madhya Pradesh."

"We have vowed to kill Mr Advani during his visit to Shillong on September 29. We have already convened a meeting of our Field Commanders to decide on how the revenge could be taken," Badr said in the e-mail. He claimed that IM's "suicide squad" had already set foot in Shillong and was ready to kill the BJP prime ministerial candidate during his public address in the city on Monday next.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) SB Singh told reporters that police had achieved a breakthrough in the case by arresting one person and detaining seven suspects.

"Investigation is going on in the right direction. This lead and other clues and information are being corroborated and co-related at different levels by the Centre and the State," Mr Singh said.

Declining to reveal much about the investigation, the IGP said, "I cannot divulge the details at this stage as it is very sensitive issue," adding, "Police are taking the e-mail seriously as Islamic fundamentalist groups are capable of having a network anywhere."

Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy said the State Government was not taking the e-mail lightly and added that police had been put police on high alert.

"I have asked police to immediately track down the people who are responsible for sending this e-mail. It is a very serious matter since they (IM) are claiming to have planned to assassinate India's top political leader Mr Advani. The State Government would take all necessary security measures to ensure Advani's safety during his visit to Shillong," Dr Roy said.  

Earlier in the day, BJP leader and PHE Minister AL Hek had taken up the matter with the Chief Minister and asked the latter for a police investigation to trace the source of the threatening e-mail.

State BJP president HS Syiemlieh said Mr Advani's proposed Shillong visit was on, adding party workers were gearing up for the occasion.

"We have heard about the e-mail and we are pretty confident that security measures would be tightened by the authorities during Mr Advani's visit to the city," Mr Syiemlieh said.

According to informed sources, Mominul had written the e-mail "out of a sense of frustration at the way in which Muslims are being treated in various parts of the country." Mominul, a law student, has also named some of his associates.

Sources, however, said in view of the lacunae in the anti-terror laws, Mominul might just get out on bail. "Law enforcers are said to be hamstrung by the absence of appropriate anti-terror laws," the sources added.

KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling on Thursday said the students' body was awaiting implementation of the report of the Cabinet Committee on Influx.

"Daily entry of outsiders into the State is an issue of grave concern. If the State Government does not implement immediately the recommendations of the Cabinet Committee on Influx, the situation will worsen further," Mr Dohling said.

The KSU leader alleged that despite the influx problem being highlighted in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the MPA Government, the authorities had not taken any initiative to deal with the issue in right earnest.

Stating that influx of outsiders, especially Bangladeshis, was a cause for concern, Mr Dohling said the recent bomb explosions in Hyderabad, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Delhi should have "opened the eyes of the State Government and the police" and make them understand the need to take action to check influx and deport illegal migrants from the State.

Among the measures suggested by the participants in the meeting are setting up of Special Fast Track Courts with a woman judge and Crime Against Women Cells headed by a woman police officer each in all the district headquarters, filling up of vacant posts through appointment of experts in Forensic Department within a fixed time-frame, strengthening of the police machinery keeping in view the burden of fighting insurgency and law-and-order problems. This was informed by Parliamentary Secretary Ampareen Lyngdoh.

The meeting, held at the Chief Minister's chamber at Main Secretariat here, was attended by Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, senior police officials and others.

SHLLONG: Former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has asked former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma to rejuvenate the North-East People's Forum (NEPF), a conglomerate of 17 regional parties of the North-East.

Mr Mahanta, who arrived here on Thursday, impressed Mr Sangma upon the need for regional parties in the eight North-eastern states, including Sikkim, to fight the upcomming Lok Sabha polls under one political platform.

NEPF was formed in 2003 to find a common ground for political unification of non-Congress parties in the region.

"I have asked Mr Sangma to initiate talks with leaders of various regional parties in the North- East on how to fight the coming Lok Sabha election under one banner," Mr Mahanta told reporters after his meeting with the NCP leader.

Mr Sangma, the architect of NEPF, however, made it clear that the Forum would not have any pre-poll alliance with the ruling Congress-led UPA or BJP-led NDA.

