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Four arrested for illegal possession

of elephant tusk

Pinna Kitnal Muklom

NAMSAI Aug 11: The Namsai police have detained four persons for possessiing elephant tusk illegally here on August 7 last.

The tusk weighing 1.920 kg was recovered from one Om Dhanuk of Dibrugarh, Assam. He allegedly received the tusk from Binay Kumar Chakma from Modoideep, Shanti Rajan Chakma from Dharampur in Changlang district and Lomga Munda from Namsai in Lohit district.

Officer in Charge Namsai Police Station G S Ranhotra informed that the accused have been booked under case no 47/10, U/S 379 IPC, R/W Sec 51 of Wildlife Protection Act.

Ranhotra said investigation is on and the police would find out more information on the elephant tusk rackets in the district.

Police will try to identify key people running the cartels responsible for the dwindling number of elephants tusks, he said. The police will leave no stone un-turned to book other suspects, Ranhotra added.

There have been reports from neighboring areas as well on theft of elephant tusk as well as elephants being stolen and smuggled.

It’s a break through for the police department as the arrest will give some lead to this big racket being carried out in the area and elsewhere.

Miao Police Station has four cases registered in this regard. Two cases were registered this year alone.

Not a single case have been solved so far anywhere. In international market Ivory-based products are a sprawling illegal business.

With this recent arrests, elephant owners have hope that all traffickers and poachers will be soon caught.

Borduria searched, AR denies use of force

Development, peace and harmony is what Tirap needs: Speaker

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: The 19 Assam Rifles accompanied by two Sub inspectors and four constables of Arunachal Police raided Borduria Village, Tirap after they were informed that seven AK 47 Rifles were kept hidden in the village on August 9.

During the operation, the forces picked up three people identified as Jenan Songlang, Tunwang Honcho, Munwang Lowing. They allegedly are members of NSCN (IM) with a history of carrying out extortion.

The villagers say that Forces rounded up the villagers and subjected them to inhuman torture while the 19 Assam Rifles maintains that there was no use of force and they were on a mission to get hold of the arms.

Though the Army denies any wrong doing during the course of operation in Borduria, some people, when contacted by this daily alleged that Army rounded up the houses and beat up the villagers and subjected the women to lewd comments.

“They kept talking about AK-47. If there were any, they would have found it as they combed every inch of the village” a villager said.

“We are harassed not only by the Army but NSCN as well. To save ourselves we either join the army or the NSCN” he said.

A top official of 19 Assam Rifles when contacted dismissed the allegations of the villagers and said that they acted on inputs received from the village. AR informed that on 4 Aug one Lalium Latey Lowang, a former member of 37 AR who was dismissed from service had hijacked a vehicle from Khonsa which was later apprehended by 1 AR in Nagaland. The APP later brought him and other accomplice from Nagaland. During interrogation, they allegedly informed about the arms buried in Borduria.

Speaker, Arunachal Legislative Assembly Wanglin Lowangdong who represents Borduria area is not amused. “ People of Tirap wants development, harmony and peace like the rest of the state” while adding that “if at all the AR wants to search the villages, they should do it without subjecting common people to unnecessary harassment and humiliation. The Security forces are making the situation more disturbed by not taking people into confidence”.

People of the state need to know what is happening in Tirap and they need to take up the cause of the district, the Speaker added.

Meanwhile the three who were picked up by the Forces have been released on conditional bail by the District magistrate. One of them is reported to be in seriously injured and is being sent to AMC in Dibrugarh for treatment. On the other hand, an official source said that one Chota Angam, an active NSCN IM cadre had called up (Mobile NO 94026 43316) the district authorities demanding release of the three people picked up by the Forces. He allegedly warned of dire consequences which led to the release of three cadres.

Car lifters nabbed

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Three criminals who are reportedly known to be history sheeters have been arrested by Khonsa Police recently. They are Boto Chophy Sema of Nikhokhu Nagaland, Khekhuto Sema of Newland, Nagaland and Loliam Latey Lowang of Borduria village, Tirap district.

On 5th Aug, a written complaint was received from Aday Tesia, Teacher stating that on 4th Aug’10 his driver Karim Khan had just started the vehicle TATA Sumo GRANDE bearing No. AR-13-3393 in Bank colony, Khonsa when Boto Chophy Sema forced the driver to drive the vehicle towards Hukanjuri on Khona-Bogapani-Joypur road.

On the way near Pansumthong village the other two accused Khenkhuto Sema and Loliam Latey Lowang boarded the vehicle. After crossing Pansumthong the two criminals overpowered the driver and his helper and tied them to a tree. The miscreants fled with the stolen vehicle to Nagaland. A lookout notice was issued by Khonsa Police. Then on 6th Aug’10 19 Assam Rifles Commandant informed the OC, PS, Khonsa that commandant of 1 AR Col. Panging had apprehended the criminals in Tuensang, Nagaland. The SSP, Tirap Palden rushed a police team to Tuensang and arrested the accused along with the stolen vehicle. Two pistols were also recovered from the accused. A case has been registered and investigation is on.

Dr Begi exits as NERIST Director

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Dr Joram Begi, Director NERIST has demitted the office after two fruitful years. The senior most teacher Prof J CHoubey will look after the affairs of the Institute till a full fledged Director is appointed. Dr Begi had joined the Institute when it was going through its lowest phase in Sept 2008 after ugly clashes between administration and the students.

When asked about the reasons for quitting the Institution, he said that “I have accomplished my mission of bringing the Institution to the right track. Today NERIST is on the right track”.

Dr Begi is credited with organizing the first convocation of the Institute thus clearing a backlog of 25 years last year with President Pratibha Patil giving the convocation adress. In Aug this year, the Institution organized its second convocation with former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam in attendance.

Though placements of students and unions with their set of agendas continue to be a major concern, this is perhaps in a long time in the history of the Institute that a head of the Institution exited gracefully unlike other times when they were forced to take the back door exit. Dr Begi who heads the Directorate of Higher Education said that the department needed his attention as four new colleges; seven polytechnics and NIT are opening this academic year.

Governor appreciates Tani Lipi

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Governor Gen J.J Singh is in all appreciation for the efforts put on by Tony Koyu in developing Tani Lipi as a common script for the people of the state.

Congratulating Koyu, who called on the Governor along with the members of North East Development Welfare Society at Raj Bhawan here this evening, Singh termed it as a right step in bringing various tribes under a single banner and a common platform. He considered Koyu’s contribution as historical in the history of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Governor further advised them to approach the state government for placing the proposal of adopting Tani Lipi as the state script in the Assembly.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor for adoption of Tani Lipi as states script.

During the meeting, Koyu through a power point presentation highlighted the various facets of the Tani Lipi with 26 alphabets developed from four sentences. He advocated that the state inhabited by various tribes with their different languages need to have a common language, adding that this would help promoting Unity and social harmony in the state.

Double treat by the quartet Linguists

Itanagar, Aug 11: It’s a rare achievement by quartet Arunachalis who successfully completed their double Master of Arts degrees. It’s a kind of record in itself ever in the history of Arunachal. The quartets who are engaged in projects with North Eastern Language Development programme under Central Institute of Languages, Ministry of Human Resource, Government of India were deputed to undertake their second MAs in Linguistics.

The office needed them to have sound knowledge of Linguistics and they were, hence, deputed to Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune.

Nending Ommo, who recently got selected as an Assistant Professor (English) and is posted at Rangfra Government College Changlang did his MA and M. Phil in English. Wanglit Monchang, Lachmi Cheda and Geyi Ete did their previous MAs in English, Education and History respectively. Nending Ommo is the Gold Medalist with 68.93%. Wanglit Monchang, Lachmi Cheda and Geyi Ete scored 66.86%, 65.68% and 57.31% respectively.

