Chidambaram Expresses Satisfaction Over Repatriation of Brus From Tripura

Aizawl (Mizoram), May 26 : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the repatriation of Brus from Tripura, who fled Mizoram and had been living in six makeshift camps under Kanchanpur sub-division of Tripura since 1997.

Chidambaram, during his visit here, urged the state government to make use of the Subsidiary Multi-Agency Centre (SMAC) for better intelligence sharing to assess the security situation in the region and also inspect the settlement of tribals returning from refugee camps.

He informed that a copy of the Surrender Policy of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) would be sent to the Mizoram Government after which it can prepare details and submit the report to MHA for funding.

“The Ministry of Home Affairs would provide additional funds under the Modernization of Police Forces during 2010-2011 to meet all security related expenses of the State Government,” said Chidambaram.

For permission of foreign weapons for State Commando Units, Chidambaram said a list of arms required be provided to MHA and the materials would be provided through the system of central procurement.

Talking about the fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border, Chidambaram urged the concerned agencies to complete the whole process at the earliest, and suggested the state government to appoint a senior officer from the secretariat to resolve issues regarding claims for compensation and other related issues.

It has been reported that over 215 families had returned till Monday following assurances from the Central Government.

During his two-day visit, Chidambaram is accompanied by Union Home Secretary G K Pillai.

Dollar Rush For Kayak Tourism in Arunachal

US-based firm keen on promoting Arunachal as water sport destination

By Atonu Choudhurri

Water sport enthusiasts on a river on the outskirts of Itanagar

Itanagar, May 26 : Water sport fanatics, adrenaline junkies and anyone who can’t resist the maddening rush of gushing waters, here’s a piece of news worth any kayaker’s personal floating device.

American water sport experts are ready to dip their fingers and dollars into the rivers of Arunachal Pradesh and turn the state into the ultimate adventure sport destination.

Jackson Kayak, a leading supplier of kayaks, canoes and related equipment, across the globe is keen on teaming up with Donyi Hango, an NGO based in Itanagar, to promote water sports in the state.

The founder of Donyi Hango, Nino Dai, today said two officials — Benjmin Stokesberry, an American and Rafael Ortiz, a Mexican — visited Arunachal Pradesh in December and conducted a two-month recce on all the major rivers of the state.

“The mighty river Siang along with other major rivers — Lohit, Dibang, Subansiri, Dirang, Digaru, Yomgo, Tawang Chu rivers — have also caught the fancy of a 10-member team of topmost kayakers of the world. The gurgling rivers, murderous rapids and tumultuous creeks amazed them during cruises in the state,” Dai said. Scott Ligare, a renowned kayaker and former programme director of another leading US-based Kayak academy, recently made a documentary, The Descent, on kayaking on the Siang.

Arunchal Pradesh also hosted the seventh National Rafting Championship in March this year.

“This was the opportune moment to showcase Arunachal Pradesh’s the vast potential of water based adventure sports to the world. The seventh National Rafting Championship was organised in the state in March this year. In our capacity, our NGO also roped in a trainer-cum-international observer from Australia, Clenn Merrick, renowned kayakers like Takacs Gyula from Hungary to give tips to wannabe rafters from the state,” Dai said.

Tight Security for ADC Polls in Manipur

Imphal, May 26 : The Okram Ibobi Singh government has taken elaborate security measures for the first phase of the autonomous district council (ADC) elections in three districts tomorrow, in the wake of an agitation by Naga organizations.

The All Naga Students Association, Manipur, had imposed an indefinite economic blockade along two prime supply routes to the state since April 11 against holding of ADC elections.

The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, have lent support to the blockade. The Naga bodies feel that the powers given to the councils are not enough to protect the interests of the indigenous communities.

Chandel and Churachandpur districts and Sadar Hills in Senapati district will go to the polls in the first phase tomorrow while Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts will go to the elections in the second phase on June 2.

While the polls are expected to be peaceful in Churachandpur and Sadar Hills in Senapati district, government authorities, including the State Election Commission, are apprehending trouble in Chandel, a district dominated by the Naga community.

The Chandel Naga Civil Society Co-ordination Core Committee had called a 48-hour bandh beginning yesterday midnight in Chandel district to boycott the polls.

The state government has sought the help of the central paramilitary forces, including the Assam Rifles, and the army for the first phase.

State director-general of police Yumnam Joykumar Singh said central paramilitary forces would be deployed to ensure free and fair polling tomorrow.

“We will use both the state and central paramilitary forces for smooth conduct of the polls tomorrow. We have taken elaborate security measures to prevent any disruption,” the police chief told this correspondent.

Each council has 24 members each. In Sadar Hills, 12 candidates have been declared elected uncontested, nine in Churachandpur and 12 in Chandel.

Voters will exercise their franchise in 82 polling stations in Sadar Hills, 85 booths in Churachandpur district and 60 booths in Chandel districts. In Sadar Hills, 58,484 people will cast their votes while 1,15,793 voters will exercise their franchise in Churachandpur. In Chandel, 43,706 people will cast their votes.

Official sources said two sections (comprising 20 to 22 personnel) of CRPF and BSF would man each of the polling booths.

Police, Assam Rifles and army personnel will carry out area domination exercises during the polls.

In another development, Tangkhul civil society bodies have called a 72-hour Ukhrul district bandh from May 31 midnight to boycott the second phase of the ADC elections.

509 New Outposts to be Constructed Along Bangla Border

Agartala, May 25 : The Centre has decided to construct 509 new Border Outposts (BOPs) and complete the unfinished barbed wire fencing along the Indo-Pakistan and Indo-Bangla international borders, a top official said today.

“Of the 509 new BOPs, 126 would be constructed along the Indo-Pak border and the rest 383 would be constructed along the Indo-Bangla border to strengthen border monitoring and border management”, secretary of Border Road Management, EA Ahmed told reporters.

Ahmed arrived here yesterday and visited Khanthlang, a remote hill top tribal hamlet in North Tripura district, bordering Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh, and Akhaura checkpost here. He held meetings with the chief secretary, SK Panda and other top officials at the Civil Secretariat.

He announced that the Akhaura checkpost would be upgraded as the fourth integrated checkpost of the country by extending the facilities of customs, proper security, cargo godowns and others required for entry and exit of citizens of India and Bangladesh.

Ahmed said construction of two such integrated check posts have started in Indo-Pak and Indo-Nepal border and one more checkpost would be built on Indo-Nepal border and adding that the Akhaura checkpost would be the fourth integrated checkpost in the country.

He said construction work for Akhaura checkpost would start in July and would be completed by fourteen months.

Ahmed said of the 856 km Indo-Bangla border in Tripura, fencing was completed in 650 km and the rest would be completed by 2012 and added flood lighting was done in 200 km border areas and monetary sanction has been given for flood lighting for additional 518 km.

The World's Most Notorious 'Haunted' House Up For Sale

"Amityville Horror" House On Sale For $1.15 Million

Amityville, (NY), May 25 : The house made famous in the 1979 film "The Amityville Horror" is up for sale in New York – ghosts not included.

The five-bedroom Dutch Colonial went on the market Monday for $1.15 million.

The Oscar-nominated film is based on the story of the Lutz family's brief stay in the house in 1975 after six members of the DeFeo family were shot and killed as they slept in the home. Eldest son Ronald DeFeo Jr. was convicted of the murders.

The crime spawned a book and a series of movies that chronicled various supernatural horrors, including visions of walls oozing slime, moving furniture and a visit from a demonic pig named Jodie. The original film stars James Brolin and Margot Kidder.

Neighbors say gawkers still occasionally come by, mostly on Halloween.

