Mizoram Excise Dept seizes heroin, Myanmarese nabbed
Aizawl: The Mizoram Excise Department has seized 44 grams of heroin here and arrested a Myanmarese national in this connection, an official said on Thursday. The contraband was seized from two places in Aizawl and Thangkhuma, 28, a resident of Tahan ‘G’ Group in Myanmar was arrested yesterday, Spokesman of the state excise and narcotics department Peter Zohmingthanga said. The accused allegedly concealed the drug inside soap boxes. He was booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, Zohmingthanga said. Mizoram shares 404-kilometre long porous border with Myanmar and is vulnerable to drug trafficking from the Golden Triangle (area comprising parts of Northern Thailand, Laos and Myanmar infamous for narcotics trade) region. (PTI)
Rhino carcass found in Pobitora
Morigaon (Assam): A rhino carcass was recovered today by patrolling forest staff in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam’s Morigaon district. The carcass of the male rhino with the horn intact was found near the Jogdol forest camp and the cause of the death was natural, a senior forest official said. Police also arrested two rhino poachers from Khandajan area near the Park while they were moving around in a suspicious manner, he said. Meanwhile, the flood situation in the Park, 70 per cent of which was under water during the recent wave of flood, was improving. (PTI)
Health svcs partially hit in Nagaland as staff go on strike
Kohima: Health services in Nagaland were partially affected with doctors, nurses and other technical staffs employed under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) on an agitation against non-payment of their salaries for last four months. All employees under NRHM Nagaland have decided not to attend work at their respective placements across the State from today, members of NHRM Employees Association said at a press conference in Dimapur yesterday. The NRHM employees said that they had submitted a memorandum to the Mission Director of NRHM, Nagaland last month for release of their pending salary, but the inaction of the Health and Family Welfare Department forced them to call for abstaining from work for an indefinite period. Health centres across the State have been partially affected as NHRM employees constitute a major chunk of the state’s ailing health sector, especially in rural and interior areas, official sources said. (PTI)
Manipur faces shortage of essential commodities
IMPHAL: According to reports there is shortage of essential commodities due to the disturbance in the Assam, Nagaland border areas. All vehicles leading towards Manipur were stranded at Assam since the beginning of the crisis between the two states. Petroleum products were rationed to the oil depots by the government and long que was seen in front of oil depots. Due to the scarcity petrol was sold at Rs 135 per litre in black markets. State official said efforts are on to bring in essential goods by providing escorts. Only about 100 trucks loaded with petroleum products and other essential items were brought towards Manipur under tight security on Thursday. There is adequate stock for about two weeks but due to panic buying by people oil depots were not able to supply on a regular basis. Hundreds of trucks loaded with goods were stranded at Assam and the drivers were facing problems due to the prolonged stay on the national highways unable to move towards Manipur. Medicines, food items , cements, normally brought in by trucks have also been brought hence there is shortage of liquid based medicines. If the vehicles are not able to resume services most hospitals will not be able to perform operations. (UNI)
Arunachal gets award for devolution of power to Panchayats
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh has been chosen for national award for devolution of powers to the three-tier panchayati raj system under the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Sashastikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) for the years 2013 and 2014. The Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj, RGPSA division announced the award amounting to Rs One crore each for five states, namely Maharashtra (first), Kerala (second), Karnataka (third), Andhra Pradesh (fourth) and Arunachal (fifth), an official release said here today. The process was initiated by Chief Minister Nabam Tuki in February 2013 by delegating functions of 25 of the 29 departments to the panchayats. “This is in tune with the party’s commitment to the masses to fulfill former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s dream to hand over power to the people to for self-governance and speedy development,” APCC President Padi Richo said, adding this is the beginning and many more promises made would be fulfilled accordingly. Arunchal Pradesh Panchayati Raj Coordination Committee Secretary General Sangha Tagik lauded the CM for his initiative. (PTI)