Curfew reimposed in Imphal

Imphal, Mar 24 : Manipur Government has re-imposed curfew in greater Imphal area as well as parts of Thoubal and Bishnupur districts in view of the volatile law and order situation in the State in the wake of the killing of 15 non-locals by some unidentified armed persons since March 17 last.

Curfew was relaxed till 9 pm on Friday in view of the beginning of five-day Yaoshang, the greatest festival of the Manipuris beginning from Friday. But it was re-imposed from 6 pm to 5 am daily. The district magistrates have issued necessary orders in this regard on Friday.
The district administration took the step in view of the recovery of two bodies of tribal ladies on Saturday morning. Reports said the two tribal women P S Snowby (27) and Langu Ester (27) of Charong Ching both under Chakpikarong subdivision in Manipur’s Chandel district were shot dead by unidentified gunmen suspected to be militants at Thoubal wangba Taba Oinam leirak in Thoubal district last night at around 10 pm. The reason behind the killings is yet to be established.

Meanwhile, nearly 2,000 non-locals mostly manual labourers have been given shelter at various relief camps in the four valley districts.

According to L Kailun, SP, Imphal West, more than 415 non-locals are taking shelter at the relief camp opened at the Bengali High School, Babupara while another 150 are taking shelter at Dharamsala in Thangal Bazar.

When contacted, Jayenta, SP Bishenpur district, said that the relief centres opened at various places in the district since the last two days have been shifted to the higher secondary school near the district police headquarter for better security.

Till late this evening altogether 346 non-local labourers had arrived at the camp and around 150 of them were staying at the camp opened at NHPC, Loktak project located at Kom Keirak.

In Thoubal district also, non-locals are taking shelter at three places at Chaoyaima Higher Secondary School, IRB camp at Wangbal and another one at Kakching.

According to a report received here, a total of 136 non-locals have gathered at the Chaoyaima Higher Secondary School, 132 are taking shelter at the IRB camp and 338 are reportedly taking shelter at the relief camp opened at Kakching.

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Central funds for Mizo famine

New Delhi, Mar 24 : It is not an earthquake or flood but rats that have led to allotment of funds from the Central government for the National Calamity Contingency Fund for Mizoram. The hill state has been allotted Rs 8.81 crore for distribution among the farmers in all eight districts of the state for the victims of Mautam.

Famine was triggered in many areas of Mizoram by Mautam or gregarious bamboo flowering which results in explosion of rat population. The rodents ravaged paddy fields and other cultivated areas leaving nothing for the farmers to harvest leading to acute food shortage.
Mautam is the Mizo name for “death of the bamboo”, a strange ecological phenomenon which occurs in a cycle of every 48 years or so. Melocanna Baccifera, comprising more than 95 per cent of the state’s bamboo plantation, flowers causing immense hardship to the tribal populace. Officials said no starvation death has been reported in any part of the state despite acute food shortage.

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Bhutanese vote in historic poll

People in Bhutan are voting in elections that will bring an end to more than a century of royal rule.

Monday's vote for the 47-seat National Assembly completes the country's peaceful transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.

Correspondents say there is huge interest in the election, although many people say they liked the old system.

The only two parties in the race have similar manifestos, promising less poverty and better infrastructure.

Both are led by former prime ministers. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) is headed by Sangay Ngedup, who is the brother of the former king's four wives - all sisters.

Jigmi Thinley, head of the Bhutan Harmony Party (DPT - Druk Phuensum Tshogpa), has no royal connections and has pitched his party as representing ordinary Bhutanese.

An election for the upper house of parliament was held in December.

Mass exodus

The BBC's Chris Morris in Thimphu says people have been queuing quietly in large numbers to vote.

The capital is half-deserted, with many returning to their villages, he says. One report in a local newspaper told of a woman who walked a distance of 600km (370 miles) over two weeks to get home.

Two Indian air force helicopters dropped election guidelines in mountainous regions and mules and horses carried voting equipment to ballot stations.

But despite the activity a lot of people are not keen on democracy, and say they quite liked how things were before, our correspondent adds.

The tiny Buddhist kingdom has been preparing for democracy since former monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuck decided to hand power to an elected government.

'Bit of corruption'

The country is now headed by his 28-year-old son, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, who will remain as head of state and is likely to retain some influence.

"Everyone is very sad to see the king stand down," 42-year-old businessman Kinley Penjor told Reuters news agency.

"But I think democracy will be good. In the past if you went to a minister about your problems - well there is always a little bit of corruption, even in Bhutan, or it might be decided according to his mood.

"Now we can elect the best candidates."

The monarchy remains popular in Bhutan partly because of its focus on promoting what it calls "gross national happiness" - based on the idea that economic growth should be balanced by respect for traditions and the environment.

Bhutan is not without problems. About one-fifth of the country lives in poverty and youth unemployment has risen sharply in recent years.

Tens of thousands of ethnic Nepalis were forced to leave Bhutan in the early 1990s when the government imposed strict citizenship rules.

The refugees are now living in neighbouring Nepal and many of them are demanding the right to return.

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Border fencing to be completed expeditiously: Governor

The Meghalaya government is committed to complete the fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border in an expeditious manner, Governor S S Sidhu said on Tuesday.

Fencing along the Indo-Bangla border is expected to help in restricting illegal influx of Bangladeshis into the country, he said in his address on the first day of the state's budget session, the first sitting of the newly-sworn in Donkupar Roy-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance ministry.

"The Government has sanctioned funds for setting up a Border Management Institute, to be located at Baghmara, which will provide training to police personnel engaged in the task of preventing infiltration," he said.

In his 32-page speech, Sidhu also asserted that the anti-insurgency operations in the state would continue and the government will work for modernisation of the police force.

Sidhu said in the preceding year, successful police operations were conducted against militant outfits which will be continued.

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