Buying An Android Phone? What You Must Know

A doctor by profession, Get Ahead reader Kumar Arpit has been blogging on gadgets and gaming since last seven years. He sent this contribution in response to our reader invite (below).

Well as far as phones are considered, Androids are the new smart choice and they were everywhere last year. With headlines like 'dual core processors' and 'Super AMOLED' screens, it is very unlikely the next year will be any different.

But how do you go about buying an Android phone? Which brand suits you? Well, this article might just help you find out!

The first question anyone new to Android is sure to ask 'whats new'. The answer takes a new meaning especially if you are coming from so-called 'dumb phones'. Or maybe last generation smartphones (consider the older N series from Nokia).

As Symbian used to rule the roost, especially in India, it will be useful to look at it from that angle. The main difference is that Android is a 'connected' OS.

Once you enter your Gmail account details (If you don't have it, it asks you to create one), it starts syncing your e-mail, contacts and calendar from the cloud. Each new e-mail you get is subsequently pushed to your phone. While the Gtalk feature is always there for instant chat feature. The Facebook and Twitter official clients on Android are as smooth as they come, while the browser is in the same league as Apple Safari, which is a good enough compliment.

So if you are greatly into any of the above then I guess it pays to get an Android.

Components (Processor)

While discussing components it is important to mention that the world orders have shifted and people walking to buy a smartphone are rarely interested in 'How many megapixel is the camera?'

Mhz (megahertz) is the new MP.

But yeah this factor is also subject to the same myth and more does not necessarily mean better. To make it simple: there are 3 main brands making processors for Android phones (Tegra not being considered).

Qualcomm, Samsung and Texas Instruments

I will try to make the information useful for noobs (newbies) and thus avoid terms like 45 nm, bit rate and instruction set, etc.

Out of the above, by far the most-used platform is the qualcomm 600 Mhz processor (MSM 7227) used in a wide range of devices from the affordable Andro A60 to the premium and sexy HTC legend. It is a good processor and good enough to handle some multitasking. But still it will not allow you to play all new HD games coming out. Still, it is a very good choice.

Recommended phone based on the platform: LG Optimus One: Rs 11K.

Snapdragon 1 Ghz(QSD 8250)

Phew, what a wonderful name for marketing.

These were the phone that were all over the market last year, right from the stunning HTC desire to the huge dell streak. This processor coupled with Adreno graphics powered them all. Until recently was the performance king. Still with a new range of processors coming in this price range, not really recommended. But still if you must then HTC Desire is for you: Rs 22K.

Snapdragon 800 Mhz (MSM 7230): Used in phones like the newer qwertified Desire Z and some other HTC phones and also in the upcoming Sony Experia Arc and maybe the new playstation phone. This is a new power efficient chip that comes with upgraded Adreno chip 205, that enables it to trash the older snapdragon in graphics performance, inspite of the lower clock speed.

Samsung SOC

The earliest Samsung Android to make a good name for itself was Spica, thanks to good specs combined with decent pricing.

Unfortunately it was discontinued just when Android was picking up steam. The so-called successor Galaxy 3 came with a downgraded 667 Mhz processor which lags behind similarly clocked processor's (like Qualcomm 600 Mhz) especially when in graphic intensive jobs, like games, thus leaving many unhappy.

Couple that with non-standard low resolution screen 400 x 240 and you have a recipe for disaster. But then there was the TINA (there is no alternative) factor and Galaxy 3 sold in droves.

No such problem for Galaxy S though. Coming with A8 1 GHZ processor (S5PC110 or 'Humming Bird) and upgraded SGX 540 graphics, the Galaxy S bursted through all the bench marks (especially when using the latest 2.2.1 Froyo firmware). Add to that Super AMOLED display and a 'throw anything at me' media player. Thus in spite of inflated pricing and so-so design, it was a rocking success and is the Android phone to look at if you have the said budget.

Texas Instruments

Motorola has been one of the brands that makes extensive use of Texas Instruments processor based on A8 core (OMAP 3630) for phones like Droid X, Droid 2 and others.

It is almost as good as Samsung Hummingbird, and quite a bit in front of old generation Snapdragon 1 GHZ in graphics performance. Also Milestone and Milestone 2 are rare breed of Android that come with QWERTY hardware keypads.

