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02/25/2007: "NSCN-K to remain neutral in tribal conflicts The Morung Express"


NSCN-K to remain neutral in tribal conflicts The Morung Express
Dimapur, Feb 24 (MExN): The NSCN-K has decided to remain neutral in the tribal/communal conflicts and would not support one party against the other “until forced upon to do it”.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of Council of Kilonsers, CCMs and ‘secretaries’ on February 22, informed Nitovi Aye ‘Cabinet secretary’ in a press note. It highlighted the outfit’s commitment to say clear of the Tobu dispute between the Konyaks and the Changs as well as between the Yimchungers and Tikhirs over the tribal identity issue. All NSCN-K authorities and cadres who involve in such conflicts will be dealt with “without reservations” it stated adding that rather, it would encourage amicable solution to disputes “in the interest of peace and brotherhood”.
The NSCN-K also advises all its functionaries to be cautious on NSCN-IM Chairman Isak Swu’s ‘peace and forgiveness proclamation’. “From past unmistakable experiences, we must understand that when I-K terrorists talk about peace and unity, more killings would certainly follow” it asserted, adding that Isak and (NSCN-IM General Secretary) Th. Muivah came to Nagaland “to monitor the Manipur state election of this month in which they were deeply involved through the so called UNC.”
Further in regard to a news item on February 23, reporting on two of its cadres joining the NSCN-IM fold, the note clarified that the two, Kitoho Sumi and Vitolu Sumi, were recruited into the NSCN-K without knowledge of the authorities concerned. “That, they are heavy drug addicts. After undergoing basic training they were appointed to different office. But, because of their addiction they could not be used by the concerned department of the GPRN, leading to the issuance of suspension order for six months on the January 10 asking them to reform themselves, it stated. However, no sign of change was witnessed so they were asked to resign “on compassionate ground instead of awarding forced discharge”. The same was published in all the local dailies on February 13. “But, in spite of getting the information, the I-K terrorists accepted them and are boasting for them by giving wide publication. All such drug addicts, alcoholics and criminals discharged by the NSCN/GPRN are all accepted by the I-K terrorists, because the organization is a conspicuous dustbin and on the verge of dissolution” it added.
Army act gets campaign peg OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Feb. 24: In the run- up to the byelections to two Nagaland Assembly constituencies, scheduled for March 8, the state unit of the BJP said it would campaign for the removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and other draconian laws.
Tuensang Sadar-II and Dimapur-I constituencies fell vacant following the death of two BJP MLAs — Lakiumong and Hokishe Sema. However, the party candidate from Tuensang Sadar-II was forced to pull out after receiving thr-eats from suspected militants.
Ato Yepthomi, state unit president of the BJP, said his party was committed to working “sincerely” for a peaceful and permanent solution to the Naga political issue. The party affirmed its stand for all-round development in restructuring and rebuilding infrastructure.
It urged the Centre to release development funds earmarked for the state. Minister for health and family welfare T. M. Lotha said he had directed his partymen to vote for the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) candidate in Tuensang Sadar-II constituency. Party chief Yepthomi expressed his resentment against the returning officer’s inaction in Tuensang Sadar-II and alleged a “deep-rooted conspiracy” against his party.
NSCN (K) points to rival’s ‘misadventures’The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, FEB 24 (MExN): In process of Naga’s struggle for sovereignty under the NSCN banner, the NSCN (K) press release issued by Joseph, Revenue Kilonser stated that NSCN (IM) “so-called leaders” engaged in peace talk with the Government of India is futile, contradictory to their “puppet Nagaland Chief Minister’s claims since 2003” where it says that the proceedings are fruitful and in the right direction.
