'Kashmir Valley excesses down but haven't stopped'

From The Times Of India

Dec 18, 2010

SRINAGAR: While there is no denying International Committee of the Red Cross's leaked report of security forces resorting to torture in Kashmir, the view across the spectrum here is that such excesses have reduced compared to the 1990s. But, even though notorious detention centres like BSF's Papa-2 have closed down, with thousands of people still missing and around 110 deaths this summer, there's still a long way to go towards ensuring all civil liberties.

JKLF leader Yasin Malik, who spent long years in detention, says he's a living testimony of the torture described by the ICRC. Displaying his scars from beatings in the jail, Malik says that while torture of suspects during questioning is still common, it's no longer as widespread as it was in the 1990s.

Interestingly, the ICRC report refers to 2002-05 when the PDP was in power — a period in which many in Kashmir saw then CM Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's "healing touch". "We stopped crackdowns. We stopped indiscriminate picking up of people. In the first meeting of the unified command, we laid down the policy that excesses must stop, torture must stop," says PDP's Mehbooba Mufti.

And yet allegations of maltreatment surface every now and then. People are picked up and later shot as militants. The recent encounter in Srinagar, in which three young men and a cop were killed, is a case in point. The police claim those killed were Jaish militants, but many people, including some in the National Conference, say it was a staged encounter.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kashmir-Valley-excesses-down-but-havent-stopped-/articleshow/7120868.cms

ULFA claims two leaders picked up by Indian agencies in Bangladesh

From India Report

Shillong, Dec 18 (PTI)

The banned ULFA today claimed that two of its leaders were picked up by Indian intelligence agencies in Bangladesh.

In an email to the media signed by ULFA publicity secretary Arunudoy Dohotia, the outfit said'captain'Antu Saudang and'second lieutenant'Pradeep Chetia were picked up on December 13 and their whereabouts were not known since then.

The email, signed by Dohotia, however, denied reports that Saudang's wife was also detained by the security agencies in the neighbouring country.

Saudang is the third top leader to be on the run after'c-in-c'Paresh Barua and another commander of the armed wing Jibon Moran.

A BSF official said Bangladesh security agencies had raided an ULFA hideout in the Jinaighati area of Sherpur district on December 16 and seized a huge cache of weapons, including 10 AK 47 rifles.

http://www.indiareport.com/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/961957/National/1/20/1

BSNL MAKES PAN INDIA LOCAL FOR ITS FIXED LINE CUSTOMERS

From BSNL
New Delhi, 30th Nov 2010
STD Pulse is now 180 sec (same as local) anywhere in India

As part of its endeavor to provide affordable telecom services to
customers, BSNL, the dominant fixed line operator of the country, has slashed
STD Call charges from its Fixed Line phones to any Fixed Line phone of any
network to Local Call rates w.e.f. 1st December 2010.  Calls from BSNL Fixed
Line (Landline as well as WLL) to any Fixed Line phone (BSNL’s as well as other
networks having less than 10 digit numbers) throughout India will have same
charges with three minute pulse rate. Consequently the customers will now be
able to talk for three minutes in one call unit charge, which varies from 80
paise to Rs 1.20 depending upon the tariff plan.
With distinctive clear voice, no call drops and uninterrupted speech,
landline customers can now make long conversations across India without
paying any extra STD charges.
This facility will be automatically available to all the Fixed Line
Customers of all tariff plans. The customers already availing dynamic locking
facility will continue to avail the same and can bar STD (Level 0) calls, if they
so desire. The revised call charges will, however, not be applicable to PCO’s and
for calls to special services (i.e. Level-1 services). With this long distance calls
from BSNL Fixed Line to any Fixed Line Customers have now become cheaper
than that of mobile.
http://bsnl.co.in/tender1/files/landline.pdf

From http://www.indiareviewchannel.com/resources/2675-SBI-Paramilitary-Salary-Packages-India.aspx SBI Paramilitary Salary Packages India Posted Date: 30 Sep 2010     Resource Type: Finance & Investments     Category: Banks Author: vk Member Level: Diamond     Rating:  Points: 20 (Rs 15)

