Two killed in clashes in Agartala
Agartala: Two persons were killed and nine injured in group clashes between ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress supporters in Jirania area here last night, police said. Tension gripped entire eastern Agartala following the clashes. Police said violence broke out over a petty issue between two inebriated persons of rival political parties. Trouble flared up and Congress and CPI(M) supporters fought with lethal weapons. Bricks and stones rained down in all directions while one group chased the other with sharp weapons. Police attempted to disperse the mob and succeeded at one place. But at another place clashes continued with renewed vigor. Retired teacher and CPI(M) supporter Ramendra Deb(82) died of heart attack when violence erupted, while a bike-borne tribal youth died after he skidded off the road and fell on being hit by a brick. Both parties have called a 12-hour general strike in Jirania sub-division from this morning protesting the incident. The Congress alleged that dispute arose over voter-list correction and deletion of names of the dead. They also claimed that CPI(M) cadres launched an assault on party activists at Jirania Block Chowmuhani and five Congress supporters were injured. (UNI)
Over 7,000 rape complaints in Assam since 2006
Guwahati: Over 7000 complaints of rape and another 11,553 complaints of kidnapping of women were received by Assam Police between 2006 and 2011, the assembly was informed on Monday. In a written reply, Minister for Environment and Forest Rockybul Hussain, on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, said 12,683 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the the cases of rape and kidnapping of women. The minister also said that as many as 80 women were killed in the last six years. The highest number of killings took place in 2011 when as many as 29 lost their lives, while this year three others were killed after being branded as witch. Among the districts worst affected by the killings were Kokrajhar, Chirang and Sonitpur, he said. The minister said that the state police’s special outreach programme “Project Prahari” has been used to sensitise the people about superstitious beliefs, besides encouraging locals to approach the authorities in case of such incidents. (PTI)
Six construction company employees kidnapped in Mizoram
Aizawl: Six employees of an Assam-based construction company have been abducted from their camp at Mauzam hamlet in Mizoram by an unidentified group, state Home Minister R Lalzirliana said today. Lalzirliana told the assembly during zero hour, “Around 20 to 25 people dressed in black suits and armed with AK-47 assault rifles attacked the camp of Anupam Bricks and Concrete Industries (ABCI) workers at Lungei district last night and abducted six people identified as Pushpa Sharma, Pawan Singh, Sunil Singh, Shia Ram, Purna Ram and Tikloo”. While Pushpa Sharma is an accountant and Tikloo is an excavator operator, the rest of the officials are supervisors, he said. The abductors took away Rs two lakh in cash from the ABCI officials before fleeing into the jungle. Combing and search operations were launched by the police to secure the release of the abducted persons and arrest the kidnappers, he said. Senior police officials, however, suspected that the abductors had escaped to Bangladesh. (PTI)
Three killed in accident in Silchar
Silchar: Three people, including two students, were killed in a road accident on NH-6 (earlier NH 44) at Katogora in Cachar district on early on Monday. Two other passengers were injured condition of one was stated to be critical. Sources said the madrassa teachers and students were returning home in Karimganj district from an overb night religious ceremony held near Kalain in Cachar district. When the car in which they were travelling reached Modua village near Katigora at 0500 hrs it rammed into the rear of a loaded stationary truck by the side of the Silchar-Guwahati road. Local people and police rushed to the spot and started rescue operation soon after the accident. (UNI)