Ex-Mizoram police chief, colleague held for funds misuse

Aizawl, Dec 23 A former director general of Mizoram police and his colleague were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on charges of misappropriation of funds meant for modernisation of the state police, officials said here Wednesday. The duo were later released on bail.

“The erstwhile Mizoram police chief M. Tumsanga and former additional superintendent of police Tlangkunga, both of whom retired from service two years back, were arrested Tuesday by the ACB for embezzlement of police modernisation funds in 2000,” an official of the state home department said.

The chief judicial magistrate in Aizawl granted interim bail to both former officers. Their regular bail plea would be heard within 30 days.

The arrest was effected after a recent Guwahati High Court order, issued on a public interest litigation of a non-government organisation (NGO).

Before the arrest, the state home department filed a first information report (FIR) with the police to initiate the case.

The misuse of funds was done when the Mizo National Front (MNF) ministry headed by then Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga was at the helm of affairs.

Incumbent Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla-led Congress ministry came to power in Mizoram in December 2008.

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Former Mizo DGP arrested in graft case

Aizawl, Dec 22 (PTI) M Tumsanga, former Director General of Police of Mizoram, was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau on the charge of misappropriation of crores of rupees meant for modernisation of the state police during the year 2000, police said today.

Besides Tumsanga, an IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, former Additional Superintendent of Police Tlangkunga was also arrested yesterday, they said.

The chief judicial magistrate here granted interim bail to the duo on the condition that their bail plea would be heard within 30 days.

Both the police officers are now retired.

The arrest culminated a Gauhati High Court order to set up an inquiry commission based on a PIL, ACB sources said.

The state home department submitted an FIR in the case on December 16 in accordance with the recommendations of the inquiry commission, they said

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Gorkhas in Mizoram support Gorkhaland

Aizawl, Dec 21 Members of the Gorkha community in Mizoram Monday staged a day-long sit-in here in support of a separate Gorkhaland state to be carved out of West Bengal.

‘The demonstration was organised to express our solidarity with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) who want a Gorkhaland state in Darjeeling,’ said a statement from the Mizoram Gorkha Front (MGF).

The demonstration was held on a day when tripartite talks were held in Darjeeling Monday between the central and West Bengal governments and the GJM.

‘Gorkhaland is the only solution to protect the identity and life and culture of the Gorkha community in India,’ the MGF said. Mizoram is home to many Gorkhas.

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New Highway from Mizoram to Myanmar Border Sanctioned

The High Powered Committee (HPC) of Government of India set up for the projects of North East has sanctioned a new highway from Mizoram to Myanmar border . The Committee headed by Shri Brahm Dutt, Secretary, Road Transport & Highways in its meeting held here today cleared the proposal for construction of a new highway of 100 km length from Lawngtalai in Mizoram to Myanmar border. The estimated cost of the highway is Rs 650 crore. The highway would provide linkage to the proposed port facilities at Sittwe in Myanmar. The port facilities in the Bay of Bengal at Sittwe will provide water route to the whole of North East through the State of Mizoram. The port facilities alongwith the highway, which has been cleared by HPC today, will greatly enhance the competitiveness of the North East Region by reducing transportation cost.

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Fate of Mizoram tribal refugees uncertain

