Mrs Sophie Marak who recently resigned from the Commission to fight the Assembly elections from Chokpot constituency on the Congress ticket and came last with only 800 votes, has now been served with a bailable warrant of arrest by the First Class Judicial Magistrate, Imphal on Friday last.

The judge directed the Meghalaya Police to produce Marak in court on April 8. The warrant was necessary after the Marak failed to appear before the Court on March 29. Her son John Marak accused by his wife Urmila Chanam of Imphal of inflicting mental and physical cruelty on her, appeared through his lawyer. Urmila Chanam has accused the mother son duo of demanding a dowry of ten lakh rupees from her. She has claimed from the Court a relief of Rs 50,000 and a one time payment of Rs 10 lakhs from her husband.

These sordid affairs in a Commission set up to address, amongst other things, violence against women has created a sense of unease and lack of confidence in the ability of the Commission to address serious issues of rights violation and domestic violence against them.

The term of the present Commission ended on March 31 this year. But pending reconstitution the term of the members is now extended to April 30.

The Shillong Times sought the view of the lone woman MLA, Ampareen Lyngdoh on whether the MPA has set any parameters for appointment of new members.

Ms Lyngdoh said that while some amount of political interference is inevitable in all such bodies, it is important to keep in mind the sensitivity and peculiarity of assignment of the Commission.

She added that the views of women's organisations and civil society groups would be taken on board at the time of reconstituting the Commission.

According to police, the bus overturned at Pomlum Mawsynram just after it had left Phutkroh near Ranikor, West Khasi Hills, killing a passenger on the spot and inuring 12 others.

The deceased was identified as Kyrnes Syiemlieh of Mawkohphet village near Mawkyrwat. Some of the injured were Nili Mary Iawphniaw, Kyllang Dkhar and Upstar Dkhar from Tlongpleng village, Bishem Hajong from Phudkroh, Bashailor Snaitang from Umpung, Bir Wanniang from Phlangwanbroi, Shanbor Mylliem from Laitumsaw and Tyngshain Kharbani, Shaphrang Sohphoh and Twing Pdahkasiej from Lumdiengngan.

Four of the injured were admitted to Mawsynram Public Health Centre, while the rest were taken to Shillong Civil Hospital.

Upset over not having their cheques cleared by SBI on March 31, which also marked the end of the financial year, a group of contractors directed their anger at the branch manager Mr Pal and manhandled him before police intervened and brought the situation under control.

According to the contractors, Mr Pal had failed to properly deal with the cheques related to payment of their bills.

"Congress and NCP are in talks for pre-poll alliance in Maharashtra. Once the election agreement is finalised by the two parties there, the same formula could be followed in Meghalaya for formation of a new Congress-NCP coalition government," MPCC president OL Nongtdu told The Shillong Times on Wednesday.

The idea of a Congress-NCP government in the State was mooted by AICC during meetings with former Chief Minister DD Lapang and Mr Nongtdu in New Delhi. Mr Lapang and Mr Nongtdu have been camping in the national capital since Saturday last.

Although there was no indication from NCP about such a move, sources said party leader Purno A Sangma and his son and Finance Minister in the MPA Government Conrad K Sangma, now in New Delhi, had held meetings with NCP president Sharad Pawar on the issue.

Confirming the AICC move, Mr Nongtdu said the party top brass had wanted to know the opinion of the State Congress leadership on the proposal for roping in NCP to form the government in the State.

"AICC sought our opinion on whether there is any reservation from our side on Congress and NCP working together for formation of the government in the State. We told them (AICC leaders) that we are not averse to the idea," Mr Nongtdu said.

According to Congress sources, with Maharashtra Assembly elections slated for June this year, both Congress and NCP are engaged in dialogue on pre-poll alliance to jointly fight Shiv Sena and BJP in that State. This would open up the way for both the parties coming together to form the government in Meghalaya.

