States News

Ultra groups irked over Centre’s stand

GUWAHATI, May 26 – All is not well in the process of talks with the militant outfits of Assam as at least two outfits have accused the Government of India of giving “preferential treatment” to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and demanded that the laws should be equal for all.

Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that the pro-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) recently sent a letter to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh alleging that same rules were not applied in case of all the militant outfits of the region. The outfit, which now calls itself NDFB (Progressive) welcomed the decision of the ULFA to come for talks, but at the same time said that the Government showed extraordinary softness towards the ULFA.

The NDFB (P) demanded that the Government should clarify whether the ULFA members surrendered arms or any agreement of suspension of operation was signed with the outfit. The letter said that as far as the people of

Assam know, the ULFA did not surrender weapons nor any agreement on suspension of operations was signed. Despite that, senior Ministers of the Government of India were hobnobbing with the leaders of the ULFA, the letter said. The NDFB (P) demanded that the Government should clarify whether the ban on the ULFA has been withdrawn.

The yardstick for talks with all militant outfits was different from that of the ULFA and the Government failed to force the ULFA members to move to the designated camps and there was no restriction on the movement of the ULFA leaders as was the case with other militant outfits. The ULFA leaders have been allowed to address public meetings. They have also been allowed to collect money in the name of donations while if other militant outfits do the same, they are accused of extortions, the letter added.

The NDFB (P) went on to allege that the ULFA was treated above the law because it is an “Assamese outfit”. It alleged that the “chauvinist Assam Government” always treated Assamese people as above the law and the Government of India is also dancing to the tunes of the Assam Government to hurt the sentiments of the indigenous groups.

Sources said that the DHD(J), commonly known as the Black Widow group, has also echoed similar sentiments in a letter to the Government of India.

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Patil clears execution of two death row convicts

NEW DELHI, May 26 – After seven years, the go-ahead has been given for execution of two murder convicts that could start the process of clearing the long list of death row convicts, including Afzal Guru and Rajiv Gandhi assasination convicts, awaiting punishment, reports PTI.

President Pratibha Patil has rejected the mercy petitions of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar of Punjab and Mahendra Nath Das of Assam following the recommendations from the Union Home Ministry, sources in the Ministry said.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan declined to comment.
Bhullar was sentenced to death by a trial court on August 25, 2001, for plotting terror attacks on Punjab SSP Sumedh Singh Saini in 1991 and the then Youth Congress president M S Bitta in 1993 leading to several deaths in Delhi.
A couple of days ago, Bhullar’s advocate K T S Tulsi had urged in the Supreme Court that either his mercy petition should be decided expeditiously or alternatively his death sentence be commuted.
The President has also rejected the mercy petition of Das who has been found guilty of murdering one Hara Kanta Das.
This is for the first time since 2004, when the go ahead has been given for the execution of Dhanjay Chatterjee, that the President has given the nod for any execution.
While the Opposition parties have lashed out at the “delay” in taking a decision on Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru’s petition, Home Minister P Chidambaram had said there was no fixed time for deciding the mercy petitions.
Chidambaram has been adopting a policy of going serial wise on deciding mercy petitions since taking over the charge of the Home Ministry in 2008.
At least 15 cases have been referred and decision obtained in 11. The case of three persons sentenced to death in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and two other terrorist cases were higher in the order than the Afzal Guru case.
Guru’s wife Tabasum Afzal had petitioned the President on October 3, 2006, for commutation of his death sentence. The Delhi government was asked for its view. The Delhi government’s comments were furnished by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi in June 2010 and they are under examination of the Home Ministry for submission to the President.
Under Article 72 of the Constitution, the President is empowered to grant pardon and commute the death sentence of a convict. She can also suspend and remit the death sentence of a condemned prisoner, albeit with the advice of the Union government.


