Gogoi urges PM to restore Bangkok flight
Assam Government has requested the Prime Minister to use his good office to restore Air India’s flight in Mumbai-Kolkata-Guwahati-Bangkok route without further delay. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi stated that cancellation of the only international flight through the region had come as a rude shock to the entire region, which was looking at it as a beginning of a new era for the landlocked region. The Chief Minister mentioned that the Guwahati-Bangkok flight was a boost to the tourism and trade sector in the region and expressed his resentment over the indifferent attitude of the Air India to continue the flight despite the assurance from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.

PLA cadre surrenders before Ibobi
A People’s Liberation Army (PLA) cadre surrendered before Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Angom Ingocha alias Nongbi (19) surrendered along with one M-22 rifle with three magazines, 117 live rounds of ammunition and one Chinese hand grenade. He joined the PLA in April. The Chief Minister stated that all efforts would be made to provide him employment and added that the surrender was a glaring example that more misguided youths were slowly but surely returning to the social mainstream.

Nagaland Governor’s call to conserve wildlife
Expressing dismay over the poor conservation of flora and fauna, Nagaland Governor Shyamal Dutta urged the people to change their mindset and harp on conservation of wildlife, especially birds. Addressing the two-day bird census training, organised by Bombay Natural History (BNHS) in association with Peoples Group of Nagaland for the States of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, the Governor stressed on preservation and promotion of eco-diversity in the State. He said there was an imperative need in Nagaland to change the mindset of the people through awareness to preserve flora and fauna. Nature and Nagas have a common destiny and it cannot grow at the cost of another, the Governor emphasised, adding that the future of the Nagas is linked with nature and without its preservation, the future of the State is bleak. "We will have to leave behind the legacy of killing animals and birds and harp on preserving them," he said, calling for an urgent need to reinforce and revive the urge of conservation in the Naga society.

Lapang’s assurance on Assam border
Meghalaya Chief Minister D.D. Lapang discounted all apprehensions raised by the Opposition and asserted that his Government was fully committed to maintaining law and order in the State and restoring normalcy in the disputed areas bordering Assam. Mr. Lapang reiterated that peace was his government’s top most priority for the all-round development of the State. He said that investors from outside, required for economic uplift, were eager to come, but at the same time they have expressed reluctance because of the prevailing situation.

Ex-Meghalaya minister dead
The Meghalaya Council of Ministers met in an emergency meeting and deeply condoled the untimely death of T. H. Rangad, MLA and former Home Minister. The Council expressed its deep appreciation for the service rendered by Rangad to the State and its people, and extended its deepest sympathies and condolences to the bereaved family.

Army major, 3 ULFA ultras killed in shootout
An Army major and three ULFA militants were killed during a fierce encounter at Neogpara village, under Kolaigaon police station in Darrang district. A woman was injured in the crossfire. A joint team of the Army’s 14th Field Regiment and the Assam Police launched a search operation around the village on getting a tip-off that a group of ULFA militants were holed up there. The operation bean at 11 am and it was around 2 pm that the team zeroed in on the hideout of the militants. The ULFA cadres fired on the security forces and a gun-battle ensued. In the end, three of the militants lay dead on the spot. The rest escaped. Major I. S. Babbar, who was injured during the fight, succumbed on way to hospital. One Lakheshwari Deka, a 45-year-old woman of the village, was injured in the crossfire. One of the dead militants has been identified as Kausar Ali of Besimari village under Mangaldoi police station. The security forces recovered a UMG, an AK-56 rifle and assorted ammunition from the spot, the sources added.

Shillong identified as ‘eco-city’
Meghalaya state capital and the biggest hill station in the country Shillong has been identified as one of the cities in the country under ‘Eco-city’ scheme of Central Pollution Control Board under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest. Disclosing this, Urban Affairs Minister Friday Lyngdoh said that Shillong city would now be eligible for Central assistance in the form of 50 per cent grant on cost of projects approved under the scheme for the environmental improvement of the city. Mr. Lyngdoh said of the seven projects submitted to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), two schemes are likely to get the green signal. These are slaughterhouse with treatment facilities and improvement of Laitumukhrah Market (construction of a bio-gas plant). A Waste Treatment Plant set up at a cost of Rs 4.62 crore was already functioning in the city, he said.