It also asserted that “NSCN (IM) is directly taking part in Indian election through the services of NGOs of Manipur and Nagaland States under the banner of Naga Sovereignty”, resulting to students careers being jeopardized and the NGO leaders both in Nagaland and Manipur are put at ransom. In regard to the NSCN (IM) involvement in the Manipur state election, the NSCN (K) stated that they are “agent of AICC President Sonia Gandhi and BJP leader L K Advani” and they were given “free hand to suppress the Freedom of Rights of the people and made the voters cast their vote against their will”.
It also stated that the Naga people should retrospect and stand for their own rights against the “misadventure” of the NSCN (IM) and not to feel intimidated. It further stated that the “NSCN (K) will not remain a silent spectator while the NSCN (IM) or the money mongers are keeping the general public at ransom and suppressing their freedom of rights and expression in the name of Naga Sovereignty”.
Army launches hunt for killers of 16 policemen By Reuters
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - A massive manhunt is underway in the dense jungles of Manipur after 16 policemen were killed in a militant ambush, a top military commander said on Sunday.
In the deadliest attack in the state for at least two years, more than 30 heavily armed militants threw grenades and fired from hilltops at a police patrol vehicle in Tamenglong district, about 85 km northwest of the capital, Imphal. The attack on Saturday came a day after provincial elections were held in Manipur, which borders Myanmar. Twelve policemen died on the spot and four in hospital. Five others were critically wounded. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
"The militants meticulously planned their ambush in an isolated place from where they could easily escape," the senior officer supervising the search said, requesting anonymity. He said soldiers on foot, backed by helicopters, were combing the jungles where the guerrillas are believed to hiding.
"They will not be allowed to go off so easily after killing so many of our boys," he added.
More than 20,000 people have been killed in decades of insurgency in Manipur, triggered in the 1960s after Manipuris complained their province was being neglected by the far-away federal government in New Delhi.
16 IRB personnel killed in ambush The Morung Express
IMPHAL, FEB 24 (AGENCIES): In a major strike by insurgents, 16 security personnel on poll duty were killed and six others were injured in an ambush on a security convoy in Manipur’s Bishenpur district today. The incident occurred at a place called Upper Laimaton of Ngarian hill along Old Cachar Road which is under Bishenpur Police Station. The spot is 50 km away from Imphal. Official sources said 14 security personnel were killed on the spot when about 20 insurgents of an unidentified outfit, hiding on a hill top threw powerful grenades and fired upon a party of the 1st and 4th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel at Joujangtek area of the district, about 35 km south of here, at around 10 a.m.
Seven other security personnel were injured by splinters in a heavy exchange of fire between the two sides that lasted for two hours. One of injured later succumbed at a hospital here.
The security personnel led by Commandant D Dhiren were returning in six vehicles to their camps to Churachandpur district after their poll duty at Khoupum polling station in Tamenglong district, the sources said. Two of the dead personnel were identified as havildars Jhaljit Singh and Kholi Mao, the sources said. The polling personnel posted at Khoupum polling station had left for Tamenglong district headquarters with election materials, including EVMs by another road. The EVMs and the election materials were being taken to the office of the deputy commissioner.
Earlier reports said the IRB personnel were escorting polling personnel.
The insurgents were reported to have snatched some automatic rifles from the security personnel.
1988 eastern naga public uprising against tangkhul atrocities caused nscn split- Nagaland Post Opinion
Since the unfortunate split of NSCN way back in 1988 hitherto, meticulously designed propagandas and fabricated documentaries of events and circumstances preceding the split and resultant blood letting has been systematically instilled particularly over Western Nagas inorder to whitewash their crimes. Truth has been buried for long and justice evaded, criminals are still at large and their atrocious tentacles entrenched deeper in their new conquered kingdom (Nagaland) in the form of NSCN-IM. Naga struggle is not only political but the struggle of suffering humanity, humane ideals is therefore inalienable in our quest for freedom.
