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Manipur is caught between Naga, non-Naga protests

May 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Imphal, May 21 (ANI): Commoners in Manipur have been severely affected by the protests launched by non-Naga people against National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) general secretary Thuinhaleng Muivah’s attempt to visit his ancestral village.

Muivah’s decision to visit Somdal, his ancestral village, has been strongly opposed by non-Nagas in Manipur.

They believe the visit would create tensions, as the NSCN (IM) has demanded a `Greater Nagaland’ comprising of Naga-inhabited areas of neighbouring states, including Manipur.

“Muivah might have come very innocently. If he causes threat to territorial integrity, than we oppose it. And, we should protest for it,” said Open Singh, a protestor in Manipur

“It is a sit in protest to show our strong objection and to condemn the NSCN-IM’s terrorist Muivah’s attempt to enter the state to break up Manipur’s integrity,” said Nutan Singh, general secretary, Youth Development Organization.

Manipur is suffering due to a month-long economic blockade spearheaded by Naga groups in protest against the autonomous council elections in the hill districts in April.

After holding talks with the Centre, Muivah has been camping in Viswema village near the Nagaland-Manipur border.

Muivah, a Tanghkul Naga, belongs to Somdal in Manipur’s Ukhrul District.

There is a severe shortage of essential items, including live-saving medicines, petrol and diesel, due to the Naga-sponsored economic blockade.

Hundreds of trucks were stranded in the adjoining state of Nagaland, with Naga protesters laying a siege to the National Highway 39 which is considered the lifeline of Manipur’.

“Now prices have gone up significantly. One bag of rice, which earlier cost Rs. 670, has now gone up to Rs. 980. I can’t afford it. No poor person will be able to buy rice,” said Ahanbi Devi, businesswoman, Manipur

“It has affected us very badly. People are fighting and running around to get fuel, that’s the reason why everyone is standing out here. Now a litre of petrol costs Rs. 150 to Rs. 200. How can we run our vehicles?” said L Loken Singh, a local, protestor

To resolve the crisis, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai and peace interlocutor R S Pandey visited Manipur and Nagaland.

While Pillai held discussions with the Manipur Government about the situation, Pandey met senior Naga leaders to assuage their hurt feelings in the wake of Manipur’s stand.

Pillai also met Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in Kohima and Muivah to chalk out a broad strategy to ensure that supplies of essential commodities is not blocked from reaching Manipur.

Ethnic tensions between the two communities have stunted progress in Manipur even as other states in the northeast are making their way steadily to a better future.(ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Ancestral Village, Autonomous Council, businesswoman, commoners, Council Elections, economic blockade, general secretary, lifeline, nagas, national socialist council of nagaland, neighbouring states, nscn, Nutan, Poor Person, protestor, sit in protest, State Of Nagaland, territorial integrity, ukhrul, Youth Development Organization

Airlifting of essential commodities providing relief to Manipuris

May 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Imphal (Manipur), May 21 (ANI): With the stand off between Manipuris and Nagas remaining stalemated over Naga rebel leader Thuigaleng Muivah’s attempted controversial visit to his village in Manipur, the government has taken a laudable decision to airlift essential supplies to save lives in the state.

The prompt government decision to airlift essential commodities is aimed at easing the pressure of shortages caused by an ongoing Naga economic blockade.

Life saving medicines, food grains and other essential commodities are being flown into the state. This is providing much needed respite to the people of Manipur.

The Naga groups have imposed economic blockades along National Highway-39 and National Highway-53, both of which serve as the lifeline to the remote north east state.

The first consignment of goods reached Imphal Airport from Assam’s principal city of Guwahati, and was distributed at government-approved prices.

Priority was given to the economically weak and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.

P. Vaiphei, the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Manipur, said: “Tomorrow at 9.00 a.m., another small quantity of consignment will arrive. The consignment will not be taken to the FCS godown, but will be handed over to the Deputy Commissioners of Imphal East and Imphal West. They will then set up a mobile open sale from tomorrow onwards at different places.”

Meanwhile, different communities, including Nagas and Meities, are participating in demonstrations aimed at restoring peace and normalcy to the region.

They have demanded an end to the over a month-long economic blockade.

Katalu Gangmei, a Naga protestor, said: “We have always wanted to live together peacefully. And, if any problems arise, it will be better for him (Naga rebel leader Thuigaleng Muivah) not to enter the state.”

