VIVEK RATH RECALLS SWAMI VIVEKANANDA'S IDEALS

Thousands of people here today walked through the exact route, Swami Vivekananda undertook 112 years ago in Shillong, while recalling the saint’s ideals.

The procession called “Vivek-Rath” began from Bilasipara in Assam on 23 April and covered Chapara, Dhubri, Dudhnai, Gauripur, Goalpara, Guwahati before culminating here.

The Rath began in the morning at 8 am where thousands of people from different parts of the state and country converged at Laban where Swami Vivekananda had stayed during his visit to Shillong 112 years back.

The procession with women, men, children and monks of the Ramakrishna Mission traversed from Laban through IGP point, Police Bazaar and converged at Quinton hall for a public meeting where Swami Vivekananda had delivered a lecture on this day in 1901.

On the dais where several dignitaries who recalled the ideals of the saint and urged the huge gathering to imbibe his teachings.

“Gender disparity that is being talked about these days and also the growing crime against women was touched upon by Swami Vivekananda 100 years ago.

Swamiji said that any country which doesn’t respect its women cannot achieve greatness now or in the near future,” Keya Sengupta, Director of the Indian Institute of Management said.

She said that “self-discipline is the medicine of all the scourges afflicting the society today.”  The IIM Director said that the importance of practicing self-discipline as taught by Swami Vivekananda has become all the more relevant in the present context.

PP Srivastava member from the North Eastern Council termed the congregation at the venue here a “historic occasion.” “This is the very same place where Swami Vivekananda had addressed a gathering 112 years back,” he said.

He urged the congregation to “feel the thrill and vibration that our forefathers experienced years ago listening to the teachings of the patriotic saint.” 

ZUBEEN THREAT BY ULFA PLACED AS EVIDENCE BEFORE TRIBUNAL

The Assam Government placed before a tribunal, the ULFA’s threat to Zubeen Garg, as one of the many evidences of the outfit’s unlawful activities and sought its ban for another two years.

For the second day today, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal held it’s sitting at a City Hotel, away from intense media glare in Assam, to probe the unlawful activities of the ULFA and the NDFB. The Tribunal would decide whether to continue the ban on the outfits, as outlawed organisations.

Officials said that the Zubeen Garg’s case was placed as one of the evidences before the Tribunal, headed by Justice JR Midha, about the outfit’s illegal activities, while seeking its ban. Zubeen was threatened by the ULFA (Paresh Baruah faction) for singing Hindi songs during the ongoing Bihu festivals.

“The case relating to the threat issued to popular singer Zubeen Garg was placed as one of the evidences before the Tribunal. The case is registered in Guwahati city. Based on all the evidences we sought to extend the banned on the ULFA for another two years,” a Government official said, requesting anonymity.

Yesterday witnesses, that included Superintendents of Police and Investigation Officers, presented their cases relating to the unlawful activities of the NDFB before the Tribunal headed by Justice Manmohan Singh.

20 odd official witnesses presented the case diaries and records before the Tribunal to support their cases highlighting the illegal activities of the NDFB, mainly in the Bodoland areas. Today, about 28 officials deposed before the tribunal relating to cases involving the ULFA.

Assam Government Counsel, Avijit Roy said the Tribunal would pass its order sometimes in May. The Tribunal, may also hold additional sittings if the need arises, he said.

The Assam Government, however, is seeking for an extension of the ban for another two years on the two outfits, but a final decision would rest on the Tribunal, Roy stated.

MEGHALAYA'S UNIQUE CAVE SYSTEM

Meghalaya’s cave system has extended to 387 kms - one of the longest cave system in the Indian subcontinent – after conclusion of an International expedition of speleologists from around the globe.

So far 1,350 caves have been identified in Meghalaya in northeast India mostly in the limestone-rich Jaintia Hills district. 850 of these caves have been explored totally or partially, said Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA), secretary Brian D Kharpran Daly. During this expedition 19 new caves were discovered.

 The International caving expedition was 21^st of its kind and was dubbed “Caving in the abode of the clouds” and spanned over a period of 18 days from February 4.

An eighteen member team from UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Germany and India took part in the expedition, which also included three biologists and researcher from Lady Keene College.

 

Brian said in the Larket Area in Jaintia Hills district Krem Khung cave system was extended from 5065 meter to 7349 meter, making it India’s 8th longest cave. One of the characteristic of this cave is large-sized fallen boulders found everywhere inside.

Krem Labit Kseh in the Kopili Valley, on the other hand, was extended from 5910 meter to 6802 meter. The cave has fine river passages. This is one of the very few caves in India that has several rare gypsum formations, resembling flowers. It is India’s 10th longest cave.

 

The third longest cave in the sub continent, Krem Diengjem, has been extended from 21,250 meter long system to 21,359 meter and is almost close to India’s second longest cave, Krem Kotsati- Umlawan also found in the area.

Meanwhile, Brian said: “there are a lot of caves which remains to be discovered and explored. These caves provide us tremendous input on the ecology of the place, past history, besides providing opportunity for the locals and the Government to promote tourism.”

ASSAM RIFLE REPRIMANDED BY MEGHALAYA GOVERNOR

Meghalaya Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary today reprimanded a gathering of Assam Rifles officials, including its Director General, Lt. Gen. Ranbir Singh for “targeting innocents” in fake encounters and stated such aberrations “cannot be accepted.”

In fact, the Governor expressed his displeasure during an investiture ceremony of the Assam Riles at the Raj Bhavan here today.

Mooshahary said he well appreciated the work done by the Assam Rifles, be it civic duties, counter-insurgency operations or undertaking other vital social responsibilities.

“I deeply appreciate your work in difficult situations, but in the name of encounters (with militants) if innocents are targeted then it cannot be accepted,” he told the stunned gathering of Assam Rifles officials.

The Meghalaya Governor was referring to  Supreme Court-appointed committee which has reported that there were at least six human rights violation committed during operations conducted by the Assam Rifles together with Manipur Commando.

The committee probed the alleged extra judicial killings in Manipur, which included the death of a 12-year-old boy. The committee compromised of former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde, Chief Election Commissioner of India, JM Lyngdoh and a senior police official.  

Mooshahary said that the Assam Rifles must work on its relationship with the people of the northeast as its area of responsibility is confined to the region.

The Assam Rifles is the oldest paramilitary force in India.It was raised by the British in 1835 as the Cachar Levy and came to be known as Assam Rifles in 1917. 

The paramilitary force conducted counter-insurgency operations in insurgency-infested state of Manipur and others in northeast India. It also has the dual responsibility of guarding the Indo-Myanmar border.A unique feature of the force is that the officers are drawn from the Indian army whereas the soldiers are direct recruits.

“I was unhappy to read in the newspapers this morning about the Supreme Court-committee report on human rights violation. This inquiry has been conducted by distinguished people,” he said.

He added that the Assam Rifles and all other security agencies need to “introspect” on these extra judicial killings. “The Assam Rifles and the other security forces must introspect and correct these aberrations,” he advised the top officials of the Assam Rifles.

He reiterated that the Assam Rifles being the oldest paramilitary force in the country is respected by the people of the northeast for its service, but “such aberrations (fake encounters)” would “undo all its good work and alienated the people from the force.”