Letters to THE EDITOR: Lovely Lovlina

Lovlina Borgohain scripted history by confirming at least a bronze medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020. She will be the first Olympic medalist from Assam. Coming from a humble background she proved to the world that economic hurdles can never stop real talent. A total of 8 athletes were selected from the Northeast to represent India and two of them have emerged successful till now. Being northeasterners we are beaming with joy that our girls have made us proud on the big stage. I want to urge the Government of India to adjudge Northeast as the sports capital of India which will encourage our younger generation to take up sports as a career. Lastly, I want to congratulate Lovlina for her wonderful achievement; we wish that she get stronger in the next two matches and shine with a golden punch.

Noopur Baruah,

Tezpur.

Clashes between

Assam and Mizoram

Through your esteemed daily, I would like to request the locals of Assam. We have losses our 6 brave heroes on the Assam- Mizoram inter-state border dispute, and we all want justice for them. Local people are pressurizing the government to take measurable steps against such action. But here I would like to request the civilians of Assam not to take any aggressive step towards the Mizo people inhabiting here for their different purpose. So, it's my humble request to all the civilians of Assam.

Niharika Krishnatri,

(niharikakrishnatri)

Erosion in Congress

With the advent of the monsoon, land erosion by the rivers from Sadiya to Dhubri is a common occurrence every year in the State. The massive erosion of land along the river banks renders thousands of people homeless overnight and forces them to live in government relief camps like refugees. Interestingly, the same type of erosion of late is taking place in the Congress after their flop show in the last Assembly election. If the present trend continues, only a few names like Bhupen Bora, Ripun Bora, Rakibul Hussain, Pradyut Bordoloi, Gaurav Gogoi will remain as some of the remnants of the dilapidated Congress structure. It is high time these leftovers of the century-old party raised some issues before the public irrespective of merit for their survival. Their masters at Delhi have already become a liability to the party.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Reviving economic crisis

The Union Finance Minister's assertive not to print currency notes to tide over the economic crisis triggered by the COVID pandemic speaks volumes of the sturdy fundamentals of the country's economy and resolve to put it back on rails. The outgo of every rupee from the public purse on wasteful expenditure should be checked. Every rupee saved is revenue generated.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog.

Intentions clear

The ongoing so-called farmers' agitation against the Centre's three Farm Bills is well exposed from time to time. From rape and molestation of girls in the protest site to drug abuse by the protestors; all is happening in the protest site which is confined only among the farmers of the northern belt of India. Recently, the President of Punjab Kisan Union, Ruldu Singh Mansa spoke against the Khalistanis in front of the protestors but immediately as a punishment he was suspended for 15 days by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha. Now, it is crystal clear as to who are sponsors of the fake farmers' protest. The original farmers are toiling on the fields but these anti-socials under the guise of farmers are trying to destabilize the country.

Pratap Dutta,

Tezpur.

Friendship Day

The first Sunday of August shows up to Friendship Day. This year Friendship Day recedes on August 1.

National Friendship Day was initially set up by Hallmark in 1919.

When a person takes birth he has a fraction of folk with assigned roles in his life encircling him but as he evolves and passes into the next phase, he forms an 'Un-biological Family' that is Friends.

Friendship is the foremost relation a person forms himself during his course of existence. It is regarded as the purest form of relation. It is a relation that is assembled with trust, faith, love and respect. However, trust prevails as the pillar of this relation. As meant, trust takes years to build and seconds to break.

This day of friendship celebrates the euphoria of years of togetherness with a bond so pure. A friend is somebody we don't hesitate to confess on any matter. With friends in our life, it becomes simpler to survive. Through friendships, we thrive and expand our boundaries. Yet, the world pleases tinier and further correlated.

Remarkably this day cherishes and nurtures all the remembrances mutually any group of friends share. This day is celebrated by tying friendship bands on the wrist, exchanging cards and gifts.

However, in the world of the internet and social media, we have relinquished the treasure of forming this bond. Extensively, teens today choose to text their friends instead of having face to face conversations. Extremely communicating online does not establish a healthy friendship.

Lastly, 'friendship is esteemed as the only ship that never sinks.'

Anjali Chandak,

Guwahati.

Assam-Mizoram standoff

Why suddenly Mizo groups have shown such aggression against Assam is a point to ponder over. There is no denying fact that there are certain vexed disputes in the Assam-Mizoram border but such aggression was first of its kind. There are certain reasons which have compelled the Mizo groups to virtually waging a war against Assam. Our State government's war against drugs has rattled the drug lords who are minting money in millions. The anti-drug campaign of the Assam Police has seriously damaged the betel nut and drug trade of the Mizo mafias which are thriving under the very nose of the administration and the Mizoram Police. Mizoram is the gateway of illegal narcotics from Myanmar. When the Assam government launched their anti-narcotics campaign in the State, the impact is also felt in Mizoram as their network was disturbed. Like drugs, Mizoram territory is also used for illicit betel nut smuggling, black marketing of fertilizers and smuggling of foreign cigarettes. All these chains were badly hurt by the State government's action against drugs because the network and routes were the same. Another reason is the forest which lies right in the border which is home to precious trees. The mafias of Mizoram have made a lot of fortunes by illegally cutting precious trees for timber. The Mizo mafias have encroached upon Assam's Forest area but of late they were thwarted by the locals due to the presence of Assam Police cover.

