Tag: National

DIMAPUR, June 18 NNN: The otherwise noisy and chaotic commercial hub of Nagaland looked deserted today with all the roaring business establishments came to sa grinding halt following the dawn to dusk bandh imposed by Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) under the aegis of Naga Council, Dimapur.
The bandh began at 6 am and ended at 6 pm. During the bandh there was not a single case of stray incident reported anywhere in Dimapur. Roads too looked empty save for few commuters on urgent cases.
The ACAUT said today’s bandh was just a pointer of things to come unless concerned organisations and authorities accede to our demands or put mechanisms in place to curb unabated taxation and ultimately price rise, namely, dealership and multiple taxations by underground organisations and price rise which is the prerogative of government to check.
Unable to bear any longer on the rampant imposition of ‘taxes’ on the business community and also on the general public, the denizens of Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland the bandh was called.
Schools, colleges, shops, transport system, offices both government and private obliged to the appeal of the ACAUT to close for the day.
ACAUT wants that there should be only one tax payable to any one underground group. ACAUT also stated earlier that the ‘back-breaking’ multiple taxes on goods imposed by underground groups should be abolished immediately.
‘Irritants’ such as trade license tax, ID tax, registration tax, calendar donations, Christmas and New Year donations, etc. shall not be entertained anymore.
The ACAUT also wants that the yearly tax payable to different underground organisations should not be increased arbitrarily under any circumstances and therefore, amount payable shall be the same as in 2012.
The creation of the new system of ‘dealership’ by underground groups has been strongly condemned. For instance, it was pointed out that under this latest innovation to milk businesses dry, there is only one poultry dealer/supplier in the whole of Dimapur district and no poultry can be sold in the open market without the consent of this poultry dealer.
It can be noted here that the ACAUT had met the NSCN-IM, the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi and others on the issue.
Meanwhile, ACAUT has listed some other factors that cause to price rise which include DMC toll gates, police check gates, Deopani sand syndicate, Vegetable syndicate, Pan patta syndiacate, Cement and hardware syndicate, Fish and dry fish syndicate, Egg syndicate, Dry supari syndicate, Second hand clothes syndicate, Poultry product vendor union and Butcher vendor union.
The list is not exhaustive. To tackle taxation on a wider scale ACAUT will further pursue to form a fact finding committee to study and compare price of commodities in Nagaland and Assam. It will also meet the state chief minister and the governor and also submit representation to judiciary of Dimapur district.
The sale of all syndicate controlled poultry products including local chicken is henceforth banned throughout the state indefinitely, starting June 18. Anyone found selling poultry shall be doing so at their own risk. This ban shall stay in force till the price comes down to an acceptable level on par with neighbouring Assam, according to ACAUT.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bandh-against-extortion-affects-life-in-nagaland/

DIMAPUR, June 17 NNN : Unable to bear any longer on the rampant imposition of ‘taxations’ on the business community and also on the general public, the denizens of Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland are all set to enforce bandh on June 18 from 6 am to 6 pm.
The bandh has been called by the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT), under the aegis of the Naga Council Dimapur.
Schools, colleges, shops, transport system, offices both government and private have been asked to close for the day by the ACAUT. In short, all the activities except the media, power and medical services, will come to a grinding halt tomorrow.
ACAUT wants that there should be only one tax payable to any one underground group. ACAUT also stated earlier that the ‘back-breaking’ multiple taxes on goods imposed by underground groups should be abolished immediately.
‘Irritants’ such as trade license tax, ID tax, registration tax, calendar donations, Christmas and New Year donations, etc. shall not be entertained anymore.
The ACAUT also wants that the yearly tax payable to different underground organisations should not be increased arbitrarily under any circumstances and therefore, amount payable shall be the same as in 2012.
The creation of the new system of ‘dealership’ by underground groups has been strongly condemned. For instance, it was pointed out that under this latest innovation to milk businesses dry, there is only one poultry dealer/supplier in the whole of Dimapur district and no poultry can be sold in the open market without the consent of this poultry dealer.
It can be noted here that the ACAUT had met the NSCN-IM, the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi and others on the issue.
Meanwhile, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) and Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association (NMDA), All Nagaland Taxi Association (ANTA) and All Nagaland Private Bus Union (ANPBU) have taken decisions to support the Dimapur bandh on Tuesday.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bandh-called-to-protest-extortion-at-dimapur/

