NEW DELHI, May 16: The Union home minister, LK Advani today gave enough indications confirming that the Centre's plan to repeal the IMDT Act may have run into rough weather, even as he asserted that the Assam government has to use the controversial Act to detect and deport illegal immigrants. The Union home minister, who for the first-time broke his silence on the demand for repealing the Act, in the Parliament, however, steered clear of the controversy by maintaining that whatever law is there it has to be used to detect and deport foreigners. Advani was responding to a supplementary raised by a Shiv Sena MP Anand Kirti Gite, who charged that Karimganj district in Barak Valley was the highest infiltration prone district in the country, from where immigrants from Bangladesh entered Assam entered to other parts of the country. In reply, the Union home minister conceding that Assam is among those states which are seriously affected by infiltration, said that one of the complaints from the state was that unlike the other states an uniform Act for trying illegal foreigners was not applicable there creating hurdles in the process of detection and deportation. As the IMDT Act is only applicable in the state of Assam it has led to problems in detection and deportation process and a demand has been made for its scrapping, he said. The home minister was in no mood to engage the Congress and other political parties opposed to the idea and left no indications about Centre's views on the issue or for that matter his party's stand. "There is a demand from the state that an uniform Act should be made applicable as elsewhere in the country," was all he said. Earlier to the delight of the Congress members, the Union home minister disclosed that the Centre has no figures with it to indicate that infiltration into the country by illegal immigrants is increasing. The Congress members were so pleased at this that Santosh Mohan Dev congratulated the Union home minister for finally acknowledging that it has no data suggesting that infiltration was on the rise. At this, Advani clarified that infiltrations was from across the border was continuing but what the Union government has with it are guess estimate figures compiled by the BSF and immigration authorities and therefore the government was not in a position to say whether it is increasing or decreasing. Dev also suggested that the government should take into confidence the border area MPs for identifying the sensitive points along the international border, while undertaking border fencing and border road construction works. Raising a supplementary, Sansuma Khunggur Bwiswmutiary wanted to know how many foreigners in Assam has so far been detected and deported in view of the fact that one of the signatory to the Assam Accord, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta is the state Chief Minister . In reply, the minister of state for home affairs, ID Swami said that during 1998, 7891 foreigners were deported from the country, out of which 7584 were Bangladeshi. Earlier, in reply to the question tabled by KP Singh Deo, the minister of state for home acknowledged that illegal infiltration can and does lead to various problems related to internal security and also creates several socio-economic difficulties. He added that standing instructions have been issued to state government to detect and deport foreigners staying illegally. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 17, 2000)

NEW DELHI, May 17: The Union home minister, LK Advani today took the Opposition Congress Party by surprise, when he sought the cooperation of the Rajya Sabha in repealing the controversial IMDT Act arguing that one of the root causes of the turmoil in Assam was the illegal infiltration into the state. The Union home minister's bait was, however, not swallowed by the Congress Party, with the Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh clarifying that while they were in agreement that illegal migration should be effectively dealt with, the Congress party cannot assure cooperation on repeal of the IMDT Act. He also added that the issue was dealt with in the Assam Accord and reopening it now would pose a problem. The issue figured during a short duration discussion at the Rajya Sabha, on the internal security situation in the Northeastern states sponsored by as many as 28 members belonging to various political parties. Advani replying to the discussion said that it was ironical that the state most affected by illegal immigration from across the border cannot deport foreigners under the Foreigners Act, while other states were free to do so. To butress his argument and to drive home the point, he furnished figures mentioning that since enactment of IMDT Act, only 1,477 foreigners could be deported from Assam. Describing it as a great tragedy, he said that since the discussion was on the Northeast he would like to put the proposal before the House for repeal of the Act, adding that though Centre was in a position to have it passed in the Lok Sabha, it did not enjoy the requisite majority in the Upper House to pass it. Advani's response to repeal of the Act came in the wake of several members belonging to the Northeast and other political parties urging the Centre to act before the states were swallowed by foreigners. Nabam Rebia of Arunachal Pradesh even warned India of the designs of the ISI to create a separate Muslim state in the Northeast by taking help of the illegal immigrants and the underground outfits. Significantly, the Left parties also opposed the repeal of the IMDT Act. Initiating the discussion the former chief of the army staff, Shankar Roy Choudhury said that the Act was essential for protection of the interest of the minority. Legalities for detection of illegal immigrants has been imposed and IMDT Act is required, he added. Earlier, the AGP member, Arun Kumar Sarma also made a strong plea for detection and deportation of foreigners and repeal of the Act as promised by the NDA government. (Kalyan Barooah; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 18, 2000)

