‘Include Rabhas, Misings in 6th Schedule’
A joint delegation of the         All Rabha Students’ Union, Sixth Schedule Demand Committee (SSDC) and    Mising Mimag Kebang    (Mising Action Committee) called on Swami Chinmayananda, Union  Minister of State for Home Affairs and handed over a memorandum demanding     early inclusion of the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council and Mising Autonomous Council into the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The delegation pointed out the rampant corruption in the Autonomous Councils and   State Government’s apathy       in solving the tribal issues.     The Minister of DONER,        Dr C. P.Thakur and Minister     of Water Resources, Bijoya Chakraborty who were     present were also apprised        of  the tribal autonomy    problem in the State. The delegation included     Tonkeswar Rabha, president     of ARSU, Biren Totla,   secretary of Sixth Schedule Demand Committee and Ranoj Pegu, spokesman of Mising Mimag Kebang.

Two NSCN ultras killed in factional feud
In a fresh spurt of violence, two NSCN (K) activists were gunned down in a suspected factional feud. Both the bodies bore marks of bullet injuries on the head   and the chest respectively.  Police said they had been abducted from Daklane area   and added that they had also recovered two empty cases of AK 47 rifles and one empty  case of .9 mm pistol from the site of the incident.

‘1512 aliens deported’
Altogether 1512 persons had been deported as immigrants from Assam so far by the Illegal Migrants Determination Tribunals. State Home Minister Rockybul Hussain said, adding that 906 and 1150 cases were disposed of in 2001 and 2002 respectively under the IM (DT) Act. 

50-yr-old rapes child
A 50-year-old employee of the Golaghat Irrigation Department was arrested on charge of raping a seven-year-old girl. According to reports, Haren Bora raped the girl four times since March 1 and threatened her not to tell others about it. The parents of the girl, who is a student of class II, took her to a doctor due to her deteriorated health, where she revealed everything. The family has been living on rent in a house belongs to the culprit at Natun Amolapatty since January 12.

NLFT insurgents surrender
Three insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura surrendered and deposited arms and ammunition to Assam Rifles. The three insurgents, identified as Masksai Reang, Smaranjoi Debbarma and Sudam Balmiki Das, surrendered to Assam Rifles. All the insurgents belonged to the Biswamohan faction of NLFT. The insurgents deposited one 7.62 mm Chinese rifle, one factory-made sten gun, 62 rounds of live cartridges of 7.62 mm rifle, 22 rounds of live cartridges of 9 mm pistol and a Chinese grenade. Meanwhile, the State Govt. has appealed to the ultras to return to the mainstream.

10 HIV cases in Meghalaya
Meghalaya have reported 10 full-blown HIV/AIDS cases prompting the government to arrange awareness programmes in all district headquarters to combat the menace. Chief Minister D. D. Lapang informed that the State AIDS Control Society, set up in mid-80s, has so far examined over 17,000 people. Out of them, 70 were found doubtful cases. Of them, 10 were actually confirmed as affected by HIV/AIDS, he said. The Chief Minister, who led a team of legislators from Meghalaya to attend a national conference on HIV/AIDS addressed by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition in Delhi, recently, said the meeting underlined the need for education and awareness campaign in every corner of the country to fight the menace. The Meghalaya government would also undertake such programmes in every district headquarter, he said.

Militants surrender to AR
Two NLFT (B) militants surrendered to Assam Rifles at Baishyamanibari in South District under Ampi police station in Tripura, recently. The militants laid down one Chinese grenade, 30 live rounds of point 303 and few NLFT (B) extortion notes. Jelahari Jamatia (26), one of the ultras has been associated with NLFT (B) for the last nine years. He was involved in various militant related activities in South and Dhalai district. The other, Birajmani Jamatia (30) joined the group in 1996    (HPC-D) militants in 1999. The surrender of NLFT (B) ultras is a serious blow to the banned organisation, the insiders feel.

