[ASSAM] 27/01/2005
01. Assam government under fire for R-Day blasts: Guwahati, Jan 27 : A day after four powerful explosions rocked Assam and army soldiers killed two civilians in a botched encounter, the Congress government is under fire from both opposition parties and the people. "The Congress government must accept moral responsibility and resign. There is total lawlessness in the state with militants able to easily strike at even the heavily guarded parade ground in Guwahati," Brindaban Goswami, leader of the main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AFP), told IANS. There were four powerful landmine blasts in Assam, including three at the state's main city of Guwahati, during Wednesday's Republic Day celebrations. Two of the explosions rocked the main parade ground in Guwahati in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Governor Ajai Singh, besides top police, army and civil officials. The third blast took place Wednesday night in Guwahati, wounding four people. Another blast occurred in the western Assam district of Bongaigaon. Police were unable to come up with any tangible explanation of how the militants were able to plant bombs inside the parade ground. They were also unable to identify the explosives used in the attacks. Adding to the confusion was the alleged encounter between militants and the army in Sialmari village, 45 km west of Guwahati, in which two people were killed and 12 wounded. Despite claims by the army that troops came under fire from militants that resulted in retaliatory strikes by the soldiers, local police and villagers tell a different story. According to injured villagers, army soldiers opened 'unprovoked firing' killing two innocent civilians and injured eight more. The army claims four of their soldiers were also wounded in the clash. "There is total chaos and panic with common people like us losing faith in the security forces," said an angry Durlav Sharma, a city doctor. Amid the chaos, what have irked people are comments made by the governor soon after the blast. "To say there is a security lapse is not correct. I would say security arrangements for the Republic Day was very good," the governor told journalists. But in an apparent bid to cool tempers, the chief minister admitted there was a major breach in security that enabled the militants to penetrate into the heavily guarded parade ground. "There is definitely a lapse in security and action will be taken against those found guilty for the breach," Gogoi said. "The ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) is responsible for the attacks." But claims made by the government that the outlawed ULFA is a 'spent force' and is on the verge of 'collapse' have turned hollow with the rebel group able to strike at ease even in the heart of Guwahati where some 30,000 security personnel were deployed for the national event. http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=65621 27/01/2005 02. Journalists at the receiving end after blasts Guwahati, Jan 26 : The highly embarrassed Assam Police brandished weapons to chase journalists to prevent them from getting Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's comments after two blasts rocked a Republic Day parade ground here Wednesday. It was a free for all with overzealous cops shoving and pushing journalists to stop them from meeting Gogoi, who witnessed the blasts that shook Judge's Field, the main venue for the Republic Day celebrations here. Assam Governor Lt. Gen. (retired) Ajai Singh unfurled the national flag amid total panic and chaos. Two injured policemen and some 10 shocked people were shifted to hospitals after two powerful landmines exploded one after the other in a space of 10 minutes. Soon after the Republic Day function ended, journalists at the ground tried to meet the chief minister to get his comments on the blasts. At this, security personnel took out their service revolvers and AK-47 rifles and started abusing the media. Gogoi, sensing trouble, intervened and apologised to the journalists. http://www.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=62995&n_date=20050127&cat=India 26/01/2005 03. Assam violence mars Republic Day Bombs in Guwahati, Assam, targeted a Republic Day parade Suspected separatists exploded five bombs, while police said they killed two people after a patrol was attacked by a mob. Elsewhere, Indian-administered Kashmir virtually shut down while Maharashtra cancelled celebrations after a stampede that killed at least 250 pilgrims. Security was intense in the capital, Delhi, as India showed off its military hardware in a huge parade. Melee Republic Day has in the past been targeted by separatist groups rejecting Indian rule. Police in Assam said a military patrol hunting separatists on Sialmari island on the Brahmaputra river killed at least two people after being attacked by a mob. Assam police intelligence chief, Khagen Sharma, told the BBC's Subir Bhaumik in Calcutta that the troops tried to reason with more than 100 villagers. But he said a melee ensued and troops opened fire after two colleagues were hurt. Assam authorities also said two bombs exploded in Hajo district and another in Bongaigaon district. Two more went off in state capital Guwahati, injuring at least four policemen, despite heavy Republic Day security. One blast was about 200 metres from where Assam Governor Ajai Singh was sitting for a parade. Chief of the military wing of the separatist group, the United Liberation Front of Assam (Ulfa), Paresh Barua, said it carried out the attacks. Ulfa is one of more than 20 rebel groups fighting for greater degrees of independence or tribal rights in India's north-east. Tanks, planes and helicopters paraded past President APJ Abdul Kalam and guest of honour, Bhutan's King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Floats and dancers representing India's different cultures were also involved in the 90-minute event. In Indian-administered Kashmir, about 500 people attended the main parade in the summer capital, Srinagar. The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says security was heavily deployed within two kilometres of the Bakhshi Stadium, which hosted the event. He says shops were closed and transportation shut down in the Kashmir Valley in response to a call by separatists fighting Indian rule. The separatists have waged their armed campaign in Kashmir, which is claimed by both Pakistan and India, since 1989 On Wednesday, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf sent a message to his Indian counterpart, saying: "I sincerely hope our two countries will be able to resolve all outstanding issues... peacefully." In India's western state of Maharashtra, the governor cancelled Republic Day celebrations following the death of more than 250 pilgrims at a stampede on Tuesday. The tragedy was triggered by a fire during a pilgrimage to the remote Mandhar Devi temple. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4208855.stm 26/01/2005 04. Bomb explosions, Opposition demand Gogoi's resignation: Guwahati, Jan 26 : In the backdrop of the bomb explosions at the Republic Day function here, the opposition AGP and BJP in Assam today separately demanded immediate resignation of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his alleged failure to control the law and order situation in the state. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) lambasted the Gogoi-led Congress government for its alleged failure to protect the lives of common people in the aftermath of the ULFA-sponsored bomb blasts in the state. "Today's incident in the main Republic Day function where the Governor and Chief Minister were present and last year's blast on Independence Day at Dhemaji reflected total failure of the government and their machinery", alleged AGP president Brindabon Goswami. Speaking to journalists at the R-day parade ground where the ULFA blasted two bombs injuring three, including a police personnel, an agitated Goswami said, "to demand Gogoi's resignation is an understatement as it is for the people to decide whether he is really fit to head the government". The ULFA have proved that the hollow claims of the government about tightened security was just a publicity stunt as the ULFA engages in violence at will, he asserted. "It is high time that he (Gogoi) should accept the moral responsibility himself instead of blaming the police officials and resign", he added. Meanwhile, BJP N-E Zonal Organising secretary V Satish in a press release here condemned the serial blasts in the city today and demanded Gogoi's resignation "for his utter failure in controlling the ever deteriorating law and order situation". PTI http://athens-olympics-2004.newkerala.com/?action=fullnews&id=65445 26/01/2005 05. Assam governor asks ULFA to reciprocate govt offer: Guwahati, Jan 26 : Amidst two bomb explosions at the main official Republic Day function here, Assam governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh today called upon the banned ULFA to reciprocate to his government's invitation for peace talks. In his R-day address, Singh said the government was keen to begin the peace talks with the ULFA which should also show reciprocal gestures. "The state government is keeping its door open for negotiations", he added. Following the ceasefire by the NDFB, the Centre offered to hold talks with them and accordingly asked it to nominate representatives for the peace talks, the governor pointed out. In the case of ethnic insurgent outfits DHD and UPDS, too, he said, the state and central governments were holding talks on their demands. Asserting "the law and order situation has improved", he said "the insurgents in desperation resort to sporadic attacks on soft targets". Remembering the extremist's bomb blast at the last Independence Day parade ground in Dhemaji killing 13 persons, including five children, Singh said, people condemned such cowardly acts of violence and serial blasts. Referring to the unprecedented floods last year causing immense loss of lives, infrastructure and property, he said, the Centre rendered prompt assistance to the state in terms of relief and rehabilitation materials and funds. The government had also undertaken several steps for improving the state's economy, rural development, employment generation avenues, besides mitigation of government employees problems in order to improve the work culture. PTI http://news.newkerala.com/india-news/?action=fullnews&id=65413 26/01/2005 06.Death of two civilians in Assam shrouded in mystery: Sualkuchi (Assam), Jan 26 : Mystery surrounds an alleged gun battle between soldiers and militants in Assam in which two civilians were killed and 12 wounded Wednesday. Inspector General of Police Khagen Sharma had earlier told journalists eight people were killed when soldiers opened fire on an angry mob at Sialmari village, 45 km west of here. Later in the day, Sharma confirmed only two civilians were killed and eight villagers wounded. "There was some confusion about the casualty figures as the area is remote and we got conflicting reports," he said But the controversial incident became murkier with an army spokesman claiming militants fired at the troops during a search operation in Sialmari, prompting the soldiers to return the fire. Residents of Sialmari, however, said the soldiers opened indiscriminate fire when villagers mistook them for robbers and challenged them in the early hours of Wednesday. The Assam government has ordered a probe into the incident. Col. Rajwant Singh, the army spokesman, said: "We had intelligence reports of some militants in the area and went to raid the village. We were first fired upon by militants and then we fought back." The army also claimed four of its soldiers were injured in the attack. Kuddus Ali, one of the injured in Sialmari, said: "We heard someone breaking the door of the home of our village headman and we thought it was some dacoits." Soon, a group of about 200 villagers armed with spears and machetes challenged the soldiers, not knowing who they were as the area was dark and foggy. "It was around 4 a.m. and very dark. The moment the soldiers saw us they started firing indiscriminately," said Abdul Rashid, another of the injured. "We did not know who they were." Hundreds of villagers later surrounded a local police station, demanding the soldiers be punished for killing innocent civilians. Two years back there was a similar incident in the same area when villagers attacked a group of army soldiers in civvies as they mistook them for militants trying to extort money. The soldiers opened fire, killing six villagers and wounding a dozen. http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?action=fullnews&id=65293 26/01/2005 07. Attacked by villagers, Armymen open fire, two killed NEW DELHI/GUWAHATI, JANUARY 26: A group of Army jawans shot dead two villagers and injured eight others after being attacked by a 1,500-strong mob, which mistook them for ULFA militants, at Sialmari Char, an island in the Brahmaputra, at Kamrup district today. The contingent proceeded to Sualkachi, where it registered an FIR with the local police. Assam IGP (Special Branch) N. Sharma said a group of jawans belonging to the 18 Grenadiers had gone to raid a village in Sialmari, under Hajo police station, when the villagers armed with country-made pistols and stones attacked them. The jawans had information that a huge cache of arms was buried in the island. ��The jawans retaliated in self defence, killing two and injuring eight others. Four jawans received bullet injuries,�� he said. http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=63504 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. Fund a student project in NYC/NC today! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EHLuJD/.WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. 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