KOHIMA, August 28: Angry over lack of food, 38 undertrials, mostly drug addicts and people charged with petty crimes, escaped from the high security Mokokchung jail in Nagaland on Thursday night, police said yesterday. Ten of the fugitives, however, were immediately recaptured. The home secretary (police), CP Giri, said the undertrials fled the district jail by breaking open the main gate of the prison. He said the inmates were agitated over delayed supply of food since Wednesday. Things turned violent when no food could be served to them till 7 pm. Altogether 20 of the prisoners were rearrested by September 3. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, August 29, 1999; Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 4, 1999)

GUWAHATI, August 30: The activities of Pakistani's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) in Assam is an issue concerning the security of the nation and has nothing to do with religion, according to the Assam Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha. Talking to this correspondent here, the Governor pointed out that the presence of a large number of illegal migrants in Assam had made the state a fertile ground for ISI activities. However, at the same time, he expressed the view that the indigenous Muslims in Assam were no less patriots than others, and "we are hopeful of fighting the menace of ISI activities with their help." Sinha said there was a vast difference in the attitude of illegal migrants, who were brought up on the culture of a 'theocratic state' are more vulnerable to the ISI designs but the indigenous people including the Muslim community, who have been brought up in a secular state, have a different kind of attitude and are less vulnerable to the designs of the ISI. He also pointed out that some persons may work for the ISI due to economic considerations and they may even be Hindus. (R Dutta Choudhury; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, August 31, 1999)

GUWAHATI, August 30: For centuries, people living on either side of the Indo-Bangladesh border have been governed by the same rulers. They have also shared a common culture, language and tradition. Fiftytwo years after partition, the artificial frontier barriers have kept the people on either side united by a common bond. The Indo-Bangla border in the Karimganj district of the Barak Valley is a border only in name because there is little that prevents people from both sides from interacting with each other. Barbed wire fences, border sentries, check gates et al have failed to curb the people's natural instincts to reach out to their kith and kin across the border. The 42-km land frontier in Karimganj district has been fenced except for a few stretches. The riverine boundary is supposedly patrolled by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel 'round the clock'. For residents on either side of the border, however, crossing the international boundary is a matter of daily routine. Every morning, Karimganj town, the nerve centre of the district, is flooded with casual labour seeking work, rickshawpullers seeking passengers, beggars seeking alms and patients seeking treatment. It is known to all that these people have all come over from Bangladesh. Come evening, most of them go back home. There are some, however, who never go back to their country but press on deep into Indian territory looking to settle down. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, August 31, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 2: "Be it the Pakistani intrusion, or, influx from Bangladesh, we somehow become the targets of suspicion. As if we are a lot of felonious traitors living in this great country to serve the interests of the enemies. Our lives are thus made haunted, horrendous by some vested interest circles. Our only fault lies in the fact that we are born in the Muslim families who used to speak Bengali dialects in their private life," lamented Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury, president of the United Minorities' Front (UMF) of Assam and assistant general secretary of the All India Milli Council. Choudhury, also an advocate of the Gauhati High Court here, was talking to this correspondent on the situation arising out of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan's operatives' arrest in the city recently. Ruing over the fact that some political leader and top functionaries in the state government have dragged Muslim madrassas and mosques into the controversy "unnecessarily", Choudhury said though they have used the word 'some' before these social and religious institutions of the Muslims, their failure to name the institutions, which have been aiding the ISI activities, have made all the madrassas and mosques suspects in the eyes of the non-Muslim citizens of the country. (Ajit Patowary; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 3, 1999)

ITANAGAR, September 2: Solung, a tribal festival of the Adi community, was celebrated throughout Arunachal Pradesh on Wednesday with traditional gaiety and fervour. Besides the traditional ponung dances, rituals and sacrifices to invoke Ponyi Pol, the festival was marked by community feast, games and sports. Addressing the gathering on the occasion of the festival here, the Arunachal University vice-chancellor, KK Dwivedi, said celebration of the festival promotes feeling of oneness among the people. Dwivedi said efforts were on to establish a cultural complex at the lone university of the state for further research and documentation of tribal culture and heritage. (PTI; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 3, 1999)