Mr Nongtdu and Mr Lapang are scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi on Thursday to discuss the recent poll outcome and post-election political developments in the State. Several issues, including future efforts for forming the government in the State, are likely to come up for discussion with Mrs Gandhi.

Speaking to this correspondent, Mr Amit Dasgupta, Joint Secretary, Public Diplomacy, MEA said the visit intends to showcase the diversity of India. Bringing them to the North East, he said, would give them a flavour of a part of India that looks different and does not carry the typical Hindu image of India because of its sizeable Christian population. Dasgupta said, "This is an attempt to show the Africans that India is not racist but that the element of tolerance is very high. By interacting with people of the North East who are themselves churning and groping for answers as the people of Africa are, they might hit upon some answers to their problems and vice versa", he added. Dasgupta further informed that this visit is the first level of contact and dialogue - a curtain raiser- for a detailed summit to take place on 8-9 April this year at Delhi. He said if this visit clicked, the North East and Shillong might soon become an educational destination for many African students. On Thursday, the visitors will take a guided tour of the famed Don Bosco Museum at Mawlai and also take part in a friendly football match with the home team that played in the Subroto Cup. This will be followed by an evening of Western and Khasi folk music at Hotel Pinewood. During their stay in Shillong the African visitors will meet a cross section of people.

Upset over not having their cheques cleared by SBI on March 31, which also marked the end of the financial year, a group of contractors directed their anger at the branch manager Mr Pal and manhandled him before police intervened and brought the situation under control.

According to the contractors, Mr Pal had failed to properly deal with the cheques related to payment of their bills.

In a memorandum to the Union Minister of power Sushil Kumar Shinde, the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong on Wednesday, alleged that the previous State government had allotted a number of power projects including Mawphu Hydel Electricity Project, Kynshi Hydel Electricity project and Garo Hills Thermal Power Project without calling any tenders and even making any survey of the project sites and preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). They claimed that this act on the part of the State government had affected the "land holding system of indigenous people of Meghalaya which was threatening their very existence".

According to SKRS, it had been agreed upon between the Central government and the State government to hand over the projects and others to NEEPCO for execution. However, the then State Power minister had unilaterally scuttled the decision', it alleged.

Meanwhile, the SKRS asked the MPA government to take up the matter accordingly for the best interests of the State and its people.

TURA: Basking in the sweetness of freedom, obtained forcibly, little did he realise that a posse of policemen were creeping up towards him to send him back to the dingy cell he once occupied in Tura District Jail. Drojonath Sangma did not see it coming so soon when police on Tuesday swooped down on his hideout in hometown Ampati to arrest him for breaking out of Tura jail along with three others, his freedom having been limited to ten days.

The four under-trial prisoners had broken out on the afternoon of March 22 last after assaulting a warden in what was seen as "carelessness" on the part of jail authorities to allow prisoners to leave their cell in search of water from a nearby tap.

Head warden Danishnet Lamare and his assistant Waljeng Marak have been placed under suspension after a magisterial enquiry found them guilty of dereliction of duty. Both were on duty at the time of the jailbreak. The remaining three prisoners -- Columbus Marak, Salesh Sangma and Galseng Marak -- continue to evade the police dragnet. All four had been arrested for dacoity, theft, assault, extortion and possession of illegal arms, police said.

In the past also, there were incidents of escapes from both Tura and Williamnagar district jails. The last time a prisoner fled from Tura jail was in February 2007 when he disappeared while performing manual labour of clearing the thick undergrowth around the campus.

At least 31 people have died of malaria in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills since March alone, prompting the health department to rush Rapid Response Teams to affected areas.

Most of the malaria deaths were reported from Wakchikong, Silchang, Gandual, Chambildram, Nainggre and Mangsang villages in East Garo Hills.

Of the 31 deaths, he said eight were confirmed cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria; other deaths were due to suspected cases of cerebral Malaria, Director of Health Services (DHS), Dr KH Lakiang said.

The DHS had rushed to the malaria affected areas for first hand information and to take stock of the Health situation in Garo Hills.

