KHADC chairman Martamlin Pyrbot said 18 Congress MDCs were expected to move a no-trust motion against Mr Shylla at the Council's special session. The session could last for two days depending on the length of the debate on the motion in the House, he said.

Mr Shylla was removed as Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) leader by 16 MDCs at an emergency CPP meeting held at the residence of Chief Minister DD Lapang recently. The Congress MDCs unanimously elected MDC from Nongpoh Cleophas B Syiem as the new CPP leader.

MPCC had asked Mr Shylla to gracefully resign from the post of CEM or face non-confidence motion on the floor of the House.

Mr Shylla refused to quit, saying he would wait for the verdict of the Court of Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills on the tribal status of Congress candidate from Nongkrem constituency Waibha K Kyndiah.

Indications, however, are that Mr Shylla, who has already lost the support of majority of Congress members in the House, would step down soon after replying to the proposed no-trust motion against him.

The Court of Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills will give its verdict in the case on tribal status of Congress candidate from Nongkrem seat Waibha K Kyndiah on Tuesday.

An organisation called Ka Seng Tip Kur Tip Kha U Khasi had recently filed a petition in the DC's court, questioning the tribal status of Mr Kyndiah on the contention that he was no longer a Khasi as he had taken his father's surname which, it said, was against the practice of the Khasi community. Mr Kyndiah is also son of Union Tribal Affairs Minister PR Kyndiah.

Meanwhile, the KHADC Registration Authority on Monday issued an order stating that Mr Waibha K Kyndiah had ceased to be a Khasi.

According to the order, Waibha K Kyndiah has violated Section 10 of the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act, 1997.

According to this section of the Act, "a Khasi person shall ceased to be Khasi if he does not follow the Khasi matrilineal system."

In addition to this, Mr Kyndiah also violated Section 3 (i) of the Act, which stated that "a person where both the parents belong to Khasi community will have to give his surname to his mother," the Registration office stated.

The KHADC Registration authority took up the matter after Seng Tip Kur Tip Kha U Khasi lodged a complaint against Waibha Kyndiah which stated that "he is not a Khasi" as he has violated Section 3 (i) and Section 10 of the Khasi Social Custom of Lineage Act, 1997.

A copy of the complaint was sent to Mr Kyndiah on January 24 last and the hearing was held the following day in the presence of both the parties. The authority had taken the decision on the basis of the documents produced by both parties.

Addressing a press conference here, LJP MP Ramchandra Paswan, who is also Dalit Sena president, said non-performance of the State Government had prompted his party to set foot in Meghalaya.

"The Congress-led Government has failed in all aspects, specially in developing infrastructure and creating jobs for educated unemployed youth. This government has also miserably failed to develop the agricultural sector despite majority of the population being dependent on various agricultural activities for 

their livelihood," Mr Paswan said.

He said LJP did not just want to contest the coming State Assembly polls, adding the party would work towards spreading its base in Meghalaya after the elections.

LJP has already announced an eight-point poll manifesto.

As per the manifesto, the party intends to provide a clean and transparent government, field candidates with a vision for all-round growth of the State, promote communal harmony, protect and preserve the rights and culture of the State and ensure social and economic justice, especially to the weaker and underprivileged section of the society.

LJP recently declared 12 candidates, and the final list is expected in the coming days.

SHILLONG: In a judgement that could have a far-reaching impact on the State, Gauhati High Court has said that consent of Rangbah Shnongs or traditional heads is no longer mandatory for registration of sale deed for transfer of land from one person to another.

The High Court, in its order passed by Justice T Vaiphei on January 1 last, ruled that the Sub-Registrar was the sole authority to decide on registration of sale deed.

The court gave its verdict in response to a petition filed by Matilda Lyngdoh after the Sub Registrar refused to register the land she had bought from one Emnam Massar of Wahingdoh here. The Sub Registrar had asked the lady to obtain the consent of the Rangbah Shnong of the locality before issuing her the land registration certificate.

"The respondent (Sub-Registrar) who is a statutory authority appointed under the Indian Registration Act 1908 is required to exercise his power of registration within the four corners of the law," the court order read.