Maipak Devi, a Manipuri protestor, said: “We hope our protests can bring peace. After we succeed, we will stop our agitation, and if not, we will intensify it.”

As usual the common people in Manipur are the worst sufferers. (ANI)

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Protest in Manipur against Naga leader”s visit

May 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Imphal (Manipur), May 16 (ANI): Scores of protestors took to the streets in Imphal to protest the proposed visit of leader of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah, who wants unification and eventual independence of Naga-dominated areas in the north-east.

The tension intensified here on Saturday as the protestors raised slogans against Muivah.

They alleged that Muivah”s homecoming was only a ploy to create a communal crisis in the state.

“We have co-existed together with love and peace and I believe his entry in the state will destroy the peaceful atmosphere and end that relationship amongst us,” said Rojen Mayengbam, a protestor.

“We always want to live together peacefully and we want to say that if a problem will be created, it is better for him not to enter,” he added.

Earlier this month, the state government banned Muivah from visiting Somdal, located in Ukhrul district.

The NSCN-IM had agreed to a ceasefire in August 1997 and launched a peace process with the Central Government to bring an end to the longest-running insurgency in India.

The rebel group has participated in several rounds of talks with central officials since the start of the ceasefire.

But talks between the two sides have not made progress over the rebels” main demand of unification and eventual independence of Naga-dominated areas in northeast India. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: August 1997, ceasefire, Central Government, homecoming, insurgency., isak, Manipur, naga, national socialist council of nagaland, northeast India, nscn, peace process, peaceful atmosphere, ploy, protestor, protestors, rebel group, slogans, state government, unification

Manipuri women protest against proposed visit of Naga leader

May 14, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Imphal, May 14 (ANI): Around 1,000 women staged a sit-in protest here on Thursday against the visit of National Socialist Council of Nagalim”s (Isak-Muivah) leader, Thuingaleng Muivah, to the state.

The protest was carried out by the Advanced Women Society at the Awang Sekmai Bazaar in Imphal.

After the sit-in protest, the women took out a rally in Sekmai area shouting slogans against Muivah”s visit.

“We are opposing Muivah”s attempt to enter Manipur with an intention to destroy Manipur. We are expressing our anger. We have decided to close down all our business establishments and have stopped our daily errands as well. And so we have been staging today”s sit-in protest,” said Memcha Devi, a protestor.

The protestors also allege that Muivah”s homecoming is only a ploy to cause communal crisis in the state.

“Even though he was born in Manipur, he has never spoken for Manipur and instead supports Nagaland. He has made Manipur suffer a lot,” said Amubi Devi, secretary of Advanced Women Society.

Earlier, violent clashes between Muivah”s supporters and security forces at the border town of Mao resulted in the death of two women protestors and left over 50 others injured.

The NSCN-IM had agreed to a ceasefire in August 1997 and launched a peace process with the Central Government to bring an end to the longest-running insurgency in India.
The rebel group has participated in several rounds of talks with central officials since the start of the ceasefire.

But talks between the two sides have not made progress over the rebels”” main demand of unification and eventual independence of Naga-dominated areas in northeast India. (ANI)

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Protestors stage sit-ins over proposed visit of Naga leader

May 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Imphal, May 10 (ANI): Residents of Imphal staged a sit-in demonstration across the region against the visit of leader of National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah, who wants unification and eventual independence of Naga-dominated areas in the north-east.

The protests were held under the auspices of the Apunba Meira Paibi and other local clubs such as the Youth Development Organisation of Thangmeiband Thingel.
Demonstrators burnt effigies of Muviah and Home Minister P. Chidambaram and raised slogans that objected to Muviah”s proposed visit to his ancestral village Somdal in Ukhrul District.

They alleged that Muivah”s homecoming was only a ploy to cause a communal crisis in the state.

“The decision taken by Chidambaram is a secret conspiracy. He has not informed or involved any political leaders of the state. He wants to destroy the integrity of the state, and, we are strongly opposed to it,” said K Shyama Devi, a protestor.
Earlier, the All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO) had called for a two-day shutdown in the state.

But talks between the two sides have not made progress over the rebels” main demand of unification and eventual independence of Naga-dominated areas in northeast India. (ANI)

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Forest protestor tells court he was dragged and kicked by contractor

March 31, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

An anti-logging protestor has told the Hobart Magistrates Court how a forest contractor dragged him out of a car and kicked him in the face during a blockade in the Florentine Valley.

