Day: June 14, 2013

New Delhi, June 14 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Aggarwal on Friday dubbed the Maoists as ‘militants’ and one of the biggest internal threats to the country.
“To me, they (Maoists) are worst than terrorists because in the name of having social reforms and trying to fight for the injustice of the tribal areas they have taken arms and are openly working against the government,” said Aggarwal.
“I personally feel the Central Government and State Governments should tackle this issue on the war footing,” he added.
Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Atul Kumar Anjan said that social, economic and political issues related to Maoists need to be addressed in detail.
“The Maoist insurgency has increased and both the State and Central Governments have not been successful in containing it. There are certain social, economic, political and psychological issues which have been ignored and now need to taken into account while dealing with the Maoist insurgency,” he said.
Three people, including one RPF jawan were killed and six others injured when Naxals attacked the Dhanbad-Patna Intercity Express near Jamui railway station in Bihar yesterday. Over 100 odd Naxals fired indiscriminately on the train between Bhalui and Kundra railway stations in Jamui district.
Meanwhile, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Pranay Sahay said that Maoists started melting soon after the team reached the spot, diverting the train to a safer station. “My two companies with the commandants and the quick action team had reached the place at precisely at 2:10 pm, within 40 minutes of the occurrence they had reached. In fact, because of our troops reaching there, they (Maoists) started melting away and leaving the place,” said Sahay.
Jharkhand Police has sounded an alert in Giridih and Dhanbad districts following yesterday’s Maoist attack.
The RPF has increased the number of personnel to 12 to be deployed in every train passing through the Naxal affected areas. Security vigil has been tightened and reports suggest that one company of CRPF has been deployed at the Bihar-Jharkhand border areas.Earlier on June 10, an all-party meet held at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s official i emphasized that there can be no compromise in dealing with the Naxal violence.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sp-lambasts-maoists/

AIZAWL, June 14 NNN: Banned drugs worth crores of rupees have been seized while transporting to Myanmar from India through Manipur and Mizoram in the past few months.
After the series of drug seizures in Manipur including that of the incident where an army colonel was transporting the banned drugs worth Rs 24 crore to Myanmar in Manipur, security personnel are also performing commendable jobs by seizures the banned drugs in Mizoram and Assam that were being transported to Myanmar in recent time.
On Thursday, acting based on a specific information provided by BSF, a special joint operation was conducted by the joint team of Sector Headquarter BSF Aizawl with Special Narcotic Bureau (Police) Aizawl during which the combined team intercepted one mini truck carrying banned drugs worth Rs 38 lakhs on Champhai road near temple of Pushpak (Aizawl) at about 2 pm on which was plying from Bhaga Bazar of Silchar (Assam) towards Aizawl(Mizoram).
On being searched the vehicle, the joint team recovered five packets of polythene bags containing 84 kgs of loose tablets of Pseudoephedrine value Rs. 38,34,600 hidden under the bags of cements of the vehicle. Joint team apprehended one courier Zothlamuana (20 years) s/o Rothangpuia from Khawbung village, P.O Khawbung, Vaphai police station in Champhai district of Mizoram.
The apprehended person and the seized Pseudoephedrine tablets were handed over to Aizawl police station for further investigation and taking legal action.
BSF spokesperson S C Budakoti, Deputy Inspector General, Frontier Headquarter BSF Mizoram and Cachar informed that earlier on March 8, BSF in association with other agencies had seized approximately 1700 kg of Pseudoephedrine substance and 42 kg of Ketamine substance worth Rs. 44 crore and 71 lakhs near Kathigorah patrol pump on NH- 44 under Cachar district of Assam and further on March 15 they had seized 663 kg of Pseudoephedrine substance worth Rs 16 crore and 65 lakhs near Dholai Taxation Office on NH- 54 (Silchar – Mizoram road) under Cachar district.
Again, on April 10 BSF had seized 76 kg of Pseudoephedrine tablets worth approx Rs 1 crore 90 lakhs in general area of South Krishnapur Part-II (on NH – 54, Silchar – Mizoram road) PS- Silchar&distt- Cachar (Assam). Again, on 09th May 2013 BSF seized 3,25,000 tablets of loose Pseudoephedrine worth approx Rs. 52 lakhs near ITI World Bank road, Aizawl (Mizorm). Reportedly, the seized Pseudoephedrine substance was to be smuggled out later on to Myanmar through Mizoram.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/huge-consignment-of-drugs-seized/

