Arunachal assured of central help for minorities development
Itanagar: Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma A Heptulla has assured Arunachal Pradesh of her department’s assistance for overall development of the minorities in the mountain state. She gave an assurance to BJP State President Tai Tagak and General Secretary Dominic Tadar when they called on her in New Delhi on Saturday. During the meeting, Heptulla said the Centre was contemplating introducing several new schemes and programmes soon for the development of minorities in the country, a party release said here today. Tagak and Tadar discussed with her a wide range of issues concerning minorities’ welfare and development in the north east especially education, health and other services, the release said. (PTI)
Armed NSCN(K) cadre caught in Manipur
Kolkata: Army troops have apprehended an armed cadre of NSCN (K) in Manipur and also seized arms and ammunition from him, official sources said here on Sunday. Based on specific inputs about the presence of an armed cadre in Tamenglong district’s Nonei III area, troops of Red Shield Division cordoned the suspected house and apprehended the cadre on Saturday, a defence release said. The self-styled ‘sergeant’ of NSCN (K) was identified as 23-year-old Gairiupou Gonmei. A 9 mm pistol, one magazine, four live rounds, eight rounds of M-16 and one mobile phone was seized from him, it said. Gonmei was later handed over to the local police. (PTI)
Employee stabbed fatally in scuffle in hotel
Itanagar: A hotel employee was stabbed to fatally during a scuffle between two groups inside an upmarket hotel here, police said on Sunday. Capital superintendent of police Seju P Kurivilla said a kitchen helper of the hotel was stabbed in his abdomen with a kitchen knife allegedly by a housekeeper during the scuffle on Saturday night. The man succumbed to his injuries while being transferred from one hospital to another. The knife has been seized and the accused arrested, Kurivilla said adding probe into the incident is on. (PTI)
Youth held for killing python
Aizawl: Forest officials in Mizoram have arrested a Mizo youth for killing a python and burning it in a market near the state capital city Aizawl, officials said Sunday. “Lalramliana killed a 13-foot long python near Darkhuang river (near here) and brought it to the Falkawn village market (on the outskirts of Aizawl city) before burning it publicly Friday,” a forest official said. After getting information from people, forest officials rushed to the market and arrested Lalramliana. He was booked under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and subsequently, presented in a court which sent him to three days’ custody.Mizos consider the gall bladder (bile) of a python has medicinal values. They use it to treat dysentery, diarrhoea and cholera. Python meat is also consumed during pregnancy to ensure healthy birth of a baby.Smuggling of pangolin scales is also rampant in Mizoram, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh. According to the wildlife and forest officials, endangered pangolin scales are used for making costly garments, medicines and for other purposes in south Asian countries. (IANS)
Anganwadi worker arrested with fake currency
Jorhat (Assam): An Anganwadi worker was arrested on Sunday along with fake currency with a face value of Rs 50,000. According to Jorhat SP Amanjeet Kaur, the lady has been identified as Pori Borah alias Pili (35) and she is an employee of an Anganwadi Centre run by the State Welfare Department. Kaur said Pori was handed over the fake notes by two persons near Mariani police station and was supposed to give the amount to someone in Jorhat. The entire amount was in the denomination of 500 rupees notes, she added. (PTI)
More border habitations likely cover under PMGSY
Itanagar: The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is likely to cover more habitations with possible relaxation in the path distance to increase connectivity in border areas of Arunachal Pradesh. This was indicated by secretary, Union Ministry of rural development L.C. Goyal to RWD Minister Kumar Waii when the latter called on him in New Delhi on Friday, an official release said here on Saturday. In the meeting, Kumar Waii highlighted various issues, including implementation of flagship programme in the state. The Union RD secretary assured his full support and co-operation in improving rural road connectivity which may help in transporting agriculture and horticulture produce to the nearest marketing centre and developing other rural infrastructures. (UNI)