KAMALABARI, May 17: A lot of unscrupulous persons in Majuli are leaving no stone unturned to be recognised as freedom fighters. Some of them who were not involved in the freedom movement of the country anyhow and who acted as police spies against the freedom fighters and even children aged two or four years at that time have been able to get this recognition from the state advisory board of the freedom fighters and the state and central governments' freedom fighter's pension. A retired teacher who was not known as a freedom fighter, got freedom fighter's pension in 1998. This fake freedom fighter wearing a Gandhi cap attended the public function of the Independence Day that year held at Garamur. According to senior citizens this 'new freedom fighters' acted as a police spy at the time of the freedom struggle. Similarly a lady who retired as a school teacher in 1997 got the freedom fighter's pension after her retirement. According to her service book she was born in 1939. When and how did she take part in the freedom struggle ? In this way new freedom fighters have been created through fraudulent means and corrupt practices. If these persons are real freedom fighters, why their names are not included in the histories of Assam and Jorhat district ? According to information received from a reliable source persons aged forty five to fifty years are trying to make people believe that they are aged seventy to seventy five years by means of affidavits filed before a magistrate with a view to getting freedom fighter's pension. It has come to light that such persons becoming new freedom fighters are over one hundred in number in Majuli. The names of such persons had been included in the list of 29 persons considered for freedom fighter's pension recently. According to a reliable source a member of the state advisory board of the freedom fighters recommended the fake freedom fighters names for the pension in exchange of bribe of rupees five thousand per applicant. Even a shopkeeper has succeeded in getting the freedom fighter's pension after spending Rs 30,000 this year. The AGP government has also allegedly given freedom fighter's pension to several fake freedom fighters who are the members of the party in the manner the Congress government offered the pension to many Congress members who never participated in the freedom struggle. Conscious circles here are surprised at the manner a many wearing a Gandhi cap and associated with almost all the Assamese dailies as their Majuli correspondent took part in the colourful procession of the special session of the Asom Sahitya Sabha held at Jorhat along with the freedom fighters. It may be mentioned that this man appeared in the Matriculation examination in 1956 and retired from service in 1996. This man has also got the freedom fighter's pension along with other 28 persons this year. As this man's identity as a freedom fighter was unknown to society in the last century, the conscious people are surprised at this new identity of the press correspondent. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 18, 2000)

AIZAWL, May 19: Project Pushpak, one of the 13 projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), has been constructing 400-km Indo (Mozoram)-Bangladesh border road (IBB road) to check illegal immigration from Bangladesh, Lt Gen AK Puri, director-general of Border Roads, said on Monday. Gen Puri told reporters that Borapansury-Tlabung border road in the southern part has been completed in the first phase of the IBB road construction and the whole first phase (Borapansury to Marpara) is expected to be completed by March next. Border fencing along the Indo (Mizoram)-Bangladesh border is also in the pipeline and the construction would begin as soon as the Union Cabinet approves the project, he said. The organisation is also construction the 200-km Tamu-Kalemyo road as a trade route connecting Moreh in Manipur with Myanmar, he said. (The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 20, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 20: They were engaged by Ahom Kings in maintaining law and order in the kingdom. And for their loyalty to the King and sincerity in discharging the responsibility of policing, Choudangs were considered ferocious people by the common people. Obviously, they were not popular among the masses during the Ahom era in Assam. After the Ahom rule came to an end in Assam, Choudang community was deprived of the patronage it was enjoying from the King for centuries. The society in post Ahom era never bothered to take care of the community which was so instrumental for Ahom rulers in keeping the unity