Tag: National

Guwahati, Aug 13 NNN: Amidst heightening criticisms on Assam chief minister for the communal violence in Assam’s Kokrajhar district between the Bodos and the Muslims, chairman of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Sonia Gandhi thinks otherwise.
Visiting the ethnic clash hit places of Assam today, Sonia Gandhi said Tarun Gogoi had handled the crisis efficently. She said the state government of Assam under the leadership of Tarun Gogoi had done what needed to be done by any government. However, Sonia Gandhi stated that she had asked the Assam government to see that no such riot occurs again.
Sonia Gandhi’s visit was joined by Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and chief minister Tarun Gogoi.
During her visit today, the UPA chairperson said more security deployment would be needed for the 2.4 lakh people affected by the clash.
The UPA chairperson visited two Bodo tribal camps in Kokrajhar district and four migrant Muslim camps in Bilasipara subdivision of Dhubri district. The visit to two of the Dhubri camps was not planned.
Sonia Gandhi spent about 30 minutes in every camp she had visited and returned to New Delhi via Baghdogra in West Bengal around 2:30 pm.
A couple of weeks ago, the new militant outfit was suspected by the intelligence officials of involving in the recent ethnic clashes between the Bodos and the Muslims.
Reports had it that intelligence officials suspected the United Muslim National Army (UMNA) for inciting the clash.
A Bodo organisation formed by former militants too claimed that the UMNA had planned the violence.
Police in Bodo Territorial Council (BTC) had said the United Muslim National Army UMNA was formed on June 15 in an aim to push for a separate administrative area for Muslims comprising 13 districts of Assam

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sonia-shinde-meet-riot-victims/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Aug 11 : The Annual Literary Meet of the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi “ MAHEIROIGEE KHONJEL 2012 “ was successfully organized on Monday, 6th August 2012 at Tagore Hall, University of Delhi from 1:30 pm to 6 pm.
The programme anchored by Beerjurekha Samon, Subhash Abujam and Christopher Lourembam was graced by Makakmayum Shafikul, President, MSAD; Dr Thockhom Meiyna, MP; Thangso Baite, MP; and Dr C Pramodini Associate professor, Department of MIL & LS, University of Delhi as the President, Chief Guest, Guest of Honour respectively.
Main attractive events of the programme were quiz, short stories and entertainment songs presented by Manipuri Students in Delhi. Several talented students took part in the essay writing competition conducted by Chinglenkhomba Thongam and Krispa Ningombam. Felicitation award was presented to Phundreimayum Ismat khan who had topped the CBSE class XII (Science) 2012.
While Shashikanta Khoinaojam, Rachandra Laishram and Nonganba Louremba were declared 1st, , 2nd and 3rd prize winners of extempore speech competition. The winner and runners up of recitation competition were Shasikanta Khoinaojam and Rachandra Laishram respectively. The short story by senior volunteer Sinthoiba Elangbam entitled Moirang Kangleirolda Thoibi was a crowd pulling presentation.
A book entitled ‘Human Right and Social Security in North East India’ edited by George T. Haokip and published by Mittal New Delhi was jointly released by Dr Th. Meinya MO, Thangso Baite MP and representative of Mittal Yadav.
The event was attended by about more than 150 students enrolled in different colleges of Delhi University. The winners of the essay writing completion will be declared soon .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/annual-meet-of-msad-held/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Aug 9 :The Special Judge for CBI Cases has convicted Aslam Dalal, the then Officer of State Bank of Saurashtra, Bhav Nagar(Gujrat) {Presently merged with State Bank of India) and sentenced him to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.2000/- on the grounds of criminal breach of trust & criminal misconduct by a public servant and cheating.
CBI had filed chargesheet in the Special Court for CBI Cases, Mumbai against Shri Aslam Dalal, Officer, formerly State Bank of Saurashtra(presently merged with State Bank of India); his brother and his associate for defrauding about Rs.Two crore of the bank by fraudulently obtaining the computer passwords of the other staffs of the branch. The accused misused such passwords to fraudulently diverting the funds of the bank to the tune of Rs.Two crore to the accounts of his brother and associates through RTGS during the period 2005-06.
The Trial Court found the accused Aslam Dalal guilty and convicted him. The Court acquitted the two other persons.
The Special Judge, CBI cases, Jabalpur has convicted Dr. Ravindra Katharia, the then Dy. Medical Supdt., Dr. Bheemrao Ambedkar Hospital, Kanhan Area, Junnerdeo, WCL, Chhindwara (M.P) and sentenced him to undergo three years Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 7,000/-.
CBI filed a charge sheet before the Court of Special Judge, CBI Cases, Jabalpur on 25/03/2009 U/s 120B of IPC and 7 & 13(2) r/w (1)(d) of P.C. Act. 1988, alleging that the Dr. R. K. Katharia of Western Coalfields Ltd., Kanhan Area (Madhya Pradesh) had demanded a bribe of Rs. 6,000/- from the Complainant for issuance of favourable medical examination report.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/three-years-ri-to-sbi-official/

Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi
New Delhi, August 9: As usual, the Office of the Resident Commissioner, Manipur Bhawan, New Delhi is celebrating the Patriots’ Day at Manipur Tikendrajit House, Chanakyapuri here on August 13 at 9 am.
The 13th August is a red-letter day in the history of Manipur. On this fateful day in 1891, the two great patriots, namely Bir Tikendrajit, the prince of Manipur and General Thangal were hanged in broad daylight by the British in the presence of thousands of men and women at Pheidapung of Outer Pologround, Imphal as these heroes had defended the freedom of Manipur against the British. There will be floral tribute to the great martyrs of Manipur at the foot of the statue of Bir Tikendrajit installed at the Manipur Tikendrajit House which will be followed by two minute’s silence.
All the Manipuris living in Delhi and national capital region are informed to attend the celebration and to offer floral tribute to the martyrs of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/patriots-day-to-be-celebrated/

The Special Judge, CBI cases, Saket Court, New Delhi has convicted Dalip Pawar, Assistant Sub-Inspector and S Yogendra, Constable both from Delhi Police U/s 120B r/w Section 7 & 13(1) (d) r/w 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 in a bribery case and sentenced Sh. Dalip Pawar to undergo three years & six months Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 40,000/- and accused Sh. Yogendra to undergo three years & six months Rigorous Imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 25,000/-.
The investigation revealed that the Police officials during their posting in Police Station (Narcotics), Kamla Market, Delhi in the year 2006 had allegedly pressurized the complainant for giving bribe of Rs. One lakh. Both the accused were arrested. The Trial Court found the accused persons guilty and convicted them.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/delhi-police-personnel-sentenced/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Aug 9 :Under clause 21 of the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, it is mandatory to print the maximum retail price on the container of all kinds of fertilizers, whether under statutory price control or out of the purview of the statutory price control. No person shall charge higher than the price printed on the bag. Any person violating this mandatory provision of FCO is held liable to be proceeded against for administrative/punitive measures under the provisions of FCO and Essential Commodities Act.
The State Governments as enforcement agencies are adequately empowered to take appropriate action against the offender who indulges in any kind of malpractices including hoarding/black marketing etc. Department of Fertilizers has from time to time been sensitizing all the State Governments including Jharkhand to gear the enforcement agencies under their jurisdiction for appropriate action against the offenders, if any.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/black-marketing-of-chemical-fertilizers/