"The forum should have nothing to do with political alliance at the Centre, but to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha election together to oust the Congress," Mr Sangma said.

Meanwhile, non-Congress Chief Ministers of North Eastern States and top leaders of various regional parties are expected to meet here in October to discuss revival of the NEPF which had become dormant soon after the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

Mr Chaudhuri, while reacting to the HNYF ultimatum, recently told reporters that the question of ultimatum did not arise as the State Government had already finalised the new State Education Policy for its implementation from the next academic session.

Terming the Education Minister's statement as "nonsense," HNYF president G Honorable Kharshanlor on Thursday said, "Policy-making is a job of the government, but it is up to the public to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction with that."

He also said HNYF did not set any specific timeframe for implementation of the new education policy and added that "as a responsible NGO we demand that the government should come clean on the policy to ensure its implementation from the beginning of the next academic session."

Mr Chaudhuri, meanwhile, said the much-awaited education policy would be tabled in the Assembly when it meets for the winter session starting on November 7. "Besides other issues, the House will discuss the education policy in the week-long session," he added.

Shillong: Governor RS Mooshahary has slammed "some bureaucrats" of the State for showing disregard to "charity activities" in the State.

"These officials have forgotten the importance of charity institutions that provide selfless service to humanity," the Governor said while reacting to the absence of three top bureaucrats in a function of Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) here on Thursday.

Mr Mooshahary was annoyed after Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, Principal Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, Directorate of Health Services and Secretary of Education among other top officials did not turn up for the function even after their confirmation.

The Governor said, "It is a small function and a lot of official members of IRCS are absent. The importance of such institutions has not been realised by them".

Eleven members of the IRCS were supposed to collect their Life Member certificates, but it was only Sayedullah Nongrum, MLA from Rajabala, who turned up for the function.

"Unfortunately, people don't show much interest in such organisations as they offer less incentives or financial gain," the Governor said.

Lauding the IRCS, one of the oldest humanitarian institutions in the world, for rendering "selfless service to humanity" he said he was happy to be associated with IRCS as its President and promised all assistance to the organisation.

Among the measures suggested by the participants in the meeting are setting up of Special Fast Track Courts with a woman judge and Crime Against Women Cells headed by a woman police officer each in all the district headquarters, filling up of vacant posts through appointment of experts in Forensic Department within a fixed time-frame, strengthening of the police machinery keeping in view the burden of fighting insurgency and law-and-order problems. This was informed by Parliamentary Secretary Ampareen Lyngdoh.

The meeting, held at the Chief Minister's chamber at Main Secretariat here, was attended by Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, senior police officials and others.

SHILLONG: The recent controversial promotion of a junior officer to the post of Director of Meghalaya Non-Conventional and Rural Energy Development Agency (MNCREDA) has taken a new turn with "the present incumbent" seeking police protection due to alleged threat to his life from miscreants.

According to official sources, MNCREDA Director RC Agarwal on Thursday lodged a complaint with police that one John Marbaniang and others had threatened to eliminate him if he resumed duty as Director of the agency.

Sources also said the promotee John E Rodborne allegedly occupied the Director's chair and started shouting at Mr Agarwal "using filthy language" for not vacating the chair even after his transfer as MNCREDA Director.

Meanwhile, East Khasi Hills SP AR Mawthoh directed the Nongmynsong police to inquire into the matter. After preliminary investigation on the complaint, police assured Mr Agarwal of necessary protection and warned of strict action against the culprits involved in the incident.

The Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court would on Friday hear the petition filed by senior officer in MNCREDA Shiela RK Sangma challenging the promotion of Mr Rodborne as Director of the agency.

Earlier, Ms Sangma's lawyer AH Hazarika had served a legal notice on Principal Secretary (Power) BK Deb Verma not to execute the promotion order as the matter was sub-judice.

According to Mr Hazarika, there is every likelihood that the "discriminatory" promotion order would be quashed by the High Court.

It may be recalled here that Mr Rodborne was recently promoted to the top post in the agency despite the fact that there were six other officers, including Ms Sangma, who deserved to be elevated to the post.