Justice Vaiphei also said, "Nowhere in the Registration Act is the respondent obligated to insist upon the petitioner to obtain the consent of unauthorised person like the local headman for registration of sale deed or for that matter any deed of transfer which is otherwise duly executed in accordance with law."

According to sources, BJP president Rajnath Singh may also visit Meghalaya this month to join the party's poll campaigns. He will spend most of his time in Garo Gills, canvassing for the State BJ P ahead of the March-3 elections. 

In the run-up to the Assembly polls, State BJP has also planned to rope in some Bollywood stars to win votes for the party. They include Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu who are scheduled to land in the State in the third week of this month.

"BJP is expected to win more seats in this Assembly election with the help of Bollywood stars," party sources said.

BJP has two representatives in the 60-member Meghalaya Legislative Assembly.

SHILLONG: Allegations of foul play over the power deals have resurfaced, causing the State Government further embarrassment.

The government reportedly went back on its own promise to hand over two major power projects to MeSEB despite the Board having the expertise and experience required to carry out the task.

According to sources, the State Government had earlier proposed to hand over the 240-MW Leshka Stage-II and 260-MW Umngot power projects to MeSEB for execution and operation. The government had maintained this stand till October 2007.

Interestingly, the policy of the State Government on the two hydro-power projects changed suddenly when it decided to hand over the projects to Jay Pee Group.

MeSEB was capable of running the projects with its expertise and experience gained in executing the ongoing 84-MW Leshka project, sources claimed.

Sources also said money was no problem for MeSEB as the State Government could facilitate investment from financial institutions from the country or abroad. The power sector being a booming industry, financial institutions, including International Development Bank (IDB), were ready to fund the projects.

To execute all the five power projects in question, an investment of Rs 20,000 crore was required, sources said, adding even private companies depended on credit from financial institutions for implementing big projects.

Meanwhile, UDP's Youth Wing president Allan Dkhar on Monday filed an RTI application, seeking information on the controversial power deals signed between the State Government and private firms.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Dkhar said he had sought detailed information on the contents on the memoranda of agreements (MoAs) by the State Government and the private companies. 

"The main objective of filing this RTI application is to expose all those who were involved in the power deals to sell out our natural resources," Mr Dkhar said.

On recent reports of seizure of counterfeit currency in Meghalaya, he called upon State Police to "dig out the names of the high-profile politicians" involved in circulation of counterfeit notes in the State.

SHILLONG: Do Independent candidates really count in the electoral politics of Meghalaya? Are Independent candidates "dummies" of political parties?

Although Independent candidates are disadvantaged by existing Election Commission norms that allotted them symbols less than a fortnight before the elections, it would be doing them a "grave injustice" to say that they were lacking in sincerity and commitment, according to Independent candidate for Laitumkhrah seat Malcolm B Tariang.

Reacting sharply to a sentiment that independents were in fact "dummy" candidates put up by political parties to polarise votes, Mr Tariang, a college teacher who resigned from UDP on being denied ticket, said while this might be true in rare cases, it was unfair to question the sincerity of candidates who contest the elections without the support of any political party.

To drive his point home, Mr Tariang, who has already hit the campaign trail, said, "We have two sterling examples of successful and dynamic Independents in Manas Chaudhuri and PM Syiem - among the most articulate and vociferous on the floor of the House, who have proved their efficacy in getting key issues confronting their respective constituencies redressed thereby delivering their promises to their voters."

Rubbishing the view that only candidates backed by regional or national parties could effectively fulfill the aspirations of the people, Mr Tariang, while talking to The Shillong Times on Monday, said "The benefit that independents had over candidates from political parties was that they were not required to toe the party line and were free to speak their mind".

After his resignation from the UDP, Mr Tariang was approached by at least three political parties insisting that he represent their party at the hustings.

"Decision to contest the election as Independent was arrived at after due deliberations with my supporters", he said adding that the short time in the allotment of the poll symbol to Independents gave them less than a fortnight to reach the information to the electors. As per the EC schedule, the symbols are to be allotted on February 19 barely 15 days before election day leaving candidates at a serious disadvantage.