New Delhi, June 17 (ANI): Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Monday said the Congress-led UPA Government will get a third term.
“I have always believed that we will have a third go as U P A and the people will again repose their faith in us,” Dr. Singh said on Twitter.
The Prime Minister’s comment came shortly after he inducted eight new faces in the Council of Ministers.
In perhaps the last reshuffle and expansion of the Union Council of Ministers, Mallikarjun Kharge was made the Railways Minister, as eight more were inducted with veterans Sis Ram Ola and Oscar Fernandes making a comeback.
After Sunday’s reshuffle in the party, senior woman leader from election-bound Rajasthan Girija Vyas and K S Rao from Andhra Pradesh were brought in as Cabinet Ministers in Monday’s exercise.
Three new faces — Santosh Chowdhary, J D Seelam and E N S Natchiappan were made Ministers of State along with veteran Maharashtra leader Manikrao Gavit.
With the fresh inductions, the strength of the Union Council of Ministers has gone up to 77.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Monday praised Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, saying the latter is a national leader.
“Rahul Gandhi is a national leader. He has all the right qualities that a leader should have,” Dr. Singh said on Twitter.
“I have always said, as far as I am concerned, I would be very happy to see Rahul step into my shoes,” he added.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Monday avoided commenting on the infighting within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) following Janata Dal (United)’s decision to end the 17-year-old alliance. “It is their internal affair,” Dr. Singh said on twitter.
Dr. Singh, while commenting on future alliances, said ‘there are no permanent friends or enemies’.
“We take decisions as situation evolves,” he added.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar earlier in the day rejected the BJP’s charge of betrayal, and accused the saffron outfit of betraying and ignoring its own senior leaders.
“They (the BJP) have betrayed their own leaders… how can they accuse us of betrayal? If anyone is talking about betrayal, then betrayal has been from the other side. Someone who betrays his own seniors, can’t talk about being betrayed,” he told the media in Patna. Kumar further said the JD-U had chosen to opt out of the alliance because it could not see eye to eye with the new BJP leadership, especially in the wake of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s elevation as the leader of the BJP’s 2014 general election campaign.
“The era of Atal-Advani is over…. we cannot accept the new order of the BJP,” Kumar reiterated today,.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/upa-will-get-a-third-term-says-manmohan-singh/

DIMAPUR, June 16 NNN: Nagas and the people confining in the fringes of Assam are engaging in unending feuds for the last few months.
The Adivasi-Naga tension that was simmering in the first part of this month had calmed down now but the tension between the Rengma Naga and the Karbi community of Assam is heightening.
Rengma Naga community residing in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam are fleeing into Nagaland even as the
Karbi People’s Liberation Tigers (KLPT) are intimidating these Rengma Nagas.
Naga Rengma Hills Protection Force (NRHPF) formed few months ago are operating in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Few days ago, the cadres KLPT came to Rengma Naga dominated area and asked the leaders of these Rengma villages to bring the cadres of Rengma militants along with their weapons by June 9 or else the they would ‘kill’ all the Rengmas in Karbi Anglong district.
Meanwhile, the Rengma Hoho of Dimapur today said the exodus of hundreds of Western Rengmas from their ancestral land, Karbi Anglong (Assam), under the threat of extermination by KLPT ‘extremists’ is totally unacceptable to the Rengma people living in both Assam and Nagaland.
“This is a direct challenge to Rengmas existence as a people and Rengma Hoho Dimapur construes this as an act of ethnic cleansing for which the Government of India and international community is urged to intervene immediately,” the Rengma Hoho Dimapur said. Rengma Hoho Dimapur (RHD) reminds the Karbi people and the government of India that history cannot be denied or even twisted to suit the chauvinistic agenda of a particular people.
“The government of India and Assam government both should understand that Rengmas are indigenous, true sons of the soil of Karbi Anglong having lived in this land for hundreds of years predating Karbis who are relatively late arrivals to the land. By quirk of fate, disease, plague and poison reduced our once proud people-the rulers of Karbi Anglong and Rengma Hills to a minority. If cleansing the land of non-Karbis is the political agenda of Karbis, then the government of India is urged to abrogate the MOU arrived between UPDS and government of India for implementation in 2016/17 and review the whole gamut of the proposed settlement keeping in consideration the interests of minority communities in Karbi Anglong,” RHD added.
Rengmas have suffered enough over the past decades. Developmentally, Western Rengmas are at the lowest rung with basic amenities such as roads, electricity and even schools non-existent. Culturally, Rengma language and way of life is under constant threat and the latest attempt at physical elimination leading to mass exodus is an attack on the principles under which this country was founded, RHD stated.
“The Karbi civil society, intellectuals, church leaders and student bodies are urged to immediately intervene and restore normalcy. Rengma people are willing to have a dialogue with our Karbi brethrens inorder to give peace a chance. Extremist agenda should not highjack Karbi society or else it may not bode well for the future of both our peoples,” the Rengma Hoho cautions.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nagaland-assam-border-tribes-at-loggerhead/

Patna, June 16 (ANI): Putting an end to all the speculations, the Janata Dal (United) on Sunday finally announced that there would not be any alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Bihar government.
Addressing a press conference here, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said that the developments in the last six months had made things difficult for them to work together with the BJP.
“We were in the NDA for 17 years and we had a national agenda that was formed with Atalji and Advaniji. We have tried to stick to the framework of the NDA but for the past 6-7 months situation has changed,” he said.
“Any alliance runs by friendship and trust – we tried our best to run the alliance,” he added
Earlier in the day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Governor D Y Patil following the Cabinet meet called by him, that was skipped by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ministers.
Talking to media after meeting, Nitish Kumar said that he had sought fresh vote of confidence to prove his majority in the House, and had requested for a special Assembly session to be convened on June 21.
“We will show we have majority support in the Assembly,” said Nitish Kumar.
Earlier in the day, BJP’s eleven ministers in the Bihar cabinet skipped an emergency meet called by Nitish Kumar.
“What is the point in us being there unless the Chief Minister clarifies his stand on the alliance?” asked Mangal Pandey, a senior leader of the BJP.
The BJP had earlier asked Nitish Kumar to quit and seek a fresh mandate if the ruling BJP-JD-U coalition splits.
JD (U) has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly and needs the support of only four more MLAs to have a majority.
There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/jdu-breaks-its-17-year-old-alliance-with-bjp-in-bihar/

