-By G. Tallo

Ziro, May 3, 2010

The call of Apatani Youth Association (AYA) for mass peace rally to demand immediate arrest of Murderer of late Habung Chunya and restoration of deterioting law and order situation in Hapoli and Old Ziro townships evoked spontaneous public response. People from all walks of life participated the rally in large way. One never see this scale of mass participation to the call of the youth or the student organisations in Ziro, atleast in recent past.

As one participant has said, the general public of Ziro saw this rally as a platform to vent their discontent and frustration of inaction of District Administration in tackling law and order problem. For past few years crime rate has been rising in and around Ziro and the District Administration were found wanting in promptness to nab the perpetrators of  crime.

It should be mentioned here that late Ms Habung Chunya was found murdered at her resident in Old Ziro on the night of 6th April. It is one month now but no headway has been made to arrest the murder.

People thronged the rally at Subansiri Stadium and took out a long procession from there through Old Medical Colony and Pai Gate to Deputy Commissioner Office, where AYA was to submit memorandum to Deputy Commissioner, Ziro. Throughout the rally process the participants conduct themselves well and it was peaceful.

There was a moment of anxiety soon after they had arrived the DC office complex. Absence of DC in the station infuriated the assembled mass. They condemned the DC Ziro for fleeing the scene everytime there was major law and order problem. They recounted few such occassions: first, a young boy was murdered by his friends in January 2008 and the deceased was buried inside Subansiri Stadium; second, seven years old boy was kidnapped and murdered last year, his relatives and friends with public support took out procession for immediate arrest of culprit in two occassions; and this time. Every time, she had left the station a day before or in the morning to avoid the ordeal. The assembled mass almost turn into an unruly mob before few elderly people, who took part in the rally, come forward to subside the irate public.

It could have been just a co-incidental that she had to leave the station: may not be intentional. Whatever be the case, the message from the rally was loud and clear: people living in Ziro want to live in peace and freedom from fear.

It is information to general public of Raga & Yachuli Constituency that there will be meeting on 03-04-10 at Hotel Arun Subansiri, Itanagar, Time 10 a.m. onwards to discuss about Hapoli township. NES, ANSU, AYSU, ARASU, intellectual, senior leaders etc. with panchayat leaders also present. All are requested to attend positively.

-Signed, President L.S.Y.O

What’s up? When you are calling a meeting to discuss about Hapoli Township, why invitation only for NES, ANSU, AYSU, ARASU intellectuals, senior leaders, panchayat leaders of only one community? Why have you forgotten to invite the residents of Hapoli Township?

BTW who’s this LSYO? If I’m getting it right LSYO stands for Lower Subansiri Youth Organization. If yes then, when you are inviting ANSU, AYSU and ARASU why didn’t you invited the students’ and youth organisation of Lower Subansiri District like ALSSU or ASU or AYA? And moreover, when you are discussing about Hapoli Township, why conduct meeting at Itanagar and not Hapoli? Is Itanagar closer in distance to Hapoli Town for public of Raga & Yachuli Constituency? Or is there any ulterior motive? Only those who attended the said meeting today would be able to tell what’s up?

Below is the circular as published in The Arunachal Times.

P.S. Those who attended the said meeting today, do please tell us what’s up?

I know I’ve been bit late in wishing you all. Infact, I’d have forgotten that it’s Myoko time had I not called Cho yesterday. When asked what’s up, he said, “well, I’m preparing myself with my friends to go all out at Hong Village”. I couldn’t make out what he meant immediately, but then I realized, it’s Myoko time and he along with his friends are preparing courtesy visit to ‘Hong’ friends for a bout of ‘O’ (rice beer). I said,”Enjoy”. Did you asked, what about me? Well, I wouldn’t be able to make it to Myoko this time. Poor me

But, don’t you dare miss ‘Myoko’. Wish you happy wining and dining again.

While at Arunachal Diary, you may like to read earlier posts on ‘Myoko’. Follow the link below:

1. Myoko-A Perspective
2. Myoko Celebration of Apatani’s-A Photo Feature
3. Construction of Lapang and Erection of Babo in Apatani Community – A Photo Feature

Well, it’s time to retrospect the past and plan for the New Year ahead, right. But before that, let me share how the Hapolians bode adieu to the year gone by.

31^st December being designated as ‘Donyi Polo Day’ or rather ‘Indigenous Faith’s Day’ and declared a state holiday, the day saw procession by believer of indigenous faith [sic] ‘Donyi Polo’ almost akin to the Christmas Carol procession some days earlier, and converging to ‘Donyi Polo’ ground. For others, as usual, it was a hectic day; a day filled with preparation for late night parties and for family picnic the next day. Also keeping the tradition of free concert by local bands, this year too saw the band ‘Play Boy’ performing in the evening and Hapolians enjoying the show. However, as the permission for the concert was till 6.00 pm the concert couldn’t stretch beyond 7.30pm and people dispersed from the venue of the show for their late night parties. After the show (which I could witness only the last performance), Cho and myself returned to my home for a drink and dinner and drank till bit tipsy and dispersed after a late dinner.

Now retrospecting, the year 2008 saw Arunachal Diary not being updated at regular intervals unlike previous years. The blame goes entirely to me and partly on the disruption of broadband services at Ziro, owing to the June 14^th torrential rain. However, as a part of New Year resolution, I’ve resolved to keep you updated more frequently on the happenings of the state, this year. Hope I’m able to keep my resolution. Also, I’m working on face lifting the site and hopefully you would see the face lifted Arunachal Diary soon

And once again, Happy New Year!!

Considering the Town Planning of Hapoli Township or rather lack of it (there was no way that a fire engine could reach the spot), bunch of arrogant and insensitive people who cut the hose when firefighters somehow managed to bring the hose to the site by coupling hoses together and was trying to douse the fire and the mute spectators that were blocking the passage of those tending the fire; it was thought that it would turn to a major catastrophe engulfing almost half of Hapoli market area but for the sincere efforts of those who despite all the odds were able to contain the fire from spreading.

At the time of fire, it is reported that the occupants-a group of youngsters who were residing and looking after the house, the owner being at Itanagar, had gone to village to mend fences. People says that fire probably started from electrical short circuit arising out of loose electrical wiring done for decoration for Christmas day celebration and left unattended owing to power cut due to load shedding. However, exact cause of fire is not known yet.

Thinking of yesterday evening’s fire and the thought that it could have burnt almost half of Hapoli Township, sends down chill in my spine, still. There was no way that fire could have been controlled without the help of fire fighters. I’m surprised as to why those bunch of insensitive people cut the hose almost putting Hapoli Township under jeopardy? Why don’t they just let the professionals do what they are trained to do? Now, from yesterday’s incident I come to believe that it’s not the fire service department that is at fault always. Somehow, I feel it’s people like us who don’t let the professional do the work and clear the way for them to do their work, more responsible for letting the fire cause more damage. Time to think twice.

Also, it’s time we seriously give a thought to the town planning and settlement in Hapoli Market area. But who would make the first move?

Update (20-11-2008):

The fire reportedly broke out from the house of one Kalung Tani, which burnt around 10 houses to ashes.

In an another incident, around 17 houses were gutted at Hong village on 19-11-2008. The fire started at around 8.30 pm which was doused at around 9.30 pm. In both the incidents, no casualties were reported.

On behalf of President, BJP District Unit, Lower Subansiri District, Ziro a legal notice has been served to SDO, BSNL Ziro to refund the the rental charges paid by BSNL consumers’ of the District, for the period when the service was not available, within 15 days from the date of issue of the notice which was served on 22^nd of October. The four point notice states that:

1. That the Mobile and WLL Telephone is not functioning in the Lower Subansiri District since 14^th June 2008 till date. The Mobile and WLL Telephoone users have been charged monthly rent at the rate of Rs. 225/- for Mobile, Rs. 100/- for WLL Telephone, service tax @ 12% without providing service and education cess @3% per month for the period from June to till date without providing services to the consumers. The consumers have paid the monthly rent charges on demand even without the getting services out of fear of disconnection. But the BSNL has no right to charge monthly rent without providing services to the consumers.

2. That the monthly rent charged from the Mobile phone and WLL Tlelphone users for the defunct period is deserved to be exempted and they are entitled to be repaid by the BSNL.

3. That it has been found that call charges are also charged for the defunct period without making any call by the users. The Mobile and WLL Telephone users have paid it out of fear of disconnection. It is illegal to charge call charges without making call.

4. That the monthly rent charged from the Mobile phone and WLL Telephone users are deserved to be repaid without further delay and Mobile phone and WLL Telephone network be restored immediately.

Further, the notice warns that BSNL would attract legal proceedings in the event of failure to refund the rental charges. Find copy of the notice here.