Hard-core ULFA female cadre arrested 
Troops of 2 Mountain Division operating in the Tinsukia  district of Upper Assam apprehended a hardcore female ULFA cadre near Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. In a specific tip off, the Army apprehended the female ULFA cadre near Jairampur, a town on the border of the two North-Eastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The apprehended was identified as Ms Debolata Baruah alias Anima Sonowal alias Okhi Saikia. The hardcore lady cadre joined ULFA in 1998 and had undergone training in Myanmar. She got married in April 2002 and had crossed over to Assam from Myanmar for delivery in October 2002. The recoveries from the hardcore ULFA included one AK-47 magazine, 50 live rounds of AK-47, one country made pistol with two rounds and incriminating documents. The same lady cadre was apprehended by the Army on September 4, 2000 and handed over to the police but she was let out on bail within one and half months after which she had crossed over to Myanmar.

BSF jawan, collaborator killed
One BSF jawan and a militant collaborator were killed in Tripura. Acting on a tip-off Border Security Force jawans laid an ambush at bordering Maaguruli under Kailashahar police station in north Tripura on a group of militants, who were passing through the interior areas. In the wee hours, the tribal guerrillas opened fire on the BSF, who also retaliated and in the ensuing encounter a jawan was shot dead on the spot while the ultras managed to escape from the spot.

ULFA kin against ‘independence

Asom Public Works ULFA Parial Committee (APWUPC), an organisation of the family members of the slain and present ULFA militants, has started a mass signature campaign in protest against the main demand of the outfit for an independent Assam. The Statewide campaign will conclude on August 15 at the Judges’ Field in Guwahati where a memorandum with the signatures against an “independent Assam” will be submitted to the Prime Minister of India through the Chief Minister of Assam.

5 persons injured by Bangladeshi miscreants
Bangladeshi miscreants at Brajabinodinipur village of West Tripura district injured five persons. Police said, a group of 10 to 12 armed Bangladeshi miscreants raided the village, adjacent to Indo-Bangla border and tried to lift cattle from houses of two villagers. On hearing cries for help jawans of Village Defence Force reached the spot and accompanied by the villagers chased the miscreants. The miscreants while escaping opened fire from country made guns at the villagers in which five persons were injured. The miscreants left the cattle on the face of resistance and managed to cross into Bangladesh territory under cover of darkness.

Rs 42 cr for  Majuli protection
Ministry of Water Resources has earmarked Rs 42 crore for implementation of anti-erosion and drainage development during the Tenth Plan period to protect Majuli, Union Minister Bijoya Chakravarty disclosed. 

Mahila Cong meets Kalam  over reservation
Niva Konwar, vice-president of All India Mahila Congress Committee said that so far 18 lakh signatures had been collected from all over the country in support of the demand for reservation of 33 per cent seats for women in the Parliament, state legislatures and other elected bodies. She also disclosed that on July 22, a delegation of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) led by its president Dr Rita Bahuguna Joshi called upon President of India  A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and submitted a memorandum demanding 33 per cent reservation for women in all elected bodies and opposing   the current stand of the Union Government in this regard.

Ganja confiscated by Assam Rifles
In a major operation, troops of 20 Assam Rifles confiscated approximately 650 kg of ganja worth Rs 4 lakh recently near         Tora village in Manipur’s Ukhrul district bordering Myanmar. The narcotic consignment was found stacked into 35 cubicle blocks covered in polythene and was being discreetly ferried in two jeeps for despatch to Dimapur, and  further onto mainland. The troops while on a routine     patrol intercepted these        jeeps and confiscated the     entire consignment of ganja. Occupants of the vehicles  seeing the advancing troops vacated the jeep and fled.      The consignment was later handed over to the police. Because of unrest and porous international border, the North-Eastern region has become a safe haven for the drug smugglers.

Nagaland admits alien names in voters list
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio admitted in the floor of the House that there were quite a number of illegal migrants in the electoral rolls of Nagaland. Replying to a question of cut motion raised by Congress legislator Taka Masa, Mr Rio said the extensive revision of Nagaland electoral rolls were taken in 1995. After the extensive revision, only summery revisions were taken yearly, for which a large number of foreign nationals were able to manage to put their names in the electoral rolls. Agreeing with the Congress member, Mr Rio said that the Government would approach the Chief Election Commission in New Delhi to order for an extensive revision of the Nagaland electoral rolls so that the names of the illegal migrants could be deleted as well as include the bonafide voters of the State. 

