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 

Taking up arms in the name of society is not the solution for the people.we have seen states like jammu and kashmir,west bangle, etc, there was no solution to the demand made by the moist or terrorist group.but there was so much lost of life of the innocent people, we can even date back to our own district were our own brothers got killed by our brothers just because of few selfish motive people. using the man power of illiterate and teaching them to take up arms in the name of society development,we can clearly see the present scenario of our own people where the government employed don't get salaries for 8 to 9 months all this is because we do not know our own basic rights given by the government.because of less educated people here comes the main cause why no peace prevails in our home land.. we forget to fight for the education,communication,medical facilities. there are hand full of dimasa educated. yet they ignore the issues because it cause no harm to them. we are still 100 years back when compared to any other society or tribe. and if now people are taking up the arms back we are only degrading our society.all the youths those who knows the importants of education young educated people much make a serious note of spreading the news of education..or else our younger brothers will grow under a shadow of guns..both dawn and dust will be a terror life till the last breath.
By- DEVASH HOJAISA

One dead, road and rail communication disrupted due to rains in Assam

Published: Saturday, Oct 9, 2010, 20:05 IST Place: Haflong | Agency: PTI

One person has died and both road and railway links between Assam's North Cachar Hills district and the rest of the country has been completely cut-off following continuous heavy rainfall for the last two days, official sources said here today.

One person, identified as 45-year old Isak Indu, died last night when his house was washed away by mudslides in Haflong town.

Meanwhile, rail communication has been disrupted with landslides affecting railway tracks at 28 places between Mahur and Maigrandisa in the Lumding-Silchar section with 40metres of track completely washed away.

NF railways have suspended rail services in the section till the tracks can be repaired and restored.

Road communication, too, has been disrupted in the district with the road connecting Haflong and Lanka severely damaged, sources said.

The water level of river Duyang has also been rising following heavy rainfall with several houses and animals washed away along with damage to paddy fields at Tahizubari area of the district.

Inter-district football

Inter-district football Oct. 7 : After a gap of 21 days, the Dima Hasao district football association will resume the Nindu Langthasa memorial inter-district football tournament at N.L. Daulogupu play ground at Haflong town from tomorrow, reports our correspondent from Nagaon.

Guidai Club meets Mineret Club in the first semi-final match. Heaven Blue Athletic Club meets Waimijing Club in the second semi final match next day.

Haflong Lake poisoned

Haflong (Assam), Oct 5 (PTI) Unidentified miscreants have poisoned the Haflong Lake, the main source of drinking water for Haflong town in Assam's North Cachar Hills district, leading to death of almost all fishes, official sources said today.

The residents of the town spotted floating dead fish this morning and informed the police who recovered four bottles of 500 ml of Thiogen chemical pesticide from the Lake.

The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident and warned the people of not using the water of the one-km long lake.

People largely depend on the water of the Lake for their daily use.

DNDF hints at return of militancy

SILCHAR, Sept 29: Militancy seemed to make a comeback in the trouble torn Dima Hasao, previously known as North Cachar Hills district as a new Dimasa outfit had been reportedly collecting money from the government employees to strengthen its base. Frustrated with the government’s mysterious failure in solving the problem of the Dimasa people as well as initiating the economic package, as promised by none other than the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on October 2, last year when the DHD (Jewel) surrendered arms, a group of Dimasa youths had formed an outfit called Dimasa National Democratic Front (DNDF) with more vengeance. Police had recently apprehended three rebels of the DNDF, including its finance secretary Gobre Dimasa alias Raj Kumar Langthasa and publicity secretary Jesi Dimasa alias Subith Langthasa. While Rajkumar was apprehended from Six Mile area of Guwahati, police arrested DNDF rebel Mithun Hagjer from Panchgram of Hailakandi district. Sources said, this newly formed outfit had been issuing demand notes to the government officials asking them to cough up rupees three lakh to rupees five lakh. This had once again created an environment of panic among the government servants. Meanwhile, Jewel faction of the DHD had already set October 2 as the ultimate deadline for the release of its jailed leaders like chairman Jewel Garlosa, ‘commander-in-chief’ Niranjan Hojai, vice-chairman Partha Warisa. DHD (J) had threatened that if the government fails to fulfill its commitment, they would again be compelled to take up arms. Similar threats were announced by Dilip Nunisa, the supreme of the pro-talk faction of the DHD, the group which had surrendered to the government seven years back. Nunisa had already informed that his cadres had started practising martial arts in the designated camps they were housed in to keep themselves bodily fit. On October 2, 2009, the Jewel faction of the DHD laid down arms to the Chief Minister. The rebel group was led by its ‘C-in-C’ Hojai, who in subsequent times, vanished from the government custody and dramatically resurfaced when the investigation in to the multi-crore financial scam was handed over to the CBI. Government had, in the meantime, appointed PC Haldar as its emissary to talk to the jailed rebel leaders and secondly changed the name of the district to Dima Hasao. But this again angered the non Dimasa tribes, which had plunged into agitation under the banner of Indigenous People’s Forum. Even some non Dimasa tribes teamed up to form a militant outfit called Hill Tigers’ Force to push forward the demands for bifurcation of the district into two autonomous council, one for the Dimasa and the other for the non Dimasa.
THESENTINENEL