Regional news in brief

AR apprehends UNLF cadre

Dimapur, November 29 (MExN): Discovering the presence of armed cadres in general area Bashjikhong of Imphal West district, troops of 28 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector under HQ IGAR (South) launched an operation in the area and apprehended a UNLF cadre at 10:55 am on November 28. The AR in a press note stated that the apprehendee was identified as “SS Army No. 891 (Batch No. 15) Kanjujun Nano, 27 years, s/o Ibongcha, r/o Bashikhong”. The apprehendee was handed over to Iribung Police station on November 28.

Arunachal BJP president shot at by unidentified gunmen  

Itanagar, November 29 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh BJP state unit president and MLA Tangor Tapak was shot at by unknown gunmen in his constituency Pasighat West, police said today.  Party sources today said the gunmen shot at him from close range on Friday evening but the bullets missed Tapak and he was safe.  His car was, however, severely damaged, police said.  Meanwhile, state Home Minister Tako Dabi visited the spot and assured that a thorough investigation would begin soon.  The state BJP leadership have demanded enough security for Tapak, who defeated Omak Apang, a former union minister and son of former chief minister Gegong Apang in the assembly polls held in October.

Dhaula Kuan gangrape: Verdict likely tomorrow  

New Delhi, November 29 (PTI): More than four years after a Delhi University girl was allegedly abducted and gangraped in a moving car here, a city court is likely to pronounce its verdict tomorrow against the lone arrested accused.  Additional Sessions Judge N K Gupta, on the conclusion of final arguments in the sensational case, had fixed the case for pronouncement of verdict on November 30.  The 20-year-old student of DU, hailing from Mizoram, was abducted at around 2.15 am on May 8, 2005 from Dhaula Kuan here when she was walking back home after buying food from a roadside eatery and was raped by four accused in a moving car, the prosecution had said.  The victim, who was later dumped near a Gurudwara in South Delhi, was accompanied by a friend who, however, managed to flee from the clutches of the accused.

RPF-NDFB encounter in Assam  

Mangaldoi, November 29 (PTI): An encounter between Railway Protection Force (RPF) and anti-talk faction of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) took place in Assam’s Udalguri district today.   The encounter took place when a group of NDFB ultras attacked a RPF patrol party near railway track at Mazbat town. The security personnel retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for about half an hour, they said.  However, there were no casualties and also the ultras managed to escape, they said.  In another incident, three NDFB ultras, suspected to be involved in an ambush on an army vehicle which claimed the life of an army officer and his driver in July, were arrested at Sonitpur district, police said.

Explosives, ganja seized in Assam

Guwahati, November 29 (PTI): A huge quantity of explosives and ganja were recovered from a house at   Acting on a tip off, the police intercepted an auto rickshaw which was on way to the Guwahati railway station and seized 170 kg of ganja and a huge quantities of detonators and amunium nitrate used to make explosives.  Two person, one of them from Manipur, have been arrested in connection with it, police said.  The man from Manipur, identified as Manoj Singh confessed to the police that the contraband goods were brought from that state and kept in his house for transportation to other states by rail.  Their interrogation is on, the police said.

Arunachal minister suggests more NE topics in textbooks

Itanagar, November 29 (PTI): The education minister of Arunachal Pradesh Bosiram Siram has urged NCERT authorities to include the history, geography and rich culture of North East, particularly of Arunachal Pradesh in their text books.  In his address to 47th general council meeting of NCERT at New Delhi on Friday, Siram stressed on the need for amending NCERT curriculum.  “Tawang Monastery, the second largest in the world, Parsuram Kund in Lohit district and Malinithan in West Siang district, important Hindu pilgrimage spots with mythological relevance, do not find mention in NCERT books,” Siram told PTI today.  Siram said timely printing and supply of NCERT textbooks which could be made available in remote parts of the state.

Smuggler arrested in Indo-Bangla border

Karimganj, November 29 (PTI): A smuggler dealing with explosives has been arrested recently from the Indo-Bangla border, the BSF said here today.  The smuggler, Rualzathanga (19), a Mizo, was arrested from the forest check gate at Aizawl Zemabawk in Mizoram, the BSF said in a press release.  One nine-mm gun, some magazines and one sealed box of explosives was recovered from his possesion.  The arrested person admitted that the goods were smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar for transportation to other parts of the North East.

Cong takes swipe at Razi, vows battle against corruption

RANCHI, November 29 (TNN): Former Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi was shifted to Assam for. On a whirlwind election tour, Union minister of state for home Ajay Maken said shifting Razi from Jharkhand to Assam and CBI raids on his close aides were a clear indication of Congress stand against corruption. The CBI had raided the house of IAS officer and OSD to the governor, Avinash Kumar, and Razi s private secretary Rajesh Thakur in August for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices.