Union snips protest time in garden

TT; Alipurduar, Aug. 26: A trade union in a Dooars tea garden has asked workers to reduce the duration of their morning “gate meetings”, a euphemism for protests, from over two hours to half an hour as the agitation was hampering plucking. It is unusual for a trade union to tell workers that protests hamper production — a line generally favoured by the estate management.

 “Gate meetings” are a form of protest that garden workers organise to raise slogans. The “gate meetings” at Ramjhora Tea Estate started on Tuesday over a demand for a wage hike. The meetings went on for over two hours every morning till Saturday. The labourers were demanding revision of wages as they are being paid according to the old rates of Rs 67 a day. They are entitled to get Rs 90 a day. 

 Mani Darnal, a leader of the INTUC-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) today said: “Yesterday we went to Ramjhora Tea Estate and spoke to the workers. It is true that according to a tripartite agreement signed in 2011, workers are supposed to get Rs 90 per day and the labourers here are not getting that. But the management has invested a lot of money to improve the estate after they took over (in 2010).” The garden in Jalpaiguri, 75km from here, was shut on August 11, 2002, and reopened on October 9, 2010. Darnal added:

 “We told the workers that the garden should not go back to the earlier state (when it was shut down). We will meet the DM of Jalpaiguri and take up the issue with him.” The union leader added that from tomorrow the “gate meetings” would be held for half an hour everyday. Jalpaiguri district magistrate Smaraki Mahapatra said: “I have received information that the workers are getting Rs 67 a day.

 I have asked the deputy labour commissioner of Jalpaiguri to submit a report to me on the matter.” According to the tripartite agreement signed by the labour commission, garden management and trade unions on November 4, 2011, the minimum daily wage of a garden worker in Dooars was fixed at Rs 85 from the earlier rate of Rs 67. In April this year it was revised to Rs 90 a day.

 Not all NUPW leaders are happy with the decision. Ramesh Sharma, an NUPW leader in the garden, said: “We thought the management would pay the increased amount gradually as they have invested a lot of money in the estate after they took over. But they did not.

 We started the gate meetings from Tuesday to demand the increased wages. But the management has not yet taken any initiative to discuss the matter with us.” Garden manager Hemant Popli said he would like the “gate meetings” to stop and would issue a notice to this effect.

 He added that “in the agreement we had signed while taking over the estate, nothing was mentioned on the revised wages. I have told the workers that their wages would be increased from next year. But I don’t know the exact amount. 

I appreciate the trade union leaders’ move to convince the workers.” Sharma said the workers would stop the half-an-hour “gate meetings” too if the management sat for discussions with them on wages. He said when the garden was reopened in 2010, 846 of the total 1,103 workers were given jobs and the management had said the rest would be absorbed in the next five years.

 “Kalchini Tea Estate also reopened in 2010 after eight years but there was no retrenchment and the workers are getting Rs 90 as their daily wage. Then why is the management not paying the increased wages here? From tomorrow, the gate meeting will be for half an hour instead of two hours everyday because we do not want to go back to what we had witnessed during the closure period,” Sharma said. In the eight years that the estate was shut, at least 150 people died reportedly of malnutrition.

Tea gardens hint at bonus slash Nothing less than 2011, says union

TT; VIVEK CHHETRI; Darjeeling, Aug. 26: The Darjeeling tea industry today said it wouldn’t be able to pay workers the Puja bonus at last year’s rate of 20 per cent of the annual pay as production had come down and absenteeism was still high.

 The predominant union of tea garden workers in the hills, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-affiliated Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, has said it would not accept any amount less than the rate fixed in 2011.

 The Darjeeling Tea Association is scheduled to hold a meeting with all unions in the hills on September 12 to discuss the annual bonus for 55,000 workers. Sandeep Mukherjee, the principal adviser to the DTA, today said:

 “Production has come down from 9.5 million kg of ready tea in 2010-11 to 8.9 million kg in 2011-12. This is largely because of the drought-like situation and lack of improvement in work culture. Absenteeism is still high among garden workers. So, we are not in a position to match last year’s figures.”

 The Darjeeling tea industry had last year agreed to pay bonus at 20 per cent — highest rate fixed under the Plantation Labour Act, 1951, — irrespective of the grades of the estates. The hill gardens are categorised as Grade A, B, C and D, depending on production and other yardsticks. Bonus percentage is calculated on the total annual earnings of a worker. 

