Large arms haul along Assam-Arunachal border by forces
Tezpur:A huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from forest area along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border by a joint team of Army, Assam Police and NIA. “In a joint operation, troops of Red Horns Division along with Assam Police and NIA team recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from forests on the border of Assam-Arunachal Pradesh in Sonitpur District on January 17,” a Defence spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday. Based on inputs from intelligence agencies, the arms and ammunition were recovered from a hideout, he added. “The recoveries include two AK-56, one HK 5.56 rifle, one pistol and two grenades along with large quantity of different types of ammunition,” the statement said. Meanwhile, Biswanath Chariali police district SP Manobendra Devroy said it was big success to security forces. “The apprehended militant Buhume, who was arrested three days ago, guided the forces to find out the place where the arms and ammunition were stored,” he added. He said the arms and ammunition were suspected to be stored by the terrorists of NDFB(S) for the serial attacks by the group in Lower Assam last month. (PTI)
Ammunition seized in Mizoram
Aizawl:Two persons were arrested and about 2000 rounds of ammunition seized by the Special Branch of the Mizoram police at Phunchawng village near Aizawl, a senior police officer said on Saturday. On Friday, Laldinnghaka (28) of Lawngtlai district and Rohmingthanga (38) of Tanhril near Aizawl, were arrested and a total of 1,986 rounds of ammunition of US-made M-16 rifle were seized, police said. The seizure was made following a raid of a taxi parked in Phunchawng village. Police said the accused claimed the ammunition was smuggled from Myanmar to be sold to insurgents in Bangladesh. (PTI)
Pakke Paga festival starts on traditional notes
iTANAGAR:The three-day-long Pakke Paga Festival started on traditional notes at Seijosa in Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday. The Pakke Paga festival is organised by Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department, Ghora Abhe Society, Village Forest Development Council and local communities and supported by the NGOs, NCF, IFAW-WTI, Corbett Foundation, Help Tourism, Arunachal Pradesh Tourist Department, Balipara Foundation etc. Inaugurating the festival, Takam Pario, PHED minister of Arunachal Pradesh, emphasised on the conservation initiative of Arunachal Pradesh Forest department and other NGOs who are working for the hornbill conservation in the foothills of Arunachal. He thanked the tourists for their eagerness towards Pakke Tiger reserve and the virgin landscape. Emphasising on the Assam-Arunachal relationship, Takam Nabam, the Secretary of the Pakke Paga Festival, said, ‘We have to conserve the nature and wildlife of Arunachal Pradesh. I hope the good relation between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh will strengthen the conservation initiative with a close bondage with the neighbouring states.’ Traditional dances, tribal foods, sales and exhibitions of different products related to wildlife conservation are organized as part of the festival. The Pakke Paga Festival, the first of its kind event in Seijosa, showcases the conservation initiatives in the area. (UNI)