Tag: National

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 27: Union Tourism Minister. Subodh Kant Sahai said that in the North-Eastern region, because of the fragility of habitat and society, it is niche kind of community based tourism which will succeed and will be “sustainable and not the five star tourism or mass tourism because that can permanently damage the habitat and the society of these innocent people living in this beautiful part of the country. Shri Sahai was speaking after releasing two books titled Sustainable Tourism Development of Nagaland” and “ Tourism
Potential of North-East” written by Dr. DK Bhalla, IAS, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs, here today.
Shri Sahai said of late in most of the countries, there has been increasing demand for a broader
perspective on the facts of tourism that go beyond any physical impact on natural environment and includes the consideration of how poorer sections of the community can obtain more benefit from tourism. He said this has been matched by a growing awareness amongst tourists that a non inclusive attitude towards local people is no longer sustainable. The Tourism Minister said if the anticipated growth in tourism can be managed wisely, then it can be used to alleviate poverty, promote sustainable and equitable development. Shri Sahai said “It is in this backdrop that these two books by the Author Dr. DK Bhalla has a lot of relevance”.
Sahai said that he is fully aware and agree with the author that North-Eastern region of India is almost another world and a place of magical beauty and bewildering diversity. He said “that it is a land of myths and mysteries, folklore and legends and of many tender dreams. The region is unique with more than 150 tribes speaking as many languages. This is the only place in the world where primitive culture of Neolithic age co-exists with the modern life style. It is a paradise for travelers”.
Sahai noted that Dr. Bhalla has not only talked about the need and potential of tourism in North-East but has explained the concept of sustainability very well and given in detail the case studies as well as strategies for development of tourism in his own State of Nagaland as well as the rest of North-East. The
Tourism Minister expressed the hope that this will be appreciated by a wide variety of readers, tourists, tourism marketeers and variety of research institutions and tourism institutes.
The urgent need for tourism development is known to all but the sustainability of tourism development is more hyped about but less practiced concept. This is what the author has worked very hard to bring about in these books.
He has critically examined the characteristics and potential of sustainable tourism development in North-East in general and in the State of Nagaland in particular. He has not only examined the concept of sustainable tourism but has also seen it in the context of sustainable development.
The second book by the author discusses the potential of the tourism in the North East India which is unbound.
Besides the culture, history and prospects of social development in the North East, the author has discussed the community based tourism, policy planning and development in the States falling in the North East region. Ecological and sustainable tourism development in these States include visiting lofty mountains, turbulent rivers, deep gorges, flora and fauna, river water rafting, hiking and ethno biological tours with a view to taking care of health related problems.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/community-based-tourism-best-for-ne-subodh-kant-sahai/

MNS: The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has congratulated the scientists of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), for the successful launch of PSLV-C19 carrying the Radar Imaging Satellite RISAT-1. Following is the text of the Prime Minister’s message:
“I would like to warmly congratulate all scientists of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the successful launch today of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C19 carrying the Radar Imaging Satellite-1 (RISAT-1), the heaviest satellite launched till date using PSLV.
The twentieth consecutive successful launch of the PSLV is an important milestone in our space programme and is testimony to ISRO’s mastery of the complex launch vehicle technology. I have no doubt that RISAT-1’s all weather, day-night imaging ability will significantly contribute to the nation’s remote sensing capabilities. The country is proud of ISRO’s achievements .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/pm-congratulates-isro-scientists/

