Replying to a motion moved by Sohryngkham MDC David Kharsati (UDP) on the need to build a monument in memory of the late Rev JJM Nichols Roy in the Council complex here, Mr Shylla said, "Politicians in the Secretariat are taking advantage of KHADC."

"Bills passed by this House are retained in the files of the District Council Affairs department for many years with some of them pending since 1991. The politicians and officials manning the department are misusing their powers," the CEM said while pointing out that the Bills on marriage and direct funding are yet to be referred to the Governor.

Mr Shylla also said that the State Government is taking advantage of the Paragraph 3 of the Sixth Schedule of Constitution to retain the laws passed by the Council and deprive them of Governor's assent. "It is time the Parliament moves an amendment that laws passed by us will no longer remain in the State Secretariat," he suggested.

Mr Shylla also lashed out at District Council Affairs Minister Prestone Tynsong for his "active role" in ousting him as the CEM. "During the last few days, we have seen how hard the DCA Minister was working to topple me. He even signed a joint letter demanding my removal," he said.

On the proposal to have a monument in memory of Rev Nichols Roy, the founding father of the Sixth Schedule, Mr Shylla said: "Our performance, conduct, style of functioning and responsibility as Council members would serve as the best monument to honour the legacy and contribution of such a great political and religious figure of our State."

Replying to another motion moved by Leader of Opposition Bindo M Lanong on the "administrative lapses" in the Elaka Administration department of KHADC, Mr Shylla said during his tenure, he had achieved a lot in solving the problems of traditional institutions and achieved success in bringing amicable solutions to many disputes and litigation in several Himas.

The CEM pointed out the achievements made in reaching permanent solution to the dispute in Hima Nongspung, Nongkhlaw, Mylliem and Diskiang and said that the introduction of the Constitution of Federation of Khasi Traditional Institutions Bill, 2006 in the House was another milestone to unite and strengthen traditional institutions under the KHADC.

Earlier, the House had a discussion on the illegal felling of trees in Aradonga plantation during which Deputy CEM William Mynsong assured that steps would be taken to protect the plantation by deploying more forest guards and coordinating with local police to deal with timber smugglers operating in the area. Moreover, Mr Mynsong informed the House that 12,000 rubber stumps have been raised in poly pot nursery at Lailad plantation in Ri-Bhoi district for a rubber plantation project of the Council. He said that a total of Rs 1.20 lakh had been spent for procurement of stumps from Asom.

SHILLONG: KHADC Chairman Martamlin Pyrbot said his taking over as the new Chief Executive Member on October 26 would depend on the resignation of Mr HS Shylla from the post.

"I will take over after Mr Shylla officially tenders his resignation to me as the Chairman, which shall be forwarded to the Governor. I cannot resign as the Chairman if the CEM's post is not vacant," Mr Pyrbot told reporters here on Tuesday. He even claimed that those MDCs who had supported him "are intact" and that there was no truth in rumours that some of them had changed their mind.

On the legal validity of his taking over as the CEM, Mr Pyrbot clarified the instance when Mr Rangkynsai Makdoh resigned from the post of Chairman on July 31 in 1996 and took over as the CEM on August 2 same year. Similarly, Mr Bindo M Lanong resigned as the Chairman on October 28 in 1999 and was elected CEM on the next day, he said.

"There is no legal problem as far as my taking over is concerned. I have also clarified this point during the CPP meeting recently in order to clear any misconception among members," Mr Pyrbot said.

Meanwhile, the KHADC Chairman came under severe attack from Mr Shylla during the session on Tuesday for skipping the session despite being a Chairman and indulging in the toppling game.

"Earlier the Chairman said he was neutral and then later he signed the joint letter to remove me. This is the height of hypocrisy and that is why he does not have the guts to attend the session and preside over it," Mr Shylla said amidst pin drop silence among members in the House.

Interestingly, Mr Pyrbot remained absent from the House for the second day of the session on Tuesday amidst indication that he would skip the session till October 26. The House is being presided over by Deputy Chairman Nestingdar Nongdkhar.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Urban Affairs Minister Paul Lyngdoh the Advisory Committee has also been assigned with the task of studying the pending projects like construction of a fly over from Rap's Mansion to Sweeper Lane and the beautification of Motphran up to Iew Mawlong.

"The Advisory Committee will submit its findings within one month," Mr Lyngdoh said after his meeting with some State government officials at his chamber here on Tuesday.

