Eastern Army Commander visits Nagaland
Kohima:The Eastern Army is responsible for the defence of the Northern Borders with China and for the management of the situation in the insurgency affected states of the North East region. According to a Defence release here on Saturday reviewing the situation along the Northern borders the Army Commander, Lt. Gen. M. M. S. Rai emphasized on the need for maintaining peace and tranquility; yet remaining vigilant and alert. Briefing the Army Commander Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat, GOC, Spear Corps of Dimapur, highlighted the infrastructure development activities undertaken by the Corps. GOC Spear Corps also carried out an in-depth analysis of the internal security situation. He stated that the use of IEDs and grenade lobbing by insurgent groups was affecting the safety and security of the local population and the security forces. Therefore, Army and Assam Rifles had no option but to conduct intelligence based operations to apprehend the culprits some of whom had been trapped by underground organizations with the lure of money or by coercion. Mrs. Kiran Rai, President Eastern Command AWWA accompanied the Army Commander and was briefed on the various welfare activities undertaken by Spear Corps. Mrs. Rai complimented the formation for genuine welfare and concern for families and emphasized on encouragement to the girl child. The Army Commander appreciated the state of preparedness and people friendly conduct of counter insurgency operations. He wished Spear Corps good luck and success in the future. (UNI)
Press lounge at Assam Secretariat
Guwahati:A press lounge has been set up at the Assam Secretariat here with the allotment of a room for media personnel. A room was on Saturday alloted at the ground floor of the CM’s block for the press lounge at the Secretariat, a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had directed his Press Adviser Bharat Chandra Narah to initiate necessary steps for allotment of a room for the press lounge at the Secretariat following request from media persons recently, the statement said. Narah has asked the Secretariat Administration Department (SAD) to provide furniture and other accessories for smooth functioning of the press lounge, it said. (PTI)
Three-day Nagaland Bamboo Carnival begins in Dimapur
Kohima:A three-day Hornbill Bamboo Carnival to celebrate “Bamboo, Art, Food & Music” kicked-off at Nagaland Bamboo Resource Center (NBRC), 6th Mile, Sovima, Dimapur. Inaugurating the carnival here on Friday, Nagaland Bamboo Development Agency (NBDA) chairman Amenda Yaden said bamboo has been integral to the life of Nagas and continues to lay a dominant role in every aspect of Naga life ranging from agriculture tools, shelter, food and livelihood. Expressing concern over looming threat of climate change, the NBDA chairman said bamboo forests play an important role in carbon sequestration and help mitigate global warming.Mr Yaden said the main objective of organising the carnival is to create awareness among all sections of society on how to judiciously use nature’s gift of bamboo resource and the new technological advancements taking place around the world with regard to use of the ‘wonder plant.’ Other attractions of the festival include food courts and live music concerts every evening.(UNI)
Police seize explosives in Assam
Diphu:A huge quantity of explosives, including 1,720 gelatin sticks, were seized from a bus in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Saturday, police said. During a routine checking at the CRPF check point at Bokajan, 86 packets of gelatin sticks, 30 packets of detonators, and 286 metres of cable wires were seized from the Dimapur-bound bus travelling from Shillong, they said. The two drivers of the bus have been apprehended and investigations are on as to which militant outfit is involved, district Superintendent of Police Mukdhya Jyoti Mahanta said. (PTI)
Tremor rocks Assam, Arunachal
Tezpur:An earthquake of mild intensity, measuring 4.8 on the Richter Scale, shook Assam’s Sonitpur district along with West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh on Friday, according to a report of Shillong’s Regional Seismological department. The quake, which had its epicenter at latitude 27.0 degrees North and longitude 92.5 degrees East, in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh occurred at 5.24 AM. There was, however, no report of any casualty or damage to property so far. (PTI)