Mr Agarwal had also been transferred back to MeSEB, but he sought more time from the Power Department as he was yet to "clear certain pending works."

The Board has requested the consumers to cooperate with the company personnel for smooth functioning of their work.

The company personnel will need to enter the consumer's premises to seek information on the electricity bills and other details regarding consumer indexing, an MeSEB release said.

SHILLONG: Every child has the right to education and nobody should be deprived of this right, Prof Deisy Bora of Dibrugarh University in Assam while addressing a convention on "Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)" organised by National Campaign for ECCE Rights at a city hotel on Thursday.

Mentioning the Article 45 of the Constitution which empowers every State to provide "early childhood care and education for children until they complete six years", Prof Bora urged the NGOs and government agencies in Meghalaya to make optimum utilization of the Central schemes in providing basic education to the underprivileged children.

She also made a plea to the social organizations and NGOs to visit schools especially in rural areas to get information about the problems faced by the children and suggest remedial steps.

"Students face a lot of stress in educational institutions especially the girls and this should be done away with," she said.

Earlier, National Campaign for ECCE Rights convener Bikash Das observed that all the states should make ECCE a legal right by giving statutory backup to Article 45 in order to stem premature dropping of students from school.

The first day of the two-day convention was attended by various representatives from northeastern states including NGOs, academicians and others.

A dance drama 'Beerpurush' based on a Rabindranath Tagore's poem as part of tenth anniversary celebration of Geetanjali Dance Academy at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture at 5:30 pm. Governor RS Mooshahary will attend the function.

The serial blasts in Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Delhi have been attributed to a terror-fundamentalist outfit - the Indian Mujahideen. In the manner of all ideologically driven mindsets this outfit sent e-mail messages to sections of the media claiming credit for the attacks. It is bad enough that after 9/11 all terror strikes are linked to a particular religious community. But that a population of approximately 154 million (as of 2008) which is roughly 13.4 % of the population should be viewed with suspicion is tragic. India has the third largest Muslim population in the world. If, we assume even for a moment, that all of this population is consumed by a rage to strike at the Indian state for various reasons then none of us are safe.

In a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-ethnic country like India, religious polarization is extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, vote bank politics has thrown the country into this dangerous situation. While political parties like the BJP and its frontal wings promote Hindutva or a Hindu Rashtra as a matter of right , the Congress which has always professed to be the guardian of secularism and tries to tread the middle path, is accused by its critics of appeasing the minorities. The Left parties meanwhile are neither here nor there and court everyone who is outside the fold of the BJP and the Congress.

What is distressing is the current spate of attacks against Christians across the country and even in a state like Goa which is known for its liberal ethos. In this very volatile scenario both Christians and Muslims feel cornered. There is a sense of helplessness and a feeling that the state has failed to protect them because they are a minority. There are those who feel that Indian Christians should not have built a coalition with their confrere in the western world and that the attacks on churches etc should have been resolved internally. Such arguments come from the intellect and do not reflect the anxiety and pain of those who are hounded and have lost their lives and property.

It is a matter of shame that the US and the Vatican should be cautioning India on how not to treat its religious minorities. Actually India should have been the best example of religious co-existence and this would have been possible but for petty politics. As we get closer to the Lok Sabha polls and to the assembly elections in a few states, political parties like the BJP will assert their stances as protectors of the tolerant Hindu masses who have allowed the minorities to stake claims to certain rights they are not entitled to. This was the rhetoric echoed by even the sanest of BJP ideologues in the run-up to the infamous abolition of the Babri Masjid in December 1992.

At this point it seems futile to appeal to fellow Indians to see each other simply as human beings who are not labeled by their religious affiliations because, as the sensible argument goes, religion is something which is in the realm of the spiritual. But things are not that simple. In India, religious minorities are given some special concessions. Despite that, the Sachar Committee report speaks volumes about the discrimination faced by the Muslim community in terms of access to education, health care and employment, particularly in the higher echelons of the government. The case is even more deplorable for Christians. It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Yet the country is tending towards a Hindu form of fascism which is sending the other minority groups scurrying for cover.

