Bijoy Chinese joins pro-talk ULFA

Top ULFA leader Bijoy Chinese alias Bijoy Asom alias Bijoy Das, the commander of the 28 battalion of the outfit, has joined the pro-talk ULFA group led by its chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa. Talking to newspersons for a brief while here today on the way to Guwahati, Bijoy Chinese said that he came out of the anti-talk group of the outfit led by Paresh Baruah to join the pro-talk group. This is supposed to be a very big blow to Paresh Baruah as Bijoy was the commander of its 28 battalion after Mrinal Hazarika, Jiten Dutta and Prabal Neog, leaders of A and C groups of the battalion, declared a ceasefire four years back. In fact, as Bijoy said today, he had also accompanied the ceasefire group but had to go back to bring back more cadres, but he failed that time. Though he came alone, more cadres will follow him in the near future. Bijoy Chinese stated that there were still about 150 cadres and about 30 leaders with Paresh Baruah and he hoped that Baruah would also come to the negotiation table. Bijoy was with the Tinsukia Police and left for Guwahati today.

Trade union strike hits normal life in different parts of the state

The two-day nationwide strike called by different trade unions against the Centre’s economic and labour policies hit normal life in the State. Our correspondents add:

Nagaon: The trade union strike paralysed normal life in Nagaon. Post office, banks, LIC office, BSNL offices remained closed. Medicine wholesale dealers closed their shutters.

Most of the business establishment also remained closed. Vehicles remained off the roads exept private cars. Non-availability of buses caused problems for examinees of the ongoing HS and HSLC examinations.

Northeast Briefs

1. Leopard attack Sivasagar, Feb. 18: Tension prevailed at Lakily and Malow Gaon under Borhat range after a leopard attacked and injured two persons at Lakily Gaon. Police managed to control the mob from killing the animal.
2. Truck hit Sivasagar: The Simoluguri-Dibrugarh passenger train on Monday hit a truck at Hahnsora Kunjibali.
3. Encounter Tinsukia: A satellite phone and a Chinese grenade were recovered from Nakathalgurie during an encounter between a joint team of police, CRPF and the army and Ulfa rebels of the Paresh Barua faction on Monday.
4. Holiday courts Jorhat: Holiday courts will be held at the CJM court, additional CJM court, sub-divisional sadar judicial magistrate court and Majuli judicial court (mofussil) on February 23. Traffic rule violations, state excise law violations and police laws violations cases will be disposed of.
5. Stray bullet Golaghat: A stray bullet hit the shutter of a pharmacy Bhabani Medical at the Stadium Road here on Monday.

Vegetable prices in Upper Assam burn holes in customers’ pockets

The flood that swept across the state in September might well be over, but the impact it left behind is still causing pain to the common man, particularly in the two Upper Assam districts of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh where almost 90 per cent of the population suffered directly or indirectly due to the floods.

One major impact which the common man is encountering these days is a massive price rise in the prices of vegetables. As the summer vegetables gradually vanish from the markets, winter vegetables like cauliflower, cabbages, brinjals, beans, etc., have started arriving in the markets. But, as the customers go to the market they are stumped with exorbitant prices of these vegetables.