Agartala/Aizawl, Dec 16 (IANS) The much-awaited process of repatriation of 35,000 Reang tribal refugees from Tripura to Mizoram hangs in the balance despite pressure from the Centre, the Tripura government and rights bodies on the Mizoram government to resolve the 12-year-old ethnic crisis.
A fact finding team (FFT) from the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in New Delhi visited Mizoram and Tripura Dec 8-15 to facilitate a resolution to the ethnic conflict between Reang tribals and the majority of Mizos in Mizoram.
The tribal refugees are unwilling to return to their homes in Mizoram until their demands for fool-proof security and sufficient financial assistance are accepted by the Mizoram government.
“The Centre has sanctioned Rs.33 crore to the Mizoram government to rehabilitate the tribal refugees,” an official in Aizawl said Tuesday.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said: “A ‘road map’ for the repatriation of tribal refugees from Tripura has been prepared and it was approved by the union home ministry.”
“Bipartite and tripartite meetings for the repatriation of the genuine citizens of Mizoram were held on a number of occasions. The state government has always agreed to bring back the bona-fide refugees of Mizoram and it is now up to them (refugees) to accept it and return home,” the chief minister told reporters in Aizawl Tuesday.
Over 35,000 Reang tribal refugees have been sheltered in six north Tripura camps since 1997 after they fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos.
The tribal refugees’ repatriation from Tripura to Mizoram has recently become complicated with violent mobs in western Mizoram burning down around 700 houses of Reang tribals last month following the gunning down of an 18-year-old Mizo youth by unidentified miscreants.
Following the arson and violence, thousands of displaced Reang tribals have taken shelter afresh in adjacent southern Assam and northern Tripura.
ACHR director and leader of the fact finding team Suhas Chakma told reporters in Agartala Tuesday that they would impress upon the Centre to call a high-level meeting involving the chief ministers of Mizoram and Tripura and Reang tribal leaders immediately to resolve the ethnic problem at the earliest.
“The recent influx of the tribals is another reminder to the Centre, Mizoram and Tripura governments and the Mizo and Reang tribal community organisations that unless sincerity is shown by all the parties, the ethnic problem could have serious implications. The time has come for all the actors to re-engage in dialogue with sincerity,” Chakma added.
The Centre and Tripura governments have asked Mizoram to resolve the 12-year-old deadlock on the repatriation of Reang refugees to the state.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar recently held a meeting with union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi and discussed ways to resolve the deadlock on the repatriation of 35,000 Reang refugees to Mizoram and a fresh exodus into Tripura following the recent ethnic violence.
An inconclusive tripartite meeting was held in Aizawl last month between representatives of the central and Mizoram governments and tribal refugees to resolve the deadlock.
“Both the centre and the Mizoram government rejected our major demands. We will not return to our homes unless our vital demands are fulfilled,” said refugee leader Elvis Chorkhy, who led the seven-member refugee delegation at the tripartite meeting.
“The Mizoram government’s package for the home-bound refugees suggested a Rs.20,000 cash grant instead of Rs.50,000 as promised earlier. The package also recommended a scattered resettlement of the 35,000 tribal refugees in three different districts of Mizoram - Mamit, Kolashib and Lunglei. We want compact rehabilitation of the tribals in two districts in western Mizoram,” Chorkhy told IANS.
The Reang tribals also want deployment of the central paramilitary forces in the proposed resettlement and Reang tribal-dominated areas instead of the state security force to prevent further violence. The demand too was rejected by both the Centre and the Mizoram government.

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Viewing porn on rise in Mizoram

Aizawl, Dec 14 : Viewing pornographic pictures and other 'bad pictures' among high school and college students is increasing in Mizoram if the results of ‘Survey on Sex and Sexuality’ by the Aizawl-based Shalom, an organisation working for the reduction of HIV/AIDS is to be believed.

This was revealed at a seminar spearheaded by the organisation last week. Reportedly, the seminar was attended by more than 80 youths from various church denominations in Aizawl.

The findings not only pointed towards the youths but also to the married women.
Expressing shocked over the findings officials at Shalom said that pornography is very bad for the youths especially to the school students and urged the people of Mizoram and the church to fight against the pornography.

"Parents have to be more cautious regarding this issue as it endangered the positive social life and personal lives of innocent boys and girls," said statement by SHALOM. Similar programmes like seminar, research will also be held in other districts of Mizoram.

One social activist is of the opinion that the arrival of mobile phones in Mizoram is the main reason for the youths increasing in viewing pornography.

Easy access to pornographic sites in cyber cafes offering adult contents have also another factor leading to an addiction to pornography among children in Mizoram.

