BHEL to set up hydro-project in Mizoram
Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd will set up a small hydroelectric project of 12 MW, at a cost of Rs 100 crore, in Mizoram. BHEL bagged the order for setting up the project in consortium with Mecon. The turnkey order is the first for BHEL after the state-run firm began tapping distributed power generation. Located near Aizwal, the Serlui-B power house will utilise the waters of Serluri river for generating power. The consortium partners within a schedule of   48 months would commission the project. ‘The main equipment for the project would be manufactured at BHEL’s Bhpoal plant while the civil and hydro mechnical work will be carried out by Mecon.

Journalists  should be more optimistic: Rio 
Acknowledging the services of the press and its importance, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio donated a 14-seater mini bus to the Kohima Press Club (KPC). Mr Rio urged the journalists to be more positive and optimistic in all aspects so that the society could benefit out of it. He said media should play an imperative role in educating the masses. While urging the newsmen to develop positive attitude, he lauded the KPC for being united and strong and encouraged to jointly serve the people of the state by disseminating clear messages.

Landmine blast
Three CRPF jawans and a civilian driver were killed in a landmine blast triggered by ATTF at Nailafa Bari area of Assam-Agartala national highway in West Tripura district.

Dr Joshi praises Assamese women
Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi, president, All India Mahila Congress Committee, appreciated the role of Assamese women in the society. Dr Joshi said that the women of this State had a glorious past. They can be proud of women social workers like Padma Bibhusan and Jamunalal Bajaj Award recipients Late Amal Prabha Das, Sarvodaya worker Padmabhusan Puspalata Das and literary giant like Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami who got prestigious Jnanpith Award recently. Dr Joshi further said that she was very happy to learn that women’s literacy percentage in Assam is now 56.03 per cent as against male’s literacy rate of 71.93. She said that flow of quality and intellectual women coming to politics would help building up a balanced society in the State. Dr Joshi also mentioned that holding of the posts of DC, SP and Project Director of DRDA by women together in Morigaon district is a rare example in the country.

Explosives seized from Nagaland cops 
A huge quantity of explosives were seized from a Nagaland State Transport Corporation’s at Sonari. In a raid, the Subdivisional Police Officer Asim Swargiary and Officer-in-Charge of Sonari police station Phuleswar Saikia, seized the explosives from the bus bearing No ML-11/0937. The explosives include 300 detonators, 50 gelatine sticks and a 25-feet long wire. The explosives were carried by two employees of Nagaland Police from Dimapur in a bag filled with fish and vegetables. Police has expressed its doubt that the explosives had been taken to supply to the ULFA militants.

New scheme for rural industrialisation 
The Assam Government is  going to launch a new scheme for rural industrialisation. The new scheme aims at socio-economic development of rural areas as well as solve the unemployment problem. This was stated by Bhubaneswar Kalita, Industries Minister, in  his inaugural speech of a two-day long workshop of industrial extension officers. Under the scheme, a rural industrial  growth centre will be opened under each anchalik panchayat. Through the rural industrial growth centres, the government will extend necessary infrastructure for industrialization in the rural areas, said the minister. The meeting was presided over by Paramesh Dutta, Commissioner, Industries and Commerce Department.

Computer centre at IGG College
The Centre for Development    of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), a scientific society under the Union Information Technology Ministry, has opened a computer training centre at the Indira Gandhi Government (IGG) College at Tezu in Lohit district recently. The centre was opened to impart computer training to the students. While inaugurating the training centre, local MLA and chief guest on the occasion Nakul Chai, emphasised on the need for computer education  and assured to provide all possible help for successful operation of the centre. The District Information Officer of Tezu, June Kadu highlighted the importance of computer training and the role of community information centres in spreading computer education in the region. 

ILP irregularities worry Nagaland Chief Minister   
While expressing concern over the alarming rise in the number of illegal immigrants in the State, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has made a serious remark on the irregularities in issuance of Inner Line Permit (ILP). Rio, addressing deputy commissioners from all the districts and other senior officers (both civil and police) said that the State Government’s effort on finding solution to the problem posed by the illegal immigrants are wasted by the misuse of authority by unprincipled government officials, especially with regard to the issuance of ILP. He said that mass based organisations are going for the state government’s throat on the issue of illegal immigrants but the government is helpless due to the anomalies being practised at the district level. The normal duration of the validity of an ILP is 15 days only. In some special cases, an ILP can be issued for a period of three months. “But we find ILP holders staying in the State for years,” Rio said. 

