Trader returns

A young trader from Dima Hasao district, Pabitra Nunisa, who was missing since he came to the city on Tuesday, appeared at the city’s Gorchuk police station on Thursday evening. The police said Nunisa denied that he was kidnapped. He said he was hiding because of some personal problems. The police is questioning him.

ASDC demands immediate release of DHD(J) leaders

Anup Biswas

The Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) Dima Hasao District committee took a strong exception to the recent statement made by Mr Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam over the issue on the crore rupee scam in Dima Hasao district and on the CAG report relating to Dima Hasao Autonomous Council stating that it was during the Congress-I regime in Dima Hasao Autonomous Council (DHAC) headed by Late Purnendu Langthasa, the then CEM of the Council , that corruption was more rampant and more funds were misused in the DHAC in collusion with some ministers of Assam from the year 2001 to 2007 than the corruption and misuse of funds that prevailed in the Council from the year 2007 to 2009. So, such statements referring only to the then ASDC-BJP party rule in the Council and that too most of these elected members of the then ASDC-BJP party have now already been in Congress-I fold, leaving out the state of affairs of corruption and misuse of funds in DHAC from the year 2001to 2007 is highly condemnable, stated a press release issued by Rathindra Thaosen and Suraj Naiding, President and Joint Secretary, respectively of ASDC Dima Hasao District committee today.
The ASDC, Dima Hasao District Committee, meanwhile, express great concern over the step-motherly treatment meted out to Dima Hasao district articular on the affairs of the non-release of jailed DHD(J)leaders and Mohet Hojai, former CEM of DHAC, from the Judicial custody and non-release of required Govt. funds of development schemes like NREGA to Dima Hasao district, saying that when the demands of DHD(J) are within the ambit of Indian Constitution and when the peace talks of DHD(J) with the Government are in process, yet the Govt. has not released the jailed DHD(J) leaders and Mohet Hojai from judicial custody. The party also alleged that some leaders of several militant organizations despite their organization’s demand being the demand for ‘Sovereignty’ and secession from Indian Union have already been released on bail, whereas jailed DHD(J) leaders ‘whose demands are within the ambit of Indian Constitution’ have not been released, which is an injustice to and discrimination against the people of Dima Hasao district.
The ASDC Dima Hasao District Committee therefore demanded the immediate release of jailed DHD(J) leaders and Mohet Hojai from judicial as well as from NIA custody and the party also demanded the immediate release of all the Govt. required funds to Dima Hasao district and reiterated the demand that the CBI probe into the scam in Dima Hasao be conducted from 2001, the release added.

Terror rerun in Dima Hasao: 6 kidnapped

After a brief lull, terror shadow is back to Dima Hasao district. At least as six villagers were kidnapped by some unidentified militants at gun-point in this hills district during the last 12 hours. The incident  took place at Dehangi and Maibong areas of and the kidnapped villagers belonged to the Dimasa tribal community. 

Heavily-armed militants stormed into the villages in the wee hours on Tuesday and whisked them away to the near by dense jungles. The police and paramilitary forces have launched a massive search operation to rescue the villagers. The recent arrest of top leaders of Dima Halam Daogah and United People’s Democratic Solidarity made both the hardcore outfits defunct.

The kidnapped farmers have been identified as Joybo Maramsa (55), Hamring Maramsa (46), Hamjen Maramsa (40) and Kajol Maramsa (38) from Maibong while Roben Hasnu (35) and Debendra Hasnu (32) from Dehangi area.

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Militants kidnap six villagers in Dima Hasao district. of Assam

Dec 8,  11:2 AM
In Assam, as many as six villagers were kidnapped by some unidentified militants at gun-point from Dehangi and Maibong areas of North Cachar hill District. All the kidnapped villagers belonged to the Dimasa tribal community. 
According to official sources, heavily-armed militants stormed into the villages in the wee hours on Tuesday and whisked them away to the forest. The police and paramilitary forces have launched a massive search operation to rescue the villagers. Official reports said after a lull of few months a few new underground groups have sprung up in the district. 
The recent arrest of top leaders of Dima Halam Daogah and United People’s Democratic Solidarity made both the hardcore outfits defunct in the district. This was a major success for the security forces. 
AIR correspondent reports, the new groups might be behind the kidnapping to establish their existence.

Cops claim leads in abduction

Silchar, Dec. 7: Police in Dima Hasao (formerly North Cachar Hills) have gained leads regarding the abduction of oil sector employees from the district on Saturday morning.

Dima Hasao superintendent of police V.K. Ramisetti told this correspondent from Haflong, the district headquarters, over phone today that he was hopeful that they would be able to locate the abductors’ hideouts and rescue the kidnapped persons soon. He, however, declined to give details as search operations were on.

Four junior employees of Om Survey, a private firm engaged by Indian Oil Tanking Ltd, a private oil exploration firm on contract with the public sector Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, were abducted by militants from a secluded forest area between Chhoto Manja and Boro Manja villages near Langting railway station while they were setting up a camp to serve as a base for identifying oil-drilling sites.

The abductors set free one of the employees that very day to carry their ransom demand of Rs 1 crore to the company. Of the three they held hostage, two are junior surveyors while the third is a Jorhat-based cook with the company.

The police, paramilitary forces and the army are continuing their search operation but their mobility is being impeded by the dense forests, Ramisetti said.

4 employees of oil company abducted

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, December 6
Four employees of Indian Oil Tanking (Private) Limited, a sub-contractor of a public sector oil company, were abducted by suspected Dimasa National Liberation Front (DNLF) militants from Manja village under Langting Police Station in Dima Hasao hill district of Assam yesterday.