Meanwhile, there are some with a diabolical mindset who believe that belligerence is the only way to fight back against such fascist tendencies. India happens to have two neighbours who practice theocracy. Both Bangladesh and Pakistan are ruled according to the tenets of Islam. While each religious book has its finer points and the large mass of believers practices those aspects of the Book which teach love, charity, humanity and tolerance, the naked truth is that a section of fundamentalists exist in every religion. Such will quote their Books out of context and convince their confreres that the only way to wrest equity and justice is through the sword. Or through terror attacks that are meant to teach somebody else a lesson.

Kashmir and the North East are both cauldrons of religious fundamentalism. Both are infested by infiltrators from across the borders whose agenda is a modern day 'jehad'. It is no accident that the Huji, the ISI, Harkat-ul-mujahideen et al are active in Bangladesh. They are not only financing insurgent outfits from this region but also providing them with arms training and supplying them with all the ammo required. Unlike the US, India does not seem to have a model on how to fight terror. Political bickering at a time when political consensus is necessary to nip all terrorist outfits in the bud is sure to create a climate of greater insecurity. The country's Home Minister comes across as an incompetent Congress stooge than a statesman of stature who should be taking charge of the country's internal security.

In terms of tackling terror, we have seen how outfits like the ULFA can strike at will and get away with it. Bombs are planted in crowded places and the law enforcers seem to go into a defensive instead of an attack mode. States like Assam and Meghalaya have an amorphous population from across the border whose agenda is simply to bleed the Indian state. They are succeeding in their motive because of the abetment of our own insurgent outfits.

Currently, this country does not seem to have adequate laws to deal with terror. There is not even an all-out attempt to take the perpetrators of terror head on. Political parties are indulging in the semantics of what is good or bad with the anti-terror laws enacted from time to time. Can there not be a political consensus for once? Can political parties not transcend petty political gains and put the country's interests uppermost? Today there is a general disillusionment in the ordinary citizen that politics will be the nemesis of India. This sounds like a doomsday warning but going by the manner in which things are taking shape it does not seem like a remote possibility.

Meanwhile the minorities who happen to share the same faith as their brethren across the borders are being type-cast. Their loyalty to the Indian constitution is under the scanner. They feel like prisoners of a fate they had no hand in choosing, many having been born into that faith. The educated categories within such minorities often give vent to their frustrations through acts they later regret. This office received an e-mail purportedly from the Indian Mujahideen (IM). Whether the IM has its networks properly laid out in the North East is still a moot point. But the use of cyberspace to spread terror tactics is no longer the exclusive right of people in the metros. Terror is coming closer home and we do not even have an agreed law on terror. What can be more pathetic than this?

General elections are just six months away. The schedule for six state assembly elections in November is likely to be announced any day. Political parties have had innumerable in-house poll surveys and internal discussions to formulate their election strategies. Yet no one seems sure about the public response. Both the main parties face a dearth of electorally encashable issues and a shrinking space for themselves.

The Congress had its extended working committee meeting last week. The BJP held its national executive at Bangalore. The upcoming elections were the main concern at both conclaves. However, amid the routine coverage of the leaders' speeches, the media missed to take note of the gloom among the state leaders. The two meetings were notable for the marked absence of the 'feel-good' factor and the 'killer instinct' of 2004. The state leaders do not see anything upbeat. And even the most boastful ones avoided making tall claims about seats in the March-April polls.

The mood of the election experts of the Big2 is anything but upbeat. Once you take them into confidence, they pour out the deep fears. They grudgingly accept the lack of any marketable issues, and their own inability to nurse any loyal vote bank. Lack of an inspiring political leadership on either side is giving way to the rise of new regional idols. Of late, even some embedded analysts have begun vaguely hinting at the political disaster waiting to unfold in May next year. The political class knows that the next Lok Sabha will be the most fractured. But it is wary of going public on it.

