Pillar at Mizoram-Assam Disputed Border Demolished By ZNP

Aizawl, Sep 12 : Youth activists of Mizoram's opposition party Zoram Nationalist Party demolished a pillar inside the disputed area along the Assam-Mizoram border allegedly erected by Assam's forests department barely three days after it cropped up.

Led by K Liantlinga, the party's MLA from Aizawl South-I, some activists of ZNP youth wing demolished the pillar around 2:30 am, sources said.

" The ZNP will not allow the Assam government to erect a border pillar or have activities inside our territory. I hope that the people of Mizoram support our move," Liantlinga told reporters. Liantlinga said the present imbroglio is a result of negligence of the governments of Mizoram about the border dispute.

About 30 youth activists of the ruling Congress party, led by Pradesh Youth Congress president C Lalawmpuii, also rushed to the site from Aizawl last night, but found the pillar demolished before they reached the spot.

The Congress youth activists, however, conducted a short meeting at the site where their president delivered a short speech. She said Mizoram government is not willing to lose an inch of land to any other state.

Protest Against Public Hearing On Petroleum Exploration in Manipur

Imphal, Sep 12 : Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM) Tuesday registered a strong protest over Manipur government’s reported move to conduct another public hearing at Nungba of Tamenglong district for oil exploration.

The committee in a statement signed by its convener, Pamei Tingenlung alleged that the public hearing was planned to conduct at the behest of the Jubilant Energy after a recent public hearing at the same place was foiled by people as a mark of protest against the project.

People had given a clear verdict against oil exploration in Manipur in all the three public hearings at Jiribam, Parbung and Nungba, organized by the Manipur Pollution Control Board from July 30 to August 17 last, the statement claimed.

There was no need for a second environment public hearing at Nungba or other places in Manipur as people had already expressed their verdict with a clear mandate of “no” to petroleum exploration and drilling in the state, the statement stated.

At the Nungba public hearing, people had given a clear verdict as chairman and the panel members have given a written statement, “…the two public hearing for the block AA-ONN/2009/1 & AA-ONN/2009/2 are hereby cancelled once and for all for Tamenglong district,” the statement pointed out, terming the move to conduct another hearing as “government’s insensitive” move.

The report and proposed move to organize public hearing with full security deployment was unreasonable as people voices can never be suppressed by any force including the military, the statement said.

Drug Trafficking: 'Money Funds Terror Acts in India'

By Abhishek Bhalla

A nexus among Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Maoists and insurgent groups of North-East is using money earned from drug trafficking to fund terror activities in India, official sources have said.

Major drug seizures on the India-Nepal border in the past four months have put a spotlight on this revenue generation strategy adopted by terror groups.

Intelligence sources say that the ISI, Maoists and north-eastern groups are hand in glove. In the last four months, Custom officials have seized more than 10 kg of heroin worth `60 crore in international market from the India- Nepal border in Bihar's Araria district.

Indian Maoists watch as villagers dance in a forested area of Bijapur District in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh

Apart from this, 1,000 kg of marijuana and four kg of charas were also seized in the same area. 'The amount of seizure made in the last four months from the Indo-Nepal border drastically exceeds the seizure made in years from across the country.

In the past, not more than three-four kg of heroin was recovered during the entire year,' said a Custom official, who is a part of the team probing the seizures.

While only two arrests have been made in the five cases, counter-terror agencies suspect that the terror nexus is behind this international drug racket.

'This is definitely the most lucrative method of generating funds... The Maoists have managed to procure hi-tech weapons from the US and China.

Where is the money coming from?' an intelligence official said . The information about the big seizures has been shared by other agencies. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and the Intelligence Bureau have also been roped in.

[
A detailed dossier, with all information on the drug syndicate and its links with terror outfits, is also being prepared.

The DRI has already prepared a detailed note on the ongoing probe and forwarded it to intelligence agencies. Even the National Investigation Agency (NIA) - probing the arms procurement of the Maoists - is looking into the financial aspect.

Sources say the entire machinery is well-organised. The procurement is being done by the ISI, while the stocking and distribution are done by the Maoists and N-E insurgents.

Many smugglers are former Maoists who facilitate the drug trade. The drugs being procured are from two blocks - the golden triangle: Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq; and the golden crescent: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.

