Security measures upscaled ahead of Durga Puja in Tripura
Agartala: About 2000 security personnel would be engaged in the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) area here to ensure a peaceful celebration of Durga Puja next week in Tripura, for which traffic arrangements would also be made. Of the 1000 Durga pujas in the state, 329 were in the AMC area, police sources said on Friday. Policemen in uniform and in mufti would keep vigil during the four-day festival, the sources said. Among security measures were installation of CCTVs, metal detectors and four watch towers for better surveillance, the sources said. Six check gates would be set up here for checking vehicles entering from other districts of the state. Puja organisers have been warned not to put pressure on people for collecting subscriptions. (PTI)
Man held with narcotic tablets worth over Rs 6 lakh
Imphal: An alleged drug dealer was arrested with narcotic tablets worth Rs 6.15 lakh in Manipur’s Imphal East district, police said on Friday. Following information about the sale of the tablets known as ‘World is Yours’, personnel of the Narcotic Affairs of Border arrested 42-year-old Hemkhongmang Haokip from the Chekon area in the district yesterday, they said. The tablets, valued at Rs 6.15 lakh in the international market, were seized from him, they said. Preliminary investigations revealed that Haokip had procured the tablets from Myanmar. A single tablet costs Rs 250, but it can fetch Rs 1500 in the international market, police said. Haokip was handed over to the Porompat police station. (PTI)
Arunachal Governor asks students to be agents of change
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma has asked the faculty and students of Rajiv Gandhi University to become “agents of change” in the country. The young men and women should take the responsibility of restoring the country’s glory and make it realize its full potential, the governor told a meeting at the university on Thursday. Recalling the ancient reputation of the country all over the world as a centre of education, the governor urged the students to be inquisitive. He said teachers should prepare the students for employment and entrepreneurship. (PTI)
Tourism Secy, Director visit Twang to take stock of ITM
Itanagar: Union tourism secretary Parvez Dewan along with director Mamta Kochar visited Tawang to take stock of the ongoing preparations for the three-day International Tourism Mart (ITM) proposed from October 18 next. “Regardless of foreign or domestic tourist, we need to give equal importance to all the guests arriving in the ITM,” Dewan told a meeting of officials convened at the DC’s conference hall yesterday to assess the preparation of the mega event, official sources said here on Friday. He laid emphasis on adorning traditional dresses by the locals during the event to showcase the rich and unique culture heritage of Tawang. Hosting the mega event is a rare opportunity for Tawang in particular and Arunachal Pradesh in general, Tourism Minister Pema Khandu said, and urged the officers for their committed services to put up a good show as about 100 delegates from various countries are expected to take part. The discussion in the meeting centered around actions taken on beautification of the township, preparedness for relief and rescue in the case of eventualities, operationalization of wayside amenities, provision of high quality medical assistance, internet facilities and undisrupted power supply, sources said. The duo inspected the venues – Kalawangpo Conventional Centre and Changbu ground – and various hotels, home stays and guest houses in the town. Dewan advised the hoteliers to maintain hygiene and cleanliness. (PTI)
Rhino injures constable
Morigaon: A constable was seriously injured by a rhino inside Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district of Assam on Friday, Sanctuary sources said. The constable was chased and trampled by the rhino critically wounding him at around 8 am, the sources said. The policeman, identified as Pradip Dusa, was rushed to Gauhati Medical College Hospital. The sources said Dusa, deployed in Morigaon police station, had not been posted at the Sanctuary. The reason for his presence there was not immediately known. The Pobitora Santuary, about 30 km from Guwahati, has the densest population of the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros in its 16 sq km effective rhino habitat. (PTI)
Kaziranga to reopen from November 1
Kaziranga (Assam): The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) will be thrown open for tourists from November 1 for the next four months. According to KNP Director Niranjan Kumar Vasu preparations are under full swing to welcome both foreign and domestic tourists to the park, which will be kept open for the next four months. He further said the authority is busy in repairing the bridges, painting the movement tracks with important spots for viewing the animals along with sensitive and hypersensitive areas, where movement is restricted. The KNP is divided into four ranges — Agaratoli, Kohora, Bagori and Burapahar. (PTI)
N’land zoo gets python, porcupine, civet & Macaque as donation
Kohima: In the wild animal donation spree, the Nagaland Zoological Park (NZP), Rangapahar, near Dimapur received a python, added to its family of wildlife, which is measuring about 7 feet and weighing about 8 Kgs on Wednesday last. According to a press release issued by the NZP Officer-in-charge Obed Bohovi Swu, the python was rescued by NZP staff along with local residents from Imkong Lenden, Block B-3 area of Dimapur town. It is presently housed in a temporary enclosure and is under observation. The Director has conveyed sincere thanks to the people of the locality for assisting the Department in rescuing the python and further urged everyone to help conserve and protect our wildlife wealth, the note read. (UNI)
Nagaland CM’s contest for LS not yet final
Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has said he was yet to decide about contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the ANCSU Conference at Phek yesterday, Mr Rio said speculation of him contesting the parliamentary polls were true and such a scenario had been discussed.
He said, “I had expressed my opinion to contest the Lok Sabha elections, while the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) has expressed their desire not to allow him to contest”.
He also accepted that the DAN legislators had approached him with the decision of the meeting held on September 23 in Kohima. However, Mr Rio said talks were still on and a final decision was yet to be taken. (UNI)
Houses gutted in Dimapur fire
Kohima: Fire broke out at Circular Road of Dimapur town on Thursday evening gutting an eatery and a garage shop to ashes.
According to sources, the fire broke out in a garage and adjoining hotel leading to a gas cylinder burst, following which it turned into an inferno.
However, fire engines were pressed into service and the inferno was controlled within an hour.
The inferno reduced an eatery inside the complex to ashes and caused damages to at least three vehicles parked inside the garage.
The extent of damage and cause of fire was yet to be ascertained.
Dimapur Deputy Commissioner N Hushili Sema also rushed to the spot to assess the situation. (UNI)
BSF joins hand with Nagaland Forest Dept
Kohima: With the aim aforestation in Nagaland, the Border Security Force (BSF) joined hands for a plantation drive on the eve of observation of the ‘Wildlife Protection Week, 2013’ which was participated by officers and jawans of the battalion and Nagaland Forest Department, Villagers and Gaon Burhas, teachers, schools children and public.
According to a statement, the 111 Battalion of BSF, Satakha under Zunheboto district, led by its Commandant Y. M. Upadhyay , planted approximately 2500 seedlings in the premises of the battalion on Wednesday last to create an awareness programme on conserving plants & wildlife protection. (UNI)