Mizoram’s lone surviving INA member dies at 99
Aizawl: Darthawma, the lone surviving Mizo member of Subhash Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA), died of multi-organ failure in south Mizoram’s Lunglei on Sunday morning, his family said. He was 99. The freedom fighter’s last rites were performed at Lunglei, 170 km from here, this afternoon. It was attended by representatives from the district administration, Army, paramilitary forces, non-governmental organisations and Ex-Servicemen. He is survived by six children, 19 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Darthawma had joined the Army Medical Corps of the British Indian Army on November 27, 1940 during the World War 2 and was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army in early 1942 during his posting at Malaysia’s Penang Island. He joined the INA in May 1942 to fight against the British colonial rule. Two years after joining the INA, Darthawma was captured by the British in 1944 but was released from Lucknow Jail on January 15, 1945 following the intervention of Mahatma Gandhi. The Indian government awarded him the ‘Tamrapatra Award’ in 1972 for his role in the struggle for Indian independence. (PTI)
BSF thwarts Rohingya entry
Agartala: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday said the force has thwarted an attempt of at least 12 Rohingya Muslims to enter into Indian territory through Tripura from Bangladesh. Two men, five women and as many children had tried to enter Sipahijala district, about 50 km from here. “Our troops thwarted their attempts to enter into our territory through Futia village in the international border on Thursday. We have successfully prevented their entry. They are still on the zero line,” BSF Deputy Inspector General C L Belwa said. A company commander-level flag meeting was held two days back on this with Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) which was followed by a battalion commander-level meeting, he said. “We have seized biscuits and soft drinks from their (Rohingyas’) possession, which were manufactured in Bangladesh. These were provided by the World Food Programme, at Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh,” he said. During the meeting on Thursday, the BGB accepted that Rohingyas came from Bangladesh side and sought two days time for a final decision, Belwa said. According to sources in the BSF and the police, over 250 Rohingya Muslims have been detained during the past one year from different parts of the North-East, which share 2000 km long border with the neighbouring country. (PTI)
Bodies of two children recovered
Imphal (Manipur): The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Saturday recovered the bodies of two children who had drowned in a river in Imphal. The bodies were recovered from an area near the Mahabali temple. The NDRF has deployed 124 teams in various parts of the country to respond to any type of eventuality. (ANI)