Chinese Army takes part in I-Day celebration in Arunachal

Itanagar, Aug 17 : A 300-strong Chinese delegation including military personnel, their families and civilians from across the border came to an Indian Army post located at 15,300 feet, atop the Arunachal Himalayas, to celebrate India’’s 62nd Independence Day in response to an invitation from the Indian Army.

The Chinese delegation, led by Colonel Yan Zi Jing of the People’s Liberation Army, was given a ceremonial welcome, saluted the tricolour that was unfurled at Bumla post by Brigadier Ashok Amre.
The delegation was treated to a colourful cultural show that included a high-voltage Bhangra dance by the jawans of the Indian Army, a spectacular folk dance and other performances by a cultural troupe from Manipur.

The celebrations was marked by both sides exchanging gifts. Addressing the occasion, Col Jing of Chinese Army said, “Today another step has been taken towards cementing peace and strengthening cultural ties between the two great neighbours.”

“We are honoured to be invited to join the celebrations of anniversary of India’s Independence. I wish you border troops all prosperity and hope for a stronger bond between two great armies,” Jing said.

Brigadier Arora of Indian Army said, “This occasion today presents another great opportunity to strengthen and further resolve the peace and tranquility along the border. We have made tremendous progress in past years in maintaining the sanctity of the border. Such occasions and interaction between the two armies will help further strengthen the ties between the two countries.”

Officials of both the armies also held a brief closed-door meeting before the start of the cultural programme. The Chinese delegation enjoyed the Indian Army’s hospitality to the maximum, feasting on the dishes that were on offer.

The thin air at 15000 feet reverberated with the sound of celebrations. Both Indians and Chinese exchanged gifts, mementos and currency notes to mark the occasion.

“I am very happy about the way your people and army officials are taking care of us. I am enjoying it very much,” said Pan Li, a lady doctor who has served the Chinese Army for four years.

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New strain of HIV detected in Manipur but alarm bells don’t ring yet

Imphal, Aug 17 : The National AIDS research Institute (Nari) has detected a new HIV hybrid strain in blood samples taken from HIV-positive residents of Manipur but authorities don’t seem to have sat up.

The blood samples have tested positive for the HIV-1 B/C recombinant strain – a combination of of B and C strain of the virus. The strain, which resembles that prevalent in Thailand, is believed to have been acquired through cross-border sex tourism at Moreh-Tamu junction on the Indo-Myanmar border and fingers are being pointed at traders who frequent Thailand.
Experts are viewing the identification of a new strain very seriously as known methods of combating the HIV virus may now have to undergo a sea change.
Dr Priyo, in charge of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) at JN Hospital in Manipur told The Statesman: “A new strain is always worrisome. Apart from HIV 1, HIV-2 strain is also found in patients here. The HIV-2 strain does not respond to Nevirapine therapy.”

The news of a new recombinant strain surprised him. “This is serious,” Dr Priyo said. He was surprised that neither the National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) ~ the nodal organisation for formulation of policy and implementation of programs for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in India, nor the Manipur Aids Control Society (Macs), had contacted him.

At Macs, officials said on the condition of anonymity that so far, Naco had not asked it to start surveillance of the new strain. Neither Macs, nor the microbiology department at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) seem to know which blood samples yielded the new strains.

Nari scientists have urged surveillance to check the spread of the new strain. They also want to find out how much more effective the new strain is in spreading HIV from one individual to another. “There is a need to study how well the new recombitant strain responds to treatment of HIV,” a Nari scientist said. For thousands living with the disease the news has come as a shock.

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Naga Army takes note of August 8 incident

Dimapur, Aug 17 : The NSCN (IM) today issued a strong worded rejoinder to the press statement issued by the Assam Rifles regarding the killing of its cadre ‘Maj’ Ningtam on August 8 in Jalukie and said that the “Naga Army” takes strong note of the incident.

A press statement issued by the “Col” Levi Zimik, “PRO (IPR, R&D) GHQ, Naga Army”, saying that the killing took place at the very nose of the ‘C’ Company’s post of the 28th Assam Rifles in Jalukie, asked, “What clearer proof do we need when the incident happened at a stone throw distance from the main gate of the camp?”
“We are not interested to find out the identity of the killers but it is established beyond doubt that the devious hands of Maj. Phusbinder Singh James was behind the cold-blooded murder of Maj. Ningtam,” the release stated.

