AASU stages NH-37 blockade

From our Correspondent

SIVASAGAR, Aug 17: Demanding arrest and punishment of Madhurjya Dutta, a youth Congress member for his attempt to kill AASU activists while staging a road blockade yesterday, hundreds of Sivasagar Regional AASU activists and school students staged a one-hour NH-37 blockade at Gaurisagar on Friday.

It needs mentioning that eight AASU activists were injured, when two vehicles (Mahindra Scorpio and Tata Indigo) hit a group of AASU demonstrators at Kawoimari in Sivasagar district on Thursday. The AASU activists were holding a demonstration at Kawoimari to demand repair and maintenance of the Gaurisagar-Dikhowmukh road.

The injured had been shifted to the Sivasagar Civil Hospital. Immediately after the incident, the students’ body filed an FIR at the Gaurisagar police station and a case had been registered (No. 77/12) under sections 307 and 325 of the IPC.

The police later arrested Jitu Dutta, owner of the Mahindra Scorpio, which was also seized. In the FIR, the AASU also named Madhurjya Dutta as owner of the Tata Indigo vehicle and had set a deadline of 24-hours for the police to arrest him with the threat to initiate a series of protests. As the police had failed to arrest the accused Madhurjya Dutta within the deadline, the AASU unit of the Sivasagar Regional, led by its president Biswajyoti Bhuyan, staged the road blockade on NH-37 at Gaurisagar.

BPPF: Police action at Tamulpur a second Jalianwala Bagh event

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Aug 17: Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (BPPF) today came down heavily on the Assam Police for creating a reign of terror by unprovoked firing on the peaceful protesters on Thursday at Tamulpur in Baksa district where at least 12 innocent people received bullet injuries and demanded that the erring police officer should be transferred and such incapable and partial police officer should not be given charge to control such situation.

In a press meet held at party office, the president of BPPF Rabiram Narzary said the fresh incidents at Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district and Kawarbaha in Baksa districts clearly indicates that some vested circles are working round the clock with their nefarious design for which the incident is going to spread in new districts. He said if the government does not control the situation with necessary measures, the situation could further deteriorate. The police arrested 65 Bodo people in Tamulpur after a Tata Nano was set ablaze by the villagers on Wednesday night and opened unprovoked firing on the innocent people who protested the arrest, in a democratic way; he said adding that the police action on peaceful protestors was like Jalianwala Bagh incident. He said the police failed to nab any person involved in the burning of buses and other vehicles in Rangia, Bhatkusi. He said the state police have been giving protection to outsiders but not to the local people.

Narzary said the fresh incidents are taking place only in BTC areas and it clearly indicates that some political conspiracy could be there with some government agencies and bureaucrat’s hands in glove. He said the exodus of NE people from south Indian cities is not a good sign for the state and India as a whole. He said the Government of Assam should take measures to take them back to their respective professions.

Former MP UG Brahma said the role of SDPO of Tamulpur in the unprovoked firing on the innocent people was doubtful and such an officer could further escalate the situation in the district. He said there should be an inquiry into the partial role of police and demanded that such police officer should not be sent to BTC areas.

Brahma said the Government of India should form a parliamentary committee and send them to oversee the ground situation in Assam, Mumbai, Karnataka, Pune, Andhra Pradesh, etc. He questioned as to why the Government of India does not convene an all party meet on the violence of Assam which is going to spread across south Indian cities. He also said the Union Government should intervene to control the volatile situation in Assam. He further said the situation could go beyond control if the exodus issue is not taken seriously and hold meetings with all democratic organizations.

'Mass exodus of Northeast people unfortunate'

From our Staff Correspondent

DIBRUGARH, Aug 17: The national executive member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sarbananda Sonowal termed mass exodus of Northeast people from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, Maharashtra and Delhi as extremely unfortunate, lamenting that the people of the Northeast in general and Assam in particular have always been harassed in other parts of the country. “I appeal to the centre as well as the state government to ensure safety and security of the people and initiate all necessary measures to boost moral of the fleeing people. The Chief Minister should send his senior ministers to those states and help the suffering people so that they can overcome their mental trauma” said Sonowal. Coming down heavily on Tarun Gogoi led Congress government in the state for its failure in containing the violence and killings in BTAD areas and its subsequent unfortunate development in several parts of the country, Sonowal appealed to the state government to play a proactive role in order to end the crisis as well make sure that an atmosphere of trust and amity must be prevailed in the society. “The state government should be firm in dealing with all those miscreants and anti-national elements that are bent on destabilizing the traditional amity and communal harmony prevailing among the various communities particularly among Hindu and Muslim communities in the state” Sonowal asserted. Expressing serious reservation on President Pranab Mukherjee’s comment on the historic Assam Accord that it should be “revised”, the BJP national executive leader, Sonowal with his utter dismay questioned the justification of such remark made by the President. “The remark of the President on Assam Accord is certainly in contravention of court verdict as the accord was signed by non other than former Prime Minister, Rajib Gandhi on the auspicious day of August 15 in 2004 and later under my initiation, after much debate the three bench judges comprising of Chief Justice, RC Lahoty, Justice GB Mathur and Justice Bala Subramaniyam of the apex court had scrapped one of the most controversial clause of the accord - Illegal Migrants Detection Tribunal Act (IMDT)”, Sonowal stated. He demanded that the UPA government should make sure a time bound programme for implementation of Assam Accord and construction of fencing in Indo-Bangla border which should be declared positively in the ongoing parliament session. Answering a query, Sonowal sought an inquiry on Union Joint Secretary (Home) Shambu Singh’s comment that AIUDF Supremo Badruddin Azmal was behind the aggravation of the situation but later withdrew his own statement in the next day. “The inquiry should reveal under whose pressure or direction a senior joint secretary like Singh had retracted from original statement made in following day”, Sonowal quipped.