Sh. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Union Home Minister made a statement in the Rajya Sabha today in reply to the discussions on violence in Assam:-
Unfortunate incidents of violence took place in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Dhubri and Bongaigaon Districts in Assam from 6th July 2012 and onwards.
As per report received from the Government of Assam there was simmering tension between Bodo and non-Bodo communities of Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) on various socio-political issues. The background of the recent spate of violence may be attributed to the incidents which took place mainly between 6th July 2012 and 19th and 20th July 2012.
On July 6, 2012 Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation terrorists fired indiscriminately at Muslimpara Gaon under Gossaigaon Police Station killing two persons belonging to Muslim community and injuring three persons. One KLO man was arrested in connection with the case registered in this regard. Though this was communicated to the Muslim people of the area, it was not believed by them and they strongly suspected the hands of Bodo miscreants in the incident.
On July 19, 2012 unknown motorcycle borne miscreants fired indiscriminately in front of the residence of Mahibul Haque Ratul and Md. Abu Siddique both of Vill – Magurmari and office-bearers of All Bodoland Muslim Student’s Union (ABMSU), thereby injuring them seriously.
On July 20, 2012 at around 8.25 pm four Bodo youth while coming from Bhatipara side towards Kokrajhar on two motorcycles at Jaipur under Kokrajhar PS were attacked by some unidentified Muslim youths with sharp weapons as a result of which they died on the spot.
The communal incidents started in full swing after this particular incident of killing of four Bodo youths. Initially the incidents were concentrated in Kokrajhar District but later on due to Bandh call given by ABMSU and All Assam Muslim Students Union (AAMSU) on July 23, 2012, the tension spread to the adjoining districts of Dhubri and Chirang as well.
Further violence again took place in the districts of Kokrajhar and Chirang on 5th and 6th August 2012 resulting in the death of eight persons and injuries to two persons.
No major incident of violence was reported between 24th July, 2012 to 4th August, 2012. Fresh violence was reported on 5th and 6th August 2012 in Kokrajhar and Chirang Districts resulting in death of eight persons and injuries to two persons. Four more decomposed dead bodies were recovered on 7th August and 8th August, 2012 in Kokrajhar District.
As on 08.8.2012, the violence has taken a toll of 77 lives with another 50 injured (including 14 police personnel), and seven missing, affecting 244 villages, 47,936 families and 5,367 houses burnt as per preliminary reports so far. The State Government had set up 340 relief camps for affected families.
14 additional companies of CAPF were immediately rushed as against 10 demanded by the State. Additional Forces continued to get deployed on a daily basis till the number of additional companies reached 65. Some of these companies were airlifted. The Cabinet Secretary took a meeting and teams of doctors were sent to the affected areas. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed to assist the District Administration, Kokrajhar in relief operations. Flag March by Army and patrolling by Assam police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) is continuing in the affected areas.
Over 170 persons indulging in violence/arsons etc. have been arrested so far by security forces. 309 cases have been registered in connection with ethnic violence. Special Investigation Team (SIT) with ADGP (CID) as over all in-charge has been constituted to investigate six important cases.
Comprehensive security plan has been chalked out to provide fool proof security to the affected population. 104 fixed police pickets have been proposed in vulnerable villages of which 99 have been established. They have been given responsibility of ensuring security for the affected villages.
A number of Civil and Police officers have been deputed from other districts to assist the District Administration in maintenance of law & order, relief operation and other related issues. Senior Officers have also been deputed from the State Headquarters to supervise the relief operation.
The State Government has been providing minimum basic amenities to the relief camp inmates including Gratuitous Relief (GR), health and sanitation. Food materials (Rice, Dal, Mustard Oil and salt) including baby food, clothes for the adults (Lungi, Saree, Gamcha) and children’s dress , candle, soap, mosquito repellent coil, toothpaste, tarpouline, medical facilities, drinking water etc have been provided to the relief camps/inmates.
Adequate ex-gratia grant and rehabilitation grant will be provided to the persons affected by the violence.
Present status of relief and rehabilitation measures indicates that during the peak time 340 relief camps were established with over 4,80,000 inmates. As on August 8, 2012, 239 relief camps with 3,41,930 (approx.) inmates are running. 101 relief camps have been closed and over 1,44,000 persons have returned to their villages.
CBI will take over certain cases wherein conspiracy seems to be involved for investigations. For this purpose, Additional Director, CBI and Joint Secretary, North East, MHA, are deputed to Guwahati today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/home-ministers-statement-on-recent-violence-in-assam/

New Delhi , Aug.8 (ANI): Chaos reined on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Wednesday, with the opposition and the treasury benches trading verbal volleys and charges over the ethnic violence in Assam .
Describing the riots in and around Kokrajhar as the biggest failure of the Central Government, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani said: “Of the state’s three-crore population, up to 400,000 are homeless… this is an unprecedented crisis.”
But Advani’s remark of describing the ruling UPA as “illegitimate” created chaos, leading Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to say that it was “an insult to Parliament.”
The debate on Assam – which has seen its worst violence in more than a decade with 70 people killed – began after Advani moved an adjournment motion on Assam .
An adjournment motion asks for the usual business of the House to be set aside for an urgent discussion on a matter of national interest.
Advani said he was pleased to note that the Prime Minister, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha, was present for the debate.
The Prime Minister is likely to deliver a statement on behalf of the government. He is likely to appeal that no statement be made to communalise the situation.
He will also stress that it’s important for parties to focus on relief efforts and on restoring normalcy to the state.
Advani said: “Let not anyone regard it as a Hindu vrsus Muslim issue, or a tribal versus non-tribal issue. It is a matter of who is India and who are foreigner.”
The BJP holds the government responsible for allowing illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to move freely into lower Assam .
“The Assamese people are now refugees in their own state. Infiltration from Bangladesh is affecting the security of the whole country,” Advani said.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who heads the Congress government in Assam , said yesterday that the state is “sitting on a volcano.”
He has been criticised for ignoring early warning signs of tension between the Bodo tribals and Bengali-speaking Muslims. More than 70 people have died in the last month. 400,000 people are displaced and living in 200 relief camps in lower Assam .
Medicines and other supplies are running short. There are just 117 doctors moving from one camp to another as diseases like malaria spread.
The BJP has also promised to attack Finance Minister P Chidambaram for his alleged role in the telecom scam.
The party has accused Chidambaram of dereliction of duty because the 2G scam, named for the type of airwaves involved and estimated to be India’s largest swindle – unfolded on his watch in 2008.
Then Telecom Minister A Raja allegedly accepted huge kickbacks from companies who jumped to the head of a long queue for licenses for mobile networks.
Chidambaram did not intervene, says the BJP.
The minister has also been accused by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy of misusing his office to delay the sale of telecom Aircel to a company from Malaysia named Maxis.
Swamy alleges that the delay helped Mr Chidambaram’s son to invest in Aircel and benefit financially from its eventual purchase by Maxis.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 2G licenses issued by Raja, and asked that they be reallocated via an auction to be completed by the end of August.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/chaos-in-parliament-after-advani-describes-upa-2-govt-is-illegitimate/

