North East - Developments & Debate

[Oracle]

2 Women Held For Uranium Smuggling in Meghalaya

Shillong, Jun 9 : Two women have been arrested in Meghalaya on suspicion of uranium smuggling, police said Tuesday.

The duo -- Jobila Marak and Evalila Sangma -- were arrested in Jengjal area in West Garo Hills district Monday, police said.

They were arrested by Meghalaya Police on the basis of information given by two people arrested earlier last week in Assam's Mankachar town with a packet suspected to contain uranium.

Booked under the Arms Act and the Explosives Act, the two women will be handed over to Assam Police for questioning, police said.

Last week, Mankachar police in Assam's Dhubri district arrested two men - Sanjeev Marak and Trolik Marak - with a packet bearing a seal of the Department of Atomic Energy. A pistol was also recovered from them.

The packet has been sent to the forensic science laboratory for analysis, Dhubri Superintendent of Police Deepak Choudhury said.

'We cannot say for sure now what it contains, but we apprehend that it contains some kind of explosives,' Choudhury told IANS over phone.

The Mankachar-West Garo Hills district is a sensitive sector due to its proximity to Bangladesh. This corridor is used by militants to infiltrate into India and also enter Bangladesh.

Dhubri district's border with Bangladesh is manned by the police together with the help of the Border Security Force, barring the riverine border, the police official said.

http://www.sinlung.com/2010/06/2-women-held-for-uranium-smuggling-in.html

 

[Oracle]

Tripura seeks more security along Bangla border

Agartala, June 9 (IANS): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has urged Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to deploy more security along the India-Bangladesh border to check the movement of militants.
"Bangladesh-based Northeast terrorists are using the Tripura border as their corridor. Hence, four more battalions of Border Security Force (BSF) should be deployed along the border with Bangladesh," Sarkar told reporters on Wednesday after returning from New Delhi.

He met Chidambaram on Saturday and discussed various security-related issues, including curbing of terrorism in Northeast.

"Many camps of Northeast militants still exist in Bangladesh," the Chief Minister said.

Sarkar, who also holds the home portfolio in the State, said there were 16 battalions of the BSF currently guarding the 856-km Tripura border with Bangladesh. One BSF battalion has nearly 1,100 security personnel.

He told Chidambaram that to maintain effective vigilance on the border, the distance between border out posts (BOPs) of the BSF should be cut from the present 4.5 km to 2.5 km, keeping in mind the region's topography.

"Chidambaram has responded positively to these demands," he said.

The Chief Minister also requested the Union Home Minister to allow the Tripura government to raise two more Tripura State Rifles (TSR) battalions to deal with the separatist outfits.

Counter-insurgency trained TSR battalions were constituted in 1984 to curb terrorism in the northeastern State -- 75 percent of its troopers are from Tripura while the remaining are from across the country.

At present, there are 13 TSR battalions in the State. Nine of them are under the Indian Reserve battalions category and could be deployed anywhere in the country.

Sarkar also demanded sanctioning of Rs.3,000 by the Central government for each special police officer (SPO), who assist the regular forces to tackle terrorism and local crimes.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0910/at032

 

[Oracle]

Send back Mizoram refugees, Tripura asks Central govt

Agartala, June 9 (IANS): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar on Wednesday said he has again asked the Central government to take steps to repatriate 37,000 tribal refugees to Mizoram.
For the past 13 years, Reang tribal refugees have taken shelter in six camps in North Tripura, adjacent to Mizoram. They fled western Mizoram after ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos over the killing of a Mizo forest official.

Sarkar met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi on Saturday and discussed various security-related issues, including Mizoram's tribal refugee-related issues.

"Due to the long stay of the tribal refugees since October 1997, Tripura is facing serious socio-economic, administrative and security-related problems," Sarkar told reporters here on Wednesday. "Education, health and other future aspects of refugees and their children, specially the new borns, hangs in the balance. They should lead a normal life in their own villages," Sarkar told Chidambaram.

Chidambaram had during his visit to Aizawl last month asked the Mizoram government and the tribal leaders to help repatriate all 37,000 Reang tribal refugees to their ancestral villages.

After the Union Home Minister's trip, about 235 families comprising 1,200 men, women and children were repatriated in three batches last month (May 21 to 26) to Mamit district of western Mizoram.