This notice comes in the wake of intermittent or rather nil service provided by the service provider since June 14^th last when the mobile connectivity of Ziro exchange of BSNL was disrupted reportedly due to the torrential rain and subsequent landslide that flushed away the OFC connecting Ziro exchange with Itanagar exchange. Since then, no sincere effort has been/was forthcoming from BSNL side to restore the mobile service. The mobile network would be up intermittently only for 10-15 mins, that too after gap of 3-4 days. However, despite no service, it was made sure that the mobile bills were raised and served to the consumers’ on time claiming rental charges, which made one wonder, rental charges for what? For luxury of having BSNL’s SIM card without being able to put it into use?

Now, it has to be seen if this notice would jostle BSNL to take the restoration business seriously and if the poor consumers’ would be freed from the misery of having mobile connections without any connectivity and from payment for no service.

Related reading:
Rants on BSNL Service at Ziro-Hapoli

Why?

There is this mobile service provided by BSNL (the lone service provider), but no network to make a call (and you are talking about 3G services). There is this supposedly ‘always-on Broadband Service’ provided by BSNL, that seems to have forgotten when to turn on. And the greater irony is that the consumer has to shell out their hard earned cash for the service that has been denied to them by the service provider’s laxity in restoring the service.

This on and off relationship with the services provided by the BSNL has been prevailing since 14^th June, when torrential rain and subsequent landslide washed away the OFC linking Ziro Exchange with Itanagar Exchange. I wonder what is keeping the BSNL authorities such long from restoring the service? The only response that is forthright from them whenever anyone enquire about the prevailing condition of service is the cliché, ‘Sir, the OFC has been cut by some miscreants at X or Y or Z location‘. Well, can’t they think of any other alternative to provide the service or to lay OFC that is out of reach from the so-called miscreants? Or is it just an excuse not to restore the service, after all they are getting paid for the services they are not providing ?

And to talk about the ambitious project of providing 3G services to NE states by January 2009; why don’t they first concentrate on improving quality of service in this part of the country? Without network and poor QoS what would be the utility of 3G services, I wonder….

“I had gone to sleep and was in deep slumber when the commotion outside woke me up. When I came out of my house, I was  shocked to see my neighbor’s house on fire and fellow neighbors trying to contain and douse the fire,” said a resident adjacent to the house which caught fire last night. “I was quite afraid that the fire would spread to my residence or to other buildings in the vicinity but for the alert neighbor’s who was able to contain and douse the fire in time”.

The house belonged to one Nending Tama of Hija Village, who had leased his building to two families and a businessman who was using one of the rooms as go-down. The businessman reportedly suffered burn injuries and was rushed to the District Hospital. And the two families were reported safe. The incident occurred just behind the District Administration Office.

Considering the approach to the incident site (the only access to the site or the neighborhood being the lone narrow footpath), I wondered how would’ve fire firefighter’s from Fire Department would have helped to contain and douse the fire. I’m all the praise for the resident’s of that locality for acting promptly to contain and douse the fire thereby preventing spread of fire and causing damages to property and in turn saving themselves. Now, I feel it is high time we stop setting up structures haphazardly and ponder over the importance of proper planning of settlement areas if we want to prevent such mishaps in future.

It was also reported that taking advantage of commotion last night some miscreants looted one Electronic Shop, just opposite Post Office and debunked with DVD Players and VCD’s and DVD’s.

The shop (blue one) which was looted

1. Hari: Smt. Hage Yassung (INC)
2. Hija: Smt. Nada Dumi (INC)
3. Kalung-Reru: Nani Tani (NCP)
4. Diibo: Bamin Siri (Independent)
5. Hong: Tilling Doley (INC)
6. Hong: Hibu Uma (INC)

Now, it is to be seen if these elected representatives live upto the expectation of people who has voted them and how much development they would bring in the ‘grass root’ levels as was promised during their campaigning.

PRI Election Results Update (9:45 PM): (Based on Local Media reports) (ZPM Berth only)

1.Papum Pare

• Doimukh: Tana Bado (INC)
• Upper Balijan: Nabam Chukia (INC)
• Lower Balijan: Kabak Takam (NCP)
• Taraso: Nabam Eka (INC)
• Mengio: Nabam Bate (Ind)
• Kimin: Bamang Yayu (INC)-won earlier uncontested
• Results for Borum, Sagalee, Leporiang and Toru awaited

2.West Siang

• Liromoba: Toi Romin (INC)
• Yomcha: Jarsa Gamlin (INC)
• Darak: Badam Boje (INC)
• Kamba: Yali Karbak (INC)
• Along East Upper: Link Lollen (INC)
• Along East Lower: Jomkir Naso (INC)
• Tirbin: Gokar Lombi (INC)
• Gensi: Taken Mara (INC)
• Payum: Taken Yasing (INC)
• Basar:Kenmar Basar (RJD)
• Daring: B. Jirdo (Ind)