Eight militants arrested in Manipur
Imphal: Eight militants have been arrested and some arms and ammunition recovered from them during search operations by security forces in different areas of Manipur, police said on Thursday. While seven militants including four women cadres belonging to Kanglei Yawol Kann Lup (KYKL) were arested from Kakching and Thoubal market areas, another of Kangleipak Communist Party was caught from Thoubal police station area in Thoubal district on Wednesday. Three hand grenades, one 9mm pistol and some ammunition besides a car and a mobile phone were recovered from their possession. (PTI)
Four NDFB(S) militants arrested
Baksa (Assam): Four hardcore NDFB(S) militants, including an area commander, have been nabbed by security forces during search operations in Assam’s Baksa district, police said on THursday. Army and the police had launched a massive search operation in the district following yesterday’s clashes between Bodos and non-Bodos in the district in which one person was killed and nabbed four militants since last night. The nabbed militants have been identified as Bijoy Boro, who is an area commander of the outfit, Farman Boro, Upen Boro and M Sangri. The security forces have recovered six grenades, two 7.6 pistols, ten rounds of ammunitions, four mobiles and several extortion notes, sources added. (PTI)
Border Personnel meeting between India, China
Tezpur (Assam): A Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) between India and China in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday reaffirmed the resolve to strengthen friendship and maintain peace and tranquility along the border. In the meeting held at Maitre Sthal in Bum La in Tawang district, border personnel from both sides decided to enhance the bonhomie, defence sources said. Such meetings play a pivotal role in enhancing relations between the two countries and serve as a vital platform for resolving local issues in the sector and prevent escalation of tension, they added. (PTI)
Gambling banned during Diwali in Arunchal Pradesh
Itanagar: There will be little cheer for gamblers rolling dice in the high stakes game of ‘jhandi munda’ this Diwali in Arunachal Pradesh, which has been legal till last year, but banned this time around. During the Festival of Lights the game is played with numbered dice at betting kiosks which are choc-a-bloc with people waiting to try their luck at roadside kiosks. There are six icons on the six sides of the dice with the icon turning up the most being the winning one. Arunachal Pradesh is perhaps the only Indian state where gambling has been legal under the Public Gambling Act, enacted in 1867. But this Diwali, the state government, has banned issue of licences for setting up betting kiosks. Permits valid for only three days during Diwali to host a betting kiosk cost around 12,000 rupees. Last year around 5000 licenses were issued in the capital city alone and the number perhaps crossed 15,000 in the entire state. “We have completely banned jhandi munda this time as it causes economic hardships and squandering of money resulting in starvation for many poor families,” capital complex magistrate Sanjoy Goel said. (PTI)
Several MNF leaders join Congress
Aizawl: A number of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) leaders including Dr John V Hluna on Thursday joined the Congress. The group led by Hluna earlier belonged to the People’s Conference, a breakaway faction of the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) which merged with the MNF on November 8 last year. Top leader of the group and former deputy chief minister Lalhmingthanga and other senior leaders, however, did not attend the press conference convened by Hluna, where he told reporters that they did not like the alliance between MNF and MPC which was finalised on Tuesday last. (PTI)
Drugs worth Rs 37 lakh seized in Karimganj
Karimganj (Assam): Assam police and BSF personnel on Thursday seized drugs worth Rs 37 lakhs and arrested one person in Karimganj district. According to BSF spokesperson, DIG S C Budakoti, the recovered consignment was brought from Myanmar and it was to be sold in Barak Valley and Tripura. “The apprehended person along with the seized narcotics substance have been handed over to Neelam Bazar police station for further investigation and taking legal action,” he added. The joint operation team apprehended one Abdul Muquit along with 370 grams of narcotics substance, believed to be heroin, worth of Rs 37 lakh from Neelam Bazar on NH-44. (PTI)
2 dacoits arrested in Kamrup district
Nalbari (Assam): Two dacoits of a gang, which had looted Rs 50 lakh from UCO Bank, were arrested from Rangiya, police said on Thursday. According to officials, police arrested the duo last night after getting a tip-off about the gang’s hideout. The two have been identified as Najrul Haque and Maznur Ali, police said. Last month, a gang of six dacoits had looted Rs 50 lakh from UCO Bank at Haribhanga near Tihu in Nalbari district when the money was being transported. A bank employee and a security guard were also injured when the dacoits had opened fire. (PTI)