Northeast Platform

Reacting to Home minister Imkong L Imchen’s apology to the State media and admission of his “foot-in-the-mouth” syndrome, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has termed the Home minister as “paranoid” and demanded his resignation.NPCC in press release issued by media cell member Dr. K Hoshi said the admission of the Home minister was most unfortunate and humiliating to the people of Nagaland, and that the minister had stooped so low as to admit his “foot-in-the-mouth” syndrome repeatedly which, the minister said, he was aware of. “That shows that he had made the irresponsible utterances deliberately. Since a syndrome is a disease, there is no guarantee that the same foolish act shall not be repeated in future,” the release stated.NPCC said giving the gravity of the law and order situation in Nagaland, it was very risky for the State to be headed by a “paranoid” Home Minister, and demanded his resignation for bringing “shame to the whole State” and for “distressing the Hon’bl

IMPHAL, Oct 24: The director general of police, DGP, Manipur has given strong instructions to all concerned district SPs, COs of MR/IRB battalions including the home guards to prevent any form of unauthorised absence from their place of posting during the festivals of Diwali and Ningol Chakkouba which will be celebrated in the state next week.The instructions from the DGP have come in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the state and to prevent any unwanted incidents leading to the loss of arms and ammunition or attacks and ambushes by the militants who may take advantage of unguarded moments of the security personnel at designated posts, stations and batallions.As has been experienced in the state, during the festivals the uniformed personnel also tend to be in a festive mood resulting in many cases of unauthorised absence from the place of posting which lead to unwanted incidents of loss of arms and ammunition, he said.Anti social elements and activists of the undergrou

IMPHAL, Oct 24: The agitating street vendors of Imphal’s Khwairamband market submitted a memorandum to the state chief minister this morning urging him to allow them to sell their goods at the roadsides upto the Ningol Chakkouba festival and arrange a suitable alternative site for them after the festival.The memorandum was submitted jointly by the secretary and joint secretary of the recently formed Street Vendors JAC Khwairamband Bazar to the chief minister through the chief minister’s secretary at the chief minister’s bungalow this morning.The memorandum to the chief minister mentioned that the affected people were poor street vendors who maintained their families by selling vegetables and other articles on the roadsides at the Imphal bazar area. Their families depended on their day-to-day earnings without which they would starve. In view of the ensuing Ningol Chakkouba festival, which is a big festival in Manipur, they had borrowed big amounts of money on interest from money-lenders

Imphal, Oct 24: The daily onslaught of violence in the state in the form of bomb blasts, firings, kidnappings and monetary extortions are becoming a cause for concern among senior citizens and elders of Manipur. In an interaction with IFP at BT Park which is a meeting point for senior citizens taking time off to interact with their peers, Gurumayum Gopan Sharma said, “There was no such large scale violence 15-20 years back. We grew up in an environment of peace and security till we reached our middle age but the irony is that in our sunset years, we are in a state of unrest due to the conflict around us today.” He further said that such conflict was also a result of the lack of trust and fraternal bonds between people and rued that the level of social interactions had come down drastically. “The tradition of giving physical help in times of religious functions and ceremonies are being replaced by financial help. Money has become the cornerstone of everything and it looks like people ar

IMPHAL, Oct 23: The death toll in Tuesday’s bomb blast at Ragailong rose to 17 today as another injured victim died at the Shija hospital this afternoon. The identity of the only deceased left to be identified was also confirmed today.The blast victim who died at the Shija hospital today was identified as Pukhrambam Bigyananda alias Naoten, 35, son of Pukhrambam Ongbi Damayanti of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai. He reportedly died around 12.40 pm at the ICU ward of the hospital due to the injuries sustained at the head and chest.According to a family source, he was an agent of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance company and was to marry his fiancee on December 1 this year. He was accompanying Leishungbam Devendro Singh alias Ingocha, 36, son of late L Modhumangol, a local close friend who was also killed in the blast.The deceased is survived by his mother and his dead body was handed over to her after post mortem at the RIMS morgue this afternoon by the police.In the meantime, the last of the u