Bhubaneshwar, Apr 26 (ANI): Expressing his delight over Jhina Hikaka’s release from Maoists captivity, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said he was relieved that the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA would now meet his family, who were quite distressed and anxiously waiting for him.
“I am very happy that the Jhina Hikaka is on his way to his family in Lakshmipur. Two weeks ago I was with his family in Lakshmipur in our Koraput district. And his mother, an old lady, was extremely distressed, as you can imagine and recently has been unwell. And his wife, his two small children were in great distress and very anxious,” said Patnaik.
“So, all I can say is I am very glad. We are relieved, all of us, I am sure in the entire beautiful state of ours are extremely relieved that he is freed today to go back to his wife, his two sons and to his mother,” he added.
Hikaka was released unharmed by Maoists earlier in the day at a village in Koraput, 33 days after he was abducted from the same district by the rebels.
Hikaka was reportedly escorted by a group of tribals to Balipeta village in Maoist-affected Narayanpatna area, where he was believed to have been produced in a Maoist ‘praja’ court, which agreed to set him free.
He was handed over by the tribals to his wife, Kaushalya Majhi, and a lawyer who fights cases for the ultras and their frontal organisations, Nihar Ranjan Patnaik.
The decision to free Hikaka was taken by a people’s court on Tuesday after he gave a written undertaking that he will resign from the state assembly and also try to fulfill the Maoists’ demands.
While the Maoists had demanded release of 29 prisoners in exchange for Hikaka’s freedom, the state government decided to consider the release of 25 jailed people, including eight Maoists.
The Odisha Government has decided to withdraw cases against 13 jailed ultras, including five Maoists, apart from facilitating the release of 12 through bail, sources said.
Hikaka was kidnapped near Toyaput after a large group of armed men stopped him as he was being driven through a hilly area some 500 kilometres away from Bhubaneshwar on March 24.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/odisha-cm-patnaik-expresses-delight-over-hikakas-release/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 26: The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri R.P.N. Singh informed the Lok Sabha in written reply today that constant efforts are being made for blocking of the LPG connections of PNG (Piped Natural Gas) consumers by way of regular monitoring and issue of instructions to the Oil Marketing Companies OMCs and City Gas Distribution (CGD) companies.
“As on 01.04.2012, OMCs have blocked 8,89,267 LPG connections of PNG consumers, in an effort to stop diversion of subsidized domestic LPG”, he added. PNG connections are provided to households in cities having CGD projects to supply natural gas as cooking fuel.
OMCs have also introduced different colours for domestic and non-domestic LPG cylinders for controlling the diversion of domestic LPG for unauthorized use, the Minister said.
The Minister further said that to check black-marketing of LPG, OMCs carry out regular surprise inspections at distributors’ premised, conduct refill audits, surprise checks at customers’ premises including en-route checking of delivery vehicles etc., and action, where-ever necessary, is taken in accordance with the provisions of the MDG (Marketing Discipline Guidelines).
In addition, surprise checks are carried out along with the help of local Government officials which includes restaurants and small eateries to ensure that the subsidized domestic LPG is not misused.
Shri Singh also informed that the Government has enacted “Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Regulation of Supply and Distribution) Order, 2000″ and formulated “Marketing Discipline Guidelines, 2001” which provides for penal action against LPG distributors indulging in diversion/black marketing of LPG.MDG provide, inter-alia for following action against the distributor:-
Fine of ‘ 20,000 plus the price of LPG diverted at commercial rates for 1st offence.
Fine of ‘ 50,000 plus the price of LPG diverted at commercial rates for 2nd offence.
Termination of the distributorship for 3rd offence.
He also emphasised that the in addition to the action taken by the OMCs, State Governments are empowered under the LPG (Regulation of Supply & Distribution) Order, 2000 promulgated under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to take action against black marketing/diversion of domestic LPG.
The Minister stressed that the government has also issued advertisements cautioning the public that use of domestic LPG for non-domestic purposes is illegal and against national interest. Through these advertisements, cooperation of the general public has also been sought to report any irregularity/malpractice to the OMCs.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/measures-to-check-blackmarketing-of-lpg/

New Delhi, April 26 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a defamation case filed against Army Chief General V.K.Singh by Lt. General (retired) Tejinder Singh till May 5.
Lt.Gen. Tejinder Singh had recorded his statement before a Delhi court in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against Army chief VK Singh and four others. Lt.Gen.(retired) Singh had also sought an independent inquiry into the illegal monitoring of mobile phone conversation of ministry officials by the army under the present chief General VK Singh.
Lt.Gen.Tejinder Singh had retired as Director General of Defence Intelligence Agencies in 2010.
Lt.Gen.Tejinder Singh has placed a sealed, written statement and a CD in support of his petition demanding a CBI probe into alleged bugging of ministry offices.
Lashing out at the chief for “concocting” bribery allegations against him, the petitioner also wants a court direction to CBI to carry out searches at offices and residences of General Singh, his subordinate officers and their family members. He wants the agency to seize documents related to his private life and not release it to the public.
In a disclosure made during an interview to a newspaper, the army chief had accused Tejinder Singh of offering him a bribe of Rs.14 crore for purchase of Tatra trucks. Pursuant to a written complaint, CBI has already initiated a preliminary inquiry into the allegations.
Singh alleged the “false” bribery allegations were levelled as he was privy to army chief’s “illegal designs and intention to carryout monitoring of mobile phone conversations of the defence ministry of officials”.
The petition claimed the General complained to the DM to pre-empt Tejinder from spilling the beans.
about the chief’s “illegal scheme.”

Tejinder Singh also accused the chief of violating the “rule of law”. He said the General intruded into his

private life and resorted to unauthorised tapping of his phone.

The petitioner also wants a direction to the government to initiate disciplinary inquiry against the chief

for issuing public statements. He cited instances where several press notes were released at the chief’s

behest and said this amounted to misuse of his position. (ANI)

