[Assam] Look What I Found!
Have been browsing the Assam papers. And the following was the leading story in the Sentinel yesterday. After a spate of ISI sightings and 'ISI nabbings' in Assam, duly reported for our benefit by a variety of netters, including journalists, I asked a question of one of these journalists sometimes back what happens to these suspected ISI elements and what crimes they are charged with. The report below finally gives us a clue. What I am curious about is the consternation of leading citizens reported. If I had to go by what I read it means: The 'suspected ISI agents ' are guilty, but were set free by the courts because the police and the state govt du-jour are inept and could not prove their case. I say du-jour ( of the day), because one of the complainers used to rule Assam for quite a number of years. It raises some questions in my mind: A: If the concerned pillars-of-society are correct about the guilt of the 'suspected ISI agents', what do they know that the police did not? Should they have raised their voices and come out to testify ? Or at the very least tell the police what they knew. Was it not their patriotic duty? B: What is the crime associated with being a 'suspected ISI agent'? Is there some Indian law that prohibits someone from being an ISI agent, self-styled or so labeled by pillars-of-society or by anyone who is not an ISI agent? It really boggles the mind. C: Is police ineptitude something new, that they have been unaware of? If I am not mistaken, the complainers include an ex-CM, an ex-Chief Secy and an ex-Police Chief . Wouldn't people want to know what measures they took to improve the quality of policing? Finally, I am of course relieved to notice that there have not been much IS sightings reported to assamnet in recent months. Perhaps they have all been 'nabbed' and Assam's scourge has been finally eradicated. Or just re-habbed and released after years of detention, raising the pillars-of-society's hackles. What do netters think? cm *** Government's role on release of suspected ISI agents severely criticized By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, June 14: Former Asom Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former Asom Chief Secretary JP Rajkhowa and former DGP HK Deka today expressed serious concern over the release of as many as ten suspected ISI agents by the court for the failure of the Assam Police to prove charges against them. They termed it as a total failure of the Government and a serious threat to the internal security of the country. Mahanta even said the incident has once again proved Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's soft stand towards the ISI and Islamic fundamentalists. However, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) preferred not to air any comment on the issue now. Talking to The Sentinel, Mahanta said: It was due to the bold stand taken by the then AGP Government that police could arrest as many as ten ISI agents on the basis of strong ground, but those ISI agents have been set free due to negligence on the part of the Tarun Gogoi-led Government. Either the police didn't investigate the case deeply or the prosecutor was not given the required briefing by the State Government or the State Government took a soft stand in the case. Whatever may be the case, it has proved once again that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is soft towards the ISI and fundamentalists. This is undoubtedly a serious threat to the internal security of the country. It may be mentioned here that the 10 suspected ISI agents had been arrested during the tenure of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta as Chief Minister of the State. Blaming it on the Assam Police, former Asom Chief Secretary JP Rajkhowa said since it is a serious matter and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs should step in. Talking to The Sentinel, Rajkhowa said : If the ten are not ISI agents, the Assam Police is responsible for holding them so long on mere suspicion. After their arrest, did the Assam Police ever consult the RAW and IB, given the fact that the issue was so serious and a grave threat to the internal security of the country? Rajkhowa further said: The Assam Police can still detain them as they are a threat to national security. They can still be arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) and their cases may be referred to an advisory committee headed by a retired judge of the High Court. The Assam Police is actually incompetent to handle such cases. Former Asom DGP HK Deka was also surprised at the release of the 10 suspected ISI agents. Talking to The Sentinel, Deka said: It's not only an unfortunate incident, but also a threat to the internal security of the country. When the suspected ISI agents were arrested, sufficient incriminating documents were seized from their possession. Maybe, the police didn't investigate the case
Re: [Assam] Look What I Found!
