Mobile Explosions Terrorise Assam

'Bombile' is the latest phrase terrorizing Assam with reports of mobile phones suddenly exploding, causing the user to become unconscious.

Guwahati, Sep 27 : 'Bombile' is the latest phrase terrorising Assam with reports of mobile phones suddenly exploding, causing the user to become unconscious.

The mysterious phenomenon has prompted Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to order a scientific probe to unravel the bizarre occurrences.

An estimated 30 cases have been reported so far with more than 20 people admitted to various hospitals in Assam during the past one week. Most of the victims complained of nausea and a splitting headache, and some of them had to be literally wheeled into the hospital unconscious after the mobile handsets exploded soon after receiving a call.

"This is a mysterious phenomenon and so I have asked for a thorough probe by experts to find out the cause as to why mobile handsets are bursting in such a large number," Gogoi told IANS.

At least 10 such cases were brought to the notice of the police - although no cases were registered as the officials were perplexed, not knowing what to do.

According to witnesses and victims, the explosions took place soon after receiving calls from numbers that appeared in red on the handset screens.

"I got a phone call from an unknown number and I noticed on my handset that the numbers were highlighted in red colour. Soon after I received the call, there was a loud sound and I was left unconscious," said Mujib Ali, the driver of a doctor in Guwahati.

Ali's handset was blown to bits Saturday.

"I experienced some sort of an electric shock soon after receiving the call and then later found myself in the hospital bed with some of my friends shifting me by calling the 108 emergency ambulance service," Ali told IANS.

"After few hours in hospital I was released, but then I continue to have a splitting headache and drowsiness."

Mobile service providers are confused and have no scientific explanation to these bizarre cases.

"We have got numerous queries from users asking us to explain the reason, but we are not sure. We have asked for expert help from our head office to have an internal probe into the matter," said an official of Reliance Telecom Ltd requesting not to be named.

"The interesting thing is that some of the handsets that have burst are from genuine brands like Nokia, Samsung and Motorola. Initially, it was presumed the cases were witnessed in cheap Chinese make handsets, but now even that theory was proved wrong," a police official said.

But the incidents are triggering panic among mobile users in Assam with 'bombile' being the word that is in vogue now.

" Bombile is terrorizing people to the extent that some of them have literally switched off their handsets and waiting for things to subside or hear some scientific explanation about the cause," said Tonmoy Barkataki, a local journalist.

US Keen to Boost Investment in Northeast India

By Surajit Khaund
 
Guwahati, Sep 27 : Buoyed by rising investment potential in the Northeast, US Consul General Beth A Payne has underscored the need for increased investment in the region.

“We encourage increased US investment in the Northeast as it has considerable investment potential, especially in the hydro-power, gas-based power projects, infrastructure and food processing sector,” Payne said in an interview with this correspondent.

Payne further added that US power equipment companies like General Electric are already involved in gas-based power projects in Tripura.

“Energy is one of the key pillars of the strategic dialogue with India and we encourage US participation in such projects that provide affordable, clean and climate-friendly energy,” she said. Replying to a question about possible investment from US companies in the infrastructure sector, the Consul General observed that the Indian Government has accorded top priority to uplift infrastructure and connectivity in the Northeast.

“We are working to build partnership between American and Indian private companies that will immensely benefit both the countries. We are also helping by connecting Indian entrepreneurs, officials and planners with their American counterparts, thus encouraging exchange of ideas,” she said while replying, to questions though e-mail.

Indo-US trade has been growing at a fast pace. It is estimated that Indo-US services trade would reach $150 billion by 2015, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry. India’s total engagement with the US is worth over $60 billion at present, out of which $40 billion is contributed by merchandise trade alone.

Hailing India’s ‘Look East Policy’, Payne revealed that this would foster economic growth and greater stability and security throughout the region.

“India’s Northeastern states stand to gain from more free and open trade. We believe that India can play an ever larger role in promoting the benefits of free trade among friendly nations,” she said.

