Ukhrul children meet President APJ Kalam 
A group of seven boys and girls from Ukhrul district of Manipur, part of the excursion tour  “Operation Sampark’’ organised by the Assam Rifles recently visited Shillong, Kaziranga National Park, Mokokchung district of Nagaland and Delhi. On the last leg of their tour at New Delhi, they met President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and Chief of Army Staff General N. C. Vij. The group also visited Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Red Fort and India Gate during their stay at Delhi. Operation Sampark had been organised with the main objective of bringing better understanding among the children of the country.

Seventh Bramhaputra festival held 
The 7th Bramhaputra beach festival, which coincided with the Maghbihu festival was held recently in Assam. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi inaugurated the five-day festival. The festival was held at the twin venue of judge’s field and the beach. The main attractions were the traditional and aero sports events at the beach and the cultural nights at the judge’s field. Dr Bhupen Hazarika, sarod maestro Amzad Ali Khan, western band ‘Ace of Spade’ and noted pop artists Pulak Banerjee, Ishq and Mohini Singh from Mumbai and cultural troupe from Tripura and artists from other North-Eastern states enthralled the gathering. Encouraged by response last year, the organisores had also invited noted sand sculptor Sudarshan Pattanaik from Puri. Mr. Pattanaik on this occasion displayed his expertise in building Red Fort of Delhi, Moscow Tower and New York City on the Bramhaputra beach.

Digvijay accuses Advani of using NE militants
Even before the dates for Lok Sabha polls have been announced the political blame game has began. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and Assam Congress in-charge has accused Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani of using his Ministry to ‘’protect the BJP’s political agenda through the militants in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. ‘’ The former CM said the general perception was that the Deputy Prime Minister was using the Home Ministry to ‘’further his party’s political agenda in the North-East.’’ He accused the BJP of capturing power in both Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh with the help of militants.

Army conducts medical camp in NC Hills 
Army conducted a medical camp at Mahur subdivision in NC Hills recently. The medical camp was second of its kind in NC Hills organised by the troops of Red Shield Division. The Army team of doctors was assisted by the doctors from the Haflong civil hospital. The medical camp received overwhelming response and more than 500 people of Mahur and adjoining villages were given free medical treatment. Apart from free medicines, facility of Army canteen was also extended to needy villagers. The Army medical team also held lectures on prevention of AIDS and benefits of family planning. Such more medical camps will be held by the Army in near future.

Ultra blast damages pipeline 
Suspected ULFA activists carried out a bomb blast at Fakum Harmoni gaon in Kowarpur Mauza in Sivasagar blowing out a crude pipe line of ONGC. About 200 litres of crude were collected by ONGC personnel. Sivasagar police is investigating the matter and five persons have so far been taken into custody for interrogationthe doctors from the Haflong civil hospital. The medical camp received overwhelming response and more than 500 people of Mahur and adjoining villages were given free medical treatment. Apart from free medicines, facility of Army canteen was also extended to needy villagers. The Army medical team also held lectures on prevention of AIDS and benefits of family planning. Such more medical camps will be held by the Army in near future.

Nagaland gets its tenth district as  R-Day Bonanza     
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has formally inaugurated Longleng sub-division as the tenth district of the State on the Republic Day. With this, the total number of districts in Nagaland shot up to ten with the eleventh district Peren awaiting inauguration. Mr Rio also formally inaugurated Kiphire district on January 24. Both Longleng and Kiphire districts were created bifurcating the present Tuensang district, while Peren was created bifurcating Kohima district. The Chief Minister has called upon the people of the new district to work tirelessly with utmost dedication in order to ensure a better future. Mr. Rio also urged the denizens of the new district to imbibe a cosmopolitan attitude and remove all obstacles for the administration to bring development in a smooth manner. The Chief Minister hoped that the more than 1,50,000 people living in 26 villages under the new district would be benefited by the new and additional infrastructure.