NSCN (K) ultras killed at Muktakhal  
Troops of the Red Shiled Division of the Army killed two NSCN (K) militants near Muktakhal in Jiribam subdivision. The encounter took place when the Army patrol party was returning from village Muktakhal of Jiribam subdivision. On being spotted by the Army, militants fired at the patrol party and tried to escape. Army troops immediately retaliated and chased the fleeing militants. After the chase of 200 to 300 metres, the militants were pinned down by the Army troops and in the ensuing shoot-out, two militants were killed.

AAMSU opposes repeal of IM (DT)
The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU),   led by Haroon Al Rashid, vehemently opposed repeal of the IM (DT) Act as   proposed by the Central Government. Deposing the Parliamentary Standing Committee attached to the  Home Ministry and constituted for the purpose of examining  the new Bill of repeal, headed Pranab Mukherje, MP, the AAMSU team pointed out that the repeal of the IM (DT) Act, as sought to be done, is bound to reintroduce the more discriminatory Immigrant Expulsion Act 1950, which was enacted on communal lines and by which lakhs of non-refuge minorities would be deported by executive and police force without following any judicial procedure. AAMSU reiterated that the IM (DT) Act is the only answer to the Assam situation.

Three persons of a family killed 
In an attempt to wipe out all members of a family at Moreh ward no. one, a town bordering Myanmar, armed miscreants attacked the house and killed a woman and her two minor sons. The husband of the deceased women was   also seriously injured and the hospitalised at Moreh hospital were doctors declared him out of danger. Police identified the deceased as Ngang Dongen Zou (44) and the two sons as George Zou (7) and the Francis Zou (5). The woman was married to a Tamil businessman Anil Chalpan (44). In the attack about four well equipped persons ransacked    the house of Anil, killing the three on the spot and injuring  the husband.

71st Air Force Day observed at AF Station, Tezpur
Indian Air Force celebrated its 71st anniversary with its customary colours and elan recently. At Air Force Station Tezpur, the weeklong celebrations culminated into a colourful oath-taking parade. The parade was commanded by Group Captain N P Singh and oath of allegiance was administered by Air Commodore P K Barbora, Air Officer Commanding the Station at Tezpur. On the eve of the Air Force Day, a blood donation camp was organised at the Air Force Station. In the weeks preceding the anniversary, Air Force Wives Welfare Association had conducted a series of workshops by reputed experts for the benefit of teenagers, young mothers, ladies and civilians of the station. The Air Force Day was celebrated with an impressive parade, which was reviewed by the AOC. Speaking on the occasion, Air Commodore Barbora complimented all the officers and men for their hard work and dedication.

ATA demands probe into teacher’s killing
The Arunachal Teachers Association has demanded immediate arrest and punishment to those involved in the brutal killing of the principal and his wife of Joram Government Secondary School in Lower Subansiri district recently. In an emergency executive meeting, ATA expressed deep sorrow at the killing of a person who had devoted his life to the cause of spreading education to thousands. Members of the Association also conveyed deep sense of condolence to the bereaved family.

ANSU, NSUI condemn recent killings 
The All Nyshi Students Union (ANSU) and National Students Union of India (NSUI) strongly condemned the recent killing of school principal Y. N. Pandey and his wife at Joram in lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh and criticised the State Government for the deteriorating law and order situation. ANSU president Likha Tongam in a statement condemned the killing of Border Road Task Force Officer Maj Alok Mathur near Sangram in Kurung Kumey district recently and said the cowardice act was not only anti-state, but anti-national and against future development of the State. The NSUI in a statement also condemned the killing of Pandey and his wife. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress in a release said that a fear psychosis had gripped the people of the State due to frequent crimes taking place in the State since the UDF Government took over in August last. It said repealing of Arunachal Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act by the Government was an immature decision and criticised State Home Minister L Wangla

Joint operation in Nagaland border
Assam and Nagaland have decided to undertake joint operations to counter militancy and anti-social activity in the border areas of the two neighbouring states. This was decided at a high level meeting between the two states on the law and order problem in the border areas of the two states. Upper Assam Commissioner     T. Y. Das and Nagaland Commissioner T. N. Manen represented the two states.

