Taiwan Keen To Help Mizoram in Agriculture

Aizawl, Mar 10 : Taiwan is keen to help Mizoram in developing its agriculture and in value-addition of bamboo and capacity-building of human resource in the northeastern state, Taiwan's ambassador to India Chung-Kwang Tien has said.

"We are ready to help Mizoram in agriculture, value-addition of bamboo and capacity-building of human resource," Tien told reporters here on Sunday.

He said there were similarities in terrain and typography of Taiwan and Mizoram, bordering Myanmar.

"Agriculture and bamboo are two important sectors of possible co-operation that can be worked out," the envoy said, adding that he discussed with Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla about the possible cooperation between Mizoram and Taiwan.

Tien, accompanied by two officials of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India, came here on March 6 to witness the Mizos' biggest festival -- Chapchar Kut.

The visiting ambassador held discussion with Lal Thanhawla about sharing of experience between Mizoram's and Taiwan's experts on agriculture, value-addition of bamboo and capacity-building of human resource.

Tien said two agricultural experts, one specializing in grapes, would visit Mizoram later this month to study the agricultural and horticultural pattern in the state and suggest possible areas of intervention that could lead to concrete actions.

He said entrepreneurs engaged in value-addition of bamboo and its products could visit his country to see the kind of industry expertise that Taiwan has in bamboo products.

The envoy invited students to apply for scholarships in Taiwan at various levels of education.

The Mizoram University could explore the possibility of running a Mandarin language centre, he said.

We Hold Key To Manipur Peace, Naga Body Tells SC

New Delhi, Mar 10 : At a time when the Supreme Court is hearing a petition on Manipur being cut off from the rest of the country due to frequent blockades of the national highway, the United Naga Council on Monday audaciously told the court that there could be no peace in Manipur without the conglomerate's "consent and guarantee".

The petition was filed in the aftermath of the over month-long blockade of NH-39 by Naga groups at Mao, resulting in a severe economic crisis in Manipur. Essential commodities became scarce and their prices skyrocketed.

Referring to the recent lynching incident in Nagaland, advocate Prashant Bhushan wondered whether there was something called "law and order" in the state.

However, senior advocate B B Sanyal, appearing for the Naga Council, told the court that the council should be made a party to the pending litigation. "Without consulting us and without our guarantee, there will be no peace in Manipur," he told the court.

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu impleaded the Naga Council as a party to the pending litigation and allowed Manipur standing counsel Sapam Biswajit to file response to the council's application.

North-eastern activist says government failing to protect its citizens'

Expressing shock over the recent thrashing of a 21-year-old Assamese student, writer-activist Binalakshmi Nepram on Monday criticized the BJP-led NDA Government for failing to protect the citizens of this country.

"The government has failed to protect the citizens of this country, whether in Delhi of the north-east people or other citizens in the north east of India, the Government has to take a very serious decision before much more violence happens like this," Binalakshmi Nepram told ANI here.

Nepram urged people to not take the law into their hands and resolve things peacefully.

"Those who are trying to commit such violence, we urge them not to do it. If north east people make a mistake, then take it to the authorities, don't take the law in your hands. Beating up someone, lynching someone is not the way to resolve things peacefully in our country," she added.

A 21-year-old Assamese student was allegedly beaten up by locals in South Delhi's Amar Colony when he was trying to break the lock of someone else's house, mistaking it to be his own, apparently in an inebriated state.

Police have registered a case on his statement and further investigations are on. The CCTV footage of the area is being checked to verify claims of both the parties.

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.