Superintendent of Police VK Ramisetti said the abducted persons were identified as Sontosh Ashok Raichandra (24) of Maharashtra, Wilfred Terki (37) of Orissa, Ranjit Das of Jorhat, Assam, and Bardap of Maharashtra. The abductors later released Bardap while the other three are still in their clutches. It was learnt that the company was served with a demand of Rs 1 crore by the DNLF.

Akhil ups ante on CM, dares Gogoi to resign

AT News Bureau

After virtually exposing health minister Akhil Gogoi targets Tarun Gogoi a day after the chiefminister took the RTI activist to the court with a defamation court.Addressing a press conference on Tuesday,Gogoi said Tarun Gogoi is one of the lier chief ministers Assam has ever possessed so far.He said the chief minister has virtually exposed his blatent lies on the allocation of huge funds to Dima Hasao district without any budgetary allocation who confessed it at a press conference on Wednesday in Dispur.
The KMSS leader slammed the chief minister for his desperate bid to protect Himanta Biswa Sarma, Kkarsingh Engty who are involved in the siphoning off a huge fund meant for the Dima Hasao district.Gogoi said thchief minister has no option but to resign to upheld his high moral ground.

AG report on NC Hills Council not final: CM

GUWAHATI, Dec 1 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has directed the State Chief Secretary to inspect whether the excess fund released to the NC Hills Autonomous Council without any budgetary provision was utilized genuinely or misapp-ropriated.

The Chief Secretary has been directed to submit the report by December 15.

He said an inquiry into the leak of the AG's confidential inspection report will also be ordered.

Gogoi, quoting from the AG report during a press conference here today, conceded that Rs 11.46 crore has been found to be given to the autonomous council without any budgetary sanction.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today sought to dismiss all the corruption charges leveled against him by the Opposition in the alleged Rs 1000-crore NC Hills scam claiming that no report by the Auditor General (AG) has so far unearthed ‘misappropriation of funds’ in theautonomous district.

“The AG report which the Opposition is referring to is not the final one. It is just theinspection report of North Cachar Hills (Dima Hasao) Autonomous Council that has sought the views of the Council and the State Government. “The report has only pointed to risk of misappropriation, but nowhere has it stated of any corruption," Gogoi said during apress conference here.

"We from our side will reply to all the queries of the AG report and the final report will be compiled only at a later stage," he stated.

It needs mention here that the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has been mounting pressure demanding resignation of the Chief Minister alleging that excess money was given to NC Hills without necessary sanction.

"It is a fact that the corruption has taken place and if any irregularity is detected in the final report, it would be immediately referred to the CBI," Gogoi said.

Stating that such excess expenditure over budget happened on several occasions, Gogoi said excess payment of Rs 13,645 crore was recorded during AGP's second tenure between 1996-2001, which was later regularized by Gogoi's Government.

“If any irregularity is detected at any level, the guilty, be it any Minister or anybody, will not be spared," Gogoi said, adding that the discrepancy of Rs 27264.23 lakh between the records of the Hill Areas Department of Government of Assam and the North Cachar HillsAutonomous Council has been pointed out by the AG report, reconciliation process for which has already started.

He, however, said that the non-audit of NC Hills accounts by the AG after 2005-06 is a matter of concern.

Gogoi claimed that the Opposition was carrying out a ‘baseless, false and politically motivated’ campaign to malign him in the eyes of the people in view of the ensuing State Assembly elections.

NSCN demands 24% of salary from Haflong hospital staff

SILCHAR, Nov 27: All medical, paramedical as well as fourth grade staff of Haflong Civil Hospital staged a sit-in in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Saturday demanding immediate arrangement of security in the backdrop of extortion threat, allegedly by the NSCN, asking all the staff to pay 24 per cent of their salary per month to the outfit.
Dr Pradip Kumar Baruah, Superintendent of the Civil Hospital, told The Sentinel over telephone from Haflong on Saturday that panic-stricken staff had no  alternative but to seek intervention of the administration.
Already two doctors had left Haflong and others were trying to manage transfer, added Dr Baruah, who himself had received an extortion note on November 19. Dr Baruah said, the administration had provided police security in the hospital campus, but about 200 staff were under constant mental pressure. The medical service in the 100-bed hospital has been badly been affected.
It is to be noted that Dr Nityananda Naiding of the Civil Hospital had been abducted by local miscreants from his official quarters on October 30, and he was released on the same day allegedly after making a hefty ransom. Babul Haflongbar, who was the kingpin in the abduction, was picked up by Haflong police from Dimapur, and he admitted that he had kidnapped Dr Naiding with the help of Naga miscreants.

NSCN faction sends ‘tax’ notice to doctors

Posted: Mon Nov 29 2010, 02:41 hrsGuwahati:

Doctors and other employees of the civil hospital in Haflong, headquarters of Dima Hasao district in Assam, are in fear after receiving a “notice” from one of the NSCN factions in Nagaland to pay 24 per cent of their salary as “tax” to the outfit.

The notice, addressed to the superintendent of the hospital on November 19, had asked him to arrange the “tax” from doctors and staff working under him. The hospital has 17 doctors and over 150 other employees. “We have filed an FIR. A police picket has been posted in the hospital campus,” Dr Pradip Kumar Barooah, superintendent of the hospital, said.

“I also received a phone call from a person who claimed to be from the NSCN, who said the notice was served to us by mistake. Doctors, the caller claimed, have been exempted,” Dr Barooah said. On November 9, a doctor, Dr N Naiding, was kidnapped from the hospital complex on November 9. But he was released unharmed the same night.

Govt urged to expedite peace process with DHD(J)

HAFLONG, Nov 28 – Demanding expeditious settlementof the demands of the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) as per the proposals for peace agreement submitted to the Government and the release of all jailed leaders of the DHD(J) including politicians and civilians associated with their struggle immediately from judicial custody in order to facilitate free and fair negotiations with the Government-appointed interlocutor and representatives for the NGOsand public representatives, the Dimasa Students’ Union organised a grand meeting and rally at the Town Committee Field (Lal field) Haflong on Thursday.


