Concerned over the growing activities of militant groups in the state, Meghalaya government has asked for five additional battalions of paramilitary forces to neutralize the outfits. Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr. Mukul sangma expressed over the groups from across the borders operating in Meghalaya. The resent militant ambush at the police patrol at east Garo hills where three cops were killed has made the Government of Meghalaya rethink on the security aspect of the state. Meghalaya Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said the state has asked for five ITBP battalions and the request has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs. He said combing operations were continuing in the Garo hills where the activities of militant groups were in spate. Asserting that there is a need to take serious and bold steps to curb the growing activities of the militants, the Home Minister claimed that the situation was still in its control. Backing his force, the Home Minister said it is difficult for the forces to operate given the topography in the remote areas of Garo hills.The Home Minister will be visiting all the three districts of Garo hills to access the law and order situation and boost the morale of the police personnel serving there. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma also assured that steps were being taken to ensure that the elements are neutralized. Admitting that there was a deficiency of manpower in the state, he hoped that the Centre would sanction the additional forces soon. The Chief Minister also asserted that there was a need to address the root cause of the militancy problem so that no more new outfits are born. The Chief Minister added that the issues of backwardness, unemployment etc in the rural areas need to be addressed to resolve the issue. Three police men were killed and two others injured, one of them critically when Garo National Liberation Army militants ambushed a security team, fired at them before taking away their weapons last Saturday in East Garo Hills. Later on ULFA’s hand was also revealed in GNLA ambush in Garo Hills. This has created suspicion on the activity of ULFA on Garo soil. The GNLA is the most active militant group in Meghalaya at present and has been blamed for rampant extortion in the Garo hills belt. The outfit, claiming to be fighting for an independent Garoland, had also carried out a number of kidnappings over the last few months and slapped extortion demands on traders and government officials, besides killing policemen and labourers.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
MYANMAR NATIONALS HAPPY OVER SHIJA HOSPITALS INITIATIVE
In a positive response to the recent announcement of Shija hospital’s Smile Train leg Mission Myanmar, Myanmarese nationals visited the Shija Hospital authority in Moreh at a screening camp for cleft palate surgery. Mission Myanmar, the Smile Train Cleft Surgery campaign for Myanmar which will commence from June 12 got a boost on Wednesday when several Myanmarese showed up for screening at the screening camp established by the Shija Hospital and Research Institute at Manipur’s border town of Moreh. Speaking at the one-day long screening session for free cleft palate surgery, the Managing Director of Shija Hospital Dr Ksh Palin while expressing satisfaction over the response stated that Mission Myanmar will be a new ground breaking project which will enhance ties with Myanmar and also help in promoting Manipur’s potential for medical tourism. Earlier, at a screening camp for cleft surgery at the organized by the SHRI in association with the 31st Assam Rifles, many persons with cleft lip visited the camp for screening from which 4 persons were selected for free cleft surgery to be conducted at the Shija hospital in Imphal. According to Shija official, 1972 people have been given free palate surgery by the S.H.R.I under the highly successful Smile Train project and around 1000 persons with cleft lip are expected to benefit the surgery.
Mumbai scribe shot dead by 4 unidentified men
Mumbai: A journalist working with Mid Day was shot dead on Saturday by four unidentified men. J Dey covered the underworld for Mid Day and was admitted to Mumbai's Hiranandani hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.
The Senior journalist and Investigations Editor was shot at on Saturday afternoon outside Spectra Building near DMart at Powai. He sustained five bullet wounds. Police say there are eight entry-exit wounds on his body.
He was rushed to Powai's Hiranandani Hospital where he was declared dead on admission.
Preliminary information from the police reveals that four unidentified men riding two motorcycles shot at him.
Joint Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy said he would be able to issue a statement to the media once he reached the scene of crime.
Dey was covering underworld and crime for a long time and he was a special investigations editor.
Dey also wrote a book called 'Zero Dial' on the underworld. Dey covered the underworld in the turbulent 80s and 90s.
Mumbai's Commissioner of Police Arup Patnaik said, "I was noot aware of what he was working on at this time. he was a very good crime reporter. He was a very good resource person."
He also wrote countless articles on organised crime. Sources say Dey got no specific threat to life in the last few days.
Joint Police Commissioner (Law & Order) Rajnish Seth said Dey was shot dead in Hiranandani area of Powai. According to police, four persons riding on two bikes fired at Dey on Saturday afternoon.
Mumbai PWD minister Chaggan Bhujbal Maharashtra said, "I knew him for long and was a friend for 15 years. He wrote for many newspapers. I don't know why he was shot dead. Maybe some reporting of his had hurt some mafia. We have a lost an important reporter in the State."
Dey stayed in Ghatkopar and is survived by wife Shobha.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said, "I condemn the attack and no civilised society will accept intolerance of freedom of press. Hope police apprehends the guilty soon."
Gogoi may take back land given to Ramdev
The Congress chief minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, has said he might take back the land given to yoga guru Baba Ramdev for his ayurvedic brand Patanjali. Ramdev had once approached him for land, he said. “I remember allotting him a plot, but I am not sure if he got it or not. If the land is not being used for the purpose it was given, it will be taken back,” Gogoi said, addressing the media on Friday.He, however, said the action was part of a policy meant to regularise land utilisation and would apply to all allotments made to firms, trusts, individuals and NGOs. Gogoi also came down heavily on Ramdev and social activist Anna Hazare for “playing politics”.
“They are not the only ones concerned about corruption,” he said, pointing out that Assam was the first state to implement the Right to Information Act.
He was also critical about Ramdev’s jibe at the Congress on the issue of black money in the run-up to the assembly elections earlier this year.
“If somebody does yoga, it is fine. But he should not get into politics,” Gogoi said.