The ISI would foment trouble in India and the RAW would do the same in Pakistan. This is the game played by the States and is a part of the statecraft. What I find revolting is: the sight of the corpses of the Biharis ( some of them assimilated into the Oxomiya society and so the term is inapplicable) gunned down by ULFA cadres ( Madhrurya Gohain's name pops up here) and also the sight of Madhurya Gohain's corpse that lay like a slaughtered animal in the TV pictures. These are entirely unnecessary. We should not go out to see for whom the bell tolls, for it tolls for all of us. The politicians in question are neither less nor more than their do-alikes in any part of the world, be it Assam, be it India, be it the US. It is a big farce. Uttam Kumar Borthakur --- On Tue, 17/6/08, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Assam] Look What I Found! To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Tuesday, 17 June, 2008, 6:53 PM Have been browsing the Assam papers. And the following was the leading story in the Sentinel yesterday. After a spate of ISI sightings and 'ISI nabbings' in Assam, duly reported for our benefit by a variety of netters, including journalists, I asked a question of one of these journalists sometimes back what happens to these suspected ISI elements and what crimes they are charged with. The report below finally gives us a clue. What I am curious about is the consternation of leading citizens reported. If I had to go by what I read it means: The 'suspected ISI agents ' are guilty, but were set free by the courts because the police and the state govt du-jour are inept and could not prove their case. I say du-jour ( of the day), because one of the complainers used to rule Assam for quite a number of years. It raises some questions in my mind: A: If the concerned pillars-of-society are correct about the guilt of the 'suspected ISI agents', what do they know that the police did not? Should they have raised their voices and come out to testify ? Or at the very least tell the police what they knew. Was it not their patriotic duty? B: What is the crime associated with being a 'suspected ISI agent'? Is there some Indian law that prohibits someone from being an ISI agent, self-styled or so labeled by pillars-of-society or by anyone who is not an ISI agent? It really boggles the mind. C: Is police ineptitude something new, that they have been unaware of? If I am not mistaken, the complainers include an ex-CM, an ex-Chief Secy and an ex-Police Chief . Wouldn't people want to know what measures they took to improve the quality of policing? Finally, I am of course relieved to notice that there have not been much IS sightings reported to assamnet in recent months. Perhaps they have all been 'nabbed' and Assam's scourge has been finally eradicated. Or just re-habbed and released after years of detention, raising the pillars-of-society's hackles. What do netters think? cm *** Government's role on release of suspected ISI agents severely criticized By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, June 14: Former Asom Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former Asom Chief Secretary JP Rajkhowa and former DGP HK Deka today expressed serious concern over the release of as many as ten suspected ISI agents by the court for the failure of the Assam Police to prove charges against them. They termed it as a total failure of the Government and a serious threat to the internal security of the country. Mahanta even said the incident has once again proved Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's soft stand towards the ISI and Islamic fundamentalists. However, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) preferred not to air any comment on the issue now. Talking to The Sentinel, Mahanta said: It was due to the bold stand taken by the then AGP Government that police could arrest as many as ten ISI agents on the basis of strong ground, but those ISI agents have been set free due to negligence on the part of the Tarun Gogoi-led Government. Either the police didn't investigate the case deeply or the prosecutor was not given the required briefing by the State Government or the State Government took a soft stand in the case. Whatever may be the case, it has proved once again that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is soft towards the ISI and fundamentalists. This is undoubtedly a serious threat to the internal security of the country. It may be mentioned here that the 10 suspected ISI agents had been arrested during the tenure of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta as Chief Minister of the State. Blaming it on the Assam Police, former Asom Chief Secretary JP Rajkhowa said since it is a serious matter and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs should step in. Talking to The Sentinel, Rajkhowa said : If the ten are not ISI agents, the Assam
Re: [Assam] Look What I Found!
Given the fact that the troublemakers are not going to go away, They shoul be nabbed. Some time back I think there was a report showing the Assam police is the most corrupt in India , so I would not set standards based on their wisdom. Umesh uttam borthakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The ISI would foment trouble in India and the RAW would do the same in Pakistan. This is the game played by the States and is a part of the statecraft. What I find revolting is: the sight of the corpses of the Biharis ( some of them assimilated into the Oxomiya society and so the term is inapplicable) gunned down by ULFA cadres ( Madhrurya Gohain's name pops up here) and also the sight of Madhurya Gohain's corpse that lay like a slaughtered animal in the TV pictures. These are entirely unnecessary. We should not go out to see for whom the bell tolls, for it tolls for all of us. The politicians in question are neither less nor