New Delhi , Aug.8 (ANI): Chaos reined on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Wednesday, with the opposition and the treasury benches trading verbal volleys and charges over the ethnic violence in Assam .
Describing the riots in and around Kokrajhar as the biggest failure of the Central Government, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani said: “Of the state’s three-crore population, up to 400,000 are homeless… this is an unprecedented crisis.”
But Advani’s remark of describing the ruling UPA as “illegitimate” created chaos, leading Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to say that it was “an insult to Parliament.”
The debate on Assam – which has seen its worst violence in more than a decade with 70 people killed – began after Advani moved an adjournment motion on Assam .
An adjournment motion asks for the usual business of the House to be set aside for an urgent discussion on a matter of national interest.
Advani said he was pleased to note that the Prime Minister, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha, was present for the debate.
The Prime Minister is likely to deliver a statement on behalf of the government. He is likely to appeal that no statement be made to communalise the situation.
He will also stress that it’s important for parties to focus on relief efforts and on restoring normalcy to the state.
Advani said: “Let not anyone regard it as a Hindu vrsus Muslim issue, or a tribal versus non-tribal issue. It is a matter of who is India and who are foreigner.”
The BJP holds the government responsible for allowing illegal immigrants from Bangladesh to move freely into lower Assam .
“The Assamese people are now refugees in their own state. Infiltration from Bangladesh is affecting the security of the whole country,” Advani said.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who heads the Congress government in Assam , said yesterday that the state is “sitting on a volcano.”
He has been criticised for ignoring early warning signs of tension between the Bodo tribals and Bengali-speaking Muslims. More than 70 people have died in the last month. 400,000 people are displaced and living in 200 relief camps in lower Assam .
Medicines and other supplies are running short. There are just 117 doctors moving from one camp to another as diseases like malaria spread.
The BJP has also promised to attack Finance Minister P Chidambaram for his alleged role in the telecom scam.
The party has accused Chidambaram of dereliction of duty because the 2G scam, named for the type of airwaves involved and estimated to be India’s largest swindle – unfolded on his watch in 2008.
Then Telecom Minister A Raja allegedly accepted huge kickbacks from companies who jumped to the head of a long queue for licenses for mobile networks.
Chidambaram did not intervene, says the BJP.
The minister has also been accused by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy of misusing his office to delay the sale of telecom Aircel to a company from Malaysia named Maxis.
Swamy alleges that the delay helped Mr Chidambaram’s son to invest in Aircel and benefit financially from its eventual purchase by Maxis.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 2G licenses issued by Raja, and asked that they be reallocated via an auction to be completed by the end of August.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/chaos-in-parliament-after-advani-describes-upa-2-govt-is-illegitimate/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Aug 8 :The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case under section 8 of PC Act read with 469 of IPC and Section 65 A (b&c) of Information Technology Act, 2000 against a private person of Delhi and other unknown persons of two private companies on the complaint of a Union Minister of State.
It was alleged in the complaint that the accused had forged the Minister’s letter-head and used the same to create a letter with the objective of obtaining Visas for the employees of a foreign company.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested an Assistant Divisional Officer of Fire Department, Delhi ,Raj Mal Khokhar ,for demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs. 50,000/- from the complainant.
The complainant had alleged that he had applied for change in name of owner of his hotel’s license to the Licensing Branch of Delhi Police, New Delhi. The Licensing Department sought clearance/no objection from various agencies including Fire Department. The Assistant Divisional Officer in Fire Department allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs.1.5 lacs from him for giving clearance from the Fire Department.
Accordingly, a case was registered U/s 7 of PC Act, 1988 on 07.08.2012. CBI laid a trap and the accused was caught red handed while demanding & accepting the first installment of Rs. 50,000/- (out of total demanded bribe of Rs. 1.5 lac) on 07.08.2012 (evening).
Searches were conducted at the official & residential premises of the accused person which yielded a recovery of cash amount Rs. 3 lacs and incriminating documents.
The arrested accused was produced today before the Special Judge for CBI case, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi and was remanded to judicial custody till 24.08.2012.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-case-against-forgery/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Aug 8 : Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), with the approval of Board of Governors has implemented a new scheme of Special Dispensation Admission for Members of Parliament in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) with effect from 20.7.2012. Under the scheme, the dispensation admission quota on the recommendations for each MP has been raised to 6 admissions in an academic year. Such recommendations would be for admissions in Kendriya Vidyalayas located in his/her constituency only. In case there is no Kendriya Vidyalaya in the constituency of the Member of Parliament(Lok Sabha), he/she may recommend these admissions in the KVs located in any neighboring contiguous constituency. However, for Members of the Rajya Sabha, the state from which the Member has been elected would be deemed to be his/her constituency for this purpose. Nominated Members of the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend 6 cases for admission in any one or more KVs of the country.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. D. Purandeswari, in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mps-quota-for-admission-in-kvs/

