Army chief visits Nagaland to review security scenario
Kohima: The Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh visited Zakhama on Saturday and reviewed the operational preparedness, security situation and progress made in the development of infrastructure in the Spear Corps. According to a Defence release on Sunday, the General, accompanied by wife Bubbles Singh, was received by Lt Gen S L Narasimhan, General Officer Commanding Spear Corps. Lt Gen Manmohan Singh Rai, General Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Command, accompanied the Army Chief. Gen Singh, who is also the Colonel of the SIKH LI Regiment, addressed the troops of 16 SIKH LI Battalion and interacted with them. The 16 SIKH LI contingent participated in a 10-day joint training exercise termed ‘Hand in Hand 2013’ at Kunming province of Southern China in November 2013, the release said. (UNI)
Naga student’s body condemns killing
Kohima: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has strongly condemned the barbaric act of killing nine people and abandoning their bodies at Pachaspura area near Chumukedima-A by unidentified persons and urged the High Power Enquiry Committee (HPEC) set up by the State government to trace the perpetrators and award capital punishment to them. In a press release on Sunday, NSF President Tongpang Ozukum and General Secretary Esther Rhakho said, “At this juncture, right thinking citizens of both Assam and Nagaland should join hands together and try to find out the ‘modus operandi’ and identify the persons or organisations behind the entire episode of creating such unnecessary situation and disturbing the age-old cordial relationship and peaceful co-existence of the entire populace and communities in Karbi Anglong district.” The Federation also cautioned the general public not to create any sort of unwanted situation that will give more room to the possible third front conspirators to take undue advantage of the situation to further incite communal hatred and clashes amongst the communities living in Karbi Anglong. Moreover, the Federation also urged upon the governments of both Assam-Nagaland to provide enough security for the travellers to avoid any untoward incident and to show more commitment and seriousness in solving the present imbroglio in the interest of both the states. The students body extended its support to the family members of the deceased. (UNI)
Fire razes plywood factory
Kohima: A plywood factory and the residential quarters of the labourers were completely razed to ashes in a major fire that broke out at Chumukedima Town in Dimapur district, Nagaland. Official sources said the fire, which reportedly broke out on Saturday afternoon, razed for five to six hours. It was contained with the help of five fire tenders and volunteers from the area, sources said. The real cause of the fire could not be ascertained, but it is suspected to have been caused by electrical short circuit. Apart from the houses inside the factory, the flames damaged all the machines, wood, furnished products and also the residential quarters of the labourers and staff which lie adjacent to the factory. (PTI)
BSF made extra deployment in Tripura border
Agartala: The Border Security Force (BSF) has made extra deployment along 856 kilometres Indo-Bangladesh boundary since on Saturday following the ongoing parliamentary polls in Bangladesh on Sunday. BSF officials here on Sunday said with the instruction of Ministry of Home Affairs, additional forces had been deployed to avoid any intrusion bid from across the border and eruption of any tension. Meanwhile, Director General of Tripura Police C Balasubramanian said entire stretch was put on high alert besides, TSR and Assam Rifles in the strategic locations of Tripura apprehending unwanted influx. Tripura had record of sudden influx from Bangladesh in any turmoil. Mobile Task Force is also engaged in round-the-clock patrol along the bordering areas to prevent any untoward elements from across the border, Balasubramanian said. (UNI)
Main accused of Nagaland student’s murder nabbed
Kohima: The main accused in the December 28 assault and murder of a Class 10 student in Dimapur was arrested by Dimapur Police and Special Branch personnel on the morning of January 4. According to a press release from the Additional Superintendent of Police Dimapur on Saturday night, the accused Vikheho Awomi, was taken into custody from Zhekishe village under Dimapur district. It further informed that the accused has admitted to his crime and that he has been remanded to custody for further investigation. The accused had been absconding since the December 28 incident and Dimapur Police had issued a wanted notice on January 3, with a reward of Rs one Lakh for information leading to his arrest. (UNI)
Centre to grant Rs. 225 Crores for Rural Roads in Nagaland
Kohima: The Union Government is upgrading and constructing nearly 50,000 kilometers of rural roads across the country, with Nagaland set to get a sanction for Rs. 225 Crores more under a Rural Road Development Scheme. According to official reports, the additional funding to Nagaland has been allocated under phase-II of the nationwide rural road development program, the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-II. The fiscal is for the 12th Five-Year Plan (2012-2017). The central government is said to have sanctioned funds for rural road projects under PMGSY-II to a number of state the scheme covers. Details about the funds meant for Nagaland for the project could not be obtained at the time of filing this news report. (UNI)
BJP Tripura unit condemnes PM’s comment against Modi
Agartala: The state unit of BJP has condemned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s comment against it’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Jan 3 at a press conference in New Delhi. BJP State President Sudhindra Dasgupta demanded tat the PM withdraw his comment failing which the party would launch a campaign against it. (UNI)