The TI OMAP processor clocked at 550 and 1024 in milestone and milestone 2 respectively also allows for a good deal of flexibility to power users looking to over-clock to extract more juice from the processor.

Display

The technology behind the displays is myriad, with the general consensus being Super AMOLED from Samsung being the best choice. But still this is a feature that is best selected on your own preference. More emphasis should be given to the display resolution.

The most common resolution for Android phones in the market is 320 x 480 or HVGA as it is commonly known. Most of the phones in Rs 10k to 20k have or rather I will say used to have this resolution.

But WVGA or 480 x 800 is now becoming the de facto standard, thanks to the increasing competition.

Lowly phones like Dell XCD 28 and Galaxy 5 (and Galaxy 3) have to make do with screens of just 240 x 320 (or 240 x 400) which apart from affecting activities like web browsing and navigation, also limits some of the apps which are formatted for higher resolution screens. Thus unless you are on a very strict budget, these phones are better avoided.

Other features

1. Check out the Android version of the phone you are buying. Most phones nowadays are coming with Eclair 2.1 out of the box or even 2.2 Froyo. But some phones like Moto Backflip are still stuck in history, and are best avoided.

2. Cameras: Unfortunately till now Android has failed to produce a phone, that has a camera that will output pictures that will make you go 'WOW, is that from a phone?'

The way you perhaps go for N8 or used to go for K790/K750 years ago. But still if this feature matters then Sony X10 has the best camera closely followed by Motorola XT720. Then we have the impressive duo of X10 Mini's and Galaxy S.

But then the standards have been raised so high in the previous years that any of the camphones will do for a casual shot.

3. Multimedia performance: Well if you consider video players then Samsung Galaxy S plays everything. From your SD avi's, to 720P MKV's (atleast some of them) . Most of the older HTC and Motorola phones do not come with codec support other then H264 and 3GPP, thus making it necessary to trans-code the video or to get a better media player like Rock Player.

But still those videos will lack hardware acceleration which does wonders for video clarity and battery life. Thus if media is a concern then get a Samsung or LG phone.

4. Future: You have noticed that I have not talked about the upcoming new phones based on dual core processors. Well that's because they are yet to be launched in India. And anymore information in the same space might confuse the newbies. So  lets take it one step at a time.

Summary

These are the preferred phones but you should also make the choice based on your preference for one particular feature or other.

Rs 8K-9K: Samsung Galaxy 5

Rs 11K-12K: LG Optimus One

Rs 16K-18K: Motorola Defy

Rs 20K-22K: HTC Desire

Rs 24K-25K: Samsung Galaxy S/ Nexus S/HTC Desire Z

Greater than Rs 25K: It really makes sense to wait for the new dual cores to rear their heads and pricing, as it will make for a better and informed choice.

Camera freaks: SE X10 or Moto XT 720

Media junkies: Samsung Galaxy S

Workaholics: HTC Desire Z/Motorola Milestone 2

Budget conscious: LG Optimus One (P500)

Things You Can Do With Your Old PC

Thanks to Windows 7, a lot of people have purchased new computers or are planning to. And that leaves them with one of life's more pleasant problems: what to do with the old machine.
With prices for used computers so low, reselling an older PC is often more trouble than its worth, and you can actually get more value out of your old machine by keeping it and using it for another purpose.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Create a Windows home server

If your old computer is a desktop with a decent amount of storage or the capability to hold more storage (hard drives) than it currently has, it's a good candidate for duty as a Windows Home Server.

Buy an OEM copy of Windows Home Server on a site like Newegg, install it on your old machine, hook the computer up to your in-home network, and you'll never again have to be embarrassed when someone asks you whether you back up your data. The answer will be 'yes, every night.'

Create a test bed

How many times have you installed an application - only to regret it later when it causes your computer to become slower or, even worse, to crash?

Put your old computer to use as a 'test' machine, and you can say goodbye to nightmare installations of new software. Install them first on the old machine and see how they work, then you can decide to install them on your main machine or to just forget the whole affair.

Experiment with OS

Windows isn't the only operating system out there. In fact, many would argue that a lot of the action these days is in opensource operating systems. What better way to test all of this out than on an old machine?

The Ubuntu operating system (http://www.ubuntu.com/GetUbuntu/download) is the hands-down favourite among those who want to get their first exposure to Linux- based computing.
Ubuntu is easy to install, as it recognises plenty of hardware automatically, just as Windows does. Once installed, you'll feel pretty much at home if you're familiar with Windows, since Ubuntu follows many of the interface conventions to which Windows users are accustomed.

Set up a gaming network

If you're into computer games, you already know that multi-player action is where the fun begins. But without multiple computers in your house, there's no multi-player action. A spare computer clears up that problem.

If you're not a gamer but you've always wondered how much fun it would be to play multiplayer games (lots), then put that old machine to work on your game of choice.

Dismantle it

When you hear people talk about hard drives, memory, video cards, or motherboards, do you secretly want to run away? Lose the fear by taking your old PC apart and seeing what's in it. A Philips-head screwdriver is pretty much the only tool you'll need.

Find a tutorial online that helps you identify the parts you see inside of your computer, and you'll no longer be at a loss to understand how hard drives, graphics cards, memory, and other components are attached.

Plus, when you need to replace or upgrade one of these parts in the future, you'll have a clue about how to do it yourself.

Donate it

Your old computer might not be up to the task of running Windows 7, but there are people who won't care and will be happy to take it.

Start by surveying members of your family. If your old computer is a notebook, chances are good that someone in your clan will love it, even if Windows XP Home is the only thing it can run with any degree of success.

If your old computer is a desktop, perhaps a member of your family who needs a computer primarily to surf the web or play the occasional game of solitaire will be just thrilled to have it. Check around. It's probably worth more in good feelings of being generous than any resale would be.

The Superb Rs 5.99-lakh Mahindra Thar

People crossing the road eating ice cream simply lost control of all locomotive ability and stood fixated right in front of the car till I had to yell and make way.

At a traffic-signal policemen came darting, I quickly reached for my license but all they had to say was, "gaadi kaisa hai? (What is the car like?)."

Attention is one thing but when you get it in form of catcalls and a whistle on the road you should know you've been doing, sorry driving, something right.

A few hours ago, a certain Mahindra Thar CRDe 4X4 had been driven out of the factory and in 10 minutes flat the hysteria around an 'open-top jeep' began to make sense.

The few that are out on the road are dictators of their road-space and only automobiles five times their price manage to gather half as much interest.

"So you have the Thar that hates tar?" a friend said.

Quickly I did a recce on what the car had to offer. 4x4. Tick. Open top. Tick. Large, torque-producing diesel engine. Tick. Rugged build. Tick.

So this Thar in question promised some serious off-roading ability, plus it looked the part but I didn't have a first-hand story to tell. So I simply said, "I'll let you know," and drove on.

An open-topped jeep, a convertible off-roader, a 4x4 with a 2.5litre engine and 48 hours. With the Thar, the possibilities were endless.

Exterior

After all is debated and discussed, the most appealing feature of this car is the way it looks.

The Thar is based on the classic MM540/550 design which was derived from the CJ-5 series and exudes the same confidence as the jeep of the yesteryears.

The A-line and silhouette remain true to the original, so does the side profile and front fascia.

The MM540 had an overall length of 4868mm and overall width of 1854mm while the Thar has an overall length of 3920mm and an overall width of 1710mm, thus making it more compact and streamlined.

The extended front grille adds to the gait and the high rear wheel archs add to the structure of the car.

The strakes on the hood add to the rugged look while keeping the shape of the car compact.

There is no brightwork on the body and no glossy paint you'll be afraid to scratch in the woods.

The car is available in four practical colours: black, mist silver, toreador red and arctic white.

Our car came with Bridgestone Dueler HT, 16-inch tubeless tyres, however the high wheel archs let you upgrade to terrain suitable tyres at the cost of limiting suspension travel.

There are a few issues which can be evened out. The roll bar (add-on accessory) is lower than the B-pillar, in case of a rollover the B-pillar would take a hit as opposed to the roll bar.

The engine sump is bereft of a guard and the catalytic converter is placed at a very vulnerable position (see picture) so it has a good chance of getting hit.

However, the Thar's tough steel body promises durability and follows the quintessential jeep's traits.

If you think the structure looks cool on road, off-road the design makes a lot more sense.

The exterior of the car maybe bare and basic but it is bold enough to mean serious business.

Interior

On the inside the car follows the bare and basic theme. In the name of an instrument panel you get an AC blower and heater, a few slots for a music system but there is no charger port.

But the 'wind in the hair experience' as the Mahindra brochure calls it, leaves you with no time to fiddle with the barely there instrument panel.

Who wants an electronically operated panel when you can look at the birds or stars in the sky anytime.

Power steering comes as standard on the Thar and that is of some comfort to the driver.

The steering wheel too is tilted but that is only to add to a comfortable off roading experience. The front cab gets two rexine covered bucket seats.

The dash incorporates a large glove-box because you obviously can't keep anything on the dashboard.

For a car without a hardtop, the glove-box lacks an essential - a lock.

The hazard light indicator seems inconveniently positioned and we could swap those wipers for something better.

The center console came in the way of the lever operation and you must pay attention while shifting from 2WD to 4WD high or low.

You get a tachometer, odometer, speedometer but a 4WD high - low range indicator on the dash would have added more value to the unit.

The plastic quality and overall fit and finish are crude but they do not undermine the driving experience in any a way.

You don't really think of the Thar as a seven-seater but it really is.

Four people can seat themselves comfortably at the back while the fifth person will have to wedge in.

The rear benches are pushed further to accommodate the roll bar which sadly reduce the already less legroom even more.

Luggage, in terms of flexible cloth bags, can be stored under the seats at the back. The interiors are need based but sufficient, though a soft top is absolutely essential for an Indian summer.

You can go on complain that the car doesn't have a hardtop, an air-conditioner or such other comfort inducing things, but if that is what you want you'd just buy one of two six letter SUVs.

Powertrain

The Thar displays an excellent combination of an engine and gearbox.

The diesel engine takes off-roading a step ahead and helps haul the vehicle with lesser effort.

The Thar has two engine variants - the BS-IV 2.5 CRDe(4x4) and the Di(2WD).

The 2.5CRDe produces 103bhp and generates about 247 Nm torque @ 1800-2000 rpm which provides the low end grunt needed for tackling tough sections off-road.

Compared to it predecessors the engine is also much quieter.

It houses a five-speed Borg Warner - Manual Shift with twospeed gear reduction; high ratio being 1.0:1 and low ratio being 2.48:1.

The manual 4WD shift mechanism minimises complexities when compared to an electronic 4WD shifter found in Scorpio and Safari.

We didn't notice a body roll even at speeds above 90kph and the engine impressed us with a mileage 14kpl on road and 10kpl off road.

On and off road handling

To see how it fared on its USP, we took the Thar on an off-roading trail to Rajmachi (in Pune) and we have to say that the Thar is definitely not meant to court roads, a tryst with a mountain here and an edgy terrain there is more like it.

Over stones, ditches and mangled mountain-sides the car glided and we weren't disappointed.

The power steering added to the overall comfort level. The high approach angle (46 degrees) and departure angle (30 degrees) made climbing obstacles easier with a long travel suspension for traction.

The ride was comfortable and there was limited articulation at the front due to Independent Front Suspension (IFS).

This makes the Thar leapfrog from the older leaf spring suspensions found on the Jeep and Gypsy.

However, fixing the IFS could prove to be an expensive affair if it breaks down while off-roading.

Off-road purists might be disappointed by IFS as it limits the axle articulation (though we never faced a patch which maxed out the suspension travel).

The 9-inch booster with disc brakes in front and drum at the rear were precise and forceful.

The LSPV brakes aid in preventing wheel lock up and loss of control.

The Thar has a body weight of 1.75 tonne and a short wheelbase of 2430 mm which add to the off roading experience.

The 4WD low is strong, but the crawl ratio could have been lower, as it enables precise crawling through a tough terrain.

We didn't expect the car to be an easy drive on road, an avid off-roader amongst us said, "Even if I put my Jeep in the top gear on the steepest descent, it will not go beyond 60kph."

But Thar has a different story to tell, the engine actually lets you cruise at a speed in excess of 100kph.

A short turning radius(5.25m) is a boon for city driving.

So, you needn't reserve the car for the once in a blue moon off-the-tarmac trip, you can comfortably take it out for a spin in the city. A macho air off-road it and an uber-cool attitude on road is what the Thar is about.

Verdict

There is something absolutely exhilarating about an open-topped jeep that a 90 lakh SUV can't touch with a 10 feet beanpole.

We'd like those SUV like safety features to show up. But With a price tag of Rs 599,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), the car does pack in a real deal.

It has those looks and the latest in technology. It is 'the' second car to buy.