Forest workers Rodney Howells, Terrence Pearce and Jeremey Eiszelle have pleaded not guilty to assaulting two protesters in the Florentine Valley in October 2008.

One of the protesters, 23-year-old Nishant Datt, told the court he locked himself onto a disused car blocking a forestry road to prevent trees from being logged.

He said forest contractors started smashing the car’s windows with a sledgehammer because they could not start work.

Mr Datt told the court he was trying to get out of the car when a contractor dragged him out of a shattered window and then kicked him in the head several times.

The hearing continues.

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Sikhs feel offended, as Sajjan Kumar gets bail in 1984-anti Sikh riots case

March 11, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, March 10 (ANI): Scores of Sikhs gathered outside the Karkardooma court in here on Wednesday to lodge their protest against the anticipatory bail granted by the court to the Congress leader, Sajjan Kumar, in cases related to 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Earlier, the court had issued two non- bailable warrants against the accused.

Sajjan surrendered before the court on Wednesday morning.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Lokesh Kumar granted bail to the accused, including Sajjan Kumar,

after they all appeared before him.

Protestors were agitated after Sajjan was granted bail.

“A ray of hope had kindled when the court here issued non-bailable warrants against the accused. Even that

ray of hope is extinguished by the judge. We request the people of India and the Supreme Court that Supreme

Court should fight our case,” said Tarseem Singh, a protestor.

Harvinder Singh Phoolka, Counsel for Victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, expressed his discontent with the

decision and said that he would take the case to the Supreme Court.

“We will file a plea in the Supreme court that the decision is wrong and we will request the Supreme Court

that he (Sajjan Kumar) should be given a temporary bail, till his next appearance in the court, and not a

permanent bail. The High Court hasn”t put any such restriction. The accused was absconding, however, the

High Court hasn”t considered it,” said Harvinder Singh Phoolka.

Central Bureau of Investigation had filed a charge sheet against Sajjan Kumar and others in two cases for

allegedly instigating mobs after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in 1984.
The anti-Sikh riots in Delhi occurred following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.

Activists accused Congress party of having turned a blind eye to the massacre of Sikhs and said some of its

leaders helped orchestrate the rioting. (ANI)

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Manipur protests continue against alleged fake encounter

September 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Imphal (Manipur), Sep 7(ANI): People in Manipur are getting tired of protests against an alleged fake encounter in which a former militant and a pregnant woman were killed by police commandos on July 23.

The strike, called by civil rights organizations, call for an immediate punishment of those who are guilty.

“On behalf of the people, we want immediate peace and an end to the ongoing violence in the state, only then I believe the situation will return to normal,” said Phajabi Devi, a local protestor.

Following the strike, markets, educational institutions, banks, business establishments and entertainment houses remained closed, which has caused immense inconvenience to locals.

“The people are facing immense difficulties because of increasing violence in the state. There have been so many killings even in the past. We as mothers are unable to take it any more. We cannot live like this,” said Chaobi Devi, a local.

“Due to the violence and curfew in the state, education has been severely affected. We the people are really suffering. We are daily wage earners and because of the situation, a lot of our time has been wasted,” said Ibecha Devi, another local.

The Manipur government had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident and as protests continue curfew are imposed in disturbed areas to prevent any untoward incident. (ANI)

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Police resort to cane charge to quell unruly youth seeking jobs in Chhattisgarh

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Durg (Chhattisgarh), Aug 31 (ANI): Police in Durg district resorted to baton charge to quell an unruly protest by a bunch of youth seeking jobs at a local cement company.

Violence started when hundreds of local youth, under the aegis of the Chhattisgarh Swabhiman Manch (self-respect group), tried to storm the hotel where the company was holding interviews for various posts.

Police caned and chased away the unruly mob.

“Their way of protesting was against law. We asked them to protest in a lawful manner but they tried to barge into the hotel and when security personnel tried to prevent them they started bullying. In order to control them we used mild force and arrested some protestors,” said M. L. Kotwani, Additional Superintendent of Police.

Protestors accused police and local authorities of colluding with the representatives of the cement company.

“The manager of the JP Group is following a discriminatry against us and local authorities and police are cane charging instead of helping us. This is an injustice and we seek clarification from the state government,” said Mahesh, a protestor.

