Development news of orissa and India

Akhand in Bhubaneswar, India

In Orissa, a delegation of opposition Congress and BJP MLAs met Governor Mr. MC Bhandare today urging him to reconvene the winter session of Orissa Assembly that has been adjourned sine die.

A five-member delegation including Congress Legislature Party leader Mr. Bhupinder Singh and BJP Legislature Party leader Mr. KV Singh Deo submitted a memorandum to the Governor informing him about the statutory violation in the Assembly. They said, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has abruptly shortened the winter session of the house scaring more discussion on the multi-crore mining scam involving Chief Minister Mr. Naveen Patnaik.

The Speaker, Mr. Pradip Kumar Amat, had yesterday passed a motion to adjourn the house sine die following a majority of voice vote in favour of it even as the winter session was to continue till 19th of this month. The ruling BJD claimed there was no important business left for the house.

Meanwhile, opposition members continue to sit-in-dharna inside the Assembly since adjournment of the house. They have decided to run a ‘special session’ of the Assembly from tomorrow.

In Punjab, curfew imposed in industrial town of Ludhiana continued without any relaxation today. Only one minor incident of violence was reported from the city during curfew. Situation in the city is tense but under control. Heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the city. Rapid Action Force personnel were also patrolling in the sensitive areas.

Curfew was imposed yesterday in the entire city following incidents of violence and firing by police in which one person was killed. Some organizations have given Ludhiana bandh call for today. Punjab bandh call has also been given for tomorrow. Rail, road and hospital services have been given exemption from bandh. Security has been tightened in the state .Flag march was organized by police at some places to instill confidence among the people. Punjab,Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has described the incidents of Ludhiana most unfortunate and painful and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of a life in firing. He called upon the people to maintain the highest traditions of peace as taught by the great Gurus, saints and Seers. Mr. Badal appealed to all religious and social organizations and political parties in the state to play a constructive and pro-active role in maintenance of peace and amity among the people.

The ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa alias Rajiv Rajkonwar, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Baruah and Rajkhowa’s bodyguard Raja Baruah who were granted a 12-day police remand by the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court, Kamrup last evening, are now being kept in an undisclosed high security area for questioning. Officials of Special Operations wing of the Assam Police, Central Intelligence agencies are reportedly questioning the ULFA leaders. The police had filed before the court that Arabinda Rajkhowa and Raju Baruah used to monitor all the ULFA hideouts from Bangladesh. They were also in charge of imparting guerrilla warfare training to the cadres and looked after and controlled all extortion and related works. Raja Baruah, the bodyguard of Arabinda Rajkhowa, also acted as his driver besides managing computer operations. An Interpol redline notice had also been served against the leaders for facilitating their arrest in any country.

Meanwhile, the Special Operation Unit of the Assam Police has sent a list of names of foreign country-based individuals and private firms facilitating ULFA activities to the Central Government. These individuals and firms are reported to have based in Bangladesh , Myanmar , Pakistan and Nepal . The list was prepared based on the questioning of Sasha Choudhury and Chitraban Hazarika, the two senior ULFA leaders, arrested recently. Reports said these individuals and private firms are inimical to India ’s interest and the listed individuals used to operate as ‘over-ground agents’ for the outfit and collected huge amounts annually on behalf of the outfit at the instance of the outfit’s commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah.