Police personnel checking the mobile phones of passers by launching a drive to ascertain the owners of SIM cards

M

PCC chief’s post
‘Gaikhangam will stay on till next year’
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 19 : Though the term of Gaikhangam as the president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has expired, he will continue to occupy the post till the middle part of next year, said a reliable source from within the MPCC while speaking to The Sangai Express today.
However there may be some changes among the other office bearers of the MPCC ahead of the Parliamentary election.
Despite the fact that the term of Gaikhangam as the president has expired and the signature campaign which was submitted to the AICC as well as the meetings held to demand his removal and installation of a fresh president, Gaikhan-gam will continue in his post till the middle part of next year, said the source.
As reported in this paper earlier, the pressure mounted on the AICC to demand the removal of Gaikhangam will cut no ice as the AICC never bows to pressure tactics, said the source further.
The Congress Working Committee which recently met at Delhi also did not discuss the removal of Gaikhangam, added the source.
Explaining, the source maintained that it is not only Gaikhangam whose term has expired but also the term of the presidents of the district and block level of the Congress. The term of the other office bearers has also expired, said the source and reminded that even the term of Sonia Gandhi as the president of the AICC has expired.
Pointing out that election of the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee is a cumbersome process, the source said that prior to the change in the presidency of the MPCC, changes are first effected at the grass root level, followed at the block level and then district level and at the Pradesh Congress level.
So this in effect means that though the term of Gaikhangam as president has expired, he will not be immediately asked to step down.
Notification of the election is also yet to be issued.
On the other hand, since a change in the presidency of the Pradesh Congress Committee just ahead of the Parliamentary election may not prove healthy for the Congress, there is as such no plan to effect a change at the moment.
Though the AICC or Congress leaders have not officially issued any statement, there have been enough hints that Gaikhangam will continue in his post till May next year.
On the other hand, some changes may effected among the office bearers of the MPCC before the Parliamentary election. The changes will effected to strengthen the party ahead of the Parliamentary election.
Gaikhangam who recently returned after attending the CWC meeting convened a meeting of all office bearers of the MPCC today at 2 pm, said the source.
During the meeting Gaikhangam briefed the officer bearers of the MPCC of the CWC meeting as well as his inputs at the meeting pertaining to the preparations being taken up for the Lok Sabha polls.
Keen to win both the Parliamentary seats in Manipur, the CWC discussed at length the strategies to be adopted in Manipur, Gaikhangam informed the meeting.

Share

Blogger Widgets

Kuki girls raped in Diphu

Diphu Sep 20 : According to delayed information, two sisters of a Diphu based Kuki family were raped in a hotel at Dimapur, on September 13. An FIR was lodged by the guardian of the victim with Diphu police on September 16.

According to sources, the two minor girls aged 15 and 11 years were taken to Dimapur on September 13 by two person namely Peter, a resident of Mahadev Tila near Haflong town and Chhara, a resident of Chaltlang locality of Aizawl, Mizoram who identified themselves as friend of their uncle.
The duo took them to Dimapur on the pretext that Diphu market was not proper for decent garment shopping. On reaching Dimapur, they rented a hotel and virtually kept the girls locked in the hotel room. The duo went out and came back drunk in the evening and tried to force the girls into drinking.

Both the girls were raped successively, one after the other. Fearing that the guardian of the minor girls would not spare them, one of the accused fled from Dimapur itself while the other brought the girls to Diphu and escaped.

Meanwhile, Kuki Students’ Organization, Karbi Anglong District and Kuki Movement for Women’s Right Assam region Karbi Anglong cell has condemned the incident in strongest terms and has demanded exemplary punishment for the rapists. The two organizations have also demanded compensation from the government for future treatment and welfare of the two girls.

Share

Blogger Widgets

Arunachal students serves Quit Notice to illegal Bangladeshis

Itanagar, Sep 20 : The citizenship row in Assam has spilled over to adjoining Arunachal Pradesh with an influential students’ group serving quit notices to illegal Bangladeshis, triggering a violent reaction from minority organisations in the bordering areas.

On Thursday, an estimated 10,000 supporters of the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) resorted to an impromptu blockade on the National Highway 52 along Assam - the lifeline of the landlocked state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The student protestors halted traffic to and from Arunachal Pradesh, besides vandalising a few vehicles bearing Arunachal Pradesh registration numbers and physically assaulting some passengers. The immediate provocation for the highway blockade and the subsequent assaults was a quit notice served by the All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU), an influential students’ organisation of Arunachal Pradesh, asking all illegal Bangladeshis to leave the state immediately.

The notice was served earlier this month, but on Sep 12 ANSU supporters started taking law into their hands and went about physically evicting people belonging to a linguistic minority group.