However, extremist ideology and mis-interpreted communism were imported to Naga country by Tangkhuls led by Muivah and this arrogant despotic diktats were forcibly imposed on the democratic and freedom loving Nagas. Eastern Nagas who were illiterate and ignorant of the outside world those days but undoubtedly patriotic and innocent were inhumanly exploited to the extent of murder at will, for instance the then Sgt. Jacob Tangkhul hacked to death one local porter merely because the potter failed to keep pace due to overloaded baggage, Tangkhul workers treated Eastern Nagas as slaves and were subjected to unthinkable forms of humiliation stating that primates can be tamed only through violence and enslavement.
On the pretext of spreading Christianity and Education, these Tangkhuls who were comparatively far advanced exacted extreme hardships and humiliation upon the Eastern nagas. All these acts of savagery failed to dampen the spirit of Eastern Naga brothers and finally they rose in public revolt against Tangkhul's atrocities. In the meantime, Muivah and his Tangkhul coterie apprehending end of their survival in the East began plotting surrender to Indian Government by creating autonomous Wung Tangkhul State within India. This plot was exposed and Muivah was summoned to give explanation to the Council but he failed to convince the councilors.
Trouble was brewing, tension and suspicions were running high, but internal politics was not the main subject that led to split. The outburst of violent public anger resulted unfortunate loss of several Tangkhul lives, NSCN members were alleged of having carried out discriminate killings against Tangkhuls, on the contrary hundreds of Tangkhul workers were given given shelter and escorted safely to Nagaland from the hands of irate public by NSCN, except few cases of execution of proclaimed traitors. There were several dozen Tangkhuls including women in the same command where I was posted during the time of incident, surviving witness in the person of Maj. Tokiho's wife (a Tangkhul lady) can relate as to the extent of decent and protective treatment accorded to those Tangkhuls in the custody of NSCN. I still remember one eventful night at Taka near Chindwin river on March 1987 around mid-night- NSCN Chairman Isak Chishi Swu called me and N. Kitovi Zhimomi the then SO and presently our Ato Kilonser to his bedroom and told us that Tangkhul brothers are plotting violent secession, therefore don't loose even a single Sema sons until I return from foreign trip (Ten Days Commandment).
Since then Isak Chishi Swu didn't rejoin and we are still awaiting him patiently and expectantly with Sema sons as in compliance of his advice. But how many Nagas’ sons of soils including Semas have perished and exterminated by your co-worker Muivah while you are still on your foreign trip? would you ever rejoin us with those lost sons, Is thousands of Naga lives still not enough to recover self-invited death of several Tangkhuls in 1988?
How many more Naga lives would you allow to be wasted in Tangkhuls vengeful backlash? Are you still being misled and forced to lead Tangkhul movement as you were way back in 1988?
"Generation will come and generation will go and so the bloody carnage left behind your every footsteps shall pass on to succeeding generations in bleak testimony of the dark age in the history of Naga struggle endowed by your strayed leadership"
Hence forth,1988 uprising of Eastern Naga people against Tangkhul's atrocities should never be attributed to NSCN and the reign of terror over the Nagas in a similar fashion as perpetrated upon the Eastern Nagas should not be recreated and repeated in Nagaland.
Brig. Niki Sumi, Commander OBL, People's Army of Nagaland, NSCN (K).
Billy Graham wants to visit Nagaland Kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, Feb 24:: World renowned evangelist preacher Billy Graham loves the Nagas and wish to travel back to Nagaland, India if possible said Dr. R Robert Cunville, associate evangelist of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) on Saturday. Dr. Robert is here in town as speaker of the three-day "revival hour" of the Western Sumi Baptist Akukkuhou Küqhakulu (WSBAK) which is being held at Diphupar local ground from February 23 to 25 on the theme 'revive us again', he arrived Dimapur from Shillong on Friday accompanied by Rev Terrence.