Lamka, Oct 25: The total loss incurred in the machineries destroyed yesterday when some volunteers of the Khuga Dam Neglected Contractors Forum, KNCF, burnt down the storerooms at the dam at about 4.30 pm has been estimated at about Rs. 15 lakhs.The police who took stock of the value of the machinery destroyed, said that four generators of 5 Kv each and a portion of the dam costing about Rs. 8 lakhs along with some metres of cable wire costing around Rs. 5000 were burnt down in the raging fire.A battery that cost Rs. 5000 and a wooden almirah which cost about Rs. 300 were also burnt to cinders, the police said. Some other properties along with the wooden fencing were also destroyed. Meanwhile, the KNCF in a press handout today said that they had served request letters to the state government for clearance of their dues latest by October 23 but no tangible steps had been taken up by the goverment. As a result the forum had started its agitation from 4.30 pm of October 23 at the project

IMPHAL, Oct 25: The real value of our morals and discipline lies within the arts and culture of the state, said Md Alauddin Khan, minsiter for RD and PR during the Golden Jubilee Celebration observation of the Huyen Lallong Manipur Thang-ta Cultural Association at Irilbung this afternoon.The minister further said that Manipur was rich in its arts and culture since the early period and the state needs to preserve it and recognise its value. In fact in the early times culture itself was the education, he added.He said it was common belief that where there is no culture there is civilization, and this was true for the state and its abundance of art and culture since time immemorial.Considering this the people of the present generation need to preserve and protect the arts which have accompanied the culture of the state.Director of the Chorus Repertory Theatre, Dr. Ratan Thiyam while attending the celebration as guest of honour mentioned that though the arts and culture of the state had be

IMPHAL, Oct 25: The irate public of Kongpal Khaidem Leikai destroyed a portion of a retaining wall which was constructed by the state IFCD as part of flood control measures three months back along the Kongba river at Kongpal Khaidem Leikai after the wall was found running long cracks this morning.The local public after discovery of the cracks on the wall constructed at the bank of Kongba river turned violent and carried out the dismantling process this morning around 10.30 am. About 10 meters of the cracked portion of the retaining wall was destroyed by them.In this connection, the local public of Kongpal Khaiden Leikai said that cracks had appeared earlier after the completion of the wall, but the cracks were filled with cement after they complained to the local MLA, Nandakumar recently.The locals said the wall was broken down as many portions of the retaining wall were found to be constructed without proper quality control. There was apprehension that the wall which was constructed a

IMPHAL, Oct 25: The Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland), ZU(AMN), and the Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland), ZYF(AMN), have strongly condemned the burning of passenger bus by KLO and KLA militants on the NH-39 at Naorijan in Assam last Thursday resulting in the death of two passengers.The two bodies have said in a press statement that the act itself was like targeting a particular community by the proscribed KLO and KLA outfits since no other passengers were victims in the incident, except the two members of the Zeliangrong community.The ZU and ZYF have demanded that the outfits compensate the families of the two victims as per Zeliangrong customary practice and also appealed to the government to take up appropriate action against the culprits along with providing compensation to the deceased’s families.A separate press release from the All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland) while strongly condemning the act as savage has dismissed the irre

IMPHAL, Oct 24: The All Manipur Inter State Bus Association has suspended all inter-state passenger bus services from this morning in protest against the burning down of an Imphal-Guwahati passenger bus of the Imphal Airbus Travels at Naorijan in Assam, near Dimapur, on last Thursday evening by two unidentified gunmen resulting in the death of two passengers, including one woman.A Budha Luwang, president of the AMISBA during a press conference held at North AOC in Imphal this noon narrated the inhuman and barbaric act of last Thursday at Naorijan. He said the ill-fated passenger bus bearing registration No. MN01-1664 was travelling from Imphal towards Guwahati when it was stopped and set ablaze after dousing it with petrol by two unidentified gunmen from Dimapur after the passengers numbering 32, including women and children, were locked inside the bus. The incident took place on last Thursday evening around 8.30 at Naorijan under Khatkhati police station.He said the passengers inside

New Delhi, Sep 18 (Agencies): Less than a week after T S Krishnamurthy submitted his report on the Monika Devi doping saga, a top Sports Authority of India official was today removed from his post at the SAI headquarters here and sent packing to Bhopal. RK Naidu, who was the SAI Director (Team Division), has been transferred to Bhopal and would be replaced by SS Roy, who is the Director of SAI Northern Centre in Sonepat, ministry sources told PTI. Monika was about to board the Beijing flight before she was charged to have flunked a dope test.After a lot of drama and protest wave, the lifter was cleared by a review committee set up by the Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWF). But the reprieve came too late and the Olympic door had been shut on her face by then.Krishnamurthy was less than impressed by the role played by SAI in the entire episode and was particularly annoyed with the inordinate delay between Monika's dope tests and intimation of the results to the lifter. "There

NEW DELHI, Sep 19: Following the acceptance of the recommendations of TS Krishnamurthy’s enquiry report on Laishram Monika by the Government of India, the Union ministry of youth affairs and sports has issued detailed guidelines for dope testing procedures to create a clean and healthy environment for sports in India.Former chief election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy was appointed last month by the Government to examine the circumstances and issues connected with dope testing of international weightlifter Laishram Monika. In the report, Krishnamurthy mentioned, “It is no doubt true that the testing process and the result thereof had been kept under suspense for too long a period, notwithstanding the various reasons advanced by the NDTL contributing to the delay. In my opinion, this is an area where immediate intervention is called for from the ministry so that in future no such lapses take place and proper guidelines to be given to NDTL so that a contingency plan is also available wi

IMPHAL, Sep 10: A massive rally to highlight the Manipuri people’s cry for justice in the controversial Monika issue was taken out in Imphal today.In a public meeting at the concluding part of the rally, L Monika declared that she would not participate in any sports event till justice was delivered in her case.The Manipur Olympic Association president, E Binoykumar has also said that his association would continue to press the concerned authorities for speedy justice in the case.Today’s mass rally was organized by DESAM, MSF and AMSU in coordination with the coordination committee formed against the discrimination of Monika in light of her non-inclusion in the recently held Beijing Olympics. The rally started from the main stadium of the Khuman Lampak sports complex around 11 am and concluded at the Iboyaima Sumang Leela Shanglen where a public meeting was held.Manipur Olympic Association president, E Binoykumar said that the treatment meted out to Monika should not be taken lightly as

IMPHAL, Sep 10: The number of illegal foreigner immigrants and outsiders has tremendously increased in Manipur, said the Federation of Regional Indigenous Society, FREINDS in a memorandum submitted to the state chief secretary urging for appropriate action to redress the issue.The border town of Moreh and Jiribam have become a haven for the foreigners while among the hill districts Senapati has the maximum number of outsider influx, observed the memorandum submitted today.The memorandum further observed that the lifting of the permit system by the government in November 1950 was the root cause of the tremendous rise of immigrants in Manipur, while demanding introduction of the inner line permit system in the state.Other demands of the society include detection and deportation of the illegal foreign migrants within 20 days, identification and deletion of the names of foreigners and unauthorized outsiders from the electoral rolls and creation of a department for immigrants in the state.T

IMPHAL, Sep 1: Twenty two children including two girls from Moreh who were being illegally kept at an unrecognised orphanage run by an NGO named Life Trust near Chennai in Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu were brought back to the state by volunteers of the Child Welfare Committee Chandel with assistance from the state social welfare department on August 30. The children were handed over to their respective families this afterrnoon after a brief press conference at the RICHM office at Pallel which was attended by officials of the state social welfare department and SDPO Moreh, Rameshore.Narrating how the children were taken to the orphanage in Tamil Nadu during July this year, a member of the Child Welfare Committee Chandel, Heching, mentioned that the department of social defence, Chennai officially intimated the director of social welfare, government of Manipur, on August 19 about the 22 children from Manipur being kept by an unauthorised and unrecognised orphanage under Life Trust

IMPHAL, Sep 1: The heavily guarded state chief minister’s bungalow was attacked by PREPAK militants with a lethod bomb which exploded inside the bungalow compound tonight at around 8.10 pm.The proscribed PREPAK while owning up the attack has said that it was a warning to the chief minister, O Ibobi Singh to rectify his misdeeds.Following the blast, security in and around the Babupara area has been beefed up and all roads leading to the chief minister’s bungalow have been closed to all kinds of traffic.The lethod bomb exploded inside the chief minister’s residential compound tonight at around 8.10 pm. No casualty or injury was caused to people inside the bungalow.Chief minister O Ibobi Singh and his family were in the bungalow at the time of explosion.Police officials investigating the attack suspect the lethod bomb was fired by militants from the northern side of the bungalow along the main road.The bomb exploded in a small paddy field cultured at the north western side inside the comp

IMPHAL, Sep 2: At least two suspected UNLF cadres were killed in an ambush laid by troops of the 1st Assam Rifles at Nambashi village in interior Ukhrul district near the international border with Myanamar in the early hours today.Four activists of different PULF groups were also apprehended by the security forces from different places in the state.The IGAR(S) said that a 9mm pistol (China make) loaded with four live rounds and a hand grenade were recovered from the two slain suspects.Official sources said that troops of the Assam Rifles killed the two in an ambush while they were intruding towards the Indian side from Myanmar after crossing the international border at around 3.15 am today.Troops of the 1st Assam Rifles have launched operations in general area Nambashi village since September 1 and laid multiple ambushes on the militants trying to intrude to the Indian side.At around 3.15 am today, while the troops were waiting in ambush, two suspects approached the ambush site. On bei

IMPHAL, Sep 2: In the follow up to last night’s blast security has been intensified in the surroundings of the chief minister’s bungalow with restrictions being put on the movement of night traffic on the main roads on the western and northern sides of the bungalow. The restrictions will be effective from 6 pm in the evening till 7 am the next day for an unspecified period.Security was tightened Tuesday in Imphal area specially on roads passing near the chief minister’s bungalow after last night’s lethod bomb attack by the proscribed PREPAK.A lethod bomb exploded inside the compound of the state chief minister’s bungalow last night at around 8.10 pm. No casualties occurred in the blast.Two high level security meetings were also held today to review the law and order situation in the state with special reference to the militant activities in Imphal municipal area where the disturbed area status in not in force, a highly reliable source said.The joint director north east charge, SIB, Man

IMPHAL, Sept 2: The KCP(MC) has banned a women’s organisation called,Universal Mothers Association, UMA, on the charge of being an agent of the “enemy”.A release signed by Tamnganba Meetei, said it had taken the president of the organisation, Amom Mema Devi into custory, and from her interrogation has come to learn that she has been part of an extortion net in the name of the KCP(MC).The release said that Mema had confessed that she has been in cahoots with Nando alias Ibungo Ngangom who is presently lodged in the Sajiwa Jail, and Hitendra alias Lallumba who is present taking shelter in the 23 Assam Rifles camp at Yaingangpokpi under the charge of one Maj. Rana, and carried out activities detrimental to not just the party but to the revolution in the land.It said Mema Devi had in 2007 contested the Panchayat Election at 16-Wangoo GP.The release said the KCP(MC) also learnt that Hitendra also regularly passes on intelligence of the party’s movements to the Assam Rifles and has had a num

New Delhi, Aug 23: Possibly spurred by an investigation launched by this newspaper into the state of the Monika Devi probe instituted by sports minister M.S. Gill and handed over to former chief election commissioner T.S. Krishnamurthy, an official statement on Friday released a "status report" on the state of the inquiry.With initial reports suggesting that Krishnamurthy had been given a week to come up with answers on why Monika Devi was deplaned from on the eve of the team's departure for Beijing and the deadline having lapsed two days ago, there was till late on Friday news on when the report would be submitted and what it contained.On Friday evening however, an official statement said Krishnamurthy "has begun the inquiry" and that on August 18, he had "met various officials of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports as well as Sports Authority of India"The former CEC also met Monika Devi on Thursday and is scheduled to meet the Indian Weightlifti

IMPHAL, Aug 23: The UNLF in a press release today said it has imposed a ban on petty non-local traders and artisans settling or penetrating local villages in the wake of the killing of its cadre Cpl Toijam Thengnaba alias Rocky, son of Biramangol of Churachandpur Thenggra Leikai by the 12-Maratha Light Infantry and the Imphal West Commandos, as reported in local dailies today. The release said the slain man was a cadre of its armed wing, MPA, bearing army number MPA No 911, and had just been released for treatment of a serious ailment he was suffering from.Explaining the circumstance, the release said when he was caught he was staying in a house in Uripok while we was undergoing the treatment, and killed after beastly torture.The release also claimed that Thengnaba was arrested not by a combined team of Manipur police commandos and army troops, but by the latter alone.It said the army troopers came disguised as civilians when Thengnaba was arrested. He was eliminated and abandoned with