AKRSU decries attack on Rajbongshis in train

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, Aug 17: The All Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRSU) today decried the attack on the Rajbongshis in the trains in South India by Muslims and demanded safety and security to the passengers in the trains.

The president of AKRSU Hitesh Barman in a press meet held at the union’s office at Dimalgaon in Kokrajhar said the killing of Sanjay Ray (35) of Dimalgaon, Kokrajhar in Palasha of Andra Pradesh by Muslims on August 14 was most unfortunate incident. The AKRSU demanded job for the victim’s family member of Ray in the railway department and compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to Sandip Barman and Khanin Ray of the same village who were attacked in the running Earnaculum Express at Palasha under Sitakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. One of the migrant labourers have returned to Kokrajhar with severe injuries in forehead and face while another Khanin Ray was rescued by GRP in Palasha station as he jumped down from the train.

Sanjay Ray, a villager of Dimalgaon went to Palasha in Andhra Pradesh along with other colleagues Dipak Ray and Kailash Ray to bring Khanin Ray but met with death in the attack of Muslims at Champak railway station on August 14 last. Dipak, Kailash and Khanin Ray have arrived Kokrajhar on Wednesday while the body of Sanjay is still in Champak railway station. Sources said the four persons boarded the train at Palasha station but after a while, Sanjay goes missing. His death was informed to his family members by GRP.

The president of the AKRSU today demanded proper inquiry into the violence in lower Assam and compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each of those killed. He demanded safety and security to the passengers in the trains. He also called upon all section of the people to come forward to restore peace and normalcy in the region.

On the other hand, thousands of Assam’s migrant labourers working in South Indian cities and students have returned to their respective districts fearing the attack of Muslims. Kokrajhar railway station has witnessed hundreds of returnees of migrant labourers daily. Kokrajhar district has large number of migrant labourers who are in Chennai, Bangalore, Kerala, Gujarat, Pune, Goa and Mumbai.

AATSA protests over VDP secretary's killing

From our Correspondent

SIVASAGAR, Aug 17: Protesting against the brutal killing of Michel Purty, a resident of 5 No. Bakupukhuri under Charaideo subdivision and Adivasi VDP secretary on August 8 by suspected ULFA cadres at Lengribor under Mathurapur police station in Sivasagar district along the Assam-Nagaland border, the Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) staged a protest demonstration in front of the Sivasagar DC’s office on Friday.

More than hundred activists of ATTSA led by its district committee president Suresh Tanti and secretary Sumit Tanti raised slogans demanding immediate arrest of the ULFA cadres involved in the killing of Purti, an immediate compensation of Rs 10 lakh for his family and a government job for Michel’s spouse Phulomoni Tanti and security for her as she might be the next target for being the lone-witness to the killing.

They later handed over a memorandum to Sivasagar DC with an appeal to take steps within 48 hours.

SSB 15th Battalion declared Best Marching Contingent

From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Aug 17: The 15th Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was judged the Best Marching Contingent during the Independence Day parade at Kajalgaon, Chirang. This was informed by the Assistant Publicity Officer GD Saklani. Chief guest Kampa Borgoyary, deputy chief of BTC handed over the Best Marching Contingent Trophy to the Commander of the Marching Contingent Sub-Inspector Ashwani Kumar Shukla in a glittering function at Kajalgaon. In the Independence Day parade, besides Sashastra Seema Bal, Contingent of Border Security Force, Male and Female Contingent of Assam Police participated. The spectacular presentation of SSB’s 22 member-contingent under the command of Sub-Inspector Ashwani Kumar Shukla presented a disciplined and perfect marching show on the occasion to spellbind the spectator. Sudhir Kumar, DIG SSB Bongaigaon Sector and GL Sharma, Commandant SSB 15th Bn congratulates the squad for their best presentation.

Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar ready for month long Nam Kirtan

From a Correspondent
JORHAT, Aug 17: The Dhekiakhowa Bor Namghar has been made ready for a month long Nam Kirtan from tomorrow. The managing committee of the Namghar has already prepared the Namghar clean by white washing and painting for the devotees. Although the Namghar campus has been developed for the devotees, the subway had not been completed through Humdia gaon to facilitate the Bhaktas’ communication. Besides the main road towards Dhekiakhowa Namghar from AT Road has also been damaged and not been usable. The Nam Kirtan will start from tomorrow morning for the entire Assamese Bhado month.

Thousands of Assamese people arrive at Jorhat from other States

From a Correspondent
JORHAT, Aug 17: Thousands of Assamese students and working people arrived today at Jorhat from States outside of Assam. Most of the students and working people arrived today at Jorhat by trains and night buses from Guwahati. Among them about one thousand young boys who were working at different companies and studied at different educational institutions in various States of India belonged to Majuli only. As a result of this, congestion of passengers in ferries as well as in the buses to Majuli have been reported today. According to them, more Assamese people are coming from different places of other States. They also alleged that they had to leave their works and studying places because the owners where they worked or stayed denied to take the responsibilities of security for them.

AKRSU burns effigies of HM and Railway Minister

From our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, Aug 17: Kokrajhar district committee of the AKRSU led by vice president Labanya Kr Ray today burnt the effigies of Union Home Minister Sushil Kr Shinde and Railway Minister Mukul Roy at Dimalgaon for failing to provide safety and security to the people of Northeast in trains. The student body also demanded safety and security to the people of Northeast who are working in different companies and studying in different higher educational institutions. They also demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased Sanjay Ray of Dimalgaon, Kokrajhar who was killed by Muslims in Palasha railway station in Andhra Pradesh while he was going to bring one of the villagers Khanin Ray who was attacked and hospitalized in Sitakulam district of Andhra Pradesh on August 7.