He claimed that there was no dearth of medicine and the department is being geared up for malaria prevention. (UNI)

Police said the incident took place at Latsharai near Sumer, Ri-Bhoi district on Tuesday night while the driver and the handyman were taking rest.

However, after the miscreants drove the truck about a few kilometers only, it fell into a gorge at a turning near the Fun and Thrill's Park killing one of the miscreants on the spot while the rest managed to escape.

Both the handyman and driver received minor injuries.

Shillong: Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Operators Association (MCTO&OA) has sought the intervention of the Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Brahm Dutt on the presence of illegal toll gates along the National Highways.

In a memorandum submitted to Mr Dutt recently, MCTOOA president A Shanpru said the truck owners and operators in the whole State are facing an enormous problem due to erection of illegal tax collection barriers on the National Highways. He pointed out that this has directly or indirectly affected the common people, especially the poorer section of our community.

"The Government departments, who are running checkgates do not have the NOC from the Union Ministry," Mr Shanpru said adding that these toll gates have also affected truckers from other States plying through Meghalaya.

(MCTO&OA) president pointed out that the State Government has been approached on many occasions to redress the issue but failed to respond.

He also informed that in few districts of the State the administrative authority has dismantled the toll gates within their jurisdiction and this has brought a sigh of relief to the truckers and owners.

Mr Shanpru further called upon Mr Dutt to intervene in the matter so that the criminal activities carried out against the truckers are put to an end.

According to Mr Shanpru there are 12 illegal toll gates on NH-40 alone, seven on the NH-44, 13 on NH-44 (E) and six on NH-62.

Other highlights of the function were a cultural presentation and a fete organised by the NEEPCO Women's Welfare Association.

The rebel, Nelson Phangcho, a resident of Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district deposited a 9 mm pistol, one magazine and two rounds of ammunition, a BSF statement here said.

Phangcho, an expert in explosives and several sophisticated arms, had joined the group at the instance of his uncle, Jacob, who is a top cadre in the group.

Police said the teenager took advantage of the absence of his relatives in the house and force the two girls, who are his neighbours to enter his house threatening them with a machete.

"Frightened, the two girls out of compulsion, went inside his house and in this manner the culprit managed to commit the crime," police said.

As the girls were reluctant to inform their parents about the incident, police said, adding the matter came to light when they were taken to a doctor.

Shillong: In a bid to deal with growing unemployment among local educated youth, the Synjuk Bhalang Ki Kynthei Raid Nongkseh (SBKRN) has embarked on a programme to highlight the career avenues and also entrepreneurship opportunities with special emphasis on the youth of the area.

The organisation launched a career guidance programme recently for unemployed youth of the area with active support of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The module consisted of a two-phase training programme, which would cover throughout the financial period of 2008-2009.

The programme was kick-started at the Nongkseh community hall and was inaugurated by Rangbah Shnong of Nongkseh R Rumnong, who in his inaugural speech lauded the initiative of the women group while appealing the local unemployed youth of the area to take advantage of this opportunity to learn about career and entrepreneurship.

General secretary of the women organisation Streamlet Lyngdoh Tron, during her speech, also informed that the first phase of the programme consisted of training of counselors so as to enable them to effectively impart knowledge and skills to the youth who would be attending the year long training programme.

Two lady resource persons - Iasyllok Rynjah and Farida Warjri, who are both teachers of St Edmund's College, have been involved in the programme to identify trades that have daily market demand as well as those that are of interest to participants so that the innate talents of the youth maybe tapped accordingly and appropriate guidance and teaching imparted to them through the programme to enable them to be self sustaining.

SHILLONG: Barely three years after it was inaugurated the Solar Energy Park at Nehru Park, Barapani is in a depleted condition as there is no initiative on the part of the State government to maintain or renovate the facilities available in the Park. This shortcoming was detected during a visit made by this reporter to the park on Tuesday.