When asked about the motivation behind their collective decision of this unusual feat, in unison they opined that the love for their mother tongues, the fact that all the languages in Arunachal are endangered, the exigency to undertake sincere research works and need to document them correctly and near accurately inspired them. The regret they have is the absence of Linguistics Department in the state and the close ended scopes of the discipline.

They chorused that they sincerely wished that the state government catered to the needs of the endangered languages due to them, set up Linguistics Department in the lone University and encouraged the citizens to preserve and promote their mother tongues in order to preserve one’s identity. They decided to form a Linguistics Forum with other linguists of the state as a first step towards their anticipated motives.

Nyari Welley Open Women’s Football Tournament

CCGFC, CGFC register wins

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Chandannagar Girls’ Football Club (CCGFC) and Chimpu-Gohpur Football Club (CGFC) defeated their respective opponents with an identical 1-0 margin in the 1st Nyari Welley Open Women’s Football Tournament played at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Naharlagun this afternoon.

In the first match of the day, CCGFC beat CCFC 1-0 to register their first win. The team went ahead 18 minute into the match through Anya Maying which later turned out to be the match winner.

In the day’s second match CGFC pipped BN GFC 1-0 to earn full points. The match winner was scored by Gangte Yamar in 23rd minute.

ANSU reiterates demand

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) has drawn the attention of state chief minister Dorjee Khandu towards the memorandum submitted by union on 29th July, 2010 seeking his intervention on certain demands placed by them. The main demand of union included immediate establishment of government polytechnic college at Yachuli town and removal of Hage Khoda, commissioner of education from his present post. ANSU claimed that polytechnic was originally to be established at Yachuli but was unscrupulously later shifted to Ziro.

Terming such move as undemocratic, union informed that this has hurt the sentiment of Yachuli residents to a large extent. Urging government to act fair, ANSU demanded immediate restoration of polytechnic to Yachuli. ANSU also has demanded removal of education commissioner Hage Khoda, who has already overstayed his tenure of service period. Union also alleged in the past education commissioner has been found misusing his official position by indulging in favoritism act. ANSU has issued 12 days ultimatum to the state government to fulfill their two major demands failing this union will resort to democratic means of dharna which will be followed by series of bandh calls.

No forceful acquisition of land for rail project: Centre

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: The Union railway ministry has informed that no forcible acquisition of land to be carried out for construction of railway project. This was informed by Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniayppa in the Lok Sabha on August 5.

The Union Minister further informed that land for construction of railway project is being procured through the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and Railways (Amendment) Act 2008. The minister said this when he was asked by MP Takam Sanjoy whether Railways have any policy for procurement of land project, especially in tribal areas in reference to existing and future projects.

As per guidelines issues by railways in this regard, minimum possible land is to be procured in a transparent and compassionate manner through negotiation with provision of job to one member of the family of land owner, Muniyappa informed.

In another question, the minister further informed that railway line to Agartala in Tripura has already been extended. Extension of rail line from Agartala to Sabroom has been taken up and an amount of Rs 60 crore has been paid to the Tripura Govt for compensation to land owners.

PDS contractors demand early release of HTS

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: The PDS contractors of Arunachal Pradesh under the banner of Arunachal Pradesh PDS Carriage Contractor Welfare Association have demanded the state Govt for early release of the pending Hills Transport Subsidy payment.

In a three-point memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister on Aug 9, the Association threatened not to lift any food item from the FCI until their pending HTS bills are cleared.

The delegates led by MLAs Likha Saaya and Takam Pario said that state Govt is duty-bound to make the payments to the contractors as per deed of agreement signed between the state Govt and contractors. “Moreover, the court has given series of orders/ money decrees in favour of contractors for early release of the pending payments with 6% interest,” the memorandum said. The Association lamented that the case involving the state Govt and the Union of India/ FCI still lying pending with the court due to “carelessness” of authorities.