77 killed by ultras
Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang stated that 77 persons  have fallen to the bullets of the ultras in the Garo Hills districts during 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. Mr. Lapang informed that six among those killed were Meghalaya Police personnel, two from BSF and two from CRPF. Ex-gratia payment has been made to the kith and kin of the 37 victims. The rest 40 would be paid after due recommendations are received from the concerned Deputy Commissioner, Lapang said while denying any discrimination in payment of ex-gratia. Mr. Lapang more said that the State Government has so far received a sum of Rs. 103.34 crore from the Centre under ‘Incentive Fund’ for maintaining fiscal discipline.

Prof Beteille new NEHU Chancellor
Renowed sociologist Prof Andre  Beteille, has been appointed as the new Chancellor of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU). He was appointed to the post on June 3 last by the President of India, Dr AP J Abdul Kalam, in his capacity as Visitor of NEHU. Prof Beteille, succeeds the late Vice-President Krishan Kant and will hold office for a term of five years. Prof Beteille retired from the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics. NEHU vice-Chancellor, Prof Mirial Miri has sent a communication to Prof Beteille, fomally welcoming him to the University. Born to a Bengali mother and a French father in 1934 in Kolkata, Prof Beteille is the most welknown and celebrated of sociologists in the country today. He has lectured widely in the London School of Economics, Oxford and Cambridge Universities. He is also a famed and prolific writer having published 13 books on Sociology, Economics and Politics.

Gang of vehicle-lifters busted
The Manipur police busted a gang of vehicle lifters, arrested six and recovered seven stolen vehicles. Talking to reporters here today, Additional Director General of Police Y Joykumar said the gang had been operating in and around Imphal town for quite some time and were nabbed by a combined team of the Imphal West police and the Narcotics Cell. The gang, specialising in lifting two-wheelers, confessed to have stolen 13 vehicles so far, he said adding six of them were sold in Nagaland and seven in Imphal. The police recovered the seven stolen vehicles sold here, he said.

Suspected militant dies in encounter
A suspected militant was killed in an encounter with the police under Imphal East district. Police said the encounter took place when two youths in a motorcycle tried to flee violating signal of the police to stop for frisking. Instead of stopping they fired at the police party, which was retaliated in which one of them killed. The other, however, managed to escape.

Unemployment on rise in Nagaland
Nagaland recorded an increase in unemployed population over the years with a total of 34,697 job seekers registered with the employment exchanges of the State. Of the total unemployed, 25,946 were males and 6751 were females as on February last. Interestingly, there were more female post-graduates registered in the list numbering 208 against 170 males. There were 3214 graduates, 11,124 matriculates, 13,408 under matriculates, 207 technical degree holders and 424 diploma holders in the job seekers list. 

FGN, Thevopis-umi village bury hatchet  
In a historic development, the "Federal Government of Nagaland" (FGN), the apex body of all Naga insurgent groups, and Thevopisumi village under Nagaland’s Phek district, reconciled with each other after 46 years of animosity. The bitterness between the village and the FGN developed in 1956 during the peak of violence in the State, when 48 men of Thevopisumi were killed by the insurgent outfits on charges that they were anti-nationals and their property confiscated. However, through the initiatives of the Shisha Hoho (tribal body of the FGN) and the Council of Chakhesang Churches which started in 1999, reconciliation process began and June 10 last was fixed for the reconciliation ceremony.

Two shot dead in Nagaland
Unidentified gunmen shot dead two Naga youths near Chakhesang Revival Church. Police recovered the bullet-riddled bodies and handed them over to their families. The deceased, who had been identified, were drug addicts and peddlers. An attempt was made on one of them last year where he received bullet injuries. Meanwhile, a top police official told UNI that he did not rule out the involvement of any underground organization. However, he said, investigation was on.