This article gives complete information on the new SBI salary package for India's paramilitary forces. State Bank of India (SBI) is launching a special SBI paramilitary salary package exclusively for BSF, CISF, CRPF, ITBP, NSG and SSB forces. Features of SBI Paramilitary Salary Package * Unique lifelong Account Number * Zero Balance Account * No Service charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance * Free ATM-cum-Shopping Card with no annual maintenance charges * Free Add-on card for Joint account holder * Free cheque books and demand drafts * Free NTGS and NEFT facility * Free Internet Banking and SMS alerts * Auto-sweep facility to multi-option deposits * Concession in interest rates on SBI Home Loans, SBI Car Loans, SBI Education Loans, Xpress CreditPersona Loans * Discounts on purchase of Gold Coins at SBI ...and lots more! How to Apply for SBI Paramilitary Salary Package Visit the official website of SBI (link below) Email: contactcentre@sbi.co.in Ph: 1800-11-22-11 or 1800-4253 800 (Toll free from BSNL/MTNL landline/mobile numbers) Note: Details of SBI Paramilitary Salary Package have been taken from Advt. in Hindustan Times dated September 29th, 2010. Readers are requested to check all details at official website of SBI. For more details, visit http://www.sbi.co.in/

Combined security meet held with Home minister

From kanglaonline
Posted by support on December 16, 2010


By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Dec 14: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram arrived in Imphal on a special ‘Embraer’ aircraft of the Indian Air Force from Guwahati this afternoon around 2.24 pm for a two day visit to the state to overview the overall situations, particularly of law and order.

The Union Home Minister is being accompanied by MA Siddique, PS to Union Home Minister, Dr. MC Mehanathan, director (NE-1), MHA and Indrajit Kaur, director Police Administration, MHA, Government of India.

The Home ministerial team soon after arrival at Imphal Aiport proceeded directly to the Raj Bhavan, Imphal by road along the Tiddim road under a tight security arrangement. Thereafter, the union home minister address students at GP Women’s College located at Jail Road Imphal this afternoon around 3.30pm.

Later in the evening, the Home Minister reviewed security situation in the state with Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at the later’s cabinet room by convening a Combined Head Quarters meeting which was attended by almost all the high ranking security officials deputed in the state including the Army, Assam Rifles, BSF, CRPF civil police.

Besides the Chief Minister and state chief secretary DS Poonia, the meeting was also attended by DGP Manipur Y Joykumar, DG Assam Rifles Rameshwar Roy, GOC 57. Mt. Div DS Hooda, IGAR (South) CA Krishnan, IGP CRPF (Nagaland and Manipur Sector) and DIG BSF representing the security forces.

According to a highly placed source, the CHQ meeting elaborately discussed the burning issues in the state like, frequent threats perceptions, kidnappings, exploding of bombs at the residential complex of government officers and businessmen by militants related with monetary demands.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister and high ranking state official drew the attention of the Union minister to the need for increasing security manpower in the state so as to enable state government to control the problems of law and order caused by the militancy since last many years.

The official source further mentioned that the CHQ meeting also discussed protection of national highways of the state by providing adequate highway protection forces to prevent any form disturbances along the National highways by any individuals, communities or organization by calling bandhs and blockades which had become stumbling block to development in the state till today.

Keeping note on various comments and views from official presence in the meeting from state government and security forces during the CHQ meeting, the union home minister made his assurances to take up whatever possible measures from the central government to overcome the existing problems related to the law and order situations of the state, the official source added.

The visiting Union Home Minister along with the MHA officials also attended a called on meeting with Governor Gurbachan Jagat at the Raj Bhavan Imphal around 6 pm and discussed overall problems of the state which have been created out of the deteriorating law and order situation of the state, according to an official source.

In the meantime, the visiting central minister and officials of MHA after attending series of meetings were enthralled with a cultural programmes held this evning at the 1st MR complex, Imphal where a dinner was also hosted by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for the visiting central dignatories. The Union Home Minister and the MHA officials will stay at Raj Bhavan, Imphal tonight, the official source added.

On the other hand, state home department in order to maintain law and order to provide adequate security and to prevent any untoward incident during the visit of the Union Home Minister, special security measures were taken since this morning.

According to a highly placed official source, state home department had already ordered to positioned armed police personnel at some strategic points in Imphal area including Imphal Airport gate, Ningombam Lamkhai, Sangaiprou, Paite Veng crossing, Kwakeithel bazaar, Building tops along the Tiddim road including, Sangai express Thounda Bhavok, Hotel Excellency, Former Seen TV building at Paona bazaar, Takhel Leikai area, Hodam Leirak, Keishampat Junction and traffic point at Nityaipat Chuthek.