Dr. Robert disclosed that Dr. Billy Graham who now "cannot see, hear and walk very well," when recently asked by his daughter, "Daddy, if you were able to travel again where would you go?"

The reverend said that Dr. Billy Graham's immediate responds was "India. "The reverend also said that he brought greetings on behalf of Dr. Billy Graham.

It might be mention that Dr. Billy Graham had visited Nagaland for a crusade in 1972 at Kohima. Referring to the book of Genesis chapter 3, the reverend spoke on the topic 'God looking for man.' Earlier, Rev. Terrence presented the gospel in song which included the fame hymnal 'amazing grace'. The Sumi Sheshu also presented some special numbers, Ms. Esther, women secretary, WSBAK chaired the programme. The speakers for the crusade also included Rev. Hevekhü Achumi, secretary Sumi Baptist Churches Convention and Rev S Vitoshe Swu, executive secretary WSBAK. About 5000 delegates from 146 churches under WSBAK are attending the three-day crusade which will culminate on Sunday. (NPN)

15 police die in rebel ambush in remote northeast India By Wasbir Hussain ASSOCIATED PRESS
GAUHATI, India – Fifteen police officers were killed Saturday when suspected rebels ambushed their patrol in India's remote northeast, officials said.
Sixty armed police officers who had been supervising elections in Bishenpur district were traveling in six vehicles back to their headquarters when rebels fired on them with automatic weapons, said local police chief Jayanta Singh.
A fierce gunbattle ensued, Singh said, adding that the rebels then fled into a nearby dense forest.
Fourteen policemen died at the scene and another officer died later at a hospital. “The death toll may rise as seven others are critically wounded,” Singh said. It was the worst attack since the election began on Feb. 8. Voting is staggered in the insurgency-wracked region to help security forces prevent attacks. Singh blamed rebels for the attack, but did not name a specific group.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland and Manipur People's Liberation Front are among several rebel groups that have been fighting for decades for independent homelands in Manipur and the neighboring state of Nagaland. The militants say the central government in New Delhi – 1,000 miles to the west – exploits the northeast's rich natural resources while doing little for the indigenous people, most of whom are ethnically closer to Burma and China than to the rest of India. The northeast has poor infrastructure, widespread unemployment and a bitterness toward the national government that has nurtured dozens of militant groups.
NSF happy over peaceful conducts of exam Nagarealm.com
Dimapur, FEB24 [NPN] : The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) expressed happiness over the successful completion of the recent HSLC examination conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE). he Federation extended gratitude to the State government for the steps taken to allow the students from the four hills district of Manipur to appear their exams under NBSE. The students thanked both the NBSE and the Department of School Education for making special arrangements as "external private candidates" for the students, and also thanked the District Administration and the State Police for ensuring all security measures for the students. It also extended appreciation to the Viswema Village Council, Tribal Hohos, Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers' Association, Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, Mao Students' Union, Dimapur Naga Students' Union, Dimapur citizens, school authorities, well wishers and the general public for rendering their services to the students, and for their support and contribution. The Federation also thanked the NBCC and all the churches for their constant prayer support. The Federation also extended its gratitude to all the National Workers for safe guarding the wishes and interests of the students.
Prices of world's hottest chilli shoots up By IANS
Titabor (Assam), Feb 25 (IANS) Prices of Bhut Jolokia, a chilli native to India's northeastern state of Assam, have shot up in markets after the Guinness World Records recognised it as the world's hottest chilli pepper. The discovery by Paul Bosland, a Regents Professor in horticulture at New Mexico State University, was recognised by the Guinness World Records in a testimony earlier this month saying Bhut Jolokia, belonging to the Capsicum Chinese family and native to Assam, was the hottest of all spices. The hotness of the Bhut Jolokia, measured in Scoville heat units at two independent laboratories by Bosland, was 1,001,304. It's nearly twice as hot as Red Savina (577,000), the variety it replaces as the hottest. By comparison, a New Mexico green chilli contains about 1,500 Scoville units, while an average jalapeno measures at about 10,000.
'We never thought Bhut Jolokia was so hot until news came in that this is the world's hottest chilli. Now we have hiked the prices by Rs.50 a kg and people are buying it like hot cakes,' said Nalini Ram Thakuria, a vegetable vendor in Guwahati. A kilogram of Bhut Jolokia, the name translates as the 'ghost chilli', sells at about Rs.250.
'Such is the hotness of this chilli that it can drive away the ghost, and hence the name Bhut Jolokia,' Anandita Dutta Tamuly, a 26-year-old Assamese woman, known for her singular fiery habit of gobbling red hot chillies, told IANS. And her bizarre habit of eating Bhut Jolokia could earn her fame as she prepares to leave for London on an invitation by the Guinness World Records to create history.
'I have applied for visa and very soon hope to get all my papers ready for going to London,' the demure mother of a 15-month-old baby boy said. The reigning chilli champ is South Africa's Anita Crafford, who in 2002 gobbled eight jalapenos in a minute.
'Jalapenos are not as hot as Bhut Jolokia's and I have already created history on Indian television by munching 60 of the chillies in two minutes. I am more than confident of creating a record once I reach London,' Tamuly said at her home in Titabor, a village 325 km east of Guwahati. The Assam government has announced financial support for Tamuly's trip to London. 'I have been eating Bhut Jolokia since my childhood and never felt the hotness in my mouth,' she said.
She got hooked on to the hot pepper when she was just five years old. 'I had a sore tongue and my mother applied a chilli paste to cure the infection when I was five. Since then I developed a penchant for chillies,' Tamuly said.'I can even break the chilli and splash it on my eyes. I tried this on TV and had no problems whatsoever.' The local variety of the chilli is grown mostly in the hilly terrain and is considered a staple menu in every meal among the northeastern people. India exports 35 tonnes of all varieties of chilli, annually earning a considerable amount of revenue for the country.
