Northeast India News Briefs

LF candidates file nominations in Tripura : AGARTALA, March 31: Left Front candidates contesting from West and East Tripura Lok Sabha constituencies today filed their nominations in Agartala and Kailashahar with shows of strength through massive processions. Official sources said here sitting Lok Sabha members from CPI(M) fold Khagen Das and Bajubon Reang had submitted their nominations. “The party workers organized processions to give a boost to the party’s campaign for the elections before submitting the nomination papers,” said CPI(M) officials, adding that though the campaign had been launched across the state by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and his Cabinet colleagues, it would receive a further fillip on April 5 in Central rally at Agartala followed by sub-division level rallies. Besides, CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, West Bengal Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Mukherjee, West Bengal Public Works Minister Khiti Goswami and Sarkar would address the rally at Agartala. Meanwhile, Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee sources said party candidate for West Tripura and sitting MLA, Sudip Roy Barman would file his nomination on April 1. Dibachandra Hrangkhawal, contesting from East Tripura, would file his papers at Kailashahar on April 3. Joint Chief Electoral Officer (JCEO) Dilip Acharjee said the Election Commission had appointed altogether six observers for Tripura who would take over charges on April 4. (Agencies)

BJP lashes out at Congress criticism of Rijiju : ITANAGAR, March 31 : The BJP in Arunachal Pradesh has expressed surprise over repeated criticism against its official candidate from Arunachal West Parliamentary constituency Kiren Rijiju by the state Congress leadership. In a communiqué here today BJP state unit president Dr Tangor Tapak remarked that it was the duty of the Opposition to criticise the ruling government but the Congress’s criticism of Rijiju is just the other way round, which shows the frustration of the party at the moment. “If the Congress had so many problems with Rijiju then why did its central leadership invite him to join the Congress?” Dr Tapak questioned. The state president reiterated that it was Congress MPs and not BJP, who have voted Rijiju as one of the best five Opposition parliamentarians of the country. He said that every Arunachalee should be proud of Rijiju because he represented not only BJP but the entire state in Parliament and other national and international forums. Stressing that it was a glorious chapter to witness a young leader rising in the political history of the country and the state, Dr Tapak said people ought to be united in opinion when it comes to his (Rijiju’s) outstanding performance outside Arunachal. Rijiju has won the hearts of the Lok Sabha speaker and the MPs of both the ruling and Opposition parties, he added. (Agencies)

RMPC supports Congress in Mizoram : AIZAWL, March 31: Reformed Mizoram Peoples’ Conference (RMPC), a breakaway group of Mizoram Peoples’ Conference, today decided to switch support from the Mizo National Front to the ruling Congress. “We believe in the leadership of the Congress. We want great leaders like Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, P Chidambaram and Rahul Gandhi to rule the country,” a statement of the RMPC, led by former MLA Dr J V Hluna, said. The RMPC, floated just ahead of the State Assembly polls, held on December 2 last year, had supported the then ruling MNF. The U-turn came after the MNF formed an electoral alliance with the MPC, led by former Chief Minister Brig (Rtd) T Sailo. The elections to the lone seat of Lok Sabha in Mizoram, slated for April 16, is likely to see a triangular fight. Three candidates - former minister C L Ruala of the Congress, former MP Dr H Lallungmuana of the MNF-MPC alliance and failed MP candidate Rualpawla of Israel National Front have filed their nomination papers. The last date for the filing of nomination papers is March 30. (Agencies)

MPP changes candidate for election : IMPHAL, March 31: The Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP) today decided to change its candidate for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency. A meeting of the party’s election committee was held today at its party office. It decided to project former Union Minister Th Chaoba to contest the elections instead of Prof N Mohendro. The MPP did not reveal the exact reason for the change of candidate. So far, five candidates have filed nomination papers for the Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency. Four candidates– Thangso Baite of the Congress, sitting MP, Mani Charanamei of Peoples’ Democratic Alliance, D Loli Adanee of BJP and Valley Rose, Independent– filed their nomination papers yesterday. He is supported by Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and National Peoples’ Party (NPP). Tomorrow is the last date for filing of nominations for Outer Manipur constituency. Valley Rose is the only woman candidate who filed nomination papers so far. Sunny Santhil of JD(S) has not yet filed his papers. The polls for Outer Manipur will be held on April 16. The Left Front will support the JD(S). The exact figure will be known by today evening. For the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency, the notification was issued yesterday and date of polling will be on April 22. The last date of filing of nominations is April 4. For the Inner seat, Rastriya Bahujan Congress Party (RBCP) will project a woman candidate, Loitongbam Kshetrani (49) of Sagolband and Bijoy Govinda Akham Leikai in Imphal West. The CPI, a partner of the ruling Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government, will put up Dr M Nara who contested last time in Inner Manipur and has campaign has already started.  The CPI candidate will be supported by other Left parties and Janata Dal (S). The Congress has put up the sitting MP, Th Meinya and the BJP has projected former Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh. The MPP will be supported by the NCP, NPP, Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP). (Agencies)