Birds, Mammals & a Frog Found at 14000 feet in Arunachal

Researchers find wealth of bio-diversity for the first time during a survey in an Arunachal wetland

By Roopak Goswami

Khamkar Tso lake in Nagula wetland complex in Tawang. (Western Arunachal Landscape conservation programme, WWF)

Guwahati, Sep 27 ldlife researchers have discovered an amazing range of bio-diversity, including a toad at 4,200 metres (nearly 14,000 feet), tucked away among the high altitude wetland complex of Nagula in Tawang.

Field researchers of WWF-India (western Arunachal landscape), G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development of North East Unit (Itanagar), ornithologists along with local guides and forest department officials, who had carried out a baseline survey of Nagula wetland complex, have found nearly 70 birds and three species of mammals and an amphibian.

The survey, under the Saving Wetland Sky High project for documentation and conservation of high altitude wetlands, was conducted from August 24 to September 6.

“During the survey, the presence of rich avian assemblage, altogether 70 from the area have been sighted. Among the mammals, two mountain pikas and Himalayan marmot were found. A species of bufo (toad) has also been recorded,” Pijush Kumar Dutta landscape co-ordinator, Western Arunachal Landscape Conservation Programme, WWF-India, told The Telegraph.

Dutta said the species of bufo at an elevation of 4,200 metres has been recorded for the first time and it could be new to science. This toad has shorter limbs with nearly free toes and has red warts, black eyes and a pale yellow line on its back.

The pikas are small animals with short limbs, rounded ears, short tail and live on rocky mountains. The marmots are generally large ground squirrels.

Some of rare bird species sighted during the survey includes red-billed leiothrix, sand martin, Oriental white eye, chestnut-headed tesia, Hume’s warbler, grey-hooded warbler, black-faced laughingthrush, grey-headed fish eagle and Baer’s pochard.

Nagula wetland complex is situated in the north of the Tawang township of western Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Tibet.

The wetland complex comprises of more than 100 permanent alpine freshwater lakes at an altitude of 3,500 metres to 4,500 metres. The wetland complex, with all these lakes, acts as a reservoir for the Nyamjangchu river, an important tributary of the Manas.

“Of the 100 lakes, now we have complete documentation of 19 lakes for the first time. The survey has provides information on location of the existing lakes, its physicochemical properties as well as the flora and fauna in the wetland catchments,” he said.

This information related to these lakes will be put in the wetland directory of the western Arunachal Pradesh. Most of these wetlands act as reservoir for the three major rivers in West Kameng and Tawang districts — Tawangchu, Nyamjangchu and Kameng.

The army has administrative rights over the area. Some of the important lakes of the complex include Gribchang Tso, Panggang-Tang Tso, Thauliyum Tso, Choimechang and Jongatser.

“We have learnt the names of some of the lakes for the first time with help from experts from Tawang monastery,” Dutta said.

The wetlands are one of the most productive eco-systems in the biosphere and play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance of a region. The Indian Himalayas harbours some of the spectacular and biologically rich wetlands of the world.

“Considering that the area is one of the most sought after destinations for tourists who visit Tawang and based on the information collected during the survey, an action plan for the management of these lakes jointly with 190 Mountain Brigade at Tawang and the state forest department will be developed,” Dutta said.

Four wetland complexes have been prioritised for conservation — Bhagajang wetland complex, Nagula wetland complex, Thembang Bapu community conserved area wetland complex and Pangchen Lumpo Muchat community conserved area wetland complex by WWF-India jointly with the army and the state forest department, Tawang monastery and local villagers.

“All these high altitude wetlands have connection with the Buddhist culture and traditions and its fringing pastures serves as a grazing ground for the large fleet of sheep and yak population,” Dutta said.

Assam Govt Hands Over NCHAC Scam to CBI

Guwahati, Sep 27 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe financial irregularities in the departments of PWD, Agriculture, Health, Forest, Social Welfare, Education, Tourism and Public Health Engineering (PHE) in connection with the alleged Rs 1,000-crore scam in NC Hills district.

This was revealed by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while addressing the media today.