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BG project to be completed by 2013

NEW DELHI, May 26 – The much-delayed Lumding-Silchar Broad Gauge Conversion project is now scheduled to be completed by December 2013, as authorities are grappling with law and order and land acquisition problems.
A review meeting chaired by the (DoNER minister Bijoy Krishna Handique took stock of the “Broad Gauge conversion of the Lumding – Silchar – Jiribam Railway Line” Project facing a delay of over 15 years. Secretary, Ministry of DoNER along with the representatives from the Railways attended the meeting.
The Railway authorities apprised that out of 377 km formation is ready for 331 km and 110 km of track have been completed. They also informed that 17 tunnels of length 10650 metres are under construction out of which, four tunnels with a length of 5650 metres are complete, official sources said.
Work on the most critical bridge on Doyang river is on in full swing and would be completed by December 2012. The construction of the longest
tunnel with a length of 3.235 km is under progress after the works restarted from October, 2010. The tunnel is expected to be completed by December, 2013, said sources.
The entire Broad Gauge Conversion is scheduled to be commissioned by that time. Land acquisition issues in certain small areas in three districts of Barak Valley are still pending with the State Government. At least eight companies of Central Para-military forces have been deployed for providing security to the construction sites, sources said.
The DoNER Minister expressed concern that the project has taken an unusually long time of more than 15 years after the date of commencement and there has been a strong resentment among the people, particularly in the Barak Valley, sources said.
He told Railway officials that he would review the project in September at Silchar and advised that Railways may speed up the implementation. He also suggested Railways may consider designating a PRO for briefing the public about the progress of the project and also seek their help in timely completion.
The cost of the project was revised to Rs 3909 crore and is identified under the category “Infrastructure in the North East” by Prime Minister’s Office for special monitoring by Ministry of DoNER.


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Arunachal to approach for CBI or NIA probe

ITANAGAR, May 26 – The Arunachal Pradesh government will soon approach the Centre for a CBI or NIA probe into the April 30 helicopter crash that killed former Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and four others on board.
Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin told a students’ delegation that his government will soon approach the Centre for a probe into the crash.
A team of All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union and North East Students Union met him and submitted a memorandum demanding a probe by CBI and NIA into the April 30 Pawan Hans chopper crash that killed Khandu.
The apex student bodies also demanded tracing of the anonymous phone call which had delayed the search operations and also sought retrieval of the contents of the black box of the ill-fated helicopter, official sources said.
Gamlin said that the Civil Aviation Ministry has already ordered an inquiry into the mishap through a committee headed by Air Marshal (Retd) P S Ahluwalia and it is expected that a report will be submitted within three months as per the terms of reference of the panel. 


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Fireball to be held on May 29

GUWAHATI, May 26 – With the twin objectives of encouraging the youth to join the armed forces and to keep music alive, the third edition of Fireball, one of the major musical events organized in Guwahati, would be held on May 29 at Shilpgram.
As promised by the organizers, the event would be bigger than its previous editions with the likes of Indus Creed, the biggest rock band in India, joining the show this time. The event is organized in the memory of Vir Chakra awardee Kargil hero Captain Jintu Gogoi.
“Fireball is one of the major musical events organized around the city of Guwahati. Rocka Rolla, a Guwahati-based event management company, has initiated the event. We promote music from the North-east and also organize various musical events in the region. We would make this event bigger than its earlier editions,” David Koch of Rocka Rolla said.
The first Fireball was organized on May 4, 2008 at Shilpgram in Guwahati. Second edition of the musical show was held on February 14, 2010, where Bhayanak Maut an Indian metal band from Mumbai, enthralled the crowd along with Angarag Mahanta and his band East India Company.
“This year Fireball is dedicated to the memory of great musicians we lost including Ashish Adhikari, Dhruba Sarma and Rakesh Barua. All of them were very instrumental in promoting music and inspiring the young generation towards good music,” he added.
Along with Indus Creed (Mumbai), Shades of Retribution (Assam) and Alice In a Wonderland (Nagaland) would also perform in the event.