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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 146
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www.morungexpress.com
Saturday, May 31, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4
We’ve got to rebuild human hearts - and persuade people that hope isn’t just possible, but essential Selena Indian-Americans Gomez declared coMakes winners after Charity Trip National Spelling to Nepal Bee faceoff [ PAGE 8]
Governor encourages Naga children to learn foreign language [ PAGE 2]
Thai junta to focus on healing
[ PAGE 11]
Morung Express News Dimapur | May 30
Poor boy. Tired of trying to keep abreast with this digital world, huh?
July 4 murder trial
A boy, center, plays with Thai soldiers guarding the square at Victory Monument to prevent anti-coup demonstration in Bangkok on May 30. An anti-coup activist in Thailand called Friday for a weekend rally to defy the military government’s ban on demonstrations, urging those opposed to the takeover to wear masks and be ready for cat-andmouse chases with soldiers in the capital. (AP Photo) Story on page 9
Pubs and restaurants located along the roadside of National Highway 39 at Lahorijan area under Karbi Anglong district, Assam, is fast becoming a flourishing destination for flesh trade. What was earlier dubbed as a bootlegger’s paradise, particularly for imbibers from dry state Nagaland, it now also caters to customers that fan the sex trade. This thriving business, which takes place just two kilometer from Nagaland gate, is not a clandestine affair either. As many as six to seven hotels are involved in the trade, it is learnt. Waiters at the hotels openly act as ‘procurer’ or ‘pimp’ and the sex workers, referred to as ‘girls’ who arrive from different locations for ‘business’, can be seen lounging in the cabins waiting for customers. Some can even be heard introducing themselves and inquiring if they (customers) want ‘company.’ Clients are presented a selection palate of an interracial array of girls and women from Nagaland, Manipur, Bokajan, Golaghat, Nepal etc. They are either paraded turn by turn by the waiter or dispatched to the cabin where the client is sitting.
• Flesh trade is practiced in the open • Married men, business people are top clients • Waiters act as ‘pimps’ • High demand for ‘Naga girls’ at hotels, pubs A dingy room somewhere at the far end of the hotel compound is reserved for ‘cohabitation.’ The restaurant provides condom packets, available for Rs. 50 or more. According to a waiter from one of the hotels involved in the racket, the ‘price of girls’ ranges from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 3000, depending on their looks, age or time required. He points out that Naga girls are preferred by clients, so they demand a price higher than others. “While price for girls from other communities can start from Rs. 1000, Naga girls start from Rs. 1500,” he revealed. The bigger share of the amount is taken by the hotel’s management. Waiters also receive their cuts. With an increasing demand for Naga girls, networking tentacles to lure more girls into sex trade, particularly from Dimapur area, have also increased. There have been alleged cases of trafficking where girls were forced into prostitution under the pretext of offering them mainstream jobs. One waiter bragged he
had in his cell phone numbers of ‘dozens of girls; some as young as 17 years and lots of college-going girls from Dimapur, who are ready to arrive the instant they are called.’ He further disclosed that Naga girls do not prefer to do business with Naga clients for fear that they may be identified or the client may be someone they know. Diverse statuses of people, both young and old, are known to visit these restaurants and pubs looking for a “good time,” with married men and business people topping the clientele, said another source from one of the hotels. For the waiter-turnedpimps, catering to clients at the hotel is one side of the business. They also hook up clients who wish to be more discreet, and make arrangements for their hotel stay etc. Like the sprouting of restaurants, a number of stay-in hotels have mushroomed in the area in recent times- more so to cater to sex trade. These hotels have direct contact with
call girls. “Many of these customers are saab wallas (interpreted as high ranking government officials and affluent people) and they prefer special girls - some demanding as high as Rs. 10,000,” another waiterturned-pimp revealed. “These girls are transported to the hotel in private vehicles,” he added. Naga girls involved in sex work in Lahorijan are also known to frequent late night pubs in Dimapur. According to a source, some of them do business in Lahorijan till early evening and return to Dimapur to haunt pubs in the midnight. An NGO field worker confirmed that there are countless women from Dimapur involved in the Lahorijan sex racket- both direct and indirect prostitution. “Many of these Naga girls are engaged in the trade either for pleasure or to buy themselves new clothes, accessories, unlike other sex workers who get involved to feed themselves and their families,” the field worker revealed.