Before two hours ahead of arrival of union home minister and central official team at Imphal airport today, ROP personnel were also made to carry out advance checking covering dominating features of building tops and tall trees both sides along the route of visiting VIPS.

In the meantime, as per the final laid down tentative tour programmes of the visiting union home minister and central official team, the VVIP team will leave Kangla Helipad at 8.40 am tomorrow for Moirang on MI-17 helicopter and landed at BSF helipad at Moirang from there the visiting central ministerial team would travel by road upto Sendra (Loktak lake) where union home minister will address a public meeting at 9.15 am. After meeting with the public at Sendra, the union home minister will again return by road upto BSF helipad for Churachandpur district.

In the meantime, heavy security arrangements have already been made along Tiddim road under the supervision of SP Bishnupur since this evening with strong instruction to dominate the area and check the presence and movement of any undesirable elements, and special attention are also asked to paid to find out and prevent any mounting of rocket launchers, anti Aircraft guns etc. and similar instructions have also been given to the SP Churachandpur for taking up necessary security measures along with the Army and para military forces which are deployed in the area.

The union home minister and his official team will leave Moirang Helipad on same MI-17 helicopter at 10 am and will proceed directly to AR helipad at Singhat, Churachandpur and visit designated camp of Zoumi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) at Seikot by road from Singhat at about 11.15 am. The Union home minister and his team will again leave Singhat helipad on the same MHA helicopter at about 11.45am and will further land at Khuga Dam site where union home minister will meet community leaders at 12 noon, official source added.

The visiting union home minister P Chidambaram and his official team will return to Kangla in Imphal on the same MI-178 helicopter around 2 pm in the afternoon and they will leave Imphal Airport for Delhi by IAF Embraer Arcraft at about 2.30 pm tomorrow afternoon after travelling by road from Kangla helipad to Imphal Airport along the Tddim road under a tight security arrangement, the official source added.

In late information recieved, chief minister O Ibobi Singh is likely to accompany union home minister P Chidambaram during the later’s official tour in various parts of the state, the official source added.

http://kanglaonline.com/2010/12/combined-security-meet-held-with-home-minister/

Martyrs’ families honoured on Vijay Diwas

From Bangalore Citizen Matters

The families of Rifleman K S Ravindra who was killed in J&K and BSF Constable Bheema Shankar Hadapad, who lost his life to naxals in Chattisgarh were among those honoured at a Vijay Diwas ceremony on December 16th.

By Trigam Mukherjee

17 Dec 2010, 

Vijay Diwas was observed on December 16^th in Bangalore by placing wreaths and paying homage to the statue of Unknown Soldier at the National Military Memorial Park premises. The day marks Indian victory in the war over Pakistan in 1971 which resulted in the liberation of Bangladesh.

65-year-old Bakya Mary, widow of late Sapper Philomina Raj, being honoured by Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde. Pic: Flag of Honour foundation.

The Flags of Honour Foundation honoured families of martyrs from Karnataka - Rifleman K.S. Ravindra who was killed fighting terrorist in Jammu & Kashmir and BSF Constable Bheema Shankar Hadapad, who lost his life fighting the naxals in Chattisgarh and handed over a cheque of Rs. 1 lakh each.

The Foundation also offered financial assistance in kind to Bakya Mary, 65-year-old widow of late Sapper Philomina Raj. She was deserted by her children and wanted to live a life with dignity by earning a living. Mary requested for items consisting of commercial idly maker and accessories, which was handed over to her at the function.

Among the dignitaries present were Lokayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde, Home Minister R Ashoka, Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya, State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar.

The Flags of Honour Foundation is an initiative of Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, who is also the principal donor of the foundation. It is an endeavour to be a platform and a bridge between the citizens who seek to help and the martyr's families.

"Bravery and the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces personnel go largely unrecognized, unappreciated by the nation and Flags of Honour Foundation is an endeavour to be a platform and a bridge between the citizens who seek to help and the martyr's families", says Chandrasekhar.

The foundation's objective is to ensure that India's fallen heroes are never forgotten and believes that the greatest measure of respect that one can bestow upon a fallen hero is by supporting the family and strives to understand their needs. The foundation identifies the need and requirements of the families of martyrs and effectively route financial, social, and material support and ensure that that the families of the martyrs never endure alone.

