Frog Hunters Nabbed in Manipur

Sinlung Says: "There is a huge truck load of Corrupted officials who need to be apprehended and yet resources are still spent on the weak and poor who are just trying to feed their families. Maybe if the business is good, why not encourage farming - after all Frog is not an endangered species."

By Sobhapati Samom

Imphal, Jul 8 : Unlike other poachers, frog hunters in Manipur move in groups searching for good sites. They look for paddy fields in the rainy season by using torch lights made of bamboo tubes. When they switch on their torch lights on the water, the eyes of frogs glitter making them easy preys for the hunters who chase and catch them.

A hunter could harvest about 50 frogs a night and 3/4 hunter groups could harvest about 40,000 frogs in a month if they are lucky enough. Such groups hand over their collection to a collector who purchase them at Rs 5 - 7 per frog according to their size.

The collectors then take it to the master collector who will buy it at higher rates for dispatch to the markets in the State’s hill districts and neighbouring States where frogs are a delicacy. With the hunting made at night and dispatch early in the morning, the business is not visible to the public.

This came to light following a disclosure by a group of frog traders who were arrested in the State during a raid conducted by Peoples For Animal (PFA) Thoubal accompanied by police from Imphal West Police Station.

The raid was conducted at few locations along Dingku Road in Imphal early in the morning, according to a press release issued by PFA Thoubal.

We succeeded in apprehending four female hunters,” said the PFA release. “A total of 523 frogs of Indian Bullfrog species which are listed in schedule 4 of Wildlife Protection Act were rescued from them.”

The arrested frog hunters cum traders have been identified as Ningombam Dashu, Naorem Memcha, Thabitha Ningshen and Jenni Shimrah. They were fined a sum of Rs 2000 each while the frogs were released back to the paddy fields on Tuesday last.

The step was taken in view of the mushrooming of frog trade which has become a flourishing business among the farmers who spend sleepless nights catching frogs in the wet paddy fields.

Thousands of frogs are being caught and are feared to be exported to the neighboring States of Manipur, the release said. The release pointed out that hunting of frog is a very serious threat to ecosystem. Feeding on pests, frogs are the best natural pest controller. Besides, it is food for many wild birds and animals.

Laldenga Remembered On His Death Anniversary

Aizawl, Jul 7 : Mizo National Front (MNF) leaders today paid their respects to legendary underground leader and former Mizoram chief minister Laldenga on his death anniversary today.

Former Chief Minister Zoramthanga, Laldenga's widow Lalbiakdiki and other MNF leaders laid wreaths on his tomb at the Treasury Square here.

Born in 1927, Laldenga joined the Indian Army as havildar clerk and was working under the then Mizo District Council after leaving the army.

He, and some leaders formed the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) during the great Mautam famine caused by gregarious bamboo flowering during the late 1950s triggering rodent population explosion which in turn ravaged the paddy fields.

He converted the MNFF into a political party and rechristened it as the Mizo National Front (MNF).

The MNF led by Laldenga launched a protracted movement against the Indian Union in 1966 plunging the state into disturbance which was put to an end by the signing of the historic Mizo peace accord by the centre and the Laldenga on June 30, 1986.

He became the chief minister of Mizoram in the later part of 1986 in the interim government with the present chief minister Lal Thanhawla as the Deputy Chief Minister.

He was inducted as the first chief minister of the state of Mizoram in 1987 after Mizoram was elevated into a full-fledged state on February 20, 1987.

Laldenga died at the London airport on July seven, 1990 while returning from the US after receiving treatment.

Book Seeks To Make China Smell The Coffee On Northeast India

By Manan Kumar

India has found a subtle way to counter Chinese expansionist designs that are manifested by the frequent depiction of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim as the East Asian country's territories.

Beijing's latest such effort was exposed with the issuance of electronic passports which showed Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin and disputed islands in the South China Sea as Chinese territory in the map outline. China has also been repeatedly offering stapled visas to Arunachalis, prompting a vociferous reaction from India.

In response to the passports, New Delhi has come out with a state-of-the-art coffee table book on Arunachal Pradesh titled 'Arunachal Pradesh – An Ode', which emphatically shows the Northeast state as an integral part of the country.