and integrity of their kingdom intact. Today the community is crying for special attention from the government to uplift their lot. According to Binoy Kumar Saikia, secretary of Choudang Jatiya Parishad, lack of proper education for new generations of the community and the traditional habit of liquor consumption have been bane for the community which is scattered over Upper Assam districts of Jorhat, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia. "Our boys are brave but successive governments in the state have failed to utilise their service for the state," he said adding that frustration had forced many youths of the community to join ranks of insurgent outfits. Regarding economic backwardness of the community, Saikia recently told The Assam Tribune that after the collapse of Ahom Kingdom families of higher officials of the kingdom like Buragohains, Borgohains etc. took charge of the property of the kingdom leaving the Choudangs at large despite their dedicated service to the King for centuries. He said though Choudangs had been classified among More Other Backward Communities (MOBC) in the state, it has failed to uplift their status as they have to compete with other MOBC communities which are far more advanced than themselves. "That is the reason, why we have been demanding Scheduled Caste status for Choudangs for years," he said. The Choudang Jatiya Parishad has been demanding a special Assam Police Battalion to be raised with youths from the community so that a large number of members of the backward community get employment. Saikia pointed out that the then chief secretary of Assam, NK Rustomji, could realise the problem of the community way back in 1967 and had, therefore, issued a circular to all heads of departments in the state directing them to pay special attention to the problem and grievances of Choudang community and accord special consideration to members of the community in appointments in district offices. The chief secretary 's circular, a copy of which was made available to The Assam Tribune, mentions that it has come to the notice of the government that Choudang community is not receiving the requisite facilities regarding educational facilities, appointments, forest contracts, land settlements and other similar fields. The secretary of Choudang Jatiya Parishad regretted that many of the youths of the community had gone astray due to apathetic attitude of successive governments towards to problems of the community. However, despite the odds the community has been able to preserve its unique culture and religious rituals over the years, Saikia claims. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 21, 2000)

AIZAWL, May 20: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga would meet senior Union home ministry officials next week to press for a separate IAS and IPS cadre for the state. The Chief Minister, who had left for New Delhi on Friday to participate in the Inter-state Chief Ministerial Council meet, was likely to meet home ministry officials on Tuesday, state chief secretary HV Lalringa told UNI here on Saturday. Mizoram, being an under developed state, merited special requirement, he said. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 21, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 22: The Assam forest department has hailed Union environment ministry's nod for deployment of paramilitary force personnel in Kaziranga and Manas national parks in the state. Union environment minister TR Balu announced the decision of the Centre in a high-level meeting held with state governments' representatives in New Delhi on May 17 last. The central government will bear the cost of deployment of paramilitary force in these two most important wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The force can be deployed for anti-militants, anti-poaching operations in these two national parks in addition to provide protection of park areas against growing tendency of encroachment. Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) P Lahan today told The Assam Tribune that deployment of paramilitary force would serve as a major deterrent against militants, poachers and encroachers in Manas and Kaziranga national parks. The PCCF, however, rued that the Centre was yet to allow the Assam forest department to raise a second battalion of Assam Forest Protection Force to help gear up vigil in all protected wildlife areas in the state especially against poachers and encroachers. He informed that the First Assam Forest Protection Force Battalion was hardly sufficient to keep effective vigil in all wildlife areas in the state. Moreover, the battalion which was raised in early 1980s, is considered ill-equipped in the face of challenge posed by poachers and militants armed with sophisticated weapons. "With forest protection force personnel armed with vintage .303 rifles on guard, the protected wildlife and forest areas in the state are not very safe against growing threat from militants, poachers and encroachers," Lahan said. The state forest department is not resourceful enough to equip the battalion with sophisticated weapons in immediate future. The personnel cannot be provided with regular reorientation course because of the financial crisis faced by the department. It may be mentioned that almost half of the state's forest areas are under encroachment. The fringe areas on Kaziranga National Park are facing major threat of encroachment. It is a well-known fact that Manas National Park used to be stronghold of NDFB militants till the army was engaged to launch operations against the ultras in 1994. Till date the forest department avoids entertaining request from the state tourism department for allowing tourists inside the National park for fear of militants, according to sources in state tourism department. In such a situation, it seems, the state forest department has reasons to be happy over Centre's decision to allow deployment of paramilitary force against militants, poachers and encroachers in Manas and Kaziranga National Park. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 23, 2000)