Twenty per cent is the highest bonus rate fixed under the act and the planters cannot pay less than 8.33 per cent. Mukherjee said, apart from the vagaries of weather and absenteeism, the industry had also been affected by the economic slowdown in Europe, a big market for Darjeeling tea, and inflation at home. Almost 60 per cent of Darjeeling tea is exported, without being auctioned.

 The prices it fetches in the international market are never revealed by tea companies. The DTA officials had earlier said while the production cost of Darjeeling tea hovered around Rs 350-370 per kg of organic tea, the commodity could be sold only around Rs 400 per kg. 

The figures could not be verified independently. Mukherjee said absenteeism among workers was as high as 30 per cent. “Even if the labourers turn up, they don’t complete the specified work in a day,” he added. Planters say one of the reasons for absenteeism in the gardens is the Centre’s 100 days’ rural job scheme for which workers get a higher wage.

 A worker is paid Rs 130 daily under the central scheme, compared to Rs 90 given in the gardens. Garden owners argue that if benefits such as bonus, rations, provident fund and medical and housing allowances are also taken into account, an estate worker’s total daily earning would be higher than the wage provided under the central scheme.

 Trade unions are unconvinced by the reasons cited by the DTA for a lesser rate for bonus. “This is a drama being staged by the management. 

We will not accept anything less than last year’s amount,” said Suraj Subba, general secretary of the Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union. In the Dooars, the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and the Progressive Tea Workers’ Union —its trade union — have raised the same demand as in the hills. 

 They have threatened to launch a movement if their demand for the bonus and paid leave for Karam Puja — a tribal festival — are not met by the government and planters. “Tea companies must pay bonus ahead of Durga Puja, at the rate of 20 per cent to all workers in all the gardens. We also want to reiterate our demand for a one-day paid leave for Karam Puja on September 26,” Rajesh Lakra, the Dooars Terai unit president of the Parishad, said.

“An undercurrent of grievances is running deep among people as the new state government has, so far, not taken any initiative to address our problems unlike the hills, excepting the wage revision done last year. If these demands are not met by the government and tea planters, there will be a spontaneous agitation by common workers.”

Agitation the next step, if meeting remains unsuccessful- CITU

Darjeeling August 26: Darjeeling District Tea Garden Labour Union (DDTGLU) will be organizing Sammelan at Naxalbari on 8-9th September concerning the rights of the labourers of the tea garden said the CITU General Secretary Ajit Sarkar today to the reporters. 

A meeting of the DDTGLU was today held under the Chairmanship of Suk Bahadur Tamang and MG Subba at the CPM party office at Darjeeling. After the meeting Sarkar said informing of the upcoming meeting urged everyone to attend it for their rights.

 Hills comprise many tea garden labourers and their living standard has been not so sound for which the management has also to think about he added. It is the fact that Darjeeling tea is World known but the labourers are in such a appalling condition.

 Sarkar said that this is the right moment for the Trade Unions and the intellects of the Hills to come together and to voice for the financial rights of the tea labourers. Just like there has been price hike in every commodities, a hike in the salary has also be made he said. The labourers as well as the non-labourers who are in the tea garden should be facilitated with area pattas, thus giving them the Tea Plantation Rights such as the medical facilities, education to the children of the tea garden labourers and others. 

The Centre Government has to provide facilities to the childrens of the tea garden labourers and also lesser the prices of the LPG said Sarkar. “We all should come up together and fight for the rights of the labourers” appealed Sarkar.

 Informing that the Government has called up a meeting on August 28 at Siliguri Circuit House he said that if the meeting does not result fruitful, agitation will be the next step. CPM leader also the ex MP Saman Phatak, DDTLU General Secretary Gautam Gosh, CPM leader KB Watar and other members were present at the meeting. ================= 

 SUM Institute Alumni Association observes its 25th foundation day

 Kalimpong, August 26 The SUM Institute Alumni Association today observed its 25th foundation day at Ram Krishna Ranga Manch in Kalimpong. The Association was formed in 1987 by the efforts of the then Principal taking few students.

 Today it has its members from Sikkim, Bhutan, Darjeeling, Jaigaon, Nepal, Siliguri and other places. The Association today felicitated the Principal of the SUMI NR Pradhan and the Principal, Rockvale Academy Cap Prakash Mani Pradhan. Different personalities were also honored amid beautiful cultural extravaganzas. 

