Buddha relics leave for Delhi
Itanagar: The 2,568-year-old relics of Lord Buddha, which were exhibited at the Golden Pagoda at Namsai in Lohit district, began the return journey to National Museum in New Delhi with thousands of people participating in the huge procession. A special puja was offered at the pagoda which was attended by a host of monks beside state Finance Minister Chowna Mein. State honour was extended to the relics before their departure to Delhi, Mein said. Lohit DC Rajiv Takuk and SP Tumme Amo oversaw the smooth conduct of the event. Over 40,000 Buddhist devotees paid obeisance at the Golden Pagoda during the exposition from December 6 to 12. (PTI)
Arunachal tableau at R-Day parade
Itanagar: After a gap of four years, Arunachal Pradesh has been selected for tableau presentation at the national level during the Republic Day celebration at New Delhi next year. Prepared by the Arts & Exhibition unit of the Department of Information & Public Relations, the theme of the state tableau is ‘Aji Lhamu Dance’ of the Monpas and Sherdukpens representing the districts of West Kameng and Tawang. Arunachal Pradesh is among the 13 (12 states and one from Ministry of Defence) selected for the tableau presentation, officials here today. The last tableau presentation from the state was in 2008 on the ‘Dances of Khamtis’ of Lohit district which was well appreciated. (PTI)
Nagaland NTC President resigns
Kohima: The Members of the newly formed Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) were taken aback after the first President Thepfulhouvi Solo announced his resignation as President NTC. In his resignation letter Mr. Solo cited NTC constitution vide Article 8 (ii). Article 8 (ii) of the NTC constitution cites ‘there shall not be two office bearers from the same tribe.’ He stated that earlier the non-attendance of the Pochury tribe to NTC led the Angami tribe to initially fill the required number of office post. However, Solo said, after the Pochury tribe joined NTC, he volunteered to vacate the post of President in fulfillment of Article 8(ii) of the constitution of the NTC. He said an emergency meeting would be convened on Sunday to discuss the matter. Sources informed that the General Secretary of NTC had not yet received Solo’s vacation letter, to whom it was addressed. (UNI)
Three including 2 minor sisters drown in Zubza river in Nagaland
Kohima: Altogether 3 persons, including two minor sisters, were drowned in river Zubza between Hozukhe village and Niuland under Dimapur district, while on a picnic Thursday afternoon. According to sources, the victims have been identified as Kiboli (13), Vinoli (16) both sisters and students of Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur and residents of Mount View Colony, Purana Bazaar and the other is Topuka Assumi aged around 24. Sources said that Vinoli first fell in the sand marsh and her younger sister Kiboli and Topuka while making attempts to rescue her also got drowned. The incident took place when a group of around 20 youth from the Mount View colony of Purana Bazar, Dimapur went for a picnic. Funeral service of the sisters was held on Friday at Mount View Colony, Purana Bazar, while the body of Topuka has been taken to his native village Sitimi, in Kiphire district. (UNI)
Three members of inter-state gang nabbed
Jorhat (Assam): Three persons belonging to a seven-member inter-state gang of robbers were arrested today in Assam’s Jorhat district, police said. Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the trio, who had robbed a couple early on Friday, from the railway tracks near Ataliagaon while they were on they were on their way to board the Inter-City Mariani-Alipurduar Express enroute to Dimapur. The police recovered a 3.2 mm pistol, three rounds of live ammunition, five mobile sets and several gadgets used for lifting cars, opening lockers, shutters and locks and doors. The trio had tied a couple – Biren Borah and Niru Borah – at their residence in Pragati Nagar of Bongal Pukhuri under Jorhat Police Station and looted Rs 60,000 in cash and gold ornaments worth Rs 5 lakh. Jorhat Superintendent of Police Sanjukta Parasar said all looted items have been recovered from the arrested persons who were wanted in several cases including robbery, car lifting and highway robbery. The arrested members of the gang, based at Dimapur, have been identified as Sanjiv Bordoloi, Dulal Saikia and Subhash Dhar and search operations were on to apprehend the remaining four members of the gang, Parasar added. (PTI)
Arunachal revises royalty on timber
Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has approved fixing of 40 per cent royalty on timber and other forest produce in the state, revising the rate after two years as per the cost inflation index over 2007. The cabinet headed by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Tuesday took the decision to boost the exchequer, following the Supreme Court’s ban on timber operation since 1996 leading to drying up of the main revenue source of the state, government spokesman Nabam Rebia said in a statement here today. This would help enrich the coffers of the state facilitating taking up of more development activities, Rebia said. Concerned at the recent outbreak of ‘epidemic’ in Longding district, the cabinet approved creation of a district hospital for Longding with specialist doctors for children, medicine, gynaecology, surgery and anaesthesia. In order to discourage and minimise tobacco consumption in the state, the cabinet approved increasing the existing tax on tobacco products from 12.5 per cent to 20 per cent, Rebia said. He said that the department of Information Technology has been renamed as department of Information Technology and Communication, considering technical bottlenecks in facilitating effective IT related activities. Realising the huge potential of tourism sector, the cabinet OKed a landmark leasing policy under public private partnership mode to lease out tourism infrastructures to private parties, NGOs and tour operators to give a new thrust to the sector, the spokesman added. (PTI)