Lack of job opportunities for locals has in recent years triggered protests and even violence against outsiders in several parts of India. (ANI)

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Labour unions stage protest against price rise in Ludhiana

August 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Ludhiana, Aug 27 (ANI): Activists of labour unions took to the streets in Ludhiana protesting against spiraling prices.

The protest was organised jointly by the Northern Railway Men’s Union, the Kisan Sabha (Farmers Union), the Textile Mazdoor (Labour) Union and some other smaller unions.

Protestors said that the central government has failed to check rocketing prices of food grain and other basic commodities.

“The lentils we used to buy for Rupees 22-25 per kilogram is now selling at Rs. 70 a kilogram, vegetables like peas which were available for Rs. 5 per kilogram is now available at Rs. 85 per kilogram. We feel that our lawmakers are sitting idle after winning the election and not doing anything to check prices,” said Jagjit Singh, a protestor.

The prices of foodgrains, sugar and other items of daily need have risen due to weak monsoon and drought like situation.

Food prices surged an annual 13.3 percent in mid-August even as the overall wholesale price index fell, and the impact of a poor monsoon on inflation and the economy could prompt further government relief steps.

The widely watched wholesale price index fell 0.95 percent in the 12 months to August 15, its 11th successive fall. That compared with a 1.53 percent decline in the prior week and a market forecast for a decline of 1.41 percent.

The food articles index surged 13.3 percent from a year earlier as drought has hit nearly half of India’s districts, eroding crop production and raising major headaches for policy makers.

Last month, the central bank revised up its inflation forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2010 to five percent from four percent.

Officials have said mitigating the impact of the drought conditions is the government’s priority.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said this week that India was facing the prospect of a drought, and the government is planning a crackdown on hoarding of farm commodities and imposing limits of stock traders can keep. (ANI)

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Maoists’ backed tribals hold rally in Orissa

July 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bandhugaon (Orissa), July 5 (ANI): Hundreds of tribals staged a rally in Bandhugaon in Orissa’s Koraput district on Saturday asserting their right on land.

The tribals, with the backing of the Maoists, accused the non-tribals of grabbing their land.

The Maoists have been reportedly instigating tribals to forcefully acquire the land belonging to non-tribals. They are against the acquisition of tribal land for establishing multinational companies.

“The Adivasis (tribals) in Koraput are fighting for their land rights, their rights of livelihood, their right to live in this district and this place. From Koraput and from other districts of Orissa Adivasis are being displaced. The areas are being given to multinationals,” said Vijay Kumar, a local resident.

Tribals alleged that the Government is not paying heed to their demands and hence they have to resort to different means.

“The tribals are fighting for their land rights. The non-tribals have the authority on the tribal land. We have raised this issue several times. But no one has paid attention to this issue. Even the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government (in the state) is showing carelessness towards this issue, so we are forced to come here and raise it,” said Vasaka Rao, a local resident and protestor.

The area was cut off from the rest of the country for almost two weeks as the dispossessed tribals blocked all connecting roads by felling trees and denying access to the administration.

The rally held importance, as it was held after the Centre banned and formally labelled the Maoist insurgents as a terrorist group, hoping it would give security forces more enforcement powers. The move allows authorities to arrest members of the Maoist party, even in case they were not directly involved in rebel violence. (ANI)

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Killing of contractor evokes mass protest in Manipur

July 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Imphal, July 1 (ANI): The killing of contractor Y. Krishnadas has evoked widespread condemnation in Manipur.

Denouncing the violent act, thousands of people including employees of the Kakching Municipal Council came out for a mass protest over the recent killing of Krishnadas.

Krishnadas was kidnapped on June 10 and a ransom of Rs. 2 crores was demanded for his release. After negotiation, Rs. 25 lakhs were given to the kidnappers. However, he was found murdered on June 12 at Lilong in Thoubal district.
His killing has devastated his family members who are in a state of shock.
K. Bimola Devi, Krishnadas’s wife said, “Killing my husband in such a brutal manner is a heinous crime committed by some heartless people. They even took money away from us and on top of that they killed him as well. Once the culprits are arrested, they should be given severe punishment.”
Civil society in the state has appealed for justice and demanded that the culprits should be apprehended as quickly as possible.