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/supreme-court-reserves-order-on-defamation-case-against-army-chief/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 26: Preliminary discussions have been held on establishment of a multi stakeholder Cyber Coordination Centre which will detect malicious cyber activities in the Indian Cyber space and issue early warning alerts.
The Minister of State For Communications and Information Technology ,Shri Sachin Pilot informed the Lok Sabha yesterday that such alerts will facilitate mitigation of cyber attacks with coordinated efforts of all stakeholders in Government, academia and Industry.
Pilot said, according to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), 133 Government websites were hacked during January to March this year. A total of 92, 204 and 248 Government websites were hacked in 2009,2010 and 2 He further informed that according to the Norton Cyber Crime Report published in 2011, US $ 4 billion were lost due to cyber crime in India compared to US $ 114 billion world-wide. The Report further noted that 80% of the people surveyed experienced cyber crime. The data is not validated but the report is based on a survey involving over 19,000 people across 24 countries including 600 from India.
The Minister informed that according to Reserve Bank of India, 2232 Internet fraud cases involving nearly Rs 1234.94 lakh were registered in the year 2010. CBI registered 2 cyber crime cases involving Rs. 17 Lakhs in 2010.
Shri Pilot informed that the Government has taken the following measures to tackle cyber crimes:
(i) Legal Framework in the form of Information Technology Act, 2000. The Act provides legal framework to address the issues connected with cyber crime, cyber attacks and security breaches of information technology infrastructure.
ii) Setting up of Early Warning and Response to cyber security incidents through the Indian Computer
Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and collaboration at national and international level for information sharing and mitigation of cyber attacks.
iii) CERT-In regularly publishes Security Guidelines and advisories for safeguarding computer systems from hacking and these are widely circulated. CERT-In also conducts security mock drills, workshops & training programs on regular basis to enhance security posture of infrastructure and awareness.
iv) The organizations operating critical information infrastructure have been advised to implement information security management practices based on International Standard ISO 27001. Ministries and Departments have been advised to carry out security audit of their information technology infrastructure regularly to ensure robustness of their systems.
v) The Government has circulated Cyber Security Policies and Guidelines for implementation in all Ministries/ Departments.
vi) Government is facilitating skill & competence development in the area of cyber security by providing domain specific trainings on Cyber Forensics, Network & System Security Administration. Labs for training in collection and analysis of digital evidence for Law Enforcement & Judiciary have been setup.
vii) The Government has formulated Crisis Management Plan for countering cyber attacks and cyber terrorism. This is being implemented by all Ministries/ Departments of Central Government, State
Governments an their organizations and critical sectors.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hacking-of-websites-to-be-checked/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 25: Vilasrao Deshmukh, Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences on the occasion of Malaria Day here today launched a new drug.
“The entire World observes 25th April as Malaria day every year. One of the best ways to observe the malaria day is to discover and launch new drugs for fighting the disease. We have assembled to launch a drug that will help in our fight against the disease. It is a pleasure that we are able to launch the new drug on the 25th April, the malaria day. Pleasure is even more enhanced because this drug is the outcome of strong collaboration. This has been developed under a viable Public Private Partnership. It is a product delivered from a PPP project under the Drug and Pharmaceutical Research Programme of the Department of Science and Technology. There are three special reasons to celebrate this launch.
The drug being launched today is the first example of all-out indigenous effort. The drug has passed through all necessary stages of clinical trials. If such an effort serves a national cause, it is even more special. Therefore, launch of a drug for malaria developed through collaboration is a good cause for special celebration.
Second of all, the drug will help our fight against Malaria, a disease which affects poor people even more than others. Malaria parasite does not differentiate between rich and poor people, when it bites. However, larger number of poorer people is affected by the disease than the number of rich. This is on account of several reasons. Malaria is typically grouped among what is termed as “neglected diseases”. In my view there is no such thing as neglected diseases. There may be diseases suffered by “neglected people”.
Therefore, there is a responsibility on all of us to ensure that we win the fight against malaria.
Government of India thought it appropriate to stimulate the drug discovery process by sharing the costs of phase 3 clinical trials in this case. I congratulate Ranbaxy and their R&D team for accepting the challenge of discovering new drugs for malaria.
Thirdly, one of the purposes behind the present innovation is “affordable Human health care”. Affordability is health care is an important requirement. Through, research and development, many new drugs have been discovered globally. The investments needed for drug discovery in the modern world are large. As a result, the costs of several modern drugs are not always affordable to many. Innovations relating to human health care system should in-build three important considerations. They are availability, accessibility and affordability of the innovation. In this particular case for drug malaria, the three criteria have been duly considered.
The Government has laid a pre-condition that the benefits of public investments into development of the drug should be transferred to the ultimate consumers. Ranbaxy has agreed to offset the price at the time of marketing giving due allowance for public investments into clinical trials. The spirit behind the public investment would be honoured in deed by the company. Therefore, the concern for affordability in the drug discovered and releases today merits special celebration.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/new-drug-to-fight-malaria-launched-on-malaria-day/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 25: The Ministry has taken up a pilot project, “Skill Development Initiative for Potential Migrants from the North-East States of India,” for providing gainful employment opportunities for the youths and women in the North-East region, in all the states including Sikkim. Under the Project, international vocational qualifications (IVQs) will be developed with focus on short, relevant and effective modules that will help potential migrants in overseas job markets. The project will work on the basis of two models: franchise and university embedded models which will use standard training, testing and certification to increase the effectiveness of the proposed framework. This internationally recognized certification will ensure that trainees are employable anywhere in the world.
The following sectors have been identified for the pilot project:
Healthcare sector with a focus on Nursing Assistants and Geriatric Care
Hospitality sector with a focus on culinary skills
Education sector with a focus on training of English language teachers
This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affair, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/skill-development-for-migrants-from-ne/