Citizens who wish to support the martyrs' family can make their donations onwww.flagsofhonour.org / www.flagsofhonour.in

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/2625-vijay-diwas-families-honoured

HC rejects BSF plea

Asks Govt To Show Seriousness In Preparing Arguments

SAMAAN LATEEF

Srinagar, Dec 16: The High Court Thursday rejected the plea by paramilitary Border Security Force to allow it to carry out the proceedings in their court against its two accused officials involved in the killing of teenager Zahid Farooq.
 On December 2, state government filed a criminal revision petition in the High Court against the order passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Srinagar on November 25, which had held that the accused BSF personnel were on "active duty" at the time of the incident by virtue of a notification issued by the Centre and were to be tried in the General Security Force Court.
 Subsequently, High Court stayed the GSFC proceedings pending the outcome of the revision petition.
 Today the court of Justice J P Singh while rejecting the plea of Assistant Solicitor General of India S A Makroo, representing BSF, said, “Mere notification will not mean active duty.”
 Besides, the court came down heavily on the state government and authorities of BSF asking them to show seriousness in preparing the arguments. Justice Singh asked the Additional Advocate General of State, Ali Muhammad Magray, and Assistant Solicitor General of India, S A Makroo, to prepare their arguments thoroughly.
 While adjourning the case till third week of January, Justice Singh said, "I want seriousness as the issue to be raised is virgin."
 Ali Muhammad Magray and S A Makroo told the court it was to ascertain whether or not accused were on active duty when Zahid was shot dead in Nishat earlier this year by the accused Commandant R K Birdi and Constable Lakhvinder Kumar.
 On Novmber 25, supporting the paramilitary BSF plea that the two accused were on ‘active duty’, the CJM Srinagar Yashpal Bourney ordered the transfer of the case to GSFC.
 The killing of 16 year old Zahid Farooq had evoked massive protests across the Valley. Under pressure, the Omar Abdullah government had taken up the killing with Home Minister P Chidambaram and it was only after the latter’s intervention that the BSF had admitted having “accidentally” killed Zahid.
 Subsequently, police filed the chargesheet against the two accused after two months of the killing.
 In its charge-sheet filed before the CJM the police charged them under the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) Section 302 (murder). The duo was also charged under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), Section 201 (destruction of evidence) and Section 307 (attempt to murder).

Jharkhand anti-Maoist forces fight government apathy

From sifynews

Ranchi, Dec 16 (IANS) More than a year after the centre sent six senior paramilitary officers to Jharkhand for anti-Maoist operations, the state government has still not formulated their service conditions, thus denying the officers facilities like insurance and higher pay.

The deputy commandant-rank officers were sent to six Maoist-infested districts in October 2009 as Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs).

Aporva, Vijar Kumar and Shambhu Kumar of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were posted in Ranchi, Khuti and Chaibasa, respectively, while Sanjay Kumar, Ronald Johar Hansda and Sani Alok Tigga of the Border Security Force (BSF) were, respectively, posted in Giridih, Palamau and Gumla.

But with their service conditions yet not framed, not only are the officers not getting the additional pay meant for personnel deputed in Maoist areas, they are not even entitled to insurance and other facilities.

'Who will look after our family if we are killed during operations,' Ronald Johar Hansda told IANS over phone Thursday.

'We raised the issue several times with senior officials. We were assured that the government will look into the issue, but nothing has happened yet,' he said.

CRPF officer Vijay Kumar is not even receiving his salary for the last three months.

'I do not know the reason. We raised the issue several times, but every time we were told the issue will be resolved in a week,' he said.

Some officers have even said they would prefer to go back to their parent cadre.

A total of 20 out of Jharkhand's 24 districts are facing Maoist insurgency.

http://www.sify.com/news/jharkhand-anti-maoist-forces-fight-government-apathy-news-national-kmqoavihibf.html