New Delhi, June 14 (ANI): Amid talks of a federal front and the Janata Dal (United) planning to end its 18-year alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) leader A.B. Bardhan met Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav at his residence here on Friday evening and discussed the ongoing political situation in the country.
“We talked on how to form a non-Congress and non-BJP front for the next elections. We discussed each other’s opinions and assessments on it. We held discussions on all these aspects,” Bardhan told mediapersons after the meeting,
“I believe the meeting remained positive,” he added, when asked to comment on the meeting.
CPI leader Atul Anjaan, who accompanied Bardhan, indirectly hinted that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar should end his party’s alliance with the BJP.
“He (Nitish Kumar) is an experienced person. He has been running the government for eight years now and he has his own experiences regarding that. He has lost a few thing, and has also gained others. Can the people of Bihar gain anything by allying with communal forces? He has to decide it,” he said.
Nitish Kumar earlier on Thursday did not rule out the possibility of a ‘federal front’ mooted by his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee.
He said that there is a need to develop a new and joint strategy to deal with the problems confronting the under-developed and backward states of the country.
“Mamataji spoke over the phone. She is of the opinion that the problems of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bengal should be kept in mind and should be thought upon commonly. I also said that we should be in favour of each other’s problems. Our problems are common and there are some important problems,” ` Kumar told mediapersons in Patna.
“As in West Bengal, there is a heavy burden of debt. Our problem is that we are a development deficit state and demanding a special category status. In Odisha also Naveen babu (Naveen Patnaik) has demanded a special status for the State. Similarly, Jharkhand also has some problems. So, if we all unite and find a common approach to tackle each other’s problems then it will be very good,” he added.
The Bihar Chief Minister, however, said the emergence of a ‘federal front’ is at a very initial stage now.
Nitish Kumar, who has given string indications of snapping ties with BJP, is planning to create a ‘federal front’ of three Chief Ministers, that of Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar.
Mamata Banerjee earlier on Wednesday said that she had spoken to both Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on the formation of a ‘federal front’.
“When they will respond in a positive way, I will let you know. But discussions are going on. We are friends and we can talk,” she told mediapersons outside her office in Kolkata.
The Janata Dal (United), which is said to be upset over Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s elevation as the chairman of campaign committee for 2014, is planning to end its alliance with the BJP.
JD (U) has 118 MLAs in 243-member Bihar assembly and needs the support of only four more MLAs to reach the magic figure.
There are 91 MLAS from BJP, 21 from RJD and one each from LJP and CPI in the state assembly.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/a-b-bardhan-meets-mulayam-talks-of-third-front/

IMPHAL, June 14 MNS NNN: The government of Manipur is seriously dealing with the death of 21 year old girl Reigamphy Awungshi in Delhi.
Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, has on Friday made it clear that the state Government does not remain mute over the death of 21-year-old Reigamphy Awungshi in South Delhi last month.
Raising a Calling Attention Motion in the House, Opposition leader Dr I Ibohanbi charged that Delhi Police has not taken any action till date in connection with the alleged Awungshi murder case.
Awungshi who hailed from Ukhrul district of Manipur was found dead inside her rented room in South Delhi on May 29.
He said, “The steps taken by the state Congress Government pertaining to Awungshi case are too slow and disappointing.”
“What steps have been taken by the Government in connection with the death and what assistance and support will be given to the bereaved family, Ibohanbi asked.
He said People from the North East are often subjected to racial profiling in many parts of mainland India and the Government at the Centre knows it very well.
The Opposition leader also asked whether the culprits have been booked and if so, whether they have been grilled by the police with regard to the death.
He said the Government must not keep silent over the matter.
Responding to the accusation made by Ibohanbi, Gaikhangam said that the Government does not keep mum on the case and that it has taken it seriously.
He said the state Government has been in touch with the Centre and the Manipur Director General of Police (DIG) has also been exchanging information with his Delhi counterpart in connection with the case.
Next steps will be taken up after the full report of the investigation being carried out by the Crime Branch, Delhi Police into the death is received, Gaikhangam said.
He added that if necessary, the report will be provided even to the Home Minister of India.
Manipur Assembly today passed seven demands amounting to Rs 1044,95 cr . The House today discussed the demands for seven departments after Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who also holds the Finance portfolio moved the discussion. The demands were for Finance , Information and Publicity, State Excise, Minor Irrigation, State Academy of Training and Science and technologies.
The maximum amount passed was for Finance which amounted to Rs 911 cr.
During the discussions Opposition MLAs , Dr. I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha and P. Brojen Singh moved policy cut on account of restriction during encashing Bills . They said the government should streamline the financial administration so that people were not harassed. They alleged that even former MLAs have to go state Treasury office every six months to prove that they were alive.
Kh Joykishan , said there is lack of policy in spending the non-plan expenditures.
During question hour, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who also holds the Power department said electric wires and poles were repaired from time to time but the life span is calculated at 25 years for both wire and pole. Works for erecting poles and wires began in 1930-31 he added.
Chief Minister further informed the House that the state government will construct a public gallery with a capacity of 7500 people at Astroturf football ground , Lairikyengbam Leikai , Imphal East. He said Manipur Development Society (MDS) will be the executing agency and the estimated budget for the gallery is Rs 16 crore .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/government-taking-up-case-of-killing-of-manipuri-woman-in-delhi-dy-cm/