SHILLONG, September 2: People Today, a monthly news magazine for the Northeast was launched on August 28 at a simple function at the Plaza here. Edited by Rabiul Islam, the magazine is published by Millennium Publications. It was inaugurated by two little children from the KJP Synod Orphanage. Speaking on the occasion, Islam said the magazine would strive to be a people's platform. He said the magazine was dedicated to the children of the Northeast and sought to help find positive directions for their future amidst all the present chaos. SL Khyriem is the publisher. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 3, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 3: Dhiru Bhuyan, celebrated actor and director of films, AIR plays and TV serials, passed away today at his Uzanbazar residence here after protracted illness. He was 56. Born in a renowned Assamese family of Uzanbazar, Dhiru Bhuyan had developed a penchant for acting from his very childhood. Bhuyan made remarkable contributions in the field of Assamese culture. Professionally, he joined AIR Guwahati as casual announcer in 1962, became regular announcer in 1966, and served as senior programme announcer till his death. His first appearance on screen was as a child artiste in Lakshyadhar Chowdhury's Assamese film Nimila Anka. He subsequently appeared in Anwar Hussain's Sarapat. Thereafter, Bhuyan never looked back. His talent was exposed gradually with his remarkable performance in films like Lalita Abhijan, Ratanlal, Jog Biyog, Srimanta Mahimamoyee, Kazirangar Kahini and Hridaya Proyojawete. He made his directorial venture with the film Pratham Ragini, which won the National Award for the Best Regional Film. Besides, Bhuyan had a number of successful stage plays to his credit- which bore the touches of a perfectionist-director. He was one of the founders of Pragati Silpi Sangha- a well known cultural organisation of the city. He leaves behind one son, one daughter and his wife. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 4, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 5: The move of the Guwahati city police to involve the people in preventing crimes has yielded the desired results as people from all walks of life have come forward to offer their helping hand to the police. Police sources revealed that while the petty crimes in the city had increased, the number of police personnel in the city had remained the same for years. The city police decided to try out a new idea to prevent crimes in the ever growing city. Sources said that keeping in mind the need to evolve new methodology to prevent crimes, the city superintendent of police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, and other senior police officers held a series of meetings with local residents in different parts of the city, which led to the formation of citizens committees in different localities. Mahanta said it is beneficial for the police to involve the people in crime preventing activities as it would improve the efficiency of the police force. He said that the city police has received overwhelming response to its move to involve the people in preventing crimes and improve the police-public relations. Already more than 50 citizens' committees have been set up in different localities of Guwahati and more such committees are being formed. Everyday, the superintendent of police and other police officials are receiving requests from people of different localities to visit their areas for the setting up of local committees and these committees have helped the police a great deal in preventing petty crimes. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 6, 1999)

UDALGURI, September 7: The Asom Nepali Sahitya Sabha (ANSS), a premier literary organisation of Assam, has expressed deep concern over the ongoing khilanjia issue raised recently by All Assam Students' Union (AASU). The organisation has appealed to the AASU leadership to ponder over the issue with intellect and full conscience, stated a press release issued by Laxmi Prasad Parajuli and Kamal Chandra Upadhyaya, president and secretary respectively. The literary organisation also appealed to the AASU leaders to define the term khilanjia and to express their clear views on the Indian Nepalese. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 8, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 9: Renowned litterateur, educationist and former president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Jogesh Das, died at the Guwahati Neurological Research Centre (GNRC) here today. Das, a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, was on artificial ventilation for the last several days following a brain haemorrhage on August 31. He was 72. Born in 1927 at Hanhchara tea estate, Das started his career as a teacher at Doomdooma High School and later joined B Barooah College in the city in 1953 as a teacher in Assamese. He retired as the head of the department of Assamese of B Barooah College in 1988. Das worked with the Natun Asamiya as a sub-editor and with the Dainik Asam as an assistant editor. He also edited the Asam Sahitya Sabha Patrika, besides news weeklies Prahari and Adhinayak. Till his death he continued his association with several newspapers as a columnist. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 10, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 10: A bizarre tragedy today took five lives, including that of the superintendent of police (SP), Sibsagar and an Army officer when a landmine accidentally went off in the office chamber of the SP at Sinbsagar town. While SP PK Lohia, Lt Nazir, constable Dulal Neog and journalist Jiten Chutia died on the spot, photo journalist Al Farid Sajad died at a private nursing home. Police sources said that this afternoon, Lohia held a press conference in his office to explain the details of an encounter with a militant earlier in the day. After most of the journalists left the office, the SP started to explain the two remaining journalists about the landmine. At that moment, the landmine exploded accidentally, killing four of the people in that room. Sajad was seriously injured and he was shifted to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 11, 1999)

GUWAHATI, September 11: The "tithi" of Srimanta Sankardeva was today observed throughout Assam. Several programmes were organised throughout the state. The main functions were held at the Barpeta and Bordua satras to remember the contributions and ideals of the Vaishnavite saint. The state chief minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, inaugurated a scheme of the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra to hold cultural programmes at the complex on Saturday's and Sundays. Speaking to a sparse gathering, Mahanta hoped that such activities would help preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the state. He also inaugurated a sales counter of ARTFED at the Kalakshetra complex and a workshop on graphic art. (Staff Reporter; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 12, 1999)

RANGIYA, September 2: Tension prevailed in Rangiya and its neighbourhood following the physical torture meted out to about 500 people of Batahkuchi, Bichennala, Kothra, Jamtola, Gariakoth, Tokonkata and Hairandab, villages under Rangiya circle by the Army and the police during a joint operation early this morning. The operation, led by the Rangiya subdivisional police officer, Mahesh Sarma, was launched by the Army and the police in those villages as a sequel to the United Liberation Front of Asom's gunning down of two masons at Hairandab on August 29 last. The ULFA action came in retaliation to the killing of three ULFA activists by the security forces in an encounter on August 27 last at Hairandab. It was alleged that the villagers were made to flock on the bank of the Nona river at around 3 am today and tortured physically. Majority of the people belonged to the age group of 50- 65 years. Of those tortured, 19 have been picked up by the police for interrogation and had not been released till late evening. The villagers also alleged that the security forces fired several rounds into the air during the operation. (Correspondent; The Assam Tribune; Guwahati, September 3, 1999)