The innocuous book, containing stunning pictures of natural scenery, appears to have the perfect recipe for catching the eye of tourists and, at the same time, settle India's territorial claim on Arunachal Pradesh by mentioning its exact latitude (between 26.28 N & 29.30 N) and longitude (between 91.20 E – 97.30 E).

Envisaged by Union home ministry's North-East division, which looks after the Seven Sisters, and designed by the renowned Earthwatch Institute, which works on sustainable development, the 55-page book gives a glimpse of the state's history, culture, customs, tribes, arts, crafts, flora and fauna. "The key purpose of the book is counter oft-repeated Chinese claims at the international level. It was a conscious decision on our part to not let diplomatic necessities hold us from saying loud and clear that these regions are ours," said sources.

The book was published last year and most of its 25,000 copies are already adorning the receptions of Indian embassies and consulates around the globe, including those in China. Moreover, copies have also been sent to the all foreign embassies and consulates in India.

To smother any further Chinese claims on Indian territories, the Union home ministry is now bringing out a coffee table book on Sikkim. "The book on Arunachal Pradesh has got rave reviews abroad and we are hoping tourist traffic there will see a manifold increase. The book on Sikkim will be on similar lines but will be more exhaustive and pictorial to catch tourism potential," said a senior official.

Manipur Man Drowns in Delhi: Foul Play Suspected

New Delhi, Jul 7 : The body of a 28-year-old man from Manipur, who worked with a BPO, was found in a drain at south Delhi’s Chirag Dilli area in the early hours of Sunday.

Police suspect that the man, who was apparently under the influence of alcohol, accidentally fell into the deep drain and drowned. The friends and family members of the victim, however, are alleging foul play. They reached the Malviya Nagar police station on Sunday afternoon and demanded that the incident should be probed as a murder.

The victim, Kawilungbou Chawang, had worked with a BPO firm in Gurgaon. Chawang lived in a rented flat in southwest Delhi’s Naraina. He went to a friend’s house in Chirag Dilli to attend a party on Saturday night, police said.

Three eyewitnesses have told police that they had seen Chawang running on the streets before he scaled a wall and jumped into a drain. He came out of the drain as it was not deep but unfortunately jumped into another drain which was deeper.

Chawang’s friends and family members, however, rejected the claims. They said that it was highly unlikely that an inebriated man could have scaled a high wall, cross a fast flowing drain and then drowned in another. They suspect he was running to save his life from some people.

“His friends told us that he consumed alcohol with them before leaving for home late at night without informing them. They searched for him outside the house but couldn’t find him. They then learnt about his death. We are questioning them,” said the senior officer.

One of the eyewitnesses, Azad, said that he saw Chawang running on the streets before scaling a fenced wall that separated the drain from the locality. He said there are two drains flowing parallel to each other near the Chirag Dilli village. 

“The man scaled the wall and landed in the flowing drain. He was swept away for some distance but managed to emerge on the other side. He again started running and stepped into the parallel drain thinking it to be an empty land with a grass cover,” said Azad. He said the drain had a thick film of green algae.

Another eyewitness Rohit claimed that his father tried to rescue the victim. “My father was lowered into the drain with the help of a rope, but his short height did not help. We then informed police and fire department who fished him out,” he said.

BS Jaiswal, DCP (south), said, “An inquest proceeding under 174 CrPC has been initiated into the incident. We are waiting for the autopsy report to ascertain the exact cause of death.”

Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal Transferred to Mizoram

By Vinay Kumar

inShare

Dr. Kamla Beniwal.

Gujarat Governor Dr. Kamla Beniwal was on Sunday transferred to Mizoram for the remainder of her term while Mizoram Governor Vakkom Purushothaman was shifted as Governor of Nagaland.

According to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communiqué, Governor of Rajasthan Mrs. Margaret Alva will discharge the functions of Governor of Gujarat in addition to her own duties until regular arrangements for the office of the Governor of Gujarat are made.

Mr. Purushothaman will also continue to hold the additional charge of the office of the Governor of Tripura. The appointments will take effect from the dates the incumbents assume charge of their respective offices, the communiqué said.

Transfers of Gujarat and Mizoram governors came even as the Modi government is likely to clear the names of senior BJP leaders for appointment of new governors in nearly half a dozen States where vacancies in Raj Bhavans have arisen.