MNS:- Over 1150 people covering all section of communities of NorthEast India have signed for submission to the elected Members of Parliament to make significant steps to bring immediate justice to many victims like Reingamphy Awungshi and Richard Loitam and seriously deal with prejudice that have allowed these crimes to happened and then become a huge obstacles towards justice including even toward registering a FIR and manipulation of forensic study.
The letter says, “We the undersigned would like to bring to your attention some very serious concerns relating to recent tragic death of Reigphamy Awunshi.
We strongly believe that the circumstances that lead to the death of the beautiful daughter of Ukhrul and many insensitive and humiliating incidences following the death are a result of many attitudes and attributes that has been formed through the years.
Sir/ Madam, it is great pain to that many of her loving friends and well wishers have to fight to even register a FIR. Worse is the investigating police officer had total disregard and disrespect even for the death that we were told that we are spa working people and it was reason for such incidences of ‘death’ happens.
We wonder how in the face of such attitude which has strong humiliating and degrading attitude towards the people of NorthEast India, Reignphamy Awungshi can even have a unbiased investigation leave alone justice.
Many of us believe there are very strong evidences of homicidal signs and even possibility of sexual assault leading to the death.
Sir/ Madam, we believe one of most important factor that have lead to these ever increasing of negative attitude towards us, that even disrespect us in death is the absence of voices and solidarity of our own people.
We are deeply hurt and angry that our leaders seem to have left us and ignored us during such challenging and tragic times especially aggravated by a biased investigation and non-coverage by the many institution because of our racial origin.
We wish to request you to please exercise your full responsibility and power bestowed by the people who have elected yourself as leaders and make strong initiatives and actions to bring about justice to Reigamphy Awangshi and take punitive actions against those officials and professionals who have made skewed opinions and decision heavily affected by our racial origin.We would like you to please take notice of the continuing coverage or wilfully undercoveraged in the national media of many such tragic incidences involving people from our north eastern region, which we believe is because of racial prejudice.
We would like to summarise to please share your words of condolences and help Awungshi and help prevent the fate that poor Awungshi have to experience even in death.We urge to acknowledge the presence of the dangerous racial stereotyping and prejudice that have not only dehumanise and degraded the life of many but also cause many physical and emotional trauma and even have lead to death .
We would be very grateful to you if you Sir/ Madam could exercise your responsibility and power and held those heinous people accountable and herald a new glorious moment in the history of humanity of Manipur and in NorthEast India in general.
Members of Parliament should make significant steps to bring immediate justice to many victims like Reingamphy awungshi and seriously deal with prejudice that have allowed these crimes to happened and then become a huge obstacles towards justice including even toward registering a FIR and manipulation of forensic study. A Justice4Richard Initiative
(http://change.org/reingamphi)”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/campaign-launched-to-seek-justice-for-richard-awungshi/

New Delhi, June 14 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Aggarwal on Friday dubbed the Maoists as ‘militants’ and one of the biggest internal threats to the country.
“To me, they (Maoists) are worst than terrorists because in the name of having social reforms and trying to fight for the injustice of the tribal areas they have taken arms and are openly working against the government,” said Aggarwal.
“I personally feel the Central Government and State Governments should tackle this issue on the war footing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Atul Kumar Anjan said that social, economic and political issues related to Maoists need to be addressed in detail.
“The Maoist insurgency has increased and both the State and Central Governments have not been successful in containing it. There are certain social, economic, political and psychological issues which have been ignored and now need to taken into account while dealing with the Maoist insurgency,” he said.
Three people, including one RPF jawan were killed and six others injured when Naxals attacked the Dhanbad-Patna Intercity Express near Jamui railway station in Bihar yesterday. Over 100 odd Naxals fired indiscriminately on the train between Bhalui and Kundra railway stations in Jamui district.
Meanwhile, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Pranay Sahay said that Maoists started melting soon after the team reached the spot, diverting the train to a safer station. “My two companies with the commandants and the quick action team had reached the place at precisely at 2:10 pm, within 40 minutes of the occurrence they had reached. In fact, because of our troops reaching there, they (Maoists) started melting away and leaving the place,” said Sahay.
Jharkhand Police has sounded an alert in Giridih and Dhanbad districts following yesterday’s Maoist attack.
The RPF has increased the number of personnel to 12 to be deployed in every train passing through the Naxal affected areas. Security vigil has been tightened and reports suggest that one company of CRPF has been deployed at the Bihar-Jharkhand border areas.Earlier on June 10, an all-party meet held at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s official i emphasized that there can be no compromise in dealing with the Naxal violence.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sp-lambasts-maoists/