"There is no information with the Tripura government about when the remaining refugees would be repatriated," Sarkar told journalists.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun0910/at034

 

[Oracle]

2 militant groups active in NC Hills
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 9 – Though the overall law and order situation in North Cachar Hills improved considerably after two major active militant groups — DHD and DHD (J) signed ceasefire agreements to find solution of their problems through talks. However, of late, two other militant groups increased their activities, which has became a cause of concern. Meanwhile, efforts are on to strengthen vigil along the NC Hills — Nagaland border to prevent free movement of militants.
Police sources told The Assam Tribune that most members of both factions of the DHD are staying in the designated camps and there have been no reports of clashes between them. But the area of concern now is that the outfits like the Hmar People's Democratic Convention (HPDC) and the Kuki National Front (KNF) have become active in recent times and the outfits are believed to be involved in three blasts in the hill district within the last one month. Sources said that the two outfits have joined hands to form the Hills Tiger Force with the objective of opposing the renaming of the district as Dima Hasao. The Hills Tiger Force has already sent letters to the Government offices opposing the renaming of the district and the possibility of the outfits indulging in more acts of violence in the days to come cannot be ruled out.

Sources said that the HPDC was formed with the help of the NSCN (I-M) and now the cadre strength of the outfit would be around a hundred. The members of the outfit do not stay in any camp, but they mostly stay in the villages inhabited by the Hmar people. The total Hmar population in the district would be around 10 per cent of the total population. On the other hand, the KNF's strength in the Hill district would not be more than 40, said the sources. However, if the two outfits join hands to launch coordinated operations, the situation in NC Hills may deteriorate. The Police and security forces are keeping a close watch on the situation.

On the activities of the NSCN (I-M), sources said that the members of the outfit are still making efforts to extort money from the hill district in violation of the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement. Sources, however, said that with the district council squeezed of funds, the NSCN members have not been able to collect large sums of money in recent times.

Meanwhile, efforts are on to improve vigil along the NC Hills-Nagaland border and the Government of Assam recently sanctioned creation of three more border outposts of the Assam police.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1010/at095

 

[Oracle]

Naga student body likely to relax NH blockade

KOHIMA, June 10 (PTI) - The Naga Students' Federation today hinted at relaxing economic blockade imposed on all Manipur-bound vehicles after receiving a letter from the neighbouring State's chief secretary expressing "regret" over May 3 police action against its leaders.
NSF leaders travelling to Oinam village in Manipur's Senapati district for the organisation's federal assembly were refused entry by the Manipur police at Mao Gate.

The incident led to an indefinite economic blockade on National Highways - 39 and 53.

The NSF demanded an apology from Manipur Chief Minister and lifting of Section 144 CrPC and armed police from the Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur.

It had yesterday written to Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh stating it would consider relaxing the blockade imposed on all Manipur-bound vehicles "within a short period", but demanded lifting of the prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC from the Naga-inhabited areas in that State.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1010/at04

 

[Oracle]

HIV/AIDS cases on the rise in Assam

Guwahati, June 11 (IANS): Assam has shown a quantum jump in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS, although the State is not yet categorised as a high risk region.

As per latest figures released by the Assam State AIDS Control Society, there are 4,251 people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The jump in the number of people infected with the virus has increased from 364 in 2001 to 4,251 in April this year.

"Assam may not be a high prevalent State, but the worrying part is that we are surrounded by Manipur, a very critical State in terms of HIV/AIDS," Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told journalists.

The State also has 1,070 people living with AIDS.

"A record 86 percent of the people living with HIV contracted the virus through promiscuous sex. With Assam considered the gateway to the northeast, truckers from outside the region are to a great extent responsible for spreading the virus," the minister said.

So far, 230 people have died of HIV/AIDS in Assam.

Some 2.5 million Indians are HIV positive of which the Northeast accounts about 45,000. Manipur alone has an estimated 25,000 people living with HIV/AIDS.

India's Northeast borders the heroin-producing Golden Triangle of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand and has high rates of intravenous drug use - a key cause of HIV infection here.

Health workers also emphasised the need to educate sex workers following surveys that suggest most prostitutes in the region were engaging in unprotected sex. Despite the efforts of NGOs and pressure groups, government agencies in the region have so far not managed to curb either drug addiction or prostitution.

As a step towards bringing about awareness, the Red Ribbon Express - an exhibition train spreading awareness on HIV/AIDS and health-related issues as part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) - would reach Assam June 17.

"The train would stop for two days at various railway stations till July 8 and would try to spread awareness and educate people," Sarma said.

The aim behind the project is to bring people living with HIV/AIDS to the mainstream for socio-economic development then merely showing it as a medical or public health issue.

The train was flagged-off from Delhi December 1, 2009 on World AIDS day and would cover 124 railway stations spread across 24 states before ending its journey in December, 2010.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1110/at03

 

[Oracle]

Rail services to Tripura, Mizoram disrupted

Silchar, June 10 (IANS): Rail services to parts of Assam, Tripura and Mizoram have been suspended after damage to an old rail bridge in southern Assam, officials said on Thursday.

"After sudden increase of water in a tributary of Jatinga river, a girder of an old bridge was washed away on Wednesday night causing the railway bridge to slant," Northeast Frontier Railway spokesman Subrata Hajong told reporters. Senior railway officials and engineers have rushed to the spot, 300 km south of Assam's main city, Guwahati.

A goods train running between Badarpur to Lumding in southern Assam was also stranded after the damage to the bridge.

"Work has been started to repair the railway bridge. We can not confirm when the railway services would be restored in this region," Hajong added.

The meter gauge railway line passes through the North Cachar area of southern Assam, connecting Agartala and Bairabi in northern Mizoram besides several districts of southern Assam with the rest of the country.

In June 2007, eight people were killed and 15 others injured when seven wagons and the two engines of a goods train jumped the rail and fell into a flooded Jatinga river following the collapse of a 114-year-old railway bridge in the same region.

The accident had led to suspension of railway services in the region for more than four months.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1110/at034

 

[Oracle]

NSCN factions agree to stop media war

KOHIMA, June 11 – The three factions of the Naga insurgent group NSCN have resolved to stop issuing statements against one another in order not to harm the Naga peace and reconciliation process. This was decided by the Joint Working Group of the three factions, NSCN(I-M), NSCN(K) and NNC/FGN, at a meeting in Dimapur yesterday. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1210/oth06

 

[Oracle]

Naga leaders meet Chidambaram

KOHIMA, June 12 (PTI) - A delegation of Naga Students' Federation (NSF) met Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and requested him to direct Manipur to withdraw forces from Naga-inhabited areas.
The NSF delegation, led by its president Mutsikhoyo Yhobu, yesterday urged Chidambaram to issue necessary directives to the Manipur government to immediately withdraw the Manipur Armed Police personnel from the Naga-inhabited areas of the neighbouring state and revoke the arrest warrants issued against some Naga leaders.

While apprising the minister about the prevailing situation, the student leaders put the onus on the government of Manipur and the Centre to solve the problem.

Chidambaram asked them to lift the restriction of movement of Manipur registration vehicles as early as possible, federation leaders said, adding, the Home Minister assured the delegation that he was personally monitoring the situation and would do whatever was necessary to resolve the present crisis.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1210/at042

 

[Oracle]

Manipur vehicles not to ply through Nagaland

IMPHAL, June 12 (PTI) - Buses and trucks of Manipur will not ply through Nagaland until the Centre and the Nagaland government pay compensation for vehicles damaged during the ongoing indefinite economic blockade on National Highways, the Transporters and Drivers Council (TDC) said today.
"Several non-government organisations and militant outfits have been extorting money and harassing drivers, vehicle owners and passengers from Manipur in Nagaland for many years but we (TDC) have been tolerating it," TDC spokesman and general secretary NG Haridas told reporters here.

Several vehicles were destroyed during the ongoing economic blockade on NH - 39 (Imphal-Kohima-Dimapur) passing through a major portion of Nagaland and NH - 53 (Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar) by All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM), Haridas alleged.

The decision not to ply trucks and buses was taken during an emergency meeting of the council last evening.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1210/at044

 

[Oracle]

Assam Police lacks basics on cyber crimes

Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 12 – Sounds bizarre but true. In an era ruled by sophisticated crimes Assam Police still lacks the basic firepower to handle or monitor cyber crimes even as a sharp increase in such cases have been witnessed in the last couple of years.
Forget about creating awareness among the common people, most of the thana-level police personnel are not even acquainted with the know-how of a computer.

Moreover, the proposal of having a full-fledged cyber crime laboratory with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) which was placed around three years back too seems to be gathering dust.

The cyber crime laboratory proposal of Rs 60 lakh included the provision of having all the basic tools required for tracking online crimes.

"Be it having trained human resource or requisite technology to counter online crimes, the State is lagging far behind, which understandably is facilitating the cause of the wrongdoers," a senior Assam Police official claimed.

He stated that though the State witnesses at least hundred cases of cyber crime every year, only 25 per cent of them gets reported largely due to the sheer ignorance on the part of the thana-level police official.

