North east Briefs

NEFIS to start signature campaign against AFSPA Signatures to be submitted to the President of India Delhi, April 15 (MExN): The North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) is undertaking a Signature Campaign in order to gather support for revoking the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). According to a press release from the NEFIS, the Signature Campaign has been started by the State Committees of NEFIS in five places viz., Chandigarh, New Delhi, Gwalior, Assam and Imphal. “NEFIS believes that by denying the right to rule of law, the Indian state has kept North-East people relegated to the status of Second Class citizen in the country that claims itself to be the world’s largest democracy,” the forum stated. Informing that NEFIS activists will also be campaigning for people’s support against AFSPA, the forum added that it has also started an online support campaign to voice people’s hatred of the “brutal act”. The signatures will be submitted to the President of India, along with a memorandum listing the long-standing demands of our struggle against the draconian AFSPA in the North-East, the forum informed.  

Man divorces wife for voting for BJP Guwahati, April 15 (AGENCIES): Political differences led to divorce in a village in Assam after a Muslim man separated with his wife as she decided to go against the village diktat of voting for the Congress party. The wife, a BJP supporter, voted for the saffron party in the state assembly elections. Dilwara Begum was divorced by her husband Ainuddin after she defied the village diktat and voted for BJP candidate Pramod Borathakur. The bizarre incident took place in Donam Addahati village in Sonitpur district, where the village heads apparently have a strong inclination towards the Congress, said news reports quoting regional media. In the diktat, the villagers were mandated to cast their votes for the Congress.   NE receiving continuous pre-Monsoon showers Noida, April 15 (AGENCIES): At a time when most parts of India are witnessing extreme heat, the North East has been witnessing continuous pre-Monsoon showers. The region normally receives very good rains during this time of the year and contributes sufficiently to the pan-India rains. At present, Meghalaya and Assam are witnessing good pre-Monsoon showers. On Thursday, Cherrapunji received 70 mm of rain. In Assam Guwahati received 22 mm, Lumding 15 mm, Mazbat 24.2 mm and Silchar 23 mm. Northeastern states get their share of rain this month from the Western Disturbances, gradually moving towards Northeast India after affecting North India. Secondly, they receive abundance moisture fed by the winds coming from Bay of Bengal.   UNLF claims responsibility for Imphal blast IMPHAL, April 15 (PTI): The proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has claimed responsibility for the April 13 bomb blast close to a transit camp of Assam Rifles (AR), which left one AR jawan dead. In a statement issued to the media last night, the outfit said its activists triggered the explosion. The blast had claimed the life of the security personnel and caused injuries to three others, the police officer said. The AR personnel were on foot patrol at a site located at Ragailong Khuman Lampak Stadium road. The three injured were identified as Himansu Devnath (31) of West Bengal, K Rameshwor (32) of Manipur and Manish Kumar (28) of Bihar. The jawan, who succumbed to injuries at a private hospital here on that evening, has been identified as Gukulchand Yadav (32) of Rajasthan, the officer said.   Gogoi orders probe into rhino killings at Kaziranga Guwahati, April 15 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today directed Additional Chief Secretary T Y Das to probe into the killing of two rhinos in Kaziranga National Park recently and to submit a report to him immediately. According to an official release, Gogoi expressed serious concern over the rhino killings in the past few days and asked the additional chief secretary to go into details of the circumstances leading to the killing of two rhinos. He also ordered to fix up responsibility on the part of those protecting the rhinos. Terming the killings as "very unfortunate", Gogoi asked the special task force constituted to curb poaching to intensify operations against poachers and their accomplices. He also issued directions for evolving strategies to tackle rhino poaching by holding discussions with various students, social and community organisations and NGOs involved in wildlife protection.   Inquiry ordered into non-observance of Ambedkar birthday Guwahati, April 15 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ordered an inquiry into non-observance of 125th birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar by Kamrup Metropolitan district administration. According to an official release, Gogoi asked Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia to institute a probe as to why the 125th birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar was not observed by the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration in a befitting manner yesterday. "Viewing the lapses on the part of the district administration with all seriousness, the Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to find out the lapses and to fix up the responsibility accordingly," it added. Gogoi asked Pipersenia to enquire the matter immediately and submit a report to him for necessary action.