A meeting was also held with Kebaron Naiding, president, DSU in the chair at Lal field wherein representatives from almost all the frontline NGOs of Dima Hasao took part.

Attending the meeting Dethang Naiding, president, Jadikhe Naisho Hosom, the office body of the Dimasas, Samarjit Haflongbar, former CEM, DHAC, LK Nunisa, general secretary JNH, Rathindra Thaosen, president, ASDC, opined that for the all-round development of Dima Hasao district, the issue of DHD(J) should be solved immediately. David Dimasa, ‘home secretary’, DHD(J) and Daniel Dimasa, ‘deputy c-in-c’, DHD(J) assured all the people of the district of Dima Hasao that if their demands were fulfilled then all the people living in the district would be benefited. There will be no discrimination and everybody will enjoy the same rights as they have been since 1952.

Thousands of people participated in a procession from Lal field, marched upto Council rotary then back to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao and submited amemorandum to the chairperson, UPA, Sonia Gandhi through the DC, Dima Hasao, requesting her for sympathetic action while enlisting their grievances and sufferings.


The memorandum stated that after years of armed struggle for safeguarding the socio-economic and political concerns and rights of the tribal people of the Dima Hasao District in Assam, the Dima Halam Daogah (Joel), an insurgent group operating mainly in the said district, came out for peace process after the Government gave them a positive signal for peaceful negotiated settlement of their demands and concerns.


It may be mentioned here that the DHD(J) was the first armed insurgent group in the North East India to have come out for peace process by surrendering its arms en-masse on October 2, 2009 at the Dima Hasao Sports Association playground, Haflong in the presence of Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam. The general public of the Dima Hasao District had wholeheartedly welcomed the return of peace and hoped that there would be positive outcome in the peace process which would ultimately usher in an era of permanent peace, stability, development and progress in the district.

They highly appreciated the initiative taken by the UPA Government, particularly UnionHome Minister P Chidambaram for smooth passage of peace process by appointing P C Haldar as the interlocutor. Since then, there have been a series of informal talks between the DHD(J) leadership and PC Haldar, to discuss the various demands and concerns raised by the DHD(J). In the meantime, the DHD(J) has also submitted proposals for peace agreement to the Government for consideration and approval.

However, the peace process seems to be moving on slow pace which is baffling the rank and file of the DHD(J) in particular and the people of the Dima Hasao district in general. Moreover, since the top-rung of the DHD(J) leadership is in jail, how can the peace process be moved forward to its logical conclusion? It is argued. Before the final peacesettlement, it is imperative that the DHD(J) leadership should have few formal talks with the government to discuss and negotiate on the proposals for peace accord and hence,before the start of the formal talks, all top-rung of the DHD(J) leadership along with politicians and civilians associated with their struggle should be released from jail in order to facilitate free and fair negotiation with the Government appointed interlocutor and representatives for smooth sailing of the peace process as well as to have consensus with the community leaders, NGOs and public representatives before signing the final peace accord, the memorandum concluded.

Why ULFA left out of CBI scanner? ask Dimasas

SILCHAR, Nov 26: Accusing the State Government of adopting a double standard policy in solving the militant problem, various Dimasa social organizations now directly sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Alleging that the State Government’s attitude towards the jailed DHD (J) leaders in comparison to the ULFA leaders behind the bars, the Dimasa organizations asked why only DHD (J) was put under CBI and NIA scanners while the ULFA was left out. David Dimasa the self-styled home secretary of the DHD (J) which laid down arms on October 2, 2009, said, outfit’s demand for autonomous state was not aimed only for the welfare the Dimasa community, but it would benefit all the other ethnic community residing in the district. David argued that, officials like Redaul Hussain Khan used to launder the council exchequer and common people of the district were deprived their justified. To raise a protest against this machinery, they took up arms. Now responding to the call of the State, they had laid down arms with a hope that the government would definitely materialize the commitments it had made. But, the State Government’s indifferent attitude as well as step-motherly behaviour against the Dimasa leaders had made the surrendered DHD (J) cadres suspicious. “If the authority does not fulfil our demand immediately we would be compelled to launch agitation in a democratic manner”, David said. On Thursday, various outfits, including DHD (J) brought out a rally in Haflong where more than thousand people participated. Organizations which participated in the rally included All Dimasa Students’ Union, Dimasa Women Society, Dimasa Mothers’ Association and People’s Forum for Peace Settlement, the president of which was district Congress boss Samarjit Haflongbar. Apart from these organizations, Jadikhe Naisho Hoshom (JNH), the apex body of the Dimasa community also actively participated in the rally. JNH chief Dethang Naiding said, if the government does not release DHD (J) leaders, how could peace process start?

Grand Rally at Haflong

26 November, 2010
Anup Biswas  



Demanding expeditious peace settlement of the demands of the Dima Halam Daogah (Joel) as per the Proposals for Peace Agreement submitted to the Government and the release of all jailed leaders of the DHD(J) including Politicians and Civilians associated with their struggle immediately from the judicial custody in order to facilitate free and fair negotiation with the Government appointed Interlocutor and Representatives for smooth sailing of the peace process as well as to have consensus with the community leaders, NGOs and public representatives, the Dimasa Students’ Union organised a Grand Meeting Cum Rally at Town Committee Field (Lal field) Haflong today.
In this connection, a well attended meeting was also held with Sri Kebaron Naiding, President, DSU in the chair at Lal field wherein representatives from all most all the front liner NGOs of Dim Hasao attended.
Attending the meeting Sri Dethang Naiding, President, Jadikhe Naisho Hosom, Dimasa Apex Body, Samarjit Haflongbar, former CEM, DHAC, L. K. Nunisa,Genl. Secretary JNH, Rathindra Thaosen, President, ASDC, opine that for the all round development of Dima Hasao, the demand of DHD(J) should be solved immediately. Sri David Dimasa, Home Secretary, DHD(J) and Sri Daniel Dimasa, Deputy C-in-C, DHD(J) assured all the people of the district of Dima Hasao that if their demands were fulfilled then all the people living in the district would be benefited. There will be no discrimination and will enjoy the same as they were enjoying since 1952.
Thousands of people took out a procession from Lal fiels marched upto Council rotary then back to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao and submited a memorandum to the Chairperson, UPA, Smt Sonia Gandhi through the DC, Dima Hasao, requesting her for sympathetic action while enlisting their grievances and sufferings.
The memorandum stated that after years of armed struggle for safeguarding the socio-economic and political concerns and rights of the tribal people of the Dima Hasao District in Assam, the Dima Halam Daogah (Joel), an insurgent group operating mainly in the said district, came out for peace process after the Government gave them a positive signal for peaceful negotiated settlement of their demands and concerns.
It may be mentioned here that the DHD(J) was the first armed insurgent group in the North East India to have come out for peace process by surrendering its arms en-mass on 2nd October 2009 at the Dima Hasao Sports Association playground, Haflong in the august presence of Shri Tarun Gogoi, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam. The general public of the Dima Hasao District had wholeheartedly welcomed the return of peace and hoped that there would be positive outcome in the peace process which would ultimately usher in an era of permanent peace, stability, development and progress in the district.
They highly appreciated the initiative taken by the UPA Government, particularly Hon'ble Union Home Minister Shri P Chidambaram for smooth passage of peace process by appointing Shri P C Haldar as the Interlocutor. Since then, there have been a series of informal talks between the DHD(J) leadership and Shri P C Haldar, to discuss the various demands and concerns raised by the DHD(J). In the meantime, the DHD(J) has also submitted Proposals for Peace Agreement to the Government for consideration and approval. However, the peace process seems to be moving on slow pace which is baffling the rank and file of the DHD(J) in particular and the people of the Dima Hasao district in general. Moreover, since the top-rung of the DHD(J) leadership is in jail, how can the peace process be moved forward to its logical conclusion? It is argued. Before the final peace settlement, it is imperative that the DHD(J) leadership should have few formal talks with the Government to discuss and negotiate on the Proposals for Peace Accord and hence, before the start of the formal talks, all top-rung of the DHD(J) leadership along with politicians and civilians associated with their struggle should be released from jail in order to facilitate free and fair negotiation with the Government appointed Interlocutor and Representatives for smooth sailing of the peace process as well as to have consensus with the community leaders, NGOs and public representatives before signig the final peace accord, the memorandum concluded.

Mahanta slams Cong tact - ‘BPF demand for state to divert attention from scam’

Prafulla Kumar Mahanta Guwahati, Nov. 24: Former chief minister and Opposition leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today said the demand for a separate state for the Bodos had been raised by the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) at the behest of the Congress, its ruling partner in the state, in order to divert the people’s attention from the Rs 1,000-crore scam in the Dima Hasao (formerly NC Hills) district and the issue of big dams. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi had hit back at Mahanta yesterday for seeking the resignation of the three BPF ministers in the state cabinet. “The present demand for a separate state by the Bodos is a pre-planned design of the Congress to divert people’s attention from other burning issues like the big dams and Rs 1,000-crore scam in the Dima Hasao district,” said Mahanta. Mahanta also dared Gogoi to make public the amount of money spent on development projects in the Dima Hasao district. “It is the Congress who has been dividing Assam. It is the Congress who had divided Assam into seven states by creating a division among the tribals and non-tribals,” he said and added that the then leaders of Meghalaya, Nagaland and others, who had demanded separate states, were all Congress leaders. “The Gogoi-led Congress government in Assam is yet to implement the recommendations of the inquiry commission which probed the 2008 Beltola violence where an Adivasi girl was stripped in broad daylight,” Mahanta said. “The chief minister often said the Centre had not given Rs 1,000 crore to Dima Hasao district for development. Now, I dare him to make clear as to how much money had been given to the district in the last few years for development schemes,” the former chief minister said. Mahanta’s statement assumes significance now, particularly as the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which carried out an inquiry into the financial irregularities of the district, has already submitted its report to the Assam governor. “The amount of total financial irregularities in Dima Hasao district will be more than Rs 1,000 crore if one takes into account the funds given to all the departments in the district. Lots of trees have been felled in the district for the national highway extension project. Where have all these felled trees gone?” he asked. Mahanta also asked the chief minister to make public the amount of money the government had paid to people as compensation for acquiring land during the NH extension project.

Assam: New armed group troubles DIMA HASAO district

Guwahati: Even as the Centre is trying to restore peace in insurgency-hit Dima Hasao district (erstwhile North Cachar Hill district) of Assam by engaging two factions of the Dima Halam Daogah in the peace process, another militant group is rearing its head in the troubled area.

Once the government started the peace initiatives with the DHD factions, which claim to represent the dominant Dimes tribe in the hill district, militant elements from non-Dimasa tribes have got together to float a new militant group called Hill Tiger Fore.

According to security sources, the armed group has been tasked to protect and fight for the rights and interest of the non-Dimasa hill tribes living in the hill district and adjoining areas. The outfit has been formed with Kapchy Naga as the self-styled chairman, Arnal Kuki as the secretary, Hrangthang Hmar as commander in chief, Lunneh Kuki as publicity secretary and Stephan Lungchuong as the secretary, finance.