Apprising the Chief Minister of their grievances, the delegates told him that most of the contractors have already got bankrupted due to non-release of their pending bills and called for joint meeting of all the concerned parties to solve the impasse. The Association further informed that Chief Minister has assured to look into the matter seriously. State govt’s all efforts were still on to get the pending HTS bills released by the GOI at the earliest possible, the chief minister informed the delegates. The chief minister also assured to convene a joint meeting of all the PDS contractors, ministers concerned, advocate general and the Standing Council of the Supreme Court on the matter on August 18 next, the association said.

Meanwhile, the PDS contractors have decided to meet on Aug 17 next to chalk out further strategy on this matter.

Panchayat leaders for separate panchayat segment

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: The panchayat leaders of Topo Heche and Karga area have appealed the RD and Panchayati Raj Minister for creation of separate gram panchayat segment under newly created Giteripa circle. In a representation to the minister the panchayat leaders said the new panchayat should be created by bifurcating existing Dumporijo Gram panchayat.

Meanwhile, while appreciating the RD minister for his infrastructure development initiatives for Giteripa circle HQ, ASMs Tata Nalo and Damkam Bage have demanded redressal of numerous grievances raised earlier on various occasions.

Teachers demand salary

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: All Arunachal Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Teachers Association has drawn the attention of Kurung Kumey Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Director of School Education regarding non-disbursement of SSA teacher’s salary despite being released by state government along with other districts of the state. Association has expressed surprise and shock “over how district administration is not releasing the hard earned salaries of teachers who have become beggars because of non payment of salaries in the last four month”.

Association has urged Kurung Kumey DC to release pending salaries of SSA teachers within August 18th failing which teachers would launch democratic moments in front of DC office.

Appointments

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: School Management Committee of Government Middle School, Nitivihar, Itanagar has been formed with Tai Chali, Tamuk Tadu and Dr. Jumnee Rina as Chairperson, vice chairperson and member secretary respectively for a period of three years in a meeting held today.

Nanbia Tani, Nangram Ganesh and Yarda Raja have been selected as President, Vice President and General Secretary of Donyi-Polo Daria Hill Welfare Association in a meeting held recently.

The All Arunachal Pradesh Private Driver Union (AAPPDU) was formed in a meeting with Tassar Bishnu, Lakpha Tsering and Techi Jyoti as president, vice president and general secretary respectively for the welfare of private drivers, according to a release.

Social service

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: E-Sector Development Welfare Committee with support from Urban Development Department is conducting s social service within the sector on August 14.

CM to attend Cong prog

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu would attend the 68 anniversary of the civil disobedience movement organized by the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee at Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, Itanagar on August 14.

BJP questions irregular service

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Bharatiya Janata Party Anjaw district unit in a release today informed that people of district are facing major problem due to irregular service of Arunachal Pradesh State Transport buses. Party has sought urgent intervention of general manager APST in this regard. Taking advantage of poor APST bus service, private operators are charging lofty fare from citizens. This is clearly harming the interest of backward and poor residents of the Anjaw district, BJP release added.

Reconstitution

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: Arunachal Pradesh junior economics and statistical personnel’s welfare association has constituted new team of executive with Techi Jordu, Tali Sikom and Tamchi Kache as president, vice-president and general secretary.

Science seminar

ITANAGAR, Aug 11: District level science seminar 2010 on topic “India and World Science” of Papum Pare District will be held on 12th August at government higher secondary school, Naharlagun.

Lesson we can learn from Ranganadi HEP

Dear Editor,

The comment by Minister of Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh, that Dams are necessary to counter China and that India will lose negotiating position, is extremely absurd. Firstly, the comment comes from someone who should be actually defending the subject concerning his portfolio, secondly how on earth can a country counter another by constructing dams, let alone losing negotiating position ! While other countries are turning towards alternate renewable sources of energy viz. solar and wind, having acknowledged the problems associated with dams like silting, population displacement, negative upstream and downstream impacts, interlinking of rivers etc. India is headed the other way.