"As the computerization programme for the Assam Police could not be materialized, things could not take a lift within the force," rued the official.

On having the cyber crime laboratory, he said that the lab would come handy in tracking the cyber criminals and what is even more important is to have a proper monitoring cell that would help tracking the online correspondence of suspects, especially those underground.

The Chief Minister, it may be mentioned, did assure in the last budget that the laboratory would be set up soon.

"If we can have a proper cyber security system intact, half of the crimes could be prevented," he asserted.

He went on to inform that the CID, which has a special cyber crime cell, has registered around 12 cases in the last couple of years, most of them being cases of issuing threat mail.

"In all the cases we have found that the crime is committed through cyber cafés and so we are pushing for a legal cushion which would make record maintenance of the customers mandatory," he stated.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1310/at09

 

[Oracle]

Muivah may return to Kohima
A Correspondent
KOHIMA, June 12 – NSCN-IM general secretary Th Muivah is likely to return to Kohima sometime next week for his onward journey to his native village Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur.
Sources revealed that Muivah will return to Kohima where he will halt for a few days before heading

for his proposed visit to Somdal which is still being opposed by the Manipur Government.

It may be stated that Muivah had started from Camp Hebron near Dimapur on May 5 on his journey to his village, but due to restrictions imposed on his entry by the Manipur Government, he had been forced to hold back at Viswema village near the inter-State boundary.

Nearly after a month, Muivah moved to Pfutsero under Phek district on June 4 despite rival factions, NSCN-K and NNC/FGN, issuing hard-hitting statements on his entry into the region.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1310/oth05

 

[Oracle]

Naga students to call off blockade in Manipur

New Delhi: The Naga Students Federation (NSF) on Monday said that after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here it planned to call off the two-month long economic blockade of Manipur "temporarily".

"We met the prime minister this morning and he assured us that he will look into the matter and asked us to call off the blockade. Therefore, we have decided to temporarily suspend the blockade after consultations with senior members in Kohima," NSF's Samuel told reporters here.

The delegation was led by NSF president Mutsikhoyo Yhobu.

The Central Government on Monday said paramilitary troopers would be used to break the blockade enforced by Nagas in Manipur to ensure that supplies of essentials enter Manipur, now facing an acute shortage of food and drugs.

Several Naga groups called an indefinite blockade of National Highway 39, Manipur's main lifeline on April 11 to protest against the decision of the State government not to allow Naga separatist leader Thuingaleng Muivah to visit his birthplace.

The Manipur government had banned 75-year-old Muivah's trip to his home village, saying it could stoke unrest.

Samuel said: "The Manipur government, instead of resolving the crisis and addressing the matter, issued arrest warrants against our student leaders and human rights activists which compelled us to continue our fight.

"Therefore what we are demanding now - and what we have put forth to the prime minister too - is to take back those warrants and immediately withdraw the Manipur security forces from the Naga areas in Manipur," he added.

http://sify.com/news/naga-students-to-call-off-blockade-in-manipur-news-national-kgouc6hjbgg.html

 

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Ex-ULFA members threaten stir
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 14 – The former members of the militant outfit ULFA today warned that if the State Government fails to meet their demands on rehabilitation packages and withdrawal of the TADA cases within a month's time, they will go for a Statewide 'militant democratic' agitation. The former ULFA members, who have returned to the mainstream of society either by surrendering or without surrendering before the authorities, number around 14,000.
Sadou Asam Prakton ULFA Samannayrakshi Sommitee president Prasanta Deka, its general secretary Rajen Medhi, working president Dhananjoy Rabha and vice-president Anirban Gohain alleged at a press conference here that about 7,642 of the members of their organization are yet to get the benefit of the rehabilitation package offered by the Government to the former militants.

Since 1996, the Government has not provided the former ULFA members any monetary assistance in the form of rehabilitation package. The monthly allowances provided to some of them for a year or so at the rate of Rs 2,000 (for Grade-A) and Rs 1,500 (for Grade-B) have also been stopped.

The State Government is also maintaining a discriminatory attitude towards the former ULFA members. The Government is generously offering rehabilitation benefits to the former Bodoland Liberation Tigers (BLT), Bengali Tiger Force (BTF), National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF). But it is apathetic to the former ULFA members, who have come back to the mainstream of society, in this respect, they alleged.

The failure of the Government to withdraw the TADA cases against the former ULFA members has created a very desperate situation for these former ULFA members and some of them have even committed suicide due to the frustration caused by obligations of their shuttling between their native places and the court, alleged the Sommittee leaders.