The HTF came into being after Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government in Assam renamed North Cachar Hills district as Dima Hasao district earlier this year, ignoring opposition from all non-Dimasa ethnic groups which constitute nearly 57 per cent of the total population in the hill district.

Prominent non-Dimasa tribes of the hill district include Zemes, Kukis and Hmars who have been demanding tribe-specific councils within the hill district. These tribes have strongly opposed renaming of the district.

The non-Dimasa communities have been demanding bifurcation of the hill district.

The students' committees of Non Dimasa organisations urged the Union and the Assam government to take stern action to prevent future ethnic conflicts in NC hills. Leaders of Indigenous People's Forum of NC hills met Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and submitted a memorandum. They apprised him of problems faced by non-Dimasas while submitting their demands to him.

The non-Dimasa students unions strongly opposed the change of the district nomenclature in accordance with the name of a particular tribe and termed it as a clear abuse of the provision of Article 244(2) of the Constitution.

According to security sources, the HTF, which has nearly 100 cadres, is being trained at camps along thickly forested boundary between N C Hill and Manipur by Naga rebels in truce. It may be noted that large swathes of NC Hills have been included in the 'Greater Nagaland' or the proposed 'Nagalim' map of the Naga rebel group, NSCN-IM.
Courtesy rediff.com

Haflong doctors to suspend work from today

HAFLONG, Oct 31 – All the doctors of Haflong Civil Hospital have vehemently condemned yesterday’s kidnapping of a doctor from his residence at gunpoint by some unidentified miscreants while demanding adequate security to them.

It is learnt that yesterday around 2.30 pm, one doctor of Haflong Civil Hospital was kidnapped from his official residence at gunpoint by unidentified miscreants without any prior notice or demand. After taking him near Mahur they demanded Rs 10 lakh as ransom. However, he was later released around 9.20 pm.

Since 1999, the doctors’ community of Haflong has been under security threat. The then superintendent of Haflong Civil Hospital was kidnapped. Though he was released later, he succumbed to his injuries sustained during torture by the kidnappers. Earlier, all the doctors on September 9, 2009 had requested the administration to upgrade the police outpost by deployment of armed forces with siren system, to restrict parking of all thevehicles, to transport doctors on night duty by ambulance, and to investigate into all the illegal liquor shops and antisocial activities in and around hospital campus and take proper action thereafter.

It is to be mentioned here that, the absence of security wall surrounding the hospitalcampus has been encouraging these antisocial elements to carry on their nefarious activities. Only recently, a few incidents of murder, snatching, etc., near the hospitalcampus were reported but nothing was done to prevent such incidents by the administration, the people here alleged.

As the district administration seemed to be callous regarding the demand of doctors to provide adequate security in the hospital campus, all the doctors decided to suspend their routine duties from tomorrow.

All the civil organizations of Dima Hasao have appealed to all not to harass the doctors’ community for the greater interest of entire populace of the district.

Lucky Ali wows Assam crowd, to promote district

LUCKY ALI


Bollywood singer-composer and actor Lucky Ali, who regaled the crowd with a rocking performance in this Assam town, will be the brand ambassador of the state's Dima Hasao district.

Lucky's performance was part of the first edition of the three-day Jatinga International Festival and he got a huge round of applause by a crowd of nearly 15,000 Friday.

"I am moved by the kind of hospitality the people of Haflong have showered on me. It is such a beautiful place. Living in Mumbai and Bangalore, we hardly can have such warmth. Politics should be kept apart from development. The place needs to be developed as a popular tourist spot," Lucky told IANS.

Lucky has given his consent to promote the district, of which Haflong is the headquarters, said Debojit Thaosen, chief executive member of the Dima Hasao District Autonomous Council.

This was Lucky's first visit to Haflong, also known as the Switzerland of the East. He is also planning to popularise Assam through his next video album.

"I am going to shoot my next video album Xsuie in Assam," said Lucky, who has also featured in movies like "Kaante" and "Sur".

He said his next acting project "Rock Shock" is currently in post-production stage and is slated for either a December or early 2011 release.

At the event, Lucky sang songs from his albums like "Sifar", "Aks", "Sunoh", "Kabhi Aisa Lagta Hai" and "Xsuie", apart from some of his popular film songs.

He also crooned an evergreen number from his father, legendary comedian Mehmood's 1976 film "Sabse Bada Rupaiya".

And the audience at the District Sports Ground here was thrilled.

"It was awesome. I am a big fan of Lucky Ali and I will treasure his autograph," said Kalpana, a student.

Vishwanath, who stays in nearby Silchar, was mesmerised by the soulful songs, and said: "I am attending his (Lucky Ali's) show for the first time and I am damn impressed. He has got an awesome voice."

Two other bands -- Guwahati-based Moon Win and Low Rides from Bangalore -- also enthralled the crowd.

Plan to revamp cream unit in Umrangsu

SARAT SARMA

Haflong, Oct. 31: The Dima Hasao District Autonomous Council plans to renovate its cream production centre at Umrangsu, which was closed since 2005, this financial year. Along with cream and custard the unit would also launch the production of pasteurised milk with support from four local milk societies. “Last year we received Rs 34 lakh from Dima Hasao district autonomous council to buy machinery. Now we want a new plant for which we have approached the local autonomous council. It will cost Rs 30 lakh and the council has agreed to release the funds immediately,” said a source from the Dima Hasao district dairy development department. “The departure of most of the Nepali milk cultivators because of unrest and trouble in the district, the local autonomous council’s refusal to increase the price of cream and corruption in the administrative system has brought down the centre’s production,” Sarthe Engti, a resident of Umrangsu, said. The cream production centre at Umrangsu is the only such unit of its kind to be run by the state government. Right now it has 29 employees and 10 vacant posts in different categories. “The centre was established in 1972 to support 2,000-odd Nepali households, living in greater Garampani, who were involved in cream production. The department had distributed cream producing machines among the households and would collect cream once a week from the interior villages. The cream was then processed in the centre to get ghee,” a source from the department said. “They (the department) give us Rs 130 for per kg cream, but outsiders give us more than Rs 220. We are not fools to sell our cream to the department,” said Robi Thapa, a Garampani villager. According to the department source, the dairy development department has asked the local autonomous council to revise the sale and purchase rates of cream immediately.“Now we are targeting the revival of the milk societies. The dairy department plans to involve 10 to 13 households, which will be given financial support from different rural development schemes to purchase cows,” the source from the dairy department said. After the renovation, the cream production centre will be capable of collecting 500 litres of milk per day and produce 200kg cream in a week.