The new Committee will be headed by Urban Affairs department Secretary WL Lyngdoh. The other members of the Committee are Secretary Law Department, Additional Advocate General, Director and Member Secretary of Urban Affairs department.

Commenting on the problems being faced by the department to shift the employees from the Sweeper Lane, the Minister said many complications have cropped up, as the employees were not ready to leave the place. There are many petitions filed by the employees against the eviction and they are still pending in the court. Mr Lyngdoh said, "The government needs this land, as the city is becoming congested everyday and the land can be utilised for removing the congestion problems."

Urban Affairs department Secretary WL Lyngdoh said the department issued forms to all the employees living in Sweeper Lane and they were asked to furnish basic information in the form. Mr Lyngdoh said: "The main reason behind issuing this form is to prevent illegal settlers from settling in the Sweeper Lane." If any of the employees failed to provide necessary information, their salary would be withheld, he warned.

The Urban Affairs department Secretary said the department would consider only the parents and children of those who are employed with the SMB as legal settlers.

Meanwhile, the Harijan Panchayat Committee has requested the State government that any plan concerning the Sweepers Line be postponed till final disposal of the matter by the court and the Syiem of Mylliem and his Dorbar. In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Headman of Harijan Panchayat Committee Mr Billu Singh said the matter was pending before the President of India, Prime Minister, Governor of Meghalaya and National Commission for Minorities.

"The individual inhabitants also filed 218 petitions under the provisions of the Meghalaya Land and Revenue Regulation Act and similar other laws before the Syiem of Mylliem and his Durbar," Mr Sing said.

He said the eviction of sweepers (Safai Karamchari) from their dwellings built by themselves over Lakhiraj land grant from the Syiem of Mylliem sometimes about 200 years ago was a subject matter connected with various litigations including Civil Rule No.101 (SH) 1987, Civil Rule No.3865 of 1994, Civil Rule No.39 SH 1996, Civil Rule No.3 (SH) 1997 and Civil Rule No.114 (SH) 2001.

However, Secretary of Harijan Panchayat Committee Mr Gurjeet Singh said altogether 42 employees of the Shillong Municipal Board have already shifted to the blocks constructed by the government

His service was terminated with immediate effect, he said adding "in the last 17 months services of 36 such ghost employees have been terminated."

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Amendment Bill 2004 banning transfer of land by non-tribals by way of Will, as passed by the State Assembly during the last July session has been forwarded to the President of India. After the Assembly passed the Bill, the Law Department sent the Bill to Governor MM Jacob for his approval.

Official sources on Tuesday said the Governor had returned the Bill to the Law Department suggesting that the same has to be sent to President of India for his assent. The Bill was referred to the President by the Law Department as it has ramifications involving certain provisions of the Central Act, sources added.

Earlier, the Amendment Bill was introduced in the State Assembly in March 2005 and was referred to the Select Committee after Independent MLA Mr Manas Chaudhuri questioned the constitutional validity of such legislation, as Will was universally accepted as a fundamental right of every citizen.

The Select Committee entrusted to look into the various aspects of the Bill had submitted the report during the last July session. The Assembly passed the Bill despite the views of dissent. Mr Chaudhuri had sent a note of dissent not agreeing with the decision of the Select Committee.

The Bill aims at making amendments to the Meghalaya Transfer of Land (Regulation) Act 1971 to check the transfer and alienation of land by means of a 'Will' by a non- tribal to another non-tribal outside one's own family and close relatives.

During the last session, taking a different view, MDP legislator PT Sawkmie in his note of dissent said that the word 'Will' should be deleted as it would carry different meaning and was open to misinterpretation in terms of sale and transfer of land, which may defeat the very purpose of the Act.

SHILLONG: The Khasi farmers residing in Block-II areas are still facing a lot of hardship due to illegal tax collection by the Karbi National Volunteers (KNV) militants.

Many villagers alleged that the militant outfit was still active and continuing with their activities like extortion and looting. "The KNV militants are coming out openly but neither the Asom police nor the CRPF personnel who are patrolling the area take any action against them," they said.

"It very difficult to understand whether the Asom police and the CRPF did not know the identity of the ultras or do they have an understanding with the outfit for sharing the money collected from us," the farmers said.