In the normal course, prediction of an election outcome six months before is an hazardous exercise. It is not so this time around. And that is the unique nature of the coming elections. Without being dubbed as reckless and speculative, it can be asserted that neither the UPA nor NDA can hope to get anywhere near the magic figure of 272. Things look worse for the NDA. As per one projection, in seven states - Andhra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, UP and West Bengal - which accounts for 305 Lok Sabha seats, the NDA parties will get fewer than 60 seats. Can they muster 212 from the remaining 238 seats?

Going by the projections based on the ground reality, the UPA may do a little better by winning around 210. This leaves induction of more parties into the UPA or defections as the only way to manufacture a majority. Both options carry risks. Fossilisation of vote bases under powerful provincial outfits and the virtual elimination of the B2 from large states seem to have made the task more difficult. Already, Lok Sabha elections have become the aggregate of the state results. The B2 or their alliances are not in a position to create a pan-India wave on any issue. Nothing short of a miracle can materially change the grim picture.

For over a decade, we talked about the relevance of a two-party system to eliminate the minor parties. Forging of 'bipartisan' arrangement to push economic reforms and the nuclear deal has been an old corporate-US dream. Unfortunately, the space occupied by the B2 has been steadily shrinking. Now even if the two join hands, they cannot reach 272. Govindacharya says the B2 will be lucky if it gets 250 seats next time. Others put it at even less. Therefore, the goalpost is being shifted from two-party to two-alliance - UPA and NDA - system.

As a result, the six assembly elections involving 79 seats, essentially the B2 space, will have only a marginal impact on the Lok Sabha poll results. Even if one of the B2 sweeps, it won't mean the winning alliance can dominate the next Lok Sabha. Therefore, we are in for a horrifying spectacle if the present political matrix remains intact. And there is little chance of any change. Some predict that the 15th Lok Sabha is going to be the most unstable and short-lived. Therefore, political circles have begun talking about various choices and possibilities.

True, this has not been an overnight development. Shrewd politicians like Lalu Prasad Yadav and Sharad Pawar had anticipated such a nightmare during the nuclear confrontation with the Left. Even if the government survives now (in July), what will happen after May 2009, Pawar had asked. This warning by the man of so many political battles will prove to be thunderbolt for the UPA. Their biggest nightmare is a situation where they end up with around 210 seats, a figure on which there is a wider unanimity. It will be far short of the magic figure even if one adds the new allies like Samajwadi Party and RLD. Had the PM not insisted on his 'so-be-it', this gap could have been bridged by a bruised Left with, say, 45 seats.

Will the Left again save the UPA with stricter conditionalities like abrogation of the nuclear deal, compulsory parliamentary endorsement for foreign agreements and pre-decision consultations with the outside supporter? Thus the issue of 'deal vs. government', once settled on July 23, will get resurrected in May next. If the Congress decides to reject the Left's conditions, the field will be open for sordid dramas and mindless manipulations. There may emerge many dark horses and darker horse traders. It is not for nothing that the likes of Deve Gowda with hardly half a dozen MPs have already become active.

If the Congress spurns the Left option, it will be left with only two choices: either to extend outside support to a badly-crafted third alternative or helplessly watch the emergence of a BJP-backed dispensation. Out of sheer desperation, the new MPs may go to any extent to retain their hard-earned position. Will the disparate groups of non-BJP outfits settle for Mayawati? Or will the BJP itself woo her and extend outside or inside support? If this happens, it may trigger an exodus from the UPA. We all know how 'communalism' was overlooked by the Paswans, Abdullahs and Naidus in 1998. These are the obvious choices in a badly fractured situation. Much will depend on the fine print that emerges in May. (IPA Service)

Madam,

The Durga Puja festival is fast approaching and many localities and Puja Committees have begun arrangements to celebrate these festivities. This is undoubtedly the major festival of the Hindus and should be celebrated in a grand manner and with all pomp and gaiety.

However, a major problem during such festivities is the construction of huge gateways and puja mandaps across public roads and thoroughfares. It may be pointed out that not only do such structures obstruct the flow of traffic and vehicular movement, but are also the cause of traffic jams. Had such inconveniences been for only a few hours only, or perhaps for a day at the most, this would have been tolerated with patience. But these obstructions, seemingly with the compliance of the local authorities, last for days on end. The puja mandap across the Tirot Singh Syiem Nagar, Rynjah is one example.