Assam: Blast on rail track, 3 coaches derailed

Haflong:  A powerful bomb blast triggered by suspected militants derailed three bogies of the Barak Valley Express on Wednesday in central Assam's North Cachar Hills district, where an indefinite bandh by the DHD(Nunisa) was on.

Casualties, if any, were not immediately known as the incident occurred in a remote area.

The train proceeding from Lumding to Silchar in North Cachar district derailed due to the blast at a place between Lower Haflong and Bagatar railway stations.

The blast damaged the railway track and the movement of trains was stopped.

Railway and police officials had rushed to the site for rescue and relief operations.

The Dima Halam Daogah (Dilip Nunisa) group had called for an indefinite district bandh from today demanding the arrest of district Additional Superintendent of Police Amitav Sinha and four DHD (Jewel) faction cadres for allegedly assaulting one of its cadre on October 23 at Gabao Village.

Business establishments and shops kept their shutters down, educational institutions remained closed, while vehicles were off the roads, the sources said.

Jatinga International Festival opens in Assam

atinga (Haflong), Oct 27 (IANS) The first Jatinga International Festival opened here Wednesday with Assam Governor J.B. Patnaik inaugurating the three-day event organised to familiarise people from outside the region with Jatinga village.

Jatinga, in North Cacher Hills district, is known for the mysterious phenomenon of birds committing mass suicide during winters. This peculiar phenomenon has created a lot of curiosity among ornithologists but few have found any plausible explanation so far.

For the next two days, the festival will showcase the rich heritage of the multi-ethnic district. Singer Lucky Ali is slated to entertain visitors Friday night.

Arjun Y. Dhanwatay, a tour operator from Nagpur, who has been invited for the festival, said the area needs better infrastructure to become a tourist spot. “There is hardly any accommodation facility here for tourists,” he said

Heaven Blue shine in final

SARAT SARMA

Heaven Blue AC (in white/orange) and Guidai Club
 players in a midfield tussle at Haflong on Monday. 
Telegraph picture

Nagaon, Oct. 25: Heaven Blue Athletic Club were crowned champions in the Nindu Langthasa Memorial Inter-Club Football Tournament, defeating Haflong League champion Guidai Club 4-2 via tiebreaker at NL Daulogupu sports complex at Haflong today.

The match was a goalless draw till the end of the scheduled time.

The rival Guidai club goalkeeper Naiklai skilfully saved Heaven Blue striker Thangdao Langthasa’s beautiful shots in the 22nd and 42nd minutes of the match.

In the tie-breaker, Heaven Blue players Thangdao, Van Lal, Biswajeet and Robert scored their shots. “We plan to make it a big budget tournament from next year. Stress is on the introduction of outside teams,” said Dima Hasao DSA general secretary Thaisho Daulogupu.

Guidai Club entered the final defeating Mineret Club 2-0 in the first semi-final on Saturday.

Heaven Blue Athletic club defeated Waimijing Club 3-1 in the second semi-final.

Jatinga Festival from October 27

Anup Biswas

Brisk preparations are underway to hold the first ever International Jatinga Festival 2010 at Jatinga on October 27-29. A host of dignitaries, delegates and guests from different parts of the state and the country have confirmed their participation in this event. Shri  Janaki Ballav Patnaikji, His Excellency the Governor of Assam is expected to grace the event as the Chief Guest in the Grand Opening Ceremony at 11.00 AM on  October 27 at the Jatinga Village Playground. The guest list includes tour operators from Maharashtra, travel writers from the various parts of the world and group of erudite speakers for the seminar, apart from strong groups of media persons from New Delhi, Guwahati, Silchar and Diphu. A number of programmes have been chalked out to highlight the Dima Hasao district as a potential tourist destination. Eco-tourism like trekking to the Hempeopet Peak, visits to different community villages and tourist spots, exhibition-cum-sale of crafts and cuisine would be some of the highlights of the festival.

There would be a Seminar on “Promotion of Tourism in the Dima Hasao District: Problems & Prospects”. Noted Naturalist Dr Anwaruddin Choudhury would present the Key Note Address and act as Moderator in the Seminar. Moreover, On-The-Spot Drawing competition for children and Quiz Competition for students would be part of this event.

The star attraction of the closing night of the event on October 29 would be Lucky Ali, celebrity Singer-Composer-Actor from Bollywood. Further, music bands like Native Rising from Dimapur, Street Stories from Shillong, Moon Wind from Guwahati, Rising Orchestra from Silchar and local bands like Maestro, Tormentor, Little Geeks and Freaks, and New Beginning have confirmed to participate in An Ode to Harmony: Musical Extravaganza Night on October 28-29 at the Dima Hasao Sports Association playground. Shri Joyram Engleng, the Chief Executive Member, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council would be the Chief Guest in the Closing Ceremony on October 29.

This festival is a humble effort towards spreading message of communal harmony amongst the people of the area, sustaining peace and tranquility, emotional integration and removing the spell of despair from the mind-space of the people. And above all, the event would open up new vistas for tourism promotion.