Substantiating this allegation, ‘Col’ Zimik stated that comprehensive report submitted by ‘a high powered investigation team’, probing into the incident, has revealed a well planned plot enacted by ‘the killers, conspiring with the AR’.

The release maintained that the claim that “the post commander was in a meeting with the Head GB and Chairman of Samjuram village” was even more insulting to the villagers, for the meeting was called only to serve as an alibi for the commander’s escape route and never a favor to the poor villagers”.

In this regard, ‘Col’ Zimik stated that on the morning of August 8, at 9: 45 am, ‘Maj’ Ningtam received a phone call from the Camp Commander of the AR post, asking him to pay a friendly visit to the camp along with the village Goan Buras. This, according to the release, has been verified from his set’s call register.
Instantly, Ningtam linked to GHQ, informing about the invitation and went to the AR post only after he got a green signal from the higher authority. ‘Maj’. Ningtam’s presence in the camp was also confirmed by two village women who happened to come to the canteen, the release stated.

“What Maj. Ningtam and his counterpart discussed inside the camp could not be ascertained but as he came out of the gate, a volley of bullets followed him,” the release stated and added that the two assailants, “wearing shawls over their camouflage uniform and covering their faces, had been there for half an hour, according to eye witnesses”. “When they received a signal over their phone, they fired upon the gypsy killing Maj. Ningtam on the spot,” ‘Col’ Zimik stated.
However, the release stated that all the cartridges of the fired bullets, “incidentally”, are Indian-made.

Saying that the ‘Naga Army’ takes a serious note of the incident, the release stated that it is very unfortunate that ‘a counterpart should be plotted against especially when ceasefire is in force’.

“On the same scale, we can target PS. James and for that matter any Indian Army Officers around who we deem are detrimental to the peace process and still come out clean hands,” the release stated, “We can also play safe on the wilder side of ceasefire ground rules.”

The release asserted that ‘there is never a task too tough for Naga Army to carry out, no matter the odds’. “Therefore, in the event of ceasefire coming under fire, which is imminent now, let this be known that a senior officer of Naga Army was slain by Assam Rifles on August 08, 2008, at Jalukie which shall be treated as the trigger point,” the release added.

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The Monika lesson

Laishram Monika Devi will now probably never get the opportunity to represent the country at the Olympics (London 2112), thanks to the inefficiency, politicking and games of favouritism, nepotism and down right corruption in the Nation's highest sports body, the Sports Authority of India. We can only share the trauma and pain of the weight lifter from Manipur and the issue lying before us today is whether justice will be delivered or not. Just as it is the dream of every adventurer or mountaineer to conquer the Everest, just as it is for all the bright students to dream of cracking the JEE to join the IIT or the CAT examination to get admitted to one of the IIMs or the other bright students appearing for the Civil Services Examination (Prelims, Main and Interview) or the young, robust and bright student wanting to join the uniformed services by getting through the National Defence Academy entrance examination or the Combined Defence Services examination, or the rickshaw puller who skips a meal a day to ensure the education of his ward, Monika's dream must have been to represent the country at the Olympics. Therefore any exercise in probing the whole fiasco should not lose sight of this basic human aspirations and dreams. We appreciate the manner in which New Delhi has responded to the situation and now that it is clear that there was some bungling, deliberate or otherwise, on the part of the Sports Authority of India as well as the Indian Olympic Association, to deny Monika a chance to compete in the Mecca of amateur sporting meet, the former Chief Election Commissioner of India Mr TS Krishamurthy should focus on how the fiasco was allowed to be enacted in the first place.
In Mr Krishnamurthy we have a figure who commands respect, who is someone above all the dirty politics that has been killing sports in India and it is with this belief that we welcome the initiative of the Government of India to hand over the case to him. The deadline of one week's time for Mr Krishnamurthy to wrap up his findings is also extremely encouraging and we only hope that the time span is not only on paper but is put to practise. As we had reported, different reactions have come from the people of Manipur and while we do acknowledge that all the responses have come to demand justice not only for Monika but for the people of Manipur, we should not shut our eyes to the fact that at least Chief Minister O Ibobi and his Cabinet colleague N Biren have risen to the need of the hour. This is not to take the credit away from the people who came out as one to protest the injustice done to Monika, but to acknowledge that at least this time the political class, particularly the Chief Minister has done his job commendably. Our prayer is, let the inquiry go to its logical end and when the truth is unearthed spare no one, especially those at the helm of affairs. The story involving Laishram Monika should serve as the beginning of the process to fix responsibilities and to cleanse the sports organisations, which have been eating into the very vitals of all sportspersons in India. This is the only positive point that we can garner from the fiasco which victimised Monika.