In India the only real competitors are the Maruti Gypsy and Force Gurkha.

The Thar can easily do 95 per cent of what a Jeep can do off-road; the difference lies in the on-road behavior and that is a game-changer for Mahindra.

It may not be as hard hearted an off roader as the MM550 but the Thar is contemporary, younger and versatile. It is meant to do more and be more.

The Thar, you don't buy to drop the kids to school (though you can, and you'll have some really popular kids in school) nor go groceries shopping.

You buy the Thar hoping for a little of the car's oomph and machismo rubs on to you.

Inside the Thar you are a somebody. It gives you enough confidence to take on 10 villians Rajnikanth style. And there is no reason for you to not deprive yourself of the pleasure.

source : CarWale.com

Your Browser, Your Enemy

By Abhay Bhargav

The first thing that most of us do when we switch on our computers is immediately click on an icon that is titled Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome. These web browsers are our windows to the Internet.

A Web Browser is defined as a programme that retrieves, presents and allows us to traverse information on the Internet.

We check our e-mail, shop online and carry out all our activities on the Internet using this software that is indispensable. However, attackers have become aware of this powerful tool used by millions of people everyday to perform their daily activities on the Internet.

They use some deadly attacks to turn your everyday web browser against you.

This is the 'Man-in-the-Browser' attack.

The attacker downloads a programme onto your computer that installs an extension (Trojan/malicious code) on your browser. This extension records your activities on the Internet and reports the results to an attacker who controls them remotely.

For instance, let us assume that you do banking over the Internet and your browser has been 'hooked' by an attacker. The attacker installs software that might record your Internet banking username and password and hack your bank account.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

The attacker can compromise your browser and subsequently may be able to compromise your entire computer and all the data contained within. The browser extension installed by the attacker can even intercept messages that are secured with SSL/HTTPS as it has already compromised your browser. 

In 2010, the Zeus Trojan installed key-logging software on computers to steal banking details such as usernames and passwords.

This Trojan wreaked havoc on 196 countries, infecting millions of computers.

Tips to secure against Man-In-The-Browser attack

Ensure that your anti-virus definitions are up-to-date with the latest virus definitions, because these attacks constantly evolve and only an updated anti-virus is capable of defending against multifarious threats.

Evaluate whether your anti-virus product secures your computer against browser and web malware.

Install the latest versions of web browsers.

Attackers find it easier to penetrate older, more insecure versions of browsers because they are lax on security. For instance, Internet Explorer version 6 is considered an older and insecure browser.

Update your operating systems with automatic security updates on a regular basis.

Ensure that you are using legal versions of operating systems on your computer and the automatic updates feature is operational. In fact, security updates prevent the occurrence of attacks that can compromise the entire computer.

Do not browse unknown web sites or web sites that are 'known-bad'.

Modern browsers warn the user that he/she is browsing a web site that might harm their computer. Please heed your browser 's advice and stay away from such sites.

Attackers commonly send links in phishing e-mails that say 'Click here to collect your winnings!' or similar.

Once the user clicks on said link, he/she is redirected to another site, which installs the malicious software and compromises the browser.

The author is chief technology officer, we45 Solutions India Pvt. Ltd. we45.com

The World's Biggest Family: The Man With 39 Wives, 94 Children And 33 Grandchildren

• Ziona Chana lives with all of them in a 100-room mansion
• His wives take it in turns to share his bed
• It takes 30 whole chickens just to make dinner

Aizawl, Feb 20 : He is head of the world's biggest family - and says he is 'blessed'  to have his 39 wives.

Ziona Chana also has 94 children, 14-daughters-in-law and 33 grandchildren.

They live in a 100-room, four storey house set amidst the hills of Baktwang village in the Indian state of Mizoram, where the wives sleep in giant communal dormitories.

The full monty: The Ziona family in its entirety with all 181 members

You treat this place like a hotel: With 100 rooms the Ziona mansion is the biggest concrete structure in the hilly village of Baktawng

Mr Chana told the Sun: 'Today I feel like God's special child. He's given me so many people to look after.

'I consider myself a lucky man to be the husband of 39 women and head of the world's largest family.'

The family is organised with almost military discipline, with the oldest wife Zathiangi organising her fellow partners to perform household chores such as cleaning, washing and preparing meals.

One evening meal can see them pluck 30 chickens, peel 132lb of potatoes and boil up to 220lb of rice.