It may be pointed out here that the park, constructed at a total cost of Rs 1.10 crore was inaugurated by former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Donkupar Roy on December 6 2004.

The Meghalaya Non-Conventional Rural Energy Development Agency (MNREDA) is the nodal agency for running and carrying out the maintenance and improvement of the park.

According to sources, during the initial stages the park was earning revenue of Rs 10,000 plus every month.

Sources also informed that the Solar Energy Park started malfunctioning a year after it was inaugurated leading to sudden decline in revenue earning. Many of the equipments are damaged, hence non-operational. "At present the revenue generation is between Rs 1500 to 2000 and this also only during winter season. Incidentally, for most parts of the year the park attracts very few visitors so the revenue earned is negligible, sources said.

Earlier, students from Shillong Polytechnic were regular visitors to the park for their project work, but even this has dwindled since they could not carry out their practical work in the present circumstances, the sources claimed.

Moreover, out of the six facilities only the Energy pavilion is functioning while th remaining five like Water Power Room, Gasifire Room, Solar Hut, Quiz and Games Room and Knowledge Hut have not been functioning since 2005.

"Despite several proposals submitted to the department concerned for repairing the machines no positive steps were taken in this connection," sources pointed out.

Even former minister Boldness L Nongum, the Commissioner and Secretary Power and MNREDA Director, RC Agarwal during their inspection of the park had agreed to sanction funds to repair the machines. However no amount was sanctioned as yet, sources said.

Meanwhile, sources informed that 132 solar panel used for generation of electricity through Solar Energy, two generators and one blower was stolen from the park in 2005. Sources said that even the accused involved in this theft was arrested however the equipment could not be seized from their possession as they confessed they have sold the equipments to people hailing from Mizoram.

The new constituency boundaries recently fixed by the Delimitation Commission have without intending to do so liberated the Congress --- and its rivals --- from the phantom of mid-term polls. The eight or so months the Election Commission of India (FCI) will need to graft the changes on to the Lok Sabha map, in effect, means about eight months without the big election.

How will the political parties use the reprieve? Looking at the Congress’s current form, it should sink into further inaction. Even without the mid-term threat, the farthest approximate date of the 15th General Election is April-May 2009 – just a year away. But so far the Congress has betrayed none of the get-up-go visibility that is there in its rivals. Instead, there is about it a sense of resignation of an approaching defeat --- so much at odds with its status as a ruling party with some achievements to its credit.

Consider the three existing political formations, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, and the yet to concretize third alternative. Of the lot, the first looks a loser already and the second a winner already. The third alternative appears placed midway.

In truth, all three are shaky, and have much to thank the Election Commission for. The Congress has a theoretically speaking stable alliance but is so fuzzy about everything --- its programme, its vision, its leader, its achievements and the state of its alliance ---- that it will surprise no one should the winner of 2004 transmogrify into the loser of 2009.

The BJP’s dazzle and show hide the fact that it leads a rump alliance. The third alternative’s possible partners are all very important and high-profile but how, when, and with what common programme? Whether the Samajwadi’s Mulayam Singh-Amar Singh duo, the Telugu Desam’s Chandrababu Naidu, the Indian National Lok Dal’s Om Prakash Chautala and the Left parties will unite is hard to tell.

The BJP, always first into action, and constantly first with propaganda, has leapt ahead of the competition with some deft footwork. The Party revels in the meet the President, meet the Chief Election Commissioner, issue statements, announce yatras, unveil portraits, plan strategy sessions, hold Party meetings, hold NDA meetings et al. No one knows better than its peripatetic leaders how to cram the day with activity.

The BJP and the Congress must have opposite DNA codes. The Congress can barely wake up. The BJP is full of beans. When the latter was just out of power, it plunged heartily into factional fights. Now it is as heartily into cozy togetherness. Indeed, through the time the Congress has been in power, it is the BJP that has hogged the headlines --- first for its many troubles, and lately, for the resolve with which it has fixed the troubles.

