Six injured in Manipur blast
Imphal: Six women workers were today injured when a powerful bomb exploded at the Thoubal Kiyam Siphai area in the Thoubal district of Manipur, police said. They said the bomb was allegedly planted by militants at a stone crushing factory, which exploded at around 5 AM on Monday morning when the workers came to work. The injured were rushed to Thoubal district hospital where the condition of two was stated to be serious. It was not known who planted the bomb, but militants who demanded money from the owner of the crusher unit seemed to be behind the crime, sources said. The police said the area was cordoned off after the blast and search operations were launched, but no arrest was made. No individual or group has claimed responsibility so far for the crime, they said. (PTI)
German team to study Assam’s flood and erosion problem
Guwahati: A team of experts from the Friedrich-Schiller-Universitat (FSU) Jena in Germany will be visiting Assam from May 11 to study the recurring flood and erosion problem of the state, official sources said on Monday. The team headed by Prof W A Flugel, Head of Geoinformatics in FSU-Jena will conduct a study on the river basins of the Beki, Lohit and Noa-Dihing rivers before taking part in a series of meetings on May 22. In a letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Prof Flugel said the team was eagerly waiting for Gogoi’s visit to Germany which was called off at the last moment due to the law and order situation in the BTAD area. He also expressed hope that the FSU may sign a cooperation agreement with the departments concerned during the forthcoming visit. As Gogoi had to postpone his proposed visit to the University, Flugel will lead a team to Assam to conduct the study on the river basins, the sources said. Flugel further hoped that the unrest in Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) will die down soon, they added. (PTI)
MHA says no travel restriction on NSCN(IM) leadership
New Delhi: The Centre on Monday said no restriction has been imposed on the top leadership of NSCN(IM) on participating in any meeting of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR). On FNR’s allegation that the Centre did not permit the NSCN(IM) Leadership to participate in the meeting in Kolkata, a Home Ministry official said, “It is clarified that no request for travel either from NSCN(IM) or the state government was ever received by the Home Ministry. Hence the question of denial of permission does not arise”. The Home Ministry clarified that it has never imposed any restriction in travel of NSCN(IM) chairman Isak Chishi Swu and general secretary Th Muivah. In its efforts to bring permanent peace in Nagaland, the FNR has facilitated a series of formal and informal meetings among the leaders of various Naga groups. A five-day meeting was organised in Kolkata from April 29 to May 3, with the intent to engage and explore creative atmosphere in Nagaland. (PTI
Writ petition against army vice chief withdrawn
Imphal: A writ petition filed against the vice chief of army staff Dalbir Singh Suhag in Manipur high court for the alleged killings of three Manipuri youths by army personnel of 3 corps during his tenure as the GOC in March 2010 was on Monday withdrawn. Acting chief justice of the high court L K Mohapatra, however, gave the liberty to the petitioner to pursue the case and file another writ petition at the place of occurrence at Dimapur in Nagaland. As the court began hearing this morning, Khaidem Mani, advocate of petitioner pleaded the case stating that three Manipuri youths were allegedly abducted and killed by army personnel in Dimapur on March 10, 2010. The petition was filed by Philem Naobi, brother of one of the youths. Acting chief justice Mohapatra said since the incident occurred at Dimapur in Nagaland the petitioner could file the case there and gave them the liberty. (PTI)
Arms, ammunition recovered from BNA ultras in Assam
Silchar: A huge quantity of arms and ammunition have been seized and four Bru National Army (BNA) militants nabbed in Cachar district of Assam, police said on Monday. Acting on a tip off, the Assam Rifles along with the Assam police launched an operation at Kalakhal jungle area on Sunday. Four AK-47 rifles, six magazines, 122 rounds of AK-47 bullets, one 9-mm pistol, two 12-bore rifles, one single-bore rifle, four rounds of pistol and revolver bullets were recovered, police said. Objectionable documents, cell phones and PAN cards were also seized from the four militants identified as BNA self-styled ‘commandant’ Rajesh Charki from Mizoram, the outfit’s secretary Arnajoy Reang (Tripura), Lowerjoy Reang (Mizoram) and Biloram Reang from Cachar, they said. The four militants have been handed over to Dholai police outpost for interrogation. Ethnic group Bru is one of the 21 Scheduled Tribes incorporated as Reangs in the list and are found mainly in Tripura and also in Mizoram, Assam, Manipur and Bangladesh. (PTI)
Gogoi concerned over derecognition of two medical colleges
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday expressed concern over the recent de-recognition of Barpeta and Jorhat Medical Colleges and Hospitals by the Medical Council of India (MCI). In a statement here today, Chief Minister Gogoi said he has asked the Chief Secretary to inquire into the circumstances leading to the de-recognition. He also directed the Chief Secretary to take up the matter with the MCI. Medical Council of India has cancelled the affiliation of Jorhat Medical College and Barpeta Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital for lack of proper infrastructure and faculity. Both the colleges will not be able to take students for the academic year 2014-15 if the colleges do not get back their affiliation. (PTI)