Regional party promises to solve unemployment : GANGTOK, March 31: The Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad (SHRP) today promised to provide uniform benefits to all voters, irrespective of them having the Sikkim Subject certificates, if voted to power in the April 30 Assembly polls. “We will not discriminate against those who do not have Sikkim Subject certificates. The funds and benefits come to Sikkim for all the people and we will give equal share to those without Sikkim Subject certificates,” SHRP president Dr AD Subba told an election rally here. Dr Subba accused other political parties of wooing voters during the election and later discriminating against some on the basis of Sikkim Subject certificates. “There must be a change in government in Sikkim,” he said and appealed to the people to vote for the regional party. “SHRP has plans and programmes for all sections of Sikkimese people,” he said.While slamming the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front(SDF) for its failures on all spheres, the SHRP president vowed to provide employment to all the educated unemployed youths within three months if his party was voted to power.“We will give jobs to our youths in Sikkim, in other states of the country and even in foreign shores,” Dr Subba claimed. Sikkim will have simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. (Agencies)

Joint patrolling of Indo Bangla border resumed : AGARTALA, March 31: Indian and Bangladeshi frontiers guards have resumed joint patrolling along the border after a brief suspension of the combined vigil following a mutiny by the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) troopers in Dhaka last month, officials said here on Sunday. “The joint patrolling resumed last week following talks between the two sides,” Border Security Force (BSF) spokesman AK Singh, said. Some 80 people were killed in the mutiny by BDR troopers. Five Indian states –West Bengal, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Asom and Tripura –share a 4,095 km border with Bangladesh. These include a 2,979 km land border and 1,116 km are riverine. “In view of next month’s Lok Sabha elections, we are also conducting joint patrolling along vulnerable border areas with security forces of the North-eastern states,” Singh said. According to the BSF official, 21 companies (2,100 personnel) of additional paramilitary troopers have been deployed in Tripura for the elections. “The highly vulnerable polling stations would be manned by 20 to 24 troopers of Central Para-Military Force (CPMF), while 10 to 12 personnel would guard vulnerable polling stations,” said KV Sreejesh, a senior police official. (Agencies)

Five candidates file nomination papers in Manipur : IMPHAL, March 31: Five candidates have filed nomination papers for the outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency till today. Four candidates filed their nomination papers today at the office of the Returning Officer, Thoubal. They were Thangso Baite of the Congress, a sitting MP, Mani Charanamei of People’s Democratic Alliance, D Loli Adanee of the BJP and Valley Rose, an Independent. NCP candidate L B Sona had earlier filed his nomination paper. He was supported by Manipur People’s Party (MPP), Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) and National People’s Party (NPP). The last date for filing of nominations for Outer Manipur constituency is March 30. Valley Rose was the only woman candidate, who had filed paper so far. Election to Outer Manipur seat will be held on April 16. For the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency, the notification was issued today and polling will be held on April 22. Last date of filing of nominations is April 4. For the Inner seat Rastriya Bahujan Congress Party (RBCP) will field a woman candidate– Loitongbam Kshetrani.The CPI, a partner of the ruling Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government, will put up Dr M Nara, who contested last time from Inner Manipur.The CPI candidate will be supported by other Left parties and Janata Dal(S). The Congress had put up the sitting MP, Th Meinya, and the BJP had fielded former Chief Minister W Nipamacha Singh. The MPP had fielded Prof N Mohendra, who will be supported by the NCP, the NPP and the Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP). (Agencies)