Special drive for EPICs  
Arunachal Chief Electoral Officer has launched a special drive for photograph of the eligible electors, who had not yet received their Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) in the State. The special drives launched in the districts were at Upper Subansiri, West Siang, Upper Siang and Lohit from June 25, according to Assistant Chief Electoral Officer D. J. Bhattacharjee. Till date, 21,638 eligible electors were photographed in these districts and the generations of their epics were in progress. The Chief Election Commission once again requested all the electors and political parties of these four districts to cooperate in the current special drive for preparation and issue of EPICs.

Langthasa for  vigil on rural  devp work
Gobinda Chandra Langthasa, Minister of Hills Area Development and Veterinary stressed on strict observance of government guidelines during implementation of rural development schemes and instructed the officers for spot verification before disbursing money against any scheme. Speaking at the governing body meeting of N C Hills DRDA at Haflong Circuit house, Mr. Langthasa instructed the officials to disburse aid and assistance directly to the beneficiary for transparency and proper implementation of the schemes. The governing body meeting was presided over by Purnendu Langthasa, chief executive member of NC Hills Autonomous Council and chairman of N C Hills DRDA. The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing schemes at Maibang, Mahur, Harangajao, Diyongbra and New Sangbar development block. After elaborate discussion, the governing body decided to rehabilitate the ethnic clash affected people under the Indira Awas Yojana. The meeting approved physical targets for the constructi  on of IAY house (567 Nos) with financial involvement of Rs. 120.740 lakh and upgradation of 311 IAY house at a cost of Rs. 31.195 lakh.

Elephant kills woman
A 55-year-old lady was killed by an elephant at Dhigoli sapori goan under Jamuguri police station. According to eyewitness account, the elephant also damaged the house of Rimni Moora. One Nazir Ali, an employee of Dhekiajuli dairy farm died when the wall of a toilet collapsed.

BJP distances itself from  Sema’s statement
BJP distanced itself from a controversial statement by party’s Naga leader Hokishe Sema on the issue of Naga  unity. “The BJP fully disowns the statement,” party   spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said about the Naga leader’s remarks. Sema had reportedly said recently “it is high time that we (the Nagas) decide our future. If Nagas decide to unite who can say     no to us”. Referring to   examples of Formosa, Korea, East Timor and others, Sema said, “Nagas should look  around at the political     scenario of the world”. Mr. Naqvi said in a statement that “BJP totally disagrees with the views” expressed by Sema and party president M Venkaiah Naidu “has directed the Nagaland State BJP unit to fully dissociate from  Hokishe Sema’s statement”.

AR holds health camps in Arunachal

Troops of 25 Sector Assam Rifles under 2 Mountain Division have conducted five medical camps in     Subong, Soha, Laju, Pongchau and Namphal  in Aruanchal Pradesh during June and July.Doctors and medical staff of the security forces assisted by civil medical taff, rendered treatment and medical aid to the villagers. More than 2,000 people were benefited from the medical camps. Keeping   the response in view, more  such camps will be organised at villages Rima, Yangkang, Kuchep, Duidam and Ottamkhowa in the coming months.

NE lacks manpower, says Jacob
Meghalaya Governor M. M. Jacob said the North-Eastern region suffers from an acute shortage of trained manpower in various fields though there exists vast potential in the field of agriculture, food processing, tea industry, agro-based and mineral-based industries, handicrafts and small-scale industries and the information technology sector. Inaugurating the North Eastern Council (NEC)-sponsored training programme on capacity building for officers of NER, including Sikkim, the Governor said in the past too, the NEC had been organising training and rendered financial assistance to the personnel of the State Governments of the region for pursuing higher studies and undergoing professional course in their respective fields. He said financial assistance to the in-service personnel had been designed not only to serve as incentive but also to increase efficiency in better discharge of official duties after getting specialised training.

Air Marshal visits Borjhar AF station 
Air Marshal P. K. Desai,  AVSM, VSM, Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, IAF visited the Air Force Station, Borjhar, Guwahati.On arrival at airport he was received by Air Commodore R. S. Das, Air Officer Commanding, 19 Wing AF and Group Captain K. S. Bath. During his visit to this base he inspected RAME (G) AF, 33 MCU and discussed the various aspects of modernisation and indigenisation of radar, communication, power and air conditioning system being serviced at the establishment.

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