“Such killings in Manipur, should be stopped immediately; the trauma that the family members of Krishnadas is going through will be faced by every one in the state. This should stop and this is what we are appealing for,” said P. Somorendro Singh, Publicity, Joint Action Committee, Manipur.

Militant activities have severely affected life in the state and what people want is an end to mindless killings and restoration of peace and normalcy as soon as possible.

“It is really difficult for us to live. We are simple people earning for our everyday living. Killing innocent people is causing trouble for the people.

This is beyond our comprehension,” said Ibemhal Devi, a protestor.

According to reports, T. Nando, a member of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), alleged to be the mastermind behind the kidnapping and murder of Krishnadas. (ANI)

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India’s northern Punjab state tense after killing of Sikh leader

May 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi – Authorities prolonged a curfew Tuesday in major cities of India’s northern state of Punjab, which saw an outbreak of violence following the killing of a Sikh leader in the Austrian capital Vienna two days ago.

Police in Punjab’s capital Chandigarh said the death toll in the violence had risen to three after a protestor was killed by a councilor of the ruling Akali Dal party who opened fire when he was attacked in Jalandhar city Monday night.

The towns of Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur and Phagwara remain under curfew and army was patrolling the streets to prevent any violence.

Protestors have been clashing with police since late Sunday and set ablaze train coaches, buses and cars following an attack on two top leaders of the Dera Sach Khand sect in a Sikh temple in Austria.

Sect head Niranjan Dass and his deputy Rama Nand Dass were attacked with knives and firearms.

While Niranjan Dass is recovering in hospital after emergency surgery, Rama Nand Dass died of gunshot wounds.

The sect that adheres to the Ravidass Sabha movement mostly has followers among the Dalit or low-caste Sikhs.

Three people have been killed and at least 10 injured in the violence that saw supporters of the sect defying curfew and attacking scores of vehicles in central Punjab where the sect has a large following.

The situation was described as calm but tense on Tuesday.

At least 40 long-distance trains scheduled to run through Punjab have been cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.

Most roadblocks set up by protestors have, however, been removed and traffic on major highways is being monitored by the police.

Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal has called a meeting of all political parties in state capital Chandigarh to discuss the volatile situation.

Badal’s Akali Dal represents mainstream Sikhs who largely belong to the land-owning Jat caste.

Sikh historians say deras, or sects, like Sach Khand arose from a feeling of discrimination among Dalit converts to Sikhism.

There are several such sects, across the northern states of Punjab and Haryana, with many Dalit Sikh followers.

Mainstream Sikhs often consider those sects as deviating from the true Sikh religion and practices.

Their differences have often resulted in violence. Clashes between Sikhs and another sect, the Dera Saccha Sauda, left several injured over the last two years.

The Sikh religion developed in the early 16th century as a reaction to the rigid strictures of Hinduism.

Sikhs constitute less than 2 per cent of India’s 1.1 billion people, of which 80.5 per cent are Hindus.

Most Sikhs in India live in Punjab which has a Sikh-majority population.(dpa)

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Curfew relaxed briefly in violence-hit Punjab, Badal calls for all-party meet

May 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chandigarh, May 26 (ANI): Curfew was relaxed for a brief while in some parts of Punjab on Tuesday, though there were reports of sporadic violence.

On Tuesday, the atmosphere in the northern state was still tense, a day after two protestors were killed in large-scale violence and arson sparked by the killing of a leader of a Sikh sect in Vienna, Austria. Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal will preside over an all-party meeting that will take stock of the overall situation and make appropriate recommendations.

The state government had to call in the army in four cities — Phagwara, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Jalandhar to bring the situation under control. No traffic is being allowed into Ludhiana till 2 p.m.

At least 45 persons including 20 policemen were injured as followers of the Dera Sachkhand Ballan Sikh sect and various Dalit organisations fought pitched battles with security personnel and indulged in vandalism.

Rail and road traffic were badly hit while trains were stranded in several stations in the state. Police said that in all there were 86 incidents of violence in Punjab.

The protesters torched four bogies of Jammu-Kanyakumari express at Jalandhar but the passengers left the train leaving behind their luggage’s to protect themselves from the violent mob.

On Monday night, an SAD municipal councillor killed a protestor allegedly in self-defence after being attacked in Jalandhar district where authorities relaxed curfew for two hours on Tuesday.

