Gold biscuits seized
Gold biscuits worth about Rs. 3.5 lakh have been seized from a person by the Border Security Force at Jaipur along the Indo-Bangla border in West Tripura district. A BSF patrol caught a Bangladeshi youth who sneaked into Indian territory. The youth, when challenged, engaged in a scuffle with the BSF jawans and then managed to give them a slip leaving behind a bag containing the gold biscuits, the police said.

Mizoram observes Missionary Day
Mizoram observed Ramthar Ni or Missionary Day and all the government offices and educational institutions remained closed on the occasion. Church services were held in all local churches and the day was observed by all the church denominations to mark the arrival of two Welsh Christian missionaries — Ref. FW Savidge and Rev JH Lorrain, fondly called by the Mizos as Sapupa and Pu Buanga, respectively, on Mizoram soil on January 11, 1894.

One killed in encounter
An unidentified person was killed in an encounter with Meghalaya police at New Mawprem Bridge. The police who were on a routine patrol suddenly came under attack from the man who fired three rounds on them from his 9mm Chinese-made pistol, DIG B. L. Buam said. He was killed in the retaliatory action, Mr. Buam said and added the driver of the taxi from which the man stepped out was arrested. One Chinese grenade, a mobile phone, 15 rounds of ammunition, fifteen 9 mm bullets, a diary and Rs. 1,430 were recovered from his possession, Mr. Buam said.

Identity cards for disabled Naga
The Nagaland Department of Social Security and Welfare would issue identity cards for the first time to the disabled persons in the State. In a release, Nagaland Commissioner for Disabilities H. A. Hetovi said the cards would entitle them to the facilities offered by the government and several voluntary agencies. He said the cards had already been printed and those willing to obtain it must apply to the District Social Welfare Office, showing authentic medical certificate from the District Medical Board.

2 NSCN (IM) activists killed
Two activists of NSCN (I-M) were killed in an encounter with the Army at Vijoypur under Bordumsa circle of the insurgency-prone district of Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh, according to official sources. This was the first encounter between Army and the NSCN (I-M) in the new year. The area was brought under the Disturbed Area Act over a year back following repeated clashes between NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K) groups besides a number of encounters with security  forces.

Opium seized in Arunachal
The Preventive and Intelligence Cell of the Central Bureau of Narcotics has seized 150 gm of raw opium and 120 gm of cloth opium from Chow Thiseng Manpoong (45), S/o Chow  Kant, at New Mohang, under Mahadevpur police station, in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, on Dec 27, 2001. The officials of CBN also seized an amount of Rs. 19,100 in cash, allegedly sale proceeds of opium.

Kohima police seize 40 kg ganja
Kohima police personnel seized 40 kgs of ganja from the Phesama check gate near and arrested a person in this connection. Sources said policemen, manning the check gate, seized the contraband from a Manipuri. He was travelling in a bus arriving from Mao in Manipur.

Speednet introduced in Shillong
People sending out their letters through speed post will now be able to find out whether they have reached the destination following the introduction of on-line track and trace system. The system developed by the postal department was inaugurated here by North-Eastern circle Chief Post Master General Manager Vijay Chitale. Mr. Chitale said that Speednet would enable the customers to track their speed posts consignments on-line through the internet.  Apart from tracking, he said, it would also provide information to the management about the quality of services, business performance, marketting and customer services. The facility would held the customers to know the date in which the consignments have been delivered, he added.

HNLC men held

Meghalaya police nabbed seven ultras belonging to Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) including its commander for the Jaintia Hills sector in two separate encounters. The area commander Michael Tapang and three other cadres were arrested from Shangpung village in Jaintia Hills, according to police sources. In another incident three HNLC cadres were injured and arrested.

Rise in vehicular traffic in Aizawl
Six vehicles, on an average,    are being registered daily in    the Mizoram capital which     has witnessed a “staggering rise” in vehicular traffic in recent times. Aizawl district additional superintendent of police (traffic) Laldawngliana said that the town, with 22.15 km long   roads, has a “large” number      of 22,730 vehicles, according   to information available in November. Last year 29  accident cases were reported    in small picturesque town of which 11 were fatal ones. There are 1,026 vehicles for every kilometre in the capital where 315 parking places are notified, Mr. Laldawngliana said. A motorist C Rocchinga, who first came to the State in     a truck in 1942 from Tlawng river side near Sairang, said traffic was quite few in numbers at that time. Traffic officials conceded that encroachment     of roads was posing a serious problem to the systematic vehicular traffic planning.

Election tickets
Manipur Forward Youth Front (MFYF) asked all the political parties in Manipur to make proper verification of probable candidates for the forthcoming 8th Assembly elections and issue tickets to untainted candidates only to check defections after the election and ensure a smooth corruption free administration in the trouble torn State. The Front while endorsing the Government policy of enhancing security set up in view of the election, urged him to take appropriate measures to withdraw the additional paramilitary forces deployed    in the State after the elections keeping in view the depleted economic condition, a statement said.

Sarkar to urge Centre for border fencing
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar would urge the Centre  for speedy completion of the border fencing with Bangladesh to check smuggling of timbers.  Mr. Sarkar made the decision after meeting the director general of central forest department S. K. Pandey.       Mr. Sarkar said, due to the    long porous border with Bangladesh, smuggling of timber could not be checked effectively and its solution was barbed wire fencing along the Indo-Bangla border. Mr. Pandey expressed happiness for the State’s approach towards afforestation with special importance to bamboo, rubber and medicinal plants.

4 jawans killed in Manipur blast
Four jawans of the 12 Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) were killed and 7 injured when a powerful bomb planted by militants on the road exploded as the bullet proof vehicle went over it. The incident took place near Langmeidong black  under Thoubal district, when the security personel were on their way to launch combing operations in Kakching and Khunri.

Meghalaya to avoid late implementation
The Meghalaya Government  has decided to put an end to    the practice of implementing governmental schemes at the  fag end of each financial year.  Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister D. D. Lapang said that early implementation would  help avoid wasteful purchase    of equipment for the sake of utilising the sanctioned money.

Centre move to boost urban sector development in Sikkim
As part of the continuing effort for development of housing and urban infrastructure in the North-Eastern States including Sikkim, five projects costing more than Rs. 33.50 crore, were sanctioned for Sikkim by Urban Development Minister Jagmohan. The proposals were finalised during the second meeting of the task force, headed by the Minister for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Jagmohan with Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling. The projects will strengthen the water supply and drainage systems, facilitate eco-friendly disposal of garbage, provide water supply schemes and market infrastructure in Sikkim.

2 Arunachal  businessmen kidnapped
Two businessmen of Dorlong village in East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh have been kidnapped by suspected Bodo militants. The businessmen were abducted by armed ultras when they had gone to a jungle in the Assam-Arunachal border.

Insurgent killed, arms recovered
An insurgent of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) has been killed in a gun battle with security forces in South Tripura district. A joint team comprising police and CRPF jawans was fired upon by the ultras from a jungle at Taidu village when the team was conducting raids in the area. The forces retaliated killing an insurgent on the spot.

| Headlines  |  Editorial   | From Other Publications  |
| Guest Column  |  National  |
| OT Main Page | Nena  Home Page |