GUWAHATI: A father and his tw year-old son were trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in Assam’s Sonitpur district on Sunday. According to official sources the two were trampled to death when they were sleeping in their house at Belsiri village. The forest department personnel have been alerted and they were trying to drive away the tuskers to the neighbouring reserve forest. At least 116 persons have been killed between 1997 and 2010 while 33 elephants have been poisoned by villagers in the West forest division of Assam comprising mainly Sonitpur district. (PTI)
Conviction rate improves
AGARTALA:Tripura police decision to make appearance of deputy superintendent of police level to havildar rank officials mandatory in trail court has started yielding result as within six months conviction rate has gone up to 40 per cent.Director General of Police (DGP) K Saleem Ali said after identification of poor performance of the police in investigation and framing charge against the criminals, authority had arranged special training for the investigation officers and other officials frequently.Besides training and interaction with the senior officers, the state government had made mandatory the presence of all officers related to a particular case in the trail court and note down the observation of the court.The initiative has started yielding result and within six months, the rate of conviction has raised to 40 per cent and court has appreciated the development of the investigation in a few recent cases,” Mr Ali claimed, adding that community policing prays had facilitated the process and civil society involvement in crime investigation. (UNI)
Houses razed by fire
KOHIMA: At least nine houses were reduced to ashes and several families rendered homeless in a fire that broke out at the congested New Market area of Dimapur town on Saturday. Official sources hereon Sunday said the fire which erupted at a row of residential homes affected several families, who were living as tenants.However, no casualty was reported. the fire reportedly started from one rented room.The alarmed residents alerted the fire brigade, who responded with five fire tenders.The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained while the affected families could not provide an approximate of the damage caused, however, it is being ascertained, sources said. (UNI)
Kang festival race held
IMPHAL: A ten km run was organised by Manipur police and local youth clubs to commemorate the Kang festival (Purna Yatra) and for peace and prosperity for the people of Manipur.The race, starting from Hayanthang Bridge upto the Mayalambi College, was a challenging one covering a total distance of 10 KMs.The event saw enormous volunteers as a total of 500 children below fifteen years of age and an over 400 youth from Wangoi area participated. (UNI)