more than their do-alikes in any part of the world, be it Assam, be it India, be it the US. It is a big farce. Uttam Kumar Borthakur --- On Tue, 17/6/08, Chan Mahanta wrote: From: Chan Mahanta Subject: [Assam] Look What I Found! To: assam@assamnet.org Date: Tuesday, 17 June, 2008, 6:53 PM Have been browsing the Assam papers. And the following was the leading story in the Sentinel yesterday. After a spate of ISI sightings and 'ISI nabbings' in Assam, duly reported for our benefit by a variety of netters, including journalists, I asked a question of one of these journalists sometimes back what happens to these suspected ISI elements and what crimes they are charged with. The report below finally gives us a clue. What I am curious about is the consternation of leading citizens reported. If I had to go by what I read it means: The 'suspected ISI agents ' are guilty, but were set free by the courts because the police and the state govt du-jour are inept and could not prove their case. I say du-jour ( of the day), because one of the complainers used to rule Assam for quite a number of years. It raises some questions in my mind: A: If the concerned pillars-of-society are correct about the guilt of the 'suspected ISI agents', what do they know that the police did not? Should they have raised their voices and come out to testify ? Or at the very least tell the police what they knew. Was it not their patriotic duty? B: What is the crime associated with being a 'suspected ISI agent'? Is there some Indian law that prohibits someone from being an ISI agent, self-styled or so labeled by pillars-of-society or by anyone who is not an ISI agent? It really boggles the mind. C: Is police ineptitude something new, that they have been unaware of? If I am not mistaken, the complainers include an ex-CM, an ex-Chief Secy and an ex-Police Chief . Wouldn't people want to know what measures they took to improve the quality of policing? Finally, I am of course relieved to notice that there have not been much IS sightings reported to assamnet in recent months. Perhaps they have all been 'nabbed' and Assam's scourge has been finally eradicated. Or just re-habbed and released after years of detention, raising the pillars-of-society's hackles. What do netters think? cm *** Government's role on release of suspected ISI agents severely criticized By our Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, June 14: Former Asom Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former Asom Chief Secretary JP Rajkhowa and former DGP HK Deka today expressed serious concern over the release of as many as ten suspected ISI agents by the court for the failure of the Assam Police to prove charges against them. They termed it as a total failure of the Government and a serious threat to the internal security of the country. Mahanta even said the incident has once again proved Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's soft stand towards the ISI and Islamic fundamentalists. However, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) preferred not to air any comment on the issue now. Talking to The Sentinel, Mahanta said: It was due to the bold stand taken by the then AGP Government that police could arrest as many as ten ISI agents on the basis of strong ground, but those ISI agents have been set free due to negligence on the part of the Tarun Gogoi-led Government. Either the police didn't investigate the case deeply or the prosecutor was not given the required briefing by the State Government or the State Government took a soft stand in the case. Whatever may be the case, it has proved once again that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is soft towards the ISI and fundamentalists. This is undoubtedly a serious threat to the internal security of the country. It may be mentioned here that the 10 suspected ISI agents had been arrested during the tenure of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta as Chief Minister of the State. Blaming
Re: [Assam] Look What I Found--Web Link
C'da, Wasn't that something last night :-)? You were right about the margin of Democrats' Congressional wins. It sure was. I was up late watching the meltdown. I had predicted 227 House- and was on the dot there. The Senate - I predicted 3+, but that ain't happening. Claire McCaskill did finally pull thru - actually it seems St. Louis came thru in the last minute. I think the Dems will finally pick up the 2 remaining Senate seats in about 15 days (after recounts, law suits, and hanging chads if any). I think this is good for the country - and hopefully provide the checks and balances that seem so essential. Now, about Assam. The incidents at Guwahati are just deplorable - so many died for nothing and no fault of theirs. But what is more deplorable is what some groups, want such bomb blasts to force the Center to negotiations - its the Center's fault - so to speak. Do they want the Center to negotiate from a point of perceived weakness and what if the Center does not hold negotiations - will the violence continue? I was reading about Sri Lanka, yesterday - the talks in Geneva with Norwegian blessings failed again. And this round-robin has been going on for, what 50 years now? The LTTE has not been an answer to SL's Tamils. The whole country is being pushedtoward oblivion - and nobody wins. One hopes, Assam does not follow that same route. But at least I have tried to promote the idea of a political solution by pointing out the utter failure and sheer madness of Indian policies of keeping on doing the same thing for decades on end, while expecting a different outcome. C'da, even when you want and hope for a political solution, you take shots at Indian policies. Apparently, you think that the GOI is the only one to blame here. I think this type of predisposition is probably why the talks have failed so far. Do you or anyone