The Mizo groups like YMA and MZP are part of the illegal syndicate and smuggling rings, which have been severely hit by the Assam government's anti-drug drive. The sudden aggression by the unholy elements from Mizoram reflects the frustration of the drug cartels and to some extent the Mizoram government. They want to create an atmosphere of fear in the area so that they can carry on with their nefarious activities.

Julie Bhuyan,

Gaurisagar.

Assam-Mizoram border incident

The most shocking incident that took place in Assam Mizoram Border where police personnel were killed and a large number of others sustained bullet injuries are being treated in the Silchar Medical College Hospital. It is unfortunate as if one brother is killing another brother. It was unexpected that such incidents shall take place which has shocked the entire country and have condemned by all quarters. My deepest condolence to the bereaved families and I pray to the Almighty for the early recovery of the injured persons.

I request that both the states should restrain themselves till the boundary dispute is finally resolved. We should not forget that we are a family of seven sisters and our internal disputes can be resolved in a spirit of peaceful discussions. I propose that a judicial enquiry of the incident by a retired judge of the Supreme Court may be initiated to find out the perpetrators for violating norms of handling inter-state boundary disputes,

Subhas Chandra Biswas,

Tezpur, Assam.

Accept the qualities

of Northeasterners

As we all know how people give importance to sports in India. But no one considers the background of the competitors who represent India, especially those from the north-eastern part of India. There are many unnoticed talents in the region.

Recently Chanu Saikhom Mirabai got an Olympic medal in weightlifting. It was a proud moment for us and we appreciate her. However, some people still do not know that she is from Northeast India. Everyone just thinks about the medal.

We've many more good athletes from the Northeast like Mary Kom, Hima Das and others. They don't have much financial support, but they are capable enough to prove the talent latent in them. This spirit deserves appreciation. If they get more support, we can expect more medals for India.

Manjima Nambiar,

Gauhati University.

Assam-Mizoram

border unrest

The sound of fierce gunfire on July 26 in the Lailapur area in the Cachar district on the Assam-Mizoram border is the worst armed encounter in an inter-state border dispute. Doubtless, it was a pre-planned attack from the Mizoram side as six Assam policemen were martyred in gunfire in which light machine guns were reportedly used, but there was no report of casualty on the Mizoram side. The TV footage clearly shows that the aggressive civilian mob welding sticks and iron-rods were pelting stones and attacking Assam officials; while the Mizoram Police personnel were firing from their gun which was a well-orchestrated action. There was maximum restraint on the part of Assam as a team of top Assam officials reached the area to diffuse the situation but even they were also attacked by the mob of miscreants in which the SP, Cachar and the OC of Dholai PS were among more than fifty wounded. Mizoram has had a history of armed insurgency for almost two decades. A prolonged armed struggle culminated in the Union Territory for the Mizos followed by statehood. The entire episode seems to have played under the guidance of the top. Under the circumstances, the Assam Government should firmly adhere to its resolve to maintain the status quo and peace in the legitimate areas of our border and not to yield to anyone's browbeating. To sum up, it is an open and shut case as the border demarcation of Mizoram state shall be the same as corresponding to the areas forming the erstwhile Mizo district; and the same logic shall apply to other states carved out of erstwhile districts of Assam.

Pannalal Dey,

Guwahati.

The murder of judge in Dhanbad

It was a direct challenge to Central authorities to leave apart totally helpless State authorities that super strong coal mafia even video-graphed the cold-blooded murder of Additional District Session Judge Uttam Anand in Dhanbad. The style of filming the horrible incident clearly shows that the viral video was well-planned by those having planned the murder. The coal mafia is so strong in Dhanbad that it is the sheer wastage of time in probing the murder by State authorities. The case should be urgently handed over to well-protected officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The coal mafia is so strong in Dhanbad that it legally makes big theft of coal from coal blocks by innovating ways to counter administrative order for not carrying stolen coal on motorized vehicles, where carrying coal on non-motorized two-wheelers in any quantity is permissible. Coal-mafia engaged in coal-theft employees skilled bicyclists who can carry many huge jute bags on one bicycle with the width of coal bags extending at least one meter on each side of the bicycle. There is another person on a motorcycle pushing the heavily loaded bicycle since it is practically impossible for a bicyclist to drag such a heavy load of coal bags. Traffic police and other officers of Jharkhand government close eye on such highly dangerous load carrying on the bicycle both because of fear of coal mafia and by being paid by coal mafia for ignoring such malpractice of coal theft.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal,

Delhi.