IMPHAL, MONDAY 30 MARCH, 2015 ‘Fidayeen waiting within 3 km across border to infiltrate’ SRINAGAR, Mar 29 Terror is practically at our gate. The jehad machine in Pakistan has set up new launch pads within striking distance from the International Border. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), backed by the Pakistani forces, has set up base in areas quite close to the border to ensure that fidayeen attacks are swift and deadly. The recent attacks on security establishments, especially in Jammu, have been part of this strategy. A number of inputs gathered by the Indian intelligence agencies indicate that these terror camps, virtually lining the Jammu border, have been frequented by LeT founder and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Based on the recent infiltration attempts, the reports — which have been prepared by the Border Security Force (BSF) and submitted to the Union Home Ministry -mention that the terror launch pads have been set up within 3km from the Jammu border. Some of these reports, accessed by Mail Today, say that 8 to 10 camps have been identified in the border areas where trained terrorists are housed while awaiting final instructions and a suitable opportunity to launch attacks Militants recently stormed a police camp in the Kathua district of J&K, killing two policemen and injuring three others on India. Bada Bhai Masroor, Abhial Dogra, Chaprar, Sukhmal and Charkbhura in Pakistan, close to the Jammu border, have been identified as the launch pads that are being controlled by LeT. Terrorists who have undergone training in camps in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are brought to these forward areas and put on standby to strike at short notice. There have been frequent reports of groups of terrorists, who are active across the Swine Flu claims 12 more lives Contd from page 1 in Jaipur and Bhilwara yesterday, an official of the State Medical and Health Directorate said. Of the 6,559 people found positive for the virus in the State, 415 people have died, the official said. Meanwhile Union Health Ministry data said that the death toll stood at 428 in worst-hit Gujarat, while the number of affected people in the State was 6,495 since January. In Maharashtra, the death toll has increased to 394 while a total of 299 Swine Flu deaths have been registered in Madhya Pradesh where 2,186 people have been affected. The death toll in Karnataka was recorded to be 82 while the number of those affected in the State was 2,733. The number of patients succumbing to H1N1 virus in Telangana, Punjab and Haryana was 75, 53 and 51 respectively. While 18 people have died of the disease in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand has registered 12 casualties. The toll in West Bengal has risen to 25 after the death of another person while Swine Flu death toll in Uttar Pradesh stands at 38. In Delhi, 12 people have died of the disease while the number of affected is 4,229. The death toll in Kerala has risen to 14. Andhra Pradesh has seen 22 Swine Flu deaths while an equal number of people have died in Chhattisgarh. Twentyone people have succumbed to the disease in Himachal Pradesh. —PTI BJP's enrolment drive rolls on Contd from page 1 was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November last year with the primary objective of making BJP the most powerful political party in the country. BJP secured around 17.50 crore votes in the 16th Lok Sabha election whereas the number of party members was just around 2.50 crore. But today the number of party members has crossed 8.40 crore. Likewise, the number of BJP members in Manipur has shot over three lakh from just 12,000, Chaoba claimed. BJP is all prepared to vanquish Congress party in the ADC election scheduled on May 30, he added. Former MLA Salam Joy said that 10,500 electorate of Wangoi A/C have been enrolled in BJP till date. The mass enrolment campaign would go on until the target of 14,000 is achieved. There is not an iota of truth in the propaganda that certain individuals who are at present Trinamool Congress members would fight the next Assembly election on BJP tickets, Joy said. MSF reacts Contd from page 1 Nirmalabas School can be lifted by the school authority alone, the statement said. It urged the school van drivers not to resume service before reaching a negotiation. The authority of Nirmalabas School may commence classes any time, however they need to reach an understanding with MSF first, the statement said. Saying that MSF clearly understands the role of Nirmalabas School in bringing quality education and the vision of the missionaries, the statement said that the school authority is liable to face penalty if they are not serious in value implementation. Abducted labourers freed Contd from page 1 Both Bidhu and Daniel were given food and they were not subjected to physical assault. However, they were threatened repeatedly saying that both of them would be killed if the money demanded to contractors/sub-contractors is not given. Meanwhile, KYPC president M Suranjoy has condemned the act of abducting labourers in the strongest term. He appealed to all concerned not to make innocent labourers scapegoats while targeting contractors or Government authorities in future. border, making attempts to infiltrate from Jammu along the International Border. Along with LeT fidayeen, even the Tehreek-e-Taliban terrorists have been named in some intelligence reports. “A group of 12-15 terrorists of TTP and LeT is planning to infiltrate to carry out terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir,” a report has warned. According to the intelligence inputs generated recently, nearly 60 terrorists from across the border are ready to carry out terror strikes in India. The group was part of a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) launch pad that