Today the Party that fought endlessly has a Prime Ministerial candidate behind whom the cadre stands in apparent solidarity, its leadership is gung ho after winning Gujarat and has the RSS as its moral guardian. Together the package is of a Party driven, united and focused on the 2009 big fight. The new zeal had L.K. Advani asserting recently that his Party would inflict upon the Congress its "worst defeat in history."

All very impressive but a lot of the buzz is premature, self-created and very BJP like. About a month ago, the Saffron Party spearheaded a meeting of the NDA, which hogged television and print news. And for good reason: The NDA constituents, overcoming their earlier reservations, had unanimously backed Advani for Prime Minister.

The problem was with the accompanying visuals. The NDA that posed with Advani seemed a sadly emaciated version of the NDA that captured over 300 seats in the 1999 Lok Sabha election. Only three alliance partners could be spotted in the picture --- the Akali Dal’s Prakash Singh Badal, the Biju Janata Dal’s Naveen Patnaik and the Janata Dal (United)’s Nitish Kumar.

Some allies like the Shiv Sena, were possibly out of the frame but still in the alliance. Even so, this was a vastly depleted stock compared to the NDA’s 1999 magnificent peak. Not that this little matter stopped the BJP’s beaming spokespersons. They claimed the presence at the meet of "all our allies except Mamata Banerjee" and got away with it, too, judging by the gushy media coverage of the event.

Since 2002, it has seen a virtual exodus from the NDA. Among those that have deserted the BJP are Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference, Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal, Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Jan Shakti, Karunanidhi’s Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its State-allies, Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal, Sukh Ram’s Himachal Vikas Congress and the Indian Federal Democratic Party.

The NDA’s outside prop, Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam has broken away while the Trinamool Congress seems on the verge of quitting the alliance. All this not counting the many one-man State parties that habitually align with the ruling side.

The Congress too has had its share of alliance problems. Chandrasekhar Rao’s Telangana Rashtra Samiti and Vaiko’s MDMK have exited the UPA. Mulayam's Samajwadi and Mayawati’s BSP, which at one time lined up behind the Congress, are as good as not there thanks to the Congress’ constant flip-flop between the two Parties.

Of the rest, Laloo’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Paswan’s Lok Jan Shakti Party and Karunanidhi’s DMK won the maximum seats they could in the 2004 election. The DMK alliance won 25 of the 25 seats it consented, the RJD – LJP alliance 26 of 34 seats it contested and Sharad Pawar’s NCP is unlikely to be able to repeat its 22 seat tally. Besides, it can just tolerate its senior partner (Congress). The People’s Democratic Party and the Congress are in an equally loveless relationship.

What this adds up to is a delicate coalition held together more by the glue of power than by chemistry and a sense of common purpose. The constituents, with their history of broken commitments and relationships, can head in any direction come 2009.

What should the Congress have done? What can it still do? Many things. First, ensure that the partners have a stake in staying the course. Second, dispel the confusion on the Prime Ministerial question. True, the Opposition needs to declare its Prime Ministerial candidate, not the ruling party. However, a ruling party that might change its leader without evident compulsions calls attention to its incapacity.

Specially, when that possible new leader is a young and untested member of the dynasty, Rahul Gandhi, it also calls attention to the Party’s bankruptcy. Third, the Grand Dame of Politics needs to hit the streets, go to town on its achievements, re-jig the Party apparatus, send the best leaders there are to the States, and do so unitedly and cohesively.

But look at the Congress record. The UPA has put in place three legislations acclaimed as historic --- the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the Right to information Act and the Schedule Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act. Each is in force defying internal sabotage. The ownership of the NREGA has moved from the Congress to the Opposition. On the foreign policy front too, the civil nuclear deal with the United States was a coup of sorts that the Congress disowned before the Left parties.

In 2004, Sonia Gandhi stitched up an alliance that went on to win. Today, the Congress cannot spring that surprise. As the ruling party, it must define its record in office. Instead, it is mired in confusion over whether or not to push Rahul Gandhi. Indira Gandhi earned her spurs; Sonia Gandhi has proven her worth. Rahul Gandhi cannot talk meritocracy and rely on aristocracy.

