Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and other associate organisations resume blockade against NHPC in North Lakhimpur for an indefinite period; Manipur dailies protest with blank editorials; Election Commission team arriv
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    • According to reports, the anti-dam movement activists led by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and its associate organisations resumed their blockade against NHPC in North Lakhimpur for an indefinite period. The KMSS and its associate organisations like MMK, AATASU, AADSU, AAMSU and AJYCP blocked movement of construction materials meant for NHPC’s dam site at Gerukamukh after a gap of two days on NH-52 at Ghagar Nagar in North Lakhimpur. Similarly, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and 13 other organisations started their blockade against the NHPC on NH-52 at Kakoi Chariali in North Lakhimpur. The AASU yesterday made it clear that they would stage a complete blockade on movement of NHPC’s construction materials across the State to make them come to the negotiating table to resolve the impasse on the mega dam on river Subansiri at Gerukamukh. Both these blockades led by the KMSS and AASU stalled the movements of vehicles carrying materials and construction goods of NHPC in North Lakhimpur. 1

    In another development, reports noted that unidentified persons claiming to be members of Kangleipak Communist Party-Lanchen Chanu delivered a hand grenade at the office of a local daily in Manipur for not publishing the group’s statement. Sources said the Chinese made hand grenade was found inside a small gift package addressed by one commander Henthoiba Mangang of the KCP (MC) Lanchen Chanu group. The package was kept near the office staircase of the local vernacular Naharolgi Thoudang at Airport road. Condemning the incident, All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) local dailies left their editorial blank as a mark of protest. 2

    According to reports, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi and his team team will be arriving in Imphal to go into the arrangements being made for Manipur Assembly polls to be held on January 28. The Election Commission team will hold a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Manipur and Electoral Registration Officers besides separate meetings with the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of the neighbouring States. The ECI official is also scheduled to address a press conference here prior to his departure for the national capital. 3

    Menawhile, according to reports, the State government has sounded a high alert in upper Assam following intelligence reports that the Paresh Baruah-led anti-talk ULFA faction may target Oil India Limited (OIL) and ONGC officials along with politicians during the run-up to Republic Day. According to intelligence reports, the outfit was likely to make soft targets on OIL and ONGC officials, particularly those hailing from outside the state. 4

    In other developments, reports that ahead of the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Indian government has tightened security along the India-Bangladesh border by deploying additional troopers. BSF's Tripura frontier Inspector General P.C. Meena said that Security along the border with other northeastern states has also been strengthened. Though there is no specific security threat to the Bangladesh premier, additional deployment has been done in vulnerable areas of the border to foil any intrusion bid from across the border. 5

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