Assam govt beefs up security of core assets

GUWAHATI: With ULFA militants triggering three explosions within a week, security of oil installations, railway tracks and other vital establishments has been beefed up.

ULFA militants blew up tank wagons carrying high speed diesel (HSD) and petrol on November 16. Besides, causing damage to tracks, the explosion also charred 12 wagons and derailed four others.

ULFA’s 28 Battalion, which been laying low for almost a year after two companies of the battalion declared ceasefire, was believed to be behind this explosion. Commander of 28 Battalion, Bijoy Chinese called up some media houses and claimed responsibility for the explosion.

An improvised explosive device (IED) was recovered from Khoirabari railway station in Udalguri district on Monday. The IED weighed about 8 kg. Around 5 kg TNT was also recovered from Udalguri.

Intelligence inputs suggest ULFA is planning more strikes prior to November 27. The outfit observes the day as Protest Day following launching of operation against the outfit on 1991 and declaration of the outfit as ‘banned’.

IG of police (security), G P Singh told ET: "In view of the blast in the railway tanker, I reviewed the security of oil installations and other vital installations with officials of these companies, CISF and police officials in Upper Assam recently."

In the wake of the twin explosions in Nalbari, the counter-insurgency strategy making body, Unified Command Structure, which comprises army, police and central paramilitary forces, reviewed the operations. Already, chief minister Tarun Gogoi has hinted that operations against ultras will be intensified.

Bandh paralyses normal life in BTAD districts of Assam

Kokrajhar (Assam): Normal life was today paralysed in Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) following the 12-hour bandh called by the ceasefire faction of NDFB.

All shops, business and commercial establishments along with banks and financial institutions remained closed but there was no report of any untoward incident from any of the six districts under the BTAD, official sources said.

The bandh was "total" in the BTAD districts of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri and Darrang with schools, colleges and educational institutions remaining closed and vehicles off the roads.

Long-distance vehicles also remained stranded on National Highway 31(C).

With most trains running as per schedule, rail services were, however, not affected.

The bandh has been called to protest against the killing of NDFB (Ceasefire) cadre Dorent Daimary at Latamari area under Kachugaon police station on November 22 by suspected NDFB (Ranjan Daimary anti-talk faction) militants.

This is the fifth strike in BTAD districts called by different organisations following violence in these districts.

Bandh paralyses normal life in Assam's BTAD districts

Kokrajhar (Assam), Nov 24 (PTI) Normal life was paralysed today in Bodoland Territorial Administered Districts (BTAD) following a 12-hour bandh called by NDFB (ceasefire faction) in protest against the killing of one of their members by rival group.

All shops, business and commercial establishments along with banks and financial institutions remained closed, but there was no report of any untoward incident from any of the six districts under the BTAD, officials said.

The bandh was "total" in Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri and Darrang districts with schools, colleges and educational institutions remaining closed and vehicles off the roads.

However, the rail services were not affected with most trains running as per schedule, the officials said.

The bandh has been called to protest against the killing of NDFB (ceasefire) cadre Dorent Daimary at Latamari area in Kokrajhar district on November 22 by suspected NDFB (anti-talk Ranjan Daimary faction) militants.

Seven dead in Indian bomb attacks

Suspected militants have set off two bombs outside a police station in north east India, killing seven people and wounding more than 50, police said.

Five people died instantly after two blasts went off within minutes of each other outside the station in Nalbari town near the Assam state capital, Gauhati, a local police official said. Two people died later in a hospital, he said.

A third bomb reported in a market a few miles away turned out to be a firecracker.

At least 52 people were wounded in the two blasts, said Bhaskar Mahanta, Assam's inspector general of police.

India's north-east is beset by scores of conflicts. More than 10,000 people have died in separatist violence over the past decade. The region is home to dozens of separatist groups that accuse the government of exploiting the area's natural resources while doing little for the indigenous people.

Mahanta said authorities suspect the militant separatist group United Liberation Front of Asom is behind the blasts. No-one has claimed responsibility.