was to carry out the strikes in India. The inputs also point out that the plot was being closely monitored by Hafiz Sayeed. INFILTRATION There have been a series of infiltration attempts and ceasefire violations along the border since last year. The Pakistani border guarding force, the Rangers, has frequently carried out heavy shelling on the Indian outposts along the Interna- tional Border, forcing the BSF to resort to retaliatory firing. Intelligence reports indicate that the heavy shelling by the Pakistani side was being carried out to support infiltration bids by the members of the terror outfits. “Low-scale firing across the border has been going on almost every day for the past few months. There has been a pattern. When there is heavy shelling in an area, apparently to divert our attention, it is noticed that infiltration is being planned from an adjoining area,” a BSF officer said. Arnia, Paharpur, Samba, Kathua and Akhnoor in Jammu have been the vulnerable spots in the terror groups’ plans to infiltrate India. The recent attacks on an army camp and a police station in Samba and Kathua were also part of the Lashkar’s strategy of pushing terrorists from the launch pads set up across the border over the past year. Sources said that ever since the Narendra Modi Government took charge last year, the infiltration attempts have been steadily on the rise. According to BSF reports, eight infiltration attempts have been foiled in the past two months along the Jammu border. “With the help of our surveillance equipment, we have spotted armed men in civil clothes assembling across the border... We have even fired at them in an attempt to dissuade them from crossing over,” a BSF officer said. “On some occasions, the armed men from have even retaliated from across the border,” the officer added. There was a series of ceasefire violations in December, followed by increased activity across the border. Sources say large groups of terrorists were brought to these launch pads with a view to sneaking into India at the first available opportunity and then carry out fidayeen attacks. All through 2014, there were a series of skirmishes along the International Border. Over 550 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan took place last year, the highest since the truce came into force in 2003. Intelligence inputs indicate that the ceasefire violations were planned to ensure that the terrorists successfully infiltrate into India. According to data available with the Home Ministry, there have been over 175 infiltration attempts in 2014. In 2011, the number stood at 52 and at 95 in 2010. —MailOnline MHA issues directives, letters sent to RCs of NE Bhawans Contd from page 1 pay necessary legal fees. MHA also asked for the revision of Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme 2015. It suggested that investigations be completed within 30 days and compensation of Rs 25,000 per person be made within 24 hours of passing order. The Sports Ministry has initiated steps for identification of talented sports persons from the North East to provide training and organize tournaments in various cities across the country. MHA said that UGC had informed that the commission had introduced scholarships to graduate and post graduate students. The UGC had advised all the universities that history of NE, geography etc should be taught at the graduation level. Similar activities have been taken up by NCERT, UGC as well. NCERT has taken up steps to revise its school subjects and proposed to introduce chapters at school levels. Ministry of Culture has affirmed that it will organize cultural programmes and for that the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Lalit Kala Akademi are preparing an action plan. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting informed MHA that a number of initiatives including publicity have been initiated. That NE film festival will be held every year. The Resident Commissioners of the North East bhawans were asked to suggest names of advocates for appointment of para legal volunteers. The Resident Commissioners were also requested to provide details of the students, professionals, businessmen, workers from the North East to the Delhi Police Joint Commissioner. The MHA has requested the State Governments to select 20 (10 males and 10 females) for recruitment in Delhi police. It mentioned that the Delhi police will synchronise special helpline 1093 with PCR 100 and that NE cases will be referred to the existing fast track Courts and that public prosecutors will be engaged in serious cases. Regarding accommodation problems, the MHA letter suggested for rent law revi- sion and amendments. To resolve wage problem, it mentioned that Labour Department has issued a direction that payment in cheque be made mandatory to enable monitoring payments made. Moreover, the Department suggested that NE working people must form unions and register themselves for better grievance redressal. While certain recommendation may not be feasible for implementation and actions, many of the above suggestions and proposed initiatives have not taken off, except cultural festivals, film screenings, conferences and lecture on North East in colleges and schools. It may be mentioned that since 2005 (when assault and attacks on NE people began) till date, none of the cases related to NE have been closed or disposed off, except two cases of gang rape of 2005 and 2010. Moreover, the IPC Amendment Bill have not been introduced in Parliament till date. Reportedly the helpline number 1093 received many bizarre and prank calls. As per media reports from Octo- ber 28 last year when it was started, the helpline has got a total of 27 telephone calls until March this year. Almost all of them had nothing to do with the North East. Some of the reported calls include, unpaid salary, seeking