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Monika arriving

With Laishram Monika Devi scheduled to arrive here tomorrow morning at 9 on an Indigo flight from Delhi, the Co-ordinating Committee met today at the conference hall of Manipur Olympic Association and decided to re-affirm the decisions adopted during a public meeting held on August 11. The Committee will receive Monika at the airport and after passing through some important routes, a reception will be organised at the Iboyaima Shanglen at Konung Mamang. A public meeting will also follow. The route which Monika will take include Keishampat, Waheng Leikai, Nagamapal, Khuyathong, Lilashing Khongnangkhong, Dingku Road, Lamlong, Telipati, Ananda Academy, Porompat crossing, Ayangpalli road, Kongba, Wangkhei, Konung Mamang and then proceed to Iboyaima Shanglen.

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Now, Mariah Carey exposes her breast, accidentally!

American singer Mariah Carey was spotted revealing a little too much than expected while enjoying her second honeymoon with husband Nick Cannon in Capri.

Carey’s body had its toned look as she took a dip in the Mediterranean and soaked up the sun.

While coming out of the water, though, she had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction – when the swimsuit she was wearing slid off on one side to expose her breast, reports The Sun.

Meanwhile, Carey recently admitted that the only thing she does best is dancing.

Her record boss LA Reid hosted a reception at his home in the Hamptons to celebrate her marriage to Cannon, and when the music started, she just couldn’t wait to jump on the dance floor.

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8 hurt in clash between immigrants and ethnic people

Udalguri, Aug 17 : Eight persons were injured when Bangladeshi immigrants clashed with people of an ethnic community on Saturday in lower Assam’s Udalguri district, where the army has been deployed, official sources said.

Trouble started when a truck with eight immigrants was waylaid by local people, assaulted and tied up when proceeding from Dalgaon towards Bhairabkunda, under Rowta police station.
Two of them, however, managed to escape and informed others at Dalgaon about the assault. This led to the people there stopping all buses passing through the area and pulling out passengers with ethnic features and assaulting them, the sources said.

The police immediately rushed there and brought the situation under control, the sources said adding the army intensified patrolling in the area.

Tension has been prevailing since August 14 following a clash as the Muslim United Students Association (MUSA) tried to enforce a 12-hour bandh in the area to protest against the alleged harassment of minority community members.

Seven persons were injured, four of them seriously, when a group of MUSA picketeers clashed with Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) employees on duty at Rowta Hatikhola prompting the deployment of army there.

The ethnic community in the area claimed that MUSA had been harassing them as the local people were opposing immigrants from settling in the area and being passed off as family members.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has urged all communities to exercise restraint. The government, he said, would take all steps to maintain peace and would not allow anyone to take the law into their hands.

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Mizoram minister denies sex scandal

Aizawl, Aug 17 : The Mizoram Minister of State for Sports Z H Ropuia on Saturday denied that he figured in a photograph taken by mobile phone in a compromising position with a female singer.

The minister also lodged an FIR with the Aizawl police station alleging that some people for their vested interests were tarnishing his image by distributing such photos.An investigation has been launched into the matter, L T Hrangchal, Aizawl District SP said.

According to official sources, Chief Minister Zoramthanga in a meeting with Ropuia on August 14 had asked him to resign if the allegations were true. Ropuia, however, denied and said he will clear his name.

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