NIA team seizes arms and ammunition in Manipur
Imphal: A team of National Investigation Agency and Assam Rifles seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition from Lamlai area of Manipur’s Imphal East district on Thursday, officials said. In connection with a case lodged in 2017 against Kangleipak Communist Party People’s War Group the NIA team conducted a search operation and seized one AK-56 along with three magazines and 180 live rounds, one 0.38 pistol along with four live rounds, a NIA release said. The team also seized one 0.32 pistol, two live hand grenade, 10 rounds of 9 mm pistol and five pairs of camouflage uniforms, it said. It is believed that the recovered arms and ammunition belong to the associates of self-styled chairman of KCP (PWG) Moirangthem Rana Meitei. The case relates to the criminal conspiracy hatched by cadres of proscribed KCP (PWG) to extort money from the people of Manipur. NIA has already arrested and charge sheeted four accused persons namely Laishram Ranjit Meitei, Khumanthem Naobicha Singh, Thoudam Chaothoi Singh and Moirangthem Rana Meitei. (PTI)
CRPF SI’s body arrives in Assam
Guwahati: The body of CRPF Sub-Inspector Nirod Sarma, who was killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, arrived at his home in Nalbari district of Assam on Thursday. The mortal remains of the brave officer reached the Guwahati airport late evening and was received by Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami and senior officials of the CRPF. Patowary, Goswami and CRPF officials carried the casket of Sarma and kept it at the airport for people to pay tributes. Then it was transported to his village in Nalbari district, where his last rites will be performed with full military honour. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of Sarma. Along with Sarma, Sonowal also offered his condolences to the other four CRPF personnel killed in the attack. Two terrorists, believed to be from Jaish-e-Mohammed group, struck in a busy road in Anantnag district of South Kashmir Wednesday killing five CRPF personnel and injuring three others. (PTI)
Tax-free budget for Mizoram
Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga on Thursday presented a tax-free budget for 2019-20, laying emphasis on implementation of the Socio- Economic Development Policy (SEDP) and creation of three new districts. Presenting the Rs 10,692.30 crore budget in Mizo language, Zoramthanga, who also holds the finance portfolio, allocated a token provision of Rs 750 crore for the SEDP. The SEDP, a flagship programme of the Mizo National Front (MNF) government, aims at accelerating progress in key sectors and transforming Mizoram into a welfare state. The chief minister allocated Rs 50 crore under the SEDP for recruitment of doctors and nurses in the health department to ease an acute manpower shortage. Implementation of the MNF’s 2008 announcement of the creation of Hnahthial, Khawzawl and Saitual districts was another top priority of his government, he said. Zoramthanga said the Congress, during its 10-year-long rule, had not implemented the decision of the MNF government in 2008. (PTI)