The bombers had parked two bicycles fitted with carriers packed with explosives outside the Nalbari police station, which is located in a congested part of the town, Mahanta said. These went off, killing passers-by and wounding the others.

Mahanta said police had received intelligence reports suggesting that the ULFA was planning to avenge last week's arrest of two of the group's leaders.

Last week, suspected ULFA rebels triggered a powerful explosion, derailing a freight train and setting more than a dozen oil tanker railcars on fire in Assam.

The ULFA has spurned the Indian government's offer to hold talks with them on condition that the group give up violence.

12-hr strike cripples life in western Assam

KOKRAJHAR: A 12-hr bandh called by Gorkha organizations in protest against the killing of Bhakti Prasad Sharma, a member of BPF's youth wing, crippled life in western Assam on Wednesday.

Sharma was shot dead by a suspected anti-talk NDFB rebel at Tiniali Bazar of Kokrajhar district on Sunday. The youth wing also extended support to the bandh. The Gorkha organizations and BPF have demanded arrest of the culprits involved in the killing. The dawn-to-dusk bandh, however, passed off peacefully without any reports of violence. All educational institutions, government offices, banks remained closed and shopkeepers downed shutters. Vehicles remained off the roads.

People from Bhutan and West Bengal had to face a tough time after they were stranded for hours on the highway. However,train services were unaffected. BTC chief Hagrama Mohilary said repeated bandhs in the area cannot be prevented without the support of the state government.

Assam to miss Viswanath aid

Guwahati, Nov. 9: The Assam Cricket Association (ACA) will manage the state Ranji team without the services of legendary cricketer Gundappa Viswanath as the consultant in the remaining four matches of the plate group A league.

A decision to the effect was taken last week after Viswanath could not make himself available for the first match against Rajasthan here last week, which Assam lost by 95 runs.

Assam will take on hosts Goa from tomorrow in their second match.

The team will then return home for the other three matches against Tripura, Jharkhand and Vidarbha on home turf.

According to an ACA source, Viswanath, who was supposed to join the team from the final conditioning camp held here last month, could not do so because of failing health.

The ACA office-bearer said Viswanath was intimated that “his services would be taken in the future” and that the ACA had wished him a speedy recovery.

“We would have been happy if we could have availed of his services. The team’s morale would also have been high. But, unfortunately, he could not make it this time. We will seek his help in the future too,” the senior office-bearer said.

Viswanath was supposed to be officiating as a consultant, like Mohinder Amarnath did with the Bengal team last season.

His primary responsibility was supposed to guide the coach and the team on strategic matters on and off the field.

The state team is being accompanied by NCA level II coaches Subhrajit Saikia and Subhadeep Ghosh, both of whom are former state first class players, as coaches.

Former Test captain Sairaj Bahutule and senior Mumbai professional Amol Mazumdar are also part of the team.

According to team sources, Bahutule was guiding the team both as a player as well as a consultant.

“He is experienced and very inspiring. He guides us all in all aspects,” said vice-captain Dhiraj Goswami, who was full of praise for Mazumdar’s captaincy.

Assam chief minister censured for poll code violations

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New Delhi: The Election Commission on Sunday censured Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for violating model code of conduct by making poll promises to influence prospective voters in the just concluded bye-polls in the state.

The panel said they had received a complaint that while campaigning in Dhekiajuli constituency Nov 3, the chief minister made poll promises to the voters that if the Congress candidate won, he would give a special package for the all-round development of the area.

He also promised that he would accede to their demand of making Dhekiajuli a sub-division.

By-elections to the Dhekiajuli and South Salmara assembly constituencies were held Saturday.

Following the complaint, the poll panel Nov 6 through a notice asked Gogoi to give explanation for the alleged violation of the model code.

But in his reply Sunday, Gogoi said that the development of Dhekiajuli was declared as one of the priority of the government and was mentioned in the party manifesto too.

In his letter, the chief minister said he merely reiterated the government's stand regarding the area.

But citing the video clipping and the transcription of the speech, the poll panel said the allegations made against him "stand substantiated".

"Therefore, the commission has censured you for the lapse for violating the model code of conduct and has advised you to be careful in future," a statement issued here said.