Kukis in Karbi Anglong seek representation in KAAC Diphu, August 17 (MExN): The Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) of Karbi Anglong has reminded the Chief Executive Member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang to actively consider their proposal for a candidate to represent the Kuki tribe in KAAC “for all round development of the Kuki community”. The KSO in a press release informed that its delegation called on the CEM at his official residence on Wednesday and appealed the authority to respect the sentiments of the Kuki indigenous tribe and include their projected candidate since they have no elected representative in the KAAC and have no say in any agency under KAAC. It further appealed for the inclusion of the Kuki community into the mainstream politics of the district for unity, peace and all-round development of the district. 500 trees to be trimmed in M'laya Shillong, August 17 (IANS): As many as 500 vulnerable trees would soon be trimmed in Meghalaya to avoid accidents, Deputy Chief Minister Roytre Christopher Laloo said on Thursday. The government's decision to trim vulnerable trees in and around the city came after three persons were killed and two others injured on August 12, when a eucalyptus tree, which had stood tall at Raj Bhavan here for several decades now, came crashing down across the road. "Apart from the 500 trees which have been identified by the forest department to be trimmed, another 50-odd weak trees identified by the public in different localities of Shillong would also be chopped down," Laloo told IANS. However, Laloo said the government will have to plant 6,000 trees as per forest rules if 600 trees are being cut. "I have asked all the departments to identify the places where these 6,000 trees can be planted," he said. Earlier on Monday, the state's forest department announced three dedicated helpline (mobile) numbers for "cutting down dangerous trees". Probe on sub-standard belts Newmai News Network Imphal | August 17 The Enquiry Committee which was constituted to probe the supply of sub-standard belts to Manipur Police Department has submitted its final report to the Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today. The four member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Suhel Akhtar along with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Dr. J. Suresh Babu, Special Secretary R. Sudhan and IGP (Admn) Dr. S. Ibocha handed over the probe report to the Chief Minister. Mentioned may be made that after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh received complaints on social networking sites, the State Government decided to constitute a committee to probe into the alleged supply of sub-standard police belts on June 7, 2017. The Chief Minister had also personally visited the central store located in 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles campus and District Store located in Imphal West SP’s office complex and conducted verification of the stocks at these stores. Floods disrupt train services in North East Agartala/Guwahati, August 17 (IANS): Due to severe floods in Assam, West Bengal and Bihar, the northeastern region has been cut off by rail from the rest of India for about a week, officials said on Thursday. "As many railway tracks and stations in Assam, North Bengal and Bihar have been submerged by flood waters, train services have been suspended since August 12," a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official said. "The Railway Board has directed all zonal railways to cancel trains running to and from the northeastern region until August 20 when the situation will be reviewed." NFR's Chief Public Relations Officer Pranav Jyoti Sharma said a vital rail bridge was damaged on Wednesday, disrupting train links between Katihar and Kumedpur in Bihar. Sharma said telecommunication network in the entire section was also badly affected. The NFR serves seven districts in West Bengal and five districts in north Bihar besides the eight northeastern states. All the trains between northeastern states and the rest of India pass through New Jalpaiguri station (North Bengal) and Katihar station (in Bihar).
