Arunachal CM condoles Mandela’s death

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has condoled the death of anti-apartheid hero and former South Africa president Nelson Mandela. “The news of the demise of South African icon, Nelson Mandela has come as a shock. As the world mourns the passing away of a personality of the century, I on behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh pay our respects to South Africa’s first black President,” Tuki said in a message here Sunday. “Mandela was an enduring icon of the struggle against racial oppression” he said in his condolence message to High Commissioner of South Africa to India, Harris Majeke.“His name will always resonate as a symbol of his effort to transcend decades of racial division and create what South Africans call a Rainbow Nation and to the wider world he will represent many things, not least an icon of freedom but also the most vivid example in modern times of the power of forgiveness and reconciliation” Tuki said. (PTI)

Dimapur police recovers body of youth

Kohima: The Dimapur Police has recovered the body of a twenty-two year-old man on the outskirts of Dimapur, at a secluded spot near Suhoyi village on Saturday. According to official sources, the deceased was later identified as Aron Pochury, who worked as an attendant at a guest house in Dimapur. Sources said the victim bore injuries on the head and face, which is suspected to have been inflicted by blunt objects. Blocks of broken bricks and a broken wooden pole, bearing blood stains were found near the body. Further, two unfired rounds of .22 mm shells along with an empty case of the same caliber were recovered from the spot, the sources said, however the body did not bear any bullet wound on the body. (UNI)

Nagaland Konyak Union appeals for peace on Christmas season

Kohima: The Konyak Union (KU) of Mon district of Nagaland has appealed to all political groups (undergrounds) to let peace and harmony prevail during the auspicious Christmas season and shun any form of violence and killings among each other. A statement issued by Union Joint Secretary L Shahkai Konyak said during its pre Christmas celebrations, the Union urged for the occasion to be a reminder for all that ‘Nagaland is for the Christ and have no place for violence in negation to the tenet of the Christ teaching in the Bible.’ It informed that the Konyak Union greeted its people a very happy and merry Christmas 2013 on the day. The union conveyed to its people that it is a time for merry making and introspection and retrospection in life and renew one’s spirituality and faith in ‘our savor Lord Jesus Christ’. (UNI)

Nagaland FGN alleges cadre killed by police

Kohima: The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) , in regard to the shootout in Tuensang on Friday, has clarified that the police is behind the killing of their cadre Sgt Maj Changsipong. A press note from the Ministry of Rali Wali stated that ‘in the midst of commotion between the Naga National Council (NNC)/FGN (Brig Retd S. Singnya) and Shillong Accordist and Peace Campers, the Indian Reserve Battalion personnel along with Sub- Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) and Officer in Charge of Tuengsang town Police Station rushed to the scene and instead of displaying neutrality to initiate peace, shot dead Sgt Maj Changsipong, Naga Army, Eastern Command.’ The bullet which killed the deceased ‘provides strong evidence which and that belongs to the Indian Reserve Battalion personnel.’ As such, it questioned, ‘Who ordered the hit to Indian Reserve Battalion personnel to carry out such audacious actions? How can the guarders of law become the killers? Did the State Government approved to kill national workers who defend Naga sovereignty?’ (UNI)

Over 1 lakh visit Nagaland Hornbill festival

Kohima: Nagaland Minister for Tourism E E Pangteang said nearly one lakh people have witnessed the ongoing Nagaland Hornbill Festival 2013 on the 50th Year of Nagaland Statehood. In a statement, Mr Pangteang said a total of 93,649 tourists, out of which 1072 from foreign countries, 9577 from the mainland and 83,000 locals visited the festival during the first five days of the festival, which began on December 1.He expressed hope that the number would increase. Yesterday, on the seventh day, the number of visitors have reportedly crossed the lakh figure, sources informed. Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for CAWD R Tohanba said the main object of Hornbill festival is to protect and revive the age-old tradition of forefathers of all the Naga tribes and many forgotten things are being revived during the ten-day-long Festival. (UNI)

Nelson Mandela: state mourning declared in Assam

Guwahati: The Assam Government has declared ‘State mourning’ for five days as a mark of respect to the departed soul of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa and Bharat Ratna awardee, an official release said here on Saturday. During this period, the state government cancelled all official entertainment programmes and the National Flag would fly at half mast throughout the state, the release said. The state mourning was declared with effect from Saturday. (PTI)

Congress defers Kohima bandh

Kohima: In view of the festival season, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) on Saturday decided to defer its proposed 12-hour Kohima bandh on December 9 demanding removal of charge-sheeted Nagaland minister Imkong L Imchen. NPCC general secretary Medokul Sophie told PTI that the decision to this effect was taken considering appeals made by apex bodies in the state capital citing the festival season, and the presence of thousands of tourists in the state for the biggest indigenous festival being held here. (PTI)