Forest guard among five held for rhino poaching
Tezpur:A forest protection force staff member and four others were arrested from Sonitpur district in connection with a rhino poaching incident in Kaziranga National Park, police said on Monday. The five persons were on their way from Dhemaji to Gohpur when they were apprehended at Purubari under Gohpur police station yesterday, Biswanath Chariali police district SP Manavendra Dev Roy said. The five were allegedly coming to collect the horn removed from the rhino which was killed by poachers on February 27 and one of them, identified as Dimbeswar Borgohain, was deployed with Forest protection Force’s First Battalion in the Park’s Burahapahar Range, he said. The other four are Purandar Borgohain, Dilip Borgohain, Joganta Konwar and Kamtao alias Ajit. Devroy said Borgohain was deployed in anti-poaching operation in Kaziranga National Park but was allegedly involved in poaching and trading of rhino horns. The police also seized the vehicle in which they were travelling. The adult male rhino was killed on February 27 by poachers who took away its horn. The rhino was shot dead with two bullets from an SLR rifle at around 7.30 AM and its carcass was seized with its horn sawed off. (PTI)
Nagaland Health Minister asks people not to panic, but alert
Kohima:Nagaland Health & Family Welfare Minister P. Longon has stressed on the need to remain calm and be informed in order to contain and tackle the virus against its outbreak H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Nagaland where so far, four cases of H1N1 has been confirmed, In a statement on Monday, Longon has appealed to all individuals, Medical Department and the State Government to collectively fight against the virus instead of being afraid or propagating wrong information. He also appealed to all citizens to restrain from travelling to areas where there has been outbreak of the virus and advised anyone who may have contracted the virus, to contact the nearest health centre for treatment and isolation till recovery. Longon also assured that every effort was being made to prevent the H1N1 from other areas to spread to the state. As a precautionary measure, he has requested the State Government, health officials, allied Departments and press including public to coordinate and adopt steps to prevent its spread through inter-state borders. He also directed the state Health Department to be on alert, mobile resources and provide proper information to people through mass media and tackle any eventuality including arrangement of isolation facilities in all district hospitals. (UNI)
BSNL Engineer shot dead in Dimapur
Kohima:Unidentified gunmen shot dead one person at his residence at Nagagaon colony, Signal Basti area of Dimapur town on Sunday night. According to official sources on Monday, the deceased was identified as one Gaithuikungpu Mukta Rongmei, Sub Divisional Engineer (SDE), aged around 50 years, posted at Zunheboto town in Nagaland. Sources said that two motor-cycle borne assailants, with their face covered, went to his residence. While one of them was waiting outside, the other went inside and called out the victim’s name and then shot him from point blank range and was hit by the bullet on the face. Late Rongmei’s niece, who had also accompanied the victim after he was called out, was also hit by a shot on the leg and sustained serious injury. Both were rushed to the nearby nursing home, where G.M. Rongmei was declared dead on arrival by the doctors. The victim’s niece was being treated for leg injury at the hospital, sources said. (UNI)
Tripura police books NLFT leader under NSA
Agartala:The Tripura police has booked surrendered National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) self-style commander Dhanu Kalai under National Security Act (NSA), on Sunday night. Police said he was detained under NSA following direction from West Tripura district administration. The warrant booking him under the stringent law was issued on him when he was released on bail from Central Jail on Sunday. Kalai accompanied by two of his associates Bishu Kalai and Ratasree Kalai were arrested in June, 2012 from National Highway with cash and some incriminating documents. All three had surrendered a few years ago and got all benefit under rehabilitation package central government. Allegedly, after joining in mainstream they were working for NLFT militants. Ahead of 2013 Assembly elections they had been caught with huge amount of liquid cash. According to police, they were carrying the money NLFT militants in Kanchanpur. However, police claimed that they have reports of fresh initiative, launched by a group of surrendered militants, to re-activate NLFT offensive ahead of Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) polls in April. (UNI)
