‘Illegal migrants are security problem’
Kohima: The influx of illegal migrants has become a security problem and created fear among the genuine Muslim community in Nagaland, state Home Minister Y Patton said on Sunday. “The issue of illegal migrants is no longer a humanitarian issue, but a security problem,” Patton told the annual Nagaland Muslim Students’ felicitation programme at Dimapur. “The influx of illegal migrants has brought about a serious demographic change creating a sense of insecurity and apprehension amongst the indigenous people and the genuine Muslim community in Nagaland due to the fact that our culture, tradition, political identity, social fabric and the land has become under severe duress in the hands of the illegal foreigners,” he said. The unguarded porous border had been used by anti-social elements as a safe corridor to carry out illegal activities tarnishing the image of the genuine citizens, he said. “Despite the provisions of Bengal Eastern Frontier regulation Act 1873, popularly known as Inner Line Permit (ILP), there is unabated influx of illegal migrants in the North-East including Nagaland,” Patton said and urged the Muslim community of Dimapur to seriously ponder over the issue. He said of late, Dimapur city, where many sections of people across the country were living, had become the nerve centre for all kinds of anti-social activities, a safe haven for criminal elements, gun runners and drug peddlers. Stating that almost every secessionist organisations in the North-East have their base in Dimapur, he said it was the collective responsibility of every citizen to play pro-active role in curbing the social menace so that the citizens of Nagaland could live in a peaceful atmosphere. (PTI)
NCC planning academy in Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar: The National Cadets Corps (NCC) is planning to open an academy in Arunachal Pradesh and raise a new battalion in Tawang district of the state bordering China. NCC Tezur-based Group Commander Brigadier N K Dabas announced this during a meeting here on Friday with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki while briefing the latter about various activities being carried out by NCC in the state, a press release said today. Dabas informed Tuki that NCC has plan to upgrade the 22(I) Coy at Pasighat to a full-fledged battalion and raise separate group headquarters for Arunachal Pradesh to bring more youths of the state under its fold. He also said that all the battalions with about 3400 cadets would be upgraded to seven companies and 24 troops. He was accompanied by Col S A Patil, commanding officer of Naharlagun based battalion, the release said. Earlier, Dabas visited the Naharlagun battalion and met the army staff, ANOs and cadets. He informed them about latest developments in NCC. He also held a brain-storming session with the staff and ANOs to work out future strategy for NCC activity in the state, the release added. (PTI)
Three NSCN cadres arrested
Kohima: Troops of 19 Assam Rifles nabbed four persons, including three NSCN(K) cadres in Kohima with arms and ammunition. Acting upon specific information regarding presence of three NSCN(K) cadres with weapons at PR Hill area, 19 Assam Rifles launched an operation on Friday which led to the arrest of three cadres of NSCN(K), an Assam Rifles release said here today. The team recovered one 7.65mm Pistol of Italian make with two magazines, one country made 7.65mm Pistol with two magazines, one .22 Pistol with one magazine, 22 live rounds of 7.65mm, one bullet proof jacket and extortion notes. In another operation on the same day, they nabbed a person in Mohonkhola with one .22 semi automatic Rifle of US make, magazine, 500 assorted ammunition and 33 detonators. The apprehended persons were handed over to South Police Station for interrogation. (PTI)
Do not indulge in community based politics: Nagaland arl secy
Kohima: Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for School Education Yitachu has urged the Naga People’s Front (NPF) youth wing to come out from its comfort zone and go beyond ‘constituency and community’ based politics while serving the people and the party. According to a press statement issued by NPF Central Youth Wing President Janbemo Humtsoe on Sunday, Yitachu made the appeal while addressing a consultative meeting with the newly appointed ministerial level youth wing in-charge on Friday at NPF Central office Headquarters. Speaking at the meeting, Yitachu lauded Naga People’s Front President Shurhozelie Liezietsu for the recent smooth transition of leadership and congratulated the Chief Minister T R Zeliang. (UNI)