AIZAWL, June 14 NNN: Banned drugs worth crores of rupees have been seized while transporting to Myanmar from India through Manipur and Mizoram in the past few months.
After the series of drug seizures in Manipur including that of the incident where an army colonel was transporting the banned drugs worth Rs 24 crore to Myanmar in Manipur, security personnel are also performing commendable jobs by seizures the banned drugs in Mizoram and Assam that were being transported to Myanmar in recent time.
On Thursday, acting based on a specific information provided by BSF, a special joint operation was conducted by the joint team of Sector Headquarter BSF Aizawl with Special Narcotic Bureau (Police) Aizawl during which the combined team intercepted one mini truck carrying banned drugs worth Rs 38 lakhs on Champhai road near temple of Pushpak (Aizawl) at about 2 pm on which was plying from Bhaga Bazar of Silchar (Assam) towards Aizawl(Mizoram).
On being searched the vehicle, the joint team recovered five packets of polythene bags containing 84 kgs of loose tablets of Pseudoephedrine value Rs. 38,34,600 hidden under the bags of cements of the vehicle. Joint team apprehended one courier Zothlamuana (20 years) s/o Rothangpuia from Khawbung village, P.O Khawbung, Vaphai police station in Champhai district of Mizoram.
The apprehended person and the seized Pseudoephedrine tablets were handed over to Aizawl police station for further investigation and taking legal action.
BSF spokesperson S C Budakoti, Deputy Inspector General, Frontier Headquarter BSF Mizoram and Cachar informed that earlier on March 8, BSF in association with other agencies had seized approximately 1700 kg of Pseudoephedrine substance and 42 kg of Ketamine substance worth Rs. 44 crore and 71 lakhs near Kathigorah patrol pump on NH- 44 under Cachar district of Assam and further on March 15 they had seized 663 kg of Pseudoephedrine substance worth Rs 16 crore and 65 lakhs near Dholai Taxation Office on NH- 54 (Silchar – Mizoram road) under Cachar district.
Again, on April 10 BSF had seized 76 kg of Pseudoephedrine tablets worth approx Rs 1 crore 90 lakhs in general area of South Krishnapur Part-II (on NH – 54, Silchar – Mizoram road) PS- Silchar&distt- Cachar (Assam). Again, on 09th May 2013 BSF seized 3,25,000 tablets of loose Pseudoephedrine worth approx Rs. 52 lakhs near ITI World Bank road, Aizawl (Mizorm). Reportedly, the seized Pseudoephedrine substance was to be smuggled out later on to Myanmar through Mizoram.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/huge-consignment-of-drugs-seized/

New Delhi, June 14 (ANI): Amid talks of a federal front and the Janata Dal (United) planning to end its 18-year alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) leader A.B. Bardhan met Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav at his residence here on Friday evening and discussed the ongoing political situation in the country.
“We talked on how to form a non-Congress and non-BJP front for the next elections. We discussed each other’s opinions and assessments on it. We held discussions on all these aspects,” Bardhan told mediapersons after the meeting,
“I believe the meeting remained positive,” he added, when asked to comment on the meeting.
CPI leader Atul Anjaan, who accompanied Bardhan, indirectly hinted that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should end his party’s alliance with the BJP.
“He (Nitish Kumar) is an experienced person. He has been running the government for eight years now and he has his own experiences regarding that. He has lost a few thing, and has also gained others. Can the people of Bihar gain anything by allying with communal forces? He has to decide it,” he said.
Nitish Kumar earlier on Thursday did not rule out the possibility of a ‘federal front’ mooted by his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee.
He said that there is a need to develop a new and joint strategy to deal with the problems confronting the under-developed and backward states of the country.
“Mamataji spoke over the phone. She is of the opinion that the problems of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bengal should be kept in mind and should be thought upon commonly. I also said that we should be in favour of each other’s problems. Our problems are common and there are some important problems,” ` Kumar told mediapersons in Patna.
“As in West Bengal, there is a heavy burden of debt. Our problem is that we are a development deficit state and demanding a special category status. In Odisha also Naveen babu (Naveen Patnaik) has demanded a special status for the State. Similarly, Jharkhand also has some problems. So, if we all unite and find a common approach to tackle each other’s problems then it will be very good,” he added.
The Bihar Chief Minister, however, said the emergence of a ‘federal front’ is at a very initial stage now.
Nitish Kumar, who has given string indications of snapping ties with BJP, is planning to create a ‘federal front’ of three Chief Ministers, that of Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar.
Mamata Banerjee earlier on Wednesday said that she had spoken to both Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the formation of a ‘federal front’.
“When they will respond in a positive way, I will let you know. But discussions are going on. We are friends and we can talk,” she told mediapersons outside her office in Kolkata.
The Janata Dal (United), which is said to be upset over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s elevation as the chairman of campaign committee for 2014, is planning to end its alliance with the BJP.
JD (U) has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly and needs the support of only four more MLAs to reach the magic figure.
There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/a-b-bardhan-meets-mulayam-talks-of-third-front/