BSNL promises 1000 mobile connections      
The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will provide 1000 mobile phone connections to the denizens of Phek district in Nagaland. The decision comes following the Central Government policy to provide telephone connections in all villages in the country for faster and easier communication, according to Lok Sabha MP from the state Asangba Sangtam. Mr. Sangtam disclosed this while addressing the 57th General conference of the Chakeshang Students union at Phek recently. The Lok Sabha member said with the improvement of Telecommunication at the grass root level, people were using facilities like video conferencing and internet.

Former AP Home Minister resigns from Congress   
Even before the poll dates for Lok Sabha have been announced, politicians have began quitting parties. Former Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Neelam Taram has resigned from primary membership of the Congress. While tendering his resignation to Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president, Mr. Taram, who was presently holding the post Advisor to PCC(I) and Arunachal Pradesh Congress Co-ordination Committee, has urged the party to relieve him from his present post on personal grounds. The Congress leader had joined the party in 1988 and served as vice-president and CLP leader from 1996-99. Mr Taram had served as Home Minister in the Gegong Apang ministry and had unsuccessfully contested from Yachuli Assembly constituency in 1984 on a BJP ticket. 

New BJP chief in Meghalaya    
BJP MLA A. L. Hek is the new Meghalaya BJP president. Mr. Hek was unanimously elected new party president of Meghalaya in the presence of party’s North East in-charge V Satish. Mr. Hek has sought the cooperation of all party members right fromthe grassroots to strengthen the party and be more responsible for the betterment of the party with an eye on the early Lok Sabha polls. He also hoped the BJP’s position in the state would be strengthened by 2008.

Oil pilferage    
The patroling team of Kohora police out post under Bokakhat civil sub-division arrested a notorious nexus consisting of ten miscreants involved in pilfering of crude oil drilling hole in the pipe line near Kohora. Police seized a Maruti van and recovered alluminium wire, copper wire, valve, welding machine, iron plate, welding rod, spade, earthing wire etc from their possessionwith an eye on the early Lok Sabha polls. He also hoped the BJP’s position in the state would be strengthened by 2008.

New cancer center at Shillong Civil Hospital  
A 10-bedded Cancer Detection Center would be set up soon at the civil hospital in Shillong in what will be a great relief for the patients in the region. The Meghalaya Cancer Society was formed last year to look into the needs of cancer patients in the State and the Centre had given Rs 15 lakh as financial assistance to the society. The State Government has sent four doctors for training for six weeks to the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre in New Delhi.  

New bridge connects Nagaon-Guwahati 
The much-awaited bridge over the Kolong river was opened recently linking Kajoli (Nagaon) and Chandrapur (Guwahati). People of west Mayong, a neglected place, will now be able to establish direct link with Guwahati, which has been a long-felt need of the area. Most importantly, the opening of the bridge has reduced the distance between Guwahati and Nagaon by nearly 50 km. For nearly 53 years since independence, the people of the area had to depend on boats as a major medium of transport.

KNA appeals for end to violence 
The Kuki National Assembly (KNA) has urged the United Progressive Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) to stop violence and extend amnesty to each other. “UPDS and KRA must stop killing of innocent and unarmed villagers and extend amnesty to each other for the sake of the innocent villagers of both the communities”, KNA general secretary Tongthang Touthang said in a statement.

Congress nominates Sangtam for LS
With Lok Sabha polls drawing near, hectic politicking has begun in various states including those in North-East. The Congress, which was unseated in Nagaland after a decade, last year has gone one step ahead and declared their candidate for the lone Parliamentary seat in the State. Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) recently renominated K Asungba Sangtam, sitting member of Parliament, as the Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha polls. The executive meeting of the NPCC, unanimously nominated Mr. Sangtam and also decided to work jointly with the like-minded political parties in Nagaland in the coming Parliamentary elections to defeat the candidate of the ruling coalition. The NPCC said at the present juncture, only an experienced and mature political party like the Indian National Congress would salvage the hopes and aspirations of the people of the State.