Naga insurgency will end soon: Rio

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio asserted that he expected an early end to the 56 years of insurgency in   the troubled North-Eastern  State. “We are hoping for an early solution to end decades of violence in  the region,” Mr. Rio said.. His remarks follow talks in Amsterdam between the Indian government negotiators and leaders of the frontline National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). “From all indications available, the Amsterdam talks ended on a very positive note and we all are happy about the progress of the dialogue,” Mr. Rio said. “A permanent solution to the insurgency problem now looks bright,” Nagaland Chief Minister asserted.

BRTF plans to improve NH 44 

The Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) is planning to improve the riding quality of the National Highway 44     so that the journey time between Shillong and Silchar could be minimised by two to three hours, Dr V K Yadav, Chief Engineer, Project Setuk of the BRTF, informed. Referring to the landslide problem in       Sonapur area, Dr Yadav said that there was a proposal  for making an alternative road to avoid landslide-prone areas and for which Rs 55 crore will be required. He said the proposal is yet to be cleared by the Geological Survey of India. The NH 44, which connects Tripura with   the rest of the country, will   have a bypass near Karimganj town in Assam. The bypass, Dr Yadav said, in all possibilities would be completed by  May 15 next  year.

Reserve MP seats for NC Hills: AGP 
The Haflong district AGP committee has submitted a representation to the AGP president Bridabon Goswami listing out demands for the development of the backward NC Hills district. The charter demanded the creation of a legislative council in Assam. It also demanded the creation of MP seats for both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for NC Hills district. Earlier both NC Hills and Karbi Anglong were united as one one district, but as the districts got seperated, the people of NC Hills fell that proper representation of NC Hills will be achieved only when one MP seat is reserved as a quota on special ground. The charter pointed out that earlier there were 5 MLA seats for the united hill districts. But after the seperation of the districts there are 4 MLA seats in Karbi Anglong and only 1 seat for NC Hills. To remove this disparity, the charter demanded the creation of 4 MLA seats for NC Hills.

70 ultras lay  down arms
As many as 70 disillusioned militants belonging to different outfits operating in Assam laid down arms before the GOC, 4 Corps, Lieutenant General Mohinder Singh at a ceremony organised by the Red Horn Division of the Army at Tamulpur in Nalbari district. The militants deposited about  50 assorted weapons including AK series assault rifles, carbines, 303 rifles, 12 bore rifles, pistols, grenades and explosives while formally coming overground before the top Army official in the ceremony which was also attended by Padmashree R. N. Upadhyay, a noted social worker.

Rio condemns attack on German tourist
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio warned that action would be taken against those responsible for attacking a German tourist at Dimapur, as a preliminary official report on the incident was submitted to Chief Secretary R. S. Pandey. Dimapur Deputy Commissioner, Jyoti Kalash, who submitted the preliminary report to the Chief Secretary said, quoting a medical report, that 62-year-old Holger Rupert, a retired Colonel of the German Army, was attacked in his car outside government-owned Saramati hotel.

AK-47 bullets found in  Guwahati airport  
The security forces recovered four bullets of AK-47 from a bathroom at the Lokpriya Gopi Nath Borodoloi International Airport in Guwahati. Four live cartridges of AK-47 which were kept in a cigarette packet were abandoned in a gents toilet inside the sensitive departure lounge building. A sweeper spotted it and informed the CISF. Interestingly, passengers reach the departure lounge after going through two security checks and receipt of boarding cards.

ABSU condoles Narzaray’s demise 
The ABSU has condoled the demise of its founder general secretary Kankeswar Narzary who died recently. ABSU president Rabiram Narzary said that the student body can today claim to be a “well disciplined, great and popular” student organisation only because of the sound foundation and the strong leadership of Narzary.

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