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
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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
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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
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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
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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.