Tariang, it may be recalled, who had initially been projected as UDP's consensus candidates was replaced by Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress media coordinator Ampareen Lyngdoh, who had applied for Congress ticket but whose candidature was summarily rejected by the party's high command!

TURA: Electioneering has picked up steam in Garo Hills with all political parties and Independent candidates trying to impress voters ahead of the March-3 elections.

Most of the candidates are focusing more on remote areas. It is a matter of time before they intensify their campaigns in towns and village markets.

Filing of nominations will begin once the date of notification is announced on February 8. The last date for filing papers is February 15. Scrutiny of nominations will be done the next day. The date for withdrawal of candidature is February 18. After that, candidates will have only eleven days for campaigning.

Out of the three districts of Garo Hills which have a total of 24 seats, West Garo Hills sends as many as fifteen elected representatives to the State Assembly.

This time there are about a hundred candidates in the fray for the fifteen seats with Rongram (ST) seat having the largest number of 14 nominees. Notable among them are sitting MLA and Congress candidate Sengman R Marak, sitting MDC from Jengjal and NCP candidate Purno K Sangma, former MDC Crenathson A Sangma, former MLA Metrona R Marak, veterinary doctor and Independent candidate Dr Jimmy Momin and former GSU president and student leader Andreas T Sangma. There are also 10 Independent contestants from Rongram constituency.

Tikrikilla (ST) seat is also witnessing a large number of candidates, the majority of them being Independents. Besides eight Independent candidates, Congress, NCP and BJP have put up candidates for the constituency.

Sitting MLA from Tikrikilla Manindra Rava, who left NCP, is contesting on Congress ticket, but he appears to be feeling the heat as there are three other Rava candidates breathing down his neck this time.

Only Ampati (ST) and Dalamgre (ST)constituencies have the lowest number of 4 candidates each. Deputy Chief Minister and sitting Congress MLA from Ampati Dr Mukul M Sangma is pitted against NCP's Clement Sangma and two other Independents.

In Dalamgre constituency, the Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly and NCP MLA Admiral K Sangma will take on Congress MDC Saleng A Sangma and UDP's Utpal Arengh. Independent candidate and former AYCO president Sanjeev R Marak is also in the fray.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, BJP candidate from Laitumkhrah constituency, John Gualbert Soanes said "Laitumkhrah constituency is mainly dominated by poor people living below poverty line, but it is surprising that BPL cards were not properly implemented accordingly," while adding that most of these people were abandoned.

He said the main focus behind his involvement in contesting the election is to serve the people in need as "former representatives" from Laitumkhrah constituency had neglected the welfare of the poor.

He also criticised the admission procedure in Government schools like Pine Mount School where pupils admitted belonged only to the rich families while ignoring the poor section of the society.

Highlighting the various problems of the constituency that were left uncared for by previous representatives, SB Nongdhar, MDP candidate from 17-Laitumkhrah, came out with a vision for 2008 Assembly election.

Mr Nongdhar released a 10-point vision for the constituency, which will be fulfilled if he is elected as MLA.

The vision highlighted the common problems of the constituency especially the poor including water problems, unemployment, healthcare, education, sports, the vision also mentioned law and order situation as well as public distribution system.

The MDP candidate, who is also a member of Synjuk Rangbah Shnong Laitumkhrah Pyllun, assured to work in tandem with the headmen of Laitumkhrah towards the development of the constituency.

Hynniewtrep National Youth Front (Sohkymphor and Raliang circle) has warned voters in Jaintia Hills district against 'unscrupulous politicians' who would not hesitate to pump in money to woo voters in the ensuing Assembly election.

In a statement issued here, president HNYF (Sohkymphor and Raliang circle) D Dkhar exhorted the people to choose leaders who would work for the upliftment of the society and the district as a whole while pointing out to the fact that the district has been left out in many developmental front compared to some districts in the State.