Coincidentally, Mr Chana is also head of a sect that allows members to take as many wives as he wants.

Feeling peckish? The senior ladies of the Chana family show what it takes just to make a meal

The wives and I: Mr Ziona Chana poses with his 39 wives at their home in Baktawang, Mizoram, India

He even married ten women in one year, when he was at his most prolific, and enjoys his own double bed while his wives have to make do with communal dormitories.

He keeps the youngest women near to his bedroom with the older members of the family sleeping further away - and there is a rotation system for who visits Mr Chana's bedroom.

Rinkmini, one of Mr Chana's wives who is 35 years old, said: 'We stay around him as he is the most important person in the house. He is the most handsome person in the village.

She says Mr Chana noticed her on a morning walk in the village 18 years ago and wrote her a letter asking for her hand in marriage.

Shared bedroom: A look inside the four-storey mansion, Chhuanthar Run - The House of the New Generation

Another of his wives, Huntharnghanki, said the entire family gets along well. The family system is reportedly based on 'mutual love and respect'

And Mr Chana, whose religious sect has 4,00 members, says he has not stopped looking for new wives.

'To expand my sect, I am willing to go even to the U.S. to marry,' he said.

One of his sons insisted that Mr Chana, whose grandfather also had many wives, marries the poor women from the village so he can look after them. 

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Arunachal MP Calls Swami Ramdev A ‘Dog’

Itanagar, Feb 20 : The MP from Arunachal had misbehaved with Ramdev and called him a `bloody Indian'

Swami Ramdev preforming a yoga. Cong MP from Arunachal Pradesh Ninong Ering had allegedly misbehaved with the yoga expert and called him a bloody Indian.

New Delhi: Supporters of Swami Ramdev have said they will hold "shudhi yagna" (purification ceremony) on Sunday at the residence of Ninong Ering, Congress MP from Arunachal Pradesh, and not allow him to enter parliament for his "derogatory utterances" against the yoga guru at a camp held in the state.

Patanjali Yogpeeth, which is headed by Swami Ramdev, said in a statement that the MP misbehaved with the yoga guru by calling him a "bloody Indian" and "a dog" at a yoga camp, and threatened him with dire consequences for his movement against corruption.

"The local Congress MP, Ninong Ering, called Swami Ramdev 'bloody Indian' and 'a dog' and threatened him with dire consequences for his Bharat Swabhiman movement against corruption and black money," the statement said.

It said Arunchal Pradesh Education Minister Boisram Sairam was also present at the camp.

Swami Ramdev with BJP leader L K Advani and Guru Sri Sri Ravishankar. File Photo. The BJP is upset over Ering's remarks and wants an outright apology

The statement said that Swami Ramdev referred to questions posed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding corruption, and asked the people present if they had signed the memorandum to be submitted to him.

It said the education minister and the MP lost their cool and made derogatory remarks against Swami Ramdev.

"This has led to a huge anger among the crores of workers of Bharat Swabhiman. They have decided that they will organise 'shudhi havan' at the residence of the MP in Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh. They also said the MP has no moral right to enter parliament for using indecent and unparliamentary language and he will not be allowed to enter parliament," the statement said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the alleged remarks of the MP and asked the Congress to take action against him.

Swami Ramdev with devotees. File photo. His devotees are hurt at Ering's remarks

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said Ering's remarks were irresponsible and seditious.

"He has abused Baba Ramdev and called him a bloody Indian. We condemn this outburst. Ramdev is revered all over the country," Javadekar said.

"When he calls somebody a 'bloody Indian', does Ering not recognise Arunachal Pradesh to be a part of India?" Javadekar said, adding that if the MP does not consider himself an Indian, he has no right to sit in parliament.

The Congress, however, said that it was a matter between two individuals and the party will not be in a position to comment till it speaks to the incharge of the Arunachal Pradesh unit.

"Nobody should use uncivilised language in any walk of life," Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said.

Source: IANS

Between ULFA And Peace

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

In 1979, a group of young men met at Rang-ghar, the 17th century amphitheatre that stands in the heart of Sivasagar town in upper Assam, and spoke of a “sovereign” Assam.