Repoll ordered in 15 centres by our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Feb 24: Based on inputs of Returning Officers and observers of Elec- tion Commission of India as well as taking into account material circumstances re-poll has been ordered in 15 polling stations of four assembly constituencies. repoll in the polling stations falling under Chandel, Tengnoupal, Tamei and Ta-menglong ACs would be held tomorrow (Feb 25) from 7 am till 3.30 pm, said a statement released by the Chief electoral Officer, manipur.
Out of the polling stations where the electorates would repeat their franchise rights seven falls under Tengnoupal AC, four in Ta-menglong, Chandel accou- nting for three and one in Tamei AC. The Tengnoupal polling stations are 42/5 Khangsim, 42/6 Kangsang (A), 42/7 Kangsang (B), 42/10 Khul-saibung, 42/14 Langol (A), 42/15 Langol (B) and 42/24 Phunal Maring.
In Tamenglong AC re-polling would be held in 53/02 Tharon, 53/04 Thingra, 53/14 Kabui Khullen and 53/21 Khebuching while 41/2 Wangparel, 41/12 Japhou Bazar Pt-I and 41/14 Mong-sang Pantha of Chandel AC are the polling centres that would witness repoll.
The lone polling station where repolling would be held in Tamei AC concerns 52/5 Kadi.
While repoll had been ordered in majority of the polling stations due to cases of EVM snatching, Kangsang A&B polling stations would go to repoll after complaints of electoral irregularities were lodged that police commandos escorted a voter into the polling booth.
Sub-Inspector N Tiken of Thoubal police comman-do, under whose command a bullet proof vehicle bar-ged into the polling station premise in Kangsang centre has been placed under suspension with immediate effect. In Langol (B) polling stations complaint of bogus voting by security personnel were raised while in the case of Phunal Maring polling station the voters dis- persed and failed to return after BSF personnel deployed there resorted to blank firing to foil attempt of some miscreants to snatch EVMs. one company of security force personnel would be deployed in each of these polling stations.
Yandaboo deal remembered By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Feb 24: In commemoration of the signing of Treaty of Yandaboo which recognised the independence of Manipur, Ereibak Kanba Numit was observed today.
The said Treaty was signed after the invading Burmese were chased out of Manipur's soil with the help of the British soldiers putting an end to one of the darkest episodes in the historical annals of Manipur which came to be known as the infamous ‘Seven Years Desertation (1819 to 1825).
The Treaty was signed on February 24, 1826 at the present day city of Yan-daboo in Burma now Myanmar and it recognised the independence of the erstwhile kingdom of Manipur.
The observance function was held under the joint aegis of UPF, IPSA and HERI- COUN at MDU Hall here with titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba as chief guest and HERICOUN president Rev Renghang Chothe, IPSA president Ibotombi Khuman and UPF president Thingom Mangi as presidium members. Speaking at the occasion, Leishemba Sanajaoba recalled that during the Burmese occupation of Mani- pur from 1819 to 1825, many Manipuri patriots like Hera-chandra waged war to regain the lost independent of the then Manipur kingdom even as King Gambhir Singh (Chinglen Nongdren-khomba) and his younger brother Nar Singh mobilised the people at Cachar and working out strategies to expel the invaders from the sacred soil of Manipur. After Manipur succeeded in chasing out the invading Burmese, the Treaty of Yan-daboo was signed between the Burmese and the Mani-puris on February 24, 1826 and recognising both the nations as independent enti- ties, he said.
However, before the lost independent could be consolidated completely, infi- ghting among the royal princes for power gave a chance to the British imperialists to interfere in the inter- nal affairs of Manipur and subsequently Manipur lost its sovereignty once again in 1891, Sanajaoba said. So the younger generation should not forget that lack of unity among the people has led to lost of sover- eignty of Manipur and it is high time for the people to think over what they can do for the cause of Manipur, the titular king added.
Govt, ULFA urged to resume talks By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Feb 24 — A citizens’ meeting held at the Latasil Bishnu-Nirmala Trust Bhawan here today called upon the Governments in the State and at the Centre and the militant organization United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to resolve the contentious issues through direct negotiations. The 12-party Political Conference organized the meeting. The State today needs an end to the reign of terror, which has been shattering its society, economy and polity, observed the participants of the meeting in their resolution and made an appeal to the Union Government to re-initiate the process of negotiation as the guardian. They pleaded that the Government should free the five detained leaders of the militant outfit and it should not allow the issue of sovereignty to obstruct the negotiation process. The participants of the meeting laid stress also on the need of a transparent approach on the part of the Government towards resolution of the ULFA tangle through negotiation. On the other hand, they said, the ULFA response to such Government moves should also be credible. The Government should reciprocate to the positive gesture demonstrated by the ULFA by withdrawing the call to boycott the latest edition of the National Games, with steps to resume the process of negotiation. In keeping with the appeal made by the Prime Minister recently to the ULFA to come forward for a negotiated settlement of the issues, the issue of sovereignty should not be allowed to hamper the talks, said the participants in their resolution. Reminding the Central Government of its assurance to the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) members to release five detained leaders of the ULFA in its sitting with the Group on June 22, 2006, the meeting called upon the Centre to start direct talks with the ULFA taking the decision of the said sitting as the starting point. The ULFA should also refrain from slapping any pre-condition for its participation in the negotiation process and come forward to resolve the issues through dialogue, said the participants of the meeting.