Guwahati, April 25 NNN: Tea planters in Assam may find problem to enjoy the developmental schemes under Tea Board of India.
According to sources, the tea planters in Assam are ‘landless’. However, these landless tea planters plant tea on acres after acres of land provided by the government.
Roughly 75,000 small tea growers in Assam are not eligible for the developmental schemes under the Tea Board of India as they do not possess land ownership documents despite having been allowed to cultivate on government land for years.
Executive director of Tea Board for the Northeast, Mr Rakesh Saini said while there are some 80,000 small tea growers in Assam, only 5,000 of them have been able to register themselves with the Board and take advantage of various benefits.
“A tea grower has to produce several documents including land ownership papers in order to register with us and avail the benefits of our schemes. But with the majority of growers continuously deprived, the Board has now relaxed the procedure and has started accepting revenue payment receipts against government land too,” Saini said.
The small tea farms in Assam cover about 1.20 lakh hectares of land – mostly government fallow land – and contribute up to 28% of the state’s tea output. Assam alone produces more than 50% of India’s tea.
Small size of land holdings is also responsible for farmers getting deprived of certain Tea Board schemes, Saini said. “While it requires not less than 0.1 hectare for a tea farm to become viable, people are growing tea even in smaller plots in their homesteads. This makes it difficult for the Board to cover them under various schemes,” he said.
With this problem in view, the Tea Board has now also come out with a scheme to encourage small tea growers to form self-help groups among themselves. “This will help them avail the schemes as well as cut down transportation and other costs. Moreover, they will also have a collective power to bargain for better prices from the factories and bigger gardens that buy green leaf,” Saini said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/tea-planters-facing-problems/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 24: The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has said that Planning Commission finalises annual plans of various States, including that of North Eastern States in consultation with concerned State Governments. Size of each year’s plan is finalised based on available resources of States (State’s own funds, borrowings and any other resources) and available Central Assistance. A statement indicating Annual Plan outlays / actual expenditure during 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 to enable State Governments to take up priority projects across sectors and to meet resource gap in Plan for North Eastern States
In a written reply in Lok Sabha today he said, grants-in-aid to North Eastern State Governments are also released under the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
Shri Ghatowar said, performance of projects sanctioned under the schemes is reviewed regularly through various periodical reports and utilization certificates, quarterly progress reports etc. Performance is also reviewed during meeting with State Government officers.
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has said that Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region funds road sector projects in North Eastern States under Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) Scheme, Special Infrastructure Development Fund (SIDF) Scheme and Scheme of North Eastern Council (NEC). During current financial year 2012-13, so far no funds have been released for construction of roads under these Schemes.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha today Shri Ghatowar said, pace of implementation of some projects under these schemes is not as per schedule, resulting in delay in completion of projects and resultant benefits. These Annexures have been put on the website of the Ministry i.e. www.mdoner.gov.in.
The Minister said, review meetings are being held with State Government officers regularly to expedite completion of the projects of this Ministry.
Training courses in project management and implementation are organized as per requirement. State Governments are requested to expedite submission of utilization certificates, for release of funds without delay.
The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar has said that Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is implementing North East Rural Livelihood Project (NERLP) with soft loan assistance from World Bank with objective to improve rural livelihoods especially that of women, unemployed youth and most disadvantaged in States of Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha today he said, NERLP will cover two districts in each of these four States and benefit nearly three lakh households in 1624 villages of 58 blocks. Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs (CCEA) approved implementation of NERLP on 16th November 2011, at estimated cost of Rs.
683.20 crore comprising assistance from the World Bank of Rs. 614.8 crore and Central Government
funding of Rs. 68.4 crore. Loan agreement and project agreement documents were signed by
representative from World Bank and Government of India on 20th January 2012. NERLP shall cover following blocks in Nagaland:-
Name of district
Blocks
Peren
Tenning, Peren, Jalukie
Tuensang
Longkhim, Chare, Noksen, Sangsangyu, Shamator, Chessore, Noklak, Thonoknyu
The Minister said, Ministry of Urban Development has undertaken “North Eastern Region Capital Cities Development Investment Program” with assistance of Asian Development Bank and total loan amount US $ 200 million, aims to improve quality of life of 1.2 million people and enhance urban productivity in five capital cities of North Eastern States, namely Agartala (Tripura), Aizwal (Mizoram), Shillong (Meghalaya), Kohima (Nagaland) and Gangtok (Sikkim). Following programs are covered under Urban Infrastructure and Service Improvements component of Investment Program in Kohima:
A. Water Supply: (i) Supporting Non Revenue Water Program (ii) replacing eight zonal reservoirs, (iii) refurbishing existing water treatment plants: and (iv) supplying and installing chorinators at three major reservoirs.
B. Solid Waste Management: (i) constructing and equipping a solid waste management centre, including a compost plant and sanitary landfill site; and (ii) improving primary and secondary waste collection.
Ghatowar said, ‘Composite Scheme of Transmission and Distribution in North Eastern Region’ which has been posed to World Bank, for improvements in transmission and distribution system of electric power and Nagaland is of the proposed beneficiary States.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/annual-plans-of-ne-region-based-on-available-resources-ghatowar/

