811 killed in NE insurgency
As many as 811 people have been killed during insurgency-related incidents in the seven States of the North-East this year with Assam accounting for 345 killings, the Rajya Sabha was informed recently. Government has taken effective steps to contain the insurgency and has deployed additional units of Central armed forces and Army, besides improving co-ordination between various intelligence agencies, Union Home Minister L. K. Advani said in a written reply. In reply to another question, he said the Centre had formulated a special scheme, having an outlay of Rs 285 crore, for modernisation of police forces of North-Eastern States.

Manipur declared disturbed area
Manipur has been declared as disturbed area for another six months from December 1 in view of continued violence by "unlawful elements" in the State. A December 3 notification by the State Chief Secretary H. Jel Shyam said the measure under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, was taken to help the civil administration make use of the armed forces to deal with the situation.

Marwah takes oath
Ved Prakash Marwah was recently sworn in as the Governor of Manipur. Gauhati High Court senior judge Justice N. C. Jain administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Marwah at a simple function held at the Raj Bhawan in Imphal.

CRPF nabbed 3,614, killed 40 ultras in NE
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has apprehended 3,614 extremists and killed 40 in the North-Eastern States during the current year till November, official sources said. The force has also made major seizures of arms and ammunition. The CRPF, however, paid a very heavy price in terms of 62 officers and jawans killed in 79 encounters. In Assam alone, the CRPF nabbed 3,290 militants and killed 31others. Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh accounted for the balance 324 apprehended and 9 killed. The CRPF suffered the highest casualty of 29 men in Manipur, followed by 22 in Assam.

Rs 68 cr for NH development in North-East
A sum of Rs 68 crore has been sanctioned for improvement of national highways in the north-east region during the current financial year, a press release stated. This was disclosed by the Union Minister of State for Surface Transport, Dr. Debendra Pradhan, in Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question of Basanti Sarma. The minister said that altogether 235 estimates amounting to Rs. 408.55 crore have been sanctioned for development of national highways all over the country during the fiscal year 1999-2000. The development programmes mainly involved expansion and upgradation of existing national highways, he added. The amount sanctioned of NE region consists 68 estimates.

Centre concerned about ‘secret killings’
The Central Government expressed grave concern over reports of "secret killings" in Assam and reaffirmed its commitment to protect human rights in the insurgency-hit areas of the North-East. "Indications are that many such killings take place due to internal rivalries among various militant outfits operating in Assam," an official release said, adding the State Government had categorically denied any involvement of the police in these killings. It said the State Government has ordered a probe into the matter

Nagaland Govt. employees donate salary
The Nagaland government has decided to deduct one day’s salary from its employees to render help to the super-cyclone-ravaged people of Orissa, an official notification said. Nagaland has adopted worst-hit Mayurbhanj district to render all possible assistance to the affected people. The Council of Ministers have already decided to contribute one month’s salary for the purpose. Home Commissioner H. K. Khulu, in a notification, asked all heads of departments to issue necessary instructions to their respective employees to effect deduction in their salary in December. The amount will be deposited in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund and the government has already assigned the Power Minister K. Therie to look after the rehabilitation work in Mayurbhanj district. Various church organisation also raised funds in the State to render help to cyclone-hit Orissa.

Four killed in factional feuds
Factional feuds in Nagaland caused death of three persons and injured one.Unidentified gunmen sprayed bullets on a vehicle in Keziekie near Kohima recently. Police said that the victims were coming towards Kohima when the gunmen fired indiscriminately on the vehicle killing two of them instantly. The driver, who was hit on his neck and left ribs, managed to take the vehicle to a private nursing home where he collapsed. He was later shifted to the Naga Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The fourth person was also hit by bullets, but he was out of danger, sources said. Police said that the shooting
was a fallout of factional rivalry, as one of the victims was identified as the under secretary of an underground faction. An amount of Rs 61,367 and a country made revolver were recovered from their possession. Police said that search was on to nab the culprits.