Dr. Syed Nasim Ahmad Zaidi has today assumed the charge as Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India. He fills the vacancy in the Election Commission caused by the assumption of charge by Sh. V.S. Sampath as the 18th Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) succeeding Dr. S.Y. Quraishi.
Dr. Zaidi superannuated as Civil Aviation Secretary on July 31. Dr. Zaidi had earlier worked as Director-General of Civil Aviation, and was India’s representative in the International Civil Aviation Organisation. He was also the Joint Secretary in the Civil Aviation Ministry, and Commissioner of Bareilly Development Authority.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/election-commissioner/

New Delhi , Aug 7 (ANI): India ‘s incumbent Vice-President, Hamid Ansari, will continue in the same office for the next five years after winning the 2012 vice presidential elections convincingly on Tuesday.
Ansari will be only the second person in independent India’s history to serve two consecutive terms as vice president and Rajya Sabha chariman, the first one being Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
UPA-backed Ansari secured 490 votes, comprehensively surpassing his NDA-backed rival Jaswant Singh’s tally of 238 votes.
The Returning Officer for the vice presidential elections and Lok Sabha Secretary-General T.K. Vishwanathan announced that out of the 787 MPs eligibe to vote, 736 had exercised their franchise. Out of these 736, eight votes were declared invalid.
He said that out of the 728 legal votes cast, 490 had gone to Ansari, while 238 had gone in favour of Jaswant Singh.
The vice president of India is elected through a direct ballot with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members (including nominated) comprising the Electoral College.
A total of 790 MPs were eligible to cast their votes today to elect the nation’s 14th vice president.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hamid-ansari-re-elected-vp/

Serchhip (Mizoram), Aug 6 NNN: Continuing its agitation for the third day, Mizo Zirlal Pawl (MZP) Mamit headquarters (Mizo Stufdents Union) today let the educational institutions from high school level to college level closed down within Mamit district.
Further, if there is no immediate response from the state government, the Education department related offices within Mamit town area will also be forced to remain closed, leaders of MZP informed.
In the meantime, students of Government Serchhip High School, also continuing its agitation, organized a procession rally today in Serchhip town.
As reported earlier, since August 2, Government educational institutions-3 high schools, 1 higher secondary school and 1 college in Mamit town area have been closed, have been closed by MZP Mamit demanding from the state government for posting of teachers in the respective institutions where it is required. The institutions will remain closed till August 8.
According to leaders of students’ body, if the state government does not respond to their demand even after resorting such agitations, they will intimidate all the Education Department related offices within Mamit town area; they will convened an emergency meeting today to finalize the programme, MZP leaders informed. Further, even if the state government does not respond till August 8, they shall not just give up their agitation but intensify it until they succeed.
In the meantime, in Serchhip too, in demand for posting of teachers and showing agitation against the frequent transfer of teachers from the district, students of Serchhip Government Higher Secondary School organized a procession from their school premises at P&E Veng to Serchhip Bazar. Around 300 students participated at the procession.
At the closing programme of the procession held at Serchhip town and demaqnded that they want regular teachers but not RMSA teachers to be posted in their schools. At present, there are no Education and Mathematics teachers in Government Higher Secondary School.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/studentsagitation-in-two-districts-of-mizoram-continues/