NERIST all set to hold its first convocation ceremony : ITANAGAR, March 31: The North East Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), a deemed technical university in North-eastern states, is all set to hold its first ever convocation on April 1, which is likely to be addressed by President Pratibha Devisingh Patil. The institute is being spruced up to receive the President in a befitting manner and the event has a special significance as NERIST is celebrating its silver jubilee as well. The under-graduate and post-graduate students of 2006-08 batch are slated to get their degrees during the convocation, NERIST sources said. Set up in the year 1984, NERIST initially started functioning as a pilot project under the North Eastern Council and later was brought under the direct control of Ministry of Human Resource Development. The premier institute had been conferred with the status of a Deemed university in the year 2005 and thereafter the institute started many post-graduate programs like M Tech, MBA and Ph D apart from its degree course in science and technology. NERIST pioneered the concept of a unique modular pattern of technical education which offers terminality after every module and at the same time allows a student to get promoted to the next higher level. The institute can boast of having a dedicated training and placement cell, the success of which is evident from its alumni being placed in reputed industries and organizations throughout India and abroad. In the last 25 years of its existence, NERIST has carved a niche for itself through its sponsored research programmes, industrial consultancy and production of skilled workforce at the technician, supervisory and executive levels. It has been singularly successful in imprinting its mark by catering to the local demands through its extension services imparted by its centres. (Agencies)

Four held for assault on SPCC general secretary : JORETHANG (South Sikkim), March 31: Four suspects were held today in connection with the assault on Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) General Secretary Kunga Lepcha and his supporters. Informing this, Superintendent of Police(South) G K Verma said unidentified persons this morning attacked two vehicles carrying the SPCC General Secretary and his escorts at Jorethang bazaar. “While Lepcha was saved by his bodyguards, his son Dorjee Thendup and some other Congress supporters sustained some minor injuries in the attack. The vehicles were also damaged,” Verma said. The suspects, who were held, were identified as Joseph Rai, Pawan Rai, Kiran Subba and Hem Prasad Rai. Two more suspects –Chabilal Subba and Dadul Lepcha– are absconding and will be caught soon, said the SP. On the other hand, the SPCC general secretary claimed that it was a pre-planned attempt to murder him. “I was saved by my supporters,” he said. Lepcha also warned that if police did not bring the culprits to justice, “the Congress will not be responsible for retaliation.” (Agencies)

Experts provide insight into tribal music at seminar : IMPHAL, March 31: To promote musical instruments used by the tribals in Manipur a seminar on Indigenous Tribal Folk Musical Instruments of Manipur was held at the State Guest House in Imphal this morning. The seminar was organized by Tribal Museum and Research Centre, Imphal and sponsored by ministry of culture, government of India. Various resource persons highlighted the instruments used by different tribes in the state. Music accompanies the people whether young or old and is sung or played before and after a particular work. Even while cooking this unique blend of music and their busy hands keeps the tempo and their life appears to be never tired of forging ahead, he explained. The rhythmic songs are sung in groups to encourage those involved in jhumming, gathering of wood, planting of paddy seedlings and other daily works. One of the special attributes of these songs is that it gives company to those working alone in a far away place making them enjoy the work in which they are engaged, he said. Some of the musical instruments which are widely used are Sokei Khebu, Makhi Khebu, Soki Moki, Khetsu and Kaka-Lobvu, according to the expert. The melodies of the Tangkhul folk songs and music are predominantly of the pantothenic scales, and styles of singing are varied, he said adding that some are sung with subtle slurring and such songs are very hard for learners new to them. K Lanlilung highlighted the traditional musical instruments of the Zeliangrong asserted that the Zeliangrong is the combination of the prefix of the cognate tribes namely Zemei, Liangmei, Rongmei and Puimei. He also said that the Zeliangrong have very rich quality of music and dance. They use different kinds of music performance of cultural dances, merry making and others and various musical instruments are used during dance, song, yelling of Hoi and many other ceremonies, he observed. These musical devices are made from metal, wood and leather together, horn of mithun for blowing, scale of coconut, bamboo and others, he said. The seminar was also attended by Dr Lai Imo who highlighted the indigenous musical instruments of Chothe tribe, Achou Kom for musical instruments of Kom tribe, Manipur and Daliensung for musical instruments of Hmar. (Agencies)