Mizo Women Association (MHIP) Day Observed

Aizawl, Jul 7 : Mizo Hmeichhia Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) Day, literally meaning Mizo Women Association Day, was observed today at Electric Veng YMA Hall in Aizawl organized by Electric Veng MHIP.

Mizoram Health Minister Lal Thanzara graced the function as chief guest. Lal Thanzara said the presence of NGOs in the state instituted to do good things for the people is shows the Mizos are more fortunate than others.

Lauding MHIP, Thanzara said the activity of MHIP to empower and elevate the position of women and comforting their members who are the victims of sexual molestation and other atrocities is most comforting and thus deserved praise.

The government and NGOs are taking earnest effort to lessen various crimes related to robbery, murder, drugs abuse and sexual molestation, the minister stated. "Usually when a person involved in such heinous crime is probed, it is found that the person comes from a poor family background. Therefore, everyone has the responsibility to protect and look after his family", Lal Thanzara said.

The minister then said that with the advance of civilization in the present world, the position of women in Mizoram has also been growing. "It is highly grateful that we are now able to have a women representative in the state highest legislature", the minister said.

The minister however, warned that women should not try to come above men. Lal Thanzara also lauded MHIP for its campaign to end consumption of tobacco products.

He said that the drastic campaign by the MHIP to eradicate the use of various tobacco products like tiranga and gutkha which severely affect the health of youths due to excessive consumption.

Worry For India as Chinese Mobile Signals Hold Sway in Northeast India

New Delhi, Jul 7 : A top Union Home Ministry official was in for a surprise on a trip to the remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh when he could not use his mobile phone as it picked up signals only of Chinese telecom firms on the other side of the border.

The Joint Secretary-rank officer says that to his dismay, he found he could not make any calls through the available Indian networks in the area which is in the northeastern part of the country.

The officer wrote a three-page letter to the Secretary of the Department of Telecom, saying he "had personal experience of getting Chinese signal in Arunachal Pradesh but was unable to make use of any Indian facilities to make mobile calls".

The note alleged that private telecom operators had not installed telecom towers in the rural areas of the Northeast and also claimed that some companies, under the "influence" of Chinese telecom firms, did not want such facilities to be ever set up, particularly along the India-China border.

There "seems to be a nefarious design of the outsiders who seem to be influencing Indian decision-making in order to keep the vulnerable areas vulnerable forever," the letter said.

The note claimed that certain private telecom companies have taken DoT for a ride "by not commissioning thousands of towers" in rural areas and alleged that subsidies have been extended without any physical verification on the ground.

"Since Northeastern India is a sensitive border zone, the government should decide to have full control over networks and that can only be ensured by nominating a government PSU to execute the task of rolling out new networks," the note said.

It reasoned that this would also make the task of security agencies easier as they have time and again warned that in border areas, security of imported equipment can be compromised with "disastrous consequences".

The Telecom Commission, which met last month, has approved investment of about Rs 5,000 crore to augment telecom connectivity in the northeast and the proposal has been sent to the Union Cabinet for its approval.

Tripura Cut-Off By Road From Rest Of Country

Agartala, Jul 7 : The landlocked Tripura was cut-off from the rest of the country by road as a large portion of National Highway-44 (NH-44) was damaged in Assam due to the rains, a minister said here on Friday.

The National Highway got badly damaged in around 10 km in southern Assam's Karimganj district three days ago due to incessant monsoon rains.

The 630-km-long NH-44 is the only one that links Tripura by road with the rest of India via Shillong and Guwahati.

The Tripura government sought Assam and Border Roads Organisation's (BRO) help to urgently repair the road, described as the life line of Tripura.

The BRO under the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways maintains the National Highways in northeast India.

"Our transport secretary and chief engineer of PWD (Public Works Department) Thursday have taken up the matter with their Assam counterparts to take steps to urgently repair the national highway," Tripura Transport Minister Manik Dey told a news agency.

He said: "Our officials have requested the Assam government officials to urgently take up the matter with the BRO.”

"Senior engineers of PWD of both Assam and Tripura have visited the spot (225 km north of Agartala) Thursday. We have also requested the BRO to restore the damaged roads."

An official of the Tripura transport department told a news agency that over 2,000 goods laden trucks and other vehicles with passengers have been stranded for the past three days after the road was damaged.

"If the damaged road was not renovated on urgent basis, the situation would be further worsened and the crisis of essential commodities would be further aggravated," the official said.