Despite the presence of security forces, the KNV militants came out openly every market day at Umlaper and Umwang to harass the local people there. According to these farmers, everyone has to pay a "tax of Rs 100 for each item (agricultural produce) sold at Umlaper and Umwang market, while Rs 50 and above has to be paid for owning cultivable land in Block-II area."

"We are fed up of continued harassment. We are helpless as there is no one to provide security and we have no other place to go," the farmers said.

They said that such illegal collection "goes on throughout the year and aggravates during the harvesting season."

"One who expresses his inability to pay the tax, the KNV militants threaten to take away the cultivable land or the crops," the Khasi farmers said.

According to Mawlasnai police in Ri-Bhoi district, there is no report on the activities of the KNV militants inside Meghalaya. Regarding the activities of the Karbi militants anywhere in Block-I area, which is under the administrative control of Asom, the Meghalaya police have not authority to take any action, the Mawlasnai police said.

"We can only request the Asom police at Sabuda camp to provide security to the people, if there is any complaint regarding the harassment by the KNV militants," police said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rymbai said that the state government is committed to bring health care facilities nearer to the people especially in the rural areas. He said that under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the health sector in the state would be improved especially in the rural areas.

He stated that the presence of sub-centre in the area would cater to the health care needs of the people in the area. He assured that the construction of health sub-centre would commence within three months. It may be mentioned that the estimated amount for the construction of the health sub-centre is Rs. 8 lakh.

Shillong: The BJP (Meghalaya State) has distanced itself from the comment of its spokesperson, Mr Arnab Das, regarding the incident of seizure of drums by district magistrates.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the State BJP said that the BJP State unit was greatly surprised by the news regarding the condemnation of the incident saying that the party was unaware of the incident, not to speak of meeting and taking a decision to condemn the incident.

"No one has reported the matter to the competent authority of the State BJP," BJP leader Mr BB Chettri said.

The BJP is a national political party and it would not stoop to any controversy relating to any particular religious group.

"Whosoever has given the statement has done it at his own accord," Mr Chettri said adding that the State BJP Unit had never authorised any one to issue such misleading statements.

SHILLONG : The NAM-RHEN Association of Sohkha, Jaintia Hills on October 21 held an awareness programme on "Rural Tourism for Employment Generation" at Pitcher Plant Lake, Jarain where Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Frederick R Kharkongngor was the chief guest.

Speaking at the function, Mr Kharkongngor said that tourism is a cycle of prosperity and the only industryu which can provide employment to local people of the area. He also stressed on the theme "Come as Visitors and Go as Friends" stating that involvement of all concerned is needed to boost tourism in rural areas.

Others who took part in the programme included Rangbah Shnong of Jarain Mr S Pohti, Assistant General Development Manager of NABARD Mrs E Tariang, Deputy General Manager of NABARD Dr MS Haque, Block Development Officer of Amlarem Mr B Sungoh, District Tourism Officer, Jaintia Hills Mrs P Lyngdoh and senior civil servants Mr R Kumar, Mr MS Manivannan and Mr S Singh.

The function was presided over by Secretary of NAM-RHEN Association Mr CFS Ghonglah.

The CCPC informed that the Chhat Puja is celebrated in different parts of the city like Immersion Ghat, Polo by Shillong Central Chhat Puja Committee, Pynthorumkhrah Unit; Dhobighat Rilbong point by Mawprem Chhat Puja Committee and Mawprem Unit of Shillong Central Chhat Puja Committee; Narsing Akhara, Garikhana by Arya Varta Chhat Puja Committee and at Golflink, Umpling and Rynjah.

The CCPC has urged the concerned authorities to grant permission and also provide adequate security to all the Ghat and places where the Chhat Puja is being performed.

Meanwhile, Bihari Youth Welfare Association (BYWA) has also greeted the people and the Bihari community on the occasionof the Puja. The BYWA also extended its greetings to the different communities celebrating Bhai Tika and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Addressing the United Nation's Day celebration programme held at NEHU campus here on Tuesday, Mr Singh said that Pakistan's anti-India activities in Kashmir valley stood in the way of building a cordial relationship between the two nations.

"Despite President Pervez Musharraf's commitment in January 2004 not to allow Pakistan's soil to be used for anti-Indian activities, ISI and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) are still persisting with its anti-India activities," he said.

Referring to Indo-US relations, he said that how hard India tried to improve its relation with the US, the latter would continue to oppose India's bid for the permanent membership in the Security Council. The programmme was organised by NEHU's Political Science department.

