Aizawl: A bandh called by the opposition Mizo National Front to demand resignation of state health minister Lalrinliana Sailo for his alleged involvement in drug smuggling disrupted normal life in the state today. Government offices, educational institutions, shops and business establishments remained closed in Aizawl and other seven district headquarters due to the 12-hour bandh beginning 5 AM. Aizawl district SP L.R.Dingliana Sailo said no untoward incident has been reported. Aizawl city wore a deserted look with no vehicles, except those carrying the sick to hospitals, and people ventured on the streets. The MNF called the bandh to pressurise Sailo to resign for his alleged involvement in drug smuggling through the drug licence of his under-aged son. The opposition party also said that the bandh was in protest against price rise of essential commodities, bad conditions of roads across the state and financial crisis due to alleged financial management by the Congress government. (PTI)
MoU signed between Manipur govt and three militant outfits
Imphal: Over 150 ultras have surrendered after signing of MoU between Manipur government and three militant outfits. The signing ceremony was held here Monday evening between representatives of government and three militant outfits of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP-Nongdrenkhomba), Kuki National Liberation Front (KNLF) and Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF). Following the MoU, 155 militants laid down arms and weapons taking the total number of ultras surrendering so far this year to 300 in the state. Chief Minister Okram Obobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and senior police officials were present at the ceremony. (PTI)
Slight intensity quake in Arunachal
Itanagar: A slight intensity earthquake jolted the West Kameng area of Arunachal Pradesh Monday evening, the Met department said. The quake, measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale, hit the area at 18:22 hours, it said. The epicentre of the quake originated 10 km under the earth, the department added. (PTI)
Assamese girl rescued in Punjab
Barpeta (Assam): An Assamese girl has been rescued from a remote village in Gurudwarpur area of Punjab, police said here on Moday. The girl was rescued by an Assam police team, which had gone to Punjab recently to search a 12-year-old girl from the same district allegedly kidnapped and sold in Punjab for flesh trade, police sources said on Monday. Based on an FIR lodged by the minor girl’s father that his daughter was missing since August 13, a police team from Tarabari police station went to Punjab after four women and a man involved in her kidnap and sale confessed their crime. The arrested traffickers were identified as Mamtaz Begum, Khenta Begum, Sukurjan Begum, Saniyara Begum and Shafiqul Islam, the sources said. As they were searching for the missing girl, police found another girl from Assam in the place where the first girl was sold, they said. This young girl was earlier taken away from Chandrapur Power House area in Guwahati and sold by Mamtaz in a remote village of Fatekachuriya in Punjab two months ago. Though the first girl could not be traced, police said they would search for her in Mumbai where she was reportedly sold. During the last few years, incidents of women trafficking has increased in Assam with young girls lured away on the pretext of giving them jobs outside the state and then sold in the flesh market, the sources said. Many young girls from Assam have been rescued from Mumbai, Punjab and Delhi, they added. (PTI)
Four missing students traced
Rangiya (Assam): Four students who had run away from home were traced and handed over to their parents in Assam’s Kamrup district on Monday, police said. The youths, all students of Class IX of Bindupur High School in Rangiya, fled from home on September five with the aim of going to Mumbai. The students claimed that they came in contact with some people at Guwahati railway station who promised them jobs in Mumbai at a salary of Rs 4,000 per month. The people who were allegedly taking them to Mumbai were not found and a search operation has been launched to trace them, the police said. (PTI)
Newspapers hit stands after eight days in Manipur
Imphal: Newspapers on Monday hit the stands in Manipur after eight days following a decision to distribute dailies by the All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors Association (AMNSDA). The decision was taken in the interest of the general public, a press release of AMNSDA said. Distribution of papers was stopped from September one due to a threat to newspaper distributors by some “unwanted elements” for not publishing their press statements, a spokesman of the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union said. Police and other forces have been deployed in all offices of the dailies to prevent interference in their functioning, official sources said. (PTI)
Nagaland MLA bags NE Golden Personalities Award Kohima Sep 09 (UNI) Nagaland MLA and Vice Chairman of Nagaland State Agriculture Marketing Board (NSAMB) S. Chuba Longkumer was awarded the Northeastern Golden Personalities Award and Bharat Excellence Award was awarded by the Friendship Forum, in recognition of his outstanding contribution and social services towards the people. According to sources today the awards were handed over to S. Chuba by former Election Commissioner of India Dr. G. V. G. Krishnamurty at a Seminar on Economic growth and national unity at New Delhi on August 18 last. The award is given to those who have contributed extra-ordinary achievements in their chosen field of activity and services rendered to promote greater friendship and India-international cooperation. S. Chuba, who served as Block Development Officer (BDO) in Peren district for over 34 years said during his service, he had served the people in many categories. He took voluntary retirement last year and got elected from Angetyongpang Assembly Constituency under Mokokchung district on Independent ticket. For his outstanding contribution to the society, in the field of integration and co-ordination, S. Chuba also received a Commendation Certificate from the Nagaland Government on August 15 last year, sources said. UNI