Raipur, Apr 24 (ANI): With the deadline looming large for the safe release of abducted Sukma District Collector Alex Paul Menon, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh on Tuesday urged the Maoists not to fix a deadline till the negotiations are over.
“It will not be appropriate to fix a deadline because mediators are going to sit and negotiate the issue. I have also appealed that the deadline should be extended till the negotiations are over,” he said.
The state government today appointed two retired bureaucrats, as mediators to negotiate with the ultras to secure Menon’s safe release.
Singh informed that both officials, Nirmala Buch and S. K. Mishra, had given their consent after a telephonic conversation with him.
“I talked to retired chief secretary of (neighbouring) Madhya Pradesh Nirmala Buch and sought her help in the negotiation. The second person is retired chief secretary of Chhattisgarh S. K. Mishra. I talked to both of them last night (April 23) and sought their consent,” he said.
The state government also rushed medicines for Menon hours after the rebels informed that he was critically ill.
“The necessary medicine will reach Tarimetla (village) in time and it will help to address the problem related to his health,” added Singh.
In a statement, the Maoists termed Menon’s health as critical and asked the mediators to bring medicines along with them.
The Maoists asked the government not to indulge in ‘delay tactics’, as Menon’s health was deteriorating.
They said only the three persons named by them will be allowed to negotiate in Tarimetla village and asked them to accept the invitation to act as mediators.
The Maoists have also nominated the names of former National SC/ST Commission chairperson B D Sharma, Team Anna member and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan and All India Adivasi Mahasabha President Manish Kunjam.
Both Bhushan and Kunjam have, however, refused to mediate in the matter.
The Naxals have demanded the release of eight colleagues: Markam Gopanna alias Satyam Reddy, Nirmal Akka alias Vijay Laxmi, Devpal Chandrashekhar Reddy, Shantipriya Reddy, Meena Choudhari, Korsa Sunny, Markam Sunny and Asit Kumar Sen.
The ultras also want anti-Naxal Operation Green Hunt to be cancelled, security forces to be withdrawn from the region and persons against whom they allege “fake cases” have been registered, released from the jails.
In an audacious operation, Maoist rebels on Saturday abducted Menon, an IAS officer of 2006 batch, from the middle of a meeting with villagers from Majhipara village in Keralapal area of the Naxal-infected district.
The Sukma district collector’s kidnapping comes even as uncertainty continues over the fate of ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka in neighbouring Odisha who was abducted by the Maoists about a month ago.
Menon is the first collector of the newly-created Sukma district and was known to be pro-active in undertaking development work in the backward region.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/chhattisgarh-cm-urges-maoists-not-to-fix-deadline/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 24: A total 426 cases of alleged fake encounters by police, defence and central armed police forces were registered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) during the period 2009-10 to 2011-12. For the current year 2012-13, as on 17.4.12, no such case has been registered. During the above period, in none of the cases, any recommendation for disciplinary action / prosecution of the public servants was made by NHRC.
Against 426 cases of alleged fake encounters, 84 cases have been solved and the remaining 342 are unsolved. For expediting the unsolved cases, concerted efforts are made by NHRC for obtaining the inquest reports, post-mortem report, magisterial inquiry report etc. from the concerned State Governments.
As per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, “Police” and “Public Order” are State Subjects.
It is for the State Governments to take action in every crime. The Central Government issues advisories, while the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issues guidelines and recommendations to be followed by the States/UTs in all cases of deaths in the course of police action.
This was stated by Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/426-cases-of-fake-encounters-registered/

AIZAWL, April 24 NNN: Mizoram Home Minister Lalzirliana today convened an important meeting with leaders of various NGOs on the issue of Bru repatriation at his office chamber.
The meeting was also attended by top officials from Mizoram Home Department. The state government is taking all necessary steps to rehabilitate the Mizo refugees languishing in Tripura and Mizoram and for this purpose, a financial packaged had also been sanctioned and will be disbursed shortly, said Lalzirliana. A total of 83 Mizo families were rendered homeless and stayed as refugees in Mizoram and Tripura state since 2009 due to ethnic violence broke out after the brutal killing of Zarzokima (18) at Bungthuam, near Tripura border, in Mizoram by a little known militant outfit – Bru National Army (BNA) on November 12, 2009.
The minister said that the 32 Mizo families who were in Jampui hills will be rehabilitated by the Tripura government while 51 families who were in Mizoram since 2009 will be rehabilitated by the Mizoram government. Leaders of various NGOs today urged the home minister to rehabilitate the Mizo refugees before commencing the fourth phase of Bru repatriation. One the issue of Bru refugees, the NGOs leaders said that the govt should not keep all the repatriated Brus in the same constituency and asked the government to give responsibility of distributing financial package to each village councils.
As per government sources, the next phase of Bru repatriation will take place between April 26 and May 11 where 669 comprising 3652 members will be repatriated. They will be settled in 21 villages.
It is pertinent to note that hundreds of Brus left Mizoram in 1997 and 2009. The first case was triggered when Bru militants murdered two Mizos who were forest guards on October 21, 1997. The second case happened after a 17-year-old Mizo boy was killed by the Brus near Bungthuam village on November 13, 2009.
Meanwhile, a recent head count conducted by the MBDPF found that there have been 31,703 Brus in the relief camps belonging to 5,448 families who are bona fide residents of Mizoram.
The repatriation of the 1997 batch of Bru refugees was underway until it stalled by the November 13 killing.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bru-repatriation/

