Curfew clamped in 25 villages of Assam’s Darrang district
Guwahati: Curfew was tonight clamped in 25 villages of Darrang district of Assam following clashes between two groups at Udmari village on Wednesday. District Magistrate M S Manivannan said in a statement that the curfew has been imposed with immediate effect. Manivannan said 13 persons have been injured in the clashes. While five of the injured have been sent to Gauhati Medical College Hospital, the rest were being treated at Mongoldoi Civil Hospital. Meanwhile, the district administration has announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident by Additional District Magistrate Bijoya Choudhury. (PTI)
Mizoram seeks Rs 48,164-crore grant from Finance Panel
Aizawl: The Mizoram government on Thursday sought a Rs 48,164.05-crore grant from the 14th Finance Commission for the next five years (2015-2020). The memorandum, submitted to the Finance Commission which was headed by chairman Y V Reddy, included Rs 35,009.17 crore for Non-Plan Revenue Deficit Grant before devolution of share of central taxes and Rs 8,046.73 crore for specific needs of the state. Specific needs of the state included establishment of a Lokayukta amounting to Rs 122.21 crore, gap grant for deficit in implementation of the national food security scheme for Rs 82.05 crore. Others were maintenance grant for roads and bridges (Rs 1,515 crore), maintenance grants for building (Rs 375 crore), administrative cost for three autonomous district councils (Rs 1,850.66 crore) and grants for corporatisation of the state power department (Rs 686 crore). The Mizoram government also asked for Rs 75.83 crore for creation of three more districts besides the existing eight. (PTI)
Three elephants killed as train runs into herd
Jorhat: Three elephants were killed when they were hit by a local passenger train in upper Assam’s Jorhat district on Thursday. The elephants were killed when the Guwahati-Tinsukia Intercity Express hit them as they were crossing the railway track at Venuguri village near Moriani Railway Station in a herd, officials said. The elephants were returning to their nearby habitat Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. While an adult elephant was cut into pieces, a calf died after it was hurled about 500 metres away due to the mishap. Another adult elephant was found dead lying near the train track, they said, adding, forest personnel have rushed there. Train movement was briefly disrupted on the route. A tiger, which strayed from a sanctuary, was also recently killed after being hit by a train while another elephant was also killed at the place about six months ago. (PTI)
Three Muslim Tiger Force terrorists surrender
Kajalgaon (Assam): Three terrorists of the Muslim Tiger Force today surrendered along with some arms and ammunitions, the police said. The three persons — identified as Shah Ali, Madan Ali and Samser Ali — laid down arms in front of the Chirang district SP Ranjan Bhuyan. They also deposited one AK series rifle, one 9 mm pistol, one 7.65 mm pistol and 11 rounds of cartridges, the sources said. (PTI)
Two poachers killed in Kaziranga encounter
Golaghat (Assam): Two suspected poachers were killed in an encounter with forest guards inside the Kaziranga National Park during wee hours today. Park officials said a team of forest guards were engagedin an encounter with five poachers during the wee hours at the Bagori range of the Park. Of the five, two were killed and others escaped. Search is on to nab the other three poachers. One single barrel gun, two cartridges of 12 bore rifle, six cartridges of .303 rifle were recovered from the spot, the officials added. (PTI)
BSF jawan arrested for stealing gold rings
Karimganj (Assam): A BSF jawan has been arrested for allegedly stealing two gold finger rings from a jewellery shop in Assam’s Silchar town, police said today. The jawan was arrested from his village in Uttar Pradesh and brought to Silchar yesterday, police said. He was produced at the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court today and remanded to judicial custody, they said. (PTI)