What has shocked agencies is that unlike in the past, drugs are also being used in India.

'Traditionally India was only a transit route, but now the demand for various drugs is increasing within the country,' said an official from the Narcotics Control Bureau.

Subroto Cup: Mizo School beat Rosary School

Offee Lalmingahualpuia first girl to score hat-trick in Subroto Cup

Offee Lalmingahualpuia wrote her name in the history books of the 53rd Subroto Cup football tournament when she became the first girls player to score a hat-trick in the inaugural All-India u-17 meet on Monday.

Her triple strike helped Government Mizo High School, Aizwal, Mizoram thrash Our Lady of Rosary High School, Goa in the opening Group I encounter.

Offee Lalmingahualpuia scored the first goal in the 9th minute of the game. The Mizoram team showed complete dominance over their opponents from Goa and subsequently Offee registered two more goals in the 17th and the 42nd minute of play.

After the match, the player said, “ it feels great to see I will have my name in the record book.” Offee further added; “There is immense possibility and talent in girls. Subroto Cup has given us this opportunity to showcase our talent and we are keen to make the most of this opportunity.”

The Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society (SMSES) and Indian Air Force had conducted an invitational tournament for girls teams in the National Capital Region in the last year’s edition. The success of that experiment inspired the Indian Air Force to take the tournament pan-India this year and 17 teams from across the country and abroad, are vying for honours this year.

The organisers have also to give a cash award of Rs 10,000 to the top 25 girls selected at the end of the tournament.

In the other Group I encounter, Baroda High School, Gujarat rode on Simran Ahluwalia's 17th minute strike to beat Air Force School, New Delhi 1-0.

In the Group 2 league encounter, Delhi girls from the Ahlcon Public School, Mayur Vihar put up a great fight against Sri Ramkrishna Saratha Higher Sec. School, Salem, Tamil Nadu.

Both the teams played attacking football but some brilliant display by the defenders from both the teams resulted in a 0-0 score at the end of the stipulated 50 minutes of play.

Results (Group I):

Government Mizo High School, Aizwal, Mizoram 3 (Offee Lalmingahualpuia 9, 17, 42) beat Our Lady of Rosary High School, Goa 0

Baroda High School, Gujarat 1 (Simran Ahluwalia 17) beat Air Force School, New Delhi 0

Ahlcon Public School, Mayur Vihar, Delhi 0 draw Sri Ramkrishna Saratha Higher Sec. School, Salem, Tamil Nadu 0

YMA To Felicitate Mary Kom

Aizawl, Sep 11 : Inspired by her bronze medal-winning effort in the London Olympics, the Young Mizo Association (YMA) here is set to felicitate boxer M C Mary Kom.

General secretary of the central committee of YMA, Vanlalruata told PTI that they would hand over the pugilist a citation and cash award during the association`s general conference, scheduled to begin from October 23 at Kawrtethawveng village in Mizoram-Tripura border`s Mamit district.

"We do not have large amount of money to give her, but we wanted to congratulate her in front of the young Mizos as she has become a source of inspiration for the youths," Vanlalruata said.

Kom was earlier felicitated by Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) or the Mizo students federation, during `Zofest` held here in 2006.

Reading FC Of UK To Develop Football in Arunachal

Itanagar, Sep 11 : Reading Football Club (Reading FC) of UK has shown interest to explore football potentials in Arunachal Pradesh after meeting Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.

A four-member delegation from UK met Tuki on Sunday at his New Delhi office and had a discussion on development of football in Himalayan state.

"Football is the favourite game in every corner of our state. Talent and passion are immeasurable. We need proper guidance, training and exposure and I can assure you of world class players," Chief Minister, a football player and lover of the game, told the delegation.

The Reading FC members expressed desire to do a talent search in the state and take under their umbrella sub-junior level players.

Selected players would be then groomed at the highest level at Reading FC football academy in the UK, officials said.

According to Reading FC CEO Nogel Howe, the club would send two coaches to Arunachal Pradesh for preliminary assessment immediately.

Howe, while narrating future plans for Arunachal, said if things work out, the club will take on the responsibility of propagating and developing the game by placing its coaches permanently in the state.