Czech citizen lands in Tripura jail AGARTALA, March 31: A local court today remanded a Czechoslovakian student to five-day judicial custody for not carrying valid travel documents. Zerslav Mark (26) was arrested yesterday at Sonamura border in West Tripura from Bangladesh for not carrying any valid passport, BSF sources said. 401 dollars, 1,160 Bangladeshi taka, some Indian rupees, a Bangladeshi SIM card and, some travel tickets of India and Bangladesh were recovered from him, the sources added. “Initial investigation revealed that Mark entered Mumbai on February 17 without valid documents and visited several parts of the country till March 12. Finally, he went to Bangladesh through Kolkata,” police said. Mark claimed that he was a management student and was on a tour to India and Bangladesh but couldn’t show any valid documents to support his claim. The matter had been taken up with Czech embassy through External Affairs ministry, police added. (Agencies) Arms recovered after encounter in Tripura AGARTALA, March 31: Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawans recovered a country made gun, 16 live rounds of AK-47 from remote Manikpur area of Dhalai district last night following an encounter with National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) outfit. Police said here today that NLFT activists had attacked the security personnel when TSR jawans left for Nayansingh Para and Purnadapara under Manipur police station. A group of NLFT ultras fired upon the security guards from hill top. In retaliation, the TSR jawans also fired back though no casualty was reported from either side. The militants, however, managed to flee from the spot, police said. No one had been arrested so far, police added. (Agencies) Police nabs Army jawan in scribe assault case KOHIMA, March 31 Police has arrested a jawan of the fifth Rajputana Regiment on charges of assaulting a journalist and his driver in Dimapur on March 24. The jawan of the fifth Rajputana Regiment, stationed at Manjha in Karbi Anglong district of Asom was arrested yesterday, official sources here today said. The jawan was later identified by the victim journalist Sebastian Ezung of Nagaland Post. The Commanding Officer of the Regiment, who rushed to Dimapur soon after the incident, claimed that the seized vehicle belonging to the regiment, was not in Dimapur on the day of the incident. However, a case had been registered against the jawan and he had been remanded to custody for further interrogation. (Agencies) Manipur lads clear IFS exams IMPHAL, March 31: Two State lads Nameirakpam Jaswant of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai and RK Amarjit of Nambol Thiyam Mayai Leikai have cleared the Indian Forest Service Examination 2008. Jaswant, a Coast Guard Officer clinched he 25th position of the All India service in the examination conducted in July last year. Amarjit who is currently serving the State Government as an MCS officer got 31st rank. (Agencies)

Fresh notices to 2 Ind MLAs, more to follow : From our Correspondent SHILLONG, March 31: Meghalaya Assembly Speaker has served fresh show-cause notices to two independent legislators who deserted the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) setting April 4 as they declined to reply. Speaker Bindo M Lanong today said that he had served the fresh showcause notices to Ismail Marak and Limison Sangma on Saturday. The Speaker had issued the notices to both the legislators as they did not give their reply to the first notice. According to the Speaker, Marak and Sangma had assured him that by March 19 that they would give their final reply on why they had deserted the MPA. However, they failed to reply to the showcause notice. “Prior to the trust vote on March 17, I have issued showcause notice to the legislators for which they had given their interim reply. However, they promised that they will give their final reply on March 19 which they never did,” Lanong said. The Speaker also added that he had given them sufficient time to give their final reply by April 4. The Speaker said the showcause notices to KHNAM president Paul Lyngdoh and NCP legislator Sanbor Shullai will be issued in the coming days. As in the case of HSPDP legislator Dr Adviser Pariong, the Speaker said that he will examine as the party has withdrawn the complaint.

11 candidates for 2 LS seats in M’la SHILLONG, March 31: Eleven candidates will vie for the coming Lok Sabha elections from the two parliamentary seats of Meghalaya. From the Shillong seat, leader of the traditional bodies John F Kharshiing from the UDP, business tycoon Vincent Pala of Congress, retired Reverend PBM Basaiawmoit from HSPDP, MDP president Martle M Mukhim, Dalington Dympep from CPI and two independents Denis Siangshai and Tierod Passah have filed their nomination papers. From Tura, sitting MP and daughter of former Lok Sabha Speaker Agatha K Sangma will vie against Boston Marak (ANC), Deborah C Marak (Congress) and independent Arlene N Sangma. East Khasi Hills returning officer Bhalang Dhar said that after the candidates had filed their nomination papers scrutiny will take place tomorrow. He also said that allotment of symbols will be made on April 2 after withdrawal of nominations. Polls for the Shillong and Tura Parliamentary seats of Meghalaya would be held on April 16. A total of 12,77,012 are eligible to exercise their franchise for the two reserved (ST) LS seats.