Shillong: Meghalaya Tourism and Welfare Society in its meeting held on Monday at keatings road decided to join the ‘Drum Beat’ to be organised by the State Tourism department on Saturday.

The Meghalaya Tourism and Welfare Society felt that the steps taken by the state tourism department to make a world record in the Guinness Book in assembling more than eight thousand drummers in Meghalaya will not only bring pride to the statein particular, but that country in general.

The meeting appreciated the efforts of the State Tourism Minister, Mr RG Lyngdoh for his steps to bring the state of Meghalaya in the Guinness Book of Records and to attract the inter-national and national tourists to visit the state.

As the confrontation between the executive and judiciary is accentuating on different social and political issues, the UPA government is contemplating of forming a national judicial commission, which the earlier NDA government had proposed as a watchdog for the higher judiciary. The UPA government had abandoned the idea on the ground that such a commission would not be in conformity with the principle of judicial autonomy.

The law commission, in its 121st report of July 1987, had suggested the constitution of a national judicial service commission (NJSC). The proposed commission would consist of the chief justice and three senior most judges of the Supreme Court, the predecessor to the office of chief justice of India, three chief justices of the high courts in order of seniority, representatives of the Union law ministry, the attorney-general and an outstanding law academic. In 2002, the national commission to review the working of the Constitution too recommended the setting up of an NJSC.

Unfortunately, while the executive and legislative arms of the government have to answer to the people once every five years, the judiciary is accountable to nobody. A former chief justice of India publicly lamented that doubts can be raised about the integrity of 20 per cent of the higher judiciary. In the United States of America, judicial performance commissions have been appointed to deter improper conduct by judges and suggest ways to discipline them.

But does the chief justice, even of the Supreme Court, have any power to discipline a judge? Ruling on the famous V. Ramaswami case, the former chief justice, Sabyasachi Mukherjee conceded that "legally and constitutionally", the chief justice had no right or authority to inquire into the conduct of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. But as "head of the judicial family", he was duty-bound to "secure the confidence of the public in the working of the judicial process". Hence, Ramaswami was asked to "desist" from discharging his duties until he was cleared of the charges against him. He was also advised to proceed on leave. Obviously, the disciplinary powers have limitations.

Judges in India are intolerant of criticism, however reasoned and justified they may be. To comment on the conduct of a judge can amount to contempt of court, entailing punishment. A few years ago, Eilert Stang Lud, a Norwegian Supreme Court judge, was surprised to hear that the Kerala high court had once sentenced E.M.S. Namboodiripad for contempt for talking about the judiciary's class bias. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence in 1970. What is peculiar - and disturbing - in the Indian case is that judges sit in judgement on their own individual or institutional cause.

The sword of sub-judice also hangs over many a public issue. It is too much to expect matters of crucial public interest to be kept out of the media and public debate till courts pronounce judgement and that too after a considerable time lag. In truth, the provisions regarding sub-judice and contempt can be invoked only when words or actions obstruct justice, impute motives to a judge or accuse him of self-interest.

True, the judiciary has long been viewed with suspicion. This turned into outright vilification by the entire nation during the Emergency. Confronted with their record during Emergency, when they refused to interfere even on malafide detentions without trial, the judges simply apologized.

Post-Emergency, the judiciary has slowly worked its way into becoming an institution of governance, which arrogates wide powers and responsibilities for it in order to achieve public good. A fall-out of this, the public interest litigation movement has succeeded in establishing a link with discontented elements and giving them a voice in governance that they never had before. By the mid-Nineties, the essentially conservative Supreme Court had found itself at the centre of many issues relating to governance. Undeniably, the judiciary's transition to an institution of governance has been possible because of the immense support it has received from the legal fraternity, the media and sections of society. It should not, therefore, feel that it is larger than the social forces that sustain its claims to prominence.

This brings us to the core issue of judicial accountability. The essential claim of judges is that they are repositories of justice and social values. And that if they fail to discharge their responsibilities, they become less an institution of governance and more an institution of state. Expectedly, therefore, once appointed, those selected ensure that judicial processes are fair, with PILs opening the doors to many more persons who turn to the judiciary to enforce the accountability of those in power.