Buddheswar Gogoi, a school teacher, was named chairman of the organisation that came to be known as the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Other members included Bhimkanta Buragohain, now advisor and ideologue, Pradip Gogoi, vice-chairman, Suren Dihingia (who later left the group) and Someswar Gogoi. Another youth, Rajib Rajkonwar who later came to be known as Arabinda Rajkhowa, joined a few months later and soon replaced Buddheswar Gogoi as chairman. Then joined Paresh Barua, who went on to found the ULFA’s armed wing and became its commander-in-chief.

Three decades later, some of the young men who met at Rang-ghar flew to New Delhi to talk to the Centre early this month. The demand for sovereignty has been replaced by the quest for an “honourable” solution under the ambit of the Indian Constitution. Only Barua remains defiant, still threatening to wage a lone war from an undisclosed location—and posing a threat to the peace process.

By the time ULFA leaders decided to talk with the government for the second time—the first was in 1992—the violence they had unleashed in Assam had killed an estimated 10,000 people.

Though the first few years of ULFA were relatively peaceful, the outfit stepped up violence after the 1983 assembly elections in Assam. In May 1985, it looted a bank—a branch of the UCO Bank in Guwahati, killing its manager. A year later, it looted the State Bank of India at Namrup. In September 1986, the ULFA carried out its first political murder, gunning down lawyer Kalipada Sen, one of the founders of the United Minorities Front of Assam (UMFA).

By 1990, the ULFA’s reign of terror had spun beyond the control of Prafulla Kumar Mahanta’s AGP government. On one hand, ULFA members, keen to project a a Robinhood image, began taking action against drug-peddlers and trouble-makers, and on the other, they began targeting individuals. Prominent among those who fell to the ULFA’s bullets in 1989 and 1990, were industrialist Swaraj Paul’s younger brother Surendra Paul, who had major stakes in the tea industry, Dibrugarh SP Daulat Singh Negi, Oil India PR manager PKD Ramamurthy, Kamrup Chamber of Commerce president GL Harlalka and Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation’s personnel manager D Chaliha. The ULFA also carried out a number of kidnappings that year. Among those who were kidnapped and released for a ransom was Gauhati Refinery general manager HKL Das.

The crackdown

On November 26, 1990, Hindustan Lever Ltd was forced to airlift its executives from its tea plantations in Upper Assam following threats from the ULFA. A day later, the Centre cracked down on the ULFA, declaring it unlawful and called out the Army which launched Operation Bajrang. The AGP government too was dismissed a few weeks before it could complete its five-year term.

That was the beginning of a series of blows the outfit suffered, with the army busting its two major hideouts, killing several of its members and arresting hundreds others. At one of its hideouts inside the Lakhipathar reserved forest near Digboi, the army discovered a number of bodies from a mass grave, many of them had their hands tied behind their backs.

But even as Operation Bajrang was beginning to yield results, it was called off in March 1991. Three months later, the Congress won the assembly elections, only to be greeted by the sensational simultaneous abduction of 15 persons from different districts of the state. Those abducted included a Russain engineer working with Coal India Ltd and several engineers of ONGCL. The ULFA later secured the release of over 350 of its cadres from jail in exchange of the hostages, but not before killing two of them, including the Russian engineer.

The 1992 peace talks

In September 1991, the army was called in again in Assam and Operation Rhino was launched. A harried Arabinda Rajkhowa sent a delegation of five top leaders, including general secretary Anup Chetia to hold direct talks with Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in January 1992. A month later, the ULFA held its general council meeting in an undisclosed place inside Arunachal Pradesh, but Paresh Barua refused to attend it. Despite that, another delegation led by Vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi flew to Delhi and met home ministry officials. A few weeks later, Rajkhowa gave in to Barua and pulled out of the talks but about 15 senior ULFA leaders, led by central publicity secretary Siddhartha Phukan—whose actual name was Sunil Nath—surrendered before chief minister Hiteswar Saikia, thus causing the first major split in the ULFA.

“It is Paresh Barua who has been calling the shots inside the organisation. Rajkhowa may have been the chairman for a long time but he was more like a flower-vase,” says Sunil Nath, who now runs a business. Nath says while Anup Chetia built the ULFA’s political wing, Barua almost single-handedly shaped its military wing.

“Barua is an exceptionally shrewd person. Today, although he has only a handful of armed wing cadres with him, Paresh Barua has the potential of creating massive havoc,” says Nath. “Boys from urban areas have no attraction for the gun. But hundreds and thousands of unemployed drop-outs are even today a huge resource pool for any militant group including what is left of the ULFA,” he adds.