police help to get the money which was in the pocket of the clothes handed to the laundry man. Some called to know about the weather. Many of the calls were test calls to check if the helpline was in service or not. Some of the calls were from journalists who were seeking data on the number of phone calls the helpline had received. Meanwhile the State bhawans too have their own set of bizarre and ridiculous encounters. Reportedly at the Manipur Tikendrajit House, some youths/students, would land up any time of the day or night seeking accommodation on the grounds that they have been thrown out by their landlords. Moreover, the request to provide data has left the staff of Manipur Bhawan/House bewildered and clueless on how to provide details of people from the State living and residing in Delhi. Obama honours two South Asian mentors Kiwi Court finds 2 Indian origin men guilty WASHINGTON, Mar 29: An Indian-American and a Sri Lankan-origin scientist and teacher are among fourteen individuals and one organization named winners of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). Andhra University graduate Murty S. Kambhampati, a professor of biology at Southern University at New Orleans, and Sri Lankan origin Tilak Ratnanather, an associate professor in the biomedical engineering department of the Johns Hopkins University, Maryland will receive their awards at a White House ceremony later this year. "These educators are helping to cultivate America's future scientists, engineers and mathematicians," President Barack Obama said announcing the names of the award winners Friday. "They open new worlds to their students, and give them the encouragement they need to learn, discover and innovate. That's transforming those students' futures, and our nation's future, too." The PAESMEM is awarded by the White House to individuals and organizations to recognize the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science and engineering-particularly those who belong to groups that are underrepresented in these fields. In addition to being honoured at the White House, recipients receive awards of $10,000 from the National Science Foundation. The mentors and organizations announced Fridat represent the winners for 2012 and 2013. Kambhampati holds a PhD from Jackson State University in Environmental Science and a PhD from Andhra University, India in Ecology. Over the years, he established excellent collaborations with several instittions to place students for summer internships and ecological field trips. according to his profile. He is an active research mentor for undergraduates and is Southern University at New Orleans's Beta Kappa Chi/ National Institute of Science chapters' sponsor. He has won several awards for his work as a mentor, including the National Role Model Faculty Award from Minority Access, Inc., in 2008. MELBOURNE, Mar 29: Two Indian-origin men in New Zealand have been found guilty of burning a 21-year-old man to death over his life savings, two years after the brutal incident that could see them jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of at least 10 years. Shivneel Kumar, 20, and Bryne Permal, 22, spent nearly a month on trial in the high court at Auckland over the death of Shalvin Prasad, whose smouldering body was found on a rural South Auckland road on January 31, 2013. After deliberating for around 20 hours over three days, the jury yesterday returned guilty verdicts for the duo. Prasad's brother Pravin said: "We feel that this decision finally holds these evil criminals accountable for the malicious death of my brother." "We are looking very forward to an appropriate sentence being handed down," Pravin said. "You have to wait for two years to get to this stage, and as I said before, the decision was very good for us," he said. On January 30, the victim withdrew 30,050 New Zealand dollar (about $23,000) from a Manukau bank at the request of Kumar, who waited outside. Crown prosecutor Aaron Perkins said the pair "considered a sum of money was worth more than Prasad's life." Despite them both being charged with murder, he fingered Kumar as "the instigator and driving force" behind the crime. He said on the night of January 30, Prasad met the two defendants and was driven through south Auckland. The Crown said the victim was assaulted at an unknown location and bundled into the boot of Permal's mother's car, driven by Kumar. The defendants then bought 15 litres of petrol, using the stolen money, before driving to McRobbie Rd in Kingseat, where they doused the victim in petrol and set him alight. Medical witnesses gave evidence that Prasad was conscious when the fire was ignited. In the days after the murder, Kumar spent thousands of dollars on his car and paying off various debts and on February 2 he and Permal went shopping together. CM opens World Youth Summit 2015 Contd from page 1 parts of the globe and India are participating in the five day long summit. The summit has been endorsed by the Government of India, Government of Manipur and various other National and international organizations. As suggested by its theme, the summit is aimed at empowering youths and at the same time highlight different global and regional issues such as conservation of biodiversity for sustainability, disaster risk reduction and youth centered urbanization, eco-tourism development in North-East India and it’s linkage to ASEAN countries, realizing equal access to quality education and health, ensuring inclusive recreation, sport and culture, preservation of indigenous people and heritage, social justice, gender equality, realizing peace, reconciliation and ending violence. Speaking at the inaugural function, O Ibobi added that the youth should be given proper education and empowered to face the challenges the world throws upon them. He appreciated the works taken up by