The Government has repeatedly assured that the cases against the former ULFA members would be withdrawn. But it has failed to keep this commitment.

On the issue of negotiation between the Government and ULFA, they said that the Centre should step in directly in the process as it has done in the case of the NSCN (IM). The Centre should also announce that all the factors that led to the ULFA insurgency would be taken up during the discussion and the ULFA central committee leaders should be allowed to hold their general council meeting for the purpose of taking part in the negotiation process, said the Sommittee members.

However, any attempt at resolving the ULFA insurgency issue through negotiation should result in acknowledging the rights and privileges of the indigenous peoples of the State, they asserted.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1510/at095

 

[Oracle]

Mizoram arranging for repatriation of Bru refugees

AIZAWL, June 14 – The Mizoram Government was making necessary arrangements for repatriation of Bru refugees lodged at six relief camps in Kanchanpur sub-division in Tripura by Oct 2.
A meeting with Deputy Commissioners of Lunglei, Mamit and Kolasib districts would be convened soon to discuss the issue, State Home department officials said.

"Updating the number of bonafide residents of Mizoram would be one of the first tasks before the government," the officials said, adding 12,538 people have been included in the voters' lists.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram during his visit to Aizawl on May 25 had appealed to Brus to return before Oct-end. Rs 2.43 crore was allocated for repatriation by the Union Home Ministry when the repatriation was proposed to commence from November 16, 2009.

Once repatriated, the Bru refugees would be reimbursed their transport expenses and provided free ration for one year. – PTI

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1510/oth05

 

[Oracle]

Lumding-Agartala BG work hampered by insurgency
Correspondent
AGARTALA, June 14 – The much-delayed broad gauge conversion work of rail track from Lumding to Agartala is expected to be completed by 2012, the Assembly was informed here on Monday.
The BG conversion work on the 394-km rail track was kicked off in 1996 but has not made 'much' progress due to the militancy in NC Hills. Of late, the on-going work has been put on the fast track to complete the work within the stipulated time.

Replying to a notice initiated by CPM MLA Manindra Chandra Das, Tripura Transport Minister Manik Dey informed the House that Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had a meeting with General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) on February 10 to review the progress of the ongoing BG conversion work. In the meeting, the GM said that the ongoing work from Lumding to Badarpur has made satisfactory progress during the past few months. "The BG conversion work from Lumding to Agartala is expected to be completed by 2012", the GM assured.

However, opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath raised objection on the statement of the Transport Minister that it was the law and order problem in Assam's NC Hills which had hampered the normal pace of the work.

Nath pointed out that the Assembly rules don't permit discussion on a subject related to other States. But Speaker Ramendra Chandra Debnath did not pay heed to it.

Dey also claimed that the GM NFR had made the revelation to Chief Minister during his meeting and added that the factual truth could not be averted.

The Minister further said that the State Government had requested the NFR authority to seek Assam Government's help to expedite the BG work. Besides, the government is rendering all possible help to complete the project at the earliest, he said.

The Transport Minister also informed the House that only three months would be needed to connect 110 km stretch of rail link from Kumarghat to Agartala with BG facility.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1510/oth06

 

[Oracle]

Naga students' group lifts Manipur blockade

KOHIMA: The blockade of a key national highway linking Manipur to rest of the country was on Tuesday lifted by Naga Students' Federation and a few vehicles waiting on Assam side left for the neighbouring state.

The Centre is all set to resume supply of essential items to Manipur on Friday through a convoy of trucks under tight security along National Highway which has been blocked by Naga groups for the last two months.

The Dimapur police said only four to five vehicles waiting on Assam side of inter-state border left in the evening towards Manipur after the blockade by NSF was withdrawn this evening.

The sources, however, said it could not be confirmed whether the vehicles could enter Manipur or were stranded inside Nagaland since confusion prevailed whether the All Naga Manipur Students' Association (ANSAM) had withdrawn the blockade on their side or not.

The police here expected the movement of vehicles to Manipur to pick up in the next few days.

All Naga Students' Association in Manipur (ANSAM) had launched the blockade in April to protest the holding of elections to six autonomous district councils in the Hills which, it alleged, were given not enough power to carry out development work.

The blockade of National Highway 39 (Imphal-Dimapur) and 53 (Imphal-Silchar), passing through Nagaland and connecting Manipur, was intensified after Manipur refused entry to NSCN-IM general secretary T Muivah on May 3 to visit his ancestral home there.

