Difficult to implement ILP if Nagas don’t take up const jobs: Zeliang
Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang on Thursday said unless all forms of construction works are taken up by the people of the state, it will be difficult to strictly implement the Inner Line Permit. It is the construction sector which has the maximum potential for employment, both for skilled and unskilled workers, Zeliang said during the launching of an Artifact Centre a Lower L Khel Kohima Village here. He said the wages were better in the construction sector than other options like works under MGNREGA available in rural areas and there was no logical reason why the Naga workers should shy away from construction works. “We are always talking about the need for stricter implementation of ILP to prevent outsiders swamping the state. But unless we are prepared to take up construction works, it is difficult restrict outsiders, many of whom may be even illegal immigrants from Bangladesh,” he added. (PTI)
48 students fall ill after having midday meal in Tripura
Agartala: 48 students of the Noapara senior basic school in Sipahijala fell ill and were rushed to hospital after consuming food supplied under the midday meal scheme, a state minister said on Thursday. “The students of 6 to 13-year-old age group and of the primary section suddenly started vomiting and complained of stomach ache after consuming midday meal yesterday and were rushed to Bishalgarh sub-divisional hospital. All of them are now out of danger,” state Health Minister Badal Chowdhury said. Chowdhury said he visited the school and the hospital and a team of three specialist doctors were rushed from the state capital for better treatment. The Minister met the sub-divisional officials including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Panchayat members for improvement of food distributed under the midday meal scheme and also ordered the District Magistrate to inquire into the incident and take appropriate actions against erring teachers of the school. PTI
NEICC appeals all to shun violence and maintain peace
Guwahati: The North East India Christian Council (NEICC) has expressed anguish at the human suffering that has taken place on the Assam-Nagaland border and appealed all to shun violence and maintain peace. A joint peace meeting of the churches of the N-E Region under the aegis of the NEICC at Shillong expressed their “deep pain and anguish at the human suffering” as an outcome of the conflict on the inter-state boundary. The meeting held on Wednesday jointly appealed to all sections of both sides to shun violence, stop inhuman killings, and maintain peace, a statement from the NEICC said. The church leaders further appealed all concerned parties to respect human lives and to follow the universal policy of “Live and Let Live”, it said. They also appealed all concerned to find a solution for the rehabilitation of displaced communities and called for a return to the status quo of affairs with humane consideration till more permanent solutions are reach amicably. On August 12, nine persons were killed in firing and arson at Uriamghat area of Assam’s Golaghat district by unidentified people from across Nagaland and over 200 houses torched forcing 10,000 people to flee their homes. (PTI)
Woman apprehended for illegal possession of elephant tusks
Kohima: In a major breakthrough against illegal wildlife trade in the Northeast region, personnel of Nagaland Excise Department apprehended a woman at Khuzama check gate Kohima district for illegal possession of 14 elephant tusks, Forest Department sources said on Thursday. The accused, identified as Ching Zou, was allegedly transporting the elephant tusks from Shillong to Imphal yesterday, Assistant Convertor of Forest (ACF) Beizo Suokhrie said. The seized items were later handed over to the Forest department officials by Superintendent of Excise, Kohima, Katoho Sumi. (PTI)
Two Assam Rifles jawans killed in bomb explosion
Imphal: Two jawans of the Assam Rifles were killed and another injured when a powerful bomb exploded in interior Chandel district of Manipur, police said on Thursday. The bomb exploded when the personnel of 3rd Assam Rifles battalion were patrolling near their post at Old Somtal area, about 70 km south-east of here, yesterday, the police said. While the injured was taken to the army hospital at Leimakhong, about 25 km north of here, the bodies of the two deceased jawans were taken to Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital here for postmortem, they said. Meanwhile, major insurgent organisation United National Liberation Front in a statement claimed that their armed wing, Manipur People’s Army (MPA), planted the bomb to attack the security personnel. (PTI)
Two poachers killed in Kaziranga
Kaziranga (Assam): Two poachers were killed in an encounter on Thursday with patrolling forest personnel in the Kaziranga National Park, famed for its one-horned rhino. Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer S K Seal Sarmah said patrolling forest personnel confronted a group of 5 poachers near Rangalu camp in Burapahar range. The poachers opened fire in a bid to escape but the guards retaliated and two poachers were killed in the ensuing encounter while others managed to escape. The forest guards recovered a .303 rifle and a gun, he said. The bodies of the two poachers were recovered later during a search operation and sent for postmortem, he said. The slain poachers were identified as Manas Ali and Taher Ali. (PTI)
Nagaland, Assam hold DC meet
Kohima: After the ugly border clash between Nagas and Adivasis, the first ever Deputy Commissioner-level meeting was held on Wednesday at Merapani CRPF camp with the Wokha DC of Nagaland and the DC of Golaghat of Assam. According to official sources on Thursday both the side expressed regret and termed the border violence unfortunate. During the meeting it was resolved to begin people-to-people contact among the affected people of the area and hold process of dialogue. (UNI)