nagaland Youth on ‘Modi Wave’ BORDER AFFAIRS: New Parl Secy Arya Lakshmi
Dimapur | May 30
On May 26, 2014, as Narendra Modi was sworn in as the 15th Prime Minister of India, the largest election in the world, the Indian Lok Sabha election 2014, witnessed a high number of first time voters aged 1822 years. As the Indian youth speaks up its concerns and expectations on social networking sites and other discussion forums, young Nagaland also shared its opinion on the newly elected government at the centre. Vezito Petseo, a social science teacher said, “I voted for the second time in elections and I feel that as a youth of India, I should practice my duty and be an integral part of the political system of India. As the
New Delhi, May 30 (iaNS): Former Intelligence Bureau chief Ajit Doval was Friday appointed the National Security Advisor. Doval’s appointment comes after his name was cleared by the appointments committee of the cabinet (ACC), according to the Press Information Bureau’s Twitter handle. Doval, who was Intelligence Bureau chief 2004-05, was director of the Vivekananda International Foundation, a think tank. Considered close to senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani, Doval’s name had been doing the rounds for DiMapur, May 30 the post of the NSA. (MexN): A “most wanted hardcore criminal,” who has been on the run since June 2011 after kidnapping and murdering a woman whose DiMapur, May 30 dead body was recovered (MexN): The Nagaland on June 3, 2011 from ChaFoot Hill Road Coordina- the river near CIHSR and an tion Committee (NFHRCC) accused in the attempted has called for an emergency murder of one S. Athili Mao meeting for urgent discus- on the night of June 2, 2011 sion on June 1 at 2:00pm at at a hotel in Elora Lane, was the residence of its treasurer nabbed by the Special OpYashitsungba Ao, Kherma- erations Team of Dimapur hal, Dimapur. “All the mem- Police on May 21. The Dimapur police have bers concerned along with ten tribal hoho, union office identified the accused as bearers (Dimapur Unit), Di- Athing @ Lolem @ Loliam mapur based hoho only,” Letey Lowang (33) of Borhave been requested to at- duria village under Tirap distend the meeting without trict, Arunachal Pradesh. He fail. This was informed in was arrested from 4th Mile a press release issued by near CIHSR. Additional SP/ NFHRCC convener Supu PRO of Dimapur informed Jamir and general secretary that the accused has admitted to being involved in the WY Kithan.
Prime Minister, Modi should deal with minority states like Nagaland and make it a secure zone. We expect him to be a secular leader as Nagaland has a high number of Christians, so he must treat all people equally.” Nagaland State recorded the highest turnout of voters in the country—a number of first time voters exercised their franchise. The ‘Modi Wave’, whether his campaign speeches or his victory speech, left an impact on the minds of the youth. “As a concerned youth of India, Modi as the new PM is a change and we are quite hopeful about it,” said Jenpu, founder of Youngs Club. “We have seen ten years of UPA rule and a lot of scams and it is the right time for Modi, who has a
clear vision for India, to come up. In his victory speech, he also mentioned inclusion of ministers from all tribes, religion, caste etc, to run a flawless government and that is something, we the youth of Nagaland wanted to hear as a minority community,” he added. There are others who are skeptical about secularism under Modi’s rule. Senti, a sociology student said, “We needed a change from UPA and Modi was the next option. I am happy that we have a new government and with that new ideas, plans, schemes for the country. But what strikes my conscience is the question of a secular country under Modi.” The issues of Nagaland State have not been dealt with satisfactorily and the Naga youth look forward to a proper
solution to the Naga issue. The recent attacks on the people of the North East and the region’s disconnect from other Indian states is yet another issue that people say should be looked at by Modi. “We have to travel very far to other cities to pursue our studies. A few government aided colleges will provide the people of North East with quality education and a major relief from travelling far. Also, as a minority State, we expect that under Modi rule, we will overcome the problems of racist attacks on people from the North East,” said Tangsoi Khiamniungan, a volunteer at NERLP (an NGO). Arya Lakshmi studies journalism at the Madras Christian College, and is an intern at The Morung Express
Accused involved in 2011 squall plays havoc in Delhi murder case nabbed Three killed, Five planes damaged, 21 flights diverted, 100 trains affected
NFHRCC emergency meeting on June 1
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flesh trade flourishes
By Sandemo Ngullie
Former IB chief appointed NSA
Federer and Djokovic book spots in last 16
–Tony Snow
[ PAGE 12]
[ PAGE 9]
reflections
DiMapur, May 30 (MexN): Two witnesses remain to be examined in the July 4, 2013 murder trial. When trial began in October, 2013, as many as 20 prosecution witnesses were listed to depose at the Additional Sessions Court, Dimapur. On the May 29 hearing, three witnesses were scheduled to be examined but only one could turn up, the prosecution counsel representing the government in the case stated. It will not be long before the trial comes to a conclusion, it was informed, as the culmination of witness-examination will be followed by the examination of defendants and the final arguments.