Shri Kulendra Daulagupu, Secretary General of the Reception Committee said that ‘The Jatinga Festival 2010 is an attempt to regain the Paradise that was lost due to the various socio-political dynamics and insurgency movement in the Dima Hasao district of Assam.” Shri Moril Massa, EM I/c Tourism and Chairman of the Reception Committee, expressed that the people of the Jatinga village and Haflong in particular and that of the Dima Hasao district in general are ready to welcome the guests from different parts of the state and the country. Shri Debojeet Thaosen, the CEM of DHAC and President, Executive Board of the JFOC said “It is a move towards making the Dima Hasao district a tourism destination from terrorism destination and would bring in changes in the mind-set of the people in the Dima Hasao District towards a better and self-reliant future.”

Heaven Blue book final berth

Heaven Blue AC (white/red) and Waimajing Club players tussle 
for the ball during the semi-final at Haflong on Sunday. 
Telegraph picture

Nagaon, Oct. 24: Heaven Blue Athletic Club will meet district club league champions Guidai Club in the Nindu Langthasa Dima Hasao inter-club football tournament final at N.L. Daolagapu Sports Clomplex in Haflong.

In the second semi-final today, Heaven Blue defeated Waimajing Club 3-1 in a tight contest.

Phangdao Langthasa scored the lead for Heaven Blue in the 34th minute after which, the side went to the lunch-break, leading 1-0.

However, Pradip Nunisa scored the equaliser for Waimajing in the 51st minute.

The parity was, however, short-lived as Langthasa struck again a minute later before the celebration among Waimajing supporters had even subsided.

Vanlal fired the third goal for Heaven Blue in the 73rd minute.

Trailing by two goals, the Waimajing men launched a series of attacks but the Heaven Blue men made no mistake in guarding their castle to walk away with a comfortable victory.

On Saturday, Guidai Club blanked out Minereet Club 2-0 in the first semi-final.

The tournament that commenced on August 29 was suspended midway since September 12 because of ground conditions and inclement weather.

Altogether 11 teams from across the district participated in the tournament.

Shocking tale of rebel in Rolex - SUV, laptops, phones tumble out of DHD-J kits

ANUP SHARMA
Guwahati, Oct. 21: DHD-J commander-in-chief Niranjan Hojai wore a Rolex worth Rs 1 lakh, never mind the fact that the people he “fights for” make do with less than Rs 15,000 a year.

One lakh rupees, in fact, is the per capita income of seven persons in the district.

The luxury watch is just one of the exorbitant items that tumbled out of the militant leaders’ vanity kits when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) began probing a case of defalcation of funds in North Cachar Hills (now Dima Hasao).

The seizure list attached to the NIA chargesheet, which was submitted to the special judge of the agency last Tuesday, revealed shocking details about the extravagant lifestyle of these militant leaders, who waged a war against the state for “the people of the district”.

While Hojai sported a Rolex wristwatch, policemen seized gold chains and rings from other accused persons.

Two bags full of cosmetic items, a shaving kit and shampoo, were also seized from outfit’s chairman, Jewel Gorlosa.

The list also contains sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and electronic gadgets.

While the gadgets seized include high-end laptops from Sony, Lenovo, Compaq and N82 and E90 handsets of Nokia, the vehicles are mostly Scorpio and Bolero.

The extravagance makes for an ugly contrast to the condition of the district, considered one of the most backward in the state, with a population of 1,86,189 (according to the 2001 census).

The district lacks even basic civic amenities like schools, hospitals and roads.

While there are only 676 lower primary schools and 175 Middle English schools to cater to more than 55,000 children below 14 years of age, the number of arts and science colleges in the district is an abysmal four.

The figures in the health sector are just as shocking — with only just one hospital and five primary health centres for the entire population.

A source in the NIA revealed that Gorlosa, who was arrested from Bangalore in June last year, was caught spending exorbitant sums at health clubs.

Besides the gadgets, a huge amount of cash was also recovered from the accused who were close to Hojai and Gorlosa, the chargesheet revealed.

Indigenous hill tribes demand bifurcation of NC Hills

GUWAHATI, Oct 6: Indigenous hill tribes of North Cachar Hills district (NC Hills) have once again appealed to the State Government to bifurcate the district into two parts – one for Dimasas and the other for non-Dimasa people. They have also expressed their displeasure at the decision of the State Government to rename NC Hills to Dima Hasao district.
Various non-Dimasa organizations today submitted a letter to the State Urban Development minister and Chairman of the Group of Ministers, Dinesh Prasad Goala in Guwahati.
NC Hills Indigenous People’s Forum president A Thong Lenthang said,“Formation of one’s homeland in somebody’s ancestral land is direct violation of the human rights of the indigenous people. The State Government is well aware of the ethnic unrest in the district because of clashes between the Dimasas and the indigenous tribes. Thousands of innocent people have lost their lives in these clashes. It is about time that a right decision is taken to restore peace in the region.”
Lenthang said the non-Dimasa tribes of NC Hills have taken serious objection to the State Government’s decision of changing the nomenclature of the district to Dima Hasao. He said while doing so the Government did not take into account vital factors like population.
Non-Dimasa tribes have demanded bifurcation of NC Hills into two parts – one for Dimasas with its headquarters at Maibang and one for non-Dimasas with its headquarters at Haflong.

NIA traces funds trail to hawala

Guwahati, Oct. 20: The NIA chargesheet, in connection with the defalcation of funds available with the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, has revealed that the accused created false and fabricated documents to transfer huge sums of money.

The funds were channel-ised through hawala operators in Guwahati and Calcutta.

The chargesheet, which yesterday named 16 people, including DHD (J) top brass Jewel Gorlosa and Niranjan Hojai, was filed based on case no. 02/09 of NIA which was registered on June 5, 2009.