else think the Center is going to acknowledge its failings, and nor will the ULFA do so? Each partywants to sit on its high horse and nothing moves. Those who go to Delhi to negotiate or mediate, have to at the veryleast go with an open mind, without bias, and look for practical, down-to-earth solutions. The Center too would have to senda team which is interested in solutions and come with an open mind and solving this once and for all. --Ram On 11/8/06, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi Ram: Wasn't that something last night :-)? You were right about the margin of Democrats' Congressional wins. Ah! that does give us a warm, cosyfeeling, doesn't it- ie. this was wasn't Assam. *** I wished. But you miss the point -- that what happens in Assam is not unique, like some of you attempt to portray it as; no doubt to deflect criticisms of desi-demokrasy's dysfunction. And it is the same dysfunctional system that Assam reels under as well, only more so. Therefore nothing could be expected to change for the better, as long as Assam continues to labor under this desi-model of misgovernment. But am not sure if some other place in India is trying to do one better than Assam. *** Even if they are, and even if they have something to show for that is not visible to mere mortals, it still does not change anything for Assam. Because Assam's circumstances are NOT the same as of say Bihar or Maharashtra or Haryana or whoever else that you all point to time to time, but ignoring reality. But, perhaps, you have missed the news from Assam for the last couple of days. *** No I have not missed it Ram. I wished I didn't have to hear of it or take it in one more time in mute helplessness. But at least I have tried to promote the idea of a political solution by pointing out the utter failure and sheer madness of Indian policies of keeping on doing the same thing for decades on end, while expecting a different outcome. I wished I could have persuaded my fellow men to see it and raise their voices on Assam's behalf. c-da At 5:05 PM -0600 11/7/06, Ram Sarangapani wrote: C'da, was surfing ToI and came across something that I thought was ?about Assam.But surprise of surprises, it wasn't! On second thought, maybe itwas--just some nasty anti_Indian made transposed the Assam ?with India :-). Ah! that does give us a warm, cosyfeeling, doesn't it- ie. this was wasn't Assam. But am not sure if some other place in India is trying to do one better than Assam. But, perhaps, you have missed the news from Assam for the last couple of days. :) --Ram On 11/7/06, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Oooops! Forgot to post the link. Here it is: http://o3.indiatimes.com/meragussa2/archive/2006/11/07/2412802.aspx#CommentsI was surfing ToI and came across something that I thought was about Assam. But surprise of surprises, it wasn't! On second thought, maybe itwas--just some nasty anti_Indian made transposed the Assam with India:-).cmA story so shocking and yet so common.A riot in India.A riot that was reported on BBC's front page.What did the rioters do?Theyattack innocent people
[Assam] Look What I Found!
I was surfing ToI and came across something that I thought was about Assam. But surprise of surprises, it wasn't! On second thought, maybe it was--just some nasty anti_Indian made transposed the Assam with India :-). cm A story so shocking and yet so common. A riot in India. A riot that was reported on BBC's front page. What did the rioters do? They attack innocent people passing by. They attack food vendors and loot stores. They attack and damage cars. They molest women. So whats new you may say. We have riots all the time. Its second nature to us. BBC is just a western media out to malign India. I dont get it. Whats the big deal we all say. Well heres the big deal. Want to know who these rioters are? Candidates to become police officers. Why did they riot? They thought the exam to become a police officer was too difficult, i.e., they were too dumb. Does any of this surprise me? Hell no. Does it shame me? Yes, it does. Is this the news that should be on BBC's headlines? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6119928.stm It appears that breaking the law has become such a cultural norm that the police force in India now attract gundas rather than those who desire to protect the people. As a nation we have become complacent. We take it as a fact. We take it laying down. We say we are going to fight our enemies. That statement makes me want to laugh. What enemy can we fight when we cannot even fight the evil that dwells amongst us? The evil that we have ACCEPTED to live with, i.e, a national mentality of corruption and lawlessness. Calling the situation pathetic would be at best an understatement. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
[Assam] Look What I Found--Web Link
Oooops! Forgot to post the link. Here it is: http://o3.indiatimes.com/meragussa2/archive/2006/11/07/2412802.aspx#Comments I was surfing ToI and came across something that I thought was about Assam. But surprise of surprises, it wasn't! On second thought, maybe it was--just some nasty anti_Indian made transposed the Assam with India :-). cm A story so shocking and yet so common. A riot in India. A riot that was reported on BBC's front page. What did the rioters do? They attack innocent people passing by. They attack food vendors and loot stores. They attack and damage cars. They molest women. So whats new you may say. We have riots all the time. Its second nature to us. BBC is just a western media out to malign India. I dont get it. Whats the big deal we all say. Well heres the big deal. Want to know who these rioters are? Candidates to become police officers. Why did they riot? They thought the exam to become a police officer was too difficult, i.e., they were too dumb. Does any of this surprise me? Hell no. Does it shame me? Yes, it does. Is this the news that should be on BBC's headlines? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6119928.stm It appears that breaking the law has become such a cultural norm that the police force in India now attract gundas rather than those who desire to protect the people. As a nation we have become complacent. We take it as a fact. We take it laying down. We say we are going to fight our enemies. That statement makes me want to laugh. What enemy can we fight when we cannot even fight the evil that dwells amongst us? The evil that we have ACCEPTED to live with, i.e, a national mentality of corruption and lawlessness. Calling the situation pathetic would be at best an understatement. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Look What I Found--Web Link