NEW DELHI, Aug 19: Commonwealth champion Judoka Khumukcham Tombi (48 kg) who represented India along with Diviya at the Beijing Olympics 2008 has been selected for Arjuna Awards for the year 2007. She was among 11 sportspersons selected for the awards.The government of India today announced the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and Arjuna Awards for the year 2007, Dhyan Chand Awards for the year 2008 and Dronacharya Awards for the year 2007 based on the recommendations of the selection committees constituted for the purpose. Milkha Singh was the chairman of the Selection Committee for selection of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (2007), Arjuna Awards (2007) and Dhyan Chand Awards (2008). Kh Tombi from Manipur, presently working with the CRPF, won the gold medal in the Commonwealth judo championship in January this year. She also bagged the bronze in the Asian Judo Championships held in Kuwait last year.26-year old Tombi is the daughter of Kh Munal of Mayang Imphal.Arjuna Awards are given

IMPHAL, Aug 19: The accumulated losses to the economy of the state due to bandhs and economic blockades during the period from 2004-05 to 2006-07 (i.e. three years) was estimated at Rs. 1319.96 crores, the state directorate of information and public relations stated today in a report.The economic loss due to bandhs and economic blockades on the national highways during the year 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 was Rs. 246 crores, Rs. 553.23 crores and Rs. 520.73 crores respectively while the loss in the per capita per day was Rs. 22, Rs. 24 and Rs. 27 respectively. Thus the accumulated economic loss during the last three years has been estimated at Rs. 1319.96 crores, it said.Reduction of per capita income due to bandhs and blockades was 6.10 percent in 2004-05, 11.79 percent in 2005-06 and 9.93 percent in 2006-07 upto January this year, according to data available with the state department of economics and statistics.An analysis of the Manipur government said that the number of bandhs and

IMPHAL, Aug 20: Life in the state remained paralysed for the second consecutive day today as another 12-hour nationwide general strike called by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions kept people off work after the 24-hour statewide strike yesterday.The Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions, Manipur while claiming that 65 different organizations supported the general strike, said that it was carried out successfully and peacefully in the state. They also thanked the people for their cooperation.Normal life was severely affected yesterday owing to the 24-hour general strike called by the coordination committee against the exclusion of L Monika from the Beijing Olympics. The strike concluded at 5 am today. However, another 12-hour general strike commenced from 5 am today.The 12-hour general strike of the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions concluded at 5 pm this evening peacefully. No violent or untoward incidents were reported during the strike hours.Even though the strike was support

IMPHAL, Aug 2: Womenfolk and students have still not overcome the shock of child abductions in the state even after the proscribed PREPAK outfit clarified that they would stop recruitment of children as child soldiers and the Manipur government stepped up security measures to check kidnapping of children. "We want to know who are the real culprits in the current trend of kidnapping attempts that are being reported every day," said a woman participating in a sit-in protest staged at Khurai Lamlong bazar in Imphal east today. "We have been kept in a confusing situation and fear still exists in our minds as the reports of attempts to kidnap and escape of children from abductors are still coming frequently," she said. The woman while recounting the incident of July 31 in which two boys from a school at Khurai Heikrumakhong were reportedly taken away by some miscreants before being released later after police and locals conducted a massive manhunt for them in Heingang hi

IMPHAL, Aug 1: Police today said that it has rescued a driver of a truck kidnapped by KRA(U) with the nabbing of three of its cadres including its self styled finance secretary and a woman cadre.On the other hand, two cadres of different militant outfits were detained under the Naitonal Security Act, NSA by an order of the state home department, an official source said Friday.SP, Thoubal police in a statement today said that a team of police commandos rescued a non-local driver hailing from Kohima, Nagaland who was kidnapped by KRA(U) cadres from Kakching in Thoubal district. The driver named Manoj Suraj, son of Man Bahadur hailing from Kohima was kidnapped from Kangpokpi by the cadres of the outfit and was rescued in a follow up action of the commando team who nabbed the cadres of the outfit yesterday from Namdulong, Stadium road, Imphal.Two cadres of KRA(U) including a woman were nabbed by a team of Thoubal district police commandos during a frisking and checking operation from Namdu