IMPHAL, June 14 MNS NNN: The government of Manipur is seriously dealing with the death of 21 year old girl Reigamphy Awungshi in Delhi.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, has on Friday made it clear that the state Government does not remain mute over the death of 21-year-old Reigamphy Awungshi in South Delhi last month.
Raising a Calling Attention Motion in the House, Opposition leader Dr I Ibohanbi charged that Delhi Police has not taken any action till date in connection with the alleged Awungshi murder case.
Awungshi who hailed from Ukhrul district of Manipur was found dead inside her rented room in South Delhi on May 29.
He said, “The steps taken by the state Congress Government pertaining to Awungshi case are too slow and disappointing.”
“What steps have been taken by the Government in connection with the death and what assistance and support will be given to the bereaved family, Ibohanbi asked.
He said People from the North East are often subjected to racial profiling in many parts of mainland India and the Government at the Centre knows it very well.
The Opposition leader also asked whether the culprits have been booked and if so, whether they have been grilled by the police with regard to the death.
He said the Government must not keep silent over the matter.
Responding to the accusation made by Ibohanbi, Gaikhangam said that the Government does not keep mum on the case and that it has taken it seriously.
He said the state Government has been in touch with the Centre and the Manipur Director General of Police (DIG) has also been exchanging information with his Delhi counterpart in connection with the case.
Next steps will be taken up after the full report of the investigation being carried out by the Crime Branch, Delhi Police into the death is received, Gaikhangam said.
He added that if necessary, the report will be provided even to the Home Minister of India.
Manipur Assembly today passed seven demands amounting to Rs 1044,95 cr . The House today discussed the demands for seven departments after Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who also holds the Finance portfolio moved the discussion. The demands were for Finance , Information and Publicity, State Excise, Minor Irrigation, State Academy of Training and Science and technologies.
The maximum amount passed was for Finance which amounted to Rs 911 cr.
During the discussions Opposition MLAs , Dr. I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha and P. Brojen Singh moved policy cut on account of restriction during encashing Bills . They said the government should streamline the financial administration so that people were not harassed. They alleged that even former MLAs have to go state Treasury office every six months to prove that they were alive.
Kh Joykishan , said there is lack of policy in spending the non-plan expenditures.
During question hour, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who also holds the Power department said electric wires and poles were repaired from time to time but the life span is calculated at 25 years for both wire and pole. Works for erecting poles and wires began in 1930-31 he added.
Chief Minister further informed the House that the state government will construct a public gallery with a capacity of 7500 people at Astroturf football ground , Lairikyengbam Leikai , Imphal East. He said Manipur Development Society (MDS) will be the executing agency and the estimated budget for the gallery is Rs 16 crore .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/government-taking-up-case-of-killing-of-manipuri-woman-in-delhi-dy-cm/

Jamui, June 13 (MNS/ANI): Three persons were killed (two passengers and one RPSF constable) in an ambush when Dhanbad Intercity Express Train No.13331 was stopped by a group of suspected Maoists at around 1.20 PM near Jamui Railway station in Bihar today. Stating that the incident was very extremely unfortunate and a matter of profound grief, the Minister of Railways Dr. C. P. Joshi announced an enhanced ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh to the next kin of each of those who were killed in this incident, Rs. one lakh to one passenger who was grievously injured and Rs. 25,000/- to each of four persons (three passengers and train Guard) who received simple injuries. The Minister also apprised the media that all possible help including medicinal facilities were immediately made available to the passengers including the injured persons. The affected train resumed its operation at 3.30 p.m. and all trains are running normally on this route.
Director General, Railway Protection Force (RPF) has rushed to the incident spot. The Ministry of Railways is in constant touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State Government of Bihar to ensure safe and normal train operations in the area.
Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh earlier in the day condemned the attack by the Naxals on the Dhanbad-Patna Intercity Express in Bihar, saying this reflects the frustration of the ultras.
“It is unfortunate that now they have started attacking innocent people, started attacking trains and they have even started attacking political rallies and destroying and killing people in very barbaric manner,” he said.
A group of over hundred Maoists attacked and opened fire on the Dhanbad-Patna Intercity Express in Bihar earlier this afternoon.
The Naxals targeted Railway Protection Force (RPF) jawans, who were onboard the train as a standard security precaution. The ultras wanted to snatch the weapons of the RPF jawans.
Thursday’s incident takes place nineteen days after the audacious attack by the Maoists on a convoy of Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, killing 28 people including PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh, Congress leader Mahendra Karma and ex-MLA Uday Mudliyar and injuring 37 others.
An all-party meet held at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s official 7, Race Course Road (RCR) in New Delhi earlier on June 10 emphasized that there can be no compromise on dealing with the Naxal violence.
A resolution, which was adopted at the meeting, urged the youth to leave the path of violence and pursue their goals through democratic means.
The resolution, which strongly denouncing Left-Wing Extremist violence, said nothing can be more dangerous than the insurgency to overthrow parliamentary democracy and Constitution of India through violent means.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has said the government has been following a two-pronged strategy to deal with this challenge of Left Wing Extremism- sustained and proactive operations against Maoist extremists and addressing development and governance issues in Left Wing Extremist affected areas.
“We believe that there is a need to further fine tune and strengthen this strategy. We have already started work in this direction. I would not like to take your time to give details of the steps that we are taking or planning to take, but would only reaffirm that our government will not be found wanting in this regard,” said Dr. Singh in his opening remarks at the all-party meeting held in wake of the May 25 Chhattisgarh Maoist attack.
“We believe that there is urgency to the need to effectively deal with the Naxalite menace. Even as we take all measures that are needed to permanently root out this menace, we must immediately ensure that Naxalite violence is held in check and attacks like the one in Chhattisgarh do not recur,” he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/three-killed-five-injured-after-naxals-attack-passenger-train-in-bihar/