The ex students presented Hindi-Nepali songs where the Principal of the Rockvale Academy performed a Nepali song. The Sub Divisional Officer LN Sherpa too mesmerized the audience by singing a Hindi number. Ex student Debasis who has trained from Shantinekatan Biswabharati along with Bahul music known figure SD Bahul presented Bahul music. SD Bahul has been to places like London, Germany, Japan and other places with the music.

सभासद निमा तामाङलाई सम्वर्द्धना जनाईयो

कालेबुङ, 27 अगस्त। जीटीए चुनाउमा 34 नम्बर होम्स्‌ भालुखोप समष्टिबाट निर्बिरोध बिजयी बनेका सभासद निमा तामाङलाई आज यहाँको छोटा भालुखोप स्थित दलमान गाउँमा एक भव्य कार्यक्रमबीच सम्बर्द्धना जनाइयो। यस अवसरमा स्थानीय मानिसहरुको व्यापक उपस्थिति रहेको थियो।

 स्कूले बिद्यार्थीवर्गले भव्य व्याण्ड बजाएर सभासद निमा तामाङलाई कार्यक्रममा स्वागत गर्दा स्थानीय मानिसहरु सयपत्रिको माला लिएर तिनको स्वागतमा बसेका थिए। कार्यक्रममा सभासद निमा तामाङलाई भालुखोपको पक्षमा दोसल्ला ओडाएर सम्बर्द्धना जनाउँदै प्रशस्ति पत्र अनि स्मृति चिन्ह प्रदान गरियो।

 भालुखोप दलमान गाउँ अनि लोवर नेवार गाउँबाट जनसाधरणले तिनलाई खदा अनि सयपत्रीको माला लगाएर क्षेत्रमा भव्यतासाथ स्वागत जनाए। यसरी नै उक्त कार्यक्रमबीच नै क्षेत्रका चम्पामाया पाठशाला, बसन्तमाया पाठशाला, पार्वती प्राथमिक पाठशाला, छक्कीमाया प्राथमिक पाठशाला अनि इमान्यूएल एकाडोमिले पनि सभासद तामाङलाई स्वगात गर्दै सम्बर्द्धना जनायो।

 य्स अवसरमा कार्यक्रमका विशिष्ट अतिथि एवं युवा मोर्चा प्रतिनिधि विदुर राईलाई पनि क्षेत्रबासीहरूले अहिलेसम्मको उनको योगदानको कदर गर्दै सम्बर्द्धना जनाए।

 यसबाहेक, निमालाई सम्बर्द्धना जनाउने क्रममा भालुखोप संग्लन क्षेत्रका विभिन्न सङ्घ-संस्थाहरू पनि थियो। कार्यक्रममा, इमेनुएल एकाडेमी, राई गाउँ, चमडा गोदाम, लोवर नेवार गाउँ, धजे गाउँ, महाकाल डॉंडा, लमिनी गाउँ, अप्पर नेवार गाउँ, धोवी धारा दन्ते गाउँ, पार्वती प्राथमिक पाठशाला, राई गाउँ, आदिका कलाकारहरूले नृत्य प्रस्तुत गरेका थिए।

गैरीवासका विकल्प शर्मा अनि फिलोमिनाकी रक्षान्दा गुरूङ पीआर प्रधान मेरिट अवार्डले सम्मानित

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एक शताब्दीभन्दा धेर समयदेखि कालेबुङको शैक्षिक क्षेत्रमा अतुलनीय योगदान पुर्‍याउँदै आएको शैक्षिक संस्थान एसयूएमआइले हरेक वर्ष प्रदान गर्ने पीआर प्रधान मेरिट अवार्डले कालेबुङ महकुमाभित्रका 64 विद्यार्थीहरू सम्मानित भएका छन्‌। 

जसमा महकुमा टप्परको रूपमा छात्राहरूको तर्फबाट सन्त फिलोमिनाकी रक्षान्दा गुरूङ अनि छात्रहरूको तर्फबाट गैरीवास उच्च माध्यमिक विद्यालयका विकल्प शर्मा पीआर प्रधान मेरिट अवार्ड 2012 ले सम्मानित भएका छन्‌।