50 Dimasa houses torched in Cachar
In continuing ethnic violence, one militant was killed and a policeman injured while 50 Dimasa houses were set ablaze in Cachar district. About 70 Hmar Peoples Convention (HPC-Democratic) ultras attacked Dipucherra Dimasa village, abandoned by terrified villagers recently, and torched at least 50 houses. A police team from Joypur police station encountered the HPC militants, when they were about to flee, killing one ultra and one sub-inspector of police also sustained injury, they said. The rest of the militants escaped into the nearby thick jungles. The Army, police and CRPF team cordoned off the area and launched a heavy combing operation to nab the militants and prevent it from crossing over to other areas. One person was arrested.

Policeman injured in Naga attack
Tulon Saikia, a constable of the 3rd APBn deployed along the Assam-Nagaland border in Titabar sub-division of Jorhat district, was injured in an attack by Naga miscreants. The incident occurred when Naga miscreants entered the Paninaram Pirakata village from Akahuto Basti in Nagaland and threatened the villagers. Police personnel from Kherem outpost rushed to the spot and raided the house of Boliram Jajuwar, where the three Naga miscreants were sheltering. One of miscreants attacked Saikia with a machete on his head.

Mobile laboratory for petro product testing
The Manipur Government is contemplating to set up a mobile testing laboratory for checking quality of petroleum products in the State. Food and Civil Supplies (FCS) Commissioner, P Saratchandra said that the testing lab was coming up keeping in mind the complaints lodged by the consumers regarding adulteration of kerosene with petrol and diesel. The Government is also thinking of inducting special food analysts from outside on deputation basis owing to the unavailability of such experts in Manipur, he said, adding that some training camps would also be organized soon for testing of the petroleum products. The training would be organized and sponsored by IOC and would be attended by some 30 to 40 people from different departments in the State Government, including the FCS, he said.

PSO kidnapped in Agartala
Personal Security Officer of a member of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomus District Council (TTAADC) has been kidnapped by a group of armed militants from Baxamunipara in Dhalai district. Police said, a group of suspected insurgents of banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) kidnapped Sunendu Chakma, the PSO of Upendra Reang, a member TTAADC and leader of Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) from Baxamunipara under Chhamanu Police Station of the district when he was returning home. The INPT is the ruling party in the thirty member tribal council. Police launched a search operation in the area to rescue him.

4 RPF cadres arrested, heroin seized
At least four Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) cadres were arrested from different places. Police said one K Brojen, a self-styled corporal and assistant organizer of division number four of RPF, was nabbed from Yaiskul Sawaijam Leirak while the other three were arrested from the adjacent villages of Khumbong and Moidangpok. Some incriminating documents were later recovered from the arrested persons, police said. In another incident, a team of Churachandpur district Police (Drug Cell) seized 600 grams of heroin valued at Rs 5 lakh from two Myanmarese persons at Hmar Veng.

Mizo officials destroy narcotics
The Mizoram Excise Department destroyed drug and narcotics worth Rs 30 lakh. Excise officials said the destroyed drugs included substantial quantity of heroin, opium, cannabis, spasmo-proxyvon capsules and apart from other illicit intoxicants. State Excise Minister K Vanlalauva said that such large quantity of drug haul clearly indicated the good work the State agencies were doing to prevent drug abuse in the State. Earlier, State Chief Secretary H. V. Lalringa said the State Government had taken several steps to prevent the inflow of drugs inside Mizoram, which had registered more than 700 drug related deaths during the past decade. The anti-drug trafficking measures initiated by the Mizoram Government included intensified vigil on the Bangladesh- Myanmar border and monitoring of Myanmarese immigrants crossing over to Mizoram.

PIC drive in Arunachal
The State election office has launched a special drive for issue of photo identity cards (PIC) in Upper Subansiri, West Siang, Upper Siang and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The four districts were being covered in the first phase of the PIC project, which was undertaken in the wake of the decision of Election Commission to make such cards mandatory for casting votes. While one can get fresh PIC from designated locations after production of documents, voters already having such cards can make corrections, the release said. Those who have lost their cards can get duplicate ones on payment.

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