Meanwhile, the Reading FC delegation also invited Tuki to watch one of its matches in the ongoing Barclay Premier League.

Meghalaya Set To Make Its Mark On Fashion Map With Shillong Festival

By Nimerta Chawla

While many continue to complain that there are too many fashion weeks in the country, here is another territory on the Indian fashion map that is set to host its own style fiesta.

The North-East will be hosting the first-ever 'Shillong Fashion Week' from October 19-20, bringing together popular designers such as Jenjum Gadi, Anand Bhushan, Tamara, Gaurav and Ritika, Sophia M. Sangma and Arya to showcase their work.

An exclusive fashion presentation initiated by the state of Meghalaya, the two-day affair aims at raising awareness about fashion and current trends among the people of Meghalaya and neighbouring states.

Models walk the ramp for designers Anand Sharma, pictured left and Jenjum Gadi pictured right

While some of the participating designers, such as Gadi and Bhushan, have already been a part of the prestigious Wills Lifestyle India and Lakmé Fashion weeks earlier, and gained much recognition for their designs, there are some who will be debuting at the fashion week.

Designer Duo: Anand Sharma who will participate in the Shillong fashion week, pictured right and Jenjum Gadi, pictured right, has showcased his collection in Wills Lifestyle Fashion Week

'This first of its kind fashion fete is going to be a big platform for local designers and models to showcase their talent. It's an initiative to get Meghalaya recognised as a fashion city,' says Julie Deb, co-founder, Shillong Fashion Week.

Mizoram Failed To Prepare Final Accounts Over 15 Yrs?

CAG Likely To Engage Graduates From Kolkata As Consultants in Mizoram

By Tapan Chakravorti


Kolkata, Spe 10 : The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Vinod Rai has expressed concern over failure of the state public sector undertakings (PsUs) in preparation of final accounts over 14-15 years. In the annual general meeting of the Institute of Public Auditors of India (IPAI), he pleaded for inclusion of commerce, economics graduates from Kolkata with basics knowledge of account-keeping etc., and used them as consultants in helping those companies in the preparation of their accounts in Mizoram. The CAG particularly mentioned the Special Category States in North East where very few experienced accounts officers/ audit officers were available in these places in service. Not many, when we recruit them, were willing to go there as conditions there may or may be not so good, CAG added.

CAG has sought the help of the Chapters of the IPAI to locate retired persons, whether members of the IPAI or not, whom the CAG offices can engage them as consultants for some period at fairly attractive terms in Shillong and Itanagar.


CAG pointed out that some state governments in the North East Stateswere in the midst of a peculiar situation – companies there have not prepared their accounts for the last fifteen years when they were getting Rs 30-40 crore from government annually as loans or grants for various projects These companies have not closed their accounts because they have no experienced people to do it.

CAG mentioned that that Indian Audit & Accounts Department (IA & AD) had been requested by the Ministry of Rural Development to audit the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in 12 states. This was another area where the audit department would require the support of the IPAI by making available its manpower resources and professional expertise. He appreciated the work of devising the

Accounting Format, developed by the IPAI for National Literacy Mission (Saakshar Bharat).

CAG said as Five Year Plans progress, more and more money will be devolved in the planning exercise through Panchayati Raj Institutions and it have to be geared to be able to receive more money and handle such money and become accountable to the public committees.

He said persons who was handling Rs 25-30 lakh till now will be getting Rs 3-5 crore per annum to handle. He may not have the capability to handle such large amounts.

Hence we need to get diploma program for the functionaries of the Gram Panchayat Samities.

According to President of the Central Council of the IPAI, Vijay Kumar, who had been former Deputy Comptroller an Auditor General-cum-Chairman, Audit Board, the biggest asset of IPAI is the large pool of experienced professionals as its members who could be sourced for advice and consulting on all matters falling within the wide spectrum of public sector financial, accounting and auditing functions and activities.Kumar said IPAI was set up in 1996 and it is a body of specialists in public finance with focus on public accounting and auditing.

The institute has over 1,500 members on its roll – serving and former officers of the foremost financial services of the Central government, largely from the Audit & Accounts Service (IA & AS) and other CentralAccounts Services as also several senior accounts and audit officers The Institute is a registered society under the patronage of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG).