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The Morung Express
Dimapur VOL. IX ISSUE 35
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‘Please forgive us but India needs nuke energy’
By Sandemo Ngullie
History develops, art stands still
Katrina Kaif backs Government’s crackdown on false advertising
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reflections
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Friday, February 7, 2014 12 pages Rs. 4 –E. M. Forster
Call for extra effort to keep Dimapur clean
1st Test: New Zealand 329/4 at stumps on Day 1 against India
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‘Unspeakable suffering’ for Syria’s children: UN
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‘take steps to stop discrimination’ • North East Parliamentarians urge Prime Minister • Demands enactment of the anti-racial law in India
To improve public health and well-being .. umm, we are shifting this garbage dump from here to here.
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Youth beaten to death by suspected armed cadres newmai news network Senapati | February 6
A youth identified as A. Shepao (28) from Makhrelui village, but native of Tungjoy village, of Senapati was brutally beaten to death here on February 5. According to sources, he had gone to shop with a friend. Having finished shopping from one Bihari (called Nirala), Shepao was whisked away by people suspected to be from an armed group and beaten to death, according to reports. The body of the deceased was returned in the early hours of February 6 to his residence by unidentified persons. An agitated crowd gathered this morning to condemn the brutal killing but was put on hold because of the ongoing tripartite talks in the district headquarters. Meanwhile, the Makhrelui Village Youth have strongly condemned the act and demanded immediate booking of the culprit and punishment as per law of the land. It has warned that those responsible should clarify, failing which it will be compelled to launch an intense agitation.
US warns about “toothpaste bomb”
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Washington, February 6 (ians): The US government has issued a warning to US and some foreign airlines that fly to Russia for the Olympic Games about “toothpaste bomb” threats, media reports said. The Department of Homeland Security has warned these airlines to be on the lookout for toothpaste tubes, which recent intelligence suggests might hold explosives and could be used to construct a bomb on board a plane, Xinhua reported. There are no further details about the warning or the intelligence that has prompted such an alert. A Homeland Security official said in a statement the department “regularly shares relevant information with domestic and international partners, including those associated with international events such as the Sochi Olympics”.
neW DeLhi, February 6 (ians): As protests continued to rage in the national capital over attacks on people from the northeast, the central government Thursday announced the formation of a committee that will examine the reasons behind such attacks and suggest remedial measures. The announcement to form the six-member committee came soon after a delegation of leaders from the North East met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was also present at the meeting. In the wake of an attack on Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania that has outraged the nation, several parliamentarians, cutting across party lines, also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urged him to take steps to stop discrimination against people from the region. Manmohan Singh said the leaders should give their views to the committee, which will look into various kinds of concerns of people from the northeast. “I share your concerns. Indians have a right to live with dignity anywhere in India,” the prime minister told the members of the Northeast Forum of Parliament. “It is deplorable and condemnable. The home
minister has set up a committee to go into these causes in a systematic manner and prevent them,” Manmohan Singh, who is also a member of the forum, said. The prime minister is a Rajya Sabha member from Assam. Manmohan Singh also told the MPs to “work closely” with the committee. The government announcement to form the panel came even as scores of demonstrators, mostly activists and students, continued their agitation demanding justice for Tania. Tania was thrashed by shopkeepers at a south Delhi market over his appearance and dress. The 19-year-old died Jan 30. The protesters, who have been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar since Sunday, later tried to march towards Parliament House, barely half a km away. But the 300-plus crowd was stopped midway by policemen as parliament is in session. When the activists and students tried to break through the barricades, they were detained for a few hours. Hearing about their detention, seven MPs and some other leaders from the region came out to extend their support. The parliamentarians later led the demonstrators, demanding enactment of the anti-racial law in India, back to Jantar Mantar. In Arunachal Pradesh,
Parliament panel endorses another anti-corruption bill
neW DeLhi, February 6 (ians): A parliamentary panel Thursday recommended that a bill to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act be passed in the current parliament session itself -taking the total number of anti-corruption legislations listed for passage to seven. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) bill has amongst its provisions bringing the corporate sector under the Act, but with certain riders. It also makes giving bribe an offence. “We now have seven anti-graft bills for passage in this session,” said Shantaram Naik, Congress member of the Rajya Sabha and chairman of the standing committee on personnel, public grievance, law and justice presenting the report of his panel. The committee largely endorsed the government’s bill, according to which private companies found involved in corruption will be punished. The bill, however, has a rider. “If the corporate body has a mechanism in place to check corruption, and still an incident of corruption happens, the company will not be liable but the individual taking or giving of bribe will be punished,” Naik told reporters.
Govt sets up panel to address concerns of North East people
DEmAND for ANTI-rACISm LAw: Students from the north East on February 6 marched towards the Parliament from Jantar Mantar, demanding an anti-racism law. Protestors hold placards as they participate in a protest in new Delhi. The beating and subsequent death in new Delhi of nido Tania on January 30, has sparked a furious outcry against racism and criticism of police in the Indian capital. (AP Photo)
Tania’s father Nido Pavitra said his son was a “victim of racism”. “Being parents, we demand justice for him and want the accused to be punished,” said Pavitra, who is a legislator in the state. Delhi Police has arrested three accused in the case. “We have been given enough assurances, but hardly any strong action has been taken,” activist Binalakshmi Nepram told IANS. “We want action and not just another committee,” demanded law student Vinika.
“We don’t want that the next generation faces the same discrimination that we have faced,” she added.
Accused’s bail plea to be heard by ‘special court’ A court here on Thursday transferred the bail hearing of two men accused in the death of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania to a special designated court, saying that it has no jurisdiction to hear the matter. Metropolitan Magistrate Pawan Kumar, listing
the bail application of the two accused, Sunder Singh and Pawan for Friday, transferred the matter to a special court exclusively dealing with cases under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.Defence counsel S. K. Sharma and Shalabh Gupta apprised the court that their clients have been booked under the SC/ ST act and so their matter can be taken up by a designated court exclusively dealing such offence.
also a member of NorthEastern Council, has the deputy secretary in ministry of home affairs S Saha as Member Secretary and retired IAS officers H W T Syeim, Alemtemshi Jamir, Tape Bagra and P Bharat Singh as members. Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, Robin Hibu, who hails from that region, will also be in the team of the ministry of home affairs, which will assist the committee. The Chairman of the Committee shall co-opt members, one each from the other Northeastern states like Tripura, Mizoram and Sikkim as well as one lay member. “It has been decided to constitute a Committee to look into various kinds of concerns of the persons hailing from the Northeast, who are living in different parts of the country, especially metropolitan areas, and suggest suitable remedial measures, which could be taken by the government,” an order issued yesterday by Deputy Secretary of MHA’s Northeast Division, Ajay Kanoujia said.
Garage fire destroys vehicles Nagaland deliberates development with PCI
Morung Express news Dimapur | February 6
Six vehicles were destroyed in a fire incident at Golaghat Road, Dimapur, in the wee hours of February 6. The unexplained fire occurred at two vehicle repair units located opposite to the DDSC stadium. The fire is reported to have started at around 6:25am. The garages were separated by a thin wall made of CGI sheets. Five of the vehicles, which included two cars, two Tata Sumos and a jeep, were located in one garage. The sixth, a dipper truck, was parked next door. A generator set was also among the prop-
The aftermath of the fire incident at Golghat Road, Dimapur on February 6.
erty lost. It took fire fighters around half an hour to bring the flames under control. Cause of fire could not be ascertained. Till eve-
ning, fire personnel were yet to properly assess the extent of the damage as proprietors of the two garages could not be reached.
Alternative Arrangement meet ends on ‘positive note’
senaPati, February 6 (agenCies): The 7th round of tripartite talks involving the Government of India, the Government of Manipur and the United Naga Council (UNC) held today at DRDA Conference hall here ended on a “positive note.” The UNC stated in a press communiqué today that the 7th tripartite talk concluded on a “positive note with an agreement to take the talk process towards political reality.” In view of this positive outcome, and as per discussions with tribe presidents on conclusion of the talk, the UNC has decided that the line-up of civil actions kept in abeyance have been shelved for the moment. This time, the UNC’s demand for an Alternative Arrangement for the Nagas of Manipur has been elevated to a political level. Gaidon Kamei, General Secretary of the UNC, also stated that the talk was a “cordial one” although no concrete decision was
neW DeLhi, February 6 (Pti): Rahul Gandhi on Thursday held consultations with home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and MPs from North East to discuss steps to end harassment of people from the region even as the government set up a committee to suggest remedial measures to address their concerns. AICC general secretary in-charge for North Eastern states Luizinho Faleiro, who led the delegation to Gandhi, said the Congress vice president wanted not only to ensure justice in the case of Arunachal Pradesh student Nido Tania but also address the issue of discrimination of people from the North East. Faleiro said the ministry of home affairs has set up of a six-member committee headed by retired IAS officer M B Bezbaruah, which will submit a report within two months after examining the causes behind the attacks/violence and discrimination against the people from the Northeast. The committee headed by Bezabaruah, who is
The UnC team, seen here, held a 7th round of tripartite talks with the Government of India and the Government of Manipur today—this time at a political level.