This is where the BJP comes in. The Party suffered a stunning defeat in May 2004, watched the NDA crumble and today has to virtually start from scratch. Yet its motivation seems all the greater for the challenge. Last month, it has re-engaged with the AIADMK leader Jayalalitha. A core team is also prospecting for other allies.

The road is far from easy. Parties such as the TDP, the LJP and the Trinamool Congress need the Muslim vote more than they need the Hindutva party. If the BJP fails, it will not be for want of trying.

The Congress should learn a lesson from the 2004 poll when the BJP’s shrill propaganda led it to a crushing defeat. The Congress then was the tortoise to the BJP’s hare. But today, the slow and steady tortoise must have a strategy to win the race. --- INFA

Christianity has helped create an institutional identity among the tribals in the hill areas of the north-east. Much more than language, culture or social mores, it is Christianity in its multi-denominational form that has given large chunks of the tribal population a sense of belonging, gradually leading to confidence and power.

Whether one talks of the Presbyterians in Mizoram, the Baptists in Nagaland, the Catholics in Meghalaya or any other denomination in their respective spheres of influence, the church is inextricably linked with life in the region. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that the church in the north-east today plays a more than significant role in the politics, economics and social structure of the region, particularly among the hill tribes.

Christianity was the first modernising force in the tribal areas of the north-east, and it was through the spread of education by the missionaries that the tribals learnt to know themselves. Nurturing one’s identity is a good idea, but it should not be to the extent of isolating oneself.

It is, perhaps, to overcome the pitfalls of isolation that church leaders in the north-east are now opening up to the idea of greater ties with their denominational counterparts in other parts of the country. The process of sending delegations to seminars in major Indian cities to foster an exchange of views and ideas has already begun though the geographical remoteness of the north-east is often a barrier to a regular exchange of visits.

The north-east today is the fastest growing segment of the church in India. Nagaland and Mizoram have, in the post-colonial period, become overwhelmingly Christian with well over 80 per cent of the population belonging to one Christian denomination or the other. Nearly half of Meghalaya’s population is Christian as well as a large number of people in the hill areas of Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh.

Though Christianity has flourished in the peripheral states of the north-east, it has not struck roots in Assam, the first state in the region to be visited by the missionaries. One reason for this is that the people in the peripheral states who were animists were more receptive to Christianity than the people in the plains of the Brahamputra valley who were already followers of Hinduism. Besides, since the caste system was not very rigid in Assam, the lower castes did not look for any liberating force as their counterparts in the South did.

The early missionaries in the north-east had to face a lot of difficulties initially. They had to surmount several obstacles, dealing as they were with people engaged in constant warfare and primitive practices including headhunting in some parts.

At the 1990 celebration of the centenary of the Catholic Church in north-east India at Shillong, the superior general of the Salvatorian fathers and brothers, Rev Malachy McBride, spoke of the, "First Salvatorian missionaries, the trials they had to endure, the difficulties of communication, of distances of being strangers in the new land."

That the centenary was considered to be a landmark by Rome was emphasised by the fact that the Vatican decided to send a representative of the Pope, Cardinal Alfons Stickler, to attend the week-long eucharistic celebrations. Enthused by the response of the people, the Cardinal said that the faith he had seen in Shillong had a greater impact on him than seeing it in a Catholic nation.

The church in the north-east, no matter what the denomination is, however, under much less foreign influence than it was before. Foreign missionaries have all left after the declaration of the region as a restricted one. According to a Guwahati-based clergyman, "The only foreign influence, if one calls it that is in the theological sphere." For instance, he says, the Baptist church, in keeping with the trends in the West, is now letting women play a bigger role in ecclesiastical work.

The church, the clergyman says, is in tune with the local culture and in some cases even local rites have been adapted with some modifications. The church has also played a major role in the preservation of local language and social heritage and the number of Christian books in the hill languages, particularly Khasi, is a case in point.