For a brief, albeit scary background, check out a documentary about the house below:

‘Onus of Taking Talk Process Forward is With Assam Govt’

Guwahati, May 25 : The security scenario in Assam has seen a “dramatic” improvement following the apprehension of top rebel leaders and the onus is on the state government now to take the political process forward, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said.

“There has been a dramatic improvement in the security scenario in Assam. We have been able to apprehend a number of leaders of major groups -- ULFA, NDFB, DHD-J. It is now time to move the political process forward,” Mr. Chidambaram said.

“Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will decide on how talks will proceed, when they will talk to the groups, what the conditions are regarding talks and who they will talk to,” he said.

“The onus of taking the peace process forward is with the state government and the government of India will extend all support to it,” he told reporters at a five-minute briefing.

The Hindu Union Home Minister with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi address the media during his visit to Assam on Tuesday. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

“Security forces will continue with their operations. Insurgency has no place in our society. Insurgents must lay down arms or security forces will continue with their mandate,” Mr. Chidambaram said.

He was speaking after reviewing the security scenario with Mr. Gogoi and the Unified Command Structure at the Raj Bhavan here.

Mr. Chidambaram said he had also visited Mizoram, but could not beyond Aizawl due to inclement weather.

“Altogether 209 Bru families have already returned to Mizoram so far and more are likely to come soon. We hope the process continues and they are resettled and rehabilitated adequately,” he said.

Stating that Mizoram was now totally free from insurgency and hoped that this continued, Mr. Chidambaram appreciated Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla’s efforts for the return of the Bru refugees who had fled to Tripura following communal disturbances, saying that he was “totally committed to their return“.

He said he also discussed issues like border outposts, border fencing, modernisation of the police force, besides taking stock of their requirements with Lal Thanhawla.

Mr. Chidambaram, however, declined, to speak about the Manipur-Nagaland imbroglio saying that he had not here to discuss the issue.

Transformers Gets Rosie (NSFW)

MOVE over MEGAN, there's a new FOX in town.

By Nadia Mendoza

Jaw-droppingly gorgeous ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY will take over as the leading lady in upcoming blockbuster Transformers 3.

The British Victoria's Secret model, 23, has been offered the role in the sequel - after Megan sensationally quit the franchise last week.

Director MICHAEL BAY reportedly came to blows with the actress over her plummeting weight.

Megan Fox in Transformers

Her slender physique sparked concern and "unhealthy" Megan was ordered to put on weight, sources claimed.

Rosie - who has notched up the bedpost with OLIVIER MARTINEZ and JASON STATHAM - has NO acting credentials to date.

When Megan was cast back in 2007 for the first Transformers flick, she had already made several TV appearances and starred in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen with LINDSAY LOHAN.

Rosie follows in the footsteps of Bond girl OLGA KURYLENKO and HALLE BERRY, who also made the leap from catwalk to silver screen.

Despite rumours Megan was sacked from the film, her spokesman insisted: "Megan Fox will not be starring in Transformers 3. It was her decision not to return."

Do you think Rosie is a good replacement for Megan? Cast your vote, top right.

 

Diego Maradona 'To Get Luxury Toilets' at World Cup

Argentina coach Diego Maradona is to get luxury toilets at next month's World Cup following a special request from the Argentine Football Association, according to reports.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona is to get luxury toilets at the World Cup Photo: REUTERS

Maradona's toilets will include new wash basins, toilet bowls, cisterns, taps and E-Bidet luxury toilet seats, according to South African paper, The Sunday Times.

The E-Bidet features a heated seat, a warm air blow-dryer and front and rear bidet wands. It sells for 450 dollars (358 euros) at online retailer sandman.com, which bills it as "the world's best toilet seat".

The head of the University of Pretoria's High Performance Centre, Argentina's base camp for the June 11 to July 11 tournament, said staff had received a special request from the Argentine national association to remodel the football legend's bathrooms.

"They felt that the basins and toilet bowls were not up to Maradona's standards," Colin Stier said.

Group B favourites Argentina play their first match against Nigeria on June 12 in Johannesburg.