“Genuine Indians who were working as contract workers and daily wage earners were forcibly driven out with the law enforcing authorities a mute spectator to the entire drama,” Ziaur Rahman, an AAMSU leader, told IANS. “This was nothing but unnecessary and unlawful harassment of minorities from Assam living in Arunachal Pradesh,” he added. The situation was brought under control with police from both Assam and Arunchal Pradesh brokering peace with AAMSU activists by assuring that no genuine Indians would be harassed in the name of detecting and expelling Bangladeshis.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Jarbom Gamlin said there were about 8,000 Bangladeshi migrants in the state. The ANSU’s drive to free the state from illegal migrants was supported by the government. “We support any move to free our state of migrants,” Nabam Tuki, president of the state unit of the ruling Congress party, said.

The ANSU, fearing a backlash from the AAMSU in adjoining Assam, clarified that they were not targeting people of a particular religious community.

“We have made our intentions very clear. The drive was launched to free the state of illegal Bangladeshi migrants, not to harm or harass anyone,” ANSU president Niglar Veo said. But one thing is for sure, the repercussions of the anti-foreigners uprising in Assam spearheaded by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) is being felt in the adjoining state although the drive against Bangladeshis has never been an easy one with the politics of citizenship reigning supreme in this region.

Share

Blogger Widgets

Silver jubilee celebrations of North East Beauty Pageant

Shillong, Sep 20 : The Miss North East Pageant will provide more than a feast for the eyes when its silver jubilee celebrations begin in Shillong on October 10.

The occasion will comprise more than just a bevy of beauties walking down the ramp.

The organisers of the event, Fashion Society, Shillong, will host the two-day North East Festival, beginning on October 10, in collaboration with the government-run North East Forum of Indigenous Culture and Arts.

Visitors can gorge to their heart’s content on the ethnic cuisine available at the festival. All the northeastern states, including Sikkim, will participate in the event.

Declaring the names of the 18 contestants for the beauty pageant last night, the chairman of the society, Aldous Mawlong, said, “Through the events, we hope to attract both domestic and foreign tourists as the event will bring together the rich cultural heritage of the region.”
The biggest and oldest contest of its kind in the region, the Meghalaya state government supports the event as an occasion to attract tourists.

The contestants are Moom Darang and Taba Chommi (Arunachal Pradesh), Stuti Choudhury and Diksha Das (Assam), Linphoi Devi and Pratima Devi (Manipur), Kyntiewlin Rapthap and Layla Iarisa Kharkongor (Meghalaya), Manuni and Meseli (Mizoram), Akum Naro and Imsu Lemla (Nagaland), Tashi Lepcha and Supriya Pradhan (Sikkim) and Rini Deb Burma and Uma Reang (Tripura).

The pageant, to be held at the Crinoline Swimming Pool in Shillong on October 11 evening, will also feature singers and performing artistes from Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura, including Sikkim.

Part of the proceeds will go to the Jowai Presbyterian School, which was recently gutted in a fire.

Formed in 1983, the Shillong Fashion Society has been promoting fashion and arts and undertaking charity work as well.

According to Mawlong, the society has made remarkable strides in bringing the culture of the northeastern region to the fore by promoting weavers, designers and artistes.

The society had in the past invited celebrities like Zeenat Aman, Moon Moon Sen, VJ Kim, actress Sushma Reddy, model Kelly Dorjee and renowned models like Shikha Swaroop, Natasha, Rahul Roy and worked with famous choreographers like Kaushik Ghosh.

Share

Blogger Widgets

Krishnamurthy’s report accepted, dope test guidelines issued

New Delhi, Sep 20 : Following the acceptance of the recommendations of TS Krishnamurthy’s enquiry report on Laishram Monika by the Government of India, the Union ministry of youth affairs and sports has issued detailed guidelines for dope testing procedures to create a clean and healthy environment for sports in India.

Former chief election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy was appointed last month by the Government to examine the circumstances and issues connected with dope testing of international weightlifter Laishram Monika.
In the report, Krishnamurthy mentioned, “It is no doubt true that the testing process and the result thereof had been kept under suspense for too long a period, notwithstanding the various reasons advanced by the NDTL contributing to the delay. In my opinion, this is an area where immediate intervention is called for from the ministry so that in future no such lapses take place and proper guidelines to be given to NDTL so that a contingency plan is also available with the laboratory in case of unforeseen anticipated delays.”

The sports ministry, in its communication sent yesterday to the director general, National Anti-Doping Agency, director general, Sports Authority of India, president, Indian Olympic Association, president and secretary general of all national sports federations stated, “it is important that all efforts be made to prevent Indian athletes and supporting personnel from using illegal and artificial performance enhancing drugs and at the same time to promote a healthy lifestyle among our athletes. While it is necessary that athletes are tested periodically both ‘in competition’ and ‘out of competitions’ for dope in accordance with internationally accepted norms, it is also necessary that the athletes should be given the due respect and regard while the tests are being done on them and that the procedure adopted for testing should be fully transparent and unbiased.”