Bangla obstructs survey work on border

From Assam Tribune
R Dutta Choudhury
 GUWAHATI, Dec 15 – Though a decision was taken between India and Bangladesh at the highest level to solve the problems of adverse possessions along the international border through joint surveys, the survey work has been hitting roadblocks due to noncooperation by the neighbouring country.
Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that during the last visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi in January this year, a decision was taken to solve the problems of adverse possessions through joint surveys in a time bound manner. The joint border working group of both the countries met in Delhi on November 10 to finalize the schedule for the joint surveys. It was decided in the meeting that the surveyors from both the countries would carry out the joint survey of theadverse possession of land. The meeting further decided that the personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) would not be involved in the process of survey and they would only provide security to the surveyors.
As per the decision of the meeting, the joint survey started in the first week of this month, but the process has been hitting road blocks due to the non cooperation by Bangladesh. The survey went on as scheduled in the Boraibari area in Mankachar in Dhubri district where around 189 acres of Indian land is in adverse possession of Bangladesh as well as in Lubshachera in Meghalaya, where around 37 acres of Indian land is in adverse possession of Bangladesh.
But the trouble started in the Pyrdwah area in Meghalaya where around 320 acres of land of Bangladesh is in adverse possession of India. Official sources said that the BDR personnel have been providing roadblocks in the way of joint surveys in the area frequently. On some occasions, the surveyor of Bangladesh did not reach the spot during the scheduled time and in some cases, the BDR personnel ventured into the Indian territory and apparently, the BDR also encouraged Bangladeshi nationals to enter into Indian territory to create disturbance to stall the survey work. Such action by the BDR created tension in the area and the BSF personnel are having a tough time in maintaining peace in Pyrdwah. However, so far, the personnel of the Indian border guarding force have been exercising restraint and not opened fire on the Bangladeshi people who ventured into Indian territory, sources added.
The same kind of problem also took place in Lynghat where around 23 acres of Bangladeshi land is in adverse possession of India and there also the BDR has been creating trouble and the survey could not be carried out.
It may be mentioned here that the failure of the Governments of India and Bangladesh to settle the problem of adverse possessions have been creating trouble along the international border for years and in 1996, the BSF camp in Pyrdwah was attacked by Bangladesh Army personnel, while, 16 BSF personnel were killed in Boraibari. Apart from these two major incidents, there have also been a number of instances of firing between the border guarding forces of both the countries in the adverse possession areas and the people living in the area have been forced to live under constant fear. The Government of India has also not been able to construct border roads and fencing in the areas till the problem is sorted, which affected border management.
In the Assam-Meghalaya frontier alone, around 551 acres of Bangladeshi land is inadverse possession of India and around 222 acres of Indian land is under adverse possession of Bangladesh.
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec1610/at09

Indian tribesmen seem adamant to disrupt survey

From bd newsThursday, December 16, 2010Over 500 armed Khasia men enter Bangladesh thru' Protappur point
Staff Correspondent, Sylhet

Over 500 Indian Khasia tribesmen armed with bows and arrows entered about 150 yards into Bangladesh territory through Protappur border on Tuesday evening, causing serious turmoil in the area.

The intruders, however, returned to the other side of the border shortly afterwards as over a thousand Bangladeshi people of bordering villages chased them away.

Three Bangladeshis sustained injuries from arrows during the incident.

Against the backdrop of the untoward incident, officials of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at an emergency flag meeting yesterday agreed to maintain status quo on Protappur-Padua border and others areas on Sylhet-Meghalaya borders to ensure smooth run of the ongoing survey in the troubled frontier.

Lt Col Khairul Quadir, commanding officer of the 21 Battalion of BDR, Sylhet, and Shekhar Gupta, commandant of the 1 Battalion of BSF, took part in the one to one meeting held near border pillar No 1270/2S, close to Pantumai village near Protappur-Padua border. After the one-hour meeting that ended at 1:30pm, both the officials visited the troubled areas.

"The BSF official expressed sorrow for Tuesday's incident. I requested him to keep the tribesmen and the BSF under control to help successful completion of the ongoing survey on the adversely possessed lands in the region. We also assured them of remaining on our own positions," Lt Col Quadir told this correspondent after the meeting.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants of several villages including Pantumai, Baburkona and Protappur are now passing days amid worry.

"A tense situation has been prevailing on the Protappur-Padua borders since Tuesday night as the BDR and BSF have strengthened their positions and increased patrol on the border," Md Nozir Ali, 60, of Pantumai village said.

"Only a few years ago, we used to cultivate the lands, but now we cannot even graze our cattle due to interference by the Indians. Indian Khasia tribesmen and the BSF men asked us not to go there. Often they pick up our goats and cows," said Moksud Miah, 25, of nearby Uttar Protappur village.

Visiting Protappur-Padua border yesterday afternoon, this correspondent saw BDR and BSF on alert position on the different outposts and observation posts along the border.

Tuesday's incident is seen as a break into the calm that prevailed since beginning of India-Bangladesh joint survey on about 20 kilometre border from Sonarhat to Dibir Haor in Gowainghat, Kanaighat and Jaintapur upazilas in Sylhet district on December 7.