 माध्यमिक परीक्षामा उत्कृष्ट अङ्‌क ल्याउने अन्य विद्यार्थीहरूमा सन्त जर्ज उच्चत्तर विद्यालयका 11 जना, अलगड़ा उच्च विद्यालयका 2 जना, गैरीवास उच्चत्तर विद्यालयका 3 जना,जलढका उच्चत्तर विद्यालयका 1 जना, रोङ्गो उच्च विद्यालयका 1 जना, कन्या उच्चत्तर विद्यालयका 9 जना,एसयूएमआइका 9 जना, प्रणामी बालिका विद्या मन्दिरका 1 जना अनि सन्त फिलोमिना उच्चत्तर विद्यालयका 21 जना विद्यार्थीहरूले यो सम्मान ग्रहण गरे।

 माध्यमिक परीक्षामा महकुमा स्तरमा टप टेनमा रहने विद्यार्थीहरू साथै कुनै एक विषयमा 75 प्रतिशत भन्दा धेर अङ्‌क ल्याएर माध्यमिक परीक्षा उतीर्ण हुने 8 जना विद्यार्थीहरूलाई पनि यो पुस्कारले पुरस्कृत गरियो। जसमा नेपालीमा 83 प्रतिशत अङ्‌क ल्याउने कुमुदिनी विद्याश्रमका प्रणय सेञ्चुरी,अंग्रेजीमा 92 प्रतिशत अङ्‌क ल्याउने सन्त फिलोमिनाकी रक्षान्दा गुरूङ, गणितमा 98 प्रतिशत अङ्‌क ल्याउने साहिल हुसेन, भौतिक विज्ञानमा 92 प्रतिशत अङ्‌क ल्याउने सन्त जर्जका छेवाङ लमु भोटिया अनि एसयूएमआइका साहिल हुसेन,जीव विज्ञानमा 95 प्रतिशत अङ्‌क ल्याउने सन्त फिलोमिनाकी अनिशा छेत्री, इतिहासमा 85 प्रतिशत अङ्‌क ल्याउने गैरीवास उच्चत्तर विद्यालयका संगम गुरूङ,भूगोलमा 81 प्रतिशत अङ्‌क ल्याउने एसयूएमआइका रजत प्रधान रहेका छन्‌।
यसबाहेक कार्यक्रममा पीटी लेप्चा मेमोरियल एचएस मेरिट अवार्ड, ग्यासोक सम्पु मेमोरियल नगद पुरस्कार , माध्यमिक टप्पर 2012 पुरस्कार, उत्कृष्ट खेल पुरस्कार, भाइचन्द प्रधान स्मृति नगद पुरस्कार वितरण गरियो। कार्यक्रममा एसयूएमआइका भूतपूर्व छात्र संगठन एल्मुनाई एसोसिएशनले आफ्नो स्थापनाको 25 वर्ष पूरा गरेको अवसरमा रतज जयन्ती पालन गरिरहेको जनाउँदै एसोसिएशनको तर्फबाट प्रतिष्ठित अन्तर विद्यालय हाजिरी जवाब प्रतियोगिता सम्पन्न भयो। आज भएको हाजिरी जवाब प्रतियोगितामा सन्त फिलोमिना, सप्तश्री ज्ञानपीठ, सन्त जोसेफ कन्भेण्ट,स्प्रीङ्‌डेल एकाडेमी, रकभेल एकाडेमी, बीडी मेमोरियल स्कूल जयगाउँबीच चुड़ान्त प्रतिस्पर्धा भएको थियो। जसमा सप्तश्री ज्ञानपीठ कालेबुङ विजय बन्न सफल बन्यो।

 कार्यक्रममा मुख्य अतिथि जीटीए शिक्षा विभागका सचिव केके लोहार थिए भने विशिष्ट अतिथिको रूपमा सिक्किम सरकार वाणिज्य मन्त्रालयका उप प्रबन्धक एस. ग्याछो पाल्जर उपस्थित थिए। कार्यक्रमको अध्यक्षता महकुमा अधिकारी एलएन शेर्पा गरेका थिए। कार्यक्रममा रकभेल एकाडेमी, कन्या उच्च विद्यालय, एसयूएमआइका विद्यार्थीहरूले रोचक नृत्य प्रस्तुत गरेका थिए भने यस अवसरमा जीटीएका आमन्त्रित सभासद छिरिङ तामाङलाई सम्बर्द्धना पनि जनाइयो।

Primary Teachers Training Institute bids adieu to 2 of its employees

mukesh sharma;Kalimpong, August 25: Veteran litterateur, Jog Chamling and Bimal Kumar Sharma was felicitated and was conveyed a farewell amidst farewell cum felicitation programme organized by the Kalimpong Governmental Primary Teachers Training Institute of the BT College today. 