MNS: The onset of the south west monsoon had yet another casuality in the Arabian sea. The Indian Coast Guard today rescued 22 crew, 18 Maldivian and 04 Indian from MV Asian Express, Maldvian registered cargo vessel in position 50 nm north of Minicoy Island, (194 nm west of Kochi). The 5955 gross tonnage, general cargo vessel enroute from port Md Bin Qasim, Pakistan to male carrying cargo of cement and sand was a drift due to engine failure since last two days. The weather in area was extremely hostile with sea state four /five, swell of 3-5 metres and winds gusting upto 40 Kts.
The first information of the vessel was passed by an Indian Naval Ship. Coast Guard Ship Varuna on patrol in the Lakshwadeep islands was diverted with despatch and reached the position of vessel at 1500 hrs. In the mean time, vessel developed two inch 3-4 mtr vertical crack on the starboard in the midships below waterline. The master and the crew were unable to control the flooding and abandoned the vessel at 1830 hrs. Despite prevailing weather conditions ICGS Varuna on account of valiant effort put in by its officers and men rescued all 22 crew with help of life boats.
The ship is commanded by Cdr KM Arun Kumar. The rescue mission was coordinated by MRCC Mumbai.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/coast-guard-saves-22-lives-from-sinking-vessel/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, June 11 : The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of Vidya Charan Shukla.
In a condolence message to his wife, Sarla Shukla, the President has said, “Shri Shukla was son of illustrious freedom fighter and first Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla. He entered into Parliament at a very early age and represented undivided Madhya Pradesh in the Lok Sabha for a long period of time. He served as Minister of State under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1967 to 1977 including as Minister of State with Independent Charge of Information and Broadcasting. He also served as Cabinet Minister under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao during 1991-96 in charge of Parliamentary Affairs and Irrigation. A veteran Parliamentarian, able administrator and an outstanding statesman, Shukla made valuable contribution to the growth of our nation in various capacities. The nation will remember his contributions and his pursuit of excellence in public life.
I had a long personal association with Shri Shukla. In his death, I have lost a friend and the nation an eminent public figure”.
Veteran Congress leader Vidya Charan Shukla, who was critically injured in the May 25 Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, breathed his last at Gurgaon’s Medanta Medicity Hospital this afternoon. He was 84.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/passing-away-of-vidya-charan-shukla-condoled/

AIZAWL, June 10 NNN: The Government of Mizoram is waiting for a green signal from Tripura Government for resumption of repatriation process of the Bru refugees.
According to official sources from State Home department, the process of repatriation was temporarily stalled by officials of Tripura Government following tension in the border area in the aftermath of the death of Siberamriang.
But now, the situation has improved further with reopening of Langkaih Bridge which connects Mizoram and Tripura.Meanwhile, Langkaih and Taitesena group Young Mizo Association (YMA) leaders also said that they will cooperate with the Government in the repatriation of the Bru refugees.
On May 7, in the wake of the move to resume the repatriation of the Bru refugees, Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP),the largest students’ body of Mizoram had asked the state government of Mizoram not to resume the repatriation process of Bru refugees from Tripura camp to Mizoram unless the refugees inform the government in writing that they are willing to come back to Mizoram.
The MZP leaders had said that the Bru people did not want to return to Mizoram when they were given chances five times by the Centre and the government of Mizoram as they left Mizoram for Tripura on their own volition.
The MZP also expressed concern over the increasing law and order problem in the border area including kidnapping of Mizos by the Brus for ransom.
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. When the Bru left Mizoram they had driven out some Mizos in villages of Sakhan Hill Range in Tripura like Sakhan Serhmun, Sakhan Tlangsang, Sakhan Tualsen and Upper Dosda which had kicked up much ruckus in Mizoram then.
Meanwhile, a couple of years ago, head count conducted by the MBDPF found that there had been 31,703 Brus in the relief camps belonging to 5,448 families who were bona fide residents of Mizoram.
The repatriation of the 1997 batch of Bru refugees was underway until it stalled by the November 13 killing.
In the year 2011, conglomeration of major NGOs in Mizoram had submitted a joint memorandum to the then Union Home minister P Chidambaram to rehabilitate displaced
Mizos in Tripura and stall the ongoing repatriation of Brus from Tripura to Mizoram. The memorandum was signed by representatives of four large NGOs in the state–the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the MZP, the Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) or elders association and the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or the women’s federation and four political parties.
The memorandum had mentioned that more than 80 Mizo families displaced from Tripura’s Sakhan Hill range in 1998 after being threatened by Bru militants should be adequately rehabilitated by the Centre, otherwise, the repatriation of Bru refugees from Tripura relief camps should not be allowed.

