Two from Manipur kidnapped in Nagaland
Imphal: Two truck drivers from Manipur were allegedly kidnapped in Nagaland. Sources said Langoljam Radhamohon(30) and Khumanthem Sanjit(22) were allegedly abducted by suspected NSCN(K-K) cadres from Piphema, Nagaland on July 25 night. The truck belonged to one Gupta. Family members of the two drivers have informed that the militants have demanded Rs 60 lakhs as ransom. They have appealed to the government to help in rescuing the two persons. Family members and drivers’ union have also appealed to the rebels to release the duo on humanitarian grounds. (UNI)
Poacher killed in encounter with Forest guards in Kaziranga
Kaziranga: A poacher was killed in an encounter with forest guards in Assam’s rhino habitat Kaziranga National Park in the wee hours on Friday. A patrolling party of forest guards saw two unidentified men moving near Mihimukh highland in the Park’s Kohora Range and asked them to stop, Assistant Conservator of Forest Ramen Das said. The two men instead fired at the guards, who retaliated and one of the trespassers was killed, while the other fled, Das said. An axe, a torch light, some clothes and food items and a mobile phone were recovered from the slain poacher, he said. The ACF said the person shot dead by Forest guards was a poacher as he was carrying equipment needed for killing rhinos and cutting off their horn in KNP. So far 13 poachers have been killed in encounters this year in the World Heritage Site, he said. (PTI)
Explosion near residence of Mizoram Parliament Secy
Aizawl: A powerful explosion took place near the residence of the Mizoram Parliamentary Secretary for Home in Mission Veng locality here early Friday morning but there were no reports of any casualty, police said. The explosion, suspected to be caused by gelatin, damaged the main gate and brick fencing of Lt Col (Retd) Z S Zuala’s residence besides damaging the building of his neighbour, police said. The walls and windows of the neighbouring building were damaged, but no one was killed or injured in the explosion,they said. Though no arrest has been made, Superintendent of Police of Aizawl C Laldina did not rule out the involvement of the Manipur-based Hmar People’s Convention – Democrats militants. Forensic experts examined the scene of the crime. Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana and other top officials also visited the place of the incident. (PTI)
ULFA(I) militant arrested
Jorhat (Assam): (PTI) An ULFA (Independent) militant was arrested from Majuli river island in Jorhat district, a police official said on Friday. Deepak Patowary alias Deepak Bora (36) was arrested Thursday night based on a tip off that he was hiding at Borguri Joorbil, Superintendent of Police Amanjit Kaur said. Six ULFA(I) extortion notices and two mobile hand sets were recovered from the ultra, Kaur said. Deepak had joined ULFA in 1996 and later surrendered in 2007. He returned to insurgency in 2011 by joining Paresh Baruah led ULFA(I) faction for recruitment and extortion drives in Majuli, Lakhimpur, Sibsagar and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border areas, Kaur said. (PTI)
35 in Tripura ill after eating prasad
Agartala: At least 35 people, including several women, fell sick after eating prasad in Tripura, an official said Friday. At least 20 of them were hospitalised. “At least 35 people, including women, suffered stomach pain and disorders like loose motions after eating prasad at a religious function at Udaipur (60 km from here),” said Sujit Sutradhar, a medical officer of the government run Tripura Sundari district hospital in Gomati district headquarters in Udaipur. “Twenty people admitted to the hospital and remaining are undergoing treatment in their homes. Condition of the patients admitted in the hospital is more or less stable,” Sutradhar told reporters.They fell ill Thursday night after eating ‘prasad’ at a religious function.(IANS)