In its fight against the ULFA, the army too had its own limitations, says Lt Gen (Retd) D B Shekatkar, who as GOC of the Army’s Four Corps, headed operations against the ULFA in the mid-1990s. “These are after all our own boys, and not from any enemy country,” he says.

Then there are political compulsions, adds Shekatkar. “There have been local political interests in keeping the ULFA alive. When political leaders get involved, the army’s role becomes limited. And, I have no hesitation in saying that political parties had also used the ULFA to come to power,” he says.

Political parties, particularly the Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad, have often accused each other of taking the help of ULFA to further their interests. During elections, the ULFA would back a party it felt was supporting it and would strike out against the ones it thought was opposing it. So, when Mahanta, whose AGP was once seen as a sympathiser of the ULFA, chose to be tough on them, they hit back by killing Nagen Sharma, the No. 2 in his government, in February 1990. In the past two decades, all the three major parties in the state—the AGP, the BJP and the Congress—have lost a number of leaders and workers during elections.

The decreasing clout

It is, however, the ebbing away of people’s support that has severely dented the clout of the ULFA. The explosion in 2004 on Independence Day in Dhemaji, an upper Assam town, which killed 13 primary schoolchildren, was the turning point in its popularity.

Political developments in the subcontinent too worked against the ULFA. The change of guard in Bangladesh in 2008 and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s commitment to not allow Bangladesh to be used for anti-India activities, have started yielding results.

While differences between Rajkhowa and Paresh Barua started deepening, the flow of funds collected through extortions too has come down sharply in the past two years, making it difficult to run the organisation. So, when Rajkhowa was trapped by security forces in Bangladesh and handed over to India in December 2009, the only way left for him was to seek a “respectable” solution through peaceful negotiations.

When Rajkhowa was first produced before a court in Guwahati, he said he had not surrendered and that it was not possible to hold talks with handcuffs on. A year later, as former IB chief PC Haldar held several rounds of informal discussions with him inside the Guwahati Central Jail, the government agreed not to oppose the bail petitions of the ULFA leaders.

So, on February 5, the ULFA formally announced its decision to hold unconditional talks with the Government of India, but not before admitting that continuing to stick to the armed struggle could be suicidal.

The ULFA has also finally given up its earlier preconditions: of holding talks in a third country, including “sovereignty” as an issue on the agenda, and having an UN observer during the talks.

Five expert committees constituted by the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, a convention that was attended by representatives of over 100 groups and organisations in Guwahati last year, are now working overtime to prepare the framework for talks between the ULFA and the government.

“All that the people of Assam can now wish is that the ULFA leaders who have finally come forward for talks, do not go astray. Nobody can afford to miss this opportunity,” says Dr Hiren Gohain, former Gauhati University professor, who heads the Abhibartan.

Manipur Outfit ‘Bans' Mobile Service Providers

By Iboyaima Laithagbam

Sets Wednesday deadline for dismantling all towers

Imphal, Feb 20 : The outlawed underground organization, the Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) has banned all mobile service providers in Manipur.

A press release jointly signed by the KCP(MC) ‘commander-in-chief' Taibang Nganba and publicity secretary Washington Meitei said all towers should be dismantled by February 23.

The security guards and the family members of the houses where the towers had been erected would be given drastic punishment if structures were found after the deadline.

The release also asked all those associated with the mobile service providers to distance themselves from them. No ground was given for the ‘ban.'

Employee kidnapped

Some days back an employee of the Aircel mobile service provider was kidnapped and shot dead by an armed group for being present in the office despite a ‘ban order' imposed on the company.

A few days later another employee was kidnapped and his whereabouts are not known.

The angry villagers of Kumbi from where the kidnapped employee hails tried to burn down the Aircel towers pointing out that the officials did not try to secure his release.

Reports say that a whopping amount was demanded as ransom.

Out of about 28 lakh people in the State, it is reported that at least 15 lakh people depend on mobile service.

From the day the Aircel employee was killed the offices had been closed down and the service has been off air.

Meanwhile the Manipur government has allocated Rs. 2.70 crore for installing jammers at the Central Jail at Sajiwa.

According to reports, most of the prisoners there had mobile hand sets and were continuing their illegal activities giving instructions to associates over phone.

Police recently recovered several hand sets and SIM cards during raids.