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14-year rape sentence for Mizo Girl Rape Accused

ANANYA SENGUPTA

Ajit Singh Katiyar New Delhi, Dec. 11: The lone arrested accused in the 2005 gang-rape of a Mizo student of Delhi University was today sentenced to 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment but his three accomplices continue to evade the law. Ajit Singh Katiyar, 30, accused of raping the then 20-year-old woman in a moving car with three others, had been convicted on Tuesday based on the victim’s statement. The prosecution had sought a life term while the defence had pleaded for leniency citing the humble origins of the convict — a driver with a Noida call centre when the gang-rape took place on May 8, 2005. Katiyar, arrested on May 13 after the victim identified him at a test parade, had apparently broken down under interrogation but has not revealed anything about the others. The police, who claim to have questioned nearly 1,000 people — most of them criminals and past rapists — say they have no clue about the missing trio. The number-plate of the black Santro in which the crime was committed, as noted down by a witness, had turned out to be fake. Medical evidence had established sexual intercourse and the presence of a sedative in the victim’s stomach. The court found Katiyar guilty of gang-rape, abduction, criminal intimidation, administering an intoxicant and group liability, and fined him Rs 20,000. On Tuesday, additional sessions judge Neeraj Kumar Gupta had rebuked the defence counsel for raising the subject of the victim’s live-in relationship and active sex life. “It cannot be said that a lady who has already lost her virginity is an unreliable lady. If a victim has lost virginity, it cannot give the licence to any person to rape her,” the judge said.

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Tripura unhappy with Mizoram govt on refugee issue

Agartala, Dec 10 : The Tripura government has lambasted its Mizoram counterpart's 'lackadaisical attitude' towards repatriation of Bru (Reang) refugees from Tripura camps.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Rural Development Minister Jitendra Choudhury said Tripura had been taking the burden of Mizoram residents who had fled from Western Mizoram following ethnic clash in 1997 and recently few more hundred of the Brus took shelter while Karimganj district (Assam) administration pushed out three hundred more refugees from that state.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar visited the refugee camps and interacted with the refugee leaders following which held a meeting with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and urged him to ensure early return of the Bru refugees. The Tripura Chief Secretary also spoke to his Mizoram counterpart regarding their repatriation but no concrete results had come out yet.

The Tripura Rural Development Minister pointed out that the Mizoram government was not considering the issue seriously and instead ''playing political cards with the innocent Brus'', which was complicating the situation.

''But we have decided to supply ration and clothes to the refugees on humanitarian ground and to save their lives,'' Mr Choudhury said.

Meanwhile, the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) outfit has sought the intervention of Central as well Mizoram government to start the process of repatriation and sort out the issue.

The BNLF termed the killing of a Mizo youth as a ''conspiracy hatched to derail the repatriation process'' and sought immediate steps to nab the killers.

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Mizo tribes demand for government intervention to stop attacks

Aizwal Dec 10 : The decade old conflict between the Mizos and the Bru (Reang) tribes took violent turn in November with the burning of 500 houses belonging to Reangs.

This incident was followed by the gunning down of a Mizo youth.

Now displaced Mizo tribals are demanding that the centre to intervenes end the ethnic crisis.

Concerned about resolving the deadlock over the repatriation of 35,000 Reang refugees to Mizoram, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in New Delhi recently.

As per schedule, the repatriation of Bru tribals from Tripura to Mizoram was to happen in mid -November. Unfortunately, the killing of a Mizoyouth has blocked the entire process.

The latest round of ethnic trouble has led to around 5,000 displaced Reang tribals taking shelter in northern Tripura and southern Assam. The Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum (MBDPF), an orgaisation of the Bru tribal refugees, has demanded immediate intervention of the Centre to resolve the ongoingethnic crisis in Mizoram and repatriation of the displaced Bru people.

The Mizoram Bru Displaces Peoples Forum president Elvis Chorky opined that now it is very clear that without the active participation of the central leadership this problem cannot be solved.

Especially, we request the intervention of the Union Home Minister, Chorky said. Over 35,000 Reang tribal refugees have been living in six north Tripura camps since 1997 after they fled Mizoram followingethnic clashes with the majority Mizos after the killing of a Mizo forest official. The tribal refugees earlier, in a letter to the prime minister, demanded his urgent intervention to resolve the stalemate over their repatriation and recentethnic troubles.