New Delhi, Apr 23 (ANI)Leaders of various political outfits on Monday gave a mixed response to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar’s suggestion that the president of the country should be a non-political person, saying a final decision on the issue would be taken only after consultations.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav said it is not the correct time to comment on the presidential candidate, and added that his party would react only after taking the views of the allies.
“He (Sharad Pawar) has given a suggestion. There have been no talks on this within our party or the NDA. It is suggestion. So, it is not the right time to comment on it. There will be a variety of discussions. It is a big election. We will take this issue forward only after discussions and views of the allies,” said Yadav.
“Now, it is his (Sharad Pawar’s) suggestion. We can’t react on every issue. There have been no discussions on this. So, it would not be correct to comment on this for now,” he added, when asked that the Samajwadi Party has put its weight behind former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdula Kalam for the top post.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury said there has been a lot of interest in speculation on the presidential election.
He, however, said nothing in this regard was formal till now.
“Nothing has come to us formally so far. There is naturally a lot of interest in speculation on the presidential election.
It happens every five years beginning in the month of April-May and goes on till the elections,” said Yechury.
So, it is a good reflection of the vibrancy of our democracy. We want that a president should be the one with full consensus,” he added.
Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shahid Siddiqui earlier in the day welcomed Pawar’s suggestion that the president of the country should be a non-political person, and said his party would definitely back Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam if there is a consensus on his name.
Siddiqui said the president of India should be above politics and parties, and should be the one who represents the nation as a whole.
Pawar, an ally of the ruling UPA Government, had earlier on Sunday said he wants a non-political person to become the next president of India.
Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India, succeeding K. R. Narayanan. He served from July 25, 2002 to July 24, 2007.
The Samajwadi Party has begun exploring the chances of putting together a non-Congress, non-BJP coalition in the run-up to the presidential election due in June this year, and Kiranmay Nanda’s meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee was a step ahead in this direction.
The names of Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee are doing the rounds as nominees for the top post, which falls vacant on July 24 when Pratibha Devisingh Patil’s term ends.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/lawmakers-give-mixed-responses-on-next-presidential-candidate/

New Delhi, Apr.23 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday accused Congress leader Sajjan Kumar of inciting the 1984-anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, and added that the killings in the Delhi Cantonment area of the city were not spontaneous.
Television reports quoted the CBI, as saying that Sajjan Kumar allegedly told mobs that not a single Sikh should survive.
The CBI said: “people of a certain community were targeted and that the riots were well-organised and backed by both the government and the police.”
On April 12, the CBI apprised a Delhi court of statements of witnesses who had identified Sajjan Kumar, facing trial for his alleged role in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, as the person who was instigating a mob during the carnage.
Sajjan Kumar and five others, Balwan Khokkar, Kishan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal, are facing trial in the killings of six people in Delhi Cantonment during the riots.
They are accused of instigating a mob to kill Sikhs in the wake of the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
The CBI today recalled in a Delhi court the statement of a woman witness who had identified senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar as the person addressing a mob and instigating it to kill Sikhs during the 1984 riots.
Resuming final arguments in the case, CBI prosecutor R S Cheema told District Judge J R Aryan that witness Nirpreet Kaur, whose father was burnt alive in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, had deposed that she had seen Sajjan Kumar addressing a mob on November 3, 1984 and provoking it to attack and kill Sikhs.
The 1984 Anti-Sikh riots were spread over a period of four days across northern India, particularly Delhi.
Armed mobs attacked Sikhs and their propeties in response to the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.
Gandhi was killed by her Sikh bodyguards for authorising a military operation on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which was then occupied by Sikh extremists led by Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
The government officially recorded 2,700 deaths from the ensuing chaos.
It also said that about 20,000 had fled Delhi. However, the People’s Uinion for Civil Liberties (PUCL) reported that at least 50,000 persons had been displaced.
The most affected regions were neighbourhoods in Delhi. Human rights organisations and the newspapers believe the massacre was organised.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-blames-congress-leader-sajjan-for-inciting-1984-anti-sikh-riots/