During normal times, Manipur-bound trucks were allowed to run on Nagaland sector of NH 39 only after 18:00 hours due to security reasons with the state police providing security up to Nagaland-Manipur border.

The temporary suspension of the blockade on NH 39 (Dimapur-Imphal) with effect from 6:00 pm this evening was announced yesterday after a delegation of Naga Students' Federation (NSF) had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

The economic blockade has pushed Manipur on the verge of a breakdown with stocks of all essentials commodities, including baby food and life saving drugs, almost drying up.

Meanwhile, official sources said in New Delhi that efforts are on to persuade agitating Naga groups to withdraw the blockade on NH 39 which passes through Nagaland.

"But if they don't withdraw the blockade, we will move a convoy of goods trucks on Friday with tight security," an official said.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai had said yesterday that the Centre has decided to send more security forces to remove the blockade of the national highways that form the vital supply line to Manipur.

Chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur will meet here on Wednesday to review the situation there.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ifts-Manipur-blockade/articleshow/6051768.cms

 

[Oracle]

Rs 13.45 cr seized from RH Khan kin's house
Staff reporter
GUWAHATI, June 15 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today recovered an amount of Rs 13.45 crore from the residence of a relative of RH Khan, one of the accused in the financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council.
CBI sources told The Assam Tribune that acting on a tip off, officials of the Bureau raided the residence of one Amjad Hussain, the brother-in-law of RH Khan in the Six Mile area of the city and recovered the amount concealed in the garage.

Sources revealed that during questioning, the owners of the house told the CBI officials that during the past one month, while he was on bail, RH Khan made secret chambers on the walls of the garage and kept the money. The money was kept in the plastic water container and four cardboard boxes covered with polythene.

Hussain is a junior engineer of the DRDA and presently he is posted in Dhubri district. He is likely to be arrested as the money was recovered in his residence.

It may be mentioned here that the CBI is investigating into the financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council. Khan, one of the accused in the case, was earlier arrested by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) in connection with a case relating to militant-politician nexus.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1610/at05

 

[Oracle]

'Respect spirit of Naga reconciliation'
A Correspondent
DIMAPUR, June 15 – Underscoring the importance of respecting the spirit of Naga Reconciliation, the Forum for Naga Reconciliation has implored upon the political groups with the message of the Naga people that any publication either in the print or visual media detrimental to the Naga reconciliation process needed to be stopped totally with immediate effect.
This was communicated at the meeting of the Joint Working Group and the FNR held here recently to 'reflectively and constructively engage on issues related to Naga Reconciliation', a press note by the Forum informed.

It stated that the Joint Working Group of the NSCN-K, NNC/FGN and NSCN-IM has, in response, resolved to once again reiterate not to publish any items in the print or visual media which will injure one another, and can potentially endanger the Naga reconciliation process.

Moreover, the Joint Working Group is also stated to have expressed the urgency and necessity to hold a reconciliation meeting at the highest level between the signatories of the Covenant of Naga Reconciliation at the earliest.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1610/oth06

 

[Oracle]

Naga blockade lifted, but trucks yet to reach Manipur

IMPHAL, June 16 (IANS) - Trucks carrying essentials to Manipur were yet to roll into the State Wednesday, a day after the apex Naga tribal students' group lifted a more than two-month long economic blockade, officials said.
"It might take a couple of more days for trucks to ply normally on the highway," Manipur government spokesperson and senior minister N Biren Singh told IANS.

Meanwhile, 20 companies (estimated 2,000 personnel) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Border Security Force (BSF), posted in various places in Manipur, have now been deployed along National Highways 39 and 53 to escort trucks into the State.

"Modalities about troop deployment along the highways are being worked out," the minister said.

The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) Tuesday lifted the blockade. "We have decided to temporarily suspend the blockade following requests from the prime minister whom we met Monday in New Delhi," NSF president Mutsiikhoyo Yhobu said.

Several Naga tribal groups have blocked the main highway into Manipur state since April 11 to protest a government decision preventing separatist leader, Thuingaleng Muivah, from visiting his birthplace.

The two-month blockade of main roads has led to severe shortages of food and medical supplies and soaring prices.

Landlocked Manipur depends on supplies from outside the region with trucks from the rest of India carrying essentials passing through Nagaland.

The chief secretaries of Nagaland and Manipur are holding a meeting with union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai in New Delhi. "The meeting is being convened to discuss modalities for providing security to escort trucks carrying essentials into Manipur," the minister said.

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun1610/at03