It further expressed concern over large scale exploitation of natural resources like coal, limestone and the environment in the district due to lack of teeth of the State's mining and industrial policies.

Speaking to The Shillong Times, the former Youth Congress president, Mr Ban Wanniang alleged that Shylla had been used by the Congress for so long time and its time that he (Shylla) "exposes all the dirty political gimmicks of the Congress."

Echoing the sentiments of NCP candidate from Mylliem constituency Pynshai Manik Syiem who alleged that Mr Shylla was the lastest victim of 'use and throw' policy of the Congress, Wanniang alleged that Shylla was also used by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs PR Kyndiah during his tenure as the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to disqualify five ruling MLAs of the Hill People Union (HPU) of Late BB Lyngdoh.

"Most recently, he (Shylla) was remote controlled by the Chief Minister DD Lapang and MPCC chief OL Nongtdu to carry forward the party's uranium mining campaign. In the end, they ditched him, which has been the 'use and throw' policy of the Congress," Mr Wanniang said.

It may be mentioned that the ex-president of the Youth Congress, who was also sacked by the Congress for his "anti-party" statement.

The victim, identified as Anand Sharma, was called by his friends to meet them before being assaulted near Harison Bridge and then dumped on the road. He succumbed to his injuries at Woodland Hospital, Shillong.

In an FIR filed with Laban police, one Mona Nongrum, brother-in-law of Anand Sharma, stated that Mr Sharma had gone on a bike to meet his friends after receiving a call from them at about 7.15 pm of January 28 last. At around 9.45 pm, Mr Nongrum got a phone call from his friend Kmen Sing Nongkynrih, informing him that his brother-in-law Mr Sharma was assaulted by five unknown persons near Harison Bridge and that he was lying unconscious on the road.

Mr Nongrum, along with his friends, immediately rushed to the spot and took Mr Sharma to Woodland Hospital where he passed away.

In the FIR, Mr Nongrum said at the time of the assault incident Mr Sharma was with his friend Nikki Laloo of Laban Harisava, Shillong.

When contacted, Laban police said no one had been arrested so far and investigation was on.

In a statement issued here on Monday, Danggo recalled the active interest taken by Late Sangma in raising matters concerning the interest and development of the State and Garo Hills in particular.

In a separate meeting, the Shillong Bar Association conveyed sympathy to the family members of Late Sangma. A meeting held in this regard on Monday recalled Late Sangma's contribution to the Bar. Late Sangma was a former member of the Bar Association.

Separate condolence messages were conveyed to the bereaved family members.

Meanwhile, the Speaker also expressed sympathy with the family of Late Armison Marak, former MLA and former Minister. He paid tribute to the active social and political interest taken by Late Armison for the upliftment of the society and development of the State.

It was dubbed as an important visit. All eyes were on him. But, he pussy footed when the need of the hour was assertion. So, he came, he saw but failed to conquer! This encapsulates, Manmohan Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the first of an Indian Prime Minister in 12 years. Importantly, his visit left more questions than it answered. Raising a moot point: Why are we scared of China?

Undeniably, Manmohan Singh owes the country an explanation as to why he omitted Tawang from his itinerary. Specially against the backdrop of Beijing laying claims on it repeatedly. Remember, the Chinese Ambassador to New Delhi, Sun Yuxi’s TV interview, claiming "the whole of Arunachal Pradesh including Tawang as Chinese territory" and demanding that India agree to "mutual compromises" and "some give and take in 2006." Tawang is militarily important as it is the critical corridor between Lhasa and the Assam Valley. Besides, it has a symbolic and historic significance as several Indian soldiers laid down their lives there during the 1962 war with China.

Instead of using his visit to clear the air, the Prime Minister emitted wrong signals, notwithstanding his poetic description of Arunachal as, "The sun kisses India first in Arunachal Pradesh. It is our land of the rising sun." Thus, losing a good opportunity to put Beijing on notice about its claim on Arunachal and assert unequivocally that Arunachal was, is and will continue to be a part of India.

