REGION Briefs

Father and son abducted

Imphal, December 9 (NNN):
A father-son duo has been reportedly kidnapped by suspected militants in connection with a monitory demand made to Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED). A sit-in protest was staged today by locals of Irilbung Kalika in Imphal East to demand safe release of the father and son, who are identified as Soram Ibomcha, 60 and his son S. Geetchandra alias Yaipu, 22. Ibomcha is currently working as a 'chowkidar' at the Irilbung Water Supply located at Awa Ching where he lives with his family. The Water Supply site is under the control of an executive engineer and a few months back a militant group had served a demand letter to the department, one of the staff of PHED told reporters, requesting anonymity.  He was asked how much money was demanded by the militant organization, he said no actual amount was mentioned by them but they only told the staff present on that day that they belonged to the particular militant group. The unidentified men also threatened them that one of the staff had to be kidnapped. The source a phone call at the office was received today threatening that deadline was 12 noon. The call also threatened that if they (office staff) want to end the life of Ibomcha. Ibomcha was abducted by unidentified four persons at his office on the night of December 7, according to his family. The kidnappers also warned his family not to report to the police about the kidnapping of Ibomcha.

34th  batch Forest Guard Trainees convocation held

Dimapur, December 9 (MExN)
: On completion of 6-months Forest Guard Training Course, the convocation of the 34th  batch of Forest Guard Trainees was held today, December 9 at State Environment & Forestry Training Institute, Dimapur.  The chief guest K.R. Lyngdoh, IFS, Addl. P.C.C.F exhorted the passing out trainees to do their duties with more zeal, giving more emphasize on regeneration and conservation of forests to combat Climate change and Global warming. Tripathy, CCF, Kohima also exhorted the outgoing trainees, a press note received here stated. The programme was chaired by deputy director Sentichuba and annual reports and declaration of result was read out by director SEFTI Imtiwabang. Altogether 23 Forest Guards nominated from 10 Forest Divisions has successfully completed the course. The vote of thanks was pronounced by deputy director, SEFTI M. Obed Zeliang.

Coal labourer shot dead by GNLA

Shillong, December 9 (PTI):
A coal labourer was shot dead by armed cadres of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) at a remote labour camp in Rajaju village in Meghalaya's West Khasi Hills district, police said on Friday. The victim, Deep Rai, succumbed to injuries on the spot late Thursday night and subsequent to the attack, most of the labourers fled from the camp in panic, they said. According to the police, primary information received indicates involvement of suspected GNLA cadres. They said the camp is located at a remote place and communication with the police team was difficult. Police said they are enquiring if the coal quarry owner is subjected to any extortion demand by the outfit. The GNLA is active in all three Garo Hills district and are currently expanding their base to coal belts in west Khasi Hills district.

Kidnapped drivers, two others released

Karimganj, December 9 (PTI):
Three drivers and two of their associates who were kidnapped by militants belonging to the NSCN (K) and Hill Tigers Force (HTF) have been released, police sources said today. The five persons were freed by their captors today at a place along the Cachar and Dima Hasao district border after they were kidnapped yesterday. The militants kidnapped the three divers, Joy Kumar Singh, Bidya Singh and M Babu Singh from Chiri quarry when some labourers were at work. Superintendent of Police of Cachar, Deepak Choudhury said pressure from the security forces forced the ultras to free the captors.

Florists earn Rs 6 lakh at flower show

Aizawl, December 9 (PTI):
Around 48 participants at the Flower Show-cum-Fair held at Aizawl have earned at least Rs six lakh in three days, Mizoram Florist Association general secretary Vanlalzawni today said. Vanlalzawni said 256 pots of flower were displayed at Flower Show while 48 flower stalls were opened in the fair at the same venue. "We sowed and planted local varieties as well as exotic varieties of flowers and sold the flowers at the local markets," she said. Around 60 florists sold flowers at the markets in Aizawl every Saturday where a single florist could earn Rs 20,000-Rs 30,000 in a month. She said that the state Horticulture department not only helped them in giving the florists subsidies in flower seeds and saplings and also in construction of green houses, but also in promoting the produces by sponsoring flower shows and fairs. The Mizoram Florists Association, formed in 1997 has more than 1,000 members and had organised 25 Flower Shows and Fairs.