Dimapur, April 21 NNN :Taking serious note of the ongoing fracas between the security forces and the NSCN-IM, the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) urged the Naga underground groups to exercise restraint in the face of actions by India’s security agencies.
The NPMHR then stated that there appears to be a clash of interest between India’s political leadership and her military establishment, as far as resolving the Naga political issue is concerned. It stated that over the years, India’s political leaders, cutting across party affiliations, especially during the last fifteen years, have generally demonstrated the will to resolve the issue through a process of dialogue.
“However, the approach of India’s military, especially the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary setup to deal with internal strife during the British about 177 years ago, leaves one to question the overall motives of India. India’s military continues to function with immunity, protected by such laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and infringe on even the basic rights of civilians,” the Naga rights body alleged.
It then said there are reports of increased surveillance, including house raids, frisking and arrests all over Naga areas by Assam Rifles. This force that operates under the command of India’s Home Ministry and Army, are supposed to be “aiding” civil authority and not take upon itself the job of “policing”. Even high ranking Nagaland government officials are being subjected to frisking in places such as Kiphire, even as there is increased movement of troops in Naga areas including Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, Dimapur and elsewhere.
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) calls upon Indian representatives to press forward for a resolution of the Naga issue. NPMHR believes the gains made in dialogue processes with different Naga national groups are leading to increasing the level of trust among Nagas and Indians. The one important step towards strengthening this is to rein in “The Friends of the Hill People” and halt its provocative tendencies against Naga national groups.
“NPMHR considers the ongoing campaign against the National Socialist Council of Nagalim as a serious breach of trust between entities that agreed to a ceasefire and agreed to sit across the negotiating table,” the Naga rights body added.
NPMHR also urges the Naga ‘national groups’ to exercise restraint in the face of actions by India’s security agencies that are apparently tuned to provoke. NPMHR calls for continued vigil over designs that are aimed at denying the Nagas to reconcile, integrate and live together as one nation.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/npmhr-appeals-to-exercise-restrain/

Dimapur, April 21 NNN :Taking serious note of the ongoing fracas between the security forces and the NSCN-IM, the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) urged the Naga underground groups to exercise restraint in the face of actions by India’s security agencies.
The NPMHR then stated that there appears to be a clash of interest between India’s political leadership and her military establishment, as far as resolving the Naga political issue is concerned. It stated that over the years, India’s political leaders, cutting across party affiliations, especially during the last fifteen years, have generally demonstrated the will to resolve the issue through a process of dialogue.
“However, the approach of India’s military, especially the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary setup to deal with internal strife during the British about 177 years ago, leaves one to question the overall motives of India. India’s military continues to function with immunity, protected by such laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and infringe on even the basic rights of civilians,” the Naga rights body alleged.
It then said there are reports of increased surveillance, including house raids, frisking and arrests all over Naga areas by Assam Rifles. This force that operates under the command of India’s Home Ministry and Army, are supposed to be “aiding” civil authority and not take upon itself the job of “policing”. Even high ranking Nagaland government officials are being subjected to frisking in places such as Kiphire, even as there is increased movement of troops in Naga areas including Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, Dimapur and elsewhere.
The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) calls upon Indian representatives to press forward for a resolution of the Naga issue. NPMHR believes the gains made in dialogue processes with different Naga national groups are leading to increasing the level of trust among Nagas and Indians. The one important step towards strengthening this is to rein in “The Friends of the Hill People” and halt its provocative tendencies against Naga national groups.
“NPMHR considers the ongoing campaign against the National Socialist Council of Nagalim as a serious breach of trust between entities that agreed to a ceasefire and agreed to sit across the negotiating table,” the Naga rights body added.
NPMHR also urges the Naga ‘national groups’ to exercise restraint in the face of actions by India’s security agencies that are apparently tuned to provoke. NPMHR calls for continued vigil over designs that are aimed at denying the Nagas to reconcile, integrate and live together as one nation.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/npmhr-appeals-to-exercise-restrain/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 21: Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on the occasion of the Civil Services Day addressed a function and said , “ the significance of today’s event lies equally in sending out a message that we are all determined to make our civil services more competent, more professional, and alive to the requirements of the twenty first century and capable of facilitating rapid social and economic progress in our country.”
He added , the decisions that the civil servants take must be fair and objective in nature, based on sound evidence and deep analysis and designed to serve the best interests of our country. Their judgment and advice should not be affected by the nature and color of the political leadership. If this does not happen, the impartiality and fairness of the decision making processes in public administration would get compromised and the quality of our output would be sub-optimal. I think, therefore, this is a vigil that the civil servants must maintain constantly. I also believe that there is a growing perception in the public that over the years the attributes of objectivity in work has been diluted. I leave it to the civil servants to ponder to what extent this perception is true and what they can collectively do to remove it from the public mind.
“Even as our government moves forward in these efforts, which I don`t want to list in detail today, it should be our endeavor that there is no witch hunting in the name of fighting corruption” he said. It is our government`s commitment to put in place a system and create an environment in which our civil servants are encouraged to be decisive, and no one is harassed for bonafide mistakes of errors of judgment.
We cannot have a bureaucracy which is hundred percent risk averse. In fact we should encourage boldness in decision making, provided that the decisions are well considered and as per the law of the land. A civil servant who does not take decisions might always be safe, but at the end of the day he or she would have contributed nothing to our society and to our country.
“The first theme “Security for the Marginalized: Vision for a Caring India” particularly relevant to all of us in the context of our commitment and efforts towards inclusion towards the integration of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and religious minorities in the national mainstream.
As we enter the Twelfth Plan period we should redouble our efforts for building a society and country in which the fruits of development are shared by each and every citizen. Our growth would not have much meaning if we fail in building a truly inclusive society and country. Indeed, without inclusion, social and economic, the very sustainability of our growth processes comes under question. The other two themes relate to making our civil services corruption free and more transparent and accountable, and also to enable them to improve service delivery to our citizens. These issues are of abiding relevance to all of us.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/no-with-hunting-in-the-name-of-fighting-corruption-pm/