IMPHAL, Jul 31: An international seminar-cum-workshop on the "Spiritual and physical dimension of Manipur martial arts" is to be held at the Manipur University campus in Imphal from August 9 to 12.The four-day event is an attempt to put together at one place the overwhelming complexity of the entire martial arts tradition of the ethnic communities of Manipur and the venture has never been attempted before, according to the organisers.The necessity to bring the various hills and plains traditions of martial arts together at one go is compelled by the need to draw the attention of the academics, the university intellectuals and the general public about the ascent of the cultural practice of Manipur martial arts in the international arena, the organisers said adding that it was the desire of the students from the international community to learn and practice this art.The organisers further mentioned that though attracting unprecedented attention the exhibitory character of its p

IMPHAL, Jul 31: In yet another episode of child kidnapping a major operation was launched after a complaint was made by school authorities over the disappearance of two students this afternoon to the Imphal east police. The operation was conducted in Heingangching area by the Imphal east police.The matter came to light following complaints from the authorities of Jatra English School Khurai Heikrumakhong under Porompat police station in Imphal east district. The school authorities said they found two students identified as Leimaram Rudrajit Singh, 13, son of L Birbabu Singh of Khurai Heikrumakhong and Akash Sai, 13, son of the school chowkidar identified as Johny Sai, residing at the school campus, missing from the school during school hours this afternoon around 2.30 pm after both went out through the half broken wall of the school and accompanied some unidentified persons who came in a Maruti van.In the meantime, the school authorities on being suspicious over the disappearance of bo

IMPHAL, Jul 30: At least two suspected PREPAK(VC) cadres who were allegedly behind the recruitment of children into the outfit were killed in follow up action after a child kidnapper was apprehended from Langthabal Kunja today in a operation conducted by the Imphal west police commandos jointly with the troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry, police said.Two suspected PREPAK cadres were killed today in a shootout with a combined force of Imphal west police commandos and troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry at Laphupat Tera part-II this afternoon at 12.45 pm.The two were killed during a follow up action of the combined force following arrest of a 19-year old person named Akham Bobby Singh, son of Noren of Mayang Imphal Thana Wangkhei Leikai, a "child recruiter-cum-abductor" of PREPAK(VC) from Langthabal Kunja area, Imphal west SP Kailun said in a statement today.Bobby was arrested today at around 9.30 am by personnel of the Imphal west police commandos after receiving specific in

Imphal, Aug 1: Protest rally against the ongoing rampant kidnappings of children in Manipur has spread to the hill districts of Manipur today. A rally against the kidnapping of children was held for the `first time` in the hills by the students, staff and parents of Peace Academy , Chadong village in Ukhrul district on Friday. This was followed by a meeting at the newly built village community hall of Chadong. The gathering carried placards such as "Stop child kidnapping", "We want peace", "We want free movement and education", "Make education free zone" etc, and shouted the same. `Peace Academy`, a private Co-Educational Institution jointly promoted by Jesus Gospel Ministry (NE India) and High Hills Development Cooperation for the poorest of the poor and the orphanage, was established in January, 2007. Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Ashang Kasar, Executive Administrator and Chairman of Peace Academy revealed that this rally was the `first time` i

For the 11th Manipur Integrity Day arrange-ments have been made to observe it at 18 different places across the State on August 4 under the aegis of the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO). A press release issued by AMUCO informed that the Integrity Day will be observed at THAU ground Imphal, Sawom-bung (Imphal East), Langdum (Imphal East), Sagolmang (Imphal East), Lamsang (Imphal West), Leisangkhong (Imphal West), Nambol (Bishnupur district), Bishenpur, Moirang, Kakching Khunou, Langmeidong, Khong-jom, Yairipok Singa, Yairipok Top Chingtha, Moreh, Churachandpur, Jiribam and Mayophung (Ukhrul district). It appealed to the people and all organisations to participate in the observations arranged at these places and also not to call bandh or general strike on this day. A second souvenir dedicated to the 23 martyrs who laid down their lives for the territorial integrity and unity of Manipur will be released on the 11th Integrity Day. In the people’s movement that erupted on Aug

IMPHAL, Jul 31: "No to gun and bomb culture," said a slogan displayed at the site of the sit-in protest staged at some places of Khurai area against the frequent attacks at the residence of the FCS minister, Y Erabot Singh.Mention may be made that suspected militants have carried out attacks with bombs and guns several times at the residence of the minister at Khurai Ahongei in Imphal.During July month which ended today, militants conducted at least two attacks on the minister`s house, the latest one being on the night of July 29 in which out of two bombs which were hurled by militants at the residence of the minister at around 11 pm, a bomb went off and caused damage to a vehicle and tin roof structure on the eastern side of his house.Last weekend also militants attacked the minister`s house by firing and hurling a hand grenade which failed to explode.Sit-in protests denouncing the frequent attacks on the house of the minister were staged at Khurai Ahongei and Khurai Telipa