The road across which the mandap has been erected is a primary road linking Umpling and beyond, to Rynjah and the rest of Shillong. Traffic is diverted to allow this mandap to be erected and to remain there till the end of the puja season. "No Entry" road signs are put up and daily commuters have to find another route, albeit a long roundabout one. Traffic problems are compounded in Rynjah Bazar, leave alone the fact that only recently, new traffic arrangements were made, routing all traffic to Umpling through the road on which the mandap now stands. This yearly routine is nothing but harassment to the commuting and transiting public. Therefore I would like to ask the local authorities, the Traffic Police, the PWD, the District Administration, etc the following questions:

Under whose jurisdiction does the said road fall? The PWD or the TSS Nagar local body? Has necessary permission been secured from the concerned authorities-District administration, Police, PWD, etc? If not, then what are these authorities doing? Is it not possible to erect the mandap on some other tertiary feeder road such as one of the numerous by-lanes in the locality, so that problems are not caused to the general public traveling through the road?

If permission has been granted by the appropriate authority, has the authority taken into consideration the views and discomfort of the traveling public prior to granting permission? Just because a thing has been practiced for long, it doesn't mean that the same can be continued. The common good and the rule of law must have precedence above all else. On the same note, it is observed that local Dorbar Shnong also effect temporary closure of roads for whatever reason, be it cleaning drive or death or marriage, etc. Mention must be made of the recent closure of the Rynjah-Fire Brigade Road (through Nongrim Hills) recently, purportedly on account of a Dorbar meeting. The consequent discomfort to road users as well as distress to those on emergent duties cannot be properly expressed. It is high time Dorbar Shnongs applied their minds carefully before taking such matters into their own hands. The concerned authorities must also learn to take a firm stand; not remain passive spectators to such brazen acts of law-breaking; nor even seem to condone them by providing "No-Entry" sign stands.

Yours etc.,
P. Lyngdoh
Shillong 06

Madam,

This is to draw your attention to the news item on ‘HIV Cases in Assam Rifles’ by your special correspondent, which appeared in your daily on 21 September 2008.

The news item has malafidely, endeavoured to cast the Assam Rifles in bad light. The cases of HIV positive that have been detected in Assam Rifles are largely due to the efforts that the Force has been making to look into the eyes of the problem. It is also brought out that we are a North-East centric Force, which is another reason for the cases of HIV positive, since numbers of such cases in the region have a very high proportion of share in the national total.

The Force is rather transparent about it and has been leaving no stone unturned to curb it, on a ‘war footing’, as has been mentioned by the DGAR during the news conference on 18th Sep 2008, where a correspondent representing your publication was also present. Towards fighting AIDS menace, the first step, which goes in tandem with other measures, is detection of such cases, which is being undertaken by the Force with complete zest and dedication. The Force has never shied away from the problem.

It is brought out that Assam Rifles has acquired latest appliances and has established diagnostic & treatment centres down to the battalion levels through out the NE, to facilitate detection of potential cases. These facilities have also been extended to the local population of the NE under the scope of its Civic Action Programme.

By bringing out past instances and allegations of 87’ & 89’ vintage as background to the news feature, the correspondent has unduly disregarded media ethics. The past happenings or allegations of the nature cited in the feature, have no relevance to the existing number of HIV cases in the Force, about which the Assam Rifles has always been very transparent and candid. Incidents of 80s that have been cited cannot have any relation to AIDS in the Force, since inception of AIDS in the Assam Rifles dates back to 1992. In addition, the statement, "Assam Rifles soldiers have been forcing local women into having sex with them" is hypothetical and difficult to be validated. It appears that the title story of the news feature has been used as a pretext to raise old issues pertaining to the Force, which otherwise have no bearing, in present scenario, wherein the Force has earned considerable goodwill by undertaking developmental projects in the region over a period of time.

