Militancy on rise

There has been a sudden spurt in the level of violence in the NE. The region has recorded 738 militant attacks in the past six months.

CONTRARY to claims that militancy is on the wane in North-East, there has been a sudden spurt in the level of violence, with the region recording 738 militant attacks in the past six months that took a toll of 503 persons. This has come as a shock for the Centre given that it has ceasefire in operation with both the factions of NSCN, the biggest insurgent group in the region besides couple of other rebel outfits and has just inked an accord with Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT). Minister of State for Home Affairs, Swami Chinmayanand is unwilling to go into the causes for the spurt.  “It is not desirable in public interest to disclose further details”, he told the Rajya Sabha. But the figures tell the untold story. Since January 437 persons were kidnapped. During the t during the last three year 131 security force personnel including those belonging to Assam Rifles, CRPF and BSF have been killed in action, while 217 others were wounded. Minister of State for Home Affairs maintained that due to ongoing peace talks and cessation of hostilities between NSCN and Government of India, incidents of violence have come down in Nagaland and neighbouring States. He said efforts were made to persuade the NSCN (I-M) leaders to visit India for peace talks.

The Minister denied that there was lack of coordination among the security forces, claiming that State level Coordination meetings among the army, SIB, paramilitary forces and State police forces were held periodically. He clarified that the Central Government has not authorised anyone to negotiate with the northeast militants except K Padmanabhiah. In the same breath, he added that any efforts on the  part of Chief Ministers, Members of Parliament and leading citizens to bring militant outfits to the negotiating table are always welcome.

The statement is significant because of the recent controversy in Meghalaya. Chief Minister, D. D. Lapang accused Mizoram Chief Minister, Zoramthanga and former Lok Sabha Speaker, P A Sangma of fishing in troubled water in the State by trying to talk to underground outfits behind its back.

B’desh drink oust Coke, Pepsi in NE

MORE bad news to Pepsi and Coke. Little known fruit drinks from Bangladesh is slowly capturing the North-East market. Not one brand but three brands are doing brisk business. There is nothing illegal about it. Several fruit drinks from Bangladesh find their way legally to the North-Eastern markets under the SAARC trade regime. Some of the main brands include Pran, Top and Starship which supply fruit drinks like mango, guava, lichi, orange and pineapple and the prices are as low as Rs 6 per 180 millilitre can. Already they are quite popular but with Pepsi and Coke becoming untouchables, they are doing even better business.

Demand of the leading Bangladesh brand in North-East market, Pran, has nearly doubled in the past few days for their relatively cheaper rate and natural flavour. All these products enter Indian market through Tripura and Meghalaya. “Pepsi and Coke are still being sold, but much less than earlier and now Pran is doing well because it is much cheaper,” said Sambhu Singh a wholesaler in the Fancy Bazaar market. Meanwhile, North-East is slowly reacting to the nation-wide panic following reports of ‘deadly cocktail of pesticide residues’ in Pepsi and Coke. Already Tripura and Assam have ordered independent testing of samples. However, in the markets of Manipur and Nagaland, foreign drinks smuggled from across Myanmar have always been giving Pepsi and Coke a run for their money. Not only in the North-East, but also throughout the country the sale of Pepsi and Coke has been badly affected by the recent reports that these drinks are harmful to health. Now it seems, that the North-Eastern region has found a better alternative to Pepsi and Coke earlier than the rest of the country.

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