Northeast Briefcase

Manipur Guv wants Raj Bhavan garden similar to Mughal garden

Imphal: Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla on Monday said that she wanted to fashion the Raj Bhavan garden on the style of the Mughal era gardens.The Governor planted around 200 saplings in the complex today on the occasion of Guru Pujah. Heptullah told PTI that the state “abounds in more than 500 varieties of trees and orchids which are unique”. However, it is sad that hardly anyone knows about them, she added. The “younger generation should be taught to respect nature” and value “the price and contribution of trees and plants in making the environment greener”, she said. This would go a long way to control climate change, she added. (PTI)

Over 280 refugees have crossed over to Mizoram from Myanmar

Aizawl: Over 280 people, mostly women and children, from Arakan in Myanmar have taken refuge at two villages in southernmost Mizoram’s Siaha district, a senior police official said on Monday.The official told PTI that over 200 people have taken refuge in Lungpuk village and 77 others in Khalkhy hamlet.The Assam Rifles personnel posted in the border areas and the district administration provided necessary assistance to the refugees while the villagers of the two villages also made arrangements for food and lodging, the official said.Siaha district Superintendent of Police had already reached Lungpuk village and made elaborate security arrangements, the official said.The people from Ralie village fled Myanmar due to reported impending confrontation between the Arakan Army (AA) militants and the Myanmarse Army, the official said adding that the Assam Rifles officials had informed the Myanmarese army officials and appealed to the latter to ensure safety of the refugees in Myanmar. (PTI)

ULFA-I demands Rs 10 lakh from former Arunachal minister

Itanagar: The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) has allegedly served an extortion notice on former Arunachal Pradesh minister Bida Taku, demanding Rs 10 lakh. The ULFA (I) served the extortion notice on Saturday and threatened him with dire consequences if he failed to comply with the demand, according to the former minister. Taku, who unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Assembly election against Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein from Lekang constituency in Namsai district of the state, filed an FIR with the Mahadevpur police station on Sunday. The Mahadevpur police station has confirmed the FIR filed by Taku in regard to the extortion demand. Taku served as minister of state for RWD, Education and Sports and Youth Affairs from 1996 to 1999 under Gegong Apang and Mukut Mithi ministries. “I suspect the involvement of some local political leaders in provoking the ULFA (I) to target a person like me who do not have a house to live in,” the former minister claimed. (PTI)