The Force with its Headquarters in Shillong is proud of cordial relations it shares with The Shillong Times. We rely tremendously on your publication to project constructively, what we have been doing for the region in our own modest ways, since the same goes a long way in casting us as a people friendly Force. We are hurt and saddened with the said story given a space in your daily and further request you to print our point of view, suitably in you daily, as also take appropriate action at your end.

Yours etc.,
Lt Col Shashank Ranjan
PRO
Assam Rifles

You can e-mail your letters to the Editor at: letters@theshillongtimes.com

APRO Director PM Dastidar was on Thursday interrogated by the CID of Assam for an alleged scandal related to the purchase of a Digital Mobile Radio worth Rs 2 crore.

The CID sources said the APRO director was also interrogated on Wednesday and the questioning on the said purchase would go on further. He was asked 20 questions and the CID, if needed, might take him into custody, the sources revealed.

The Home department sources said an arrest of the high official might take some time as some formalities were to be completed.

In 2001, the Assam Government had released Rs 1.60 crore for the purchase of Digital Mobile Radio from Motorola.

However, the APRO in collusion with some junior officers of the Home Department tried to swindle a large portion of the money. The matter was referred to the Vigilance department which found the APRO officials prima-facie involved in the scam.

The matter was later handed over to the CID by Assam Government and the investigating agency was now interrogating the APRO top brass and already arrested a Home Department official, Gagan Chandra Patar, who had confessed involvement of the APRO officials.

The Assam Police are still smarting from the salary scandal of the Assam police Battalion as at least in three Battalions salaries are being provided to fake jawans by a nexus of Home Department officials as well as Battalion top brass. ''These two incidents have damaged our reputation and I do hope that inquiries will bring out true results,'' one APRO person said. (UNI)

Putting an end to queries over the chief ministerial candidate, the UDA declared that if the alliance was voted to power in the November assembly elections, Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) party president T Sailo would be the next Chief Minister and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) supremo Lalduhoma would be his deputy.

The UDA had been formed by the two parties, with the backing of Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl, a fast growing farmers’ association, to take on the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) and the largest opposition Congress.

Speaking at a press conference here, 86-year-old T Sailo claimed that the formation of UDA would prove an important landmark that would change the entire political system in Mizoram.

''The main objective of the UDA is to put an end to the era of party government and form people’s government sans the MNF and the Congress,'' Mr Sailo, who had been Chief Minister from 1978 to 1981, said.

ZNP chief and MLA Lalduhoma said, ''Mizoram's history is in the making, and I am glad I happen to play a role in it.''

Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Thursday said the government will take all necessary steps to ensure that insurgent groups from across the border do not interfere during the state assembly polls scheduled for later this year.

Talking to the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) leaders, who met him on his return from New Delhi, Zoramthanga said, "the government will be ready to tackle the insurgents, who might be out to disrupt the election process."

The government was not fully prepared during the 2003 assembly polls, he admitted and said intimidation of voters by insurgents would be firmly dealt with.

Earlier, the Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), formed by churches and NGOs for political and electoral reforms in the state, had held talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagalin (Isak-Muivah) leadership. The MPF had asked the help of Naga rebel group NSCN (I-M) to ensure that militant groups do not interfere in the Mizoram elections.

Leaders of the central committee of the Young Mizo Association (YMA) also met Hmar and Paite insurgent group leaders at Churachandpur in Manipur, asking them not to interfere in the Mizoram polls.

Tapayaja, hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, made the supreme sacrifice while fighting terrorists in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir where he along with others were able to eliminate three ultras but sustained fatal bullet injuries on September 22.. (PTI)

Kohima: The post-graduate students of Nagaland university have threatened to opt for "violent course" if varsity authority and teachers failed to end the present impasse leading to cancellation of classes for almost a month in the only seat of higher education in the state.

Post-Graduate Students Union (PGSU) which launched indefinite picketing in three campuses and entered the third day on Thursday, demanded that vice-chancellor and Nagaland University Teachers Association (NUTA) should resolve the impasse immediately so that classes could be resumed at the earliest.