C'da, was surfing ToI and came across something that I thought was ?about Assam.But surprise of surprises, it wasn't! On second thought, maybe itwas--just some nasty anti_Indian made transposed the Assam ?with India :-). Ah! that does give us a warm, cosyfeeling, doesn't it- ie. this was wasn't Assam. But am not sure if some other place in India is trying to do one better than Assam. But, perhaps, you have missed the news from Assam for the last couple of days. :) --Ram On 11/7/06, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Oooops! Forgot to post the link. Here it is: http://o3.indiatimes.com/meragussa2/archive/2006/11/07/2412802.aspx#CommentsI was surfing ToI and came across something that I thought was about Assam.But surprise of surprises, it wasn't! On second thought, maybe it was--just some nasty anti_Indian made transposed the Assam with India:-).cmA story so shocking and yet so common.A riot in India.A riot thatwas reported on BBC's front page.What did the rioters do?They attack innocent people passing by.They attack food vendors and lootstores.They attack and damage cars.They molest women.So whats new you may say.We have riots all the time.Its secondnature to us.BBC is just a western media out to malign India. I dont get it.Whats the big deal we all say.Well heres the big deal.Want to know who these rioters are?Candidates to become police officers.Why did they riot?They thought the exam to become a police officer was too difficult, i.e., they were too dumb.Does any of this surprise me?Hell no.Does it shame me?Yes, itdoes.Is this the news that should be on BBC's headlines? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6119928.stmIt appears that breaking the law has become such a cultural norm thatthe police force in India now attract gundas rather than those whodesire to protect the people. As a nation we have become complacent. We take it as a fact.We take it laying down.We say we are goingto fight our enemies.That statement makes me want to laugh.Whatenemy can we fight when we cannot even fight the evil that dwellsamongst us?The evil that we have ACCEPTED to live with, i.e, anational mentality of corruption and lawlessness.Calling the situation pathetic would be at best an understatement.___assam mailing list assam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Look What I Found
If the top public servants believe in Gandhian ideals (which they exploit to their advantage), they must stop this tit-for-tat game. If thefinal question boils down to whether GOI believes in Gandhian principle or not, then the answer will be NO. I don't think anybody in Indiais practicing Gandhian principle. Like any other 'civilized' country, (USA, UK, and all others) India is practicing a tit-for-tat policy. It is a game of Crime and Punishment. Now the question is should we justcompare ULFA to Subhas Bose and Phizo all the way, and leave for GOI to practise Gandhian principle? And as Chandan has clarified the issue, GOI will not be THE looser. We can speak and talk and talk and cry. GOI will not be THE looser. What should we do? RB - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: Chan Mahanta Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Tuesday, January 31, 2006 9:36 AM Subject: Re: [Assam] Look What I Found C'da, By and large one can agree with him, thoughone thing I found wrong with Lohit da's letter is Indian Government must show more maturity (than the ULFA, whom it often refers to as ULFAboys), Well, you and I know, its only people like MRG who lovingly refer to them as 'our boys'. I doubt if there is any love lost between the GOI and ULFA :) --Ram On 1/31/06, Chan Mahanta [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I visited the AT Letters, one of which Ram posted this morning andfound another Markhowa's letter--from none other than Lohit DB of Houston:A very mature letter. A man after my own heart :-).Enjoy!cm**Governor's remarkSir,- Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. However, as a Governor he does not show statesmanship. As a General, he only seemsto know violence, war, and killing. Peace and prosperity requirenegotiation to understand and settle the differences. "An eye for aneye makes the whole world go blind".The Governor of Assam expects ULFA to surrender first. If ULFA trulybelieves (rightfully or wrongfully) that India is an occupying force,why would they surrender? Did Naga leader Phizo ever surrender? Would Subhas Bose have surrendered to the British? Indian Government mustshow more maturity (than the ULFA, whom it often refers to as ULFAboys), get over its ego, and start a dialogue with sincerity. If thetop public servants believe in Gandhian ideals (which they exploit to their advantage), they must stop this tit-for-tat game.Assam and the Assamese people need a permanent and acceptablesolution with dignity, honour, and autonomy that it had enjoyed priorto the British Raj and subsequent Independence from the British. -Yours etc., LOHIT DATTA BARUA, Humble, Texas, USA. ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