They also made an appeal to the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), CPI-M, CPI and the Trinamool Gana Parishad (TGP) to take part in the process initiated by the 12-Party Conference to mobilize public opinion for restoration of normalcy and peace in the State. The meeting was presided over by a presidium comprising former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, senior politicians Harendra Dev Goswami, Ambu Bora, Paresh Baruah and Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury.
It was addressed, among others, by former Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University Deba Prasad Barooah, veteran freedom fighter Shiva Prasad Baruah, Jagannath Goswami, noted music director Ramen Baruah, senior advocates Parama Choudhury, Pranab Pathak and Satyendraprasad Deka, academicians Dr Ramesh Pathak, Abdul Mannan and Dr Prafulla Mahanta, political leaders Hemen Das, Uddhav Barman, David Ledger and Conference’s convenors Pabindra Deka and Dhirendra Dev Adhikary. The decision of the 12-Party Conference to hold an all-party meeting on the issue in New Delhi during the current session of the Parliament was also announced in the meeting by Pabindra Deka.
Hmar group’s hand in murder suspected Assam Tribune
AIZAWL, Feb 24 – Mizoram Police today said militants of Manipur’s Hmar People’s Convention-Democrats (HPC-D) were the main suspect in the murder of the son of a prominent Hmar scholar near here last year.
A police statement said the suspects could not be apprehended as they were operating from the neighbouring State. It said it was very dificult to unearth details about the murder and arrest the suspects as they were “underground personnel” operating in Manipur. Isaac L Hmar, the son of Laldena, was found murdered near Berawtlang tourist centre on April 20 last year. The motive for the murder was suspected to be the factional feud among Hmar groups as Isaac’s uncle is a top leader of the Hmar National Army, which is a strong critic of the HPC-D.

