ECI Initiative On Electoral Roll in Mizoram

Aizawl, Mar 9 : The new initiative of Election Commission of India – National Electoral Roll Purification & Authentication Drive Programme (NERPAD) was launched in Mizoram recently.

The launch was attended by representatives of political parties and NGOs besides media persons, a DIPR release said.

Joint Chief Electoral Officer F J Liantluanga enlightened the gathering on the aims and objectives of NERPAD. It is our collective responsibility to ensure the success of NERPAD, he said.

The objectives of NERPAD includes: entry of Aadhar number in EPIC; removal of names in more than one electoral roll through Form 7 within 15 days by ERO; replacing of defaced photos in EPIC, if requested; correction of false particulars in rolls through Form 8; and entry of elector’s mobile phone number or email address in the roll database.

First Case of Swine Flu Detected in Manipur

In Manipur, a woman was detected with swine flu, the first case of this season to be found in the North Eastern state.

According to Dr. Jugindro Singh, Superintendent of Shija Hospital, the woman was undergoing treatment after being suspected of being infected by the H1N1 virus. Her blood sample was sent to SRL Diagnostics in Mumbai on February 28, following which her sample was found to be positive.

The woman is now under medical supervision.

The medical department in the Shija Hospital has been alerted so as to undertake urgent measures to tackle any eventuality of spread of the virus.

Nagaland Mob Lynching: Curfew Clamped in Dimapur, 22 Arrested

Protesters beating the accused in Dimapur. Curfew was on Sunday clamped in Dimapur town of Nagaland and 22 people were arrested in connection with the lynching of a rape accused, a senior police officer said.Also, Internet and cellphone text message services were suspended across Nagaland as protests spread against the lynching of a rape-accused man.

Dimapur, Mar 9 : Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) G Akheto Seema said curfew has been imposed in Dimapur town from 3 PM Sunday till 12 midnight to maintain peace. The preliminary medical report of the woman allegedly raped by Syed Farid Khan, who was lynched, confirms that she had been raped, the ADGP said.

22 people have been arrested in connection with the lynching incident. The arrests were made since last evening after going through the mobile video clippings during the incident and interrogation was on, he said.

Khan was arrested for raping the woman in Dimapur on February 24 and remanded in judicial custody in the Dimapur Central Jail the next day. On March 5, Khan was dragged out of jail and beaten to death. He was today buried at his native village in Karimganj district of Assam amidst tight security.

Rape victim says accused offered her Rs.5,000 to remain silent

Speaking to Headlines Today, the victim said accused, Syed Farid Khan, had offered her Rs.5,000 to remain silent about the incident. "I handed over the money to the police and I expect justice from the Nagaland government, " she said.

Syed Farid Khan, a 35-year-old second hand car dealer, was accused of raping a 20-year-old Naga woman on February 23 and 24 at different locations. Police arrested him on February 25 and a lower court sent him to judicial custody.

The victim also revealed that she filed an FIR and she knew the accused. However, she didn't comment about what how mob killed him.

Rape Accused Dragged Out Of Jail, Lynched in Nagaland

Caught on cam: Rape accused dragged out of jail, lynched to death in Nagaland

Kohima, Mar 6 : A man, accused of raping a girl, was beaten to death today after being pulled out of a jail by a mob at Dimapur in Nagaland.

A mass protest rally against the rape was held at Dimapur this morning after which students and angry people forced into the district jail and managed to pull out the accused.

The accused had allegedly raped the victim several times on February 23 and was arrested the following day following a complaint lodged by the victim.

The police resorted to blank firing and fired tear gas shells but failed to control the situation, officials said.

The accused was dragged naked to the main town and he died of the injuries of beatings by the public, a senior official said.

An emergency cabinet meeting was held at 7 pm at the residential office of chief minister to take stock of the law and other situation in Dimapur.

The cabinet condemned the violent incident whereby the mob took the law into their hands, leading to the death of the accused, said a release issued by CMO Media Cell this evening.

The cabinet also decided to institute a high-level committee to inquire into the incident and find out the circumstances leading to it.

The committee would also inquire into the lapses or shortcomings on the part of any public servant in connection with the incident and the person or group of persons responsible for the violence leading to the death of the accused in the hands of the mob.

The chief minister, being in New Delhi, the cabinet meeting was chaired by Minister for Social Security & Welfare and Parliamentary Affairs, Kiyanilie Peseyie, the CMO Media Cell added.

2 Days After Students’ Rally, Mizo Govt Says Scholarships Being Disbursed

By Adam Halliday

Aizawl, Mar 5 : The Mizoram government Wednesday announced that scholarships have started being disbursed to students after thousands who took part in a rally two days ago to protest the state’s inability to meet its share of the funds called for the CM’s resignation.