Club 25 International in various parts of India including Manipur and abroad. He stated that the youth have all the potential and such summit would surely open up those hidden ideas and talents locked inside them. Prof Ram Boojh said that youth are the major catalyst in bringing changes to a society. “They are the future leaders and we must work to give the youth a chance to share their ideas and experience in an international platform like such summit”, he said. He asserted that the North East part of India has all the required raw materials to be developed as an eco-tourism epicentre and the place has been declared to be home to two biodiversity hot spots. Commenting on the importance of youth in society, Dy CM Gaikhangam said “The uniqueness of Manipur in various areas like arts and culture, sports, tradition has brought such summit to our humble State. The significance of Manipur has been felt by the world”. He further said that everyone should have empowerment in various fields and it is the right of every citizen to demand such empowerment. “But we should also have responsibility towards our society, Nation and fellow human beings”. He proposed that the theme of the summit should have topics on ‘responsibilities’ of youth as both empowerment and responsibility should go hand in hand. “The huge tourism potential of Manipur has been acknowledged by the world and the State now has many opportunities in hand, but we should know that opportunities never come twice”, said Gaikhangam. “We must be well prepared to change and adapt to the changing world else we would be left behind”, he added. He appealed to all the youth present at the summit and others to be proud of where they belong and shun all forms of violence for a better world. Prof Chandan Gosh exhorted the youth to bring changes in the coming years. The summit also witnessed launching of a signature campaign on crime against women and children by the presidium members as part of the inaugural function. Fish farms urge for funds Contd from page 1 with respect to fiscal year 2013-2014 was issued on October 10, 2014. He said that according to this order, 585 rohu and 585 mrigal fingerlings worth Rs 51 lakh must be distributed to selected 916 fish farmers belonging to minority community, 905 OBC farmers and 77 STs. According to this order, M/s Sinam Dorendro Singh Fish Seed Production Farm must distribute same number of pengba and catla fingerlings to same number of beneficiaries, he added. Although the supply order mentioned that the fingerlings and required amount must be released within one month of issuance of the supply order, the DDO concerned has not released the required amount till date. However, fingerlings were distributed to around 50 per cent of the beneficiaries after they came with delivery slips on February 26, Dhanabir said. However, these two firms are on the verge of incurring loss as Rs 3.75 was spent in nurturing these fingerlings, he said. He urged the authority concerned to release the due amount at the earliest. Expelled NSCN-K leaders to float new outfit soon Contd from page 1 “Now that, he has expelled us from the NSCN-K; we are free to serve our people at our best. We feel that, we had been freed to join the Naga people through the reconciliation process. We feel that, we are free to give however small contribution it may be, in building a new and better Naga society. Therefore, as long as this expulsion is serving the interest of the Naga people, if it is serving the interest of peace, we are prepared to take hundreds of more such expulsions,” the statement added. Over 1,000 impersonators held Contd from page 1 As reports filtered in that organised syndicates were facilitating impersonation, forgery and cheating in lieu of money ranging anywhere between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh, the DGP pointed out that investigation has already been started to find out more about the gangs involved. “Once the recruitment process get over, the probe will go ahead full-fledged to discover the exact modus operandi of the gangs or persons involved in such sordid affair. They will not be spared,” he said. Meanwhile, the arrested youth have been produced before Court and forwarded to jail. Police officials are considering this to be just the tip of the iceberg, and expect more arrests in the coming days. —PTI AMSU decries pathetic... Contd from page 1 courses in the colleges which have necessary infrastructure and manpower although a large number of students do not get admission in Manipur University as it has only 1250 seats. The statement said that the English Department of DM College of Arts and Manipuri Department of GP Women’s College can run post-graduate courses as these colleges have required manpower and infrastructure. On the other hand, All Manipur Hill District Contract Basis Teachers Association is set to launch a stir demanding service regularisation. These teachers were appointed in 2006 and physical verification regarding their service regularisation was conducted in 2011. However, no step has been taken regarding the matter till date, the statement added. As human resource development is key to all forms of development, the Education Minister must translate his promises and tall claims into action, the statement said. UCM condoles Contd from page 1 soul during a condolence meeting held at their office today. In a statement, UCM said that a social body known as Khwai Ningshel Sintha Lup has been providing accommodation to Sobita in a special room at Kangleicha English School, Yairipok Bamon Leikai since November 7, 2014. Sobita’s last rites were performed at Yairipok dam near Yairipok police station in the presence of representatives of Khwai Ningshel Sintha Lup, UCM and Kangleicha English School, the statement added.
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