Sadly, with instances of the growing irresponsibility and corruption of judges coming to light, high courts have been forced to examine complaints against the lower judiciary. The only way to deal with errant judges, presently, is to transfer them. But Supreme Court judges cannot be transferred like high court judges. They can only be removed by impeachment. And the only impeachment that took place - that of V. Ramaswami - fell through because Congress MPs abstained from voting on the motion.

Besides, the entire judicial system is overloaded and there are enormous delays. But given that the government is riddled with corruption and that atrocities by the state are on the rise, the judiciary has exercised much power of review over them. Obviously, a more exacting analysis of the judiciary itself is long overdue. The best course in the circumstances would be to appoint an NJSC mooted by the law commission, which would be empowered to select, transfer and remove judges. The Constitution may be suitably amended to bring these proposals into effect.

Sometimes back a Supreme Court collegium headed by the former chief justice, R. C. Lahoti, and four senior judges as members was engaged in an exercise by the judiciary to set its own house in order. It had reportedly sent a notice to B. S. Reddy, chief justice of the Kerala high court, seeking his comments on the complaints against him. It had also sought comments from high court judges about whose conduct questions had been raised.

(Copyright Interpretative News and Views)

ew. Earlier, during V. N. Khare's tenure as chief justice of the Supreme Court, the mechanism was put to use when two high court judges had to resign because serious charges were levelled against them. But the moot question is whether serving judges can be an effective substitute for an independent broad-based commission. INAV

When my daughter Meera and her husband Uwe persuaded me to join them on a weekend visit to Lyme Regis on the Jurassic coast of Dorset I had no clue what to expect. They seemed interested in fossils. I wasn't; rather, I was close to being one myself.

But, as it happened, the fossil town had a big surprise for us. While Meera and Uwe were out on their fossil-hunt, I glanced through the tourist pamphlets in my room at our B&B. One of them pictured the port's celebrated Cobb, a claw-like harbour wall jutting into the sea, with Meryl Streep standing at its far end.

It was a scene from the movie The French Lieutenant's Woman based on 'local author' John Fowles's book of the same title. A visit to the Cobb was very much on our agenda and this new piece of information about its association with the book and the movie gave it a romantic edge.

We walked on the Cobb that evening. It was late evening when we got back to town. As we turned into its now deserted Pound Street we fell into stride with a very thin elderly woman. She gave Meera a tentative smile. "Coming from a walk in the woods?" she asked. Meera nodded.

"Do you know that was where most of the action in The French Lieutenant's Woman takes place?" The woman pointed to a house a little ahead to the right of the road and said, "That is where the author lived". "Oh!" Meera said. "We were wondering if he was still around". "No, he died last November".

We walked on. "You are from India, aren't you?" the woma-n asked. Meera nodded. "Where in India?" Her face lit up when Meera said, Kerala. She said, "Not so long ago we used to make frequent visits to India. Our adopted daughter is from West Bengal, you know".

We had just got to the gate of what she had pointed out as the John Fowles's house when she stopped and said, "Well, so long, then. This is where I live. Nice meeting you, bye!" "But... but", Meera said, puzzled, "I thought this was where you said John Fowles lived". "You are right. I am his widow, you see. Have a nice day. Bye!" (By arrangement with The Times of India)

Sir,

Unearthing another defence scandal by the CBI greatly undermines the capacity and potentiality of our nation's military in the international arena. Last time it was the Bofors and everyone cried foul against the deal, but it was these howitzers that did a great feat in defending the nation during the Kargil war, and now we have the Barak anti-missile defence system (AMD)which is under scanner with many moles and holes involved. For political gains and mileage, politicians like George Fernandes does not even care to bring down the honourable office of the President. The Barak AMD system is touted as one of the best against sea skimming US Harpoon and France- made Exocet missiles procured by the Pakistani Navy. Incidentally the Trishul missile system was on developmental stages and trails at the time of the Barak deal. What has marred the defence preparedness of this nation is this continuous cancer of scams and corruption proliferated by politicians and it will have an adverse effect. However, as they say let the law take its own course is something we'll have to wait.

Yours etc.,
Dominic S.Dkhar
New Delhi
Via e-mail

Sir,

Apropos the news item "Minister acquitted in assault case" (ST, October 12), I will like to clarify that Mr Sengran M. Sangma is not acquitted in the assault case but he is discharged from the case as the case against him has been pending for more than five years without trial. There is a difference between the acquittal and discharge. The accused person can be acquitted only after trial if the court finds that he is not guilty. The question of acquitting Mr Sengran M. Sangma does not arise as the trial has not taken place. It is a fact that as per case record Mr Sengran M. Sangma had assaulted Mr Lotsing A. Sangma the then MLA & Minister, C&RD in the election counting hall at DC's office in Baghmara.

