Former Mizo underground leader dead
Kawlvela, a close aide of underground Mizo leader late Laldenga, died recently. He was 78 and is survived by wife, three sons and three daughters. Former Indian Army personnel, Kawlvela joined the Mizo National Front led by Laldenga in 1966 when it declared independence from the Indian Union and oversaw the recruitment and training of the underground militants. When the erstwhile Mizo National Army chief Biakchhunga staged a coup against the underground government and overthrew its president Laldenga, Kawlvela opposed Biakchhunga and ultimately defeated him in 1978.

‘Manipur not to enforce POTA’
The Prevention of Terrorism Act will not be enforced in Manipur, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said. Welcoming the decision of the Opposition Democratic People’s Party to support the ruling Secular Progressive Front, Mr. Singh said, “The POTA will not be extended to the State of Manipur.” The Chief Minister said that the SPF and DPP had agreed to jointly fight communalism in Manipur.

Plea for extension of tax benefits
Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) chairman Hiranya Bora has made an appeal to Union Minister for Development of NE Region, Arun Shourie to extend the Income Tax benefit, along with other incentives under the NE Policy, to the new industrial units of the State till March 31, 2007. In a letter, Mr. Bora also urged upon the Union Minister to use his good office for extending the total tax free zone status to all the notified areas under the NE Policy, for ten years. Mr. Bora has also urged upon the Chief Minister of the State and MPs from the State to take up these issues effectively with the Union Government.

Sangeet Natak Akademi centre
The Sangeet Natak Akademi (SNA) Board has decided to set up an SNA centre in the NE region for the purpose of co-ordinating with the SNA headquarters on matters concerning cultural activities in the region and the implementation of the SNA programmes. Work in this regard has already started, said SNA secretary Jayant Kastuar at a function at the Guwahati Press Club.

Pipeline blast attempt foiled
The attempt of suspected ULFA militants to blow up the pipelines of Oil India Limited (OIL) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Arikuchi village under Nalbari police station on the eve of the outfit’s foundation day foiled. The bomb planted at the pipelines lying through the village went off without damaging the pipelines.

Custodial death
After being picked up by the police in an inebriated condition from the JEE Road near the Lahoty Petrol Pump in Guwahati,    a stone mason, one Karna Chetri, aged 22, subsequently died after sustaining a bullet injury inside the Sadar Police Station following a reported scuffle, according to additional SP Moidul Islam Mandal.

CBI probe demanded
The North East Students Coordination Committee (NESCC) has expressed serious concern over the alleged large-scale corruption and misuse of government revenue by the Department of Register of Cooperative Society, Assam, and the Food and Civil Supplies and Food Corporation of India in the State. The organisation has urged the Chief Minister of Assam to institute a CBI probe into the allegations especially the attempt of a vested section of the bureaucrats to dupe the exchequer of public money. The NESCC also urged the government to institute a high-level judicial enquiry into the matter. It further demanded that the Income Tax sleuths be allowed to raid the residential premises of these tainted officers.

16 HNLC ultras arrested
Sixteen activists of the banned Hyniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) were arrested from different areas of Meghalaya. Director General of Police, L Sailo said that eight militants were held from Pynursula area of East Khasi Hills district. Two grenades were recovered from them.

BNCT ultra dies in Tripura encounter
One insurgent of Borock National Council of Tripura (BNCT) has been killed in an encounter with security forces. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of CRPF of 85 Battalion and police raided Chawmanu village in Dhalai district and was fired upon by BNCT ultras when the team arrived near their hideout. The forces retaliated and a gunbattle ensured there lasting about five minutes but the ultras managed to escape from the spot under the cover of thick forest and darkness. During search operation, body of one ultra Kamini Chakma was recovered from the spot. A country-made rifle, several rounds of live cartridges and important documents were recovered from his possession.

4 Arunachal cops suspended
Four police personnel, including a sub-inspector, were suspended for dereliction of duty which had led to the death of an undertrial in general hospital after she attempted to commit suicide in police custody at Naharlagung police station. The SP of Papum Pare district, Robin Hib, said that Yayi Sorang, a 45-year-old widow, was arrested on March 20 under Section 326. She had attempted to commit suicide by hanging and later stabbed herself with a knife. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died in front of the doctor and magistrate.

Anti-extortion drive
The Assam Government has constituted a high-powered special team headed by IGP (CID) to check extortions committed by policemen in goods-carrying trucks, said an official release.

CRPF men hurt in grenade attack
Two CRPF constables were injured in a grenade attack in the Paltanbazar area in the heart of the Guwahati city.  Some unidentified militants lobbed two grenades at a makeshift camp of the 64 battalion of CRPF injuring two of its jawans identified as Subhash Patil and CL Patil. The CRPF in retaliation fired around 20 rounds but the ultras managed to escape unhurt, police sources said. The two jawans have been shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital where their condition is stated to be out of danger. The city police and CRPF have intensified checking in the city after the incident

Tourists in Kaziranga National Park
Altogether 44,514 tourists including 1,782 foreign tourists visited the Kaziranga National Park in the year 2001-2002, said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Replying to a question by Girindra Kumar Baruah (AGP) in the State Assembly, Mr. Gogoi said that the Forest department earned revenue amounting to Rs 31,07,284
from the National Park in the year.

Hutments set afire
Tension prevailed in Kokrajhar after a group of NDFB militants set afire 85 hutments at Dambarutola and Aipowali villages under Basugaon police station, 18 km north of Runikhata border outpost along Indo-Bhutan border. No one was injured in the incident. The NDFB ultras had earlier asked the encroachers to either leave the reserve forest area or pay a ransom.

Joint probe into March 22 firing
Tripura and Meghalaya police will jointly inquire into the March 22 firing incident in North Tripura’s Dharmanagar in which four policemen, including a DSP and an Inspector, were killed. Stating this, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said that the Meghalaya Government had appointed a DIG of police while the Tripura Government asked DIG (Training) Madan Mohan to jointly inquire into the incident. The probe would be completed as early as possible, he assured. In a case of mistaken identity, at least four policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police and an Inspector of the two states, were killed and six injured following an encounter between the Tripura and Meghalaya police and miscreants on March 22. A five-member team of the Meghalaya police had arrived at Dharmanagar to apprehend the kidnappers of a five-year-old boy. A special team of the Meghalaya police, led by East Khasi Hills District SP M. K. Dkhar had visited Dharmanagar on March 23 and held meetings with senior police officials of Tripura.

AMCTA holds annual meet
The annual general body meeting of All Manipur College Teachers’ Association held recently. The meet dicussed  various issues of prevailing situations in the educational administration and overall scenario. Taking a serious note on the absence of a regular Director of Education (U) and principals in Government colleges leading to chaos and deterioration of education standard, the meeting resolved to apprise competent authorities to initiate appropriate measures without further delay.

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