A mob allegedly attacked SAD councillor Balbir Singh Bittu and burnt his car. Bittu opened fire at the mob in which Vijay was killed.

Jalandhar is a stronghold of the Dera Sach Khand, a Sikh sect comprised of mainly Dalits who took to the streets in protest against the death of one of their gurus Sant Raman Nand during a clash between rival Sikh communities in a Vienna Gurudwara.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said the situation was under control and claimed violent incidents was limited only to a few pockets in Jalandhar and its surrounding areas.

“The situation is normal, there is no violence at this moment and some incidents which took place today were limited to a few pockets, mostly in Jalandhar,” Badal and his deputy and son Sukhbir Badal, who is also the SAD president, said while condemning the Vienna incident.

Meanwhile, police in Vienna said investigations are still on. The Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that he has assured the Indian Government that the culprits involved in the attack would be brought to book. (ANI)

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Sikhs, Hindus protest outside Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi

May 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 20 (ANI): Scores of Sikhs and Hindus took to streets and staged a protest outside the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi against the excesses of Taliban in Pakistan against minorities.

Organised jointly by the World Hindu Federation and Sikh organisations, the protest witnessed the agitated protestors holding placards and shouting slogans against the Taliban.

Protestors said that the Taliban was causing atrocities on hundreds of Sikh families by imposing Jazia (religious tax) on non-Muslims and forcing them to abandon their homes and hearth.

“Taliban is collecting Jazia money from Sikh community. Besides, they (Taliban) have forced Sikhs to flee from their homes and members of the Sikh community residing in Pakistan are also facing lot of other problems. We have organised this protest to condemn these atrocities,” said Surendranath, a protestor.

The protestors also demanded that the Government of India should intervene and safeguard the Sikhs’ welfare in Pakistan.

“Our next step is to meet the Prime Minister. Once he resumes his office, we will go and ask him to take some action on this issue,” said Surinder Singh, another protestor.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the protestors submitted a memorandum to the Pakistan High Commissioner.

Reportedly, the Taliban had asked 30-35 families of the region to pay 50 million rupees as Jazia and protection money.

Consequently, many tribal families have started migrating to different parts of Hangu and Kohat out of fear of the Taliban action.

The Taliban outfits had demolished at least 11 houses belonging to the Sikh community in the Orakzai Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan after they refused to pay Jazia.

Jazia is a tax imposed on non-Muslims for their protection that prevailed during the Mughal era. (ANI)

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LIC employees take to streets against Assam police

May 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jorhat (Assam), May 19 (ANI): Hundreds of employees of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and their sympathisers took out huge protest march through the streets oforhat in Assam on Monday.

They were staging a protest against the Assam police who were accused of being high hard on employees of LIC.

Reportedly, the trouble began on May 13 when an employee of LIC met with an accident and died on the spot.

Soon, an irate mob converged at the site of accident and set ablaze the truck that had claimed the life of the LIC staff.

The wrath of the public was also directed against the police on the contention that in the absence of proper traffic monitoring and control, there was reckless driving by truck drivers on most of the busy roads, leading to frequent accidents.

After this incident, certain police personnel stormed the LIC office and baton charged the employees including women.

About 25 employees were seriously injured including loss of eyesight due to police brutality.

Consequently, employees from all the divisions of LIC staged demonstration demanding appropriate action against the police authorities.

“We want action to be taken against the policemen who baton charged LIC workers and that’s why we have taken out this protest march. And we demand the matter too be treated seriously,” said Probita Chandra Dutta, LIC employee.

Thousands of government as well private companies’ employees from Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh also joined the protest march.

They lamented that the employee were treated very badly.

“Everything was damaged by police. There treated the LIC workers as terrorist persons,” said Pramod Mahanta, a protestor.

About 4000 workers are employed by LIC in various states of the North East and it has around 11divisional offices. (ANI)

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Sikhs continue protests against atrocities on their community by Taliban

May 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Amritsar, May 7 (ANI): Sikhs continued protests across Punjab against the atrocities being committed on their brethren by the Taliban in Pakistan.

Scores of activists took to the streets in Amritsar to express their anguish against the treatment meted out to Sikhs in Pakistan’s North West Front Province (NWFP).

The protestors, who torched an effigy of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, appealed to both the Indian and the Pakistan Governments to help in controlling the atrocities on Sikhs.