One of the interesting features of the political developments in the hill areas of the north-east is the major role played by Christians, a trend that is described by most church leaders as inevitable in states where the overwhelming majority of the population is Christian. The church is not involved in party politics.

However, the church does wield a considerably positive influence at the political level. The role of the church in getting the political machinery to enforce prohibition in Mizoram and Nagaland is an example of the power it commands. The Church has also laid down unwritten codes of conduct during elections, opposing donations, community feasts and the practice of buying votes. People want to create awareness about the need to change the present system of elections which are run on money and muscle power.

Christians have never identified with any particular political cause, a young Naga Christian says. If the Naga and Mizo rebellions were led by Christians, those who rejected the separatism of the insurgents were also Christians, he points out. "In fact," he says, "it was the church which initiated peace movements in both the states. Statements by insensitive politicians about Christians being with the rebels can only lead to an alienation of the people, he adds

Madam,

West Khasi Hills district, one of backward district of the State, needs the government's attention for its social and economic development. The government of Meghalaya too knows about it. But the question is how can the government turn a blind eye to all the problems the district has been facing. All the visitors to the district have experienced pathetic condition of the road from Umjei to Nongstoin and from nonstoin to Mawiet. But, the government is doing nothing in this regard.

The government now needs to pay more attention for West Khasi Hills on the following areas of development.

1. The government needs to improve communication network. Roads need to be constructed according to the need of the time. The roads should last for longer period.

2. Education sector needs a special attention. Educations facilities need to be improved. The present educational institutions in West Khasi Hills is in primitive stage, The government must set up new schools.

3. The district also needs hospitals and CHCs with modern facilities. But these hospitals must have medicines and sufficient manpower.

4. Modernisation of agriculture sector is very much needed. Modern scientific methods should be applied in the fields of agriculture.

Yours etc.,
Arkwis Lawphniaw
Nongstoin
via email

Madam,

With reference to the educational policy, I would therefore request the cooperation of the faculty members of different schools in Meghalaya to take important and systematic steps in helping students through career guidance and counselling where students would be enhanced to discover their uniqueness in such a way that would make them more active and innovative in academics. Experts of different fields should be made available before the students so that they can discuss in a very friendly atmosphere and not in the classrooms. I strongly believed that unless students discover their uniqueness, they would never be able to lead a satisfactory life even though they have a job. It is the duty of the teachers to help students to understand and not just to mug up. It is a sorry state of affair where students became so notes and marks oriented, that they secured good marks but faced obstacles in between. The main cause of unemployment in Meghalaya is that students have minute idea on the concept of application especially after their graduate. And how will students concretise the knowledge that they received without understanding what they are reading? And how will they learn when teachers teach to mug up?

Yours sincerely,
Aiborlang Andrew Chyne
via email

GUWAHATI: An inquiry commission instituted to probe an incident of violence in the heart of Guwahati where tribal Adivasi demonstrators and local residents clashed in Beltola area that left one dead and 250 others injured, besides stripping of a girl, on November 24, 2007, has blamed an Adivasi militant group for instigating violence and lapse on part of authorities liable for maintaining law and order.

The Commission, however, suggested that the matter could be investigated through an investigating agency of the Central government or the State Government "so that it could come to judicial notice and justice may be there."

The Commission has been by and large silent on the issue of stripping of an Adivasi girl in broad daylight in the heart of the Assam capital except mentioning about it only once. "One Adivasi girl was stripped off her cloths and one woman has been alleged to have been raped," it said.

The All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) had organised the rally in Guwahati to press for ST status to the community in Assam.

It also said that there was a prima facie case of conspiracy amongst some of the Adivasis at the instigation of the militant All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), an armed militant group, one of whose leaders, namely Bikash Munda alias Bijoy Munda, had even provided a sum of Rs 20,000 to Raphael Kujur, a leader of the AASAA which had organised the rally not far from the State capital complex at Dispur.

