AFSPA withdrawn partially from Arunachal Pradesh
New Delhi: After 32 years, the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which gives sweeping powers to security forces, was partially removed from three of nine districts of Arunachal Pradesh but would remain in force in the areas bordering Myanmar, officials said here. The state, which was formed on February 20, 1987, had inherited the controversial AFSPA enacted by Parliament in 1958 and applied to the entire State of Assam and the Union Territory of Manipur. After Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland came into being, the Act was appropriately adapted to apply to these states as well. The Justice B P Jeevan Reddy committee had recommended scrapping of the AFSPA from the state. Under the Act, the security forces can arrest anyone or carry out searches in any premises. The Ministry of Home Affairs said in a notification that the four police station areas in Arunachal Pradesh, which were declared “disturbed areas” under the AFSPA, are no longer under the purview of the special law from Sunday. The police station areas from where the AFSPA has been withdrawn are Balemu and Bhalukpong police stations in West Kameng district, Seijosa police station in East Kameng district and Balijan police station in Papumpare district. However, according to the notification, the AFSPA will continue to be enforced in Tirap, Changlang and Longding districts and areas under the jurisdiction of Namsai and Mahadevpur police stations in Namsai district, Roing in Lower Dibang Valley district and Sunpura in Lohit district for six more months till September 30. (PTI)
Clash in Tripura over Puja subscription
Ambassa: The issue of forcible collection of subscription for annual Basanti Puja resulted into shameful clashes and till now one person has been referred to Agartala Medical College and Hospital (AGMC) in the bordering subdivision of Ambassa in the northern Tripura district of Dhalai here on Tuesday. Regarding the annual spring festival of Basanti Puja, a contractor identified as Sanjiv Ghosh Sarkar has been demanded Rs 1.5 lakh as subscription. And as he has denied some hooligans under the leadership of a BJP woman leader cum Kamalpur Nagar Panchayat vice chairperson Swapna Das (Pal) has ransacked his rented house and distorted his bike on Monday afternoon. He has lodged a complaint with police. His infuriated aides have attacked some of the goons who have disclosed the name of a BJP district general secretary Paritosh Pal. Then allegedly Paritosh Pal has ransacked the shop of Sanjiv’s younger brother. On Tuesday morning an aide of Paritosh identified as Jayanta Banik has been beaten by the brothers of Sanjiv and later he has referred to AGMC. Interestingly, complaints have been lodged from both the parties and both the faction are hardcore supporters of in-power BJP. This incident has sparked widespread resentment among the local people. (UNI)
Drug worth Rs 1.87 crore seized in border area of Manipur
Imphal: Tengnoupal Battalion Assam Rifles and Manipur Police personnel apprehended a drug smuggler carrying brown sugar worth Rs 1,87,20,000 at Khudengthabi check post in Tengnoupal district on Tuesday. Assam Rifles official said based on specific input received from a reliable source, a joint team of troops of Khudengthabi Post AR and Commando team Moreh stopped a Silver colour Maruti Alto (MN 02G 3132) travelling from Moreh to Imphal for checking. While carrying out a thorough checking of vehicle, orange coloured powder suspected to be brown sugar (70 packets) was found hidden inside the body of the vehicle. The contraband items were being smuggled by Haopu Haokip of Phaicham Veng, Binda Part-III, Moreh, Tengnoupal district. (UNI)