It also stated, “For athletes who spend most of their productive years in pursuit of excellence in their sports, it can come as a great setback and mental shock if they are accused of or imposed with sanctions on the basis of ad-hoc or arbitrary procedures and inaccurate results. While there should be no leniency towards athletes for whom the use of illegal substances or methods has been established, it is absolutely necessary that according to the rules in force the procedures must be fully and meticulously followed.”

The guidelines which came into immediate effect mentioned, “The testing laboratory will adhere to the international standard for laboratories when processing samples ensuring that the chain of custody is maintained at all times. ‘A’ samples will be analyzed and the ‘B’ samples will be securely stored and may be used to confirm an adverse analytical findings from the ‘A’ sample.”

“The laboratory will complete the analysis of the samples in the time stipulated under the international standard for laboratory. The report of the laboratory will be sent to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) within 24 hours after the analysis is completed.”

“The SAI will, after the procedures for decoding etc. ensure that the results ‘negative’ or ‘positive’ or “ where further investigations are required” in respect of athletes are communicated to the concerned national federation within 48 hours of receipt of report from the laboratory. The national sports federations, after receipt of the report from SAI will ensure that the concerned athlete is communicated in writing the results within 48 hours of receipt of the report by the federation from SAI.”

“Once the athlete has received the notification and before the national sports federation imposes a provisional suspension the athlete must be given a provisional hearing prior to the imposition of the provisional suspension or a provisional hearing as soon as possible within 10 days after the imposition of the provisional suspension.”

It may be mentioned that weightlifter Laishram Monika was not allowed to take part in the Beijing Olympic Games 2008 following the last minute withdrawal from the Indian contingent on the charge of positive dope test.

Share

Blogger Widgets

India approves water supply project for Shillong

N
ew Delhi, Sep 20 : Ministry of Urban Development has approved Water Supply Project (Phase-III) for augmentation of water supply to Meghalaya’s capital Shillong.

The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of the Ministry has cleared the Project in order to set up water transmission system in the State to cover all areas of Shillong urban agglomeration. The proposed project envisages improvement of the water supply in the whole municipal area of Shillong.
The Project will address the major problems of water losses due to leakage in the existing transmission main and distribution system. Shillong Municipal Board would implement the Project. The Centre has allocated Rs 17,414.748 lakh as total Central assistance under JNNURM. The first instalment of Rs 5,353.69 lakh, which is 25 per cent of Central share, has been approved, official sources said.

The CSMC has also sanctioned three Community Participation Fund (CPF) proposals in Guwahati. The primary objective of the fund is to create capacities in the communities to effectively improve their living environment.

The three CPF proposals approved by CSMC for Guwahati, Assam includes the Kharguli Hills Housing Tenant Association, Guwahati, at a cost of Rs 10.44 lakh, Anindita Mahila Samaj (Rs 10.26 lakh) and Brihattar Khargulli Abasar Prapta Karmachari Janakalyan Samiti (Rs 10.43 lakh).

Small projects below Rs 10 lakh are sanctioned by CSMC under CPF proposals. The proposal must be endorsed by at least 51 per cent of voters of the area and signed by the elected representative of the ward.

Share

Blogger Widgets

Mizo election dept issues EPICs to 98% Bru voters

A
izawl, Sep 20 : A team of officials from Mizoram Election department issued electoral photo identity cards (EPICs) to 98.65 per cent of Bru voters, now lodged in six relief camps of neighbouring North Tripura district.

State’s Joint Chief Electoral Officer Lalhmingthanga said the total number of Bru voters who received the EPICs are 6,479 while the total number of Bru refugees included in the voters’ list are 8,061 as per the draft electoral rolls of 2008.
“Our officials conducted the survey inside the six relief camps and there are 6,627 voters identified as bona fide residents of Mizoram…” he said.

The team from Mizoram was conducting the survey in the six relief camps under the watchful eyes of the representative from the Election Commission, he said.
Thousands of Bru refugees fled Mizoram and migrated en masse to neighbouring Tripura during 1997 after Bru insurgents, who declared armed insurrection against the Mizoram Government and the Mizo people, instructed them to take refuge in that State.

They have been languishing in the relief camps ever since the underground Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) and Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM) signed agreement with the state government and came overground.

The Centre’s failure to release fund earmarked for repatriation of the Brus from Tripura was attributed to the hurdle that prevented the implementation of the repatriation process.

Share

Blogger Widgets