On the other hand the Bru refugees are demanding to provide security.

Refugees felt that as Mizos have burned their (Bru) houses and people were badly beaten up, so they are not interested in going back.

I am afraid they may attack us again. If a security force like Assam Rifles takes care of our safety only then we will go back, said a refugee. Tripura is also facing socio-economic problems due to the long stay of the tribal refugees and the recent exodus of tribals from Mizoram following theethnic skirmishes. Representatives of the central and Mizoram governments and tribal refugees are holding meetings to resolve the 12-year-deadlock between Reang tribes and Mizos.

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Many Burmese infected with HIV in Mizoram

7 December 2009: A sizeable section of Burmese living in Mizoram state, northeast India are infected with the HIV virus, according to a report of the Voluntary Public Health Education Network (VPHEN)

Chin people are the ones who are mostly infected among Burmese, who left their country because of the economic situation, forced labour and violation of human rights.

“Now we are treating 15 persons in the VPHEN center as they cannot afford medical attention. We found that 30 out of 100 were HIV positive among Chin people,” said a VPHEN worker.

The VPHEN group is backed by some NGOs and it is providing medicines and treatment to the needy. It uses one third of its resources for the Burmese people.

“We are counseling HIV patients and also providing awareness to Burmese people in Mizoram state, who lack knowledge about HIV infection. The VPHEN is especially set up for Burmese people,” he added.

Although, Khonumthung News could not confirm the exact number and details of HIV victims, but it is clear that many Burmese people are in need of help.

The main branch of VPHEN is in Aizawl city and other sub-branches are in Champhai, Saiha, Lawngtlai and Lunglei in Mizoram state.

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Dhaula Kuan rape case verdict today

New Delhi, Dec 8 : A city court has deferred the verdict in the Dhaula Kuan rape case to Tuesday, December 8.

Additional Sessions Judge N K Gupta deferred pronouncement of the verdict in the case in which a Delhi University student was allegedly abducted from Dhaula Kuan area of the National Capital and gangraped in a moving car in 2005.

According to the prosecution, the 20-year-old student, hailing from Mizoram, was abducted around 2.15 am on May 8, 2005, from Dhaula Kuan when she was walking back home after buying food from a roadside eatery and was raped by the four accused in a moving car.

The victim, who was later dumped near a gurudwara in South Delhi, was accompanied by a friend who, however, managed to flee from the clutches of the accused.

Delhi Police could arrest only one of the accused — Ajit Singh Katiyar.

The other accused — Danda, Jat and Tappe — have managed to evade arrest.

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79-year-old woman raped by youth

Aizawl, Dec 7 : A youth was arrested for allegedly raping an aged woman at Champhai town on Mizoram-Myanmar border, the police said here today.

The victim, a 79-year-old woman who is hearing impaired was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old man at Champhai town, they said.

The incident happened last night while her grand daughter was away on an errand.

The arrested youth has confessed to his crime, officials said.

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Violence against women on rise in Mizoram : Activists

Aizawl: Violence against woman has been on the rise in Mizoram, where 40 cases of minor rape had been recorded by the police during this year, despite the fair sex holding high position in Mizo society, social activists said.

Referring to the police figures of 21 cases of adult rape, 13 cases of physical violence and four incidents of domestic violence in 2009, Secretary of Aizawl-based Centre for Peace and Development Angela Ch. Ralte said cases of sexual harassment and domestic violence were on the rise. Even nine complaints of abduction of women were lodged with the police during the period.

Notwithstanding the absence of a proper study, domestic violence would likely be very high in the state considering the fact that a majority of the victims do not come in the open for fear of further domestic strife, a counsellor working for the CPD, C Lalthansangi said.

"Large majority of the perpetrators of domestic violence are alcoholics who committs the crime in an inebriated condition," Lalthansangi said adding only a few husbands would beat their spouses due to mere anger.

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