Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said the three months imprisonment given to an Army man by a court here for molesting a teenager in Sibsagar district was “insensitive” and he would take up the matter with the Defence Ministry for its review.

“The Army court has been insensitive about the seriousness of the crime and has taken a lenient view of the matter,” Gogoi said in a statement here.

“Imprisonment for only three months is far less than the heinous crime committed by the Army man. The Army court should have meted out a deterrent punishment to the accused, instead it took a lenient view of such a grave crime which amounts to insensitivity,” he said.

The chief minister said he would take up the matter with the Defence ministry so that the victim gets proper justice.

Lance Naik Anil Kumar Upadhaya was tried by an Army court after he was accused of molesting a teenager and sentenced to three months imprisonment.

Upadhaya was also demoted to a lower post of sepoy from his current post of lance naik and this was informed to Sibsagar Deputy Commissioner J N Lahkar in a communication by the Army, official sources said on Tuesday.

The teenager was molested by the lance naik, who was on patrol near a forest in Dolopa area of the district on July 13 last year where she had gone to collect firewood.

She raised an alarm following which villagers rushed to the spot and saved her.

The incident led to wide protests in Assam with people demanding that the accused be handed over to police but the Army maintained that he would be first tried by its court. (PTI)

Imphal: Four suspected militants were shot dead by troops on Monday at the border areas.

PIB(Defence Wing) informed that based on reliable reports about intentions of insurgent groups based in Myanmar to infiltrate into India to carry out Improvised Explosive Device attacks against the Security Forces and the local population, troops of the Red Shield Division launched an extensive operation in the border area of Churachandpur District.

A group of UNLF/PLA group attempted to infiltrate into Manipur across the international border.

The group was intercepted by the Security Forces and in a fierce firefight, the soldiers of Red Shield Division shot dead four militants.

Two AK-47 rifles, two pistols and a large quantity of arms, ammunition and other stores were recovered from the site.

Incriminating documents found amongst the personal belongings revealed a dastardly plan to carry out extensive Improvised Explosive Device blasts in the area of Imphal, Bishenpur and Churachandpur in the days preceding the Republic Day celebrations. (UNI)

Nampong: The three-day Pangsau Pass Winter Festival-2013, being celebrated in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, recorded a footfall of 20,000 in two days, most of whom visited neighbouring Myanmar without passport or visa.

The three-day festival was inaugurated on Sunday by Governor (Retd) Gen J J Singh.

The Indian Army did not permit the tourists to take their vehicles beyond Nampong border post, 12.5 km short of Myanmar, but granted permission today after lot of persuasion by Agriculture Minister and local legislator Setong Sena, protocol commissioner Bandana Deori, Changlang deputy commissioner Chanchal Yadav, Nampong ADC Nidhi Srivastav said.

Hundreds of vehicles made a beeline to Pangsau Pass right from early morning on the dilapidated road improved by the Arunachal PWD. But the road could not withstand the heavy traffic flow which forced blockade and the DC had to impose a ban on flow of Indian vehicles temporarily to clear the vehicles before these were allowed again.

In keeping with the tradition of the festival; Sena, Deori, the DC and a group of senior officers went to Pangsau Pass with gifts and goodwill to thank the Myanmar government for all help.

Addressing a gathering here on Monday, Tourism secretary P D Sena said the footfall and vehicle tyre marks on the road to Myanmar indicated the PPWF would be one of the biggest events in the state.

Referring to the three-day International Tourism Mart that concluded at Guwahati on Sunday, Sona said 79 delegates from 23 countries and delegates from nine participating states, including national and international media, were all gaga over the state tourism which did exceedingly well and received one of the highest queries from foreign delegates including officials, tour operators and hoteliers.

‘Arunachal is a big name now for global tourists,’ he said to thunderous applause of the gathering.

Festivals instead of VIP-centric should be people’s festival like PPWF, which with the wholehearted support of Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and Planning Minister Chowna Mein and the efforts of Sona would make the region one of the most important tourist hubs of the state. Efforts are on to open new tourist circuits covering this area, he said while thanking the Indian Army and Myanmar government for their support for the grand success of the event.

Commanding officer of 3 Corps Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni, in his address as chief guest, described the festival as a landmark event that reflected the rich cultural mosaic and rich traditions of the local denizens.

Releasing of balloons by the guests and scintillating cultural programme made the evening colourful.

The day was packed with various cultural items and traditional games and sports, unique for the visitors, who relished the delicious local cuisines in the local huts at the venue.

While marketing at Pangsau Pass today many told this reporter that the trip to this country and having a look of infamous ‘Lake of no Return’ is a unique experience.

Myanmarese were doing brisk business at Pagsau Pass as well as in make shift stalls at the festival ground here.

Sena admitted that the festival not only benefits the Myanmarese the most but strengthens the Indo-Myanmar relations. (UNI)