By Rajinder Puri Journalists called Prakash Karat India’s most powerful man. More powerful than the PM, that is. They called him India’s second most powerful politician. Second to Sonia Gandhi, that is. Karat’s fame grew with his handling of the N-deal issue. How did he handle it? When the UPA government decided to execute the NDA government’s initiative for an Indo-US N-deal, Karat opposed it. He said national security and India’s independent foreign policy were compromised. The Left would withdraw support. The government went ahead and negotiated the 123 Agreement for the deal. Karat sought the agreement text. The government showed him the text. The agreement did not refer to nuclear tests. But the US government passed a domestic law, the Hyde Act, which forbade help to any nation conducting nuclear tests. Karat said that the Hyde Act deprived India of its independence and jeopardised its national security. The government said that the US President was bound by the Hyde Act, not the

Dimapur, July 4 (MExN): The Center has allocated Nagaland state Rs. 21.26 Crore under the Bharat Nirman rural drinking water supply programme. The Center today released a total of Rs. 3, 292. 65 Crore to all the 28 states with Rajasthan state receiving the biggest amount, Rs. 503 Crore. The programme allocation worth a total of Rs. 3, 300 Crore is for 2008-2009 and activated under the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. To maintain the tempo, the ministry said, and ensure that implementation of water supply work does not suffer for want of funds during 2008-09, allocation for rural drinking water has been enhanced to Rs. 7,300 crore and about Rs. 3,300 has been released in the first quarter of the financial year. Now, none of the states are short of funds for implementing the rural water supply programme. The ministry has been very proactive and part of the 1st installment in 2008-09 under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme was released in the first week of Apri

One child was killed while several children were injured when a Mini Bus in which they were traveling rolled down some 30 to 40 feet below the National Highway 61 near the directorate of Fishery department in Kohima today. Police said the bus bearing Registration No NL-01B -2641 carrying around 71 children was heading towards the Highland Park near IG stadium when it met with the accident at around 11.45 am after failing to negotiate a turn. The bus was reportedly traveling at a high speed.Out of the 71 children, one died in a hospital while 62 children were discharged after administering first aid and eight children were still in hospital but reported to be out of danger. The deceased child Vikheshe (12) son of Vikhase, Police personnel, DEF Kohima of Ighanumi village, a class VII student of Holy Family School AG succumbed to injuries at the Naga Hospital Kohima. According to Police sources, the children were a part of the Vacation Bible School (VBS) conducted by Cross Wonder Churc

State Department of Agriculture has set at rest speculations of imminent famine and other dark forebodings due to current invasion of the long-horned grasshoppers (Tettigonidae family) in Nagaland. The department has, on the other hand, suggested consuming the edible winged creatures by the population at large as a first towards biological pest management and getting rid of the grasshopper.“Many insects are consumed as delicacy in different parts of the world. They have rich nutrient value such as protein, fats minerals and vitamins,” stated a press release issued by Director of Agriculture. The department said the commonly edible insects include grasshoppers, crickets, grubs, caterpillar beetles, winged termites, wasps and bee larvae, ants, cicadas, stink bugs and aquatic insects. The nighttime hunting of hoppers by the local populace is not new either.“Similar incidences are reported in East Africa where with the introduction of street lights into towns has revolutionized the tettigo

Accusing the Congress of indulging in "trade-off" with Samajwadi Party for Government's survival, BJP today asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately seek a vote of confidence in Parliament. "Government has been reduced to a charade...It has lost moral legitimacy (to govern)...For survival, Government seems ready to trade off anything," BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani told a crowded press conference in New Delhi. "For all practical purposes, Manmohan Singh government has lost majority in Lok Sabha...Government should immediately convene a session of Parliament and seek a vote of confidence," he said. "Credibility of the Congress and Samajwadi Party lies in shambles," the senior BJP leader said, a day after Congress clinched a deal for getting the support of SP, which has 39 members in Lok Sabha, in the event of a confidence vote. Congress wooed the SP after it became clear that Left parties having 59 members in the L