"There were lapses on the authorities, who were concerned in maintenance of law and order including public order," the Commission headed by retired Justice RK Manisena Singh in its report, which was tabled in the State Assembly by the State Government on Wednesday said.

The Commission said the absence of sufficient police force to control the mayhem was to be explained by the authorities concerned (in this case the Kamrup Metro district authorities and the Guwahati City Police) in maintenance of law and order, especially with reference to Section 90-95 of the Assam Police Act.

The Commission's report also pointed out that AANLA leaders instigated some sections of the Adivasi people who had gathered in the rally to carry weapons to assault people and cause damage to vehicles, roadside shops, residential buildings and other institutions.

"The AANLA had an ulterior motive in order to get advantage from or of the meeting, namely to cause damage to the properties and assault people to show off the strength of the Adivasis," the Commission in its 69-page report said.

"While the Adivasis were marching in the procession, some sections of the marchers were carrying weapons of various kinds and assaulted local people and damaged vehicles, roadside shops, business institutions and residential houses by breaking glasses of windows by throwing stones/bricks and using weapons which they were carrying," the report further said.

The Commission also put it on record that the meeting as well as the procession taken out by the AASAA were both unlawful in that it was not granted permission by the district authorities, during which resulted in the mayhem.

"The meeting and/or procession was unlawful from the beginning… and the procession could have been nipped in the bud, but it was not done for reasons best known to the authorities concerned," the report said.

The Commission of Inquiry, however, refrained from fixing responsibility saying that it was not mandated to do so.

NEW DELHI: After a spate of serious incidents, the Centre held discussions on Manipur which may ultimately lead to extreme steps including imposition of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act to tackle the failing law and order situation.

A high-level meeting convened by Union Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar on Tuesday night discussed the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation in the state in the wake of intensified activities of militant outfits. The recent killings of 15 migrant labourers by unidentified militants and stepped up crimes perpetrated by militants prominently figured during Tuesday's meeting attended by Manipur Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh, official sources said.

During the meeting, the State Chief Secretary explained the division of Imphal area into three zones and opening of 42 police outposts in Imphal and surrounding areas to intercept the movement of the ultras, the sources said. The sources indicated that the Government may re-impose the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 in Imphal Municipal Area. The act was withdrawn from seven assembly segments in Imphal Municipal Area in 2006 while it is in force in remaining 53 assembly constituencies, the sources said.

The Centre is also awaiting report of the Governor SS Siddhu, who is also in charge of Meghalaya now. The State Government came in for criticism for not implementing developmental projects and mishandling law and order situation leading to a virtual parallel Government run by the militants of different hue.

Two officers of Tripura Police Service (TPS) - Manik Lal Majumder, Commandant of Tripura State Rifles (TSR) 9th Battalion and Pinaki Samanta, Deputy SP of Enforcement Branch (EB) were withdrawn from their services on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in robbery of a hidden treasure from Nagrai, a tribal hamlet in Amarpur subdivision.

Specific cases were lodged against the two police officers under section 457 and 380 IPS with Ampi police station.

Based on the complaint, they were arrested here on Wednesday and taken to Amarpur to be produced before the court.

Police said, the Commandant and Deputy SP (EB) along with TSR jawans conducted search in the house of Sumitradevi Jamatia at Nagrai under Ampi police station on March 29.

Security personnel took away the hidden treasure and returned to the Headquarters of 9th Battalion of TSR at Baikhora on the same night.

The hidden treasure was kept inside the house of Sumitradevi for long time and tribal people used to offer prayer to it, according to the villagers.

Before arrest, sleuths of CID including DIG SK Darlong grilled both officers for the last two days.

Based on their confessional statements, CID personnel conducted special search at Raticherra on Tuesday and recovered the treasure from a lake.

However, the treasure was unlocked and the two police officers was suspected to have broken the chest of the treasure and taken away valuable articles were kept inside, said an official of the CID.