Author: G Vinayak in Guwahati
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: November 2, 2001
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/nov/02assam.htm
The seizure of two video compact
discs containing speeches, and a message of Osama bin Laden in the northern
Assam town of Tezpur on Thursday evening has put the police and the intelligence
agencies in a tizzy.
Intelligence agencies, in particular,
are apprehensive about the law and order situation, especially in view
of the combustible demographic pattern of the state.
The two VCDs, each containing a
short documentary -- Path to Paradise: The True Story Behind World Trade
Centre Bombing-- was apparently brought into Assam from Siliguri in West
Bengal.
The shopkeeper, who was arrested
for possessing the VCDs, confessed selling at least least nine copies in
the past four days.
Intelligence sources said Siliguri
in North Bengal is a known hub of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence,
whose operatives are active in adjoining areas of Nepal.
Intelligence sources in Guwahati
said Osama bin Laden is regarded as a hero among many Bangladeshi Muslims,
who have illegally entered the state.
Assam has 109 kilometres of river
border with Bangladesh, of which, 35 km is in Dhubri, 23 km in Cachar and
51 km in Karimganj district.