Chamling, has retired from his service of 20 years and 3 months as the Principal of the Training Institute, whereas, Sharma was serving the Institute as a non teaching staff since the past 40 years. Both of them in their address shared their experiences about life and work. Rudra Karki and Manendu Bhujel delivered a brief talk about their contributions throughout their service in the Institute. Both the ex employees were presented a memento along with traditional cap, shawl and khada. The trainees and students of the Government Basic Junior School presented a farewell song.

Major Durga Malla remembered on Balidan Diwas

New Delhi, August 25: Balidan Diwas was observed at national level today under the auspices of the Central Programme Cell, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) at the Shaheed Park located within the Moulana Azad Medical College premises, New Delhi. Shaheed Park is the historic spot where Major Durga Malla was hanged till death during the British rule. 

Hence, to commemorate this particular day and to honour all the freedom fighters, the members of BGP along with Gorkhaland Task Force’s (GTF) Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist (CPRM) branch and Nepali Sammelan gathered at the said venue.

 The commemoration programme held under the Presidentship of the CPC President, Joel Rai had the presence of BGP national working President, Rev Dr Anos Das Pradhan as the chief guest. Rev Pradhan in his address spoke about the human life and its value. He added that the people should take example for martyr Durga Malla’s life. 

He also urged the gathering to keep on supporting the Gorkhaland cause and always step forward for the same. The CPC Chief Secretary, Munish Tamang said that every person need to learn from the history of sacrifices made during the freedom movement. “We all need to stay faithful to the Gorkhaland demand and work united and selflessly towards its fulfillment, stated Tamang. BGP General Secretary Sukhman Moktan,

 GTF national Convener R Moktan, CPRM’s Uttam Chettri, Nepali Sammelan’s Col Sakul Pradhan, BGP’s Pappu Pradhan, DK Pradhan, Navin Subba, Yoksum Lama etc. were present during the occasion. Similarly the BGP Kalimpong Brach today observed the day at the Gorkha Dukh Niwarak Sammelan Hall in Kalimpong under the Chairmanship of Dr Saroj Rai.

 The chief guest on the day was Rtd DSP CK Pradhan along with educationist BR Chettri was present as the guest of honor. The BGP working member DK Chettri threw light on the life of martyr Durga Malla and his contribution where as JB Chamling highlighted the contribution of the Gorkhas during the freedom struggle. 

Tika Bhai in his address stressed on the identity crises of the Gorkhas in the country. The day also honoured Chandra Kumar Pradhan. Earlier on the day, garlands were offered to the statue of freedom fighter Jangabir Sapkota at6 Trikon Park, 9thMile.

CPRM ridicules GJM demand for inclusion of GTA in the NEC

May-day celebration at Chowkbazaar (DT file photo)

(WB), Aug 25 (PTI) The CPRM leader today ridiculed the GJM demand for inclusion of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in the North East Council (NEC). CPRM spokesman Govind Chettri said the GJMM leaders must have been aware of composition of the North Eastern Council. It is a body comprising eight states in the North -east region. Do they think that the areas under the GTA jurisdiction have been promoted to statehood by way of the constitution of the autonomous body .

 He said the demand would have assumed importance had it been raised before the GTA agreement itself. "The demand is infantile. If such a demand is entertained it would raise several such demands in other autonomous bodies spread across the country, he add.

 Referring to another GJMM demand that include all the people residing in the Hills, excluding the schedule Castes, into the ST category, the CPRM leader said that it is also a fantastic demand. A GJM delegation led by GTA chief executive Bimanl Gurung met Union Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde yesterday and had demanded inclusion of the GTA in the North East Council. PTI COR RG

Mamata unsure of UPA tenure

KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has just returned from Delhi after attending a UPA co-ordination committee meeting, has expressed doubt over the tenure of the UPA government at the Centre.

"I don't know how long the Centre will stay and when it will cease to exist. We are trying to ensure that it stays," she said at the first political convention of Trinamool Yuva.