Even as South Block mandarins would have us believe that it was a deliberate ploy not to provoke China and allow the boundary question to eclipse the meeting ground between the two on various CBMs in place, regional and global issues. Sadly, New Delhi failed to realize that poetic descriptions don’t add up to good politics. A cold reality check exposes the much-awaited visit as nothing more than a touch-talk-timid dampener. New Delhi played into the Chinese hands thanks to poor tactics and allowed itself to be outmaneuvered.

The end result? Beijing is now pursuing an aggressive foreign policy. Within days of the Prime Minister’s return from a "successful, historic, path-breaking, warm, great body language visit" to Beijing last month, China stumped India by lodging a diplomatic protest over Indian military activity in Sikkim. It is claiming that Indian troops are trying to be active on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and building structures along the LAC and the Indo-Bhutan border.

The reopening of claims, particularly on the Sikkim border, has taken New Delhi by surprise. China may have ceased to depict Sikkim as an independent country in its maps, but the important point, often overlooked, is that it has yet to expressly acknowledge that Sikkim is part of India. Beijing has declined to affirm that Sikkim is part of the Republic of India.

Further, in the last 24 months, China has made over 300 military incursions across the LAC (more than three a week), specially in Arunachal Pradesh. Only a month back, the Chinese demolished some Indian forward posts and bunkers near Doka La on the Bhutan-Sikkim-Tibet tri-junction and a Buddha statue near Tawang.

New Delhi thus should be wary. As it stands, Beijing has built a township across the border in the State. Given the ethnic and cultural affinity, the bustling township beckons the poor Arunachalis to partake the Chinese Las Vegas. It is pertinent to recall that when the former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Gegong Apang applied for a visa to visit China as a member of an Indian delegation, Beijing said no visa was needed for its own citizens!

Equally worrisome is the Chinese capability to rapidly deploy forces against India by expanding its infrastructure in Tibet significantly, by building roads right up to the LAC and extending the new railway line to Lhasa southwards. Also, space photos dished out by Google three years ago show China having built simulation centres at Huangyangtan, near the Great Wall in Nignxia province, to target Indian military installations in Jammu & Kashmir.

Clearly, Beijing’s actions belie the bonhomie claimed by India. The problem is that while the Chinese are pragmatic, most Indian leaders are too sentimental. A bhai-bhai policy is so much more romantic than a firm stand! Today, even as New Delhi repeats that it is 'happy with the progress of the talks', Beijing keeps intruding into Arunachal and South Block looks the other way so as not to jeopardise the 'negotiations'.

Thus, a mutually satisfactory breakthrough on the boundary dispute looks nowhere in sight. Once in a while India claims that China is illegally occupying 43,180 sq km of J&K, including 5,180 sq km illegally ceded to Beijing by Islamabad. China accuses India of possessing some 90,000 sq km of its territory, mostly in Arunachal Pradesh. Arguably, what is India’s final goal? Is it ready to give away part of its territory which has been illegally occupied by China?

It is all very well for President Jintao and Wen Jibao to assert that China was ready to work with India to "actively seek a fair, just and mutually-acceptable solution through friendly consultation on an equal footing ….and the boundary issue will be converted into a bond of good-neighbourliness and mutually-beneficial cooperation". However, the wily and inscrutable Chinese have not budged an inch from their stated positions on two critical issues, which form the core of the fragile Sino-Indian ties since the 1962 war. Till date, New Delhi has failed to get Beijing to either present maps of their version of the LAC, which have been promised since 2001 or fortification of its borders on the Tibet plateau.

Why? It is busy building a railway link to Lhasa which will improve its capacity in case of a conflict with India. But Beijing asserts: "This is only to strengthen our borders." Against whom? Is this any different from the massive building of roads during the 1950s to liberate Tibet? With Beijing remaining mum, how can New Delhi hold any substantive discussions? Are these attempts to simply lull us into complacency, like in 1962, while they strengthen their military capability across the border and in Tibet?

New Delhi must be both alert and assertive. A first step to a settlement of any dispute is clarity on the LAC or at least appreciation of the "no go" areas so that provocative or unfriendly actions can be eschewed. Exchanging maps showing each other’s military positions, without prejudice to rival territorial claims, is a preliminary step to first define, then delineate and finally demarcate a frontline. Beijing’s disinclination to trade maps underlines its aversion to clinch an overall border settlement or even to remove the ambiguities plaguing the long, rugged LAC.

Clearly, we seem to be stuck in a limbo notwithstanding the ‘contentless’ Vision Statement For the 21st Century" (sic) encapsulating a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution of the border dispute on the basis of the political parameters of 2005. China has reportedly backtracked on the understanding that any settlement should not involve exchange of populated areas. Two, China is non-committal on supporting the lifting of restrictions by the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group against New Delhi. It fears that with India being the only country in Asia that has the potential to match and surpass it, Beijing cannot afford to risk its monopoly.

So, all that Manmohan Singh and his Government is likely to get are sweet nothings and vague promises from the Chinese. In exchange, the Chinese leadership will expect substantive and painful concessions from the Indian side, such as the handing over of Tawang. Tragically, as always, New Delhi has squandered a good opportunity to put across its point of view effectively and derive strategic benefits crucial for its defence and in geo-strategic political terms.

Both in Beijing and Arunachal Manmohan Singh, like his predecessors, has fallen a victim to the great Indian failure of seeking convenient compromises for cheap populist applause. Failing to realize that the supposedly hard talk of no shifting of borders and population interspersed with sweet talk of brotherhood etc is meaningless. What counts are agreed conclusions and future agenda on basic issues. In this case --- border.

Clearly, New Delhi needs to fashion a more result-oriented, real politik strategy. It’s high time that South Block injected realism by shedding deluding platitudes and misplaced bonhomie and placed a premium on substance and leveraged diplomacy. With Beijing we need to be clear on our national interests and should doggedly pursue them. Stop being scared of China. ---- INFA

Sir,

I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authority and the common people regarding the problem of poor transportation system in Williamnagar. I would like to inform you that there is only two-time bus service daily from Williamnagar to Shillong via Guwahati. The private agencies run Tata Sumo service, but it is very expensive for the common people. The condition of road from Williamnagar to Dudhnai is also pathetic. As a result, journey by this becomes troublesome for the aged people, sick people and women. In case of emergency people face numerous problems. Sometimes accidents also take place.

Due to poor road condition, the prices of essential commodities are also very high in Williamnagar town and scarcity of vegetables is a very common phenomenon for the people of this small hill town.

I would live to draw the attention of Transport Minister of the state to take necessary steps to improve road condition of East Garo Hills.

Yours etc.,
Nambath Ch Momin
Via e-mail

Sir,

How men could stoop so low for the lust for money is far more evident now than ever before. The kidney racket in Delhi should be an instance capable enough to stir the minds of sensible citizens in the country. Well, the government should leave no stone unturned to find out more of Amit Kumar who in the garb of a doctor has been practising illegal kidney transplantation and so. So sad, after all it is the poor unsuspecting lot who become easy prey to those 'doctors'.

Is it not this roaring modern education per se that has produced for us a swarm of inhumane doctors, lawyers, architects who without a sense of guilt get involved in the most socking activities? They want to grab fortunes by trading their souls. It's quite ridiculous that our modern educationists believe that illiteracy alone is the root cause of all evils. The ideas are found profusely in the everyday newspapers. Is Dr Amit Kumar illiterate person? I feel, the sort of education they harp about, despite having glitter of modern advancement and luxury is potentially delusive and destructive. One doubts, if this education system has capability enough to make one learned and also inspire him to lead virtuous life. Who are to be blamed that we have unsympathetic doctors, devious engineers, fraudulent lawyers, unscrupulous leaders and the like. However, I strongly believe, had our education policy makers given enough emphasis on teaching of human values to our students from the early stage, we would not have been scorched now by the literate satans.

Yours etc.,
Salil Gewali,
Shillong-2

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) CJ Ponraj told UNI here on Sunday that the electorate comprises 6,64,604 male and 6,35,903 female voters.

