‘Assembly poll schedule by Sept-Oct’
Paro (Bhutan): The schedule for Assembly elections in five states this year-end will be announced sometime in September-October, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath said on Thursday. “The schedule for elections to five states will be announced 6 to 8 weeks before the polling date. Since the earliest cut off date for Madhya Pradesh is December 12, we will announce the schedule sometime in September-October. “Since it will be a bunch of elections, we will announce the schedule together,” he told PTI here. Sampath, who is here to observe the Parliament elections on July 13, said the number of phases these elections will be held will depend on various issues including availability of forces. Elections are due in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, where the term of assemblies expires between December 12 and January 4. (PTI)
Nagaland Guv stresses on peace
Kohima: Nagaland Governor Ashwani Kumar has said a peaceful atmosphere in the state was required for economic development and to create employment avenues. “I am really concerned to see so much proliferation of weapons, arms and ammunition, both licensed and unlicensed, both with the underground and the over ground,” he said. “For economic development and creation of employment, we require peace…For securing the future of Naga boys and girls and for the future of Naga society, we need peace in Nagaland,” the Governor said while addressing a programme of the Kohima Rotary Club here last night. Kumar said many people were connected to the so-called political settlement and many were satisfied and felt secure that there was at least a ceasefire in operation. “Ceasefire is not peace, but it is only temporary cessation of hostilities and that absolute peace is yet to prevail in Nagaland,” he said. For professionals and businessmen to perform their duties and provide services to society, absolute peace must prevail, he said. Concerned over the status of women in Naga society, Kumar said not a single woman was there in the Assembly since Nagaland got statehood. He said with the induction of Rosemary Dzuvichu as the President of the Rotary Club, it would provide more effective service to the society. (PTI)
Mizoram’s Deputy Government chief whip arrested
Aizawl: Police on Thursday arrested Mizoram’s Deputy Government chief whip R L Pianmawia in connection with a forgery case after the court of Aizawl District and Sessions Judge rejected the anticipatory bail plea. Police said that Pianmawia surrendered at the Aizawl police station and was sent to the Central Jail near here after being produced in a local court. District and Sessions Judge K L Liana in his order pointed out that the court did not have any reason to grant anticipatory bail to the Congress legislator and also mentioned that the police failed to initiate any investigation even after FIR was filed on June 27. “Why the investigating agency failed to initiate investigation even after registering a case?,” the court asked adding whether the same thing would happen to the common people. Pianmawia’s bail application would again be heard in the court tomorrow. (PTI)
CBSE model for Assam schools
Guwahati: CBSE model of school education will be followed by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA rpt SEBA) for the schools in the state, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Thursday. “I have asked the SEBA to follow the CBSE model by making local adjustments. Since a ready model exists, it is not necessary to try out a new one and spend time improving it later”, Gogoi told reporters here. On the reported anomalies in SEBA, he said an enquiry committee had been set up comprising the Vice Chancellors of Gauhati University and Assam Agriculture University to go into them. Stating his government was laying stress on improving the quality of education in the state, he said the government was helping the teachers training institutes in the state and giving stress on employability of the students. (PTI)
Eight extortionists held
Kohima: Altogether eight extortionists, including a cadre of Naga underground group, have been arrested along with arms, ammunition and cash in separate cases during the last three days, the police said on Thurday. Four were nabbed near TCP Gate Kohima in the wee hours today while they were extorting money from drivers of Manipur bound trucks in the name of Highway Traders Union. The four included the president of the union Dziesevituo Solo and its convener Kekhriekhotuo Solo. The police seized Rs 3685 of extorted cash, one SBBL gun with 3 rounds, one .22 pistol with 3 rounds and one .32 pistol with one round and a car from them. Three alleged highway robbers were also arrested from near Heritage Complex Kisama on the outskirts of Kohima town, the sources said. One person from an underground outfit was arrested on Tuesday. The police seized Rs 5000 extorted money from him, the sources said. (PTI)
Anti-HIV drug shortage risking lives: Activists
Kohima: Shortage of anti-HIV drug CD4 Count Reagent throughout the country is threatening the life of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS as the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has stopped its supply since March this year, activists have alleged. President of Indian Drug Users Forum (IDUF) Abu Mere said the CD4 count reagent which is essential for treatment of HIV is already out of stock in many states including Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and in the north-eastern states of Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh. Demanding supply of the reagent, various NGOs in Nagaland joined the Naga Network of People Living with HIV Positive (NNP+) in holding protest at the office of Nagaland State AIDS Control Society, Directorate of Health & Family Welfare, Kohima yesterday. NNP+ president Naomi said that Nagaland is facing shortage of the reagent since the past four months risking the life of people living with HIV AIDs. The protesters submitted a memorandum to the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) demanding immediate supply of the reagent. Mere said that they have already launched indefinite protest rally at the NACO office in New Delhi on Tuesday. NSACS project director Dr Changkija said the state is facing shortage of CD4 reagent due to delay is release of funds from the Centre. (PTI)