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

AIZAWL, June 9 NNN : Irritated passengers filed an FIR against Jet Airways in Mizoram.
Furious over flight cancellation and non-provision of alternative flight, a group of irritated flight passengers has submitted an FIR against a private flight service plying in the Lengpui (Aizawl airport), Guwahati and Kolkata section. The FIR has been submitted to Sairang police station, after two days of which an alternative flight was provided. On June 5, Jet Airways had cancelled its flight for Aizawl- Kolkata on ground of inclement weather. But then, about the same time, Air India flight from Kolkata arrived at Lengpui airport and also departed again, and the weather was also favourable.
Passengers said that they went to Jet Airways counter and informed of their problems, on which they were replied that the ticket was overbooked for June 6-8. They also said that the Jet Airways officer in-charge declined their request to approach higher authority besides saying that they could do nothing. After that, around 20 youths in agitation resorted to submit the FIR, one of the affected passengers reported, who also added that the affected passengers even included patients and scholars who were to give exams on scheduled dates, who now would missed it.
On June 6, Mizo Zirlal Pawl (MZP) or Mizo students’ body and the Civil Aviation Authority were informed regarding the matter, and after dealing with the matter with the police the alternative flight was provided on June 7. “We could not know exactly how many passengers were affected, but we are determined to proceed further when we get back to Aizawl”, says the agitated passengers. “Had not
the Police and MZP came in between, we would have suffered even more. It is high time we fight back, as enough was that they inflicted us”, the angry passengers even added.Furthermore, there are also some left out passengers who planned to file cases against Jet Airways who in recent time had allegedly sold out tickets more than its seat capacity for Guwahati – Aizawl flight.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/passenger-files-fir-against-jet-airways/

New Delhi, June 8 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar, has stated that Lal Krishna Advani will not attend the BJP National Executive meet on Sunday as he had been advised rest by the doctors.
Commenting on the report that some senior BJP leaders had opted to skip the party’s National Executive meeting in Goa Javadekar said, “I would hope that whoever is ill recuperates soon. Politics aside, personally, we wish everyone is healthy.”
Meanwhile, asked to comment on reports that some senior BJP leaders had opted to skip the party’s National Executive meeting in Goa, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said :
“We have nothing to do with BJP, would want it (BJP) to stay ill.”
On Friday, in the absence of some BJP leaders like L.K.Advani and Yashwant Sinha, Modi was given a rousing welcome by party leaders and activists on his arrival in Panaji, Goa, for the National Executive Meeting.
Insiders in the BJP camp have tipped Modi to be appointed the head of the party’s campaign committee. A decision on this, which was likely to be taken on Friday, has now been deferred and may be taken on Sunday.Amid sharp criticism from various political outfits over the infighting within its fold, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday downplayed party veteran Lal Krishna Advani’s absence at the two-day national executive meet in Goa, saying one should not draw any conclusions out of it.
“Advani is not coming for the meet due to bad health. One shouldn’t draw any other inference out of it,” said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.
Hussain, however, used the occasion to target the ruling Congress Party at the Centre.”The Bharatiya Janata Party has organised the meet to devise strategy to oust the Congress Party from power, for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the upcoming elections in the five states,” he said.
In an attempt to dismiss the signs of division within the party, BJP President Rajnath Singh yesterday said that he himself advised Advani to take rest as he was unwell, and insisted that his no-show should not be seen as an expression of protest.
Hussain further expressed his displeasure at the demonstrations that took place outside Advani’s residence in the national capital.
“The demonstration in front of Advani’s residence (in the national capital) were by those who had no links with the BJP and Advani continues to be the supreme leader,” he said.
Advani’s absence from the office bearer’s meeting in Goa has given a clear indication that he is upset with the proposal of making Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi the face of the party’s poll campaign panel. There are even reports in the media quoting him, as insisting that BJP president Rajnath Singh should take key party decisions only in his presence.
Advani earlier on Friday skipped an important session of the 12 office-bearers of BJP. According to certain media reports, a chartered flight that was hired to take Advani to Goa this morning for the party’s national executive was cancelled.
Some senior BJP leaders are also opposed to Modi being projected as the party’s foremost leader. Jaswant Singh, Uma Bharti, Maneka Gandhi, Varun Gandhi and Shatrughan Sinha are also not attending the Goa conclave.
Modi’s detractors fear that his elevation as chief of the party’s election committee is just one step away from him being declared the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate – a position some of them believe they deserve.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/advani-will-not-attend-executive-meet/

