Guwahati, June 24 (ANI): Security has been tightened in Assam following the 12-hour ‘Asom Bandh’ called by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Thursday.
Guwahati has been put on high alert, while security has been beefed up in sensitive places like railway stations, railway tracks, bus stands, airports, parking lots, refineries and other vital installations.
“Alert has been sounded across the state in view of the bandh tomorrow. Security has been tightened and special arrangements have also been made to ensure law and order during the bandh hours,” said Inspector-General of Police (CWR) GP Singh.
The banned ULFA has called a 12-hour ‘Asom Bandh’ on Thursday beginning from 5 am to protest the killing of two of its cadres in an alleged fake encounter on Sunday, besides killing members of other militant outfits in the past few months by security forces.
The outfit has, however, exempted students appearing in different examinations, water and milk supply, hospitals and medical facilities, electric supply and the press from the purview of the bandh.
Moreover, the state government has also issued directives to all deputy commissioners and sub-divisional officers to make sure normal operation of offices during the bandh.
A strict vigil was being maintained at the Kamakhya Temple, where a four-day Ambubachi Fair is being markedd by thousands of people. (ANI)
Musharraf power theft scandal case: Low level workers punished
Islamabad, Sep 17 (ANI): The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) has only punished 64 junior officers for their involvement in the power theft scandal involving former President Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz and others in the luxurious Chak Shahzad farmhouses.
The big guns in the electricity department have not even been touched, according to well-placed sources.
The list of punished employees includes 35-meter readers, 14 line superintendents and 15 sub-divisional officers, The News reports.
Sources said these personnel were those who had to implement the orders of the higher-ups and no high-ranking official has been touched in the order passed by Iesco on 10-9-2009.
The official spokesman for Iesco, Ameer Hussain Chaman, when asked about the punishment, said he was not aware of any such punishments.
“I have not been conveyed any such details, therefore, I cannot offer any comment over the issue,” he added.
Sources said Colonel Umer Hayat was conducting the inquiry and on 9-9-2009 his tenure was completed and on 10-09-2009 these personnel were punished.
They say that in this power-theft scandal the higher-ups passed all the orders and the junior officers had no option, but to obey the orders.
It is worth mentioning here that Musharraf had constructed a modern house on the farm obtained for breeding poultry and vegetables, but the ex-general has been enjoying the cheapest power tariff, D-2(1) connection, which is meant for agriculture tube wells and lift irrigation pumps. (ANI)