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AUDF leader
Kamalendu Bhattacharjee
resigns
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| OUR CORRESPONDENT TELEGRAPH INDIA |
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Silchar, April 15: A dissidence-ridden Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) received a big blow today when its senior vice-president Kamalendu Bhattacharjee resigned from his post and gave up the primary membership of the party as well. Bhattacharjee today said he sent his letter of resignation to party president Badruddin Ajmal yesterday. A former Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Bhattacharjee had of late been distancing himself from the AUDF because it “had failed to provide adequate stimulus to the cause of secularism”. He added salt to the AUDF’s misery by announcing that he was thinking of returning to the Congress, which was already gloating after four members of the Barpeta unit of the minority party crossed over last month. One of the Congress entrants was the party’s Barpeta district unit president, Minhazur Rahman. However, Bhattacharjee may find the going tough as both the Assam PCC and the Silchar District Congress Committee are divided on the question of welcoming him back. He was the Congress’ member of the Rajya Sabha from Assam for a single term (1984-1990). A section in the Congress believe that Bhattacharjee lost his credibility when he opposed Silchar strongman and Union heavy industries minister Sontosh Mohan Dev during the past few years. Dev today made it clear that he was still opposed to his former aide getting a berth again in the national party as “his track record in the past was not wholesome and it was not in the interest of this party”. Bhattacharjee was expelled from the party for his anti-party activities after he joined the AUDF and contested on an AUDF ticket in the last Assembly poll against the official Congress nominee from Udarbond in Cachar district. Bhattacharjee lost the election. Congress sources said Bhattacharjee called Dev at least twice here yesterday, but they added that he was not given any indication whether he would be inducted again in the national party. After Rahman’s entry, the Congress had stated that the former AUDF leader’s joining the party was the beginning of a new political realignment and that the party had received feelers from others in the AUDF indicating their willingness to join. |
Kolkata nuns killed, attacker dies of injuries
April 17th, 2008 - 1:07 am ICT by admin
Kolkata, April 16 (IANS) In a shocking incident, two nuns were killed late Wednesday when an unidentified man attacked them with swords at their mission here, police said. The incident took place at Gurudham, a popular mission in eastern Kolkata, and the attacker also died of injuries.
“At around 9.30 p.m., a man tried to force his way into the mission with a sword. On being refused entry, he attacked the nuns and monks. The head of the mission Sangeeta Devi and another nun named Dulu Datta were killed. The attacker also died. A monk named Anandakamal Brahmachari has been admitted to hospital in a critical condition,” Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) Jawed Shamim told IANS
He added: “The man had been frequenting the mission since Monday and introduced himself as Kalipada Das. But neither his real identity nor the motive behind his actions have been clear so far. There are multiple injury marks on his head. We are also trying to find out if he killed himself or the nuns and monks attacked him in self-defence.
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Post-mortem of bloodbath
- Deadly desperation to return to ashram helm - Mamoni’s kindness led to tragedy: Devotees |
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| A STAFF REPORTER TELEGRAPH INDIA | ||
The desperation of a man undergoing psychiatric treatment to return to prominence in Gurudham triggered the bloodbath in the spiritual organisation on Wednesday evening, said insiders of the 93-year-old institution. As devotees thronged the sprawling Kankurgachhi campus to pay their last tributes to Samhita Roy — head of the Akhanda Mandali — the only question doing the rounds was how anyone could kill their favourite Mamoni. Kalipada Das, a former monk with the institution, stabbed Samhita and her aide Dulu Dutta to death. Das, who was later beaten to death, had also attacked another monk, Ananda Kamal Brahmachari, whose condition is still critical. “Das was desperate to play a major role in running the organisation. His desperation made him a psychiatric patient and Mamoni even sent him to a doctor for treatment. How could he kill Mamoni?” asked Supriyo Kar, the joint secretary of the West Bengal chapter of the Akhanda Mandali. Mamoni, the head of the institution since the death of its founder Swami Swarupananda Paramahansa Deva in 1984, has been running the organisation with the help of a 12-member executive committee. “He (Das) always wanted to be on the executive committee, but we did not want him because he had strayed from the teachings of the Mandali,” said Arun Dey, a devotee and part of the institution since 1964. According to him, the institution has a history of power play over control of the executive committee. In the last election in November 2007, two groups even clashed with each other, said a devotee. “Das thought that Mamoni had spoilt his chances of making it to the executive committee and that’s why he might have killed her,” said Samar Dutta, another devotee. The executive committee controls the Akhanda Mandali’s properties in Bengal and other states and also runs its publishing and herbal medicine units. Estimates suggest that the assets under the executive committee’s control are not less than Rs 500 crore. The spiritual organisation has over 1,000 branches across the country and Bangladesh and an impressive list of devotees, including Union minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi. “I was a direct disciple of Swarupanandaji. I am shocked at what has happened at Gurudham,” said Das Munshi. Over 500 devotees gathered at the Kankurgachhi address after Mamoni’s body was brought to the campus on Thursday. Holding Das responsible for Mamoni’s death, they were asking how the former monk, thrown out of the institution eight years ago, could enter the campus. Police, however, are yet to ascertain the motive behind the killing. “We could not examine the monks today as they were busy performing the post-death rituals. We will start collecting their statements from tomorrow,” said Jawed Shamim, the deputy commissioner of police (detective department), on Thursday. |
Project to be completed within 3 years
From Our Spl Correspondent Assam
Tribune
NEW DELHI, April 17 – Acknowledging that the gauge
conversion project in Assam has been delayed, the Railway
Ministry has said it has reworked the schedule and the
project is likely to be completed within three years.
Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State
for Railways R Velu said that the
Lumding-Silchar
gauge conversion project has been delayed due to
security reasons. The State Government has been asked to
provide adequate security.
“We are planning to complete the project by 2011,” he said.
The gauge conversion was earlier scheduled for completion by
2009.
The Minister disclosed that during the 10th Plan period, the
Railways has managed to complete 335 km of the targeted 397
km.
Rattled by the prevailing situation in
the hill district of North Cachar, the Ministry of
Home Affairs had last week held a series of meetings with
the officials of State Government and the Railway Ministry
to put in place an effective mechanism to restart project
work.
Project work in the area had suffered because of increased
targeting of the railway officials and workers by the
militant outfits.
Meanwhile, Velu said, the funds for gauge conversion
projects have been increased and some of the projects are
being funded through internal generations.
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Reality show or reality check?
Debojit gears for another challenge - Singer gears for another challenge two years after his grand victory |
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| IDOL CHAT | ||
After quite a number of years, I performed at a
Rongali Bihu function this year. It was thrilling, to
say the least! A packed calendar forced me to stay
away from Bihu celebrations the last few years. But
this time, I was determined to squeeze out time from
my hectic schedule to be in Assam during Bihu.
And what a Bihu it was!
It all started with the Mukoli Bihu programme
organised by the All Assam Students’ Union at Judges
Field on Sunday. Had it not been for these Bihu
programmes, I would have not known how much the people
love me.
I wish I could have spent a few more days and soaked
in all the love and affection. But my engagement with
Star Plus’ reality show, Jo Jitega Wohi Superstar,
forced me to rush back for the shooting.
Now, you must be pondering what made me take part in
one more reality show after what I have achieved with
your overwhelming support.
I wondered the same for a while too.
But after mulling over various factors, I decided to
say “yes”. First, for quite sometime now, my fans have
been wanting to see me on television again. Well, this
programme gave me that opportunity.
Second, if I had said “no”, a certain section of
people would have thought I am not game for a new
challenge. The challenge is not to prove myself to
others, but to myself. I always ask myself, have I
improved in the past two years? Did I evolve as a
better singer than what I was two years back? This
reality show will be the platform where I shall seek
answers to these queries.
As for the viewers, I am sure they will enjoy the
programme. Many of you who have already watched the
first two episodes aired last Friday and Saturday will
agree that the format of the programme is very
interesting.
I am quite satisfied with my performance so far. But
as I always say, you are my best judge. I am looking
forward to your support and blessings.
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Sahidul to
contest from Silchar’
From our Correspondent Sentinel Assam
NEW DELHI, April 11: AGP-P president and former Asom Chief
Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today said here that Sahidul
Alam Choudhury would be fielded as the united Opposition
candidate in Silchar parliamentary constituency in the
ensuing Lok Sabha polls to defeat Congress candidate Santosh
Mohan Dev. When asked on his homecoming (joining the AGP),
he said the final decision has not been reached as yet.
Minister lays
stress on total sanitation drive
From Our
Correspondent Assam Tribune
SILCHAR, April 11 – The People of Barak Valley are going to
have purified as well as healthy water in the coming days,
said Minister for Public Health Rihan Daimari at a press
conference organised in Circuit House on Sunday. At the
conference, Daimari along with consultative committee
focused on the future schemes to be implemented further in
Barak Valley.
Daimari laid emphasis on total sanitation campaign. He said
expected results have not been noticed and for this reason,
consultant committee has diversified it into district level
programme. This programme has already been introduced in
Goalpara, Kamrup, Hailakandi, Karimganj and in Cachar
districts.
As per the survey report of 2003, it was revealed that near
about 600 old schemes are defunct and there are lots of
areas which have not been covered. The committee took care
into the matter. One major important hindrance is that in
border areas, motor pump and other accessories are stolen
regularly from the plant. In this regard, the department is
seeking help from the district administration.
Arsenic a new threat for water is also present in Barak
Valley. In the first survey reporting the areas where
arsenic water was found, alternative water arrangement has
been done. Since second survey is going on, if there is an
arsenic affected area, there will be alternative water
arrangement too. It was also mentioned in the meeting that
arsenic-affected areas have been identified but arsenic
affected persons have not identified.
Nazrul Hussain, MLA and Consultative Committee member said
that the situation of Barak Valley is better than his
constituency. In 2008-09, there are 68 on going projects and
among them 60 numbers have got technical clearance.
State assures security to
BG project
From Our Spl Correspondent Assam
Tribune
NEW DELHI, April 11 – Assam Government today assured full security
cover to Lumding-Silchar Broadgauge
and East-West Corridor Projects to facilitate their smooth completion. For the
second consecutive day, the Home Ministry reviewed the internal security
scenario of the State. The meeting was chaired by Union Home Secretary Madhukar
Gupta and attended top officials of the Ministry and the State
Government.
According to sources, the Assam Government has pledged
adequate deployment of security forces at the sites of the projects.
The
meeting today reviewed the progress of the major Central projects in the State.
Sources said, 60 per cent of the BG project has been completed.
The
Centre, acting on pressure from the Railway Ministry and the NH Authority and
Union Minister Santosh Mohan Deb, came down heavily on the State Government to
set its act together.
The meeting today was said to be a follow up of the
meeting chaired by Union Cabinet Secretary in Guwahati a couple of months back.
Today, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister RKA Nair was also scheduled
to hold the review meeting with Assam Government officials. However, the meeting
was postponed at the last hour.
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Zubeen lends voice to
Tibet cause
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| A STAFF REPORTER TELEGRAPH INDIA | ||
Guwahati, April 9: After Icelandic singer
Bjork, it is the turn of Bollywood star Zubeen
Garg to lend his voice to the Tibetan cause.
The popular Bollywood singer revealed his plans to
organise a concert in
Mumbai to mobilise support for the Tibetans.
Garg attended a symbolic “funeral” organised by the
Northeast unit of the Tibetan Solidarity Committee at
Digalipukhuri here under the aegis of Tibetan
government-in- exile to mourn the “Chinese massacre”
in Tibet. The proposed funeral procession, however,
was put off as the district administration denied them
permission.
The maverick singer was in the midst of a storm in
China for chanting “Tibet! Tibet!” at the end
of a passionate performance of his song Declare
Independence, at a concert in
Shanghai recently.
Garg said he would seek the support of other Bollywood
stars to organise the rock concert at
Mumbai.
“Soon after my return to
Mumbai, I will make an appeal to my Bollywood
colleagues to join hands for the Tibetan cause,” he
said.
The Bollywood’s latest singing sensation is the second
popular Indian star after Bhaichung Bhutia to
voluntarily come out in support of the Tibetan cause.
Garg said he has always been a strong supporter of the
Tibetan demand for “genuine autonomy” to preserve and
promote their religion, culture and tradition.
The Tibetan community believes that such gesture from
“an iconic personality” like Garg would give a boost
to their “peaceful solidarity movement” launched to
protest as well as to draw the attention of the world
towards the “brutal repression” of Tibetans in Tibet
by the Chinese government.
Karma Yeshi, a member of the Tibetan parliament-in-
exile, hailed Garg for his support and said it was a
welcome development that more and more Indian icons
were coming out in support of their cause.
Tibetans community-in- exile in Northeast has launched
a three-day agitation since yesterday to express their
solidarity with their brethren back home who have been
victimised by a “repressive” Chinese government.
As part of the programme, around 500 representatives
of the community organised the symbolic rite today in
a sombre atmosphere.
As the effigies, symbolising bodies of those killed in
Tibet since the March 10 Chinese crackdown, were
brought to the venue of the demonstration at
Digalipukhori, the women demonstrators wept.
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Road horror for travellers between Kalain-Silchar Road |
| Cachar |
| OUR CORRESPONDENT TELEGRAPH INDIA |
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April 8: Ajanta Banik has rented a place in
Silchar just a few kilometres from her village home
simply to avoid commuting along the potholed stretch
to office everyday, which had earned her the disrepute
of being a habitual late-comer.
A resident of Bihara village in
Cachar district, she had to travel along the
unmotorable Induprabha Road connecting her village to
Silchar from Tarapur to Kalain.
Anyone travelling by car or bus between Kalain and
Tarapur locality in Silchar along this road will be
familiar with the nightmare one experiences on this
29-km stretch.
Banik, a 26-year-old state government employee, like
scores of other commuters who have to endure the
grinding journey to Silchar, had no other alternative
but to move to a rented accommodation in Silchar to
avoid the back-breaking journey.
Senior officials of the North Eastern Council’s PWD
wing, admitted that paucity of funds had come in the
way of repairing as well as re-developing this
all-important road. After 2002, the PWD wing of the
council has not undertaken any repair work on this
stretch, an official said.
The road, leading to the Rs 20-crore Barak
bridge, serves as an alternative to National Highway
44. But even the approach roads are in a deplorable
condition.
Fed up with the apathy of politicians, the district
administration and the PWD in repairing this stretch,
several NGOs organised road blockades and observed at
least two bandhs during the past three months.
But even these have not yielded any result.
According to the police, road accidents are now a
common occurrence, adding to the woes of commuters.
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