Guwahati, Aug 6 NNN: A semblance of normality has returned to Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) areas where violence erupted on Sunday after a brief lull. The indefinite curfew imposed in those areas continued on Monday.
On Sunday, fresh incidents of violence were reported from Chirang district with miscreants torching several houses. Four bodies were also recovered taking the total toll in the communal violence since to 75 since July 20.
The violence could not spread following prompt action from 104 fixed police pickets in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. These pickets had been deployed to ensure the safe return of the relief camp inmates to their respective villages.
“Indefinite curfew imposed on Sunday after fresh incidents of violence has been persisted with on Monday to offset more trouble. There have been no reports of arson or killing in the last 24 hours,” said Assam Police inspector general (law and order) LR Vishnoi.
On Monday, chief minister Tarun Gogoi also reviewed the relief and rehabilitation measures in the violence-hit areas of western Assam. “All our energies should be channelized towards providing succour to the displaced people on a war footing,” he said. He also passed on instructions for the deputy commissioners of the affected districts to decongest the existing relief camps by opening new ones to prevent outbreak of diseases.
Further, the chief minister instructed the public health engineering department to ensure one latrine per 100 relief camp inmates and one water pump for every 250 in order to ensure hygienic conditions. Health officials were also instructed to set up separate camps for pregnant and lactating women and children.
Monday also saw a four-minister team visiting the trouble-torn BTC areas besides Dhubri district to take stock of the situation and assess the conditions of the relief camps.
It can be noted that on August 1, intelligence officials had accused that a new Muslim based militant outfit called United Muslim National Army (UMNA) was suspected to be behind the ethnic clashes between the Bodos and the Muslims in Assam’s Kokrajhar district.
This new Muslim militant outfit has been floated in Assam with its agenda to have a separate administrative area for the Muslims in Assam consisting of 13 districts with four in Bodo Territorial Council (BTC), a well placed source informed Newmai News Network in Guwahati recently.
Meanwhile, over 75 people have been killed and nearly 5 lakh people are affected by the clashes in western Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/normalcy-restored-at-assam/

Aizawl, Aug 6 NNN: The remark of Mizoram home minister R Lalzirliana to “forgive” Hmar Peoples Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) Chairman, H.Zosangbera who was arrested from Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport on July 17, has attracted criticisms from other political parties in Mizoram.
On Monday, Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) leader R Lalawia said only the President of India can forgive a criminal officially.
The Mizoram home minister had given a statement in the state assembly recently.
R Lalzirliana said that the HPC (D) leader and his outfit will be forgiven any time they come back to the mainstream and even said that even the criminals can be forgiven. T
Reacting to this comment, the ZNP leader it is surprising and embarrassing over the remark of Lalzirliana and said that it is not the state government and even not the Home minister who has the authority to forgive the criminals; it is only the President of India who can forgive the criminals. “There is always the limit, and it is really a matter of shame that leaders of the state often speak of what is beyond their power,” said the ZNP leader.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hpc-issue-discussed/

Srinagar , Aug. 6 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir got its first radio taxi service here on Monday.
The taxis are Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled and have audio-visual security installed in them.
The fleet of fifty cars began functioning earlier this month.
Interacting with reporters here, Mohammad Asif Kawoosa, the manager of the radio taxi service, said that the service would be available 24×7, and added that all care are under surveillance to ensure passenger safety.
“We are the first company to provide semi- luxurious taxies, which are now at the disposal of the locals in Jammu and Kashmir . Our services can be availed round-the-clock and anywhere. The services are under scrutiny and are very safe for families to go anywhere anytime,” he said.
Kawoosa added the company is getting another 50 taxies to run across the whole state.
The services have also helped in creating employment in area.
The locals have welcomed the move and appreciated the metered system of charging fares.
“The introduction of radio taxies is a good concept.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/jk-gets-its-first-radio-taxi-service/