NEW DELHI, May 23: In a bid to stop illegal immigration and infiltration of militants into India from Bangladesh, the Centre has approved Rs 1334 crore for fencing the entire Indo-Bangladesh border, an official spokesman said. Work on the project involving construction of 797 km border roads and fencing of 2429 km border will begin this year and will be completed by March 2007. The spokesman said the ongoing fencing project at a revised cost estimate of Rs 1042 crore, is expected to be completed by March 31, 2001. Most of the work on the project is complete while some portion remains. Bangladesh shares a 4094 km border with India which includes patches of marshy and riverine areas. These areas would be manned by border outposts (BOPs). Nearly 2216 km of border are with West Bengal, 262 km with Assam, 443 km with Meghalaya, 856 km with Tripura and 378 km with Mizoram. The fencing project was sanctioned in view of the 'continuous and sustained illegal migration of Bangladeshis which affects the demographic composition of population, especially in neighbouring states, and gives rise to social tensions', the spokesman added. The new project involves construction of 77.5 km roads and 71.5 km fencing at a cost of Rs 167 crore in Assam, 204 km roads and 201 km fencing at a cost of Rs 198 crore in Meghalaya, 1021 km fencing in West Bengal at Rs 440 crore, 246.5 km roads and 400 km fencing at Rs 254 crore in Mizoram and 269 km roads and 736 km fencing at Rs 275 crore in Tripura. The spokesman said the government also proposes to strengthen deployment of BSF on Indo-Bangladesh border to reduce the distance between BOPs and for more intensive patrolling. The work of construction of border and fencing is entrusted to the CPWD in West Bengal sector and BRO in other states. "With the completion of construction of border roads and border fencing infiltration of illegal migrants is expected to be considerably reduced if not eliminated" the spokesman added. (UNI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 24, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 26: Non-tribals in Mizoram were forced to remain indoors after a 48-hour virtual curfew imposed on them by the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or Mizo Students' Union. The "curfew" beginning today, was disguised as a protest rally against the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Aizawl last Thursday. There were no reports of violence with all MZP activists going underground after a preventive arrest order was issued by Aizawl deputy commissioner C Ropianga. He ordered the police to monitor the capital's streets. Non-tribals stayed indoors as the "curfew" started at the stroke of dawn. The state government was paralysed and shops and business establishments run by non-tribals remained closed despite most of them being owned by Mizos. Such was the impact that even senior non-tribal IAS officials such as law secretary P Chakraborty, trade and commerce secretary BV Selvaraj and member of administrative reforms committee Chinmoy Nag went on casual leave. The MZP order was issued five days ago after Afjal Hussain, an 18-year-old mason from Karimganj in Assam, confessed to raping and murdering the daughter of friend Abdul Khalique. Khalique is married to a Mizo woman in Aizawl but isn't the biological father of the girl. The MZP decided to hold the 48-hour protest rally, though the incident "primarily involved non-tribals". Its argument was that the Mizo society did not tolerate such a crime and that even non-tribals should obey the moral codes of the Mizo people. It also reminded them that their safety could not be guaranteed if they stepped out of their houses. (Rahul Karmakar; The Hindustan Times; New Delhi; May 27, 2000)

GUWAHATI, May 27: Ensconced in the pristine forests on the south bank of river Brahmaputra, the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, may not be known to many, but for hundreds of migratory birds it is a paradise. The 340 sq km park, straddling the upper Assam districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh, with its tropical monsoon climate is an ideal habitat of over 350 species of migratory birds, including the near extinct white-winged wood duck. The tropical monsoon climate with a hot and wet summer and a cool and usually dry winter with the average temperature ranging from 7 to 32 degree Celsius draws a large number of birds, says the divisional forest officer of the Tinsukia wildlife division, Naryan Mahanta. The national park is a safe haven for the extremely rare white-winged wood duck and many local as well as migratory