However, the court of Mr ZJ Sangma, MCS, First Class Magistrate, Baghmara has discharged and closed the case in view of the Supreme court's direction to all the criminal courts in India that the cases pending for more than two years without trial should either be discharged or acquitted. The court of Mr ZJ Sangma has done a courageous and commendable job by issuing an arrest warrant against Mr Sengran M. Sangma. He has done justice without fear or favour. Mr Sengran M. Sangma is escaped for justice only due to long pending of the case and failure to proceed the case in time by earlier magistrates.

The case against Sengran M. Sangma can be re-opened if he commits the similar kind of crime in future. The discharging and closing the case against him by the court does not mean that he is acquitted in the case.

Yours etc.,
SR Marak, MCS
Additional District Magistrate (J),
South Garo Hills,
Baghmara.
Via e-mail

A Rashtapati Bhavan communique said after the swearing in ceremony that Mani Shankar Aiyar would look after DoNER in addition to Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports.

Mr Kyndiah was not available for comment. But sources said that during his meeting with Congress preside-nt Mrs Sonia Gandhi on Friday, he was informed about this development. The Prime Minister was unhappy with Mr Kyndiah's performance.

Several MPs from the region, including those from ruling Congress, had complained against Mr Kyndiah for lack of development in their respective areas. Mr Kyndiah meddling with the state politics recently and joining the race for Chief Ministership also did not go down well with the party High Command, sources added.

Mr AK Antony was appointed the new Defence Minister in place of Pranab Mukherjee, who moved to the External Affairs portfolio in a Cabinet expansion and reshuffle which also saw the reinduction of a controversial RJD MP Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav as a Minister of State.

Ending months of speculation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh filled the foreign office slot vacated by K Natwar Singh in the wake of the Iraqi oil scam nearly a year ago by expectedly moving Mr Mukherjee from Defence to a position which he held in the Narasimha Rao Cabinet.

However, the surprise of the expansion was the appointment of Mr Antony, former Kerala Chief Minister with a clean reputation, to the prestigious Defence portfolio. The other key portfolios of Home and Finance were not touched.

Mr M H Ambareesh, a Kannada actor of yesteryear, was appointed Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting while Mr Yadav, who had resigned from the Union Council of Ministers in the wake of an arrest warrant against him for allegedly helping his brother escape from police custody, was appointed to his previous portfolio of Minister of State for Water Resources.

Mr Oscar Fernandes, Minister without portfolio, got independent charge of Labour and Employment, which had fallen vacant following the resignation of K Chandrasekhar Rao of the Telengana Rashtra Samiti. Chandra Sekhar Sahu, MoS in Labour, was shifted to Rural Development.

With Tuesday's induction, the strength of the Union Council of Ministers went upto 80. Of them 34 are of the rank of Cabinet Ministers, seven Ministers of State with independent charge and 39 MoS.

Mr Antony would be the second minister from Kerala after Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas Affairs, both of whom are from Rajya Sabha as the party drew a blank in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. Called 'Mr Clean', Mr Antony has not suffered politically despite his party's political setbacks in his home state Kerala.

The brief ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan was attended by the Prime Minister, Congress president Mrs Gandhi and Cabinet Ministers among others. 

BJP flays Yadav's induction: Meanwhile, the main opposition BJP has flayed Prime Minister for inducting RJD leader Mr Yadav as a Minister of State, alleging that the move amounted to "criminalisation of the government". (With inputs from PTI)

NEW DELHI: "I am looking forward to work for the North Eastern region with which I have a long association," said new DoNER Minister Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Talking to The Shillong Times here on Tuesday night, Mr Aiyar said that he was closely associated with the NE region both as a partyman and as well as an Union Minister in different capacities. "I shall continue to work for the region," he said.

Mr Aiyar was AICC general secretary in charge of the NE for a long time. He had also visited the region on several occasions. He will take over charge of the ministry on Wednesday.

Inaugurating a two-day programme on National Media Consultation on Human Trafficking, HIV/AIDS and Drug Trafficking’ here on Tuesday, Mr Gogoi comm-ented that illiteracy and poverty couldn’t be the sole reasons for girls from the region falling into trap as many young girls from affluent families and with good education had turned to prostitution to earn fast money.