She believes that Trinamool will emerge as a party worth reckoning in the national political scenario.

Despite Mamata's pledge to support the UPA government, it is not willing to give any respite to the Manmohan Singh government in its opposition to FDI in retail and the Pension Bill. Trinamool parliamentary party leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay described these bills as "controversial" and said retail traders were worried over the entry of FDI in retail.

The Trinamool Yuva meeting was aimed at giving a boost to the image of the chief minister which has taken a beating of late on issues like the arrests of Belpahari farmer Shiladitya Chowdhury and Jadavpur University teacher Ambikesh Mahapatra and some of her public statements on alleged rapes. Some Trinamool leaders assembled on the dais sought to bestow on the chief minister a somewhat exalted image and said that she has progressed from being "an individual to an institution."

Mamata described herself as a champion of human rights and said the Press Council chairman who had been critical of her, has recently written her a letter, seeking her opinion on the media.

The chief minister accused the media of inciting rapes and spreading lies to "help bring back the CPM to power". "Just because you own a channel, you cannot incite rapes and suicides. Speak the truth. Do not incite crime," she said, adding that the trend of "fabricating stories" started with baby deaths at a state-run hospital and alleged farmer suicides.

"Now they have picked up rapes. First there is 'breaking news'. Then there is a contradiction. If the complaints are genuine, the administration will take steps. But if you lie, the police will lodge diaries against you," she warned.

"Now the media is run by business houses. They instruct the spreading of canards. I have been told by (urban development minister) Firhad Hakim that Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh is being paid for whatever the media says. They also lodge (case) diaries if necessary, and then withdraw it," Mamata said, clarifying that she was not indicting all the media houses. "I do not say that all media is bad. Some media does this."

She asked the Trinamool Yuva to project a "good image" of Trinamool and "protest, democratically, against all smear campaigns".

Her partymen heaped praise on her saying that her Singur and Nandigram agitations were "the biggest democratic movements in India". "Now the country needs you," a leader said, projecting her as the future prime minister. Most of these statements were made when Mamata had not reached the venue.

Senior leaders like Amit Mitra and Saugata Roy tempered the eulogies with factual assessments of the achievements of the government. Mitra pointed out how the tax realization in April and May increased by 30% without any increase in tax rates. The secret, he said, was computerization.

Roy said the PWD has issued work orders for 92 projects in three months that will benefit 'Jangalmahal'. Roy reiterated the government's achievements in Darjeeling.

Mamata said that though Trinamool's opposition to forcible land acquisition had inconvenienced many, industries and investors were still flocking to the state. Nearly 16 railway factories that are being set up in Bengal can serve as engines of growth, she pointed out.
 

Violence breaks out in Assam again, 7 killed

 HT;Guwahati, August 25, Violence returned to Assam after a brief lull claiming seven lives, five of them in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area and two near the Arunachal Pradesh border in Dhemaji, the state’s easternmost district 450km away.

 Saturday’s killings have taken the toll to 87 in the clashes related stories Assam legislator arrested for role in ethnic violence Back home, but future uncertain Assam Muslims blame perfume baron for unrest between multi-faith Bodo tribals and migrant Muslim settlers since July 20

. The return of violence coincided with the visit of Karnataka deputy CM R Ashok, police chief Lalrokhuma Pachuau and other senior officials. The team is on a goodwill mission to urge ‘northeasterners’ to return to their workplaces in Bangalore and other cities in the south.

 According to the police, in western Assam’s Chirang district, armed miscreants attacked two vehicles at Choudhurypara under Bijni police station.

 The vehicles were carrying six people from Amguri High School relief camp to Mangolian Bazaar village. The violence in Chirang district started from this village on July 23. 

The victims were returning from camps, allegedly under government pressure. “The police located five bodies around 6.45pm in a field while the sixth person, driver of one of the vehicles, is missing,” said IGP (law and order), LR Vishnoi. Indefinite curfew was subsequently clamped in the district.

 Barely 24 hours earlier, a group of youths abducted and killed two persons at Chongkong village under Simen Sapori police station in Dhemaji district. 

The victims were on their way to Dibrugarh town. A district police officer said they were yet to find out if the Dhemaji killing was related to the BTC violence. However, the same communities were involved there too. “We have picked up six persons,” an officer said.