“Our brothers have staged this protest against Taliban and asked the Pakistan Government to stop the atrocities on Sikhs and also their losses should be compensated. They also appealed to the Indian Government to intervene and help avert the atrocities committed on them and their relatives in Swat valley and Pakistan,” said Swaroop Chand, a protestor.

The Taliban demolished at least 11 houses belonging to the Sikh community on Thursday in the Orakzai Agency of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in Pakistan after they refused to pay “Jazia”.

Jazia was a tax imposed on non- Muslims for their protection during theMughal period but continues even today in some parts. (ANI)

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Kashmir’s Pandits accuse Election Commission of discrimination against them

May 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 4 (ANI): Kashmir’s Pandits staged a silent protest here, saying their names were struck off from the voters’ list.

Most of Kashmiri Pandits live in Jammu, and the rest who fled the region reside mostly in New Delhi and other cities across the country. Only about 3,000 still reside in the Kashmir valley.

The number of Kashmiri Pandits on the voters’ list has dropped from nearly 150,000 in 1996 to just 71,000 during the ongoing parliament polls.

Angry Pandits accused the independent Election Commission of discriminating against them.

“Right to vote is the biggest asset in democracy, which the Election Commission of India is depriving us of. Our voting strength has been reduced from two hundred thousand to seventy thousand. Imagine the condition of Narendra Modi in Gujarat if 70,000 Muslim voters were removed from the voters list, but since it is a Hindu issue, therefore nobody is speaking,” said Prashnik Kher, a protestor.

According to the National Human Rights Commission, about 300,000 Kashmiri Pandits have been forced to leave Kashmir. But Kashmiri groups peg the number of migrants closer to 500,000. (ANI)

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Agitated Sikhs block Jammu- Pathankot highway

May 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Jammu, May 3 (ANI): Activists of various Sikh organizations blocked the Jammu – Pathankot National Highway here today and burnt images of the Taliban and neighbouring Pakistan to express their anguish over the injustice meted towards Sikhs in Pakistan’s North West Front Province (NWFP).

Holding placards, the protestors shouted slogans against the Taliban and the Pakistan Government. They alleged that Sikhs were being subjected to acts of barbarism in the NWFP.

The protestors also burnt tyres.

The highway is the only road link that connects the state with the rest of the country. ikh activists called on the UPA Government to ensure the security and safety of monitories living in Pakistan.

While condemning the Taliban, Colonel Mohinder Singh, a protestor, alleged that Pakistan has failed to protect the life and property of Sikhs out there. He further accused Pakistan of giving rise to the Taliban.

We have already conveyed our concern to the authorities in India, he said.

Another protestor, Harminder Pal Singh Sodhi, said the Sikh community is a peace loving community and always respects all communities and religions. However, he warned that if anyone tries to hurt their sentiments, they should expect a befitting reply. By Tahir Nadeem Khan (ANI)

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Shoe hurled at Indian premier during speech

May 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi – A protestor threw a shoe at Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during an election rally on Sunday, but it landed several feet short of where he was speaking. Singh was addressing the gathering in the western Gujarat state’s main Ahmedabad city and was momentarily distracted from his speech as a security personnel ran towards the spot where the shoe was lying.

The guard then kicked and later carried away the white sneaker which had landed about 20 feet away from the podium.

Singh continued his speech as the man, identified as Hitesh Chauhan, a city-based computer engineer in his mid-20s, was whisked away by security personnel.

Local news channels which broadcast images of the incident said Singh had forgiven the youth and asked police not to press charges against the man.

Police officials told the IANS news agency that Chauhan did not belong to any political group but were questioning him to determine the provocation or issue he wanted to protest about.

The NDTV network quoting police sources said Chauhan wanted to grab media publicity by doing so.

Shoe-throwing has become a preferred form of protest in the run-up to the month-long elections in India which began April 16.

This is the fourth occasion when shoes have been hurled at Indian political leaders in the past few weeks.

It all started on April 7, when a journalist lobbed a shoe at India’s Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram during a press briefing in national capital New Delhi.

Days later, a retired school principal threw footwear at Congress party candidate Navin Jindal during an election rally in the northern state of Haryana.

Subsequently, a slipper was thrown at Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani, by a former party worker.

Sunday’s incident was the latest in the series of shoe-attacks on political leaders – shoes have been hurled at former US president George W Bush and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. (dpa)

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