The teachers went on an indefinite cease-work after the authority suspended eight members of NUTA last month following their charter of demands, including recalling of vice-chancellor K Kannan alleging that he indulged in corruptions.

"We have so far staged peaceful pickets but our patience is exhausted because we lost classes for 29 days. Who will compensate us for this loss?" students asked.

The teachers have reiterated its demand for revocation of suspension order for resumption of classes which were not held in Kohima, Lumami (near Mokokchung) and Medziphema campuses of the Central university.

The present impasse occurred after the authority first suspended president and secretary general of NUTA for their agitation but when the teachers protested against the action, the vice-chancellor suspended six other teachers.

State government had constituted a committee headed by chief secretary Lalhuma to intervene and resolve the standoff between two sides. (PTI)

Manoranjana in a complaint lodged with the Paltan Bazar police station accused him of "threatening" her on Wednesday, police said.

Sinh, former Minister of State for Coal and Parliamentary Affairs in the Narasimha Rao ministry, was away from Guwahati, but when contacted denied he had assaulted his wife.

Without explaining the nature of the threats, Manoranjana also complained that her husband had defamed her, spoilt her reputation and was hampering her official work, police said. (PTI)

New Delhi: The Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development (GBPIHED) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on Thursday signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the sustainable development of the Himalayan region including the North East.

Despite the rich natural and cultural resources, this region faces serious limitations owing to its uniqueness in terms of fragility, marginality and inaccessibility. Hence an appropriate cost-effective and environment-friendly Research & Development based technologies will be developed to address the environment and development issues of the region, according to an official statement here.

Among the global mountain systems, the Himalayas is the most complex and diverse, and produces a distinctive climate of its own and influences the climate of much of Asia. The Indian Himalayan region (IHR) is the meeting point of floral and faunal assemblage and culture of the Indian subcontinent.

GBPIHED has emerged as focal-agency to advance scientific knowledge, to evolve integrated resource management strategies, demonstrate their efficiency for conservation of natural resources and to ensure environmentally sound development in the entire IHR. To achieve its mandate, the GBPIHED follows a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach in its R&D programmes executed through its headquarters and four regional units situated at Kullu (Himachal Unit), Srinagar (Garhwal Unit), Pangthang (Sikkim Unit) and Itanagar (North East Unit).

The ICIMOD, founded in 1983 and based in Kathmandu, is an intergovernmental independent institution that has been established with the objective of promoting the development of an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem and to improve the living standards of its mountain communities. It does so by bringing together a partnership of eight regional member countries of Hind-Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan, and institutions within and outside the HKH region.

The mandate of both the ICIMOD and GBPIHED although cover different geographical scales but have a common vision to contribute to the sustainable development of the mountains, especially the IHR. Although both the institutions have been closely associated with each other in the past through the ministry , the MoU will enable both the Institutions to increase the potential for mutually beneficial research work, enable efficient co-ordination and ensure the sustainability of partnership between the ICIMOD and Government of India, the statement said.

The important consideration of the MoU will be that both the Institutions will be able to appreciate each other’s comparative advantages and collaborate to achieve the environmentally sustainable development in the IHR. This will be done through a mutually agreed mechanism for experience sharing on similar aspects in other parts of The Himalayan region, including other member countries.

Both the Institutions will develop joint R&D projects in identified areas of mutual interest related to Himalayan region and try to cater a wide range of stakeholders including NGOs, community based organizations, national level research Institutions and other organizations. The ICIMOD will ensure that perspective collaborative organizations from India submit summaries of project proposals to the GOI, represented by GBPIHED.

The short-term exchange of scientists/young scientists, including their strategic partners will also be promoted within the two Institutions. The MoU was signed by Dr. L.M.S. Palni, Director, GBPIHED and the Director General, ICIMOD, Dr. Andreas Schild.

The MoU shall be valid for a period of five years from and shall be renewed thereafter for a period on mutually agreed terms and conditions. The MoU assumes special significance in view of the increasing global warming and consequent climate change specially in the Himalayan region.