Gogoi said that the State Government’s decision followed the report of the Accountant General (AG) that it received on August 23, 2010, after it was sent to the Governor first.

“We are for unearthing the financial irregularities and never for protecting any guilty person. Those responsible for the scam will be punished. It is us who started the investigations into the NC Hills scam by instituting the Justice Manisana Singh commission of inquiry,” Gogoi said.

The Chief Minister while admitting that there had been misappropriation and diversion of public funds in NC Hills declined from commenting on the magnitude of the anomalies. “The reports say there have been financial irregularities but about the amount involved I cannot say ...,” he said.

On the border row with several neighbouring States, Gogoi said that the State Government would raise a special border protection force and a cell with officials. They will have the mandate of preventing encroachment and deal with other border-related issues.

“We are duty-bound to protect the constitutional boundary of the State. In view of the nagging border disputes and encroachment on border areas, we will have a special border protection force soon. A cell with officials will also be formed to look after border-related matters,” he said.

Bangladesh Turtle Smugglers Make a Lilling

Murry Marak with the captured flapshell turtles.

Shillong, Sep 27 : Bangladesh has become the source of providing endangered Indian flapshell turtles to markets in Meghalaya’s Garo hills.

Indian flapshell turtles need to be protected as these are categorised in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. Selling, buying or killing them is an offence.

Incidents of smuggling turtles from Bangladesh to Sibbari in South Garo Hills are on the rise. Three Indian flapshell turtles were seized on Thursday from Murry Marak, a fish vendor, during a raid on the Sibbari market.

A forest and wildlife official said the illegal trade of endangered turtle species had been on along the Bangladesh border and Sibbari was one of the most popular markets for Indian flapshell turtles.

A forest official admitted that smugglers from Bangladesh were supplying the turtles to Garo hills. Marak confessed that she had bought the turtles from a Bangladeshi named Abdul. According to Marak, Abdul regularly supplies turtles to select vendors in Sibbari market. Marak was caught red-handed while selling the turtles to a forest official who posed as a buyer.

Forest range officer of Balpakrem National Park division, C.G. Momin, said the accused would be prosecuted under the Wildlife Protection Act and measures would be initiated to tighten vigil along the borders to stop illegal wildlife trade.

Investigations also revealed that most of the fish and vegetable vendors are involved in the sale of turtles.

According to Momin, the Bangladeshis catch the turtles from rivers and bring these in utensils to sell to fish vendors or customers in Garo hills.

According to Momin, while the price for 1kg of turtle meat is Rs 250 in Bangladesh, in Sibbari market the price is Rs 350 a kg. The price escalates once these are smuggled to other parts of Meghalaya.

Kamal Medhi, the spokesperson for Samrakshan Trust, an NGO, today said the trust, along with the forest department, (BNP division), had been taking the initiatives to detect sale of turtles.

Grand Reception Given to 'Magnificent Mary' in Manipur

Imphal, Sep 27 : Indian woman boxer MC Mary Kom, who clinched a historic fifth World Championship title in Barbados, was felicitated by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh after arriving home from New Delhi on Saturday.

Thousands of people, including students, lined up from Imphal airport to the city and garlanded the Manipuri boxer when she came out of the airport complex, officials said.

A reception was accorded to her at Khuman Lampak sports stadium complex here this afternoon where Ibobi was the chief guest.

Manipur government has already announced a Rs 10 lakh prize for Mary Kom, who would next be seen in action at the Asian Games in Guangzhou (China) next month, in recognition of her performance.

AASU Withdraws Economic Blockade on Nagaland Temporarily

Golaghat (Assam), Sep 25 :  The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today temporarily lifted the economic blockade on roads leading to Nagaland after the neighboring state suspended a top officer allegedly involved in the firing and assault of AASU members here.

The protesters had blocked supply of essential commodities through the key NH-39 in protest against the September 15 incident when the student activists were allegedly fired upon by the Nagaland police injuring 22 people, some of them seriously.

AASU executive member Jatin Bora told PTI the blockade was lifted temporarily from 2.30 am following the suspension of Company Commander of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and announcement of Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the injured by the Nagaland government.