Officials yesterday visited some points on Protappur-Padua border for survey.

Contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rev) Dr Abul Hasan, who is heading the Bangladesh survey team, said, "The survey teams from both sides saw different documents and discussed it. The survey will remain suspended till Monday due to holidays. It is scheduled to continue till December 31. There may be an extension, if needed."

Meanwhile, little work was done for survey on the much-talked Dibir Haor border in Jaintapur upazila yesterday.

Earlier the Indian tribesmen had opposed the survey, claiming about 50 acres of Bangladesh lands as belonging to them.

The Indians also pressed for suspending survey on Sonarhat-Lankhat border, where about 80 acres of Bangladesh lands had been in the Indians' possession for the last few years.

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=166216

BSF again occupies Padua in Sylhet: BDR reinforces troops

From Priyo.com

Wed, 15/12/2010

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Tuesday occupied a disputed land at Padua in the frontier area of West Jaflong union under Goainghat Upazla—a repeat of the 2000 incursion during the previous Awami League government’s reign.

According to witnesses, tension gripped the frontier as Bangladeshi people strongly staged demonstrations against the violent move made by the neighbouring country’s border guards to occupy the land again.

Some 300 BSF personnel along with 200 Indian nationals stormed into Bangladesh territory and occupied an estimated 230 acres of land located between 1270 and 1271 pillars.

Talking to banglanews Sylhet Sector Commander of Bangladesh Rifles Colonel Niamul Fatemi said, “As tension gripped the entire area, extra forces of BDR are on way to the disputed area to tackle the situation”.

Local sources said that BSF had taken strong position with heavy arms and ammunition while BDR also took face-to-face position.

Though BDR commander Major Abu Siddique at Padua confirmed the news, the BDR headquarters could not give any detail of the incident when contacted.

Talking to banglanews, Officer-in-Charge of Goainghat police Zakir Hossain said, “A tense situation has prevailed for the last few days among local peoples of the two countries near Tamabil frontier over the disputed lands. Indian people under the shelter of the BSF occupied the land from Tuesday morning.”

Bangladesh and India are jointly conducting survey in the disputed area which is now occupied by BSF. Bangladeshi survey team visited the area Tuesday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Way back in the year 2000, BSF troops had occupied this very patch of land which led to a bloody border fight at Boraibari frontier in Roumari in the northern Kurigram district.

--banglanews24

http://www.priyo.com/story/2010/dec/15/14560-bsf-again-occupies-padua-sylhet-bdr-reinforces-troops

Border survey stalemate on, Bangladesh officials absent

From msnnews

Shillong, Dec 17 (PTI) The exercise of verifying the disputed Indo-Bangla border stretches today received a jolt with Bangladesh survey officials not turning up for the second day after they were attacked by Bangladeshi people, armed with sharp weapons.

The joint team of survey officials have been confronted several times in the past one week, by Bangladeshi people allegedly backed by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), official sources said.
In the wake of the frequent attacks, Bangladeshi survey officials have rushed back to Dhaka and are likely to report the matter to higher authorities there, they said.
BDR personnel, allegedly backed by armed Bangladeshis, illegally entered India and confronted the joint team of survey officials of Meghalaya and Bangladesh several times in the past one week.
There was no objection from Bangladeshi border guards when survey of disputed Lubachera (37 acre) and Baraibari (189 acre) areas � both under "adverse possession" of Bangladesh - was carried out.
BDR men are obstructing the survey at those stretches which are held by India like Muktapur, Lyngkhat and Pyrdiwah, the sources said, adding BDR men claimed before the survey officials that those land belong to Bangladesh and were not disputed.
The survey, which started on December 7, is expected to pave the way for settlement of the boundary dispute.
The exercise, which was mooted by the Joint Boundary Working Group during its meeting in New Delhi in November 2009, is being conducted by survey and land records officials of Bangladesh and Meghalaya.
In that meeting, it was decided that BDR and BSF would provide "outside security" to the officials conducting the survey.
The verification is to be conducted in 12 disputed patches bordering Meghalaya, stretches of which are under ''adverse possession'' of either countries.
According to official records, currently, there are 551.8 acres of Bangladeshi land under ''adverse possession'' of India (Assam and Meghalaya) while 226.81 acres of Indian land is under ''adverse possession'' of Bangladesh.
The areas under adverse possession were created when the two countries demarcated the international boundary in the mid-1960s.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4711018