birds which include grest-crested grebe, spot-billed pelican, white-necked stork, black stork, greater adjutant stork, glossy ibis, large whisteling teal, greater spotted eagle, Indian griffor vulture, sarus crane, Bengal florican and giant hornbill. The park is equally rich and diverse in herpeto-fauna (reptiles) as two species of monitor lizard, eight species of turtles and eight species of snakes have been recorded, says Mahanta. Another most extraordinary and rare creature to be found in the park was the feral (wild horses), which were 76 in number, the forest officer says. The park also serves as an ideal habitat for many mammals, common among them being the tiger, leopard, elephant, wild buffalo, hog deer, sambar, jungle cat. Sloth bear, porcupine, Asiatic jackal, slow loris, Malayan giant squirrel, small Indian civet, wild dog, otter, Gangiatic dolphin and Himalayan squirrel. Tinsukia deputy commissioner Samir Kumar Sinha says the district administration was undergoing a venture to promote the park as a tourist spot and attract more tourists. "Although situated in a remote corner, the park has the potential to attract tourists for its unique wildlife which should be promoted at any cost," he notes. The park, says Mahanta, is capable of holding such diversity because of its original natural vegetation which has thick tropical wet evergreen forests with patches of grass land. During the severe earthquake of 1950, a large part of the park sank by a few metres resulting in regular flooding. This was followed by succession of a new type of vegetation comprising semi-evergreen forests, littoral and swamp forest, patches of evergreen forest and deciduous forest. According to the official, steps had been initiated by the state government to preserve this bio-diversity with the holding of wildlife conservation programme in 1986. A preliminary notification was issued declaring 340 sq km of the forests as a wildlife sanctuary in 1989, Mahanta says. In 1989, one administrative unit for the management of the wildlife sanctuary was set up at Tinsukia creating a wildlife division with two ranges one at Guijan and other at Saikhowa. Finally, out of 640 sq km, 340 sq km have been declared as Dibru-Saikhowa wildlife sanctuary vide a government notification in 1995 which comprises the erstwhile Dibru reserve forest and Saikhowa reserve forest and some other areas. On March 5 1999, the government of Assam declared the sanctuary as a national park. Listing the problems faced by the staff, Mahanta said insufficient infrastructure was the main hurdle the personnel faced especially in handling floods that are a major menace. The 56 regular officials engaged for the park management are inadequate to maintain vigilance and effectively mange the area, he says. Consequent to the floods, several camps in the interior were washed away and at present there were only three observation camps, he said. To develop protection network for the wild animals, more camps need to be constructed in some strategic locations as during floods, country and machine boats are the only means of communication, says the forest official. Raised earthen platforms are to built to provide shelter to the wildlife during high flood and some road network is to be developed for effective patrolling and wildlife viewing. There is also a need to shift two villages, situated near the park, outside and the district administration was approached for the purpose, he said. With the help of the district administration, the Park authorities have also been creating awareness about environment protection by organising campaigns for the people particularly in the fringe villages. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 28, 2000)

IMPHAL, May 28: The Sajiwa jail located near Manipur Police Training Centre (MPTC) at Pabgeit in Imphal East district has witnessed turmoil as a mob of under trial prisoners suddenly went on the rampage breaking doors and setting ablaze six blocks within the jail complex on Friday night. The incident took place at around 7 on Friday night. Several doors connecting one section to a another were broken and the building with six blocks housing many undertrial prisoners was completely torched during the incident. The mob comprised dozens of undertrial prisoners, excluding the female inmates, belonging to different underground outfits. The ward where the chairman of the banned KYKL(O) Namoijam Oken is presently lodged, was not affected. Before starting the action, the irate inmates of the jail locked the main gate and then all hell was let loose. Though the fire servicemen reached the spot on time, they had to stand and watch the fire from outside. The prisoners resorted to violence allegedly to put pressure on the authorities to fulfil their long-pending demands. Their demands include immediate transfer of additional SP (Jail) M Manikanta and Jailor TH Subhas, making medical facilities and medicines available, providing standard ration, etc. However, the tension was quite loose at 10 pm and a group of reporters including this correspondent was allowed to enter the jail and meet the prisoners. They also told the visiting reporters that they had also resorted to a hunger strike from Friday night. In the meantime, the inspector-general of police (prison) Jathang apprised the matter to the state Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh on Saturday morning at this official residence. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; May 29, 2000)

NEW DELHI, May 31: In the face of a demand by the AASU to hand over the Indo-Bangladesh border to the Army, the Union government has directed the Assam government to consolidate the second line of defence to check infiltration from across the border. The one-day tripartite talks on implementation of the Assam Accord concluded here today, without any major decision being taken. The only good news for the Assam government was that the Union government showed its keenness to sanction the additional funds for preservation and updating of the National Register of Citizenship (NRC). The state government had requested the Centre for additional funds to preserve and update the NRC. The meeting was also informed that the additional chief secretary has issued instructions to all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to preserve the NRC in their respective districts. But it was the AASU which surprised every one by demanding that the border defence along the Indo-Bangladesh border be handed over to the Army and the Assam Police for effective policing as they have no faith in the BSF and other forces. They also suggested that the entire fence along the border should be electrified. In reply, the ministry of home affairs spokesman and additional secretary (Northeast) PD Shenoy told newsmen that directions have been issued to strengthen the second line of defence to check the infiltration from across the border. The entire force with a total strength of 3500 personnel is likely to be deployed by the year end, he added. The Prevention of Infiltration of Foreigners Force as it is known has so far not been deployed in full strength as the Assam government has not filled up 840 posts. The force being funded by the central government was to have 1285 ex-servicemen but the state government could only find 440 of them leaving it with a shortfall. But Shenoy today said that Assam government following advertisement could not find candidates for the remaining 840 posts and 440 personnel have been recruited in the first phase. The rest would be inducted in the next stage. The ex-servicemen who after their induction would undergo a training to handle civilians before they are deployed at the border, Shenoy said. But sources here said that the Centre is not happy with the deployment of the force as the Assam government has been using it for law-and-order duties instead of deploying them in the border. At the meeting, the ministry officials asked the state government to ensure that they are used for the purpose they were raised. Shenoy further added that the entire fencing and border works along the Indo-Bangladesh border is likely to be completed by 2007. In the Assam sector, 77.5 km of road and 71.5 km of fence have been sanctioned at a cost of Rs 167 crore. Meanwhile, the two India Reserve Battalions sanctioned for Assam government are in the process of being raised, with the state government informing that the recruitment process has been completed. The central government is bearing the entire cost estimated at around Rs 4.14 crore for raising the force, while the state has to bear its maintenance cost. The issue of safeguarding of the identity of the indigenous people as promised under Clause VI of the Accord did not figure at the meeting today as the sub-committee headed by joint secretary, GK Pillai wanted to have one more sitting. It is likely to be held next month. Shenoy said that the issue would be discussed by the main committee only after submission of the report by the sub-committee. The decision to focus attention on preservation and updating of the NRC by the tripartite committee today assumes significance in this connection. At the meeting the AASU president, Probin Boro stressed that the central government should ensure that peace should be maintained at the border. The AASU was represented by its president Probin Boro, general secretary Amiya Bhuyan, its advisor, Samujjal Bhattacharyya. The Assam government was represented by commissioner and secretary PC Sarma, home secretary MK Barooah, IPG (Border) S Baruah, secretary flood control, KC Sarma and PWD secretary KC Roy Medhi among others. The ministry team included Shenoy and Pillai. (Staff Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 1, 2000)

SHILLONG, May 31: In an unprecedented action, the Khasi Students' Union (KSU) today banned The Shillong Times the second oldest daily newspaper in the north eastern region, for allegedly defaming the student organisation through the 'letters to the Editor' column. Addressing a press conference here this evening, KSU president, Paul Lyngdoh claimed that the newspaper failed to tender an unqualified apology as demanded by them. He said that the KSU would approach the Jaintia Students' Union (JSU) and the Garo Students' Union (GSU) to extend the ban in their respective areas. The KSU president alleged that the letter published in the daily on May 29 last was defamatory and fabricated. The decision to impose the ban was taken by the KSU central executive committee in a meeting today. Asked how the KSU could ban the paper, Lyngdoh said "this is an internal matter and will not be discussed." (Special Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati; June 1, 2000)