Senior journalist of The Indian Express, Samudra Gupta Kashyap, said the region was fast emerging as the latest source of human trafficking with poverty, lack of awareness and lure of easy money remaining the main causes behind it.

"The source of the women and girls being trafficked have extended from immigrants dominated areas to other parts of the region. Young women from immigrant minority-dominated areas, tribal belts were also falling victims to the trend," he added.

Stating hat that incidence of human trafficking, be it as commercial sex workers or other forms of labour, were incre-asing from NE by manifold in the last few years , he cautioned about the region becoming one of the worst victims of the human trade.

The senior journalist informed, quoting a Kokrajhar-based NGO report, that 107 girls were missing from the relief camps in Kokrajhar district of western Asom. Expressing his view, the General secretary of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) Gautam Musahary said there were many instances where the middleman lured the girls with promises of a better future with the family's consent.

The ABSU had rescued many such girls from outbound trains and other parts of the country over the last few months. Mr Musahary rued that the state administration and the police had failed to take action against these middlemen of human trafficking trade.

According to him an organized network of middlemen is on the prowl in Rangiya, Udalguri, Gos-saigaon and Kokrajhar areas of the state besides many other pockets spread al over the region.

Aizawl: Mizoram Home Minister Tawnluia will offi-cially receive the surre-ndered 803 Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM) militants on Thursday at the Mizoram-Tripura border villages of Tuipuibari and Dampa-rengpui.

State DGP Lalngheta Sailo told PTI on Tuesday that the formal surrender ceremony would be held first at Tuipuibari and again at Damparengpui on the same day.

Repatriation of 802 Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM) cadres was completed on Tuesday and they were lodged at Sidon Transit Camp at the two border villages.

Around 400 militants were brought to Mizoram Monday and the rest arrived this evening, Sailo said adding one person, who could not travel due to sickness, was left behind in North Tripura district. "Additional names were included in the list on Monday after many Bru men claimed that they were enrolled in the BLFM earlier and the figure has gone up to 803," Mr Sailo said.

The Mizoram government would give Rs 40,000 to each of the surrendered militants as rehabilitation grant and the formal surrender ceremony would be held after they settled down in the transit camps, he said. (PTI)

Aizawl: Police have arrested an executive engineer from the PHE department on charges of mismanaging money to the tune of Rs 36.75 lakhs.

A source from the police Tuesday said following an FIR filed by the Chief Engineer, PHE department, Zoliansanga, in charge of the Planning Division in the CE's office, was arrested on Sunday.

All attempts to contact the chief engineer Tuesday was in vain because he was out in the field area which was not covered by mobile telephone service. (NNN)

Guwahati: Encouraged by the success of commercial fairs throughout the country, the office of the Development Commissioner (Handicraft) under the Ministry of Textiles have decided to rope in the organisers of these fairs to popularise the handicraft and handloom fairs and also to boost the sector.

As part of the programme, the Development Commis-sioner has tied up with 12 organisers throughout the country with proven track record and past experiences.

In the Northeast, the Development Commissioner has tied up with the Industries and Trade Fair Associations of Asom (ITFAA), the organiser of annual Interna-tional Guwahati Trade Fair, to organise the National Handicraft Expo 2006 at the Sonaram School ground in Guwahati from October 25 to November 8.

Regional Director, Office of the Development Commi-ssioner (Handicraft), North-eastern Region, S Dkhar said, "we are organising this expo in association with ITFAA in order to have better reach in the market. We want to make this event a permanent feature."(NNN)

Aizawl: With the aim to ensure proper fund utilisation in the North Eastern states, the Centre has decided to transfer the funds to specific accounts instead of directly sending it to the respective state governments.

Official sources here on Tuesday informed that unlike the earlier practice of transferring funds for schemes to the NE state accounts, money from the Ministry for DoNER and the North Eastern Council(NEC) would go to a separate account. The idea has been mooted by the Union Finance Ministry following complaints of mismanagement of certain central funds in some NE states.

The NE states would now have a separate committee headed by the respective state chief secretaries to monitor the funds. (UNI)

The ultras ambushed the jawans when they were conducting a special search operation in the area, police said.

The insurgents, who were hiding in a road-side bush, suddenly showered bullets killing two jawans on the spot. The ultras also snatched two AK-47 rifles. (PTI)