arrived at. The public would be informed when any developments take place on this issue, he said. In a press briefing, Chairman of ‘Alternative Arrangement Demand Committee’, Paul Leo, remarked that the arrival of the ministerial team was in itself a “positive sign of development and a step forward in the right direction.” “In previous talks, bureaucrats were the main participants and thus they were unable to take definite decisions on the Alterna-
tive Arrangement issue which is a political one,” he added. The discussion about the Arrangement would now be between the Union Ministry and State Government as all documents were submitted to the ministers. Shambhu Singh, Home Secretary (NE- in Charge), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) led the Government of India’s delegation. The ministerial team of the Government of Manipur was led by Govindas Konthoujam, Indus-
tries minister. Francis Ngajokpa, minister Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and N. Biren, MLA took part in today’s talks. The talks ended after two hours on the request of the Home Secretary due to an urgent situation on the Assam-Arunachal border, though sources suggest that Shambhu Singh flew to Diphu in Karbi Anglong after the talks, where he met with the local civil society. The central and state government delegates declined to comment on the outcome of the talks. The UNC has acknowledged the Naga tribe presidents, the public of Senapati town and surrounding villages and the pastors under Senapati Karong Area Baptist Union (SKABU) for their prayers and valuable support. “We are also thankful for the overwhelming solidarity and participation of the people from all across which strengthens our movement for securing our political aspirations,” stated the UNC.
Kohima, February 6 (DiPr): The Planning Commission of India (PCI) today met with representatives of the Government of Nagaland. The objective of the meeting was to highlight the plight of Nagaland State in managing with an annual allocation of Rs. 2000 crores in the State outlay of 2013-2014, including funds from the Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resource & North Eastern Council. The meeting was held at Hotel Vivor here on February 5. The major project proposals and discussions were about construction of highways and roads connecting the International Trade Centre of Pangsha, Lungwah and Avangkhu, Trans Eastern Nagaland Road from Mon to Avangkhu (280 km), extension of EW-NS National Highway corridor from Nowgong to Numaligarh-Dimapur-Imphal-Moreh (NH 37 and NH-29) which currently touches lower Assam only and the Indo-Myanmar border trade route with a vision to realize India’s ‘Look East Policy’ as well as aid the development process in Eastern Nagaland. The Eastern Nagaland “package” which was included in the Annual Plan 2012-13 with a package of Rs. 300 crore was discussed by the State officials, appealing the Centre to release the fund as Special Plan Assistance for Eastern Nagaland to fulfill the commitment of addressing the development deficit in Eastern Nagaland. The PCI was represented by Advisor Planning Commission, Brahmo Chaudhari and its member, Saumitra Chaudhari, who reviewed Nagaland’s Annual Plan 2013-14 in
the meeting that was attended by all the AHODs and HODs. It was chaired by Commissioner & Secretary, Planning and Urban Development, E.M. Patton IA&AS. Chief Secretary, Banuo Z. Jamir IAS welcomed the guests and briefed them on the significance of the meeting. The meeting saw the commitment to commence the construction of the railway line along the foot hills of TizitDimapur-Jalukie and to revive the functionality of the existing railway line from AmguriTuli which would assist the revival process of NPPC Ltd. (Paper Mill) Tuli. The revival process of the Tuli paper mill is currently underway with the initial fund release of Rs. 100 crores and State Government actively recruiting technical staff. The State Government appealed the Centre to hasten the revival process of Nagaland’s lone paper mill. It was also brought to the notice of the Centre to look into the urgent need for a medical college in the State. The demand of North East States stands that each district hospital be upgraded to a Medical College, for which sufficient central funds should be disbursed. The proposal to convert the existing SASRD, Medziphema into a full-fledged university was discussed at the meeting. The Department of Animal husbandry also presented its project ‘Nagaland Composite Pig Project’ with an abstract estimate cost of Rs. 157.31 crores with the aim to enhance wholesome meat production under organized sector with the direct participation of farmers.
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