North east Briefs

TNL reaffirms boycott on Ibobi

  Newmai News Network Imphal | October 28 The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex body of the Tangkhuls, launched a tirade against Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh reaffirming its stand to boycott the latter in visiting Ukhrul district. TNL has been criticised and condemned by the state government, political parties, legislators and civil societies in the valley over the October 24 incident in Ukhrul.  TNL president Weapon Zimik said, "The Ibobi government has chosen to remain a major hurdle to the Naga peace process and a mute spectator to the issue of nine "tribal martyrs."" He mentioned the incident wherein NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah was barred by the state government from visiting his native village in Ukhrul and reiterated the declaration of "severance of ties" with the Manipur government by Naga social organisations. "The boycott on Ibobi will remain in force. He'll not be allowed to inaugurate any project in the district," Zimik maintained. The TNL President added that only concerned government officials would be allowed to attend the inauguration function, but not Ibobi. However, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam has said that the CM would visit Ukhrul again to inaugurate projects. The newly constructed Ukhrul District Hospital, one of the projects, was found lacking adequate infrastructure as claimed by Zimik during an "inspection visit." He was visiting the hospital building accompanied by a media team on Thursday. The government was trying to mislead the people by organising the function to inaugurate the "yet to be finished" hospital, according to the TNL president. He said the 50-bedded hospital was having only 30 beds, besides proper infrastructure was not there. CM Ibobi contradicted the Naga social organisation's claim. As per his statement, all government projects scheduled to be inaugurated in Ukhrul were already completed.  

Dalai Lama's Arunachal visit will hit ties with India: China

  Beijing, October 28 (IANS): China on Friday said the Dalai Lama's scheduled visit to Arunachal Pradesh will damage ties with India. "India will only damage peace and stability of the border areas as well as the bilateral relationship between China and India," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. The reaction came a day after India said the Dalai Lama was free to travel to any part of the country and Arunachal Pradesh was no exception. The Tibetan spiritual leader is likely to visit the northeastern state bordering China early next year. China has accused the Dalai Lama of secessionist activities in Tibet. He has been living in self-imposed exile in India since 1959. Arunachal Pradesh is claimed by China, which calls it South Tibet. Earlier this week, China reacted angrily after the US ambassador to India, Richard Verma, visited Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Beijing warned Washington not to meddle in the border dispute between India and China.  

Manipur’s ‘Father of Social Work’ no more

  Imphal, October 28 (NNN): Renowned social worker and centenarian Thounaojam Iboyaima passed away at his Singjamei Thongam Leikai residence here today morning. Iboyaima, referred to as the Father of Social Work in Manipur, is survived by five sons and four daughters. He was also a follower of pioneer and eminent freedom fighter Hijam Irabot of Manipur. Iboyaima, one of the eminent figures of Manipur, spent his life for decades working for the Manipur society. Till he breathed his last, Iboyaima was the president of Irabot Foundation Manipur and also one of the important advisors of All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO). The last rites performed at his residence was attended by relatives, friends and hundreds of representatives from various civil societies.  

Pregnant mother, five children electrocuted in Meghalaya

  Shillong, October 28 (IANS): A pregnant woman and her five children died of electrocution in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district on Thursday, an official said. Trisdolin Shangpliang, 35, and her children were electrocuted when electricity suspected to be leaking from a nearby transformer passed through their house in Nongthymmai Neng village in Mawphlang block, said the official who did not want to be named. The children killed were Kamulstar, 9, Sngewbhalang, 8, Bedingstar, 5, Shishalin, 2, and a seven-month-old baby. District Magistrate Peter S. Dkhar, however, said the cause of the deaths is yet to be ascertained. "I have ordered an inquiry by the Block Development Officer to ascertain the exact cause of the deaths," he said.  

Railway to introduce more trains for north-east links

  Agartala, October 28 (IANS): Three new trains will be introduced from November 12 to link important cities in the mountainous north-eastern region, a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official said on Friday. Three weekly trains will run between Guwahati and Silchar (383 km), Guwahati and Agartala (577 km) and Dibrugarh and Agartala (721 km) in view of huge public demand," NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said. The new trains will initially run for four months, and thereafter their frequency would depend on public response. Currently, train services are available in more than 25 cities in north-eastern region, including Guwahati, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Jorhat, Dhubri, Tinsukia, Shibsagar, New Bongaigaon, Hojai, Lumding, Maibang, New Haflong, Diphu, Badarpur, Karimganj (all in Assam), Agartala and Dharmanagar (Tripura), Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh), Mendipathar (Meghalaya), Dimapur (Nagaland), Jiribam (Manipur) and Bhairabi (Mizoram). The NFR is now working to connect the remaining capital cities of the north-eastern states by 2020. Another NFR spokesman said a proposal to roll out 'Kaziranga Express' in Assam is also under consideration. Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, a member of Lok Sabha from Assam's Nowgong, mooted the train proposal on the lines of 'Tiger Express' launched in June for Bandhavgarh and Kanha National Parks in Madhya Pradesh. The Kaziranga National Park is a World Heritage Site known to host 70 per cent of the world's one-horned rhinos, apart from a large number of tigers, elephants, wild water buffaloes and swamp deer.