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Accused involved in 2011 murder.
commission of both the cases of murder and attempted murder which has been registered under East PS Dimapur for investigation. The accused is also wanted in a number of serious cases in Khonsa PS, Arunachal Pradesh, including kidnapping for ransom, extortion, criminal intimidation, robbery, Arms Act, jail break etc. The accused is under police remand and investigation into his involvement in other similar cases is on.
New Delhi, May 30 (iaNS): A sudden squall Friday evening took Delhiites by surprise disrupting road, rail and air traffic as well as Metro services and led to three deaths in the national capital. The dust storm accompanied by heavy showers led to a drop in the soaring temperature but not before it left in its wake broken tree branches, overturned cars and power outage. Three people, including a woman, were killed in separate incidents. While an 18-year-old woman was killed after an overhead power line fell on her in the Najafgarh area in west Delhi, a 20-year-old youth was killed when his throat was slashed after a tin sheet fell on him in Vivek Vihar in east Delhi. A 24-year-old cab driver was crushed to death
when a tree fell on his car in IP Estate area in central Delhi. Over a dozen people were injured in separate incidents. Five aircraft, including of Spice Jet, Blue Dart, Go Air and Air India, parked at IGI terminal here were damaged in the squall, while 21 flights, including four international, were diverted. Delhi Metro services were hit on two of its busiest lines: Yellow line from Jahangirpuri in Delhi to HUDA city centre in Gurgaon and the Blue line from Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida City Centre/ Vaishali. Passengers were asked to de-board from the metro trains at some stations after technical faults caused by the storm hit the Metro services, leaving hundreds of commuters stranded. Train services were also hit with around 100 trains affected. Power supply was also hit in many areas in the national capital. “In many places, trees fell on the electrical wires, which led to power outage in the areas,” a source from the BSES told IANS.
assures ‘initiative and direction’
Stresses on need for Joint coordination with all NE states to resolve border disputes Morung Express News Dimapur | May 30
The new parliamentary secretary for Border Affairs plans to do something about the never-ending border problem instead of sitting on it. Independent candidate and former chairman of Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation (NSMDC), Thomas Lotha, who was appointed as parliamentary secretary for Border Affairs & Women Development late Thursday night, assured to give new “initiative and direction” to the Border Affairs department, which had remained a low-key affair department so far, despite the never-ending border issues between Assam and Nagaland. At an informal briefing with the media at his Dimapur residence on Friday afternoon, Thomas stressed on the need for joint co-ordination with all North East states to resolve border disputes, especially with Assam. “We will try to take this common border issue to a higher level by inviting the opinions of all tribal states bordering Assam. So far, Nagaland and other NE states have always been at the receiving end when it comes to border dispute with Assam,” Thomas said. In Nagaland State, the new parliamentary secretary informed, co-ordination meetings involving the district administration, Forest Department and Land Revenue Department along with village councils of border areas would be convened to chalk out strategies to protect the State’s border. “We will try to work out a formula on how village councils in
border areas can be authorized to issue land pattas by paying nominal fee to the government as land revenue. As per customary practices, the village council is the apex body having protection and safeguard under Article 371 (A) of the Constitution, and the decision of the village council cannot be easily surpassed in any court as per Article 371 (A),” he said. Thomas said that once the initiative is put into motion, the State Government and Forest Department have the responsibility to protect and safeguard the lives, property and forests of people in border areas. According to Thomas, the 1972 border agreement between Assam and Nagaland is a “onesided” agreement and not at all acceptable to Nagas. Stressing on the need to review the agreement, Thomas pointed out that there was no logic in neutral forces like CRPF manning border areas when these neutral forces were acting directly under command of an IGP of Assam Police. “A fresh agreement acceptable to both Assam and Nagaland should be inked to settle the border disputes...then there would be no need for neutral forces to man the border areas,” the parliamentary secretary said. Thomas also said the Centre should work in close co-ordination with states when it comes to international or inter-state border issues. Expressing reservation about the Defense Ministry’s directive that no survey works can be undertaken within 50kms of the international border, he said that this would not augur well for the Look East Policy. “Nagaland shares a long border with Myanmar and most mineral belts in the State are located along the border. It is high time Delhi lifts the restrictions; there should not be any ‘trust deficit’. After all, the State Government is bound to work in national interest,” he added.
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