Out of the 1,781 polling stations, Dimapur has the highest number of polling stations with 257, followed by Mon (202), Mokokchung (198), Kohima (189), Tuensang (169), Zunheboto (164), Phek (156), Wokha (149), Peren (108), Kiphire (90), Longleng (73) and Pughoboto (26).

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has already instructed the state government to ensure the stopping of all pre-poll violence and the Centre has already sanctioned 150 companies of additional security forces to the state against 75 companies in the 2003 Assembly elections. The CEC has also asked all the district authorities to stop all proxy voting, rigging and booth capturing throughout the State. (UNI)

After a day-long meeting with the senior leaders, AICC secretary and in-charge of Tripura Sanjoy Bapna said that issue regarding seat sharing with National Conference of Tripura (NCT) and People Democratic Socialist (PDS), alliance partner of Congress, would be resolved within next two days. However, NCT general secretary Sabda Kumar Jamatia had applied for the Congress symbol to contest in the coming polls. Mr Bapna informed that Sonia Gandhi, Monmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, Pryaranjan Dasmuanshi would be campaining in the State. (UNI)

A release, issued by DNSU president Solomon L Awomi and general secretary I Mangyang Jamir here on Monday, stated that the rally would be organised to protest the unprecedented increase in abductions and killings which had created fear psychosis among the citizens of Dimapur town.

It said the DNSU will also raise its voice against the various anti-social activities and urged all the students as well as the public to attend the rally.

Meanwhile, the business community in Dimapur on Monday opened their shops after three days following the assurance of the district administration that there would be no more abductions, intimidations or extortions.

The business community also warned that if any businessman was threatened by militants, they would go for an indefinite closure of the market.

All shops and business establishments in Dimapur were closed following the abduction of a poultry dealer by unknown miscreants, who demanded Rs 20 lakh as ransom. Later, he was shot dead on January 31, following failure to pay the ransom. (UNI)

Aizwal: To connect all north eastern State capitals with train network, Rs 10,000 crore will be spent in the next five years for building infrastructure, minister of state for railways, R Velu said here on Monday.

Fund constraint would not slow down projects as five of the eight new line projects had been declared national projects, Velu told reporters here. The new projects would add 685 km new lines in the region.

He said that almost 95 per cent work in one of the national projects, 109-km-long Kumarghat-Agartala new line, had been completed and it was expected to open by next month.

Referring to the construction of 98-km-long broad gauge line from Jiribum to Tuipui in Manipur, he said since the Indo-Myanmar border was 100 km from Tuipui, this new railway line would open new opportunities for trade with Myanmar and other South East Asian countries.

Velu also said that the North East Frontier Railway had five gauge conversion projects at the cost of Rs 745.05 crore which would result in 1,485.77 km of track being converted into broad gauge. (PTI)

Guwahati: A prominent environment activist group of North-East on Monday alleged that poaching has been taking place in the sanctuaries and national parks of Assam due to the involvement of some forest department people and demanded a CBI inquiry into the nexus.

"Nature's Beckon" director Soumyadeep Datta alleged that "despite enforcement of laws poaching continues".

"A large share of the wildlife parts sold in the international market every year comes from Forest Department stock due to the manipulations and corrupt practices of some Forest Department officials," he alleged.

"The information we received from Assam's principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) under Right To Information Act, establishes the fact that wildlife parts somehow or the other reach the international traders on wildlife parts", Datta said.

The chief conservator of forest, M C Malkar allegedly sent a delayed reply to the environment activists. Datta quoted Malakar as stating that he could not "furnish the required information within the stipulated time as the data were not available in this office and had to be collected from different offices of the state".

"The PCCF is the chief wildlife warden of Assam. If he has no account of the total number of rhino horns, elephant tusks, tiger and leopard pelts in his office then how will he monitor and stop poaching", the NGO chief asked.

"This clandestine sale of wildlife parts, including rhino horns, increases the need of the consumers. It further increses poaching and encourages the poachers to kill rhinos, elephants, tigers and leopards", he pointed out. (PTI)