MNS: The IGAR N today issued a press statement which said , “it is to reassure the populace of Nagaland that irrespective of the provocations and false allegations, peace shall prevail in Nagaland. Assam Rifles is committed to preserve the peace and harmony in Nagaland and the people of Nagaland must realize that the hard earned gains made in the ongoing peace process cannot be lost at any cost. We have come too far to retrace our footsteps.
Everyone realizes that the current impasse has been enforced upon us and that despite grave provocations we shall continue to conduct our operations in a manner so as to live upto our motto of – “the friends of the hill people”. As in the past, our current and future actions shall cause no hindrances or disruption to the lives of the common law abiding citizens of the state. Life in Nagaland shall and must continue as normal.
Once again, every law abiding citizen of Nagaland must be reassured of our undying commitment to the peace process and the desire to see Nagaland grow from strength to strength.

In a democracy no individual or cause can be placed above the “will, aspirations and desires of the people and citizens”. During this auspicious week of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the NBCC we pray to the Lord Almighty to continue to shower his blessings on the people of Nagaland.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ar-desires-peace-at-nagaland/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Apr 21: The Central Bureau of Investigation today filed a third charge-sheet in the Court of ACMM, CBI Cases, Jodhpur against four accused persons including one absconding U/s 120-B r/w 364, 302, 201 IPC and Section 3(2)(v) SC/ST(POA) Act.
Out of the four, three are presently in judicial custody while one remains absconding. The competent Court has issued a non-bailable warrant of arrest against her followed by proceedings U/s 82 & 83 Cr.PC and her immoveable properties have been attached. She has been declared a proclaimed offender U/s 82(4) Cr.PC by the Court on 16.4.2012. An FIR was also lodged against her U/s 174-A at PS Basni, Jodhpur for failing to comply with the orders of the Court U/s 82 Cr.PC. A reward of Rs. 5 Lakh has also been declared for anyone who helps in the arrest of Indra Bishnoi.
CBI registered this case on 11.10.11 relating to the alleged abduction of Smt.Bhanwari Devi, r/o Village Berunda, District Jodhpur(Rajasthan) on the request of Rajasthan Government and further Notification from Govt. of India. The case was earlier registered by Rajasthan Police vide FIR No.383/2011 dated 05.09.11 U/s 365/120-B of PS.Bilara, Distt. Jodhpur Rural, Rajasthan. It was alleged that certain persons conspired to abduct Smt.Bhanwari Devi in order to eliminate her. Smt.Bhanwari Devi, a local Nurse & folk Singer, allegedly left for Bilada on 01.09.2011 at about 1:00 PM by Rajasthan Roadways Bus for collecting the payment of her car, which was reportedly sold to a person of Village Tilbasni, District Jodhpur(Rajasthan).
The initial investigation revealed that a criminal conspiracy amongst three accused persons, the object of which was to abduct Smt.Bhanwari Devi with an intention to murder her. Accordingly, a charge-sheet was filed on 2.12.2011 against them U/s 120-B r/w 364 IPC, substantive offence U/s 364 IPC and Section 3(2)(v) SC/ST (POA) Act. The investigation was kept open in order to unearth the entire conspiracy and to reveal the identity of all the known / unknown accused.
Further Investigation revealed that Smt.Bhanwari Devi was abducted on 01.9.2011 and was killed. It was alleged that her body was later on disposed off and thrown into a canal as per charge-sheet.
The second charge-sheet was filed on 29.02.2012 in the Court of ACMM (CBI) Jodhpur against 13 accused persons who were in judicial custody in Central Jail Jodhpur. Three accused persons were charged U/s 120-B r/w 302, 364 & 201 IPC and Section 3(2)(V) of SC/ST (POA) Act & substantive offences thereof. Five accused including the then Minister of Water Resources of Rajasthan & another MLA of Rajasthan were charged U/s 120-B r/w 302, 364 & 201 IPC and Section 3(2)(V) of SC/ST (POA) Act. Four accused were charged U/s 120-B r/w 302, 364 & 201 IPC and Section 3(2)(V) of SC/ST (POA) Act & substantive offences thereof. One accused(Husband of Smt.Bhanwari Devi) was charged U/s 120-B r/w 365, 364 & 201 IPC.
Further investigation U/s 173 (8) Cr.PC was continuing against four absconding accused including a sister of the accused MLA.
Investigation further disclosed the complicity of these four accused in the aforesaid criminal conspiracy along with the other 13 accused.
After thorough investigation in a professional & transparent manner to unravel the truth in this case, CBI filed the said charge-sheets.
Further investigation has been kept open U/s 173(8) Cr.PC.
The public is reminded that the above findings are based on the investigation done by CBI and evidence collected by it. Under the Indian Law, the accused are presumed to be innocent till their guilt is finally established after a fair trial.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-files-chargesheet-against-four-persons/