DIMAPUR, June 7 NNN: The All Assam Adavasi Students Association (AAASA), Karbi Anglong District Committee’s sponsored indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland has been lifted today.
The AAASA had imposed indefinite economic blockade since 5 a.m. of Thursday against Nagaland at Bokajan area in protest against the killing of an Adivasi man on June 3 following an exchange of gun fire between the Nagas and the Adivasi community at Mariani area in the Assam-Nagaland border.
Over 300 goods trucks stranded at Bokajan area bound for Nagaland as well as Manipur started moving towards their respective destinations this afternoon few hours after the AAASA announcement to lift the blockade.
No reason was given for lifting the blockade.
The killing of one Adivasi man identified as Sanjay Bhumji in the exchange of gun fire between the Nagas and the Adivasis at Mokokchung area on June 3 has prompted several Adivasi organisations to impose blockade against Nagaland in three different outlets—one at Mokokchung, the other at Mon and since today along National Highway 39 at Bokajan, Assam.
At Mokokchung, the Nagas themselves are imposing blockade against along the roads leading to Assam since June 4.
Since last month, tension has been brewing between Adivasis and Nagas in the Nagaland-Assam border of Mariani.
The Nagas accuse the Adivasis of encroaching their land while the Adivasis counter the Nagas of dismantling their fields.
On June 3, villagers from across the borders had exchanged fire and a bullet hit Sanjay Bhumji’s chest. He was rushed to Jorhat Medical College but succumbed shortly.
This incident happened barely after a week’s of imposing blockade and counter blockade in the border area.
On May 27, under the banner of the All Assam Tea Tribes’ Students Association (AATTSA), the Adivasis had imposed blockade to Nagaland at Mariani area of Assam-Nagaland border accusing the Nagas of assaulting the some Adivasis. On the other hand, the Nagas had alleged that the Adivasis were encroaching into Nagas’ land and had destroyed the standing crops in the fields of the Nagas at Mariani area.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/assam-blockade-against-nagaland-lifted/

DIMAPUR, June 6 NNN: Confrontation between the Adivasi community and that of the Nagas in the Assam-Nagaland border is getting more and more serious on every passing day.
The All Assam Adivasi Students Association (AAASA) has imposed indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland at Bokajan area in Karbi Anglong district of Assam bordering Nagaland since 5 am today.
The killing of one Adivasi man identified as Sanjay Bhumji in the exchange of gun fire between the Nagas and the Adivasis at Mokokchung area on June 3 has prompted several Adivasi organisations to impose blockade against Nagaland in three different outlets—one at Mokokchung, the other at Mon and since today along National Highway 39 at Bokajan, Assam.
At Mokokchung, the Nagas themselves are imposing blockade against along the roads leading to Assam since June 4.
Meanwhile, reports said several goods trucks are stranded at Bokajan including Manipur bound trucks due to the Adivasi students’ body.
However, it is yet to confirm how many Manipur trucks got stranded at Bokajan.
Since last month, tension has been brewing between Adivasis and Nagas in the Nagaland-Assam border of Mariani.
The Nagas accuse the Adivasis of encroaching their land while the Adivasis counter the Nagas of dismantling their fields.
On June 3, villagers from across the borders had exchanged fire and a bullet hit Sanjay Bhumji’s chest. He was rushed to Jorhat Medical College but succumbed shortly.
This incident happened barely after a week’s of imposing blockade and counter blockade in the border area.
On May 27, under the banner of the All Assam Tea Tribes’ Students Association (AATTSA), the Adivasis had imposed blockade to Nagaland at Mariani area of Assam-Nagaland border accusing the Nagas of assaulting the some Adivasis. On the other hand, the Nagas had alleged that the Adivasis were encroaching into Nagas’ land and had destroyed the standing crops in the fields of the Nagas at Mariani area.
“Unable to restrain further, the villagers waylaid the encroachers on May 23 and caught two encroachers red-handed in the act of destroying plantation and cultivated land within the village ancestral land near the Assam border. The encroachers culprits were handed over to the Police Station of Longchem Hq for necessary action,” the Naga villages of Nokpu Village Council and Saring Nokpu B Village Council had stated.
Vehicles from Nagaland and travelers at Mariani were blocked since last week demanding that the government of Assam arrest those Naga villagers involved in the abduction and assault incident on two Adivasis failing,which indefinite road blockade would be imposed on Nagaland.
Countering to the act of the Adivasi community, the apex body of the Ao Nagas under the banner of Ao Senden had imposed counter-blockade from 6 am of May 28.
The Nokpu Village Council and Saring Nokpu ‘B’ village Council of Nagaland alleged that activities of the ‘encroachers’ from Assam side, comprising of armed Adivasis and illegal immigrants under the instigation of some individual with selfish vested interest from the area are still continuing.
The village councils had then said there are historical facts and evidence that tells us about having very good Ahoms ? Naga relationship which exist till today; and even closer relationship between the communities living border areas, both village council re-iterates that people of Nokpu village still maintained the age old close relationship with the people of Ahoms. And there is no misunderstanding with the people of Assamese people except that we are against illegal immigrants who are encroaching our ancestral land, it added.
“Therefore, the action of the villagers in apprehending the encroachers/culprit and approaching authorities for taking action as per law should not be construed as kidnapping case, and further, both the council appeal to the local residence of Naganijan/Nakachari/Mariani section; not to resort to false allegation which would result disturbing peace in the area, And also pointed out that if any encroachers are caught in future the village will deal with them as per customary law of the land,” the Village Councils had stated.
There are around 80 lakhs population of Adivasis in Assam alone and a couple of Adivasi based militant outfits are existing demanding a Adivasi statehood by carving out a portion of Assam state.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/assam-nagaland-border-dispute-taking-its-toll/