Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion in progress
Guwahati: The Mega Block of Lumding-Silchar gauge conversion work under Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), which began from October 1 for a period of six months is progressing satisfactorily, an NFR statement said here. As part of the Mega Block works, MG/BG cut & connect works at all the 102 locations has been completed. Earthwork about 14 lac cum has been completed. Track linking of BG line is also progressing satisfactorily at various locations of Lumding-Silchar route. Linking of track is also progressing in Tunnel No 7. Lining of tunnel 10 is in progress and on date about 240m length of tunnel 10 is to be lined. So far 28 ballast rakes have been unloaded in the section up to Maibong. Track tamping machine has packed the track up to Dihakhu i.e, up to 46 km. BG engine with ballast hoppers reached Maibong station on December 28. Maibong station is at a distance of 64 Km from Lumding. All train movement in the section has been stopped since October one in view of the Mega Block to expedite the gauge conversion work. (UNI)
Hindu outfits vandalise halls screening ‘PK’ in Silchar
Silchar: Bajrang Dal and other Hindu fundamentalist groups on Tuesday vandalised and stopped screening of the Aamir Khan-starrer ‘PK’ in two cinema halls here for allegedly hurting the majority community’s sentiment. Police said they have arrested three activists of Bajrang Dal, who stormed ‘Gold’ and ‘Oriental Talkies’ in Silchar. “The activists came while the show was going on. They shouted slogans against Khan and the film. Without saying anything, they suddenly started damaging the property like tearing the poster of the film, smashing window panes and breaking ticket counters,” one of the owners of the two halls said on condition of anonymity. “We have stopped today’s screening. For tomorrow(Wednesday), I cannot say it now. Everything will depend on the situation,” the owner said. When contacted, a Bajrang Dal activist said they would “not tolerate any derogatory message for the Hindu gods in the film”. On Monday, Bajrang Dal activists vandalised theatres in Gujarat exhibiting ‘PK’ for making “fun” of Hindu Gods and godmen, besides staging protests and tearing posters in Agra and Mau in Uttar Pradesh and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. There were reports that one theatre in south Mumbai’s Parel had stopped screening of the film. (PTI)
Tripura CM cautions against religious conversion in state
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has cautioned that any attempt of forcible religious conversion in the state will be severely dealt with. “Left Front government is cautious about the religious freedom of every person or community and our government will not leave any stone unturned to thwart any attempt of forcible conversion and strict legal action will be taken against such move,” Sarkar told a meeting of party workers recently at Gandhacherra town in Dhalai district, about 150 km from here. He said there was no religious conflict in the state, where Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists were living in communal harmony and that tradition should be maintained with utmost care. “We are aware that some people are converted from one religion to another in Uttar Pradesh by giving them BPL card and other facilities, but any such attempt will be resisted here,” Sarkar said. (PTI)