The HPC-D, led by Lalhmingthanga Sanate, was formed soon after the HPC, then led by Hmingchungnunga, surrendered to the Mizoram Government after a peace accord was signed in 1994. – PTI
AR prevents tragedy The Imphal Free Press

imphal, feb 24: The Assam Rifles claims to have averted a tragedy on polling day yesterday after troops of the 3 ar nabbed a self-styled sergeant major of the UNLF along with a powerful IED.

The apprehended cadre, identified as Okendra, alias Khambaton alias Joy was tasked to come to Churachandpur from Chandel and plant the ied to cause large scale civilian casualties during polling in Churachandpur town, according to a PIB (Defence Wing) statement.

The IED recovered from the militant weighed approximately 10 kilos and had a sophisticated detonator and a timer device, it said. Interrogation of the cadre revealed that he had been tasked to place the IED near a polling booth close to Tuibong, yesterday.

The blast was to prove a point that the general area of Tuibong is unsafe, the statement said.

It also noted that the new district headquarters complex is earmarked to come up in Tuibong and there has been a lot of resistance to its siting from certain quarters.The IED blast would have strengthened the lobby which is against siting of the district headquarters at Tuibong, it said.
Ethnic dances mark Karbi Anglong Fest Sentinel our Correspondent
Kuki youths performing their traditional dance at the Karbi Anglong Utsav-2007 at Diphu Stadium on Saturday. Sentinel photo by Rajib Bhattacharjee.
DIPHU, Feb 24: Soon after its formal inauguration by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today, the KASA Stadium at Diphu, venue of the Karbi Anglong Utsav-2007, turned out to be a perfect ground to showcase the rich culture of the hill district’s various ethnic groups, the members of which, attired in their traditional dresses, kept the audience including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) CEM Mangal Sing Ingti, Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner Dr Angamathu, MP Biren Sigh Ingti and others mesmerised by performing their traditional dances. During his inaugural speech, Gogoi thanked local MP Biren Sing Ingti, KAAC CEM Mangal Sing and Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner Dr Angamathu for their efforts to make the festival a success. Gogoi said that this sort of festival would definitely boost the level of understanding among various ethnic communities living in the hill district and help propagate their cultures. He expressed his hope that people from all walks of life from all parts of the district would take part in the festival and make it a success. He released a souvenir on the occasion and a booklet on medicinal plants published by the reception committee of the festival in the inaugural function. Gogoi also visited the ethnic villages and stalls of various communities set up in the festival. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister felicitated Sanjeeva Rongpi, who had led the Asom football team in the recently-held National Games.
Various dances of ethnic communities like Karbi, Dimasa, Hmar, Kuki, Bodo, Rengma, Paite, Tiwa, Syam, Mizo, Asomiya and others were the major attraction in the function. The Army also made its presence felt in the hill district when personnel of J & K Regiment presented a Bangra dance much to the applause from the audience. Earlier in the day, Karbi Anglong Deputy Commissioner welcomed the guests and dignitaries present in the function.


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