Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Dimapur, June 20 : The threat of shortage of essential items and consequently price hike in Nagaland, is looming with transporters in Assam finally calling for an indefinite ‘Chakka Jam’ from 5 AM this morning. The consequences of rampant extortion are finally taking effect with the truckers and transporters refusing to enter the state. The strike is in protest against the rampant extortion and collection of “unauthorized tax” by various Naga and non-Naga underground organizations in Nagaland and also assault on drivers. The truckers under the aegis of the All Assam Truck Owners, Driver, Handymen Association have decided not to cross “all Nagaland entry points” like Bokajan, Mariani and Amguri. This means all districts in the state will now face shortage of essential commodities, if the state government does not intervene with strong political will. More than twenty heavily-laden trucks with essential and perishable commodities are halted at Bokajan in view of the ‘Chakka Jam’; more ...

RPF destroys beer consignment: Imphal, Dec 26: A consignment of canned beer, brought in from Myanmar, was seized and later destroyed by activists of the underground RPF/PLA on Tuesday, a spokesperson of the group informed reporters. The consignment, consisting of altogether 28,800 cans of beer, packed in 200 bags were seized from a Tata truck, bearing registration number MN-05-3794 at Samaram Laikon this morning at around 7 am while being brought in from Moreh, the spokesperson informed. The "contraband" items, of a total value of Rs 12,96,000 belong to one Inao from Khongjom Patpal, while the owner of the vehicle is one Chwodra Bahadur from Chingmeirong Khongnang Karak. The truck was being driver by one Tekcham Sanjoy, of Khongjom Tekcham Mamang Leikai. The spokesperson further stated that the truck along with the seized contraband would be destroyed by setting on fire, while the owner of the goods, Inao, must surrender to the party within five days, or else face dire conseq...

JAC seeks financial help from public: Imphal, Dec 19: With some of those critically injured in the Pourabi bomb blast of December 16 likely to require further medical treatment outside the state, the JAC, Pourabi has solicited assistance from the public to help meet expenses likely to be incurred by them. In this connection, two helpline units are being set up at RIMS and JN hospitals from Thursday, said a statement issued by the JAC, Pourabi. The JAC has also expressed its profound gratitude to all those individuals, social organisations, meira paibi groups, transporters, doctors and hospital staff, and others who had extended their assistance to the victims of the bomb blast, whether by coming forward personally, providing vehicles, supplying medicines, or donating cash. It also acknowledged those who have issued statements of condemnation of the incident. Meanwhile, the Centre of Child and Youth Development, Keibi Mayai Leikai, has demanded that the proscribed RPF/PLA should court m...

RPF’s story cuts no ice with JAC: Imphal, Dec 18: While appreciating the stand of the proscribed RPF/PLA in coming out with its claim and explanation on the bomb blast at Pourabi promptly to dispel confusion from the minds of the people, the Joint Action Committee Against Pourabi-Huidrom Bomb Blast has however categorically stated that the explanation furnished is not to the satisfaction of the people and the JAC. In a statement, the JAC said that people would never compromise on killing innocent person by any organisation. The words and the expressions used in the explanation were intended only to cover up the mistake of the outfit. It is a fallacy to live under the impression that the people of Manipur, who have been awakened and are now fully aware of the global revolution taking place, would keep quiet simply after being furnished an explanation, the statement of the JAC signed by its convenor L Bimolata Devi said, adding that it is high time to understand that gun culture would no...

Suspects held, DGP ridicules RPF claim: Imphal, Dec 18: The state police chief while informing that the police rounded up three bomb blast suspects, categorically denied the allegation against the security forces by the RPF in connection with the blast that claimed the lives of eight passengers and wounded more than 20 others, some critically. Talking to journalists on Tuesday morning before leaving for New Delhi, state DGP Y Joykumar informed that the police had rounded up three of the suspects involved in the planting of the IED on Monday evening. They are in police custody for further investigations, he added. The suspects were picked up from the localities near the spot where the blast took place, he said. The DGP also strongly denounced the RPF statement charging the security forces of triggering the blast deliberately to cause civilian casualties even though the cadres of the outfit planted the IED. He said the allegation was "nothing but to draw the sympathy of the people a...

RPF owns responsibility, regrets: Imphal, Dec 17: Owning responsibility for planting the bomb at Pourabi on Sunday evening, the proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) has expressed its regret and asked forgiveness of the people. The outfit, however, maintained that it was the ‘enemy’ who set off the bomb just as the ill-fated passenger bus was approaching the site. In a statement, assistant secretary of communication and publicity of the outfit Lily Leima said the bomb which led to the unfortunate incident was planted by members of its armed wing PLA. For over two days, many vehicles crossed the site and it remained totally safe. But in the morning of the day of the blast, the enemy had arrested two persons working for the outfit and managed to identify the spot where the bomb had been planted. Instead of removing the bomb, the ‘enemy’ made it to trigger when the ill-fated passenger bus crossed the spot. For this unfortunate incident, RPF is remorseful, the statement said. Recal...