“Although students rallied and shouted slogans in bad taste, the Mizoram government remembers its role as both mother and father to them and has disbursed Rs 360 lakh as its share of the post-matric scholarship in spite of great difficulties,” a statement from the Higher and Technical Education (H&TE) Department said.

The H&TE department had last week been able to disburse just 90% of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ post-matric tribal scholarships because it was unable to meet its 10% share (about Rs 5.38 crore).

College students had taken to the streets in Aizawl Monday to protest against the move, shouting slogans demanding the resignation of CM Lal Thanhawla and his government.

Wednesday’s announcement by the H&TE department was followed by a post on Facebook by P C Lalrinhlua, president of the Mizo Students’ Union that had organised the rally.

Lalrinhlua said, “It is the result of us students working together. The MSU extends its congratulations to all students who will be getting the scholarships. Do use it wisely.” The H&TE’s statement, however, did not mention when the remaining amount is likely to be disbursed.

Imphal-Mandalay Bus Service Talks On

New Delhi, Mar 5 : India is in discussion with Myanmar to start a bus service between Imphal and Mandalay and a joint technical survey was carried out in January to finalise the route alignment, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh informed Lok Sabha today.

“Government of India is in discussion with Government of Myanmar for starting cross border bus service between Imphal in Manipur and Mandalay in Myanmar. A Joint Technical Survey was carried out in January, 2015 for finalising the route alignment for the bus service,” Singh said in a written reply.

He also said India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan are exploring the possibility of signing a sub-regional agreement on movement of motor vehicles.

“Two rounds of negotiations have taken place,” he said, adding that the agreement would enhance connectivity, facilitate easy movement of passenger and goods vehicles and enhance cross border transportation.

Singh said the leaders of SAARC, in the Declarations issued at the conclusion of Summit Meetings, called for realisation of the ideal of the South Asian Economic Union.

He said a study has also been commissioned by SAARC and Asian Development Bank (ADB) to suggest ways and means for the achievement of the South Asian Economic Union.

Delhi Worst City To Live in For Northeast People

New Delhi, Mar 4 :  At least 29 cases have been registered by people belonging to the Northeast living in the National Capital in the first two months of the year, even as Delhi has emerged as the worst city for the people hailing from the region to live in, as the year 2014 saw registration of 286 such cases.

Last year was particularly worse for the North Easterners as criminal incidents targeting them have witnessed over 200 per cent growth. In 2013 only 72 cases were registered and the year before that 55 such cases were registered by the police. However, the number of such cases was relatively low in metros like Bengaluru and neighbouring Gurgaon.

“In order to contain recurrence of such incidents, the government has directed the security infrastructure to take stringent measures,” said Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju in reply to a Lok Sabha question.

The Right Spirit

(Above) Vanlalhriata; his paintings

By Adam Halliday

 

It’s an unusual way to greet the end of prohibition — with an exhibition. With over 40 watercolour paintings , Mizoram-based artist Vanlalhriata’s solo show “Liquor” depicts personal experiences and public perceptions through the motif of a transparent bottle.

He ends his 11-year hiatus with this, though his break is much shorter than the 19-year prohibition that was lifted last year with the introduction of a new law. It will facilitate the selling of a limited amount of alcohol each month to those who have applied and got permits, but has not begun in earnest yet as legal liquor outlets have not yet been opened.

“Everyone is familiar with alcoholism. Most families have someone who drinks, or know of close neighbours or friends,” says Vanlalhriata.

The exhibition, which began February 24 at Aizawl Art Gallery showcases contemporary themes. In some canvases, the heads of men and women behind the silhouette of the bottle morph into pigs, donkeys and wolves. One shows a crashed car within a bottle while another has a bottle that tears a thatched hut into half.

In some frames, traditional local rice beer or Zu appears to fetch money and fame, but then, the artist concedes, Zu is allowed on special occasions by the new law, though its sale will be regulated. “I try to be as objective as possible about alcohol, but it doesn’t lead to many good things except maybe some camaraderie and deep sleep, that too only in moderation,” says the 35-year-old artist.

A part-time graphic artist for Doordarshan, Vanlalhriata’s works, in water colours and acrylics on canvas, have been exhibited in Aizawl, besides Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. His previous shows have mostly focused on realistic scenes depicting the pre-modern life of Mizos.

Most of his paintings in the “Liquor” exhibition, which closes on Saturday, are associated with the negative effects of alcohol, which is not an uncommon sentiment in the state. Prohibition and the lifting of it are contentious issues despite more than 40,000 people having applied for liquor permits, as of now.