HNLC extorts cash from illegal traders SHILLONG, March 31: The illegal traders along the Khasi-Jaintia hills are the vulnerable victims of extortion of the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC). After the constant success of police in curbing the extortion activities of the proscribed outfit, the HNLC has now focused on the border population that are involved in the traditional trade (termed as illegal since the creation of Bangladesh). A few days back, an attempt of HNLC cadres of extorting money in and adjacent to the border town of Dawki was foiled by the police after a brief gunfire. Confirming to The Sentinel about the HNLC activities, a well-placed police official said the HNLC is now sustaining through the money collected from these people involved in illegal trade along the Meghalaya Sector of the Indo-Bangladesh border. “They cross the porous border, place the demand verbally, retreat to Bangladesh and come back on some other day to collect the money,” stated the police official, even as he stated that the four cadres who managed to flee from the scene of the encounter came with the same mission. The source did not want to reveal the names of those militants but was apt in describing that two were recruited into the HNLC in 1998-1999 and the other two in 2000 batch. Police finds it difficult to check the HNLC activities in the area along the international borders because the people are not informing them. “These people don’t inform us due to the complexity of the old transaction”, stated the senior police official. Moreover, the outfit activities in the coal belts in Jaintia hills and West Khasi hills are intermittently reported. The police are aware of the fact, but they maintain that these coal barons prefer to keep mum because the amount they pay to the outfit now is peanuts when compared to what they paid.

Pro-uranium group hopes mining to start during PR SHILLONG, March 31: With a hope to start uranium mining in Mawthabah area during the President Rule, the pro-uranium mining group today said that they will move Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary to start the project. Addressing a news conference here today the Langrin Warsan Lyngdoh, a socio-economic development organization (LWLSEDO), said that in spite of their continuous plea to governments in the past to start uranium mining in the West Khasi Hills no steps were initiated. However, they hope that the Governor will look into the matter and grant NOC to the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL). LWLSEDO president Wonder V Myrthong said that the organization had submitted several memorandums on the need to start uranium mining, but nothing was done by the governments in this regard. Confident that the Governor will initiate steps to start the project, Myrthong said that the Governor had even assured that the project will start when he had visited Mawthabah last February. The organization also criticized the anti-uranium mining lobby like the KSU, KHNAM and HSPDP which are protesting against the move to carry out the uranium mining. The organization said KHNAM legislator Paul Lyngdoh, who was against uranium mining, is busy fighting to gain power and did not even care for the development of the people of the State. Even the KSU which gave birth to KHNAM remained silent on this issue. Asked whether uranium mining would amount to influx, Myrthong said the fear of influx of outsiders once uranium mining is carried out in the uranium mining sites is baseless. He said the villagers and the Sordars have also decided not to rent their houses to outsiders. Moreover, the UCIL will be asked to provide quarters for the workers who come from outside, Myrthong added. The organization also made it clear that it will also make sure that there will not be any land alienation by preventing the sale of land in the uranium mining sites even to the Khasis who are residing outside the mining sites. The former MPA Government had formed an expert committee to look into the merits and demerits of uranium mining, but, no concrete steps were initiated by the committee, the organization said. The organization further said that an 11-member delegation visited the uranium mining sites in Jadugoda on March 25 and found that there are no health hazards. “We won’t listen to any anti-uranium mining group. We are committed to pursue uranium mining project for the development of our people,” the organization said. The organization has also decided to meet the Governor seeking his intervention to carry out uranium mining.

BSF arrests 3 Bangladeshis : SHILLONG, March 31: Acting on a tip-off, the BSF patrol party in the Dawki area in East Khasi hills apprehended 3 Bangladeshi women. They have been identified as —Uzala (35) of Tamabil village under Goyan Ghat police station in Sylet district, Rahima (40) of Tamabil village under Goyan Ghat police station in Sylet district and  Abia (45) of Tamabil village under Goyan Ghat police station in Sylet district, a press release said.