The neighboring state had constituted an inquiry committee to probe the incident and also requested the Nagaland Students Federation for withdrawal of the blockade on humanitarian grounds, he said.

The blockade would, however, be re-imposed if action was not taken by Nagaland government based on the report of its inquiry committee, Bora said.

Earlier, the trouble broke out when the protesters stopped a convoy of five cars belonging to Nagaland police who allegedly resorted to firing and cane charging near Golaghat here.

Nagaland government had yesterday regretted its police action and suspended the company commander of 12th IR battalion 'Bravo' involved in the incident and announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the injured.

Three members of the inquiry committee instituted by Nagaland government had visited Golaghat on Wednesday and met AASU leaders, some of the victims and the district administration officials and had appealed to AASU to lift the economic blockade.

They were handed photos of police excesses and shown the video clippings of police brutalities. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had urged his Nagaland counterpart N Rio to ensure that the errant policemen were arrested at the earliest.

Gogoi had earlier ordered an inquiry by Golaghat district administration and directed Principal Secretary Labour and Employment K K Mittal to probe the incident.

Indian Environment Minister Confronts Activists Over Dams in the Northeast

By Samir Mehta

Activists protest outside the public consultation

Guest blog by Samir Mehta, South Asia Program Director

Recently I had an exciting opportunity to be part of a Consultation on Big River Dams in Northeast India held by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh in Guwahati, Assam. Mr. Ramesh was forced to listen to complaints about dam building in the Northeast of India during a public consultation in Guwahati, Assam. The Northeast is an isolated region of the country, with little development. While people there are clamoring for improvements to the region, they know dams are not the way to go.

Mr. Ramesh's arrival was met by thousands of protesters waving banners and shouting slogans (photographs) demanding no dams be built in the Northeast. The tension between the protestors and the heavily armed riot police was palpable.

The consultation began with presentations by experts, including those that had prepared the report, Downstream Impact Study of the Ongoing Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Power Project. The project is located in Arunachal Pradesh and close to the border of Assam. Its downstream impacts will be felt largely in the State of Assam. The report was commissioned due to public outcry after construction on the 2000 MW dam had already began. The report very clearly recommends that the mega dam should not be constructed at the present site. During his presentation, Professor Chandan Mahanta, Professor and Head, Department of Environment, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, stated that there are active fault lines in the region and that itself was sufficient reason for not constructing dams in the region.

Lower Subansiri Project (Associated Press)

Over 100 dams are planned for the region, despite the fact that no studies have been undertaken to understand the downstream and basin-wide impacts of them. When Ramesh was confronted about this fact, he sheepishly said studies would be carried out for a few dams that were already completed! Logically activists have insisted that the Environment Ministry cannot give dams clearance until the results of environmental impact assessments open to public scrutiny. Yet, a report prepared by a group of Indian ministers from various Ministries states that "However, the MoEF will not hold up the environmental clearance of individual projects for want of completion of such basin wide studies" When asked about this, Ramesh feebly said he would speak to his counterparts in the Power and Water Resource Ministries.

I pointed out to the minister that the Report by the Avay Shukla Committee to the Himachal Pradesh High Court states that the condition of environmental sanction to the dams of maintaining 15% river flow is pointless and meaningless as it renders the river dry for huge stretches. I further questioned India's stand to build dams in the north east to ascertain first use rights with China when negotiations begin, as China has so far not recognized the rights of downstream users in Southeast Asia. I pressed the minister on why his Ministry has not addressed the issue of downstream impacts of dams being constructed by India in Bhutan, whether his Ministry would take a stand on the 10th anniversary of the World Commission on Dams Report and how hydropower could be considered clean when dams in tropical regions produce greenhouse gas emissions.

Unfortunately the meeting with Ramesh was extremely disappointing. He made no commitments to review the government's policy on dam building in the Northeast or to stop construction of dams pending the results of environmental impact studies. Activists are only left with the choice of stepping up their agitation to force him and his Ministry to do the right thing.

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