Few people know about the tall claims made with regards to a dam and what it actually delivers. The Ranganadi HEP stands testimony. Since its commissioning it has hardly ever been run to its full installed capacity, thanks to low standard hydrological studies. Yet it is claimed to be NEEPCO's most successful project ever! The diverted water is causing loss of cultivable land and erosion in the downstream areas near Doimukh and in neigbouring Assam. There has been much discrepancy in the compensation and rehabilitation/relocation package for the project affected families. The power supply scenario has not improved even a bit. Sadly, the actual people benefitting from a dam are not the ones affected by it. It remains a bitter fact that big dams have come up in areas inhabited by tribal and backward classes, populations with a feeble voice and low representation. I can only wonder what is on the mind of political leaders rampantly signing MOUs and student leaders demanding for their share of dams in their areas. May be they contemplate making Arunachal Pradesh the 'Power House' of India, inundate the whole state and displace the entire population.

Yours,

Bengia Abo (on email)

RIMS Imphal,

The Brave Fight, not wait to Die

Dear Editor,

I read the letter 'We die either way' (August 11, 2010) by a so called 'citizen' in The Arunachal Times'.

Whether the person is a citizen of Arunachal Pradesh or a person from North India is not known. But the entire style of thinking stinks of exploiting the natural resources by fooling Arunachal people with different ideas of destructive modes of development.

Why does the government not harness wind and solar energy which are the most eco-friendly? The 'citizen' should know that by constructing dams the North Indian politicians and our representatives will become billionaires. The elected fools of North East (be it from Arunachal Pradesh or Assam) don't know that their share will be less than 2% and in the long run we lose our land and become refugees like the Chakmas.

Yours,

Molokhu, Guwahati.

A CWG shame

Dear Editor,

Just after the Indian Premiere League (IPL) imbroglio, its now the time for the Commonwealth Games 2010 to create a new chapter of corruption and misdemeanour and to show off how Sports means "Money Minting Mania" and "Effective Arena for Politicizing the Sports". The dynamic spirit of sports may grow abnormally drowsy if rigid measures are not taken by the Government to ensure smooth functioning and fair utilization of the fund meant for Sports.

Jumli Rina, Dimapur (On email)

CWG is no prestige

Dear Editor,

Apropos the editorial "Potable water for all"( 7 August), it is a matter of utmost shame that the country which zealously boasts about "modernity" and "high economic rate of growth" sees to it that as many as 884 million of its own citizens are deprived of safe drinking water, 2.6 billion people can't afford basic sanitation facilities and 1.5 million innocent souls meet their death before attaining the age of 5. Instead of discovering water on the moon or equating India's "prestige" with the Commonwealth Games, it is high time our authorities guaranteed basic human rights to the crores of have-nots.

Yours

Kajal Chatterjee,

Kolkata(on email)

Who cares about a beauty contest?

Dear Editor,

Every morning I log in to your website to know what’s happening back in my home state.

I find the Reader’s Forum interesting and informative where ordinary citizens like us can raise genuine issues concerning the state and society.

But, was disappointed this morning to read petty and ridiculous articles like the one complaining about a even more ridiculous and hopeless beauty contest. Who cares?

Please spare us and refrain from posting such frivolous and petty issues. And the editor can surely do a better job next time and ignore such articles.

Yours

A citizen (on email)

The porous law

Dear Editor,

It is in appreciation of the article published in the Reader’s Forum “Not all Misuse APST Facilities” dated 10th Aug. I do agree with the feelings and contentions of the anonymous writer “Hurt Non-APST”. With other typical reasons Inter-caste marriage should be encouraged for national unity, bridging the difference of caste system in India, evolution of a liberal society doing away the existing conservative social order. However, it is also a bitter truth that some wards of Non-APST fathers married to Arunachalee women are grossly misusing the status of APST taking away the reservation meant for APSTs to their kitty. But there are some bonafide Non-Arunachalees who fighting away with the conservative culture which they belonged to solemnized inter-caste marriage with our sisters, illustrating irrefutable signification of their true love to our sisters, not other wise. Neither do they culture any intention whatsoever to let their wards misuse the status of APST. I have many close friends who solemnized love marriage with our sisters. We cannot attribute any other reason to their marriage other than their true love for our sisters.

