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Friday, July 23, 2010
Poor telecom network in NE a concern: ASSOCHAM
The Northeastern states are plagued by low tele-density and inadequate telecom services, hindering economic growth and development, a study said. "In addition to the low tele-density, the quality of services in the region is also a matter of concern. The telecom network is inadequate to handle the traffic resulting in repeated congestion, a statement by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM) quoting the study said on Thursday."Closely linked with the expansion and growth of IT is stable and quality infrastructure like telecommunication. The hilly region having a difficult terrain has limitation in terms of physical connectivity and has sparse habitations," it said.Stating that the Nort East has only reached a nascent stage of e-governance, it said concerted efforts were needed for capacity building and technology upgradation to bring it on par with the rest of the country.Billing disputes were frequent due to non-availability of online payment while the processing centre was outside the region, the study entitled 'Serving the Common Man through e-governance' said.
Ten Kuki militants killed in gunbattle
Ten militants were killed and four injured in a fierce gunbattle between two Kuki groups at a remote area in Manipur, police said on Thursday. The gunfight between the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) and Kuki National Front-Presidium (KNF-P) took place in interior Seijang hill area on the border between Imphal East and Senapati districts on Thursday and lasted for five hours, they said.The gunbattle could be the result of a fight for territorial control of areas inhabited by the Kuki tribes, police said.The injured were brought to a private hospital in Imphal and the condition of some was stated to be critical.Security personnel have rushed to Seijang hill area.Official sources said both KNF-P and KLA were signatories of the Suspension of Operation (SOO) agreement with the state government and security agencies for initiating the peace process.Under the agreement, which was signed about a year ago, police and security personnel have suspended operations against the militant outfits.Under the agreement, the militants were not allowed to carry arms.Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh had on Thursday warned another signatory of the SOO agreement, the Kuki National Army (KNA), for allegedly violating ground rules and threatened to take action against them.While the KNA wants a 'Kukiland' to be formed by integrating Kuki-settled areas of Manipur and Myanmar, KNF-P and KLA wants a 'Kukiland' by carving out Kuki-inhabited areas of Manipur.
Newspapers fail to hit the stands in Manipur
Newspapers in Manipur failed to hit the stands on Friday as publishing houses and journalists decided against bringing out the issues in protest against threat to a scribe by hill-based militants. The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) had launched a sit-in protest against the threat and decided to cease work on Thursday.Threats to media persons and media houses by militants has resulted in frequent non-publication of newspapers in the recent past, a spokesperson of the journalists' body said while appealing to the militants not to disturb freedom of the press in the state.Militants of Hmar People's Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) had threatened a senior correspondent of popular 'Sangai Express' on Wednesday for publishing a news item related to the outfit.Publication of dailies would resume on Friday.