“The funds meant for development in the district were channelised to reach the arms smugglers, who smuggled in arms and ammunition and supplied it to DHD (J) to commit acts of terror and violence,” said the chargesheet.

“Mohit Hojai, the then chief executive member of the council, directed one of the accused, Karuna Saikia, to issue supply orders to the firms of one accused Jayanta Ghosh without inviting tenders or quotations,” said the chargesheet, adding that cheques were later issued in the name of some non-existing persons or firms.

The cheques were issued without receiving any supply of materials.

Hojai later directed Jibangshu Paul, Uttam Phonglosa and Dilip Phonglo to encash the cheques from the SBI branch at Haflong.

“The amount was delivered to Hojai through his authorised representatives,” the chargesheet said. “It was later sent to Niranjan Hojai for procurement of arms and ammunition.”

DHD(J) insurgent shot at in Haflong, seriously injured

Mourang Dimasa, captain of pro-peace talks Dima Halam Daogah-Jewel faction was shot at by unidentified gunman near Assam’s North Cachar Hills district Haflong town on Sunday evening, around 6.30 pm. Three bullets were fired upon the insurgent which injured him seriously. The bullets hit Mourang on his heart, hand and the right leg.

                                      At present, the captain of the DHD(J) group has been admitted to  Haflong Civil Hospital. Doctors have revealed that Mourang is out of danger now. Meanwhile, Police is carrying out search operation against those unidentified miscreants in the hill town Haflong.

DHD-Jewel insurgent shot at

Haflong (Assam), Oct 17 (PTI) An insurgent belonging to the pro-peace talks Dima Halam Daogah-Jewel faction was shot at and injured by an unidentified gunman in central Assam's North Cachar Hills district this evening, official sources said.DHD-Jewel 'commanding officer' Maurang Dimasa was fired upon at Topasia, under Haflong police station, around 6.30 pm, the sources said.Dimasa with three bullet injuries was admitted to Haflong Civil Hospital.

History of DIMA HASAO

Dima Hsao district was a part of Kachari Kingdom before 1832. The kingdom was extended from Jamuna in the North to the foot-hills of Lushai Hills in the south & from the Kopili in the west to the Angami & Katcha Naga hills beyond the Dhansiri in the east. The Dimasa Kachari kings had their Capitals successively at Dimapur, Maibang, Kashpur & lastly at Horitikor ( Karimganj district near Badarpur ). In 1830, the Dimasa king Gobinda Chandra was assasinated by his own general Gambhir Singh, after that the British annexed the southern part of the kingdom on 14th August 1832 under the doctrine of Lapsi. The rest was ruled by last Dimasa General Tularam. In 1837 a portion of Tularam’s kingdom was further annexed to the British Empire & constituted into a sub-division of Nagaon district in 1837 with Head quarter at Asalu. In 1854, on the death of Tularam, the remaining portion of his kingdom was finally annexed to the British Empire & added to the Asalu sub-division. In 1867 this sub-division was abolished & apportioned into three parts among the districts Cachar, Khasi & Jaintia Hills & Nagaon. The present Dima Hasao district was included in the old Cachar district with Asalu being only police outpost. In 1880, this portion was constituted into a sub-division with Head quarters at Gunjung under Cachar district. This head quarter was shifted to Haflong in 1895. Since then Haflong continues to be the Head quarter. In 1951, after commencement of the constitution of India, Dima Hasao as specified under paragraph 20 of the sixth schedule to the constitution, ceased to be a part of Cachar district. This part along with Mikir Hills constituted a new civil district namely “ United district of North Cachar & Mikir Hills” with effect from 17th November, 1951. According to the provision of sixth schedule, two different councils were constituted later on, viz., North Cachar Hills District Council & Mikir Hills District Council within the geographical boundary of that district. Dima Hasao District Council was inaugurated on 19th April, 1952. In 2nd February, 1970, Government declared an independent administrative district, viz., North Cachar Hills District with the geographical boundary of autonomous North Cachar Hills district council. It may be mentioned here that at present this autonomous council possesses administrative control over almost all departments of the district except Law & order, Administration & Treasury Deptt. 

HAFLONG: Up in the rugged terrains stands Assam’s only hill station Haflong, where one can see the rainbow down below. It is the Dist. Head Qr. of Dima Hasao District. The hills emerge from the heart of Assam like chorus of silent hymns & rise up to the sky like the crescendo. The sportive clouds play around the cliffs like gleeful children. The limitless green rolls away to distant horizon in a beautiful rhythm. Hilly Assam is a land of sensuousness. A heaven to the senses where one touches the sweetest dream with one’s finger. The mountains float in the distant sky. The clouds descend & snugly lie below one’s feet. 
JATINGA: Just 9 kms from Haflong. World wide famous for bird mystery (Birds Harakiri). The migratory birds come during the months August to November & it becomes the ornithologist's attraction. From the elevated watch tower one can see them yielding to their death wish & their little plumage dropping down. 

MAIBANG:Located on the bank of the river Mahur and 53 kms from Haflong. Maibang once flourished as the capital of Dimasa, kachari Kingdom. Stone house & temple of Kachari king & other ruins of the kingdom are the main attractions of the place. 

UMRANGSO:112 km from Haflong & 224 kms from Guwahati .The huge Hydel plant has come up under North East electric Power Corporation( 

Near Umrangso, there is a Hot spring( GARAMPANI),the water of which is believed to have medicinal value. 

PANIMOOR:Approximately 120 kms away from Haflong, & 8-10 kms from Haflong Tiniali,The Kopili River turns into a thrilling waterfall, rolling over the rocks of Panimoor. 
Other beautiful places of Dima Hasao are Laisong, Semkhor, Gunjung, Khorongma, Harangajao, Pathar Nalla waterfalls in the Khrungming Reserve