Employment review body  visits Cachar
The Employment Review Committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly, headed by Pani Ram Rabha, MLA, visited Katirail and Dudpur village under Katigora development block in Cachar district for spot study of various schemes. At Dudpur, the committee inspected four self-help groups (SHGs), where various handloom products were produced. The committee also inspected some other income generating schemes implemented under Tapang development block and Silchar development block. At Sreekona under Tapang development block, the committee visited a piggery-cum-fishery under ARIASP programme of the World Bank.Later, the committee reviewed the progress of various schemes of departments like DRDA, Fishery, District Industries Centre and Handloom and Textile. The other committee members were MLAs Bimolangshu Roy, Jitendra Basumatary, Indrish Ali and Tijendra Basumatary..

Budget package for tea gardens welcomed   
The Assam unit of BJP has welcomed the interim budget submitted by Finance Minister Jaswant Singh recently. In a press release, the party has termed the budget as a progressive and bold one. Tapan Choudhury, spokesman, BJP, Assam Pradesh said that the budget will help to achieve targeted GDP of 8 per cent. “The special emphasis on the agriculture sector, specially the implementing of the Kishan Credit Card scheme in a target oriented manner by March 2004, will help a long way in the growth of rural economy. At the same time, a special revival package for tea industries as well as working capital arrangement for tea gardens etc., have been properly addressed by the Finance Minister in the budget”, Mr Choudhury added. 

Rupam Kurmi no more    
Assam Minister for Employment Rupam Kurmi recently passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in New Delhi. She had been suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. Her body was flown in from New Delhi to Guwahati where it was formally received by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. It was later taken to the Janata Bhawan where the Ministers, bureaucrats and employees of the state government paid their last respects.

Trade fair in Meghalya     
A week-long Meghalaya-Day Trade Fair 2004 was held at Polo Ground in capital Shillong as a part of 32nd statehood day celebrations. Meghalaya Chief Minister D. D. Lapang who inaugurated the fair stressed on the need for peace for all round development of the State. He asked the people of the State to give peace a chance and be more dedicated and work hard for its economic development. The Chief Minister said the trade fair would go a long way in forging a sense of brotherhood to fight problems in the region. ‘’Let us work hard together towards making the North Eastern state an asset to the nation and not a liability,’’ he said.where the Ministers, bureaucrats and employees of the state government paid their last respects.

ULFA,NDFB on run: Vij 
Army chief General N C Vij has said ‘’Operation All Clear’’ by the Bhutan Army has broken the back of the NDFB and ULFA. ‘’The insurgent groups in the North-East have suffered heavy casualties and sixty per cent of their leadership has either been apprehended or killed. The Centre’s peace process with the NSCN is still on and most other insurgent groups are lying low. We are also appealing to the ULFA and the NDFB to join the peace process,’’ he said. Pointing out that the ULFA and the NDFB were in a ‘’hopeless situation’’, he said the NDFB, KLO and the ULFA were sapped off their strength and in no position to fight back. Gen Vij said camps of the ULFA, NDFB and KLO in Assam would be completely destroyed within the next couple of months since the ‘bulk’ of their camps located in Bhutan had already been razed recently by the Royal Bhutan Army. ‘’Although there are some camps of these outfits in Myanmar and Bangladesh, the bulk was in Bhutan. We will clear their remaining camps in Assam within the next couple of months ... I know as proof that they are going through very bad times in Assam.’’

32 NDFB insurgents surrender  
The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadres have started surrendering following the Royal Bhutanese Army’s crackdown on the militant camps in Bhutan and the mounting pressure from the Army in lower Assam district of Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon. 28 NDFB militants led by Gajen Goyari, commandant of Bongaigaion district (platoon-b) and B Sufungra, member National Council of Bodoland have surrendered before S P Kokrajhar and S P Bongaigon on the bank of Nangalbhanga river, Kaila Moila near Indo-Bhutan border recently. The militants also laid down huge cache of weapons and ammunition before the police which included one AK-56 rifle with two magazine, one AK 47 with two magazines, one SLR with two magazines, one 303 rifle with two magazines, two pistol with two magazines, one wireless set (Japanese make), five Chinese grenades and huge ammunition, he said. Four other NDFB militants have surrendered before the Army at Bengtol near the Indo-Bhutan border.2001-02.

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