However, the recent questions raised by the esteemed readers and students unions like Doimukh Student Union are also relevant and we extend our solidarity with their contentions. It is indeed a challenging problem which requires practical solutions from the government. Many non-APST are misusing the status of APST in our state. Those instances generally are resulted when our sister marries a non-APST and obtain ST certificates illegally for their children.

Legal proposition is clear for the status of Schedule Tribe. ST is by virtue of birth. Hence, a ST woman married to non-ST remains as a Schedule Tribe till her death and remains entitled to all benefits reserved for STs. However, these reservations and benefits cannot be extended to her children since they are borne to a non-APST father. Conversely, a general woman married to an APST cannot become an APST by virtue of her marriage with an Arunachal Pradesh ST. Defeating this arrangement is the loopholes in the illegal issuance of Schedule Tribe Certificates to the wards of ST women married to non ST grooms. This problem can be effectively and easily solved by the state government. Existing procedures for issue of ST certificate are porous. Gaon Buras, GPM, ASM, ZPM etc are empowered to identify the applicants and recommend to the authorities for issue of ST Certificate. Most of these authorities are illiterate and uneducated. To aggravate the problem, general practise to obtain the seal and Thumb impressions of these authorities for recommendation is to visit their residence politely with a cheap IMPL 375 ml bottle as a gift and easily obtain their recommendation. It indicates that IMPL bottles are authenticating and recommending the applications for Schedule Tribe Certificates. Now the logical question arises is - if they fraudulently or illegally recommend ST certificate for a Non-APST, what would be the punishment for their fraudulent recommendation? No punishment. Even if criminal proceeding is instituted against them on this count, they can easily escape with the Defense of “Bonafide mistake” and chapter will be closed.

Therefore, in consonance with the whistle blew by the Doimukh Students Union and other esteemed readers, I would suggest that state government should immediately amend the existing porous law governing the issue of Schedule Tribe Certificate in our state. A penal section needs to be incorporated entailing punishment to the authorities who wrongly or fraudulently recommends Schedule Tribe Certificates to Non-APSTs. Penal section should also be incorporated for serious punishment of the applicants who having the knowledge that he is not a bonafide APST applies for Schedule Tribe Certificate. Offences under this head should be categorized as non-bailable and cognizable. However, to meet the problem better, it would be wiser on the part of the state legislature to bring up a special Act repealing the existing porous act and bring out a fool proof procedure for recommendations and issue of Schedule Tribe Certificates exclusively to the Arunachal Pradesh Schedule Tribes and protect their interest.

Yours,

Tagum Jamoh

(On email), Advocate,

Gauhati High Court.

Don’t kills the golden goose

Dear Editor,

The debate on dams in terms of inclusive development and Indo-China politics has made Arunachal a scapegoat without paying any attention to the negative impact on people and its land. Linkage between rights and development was established by UN declaration on rights to development in 1986 which stated that "people are entitled to participate in, contribute to and enjoy economic, social and political development in which all fundamental rights and freedom can be fully realized. But in Arunachal people are the last one to know about the steps taken for development. In Arunachal the intention of government is to build about 100 dam with total capacity of 56,000 MW. This projects is considered as infrastructure which would pay back in hydro dollars and also estimated substantively to the state budget in coming years but at the cost of lives of people. Many issues regarding the negative impact of mega dam construction on environment and livelihood of people has been put forward by concerned citizens. In sociological view dam construction also lead to cultural and social marginalization, distinct customs, language of tribal. Take the case of Dibang project ,Idu mishmi language has been identified as one of the endangered languages by UNESCO as part of its endangered language pro gramme.

In 1957 Pt. Nehru in his forward to V.Elwin's "The philosophy of NEFA" as enunciated Tribal 'Panchasheela' stated that nothing should be forced upon the tribals.

Has our government forgetten the' Panchasheela of Nehru? We the people of Arunachal wants development and international security but not by killing the goose that lays golden eggs at one go.

Yours,

Annu Yudik (On email)

Delhi

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----Editor