Mizoram: AK-47 ammo consignment seized, one arrested

Engthanching of Ngaizawl village, located within Champhai district bordering Myanmar, was arrested from his home.

Aizawl : A 47-year-old man in eastern Mizoram has been arrested with 1,348 rounds of live ammunition worth an estimated Rs 2.69 lakhs, a police officer said Tuesday.

Engthanching of Ngaizawl village, located within Champhai district bordering Myanmar, was arrested from his home in an operation involving local police and investigators from the state’s Crime Investigation Department (Special Branch).

The live ammunition are all 7.62 mm bullets, which can be used in AK-47 assault rifles among others.

An arms smuggling case was registered at the Khawzawl police station on the night of March 29, the police official said, adding it remains unclear if the ammunition consignment was meant for any militant group. Investigations are on.

READ MORE - Mizoram: AK-47 ammo consignment seized, one arrested

Mizoram incurred Rs 5,114.21 crore debt, say CAG estimates

Aizawl, Mar 27 : Mizoram incurred Rs 5,114.21 crore as debt as per the estimates in the Finance Accounts 2012-13 report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General, state Finance Minister Lalsawta informed the legislature today.

Replying to a query of the opposition party Mizo National Front (MNF), Lalsawta said the latest figure on debt from market borrowings could not be made available as the CAG is yet to update the facts to the state government.

He said the state government availed 'ways and means advance' and 'special ways and means advance' from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for 25 and 37 times, respectively, during 2013-2014.  Again during the current fiscal, the state government availed 'ways and means advance' 38 times and 'special ways and means advance' for 31 times from the RBI, he said.

The interests on the 'ways and means advance' and 'special ways and means advance' since 2012 till date by the state government was Rs 181.73 lakh.

The Finance Minister said that till March 5, Rs 371.39 crore was kept in the civil deposit by different departments.

READ MORE - Mizoram incurred Rs 5,114.21 crore debt, say CAG estimates

Mizo man held for killing 87-yr-old

Aizawl: Police have arrested a man for allegedly killing an 87-year-old woman, who was earlier thought to have died of a heart attack in south Mizoram's Muallianpui village in Lunglei district on March 15.

Ngunhnemi, who was found dead by her son, Tlanmawia, on March 16, was buried in the village cemetery on the same day.

"Tlanmawia reached home late on the night of March 15 and went to bed thinking that his mother was fast asleep," said C Zoenga, president of the Muallianpui village branch of Young Mizo Association (YMA).

When he found his mother dead the following morning, he informed neighbours and relatives.

After the woman's funeral, relatives found over Rs 20,000 missing from the house. Earlier, some YMA leaders, who attended the funeral, had reportedly found the woman's neck broken.

Following this, the relatives filed an FIR at South Vanlaiphai police station on March 19. A day later, Lalrindika (29) was arrested. Police said Lalrindika confessed to the crime. He has been remanded in judicial custody.

Lalrindika reportedly told police he was stealing money from Ngunhnemi's room when the elderly woman caught himt. He flung her off and snapped her neck.

The YMA leaders said Lalrindika had been arrested earlier for allegedly murdering a young boy in a forest near Lungtian village.

"He was released for want of evidence and has committed many a petty crime since then," the leaders said. Villagers on Monday took out a procession condemning the murder of the woman.

READ MORE - Mizo man held for killing 87-yr-old

Man gets life imprisonment for murdering family members

A man who murdered all three members of his family in 2013 as they opposed his marriage to his lover been sentenced to life imprisonment by the District and Sessions court of south Mizoram Lunglei district.

C. Lalramzauva (39) murdered his mother Lianngengi (76), his eldest brother C. Vanlalbela (50) and Vanlalbela's son Chhakchhuakthanga (11) on September 2, 2013 inside their home in Tawipui North.

The prosecution said that Lalramzauva, after committing the crime, ransacked the house to mislead the police into believing that it was an outside job.

He left the crime scene to stay with his widowed lover and pretended to learn about the incident the following morning, the prosecution said.

He, however, later confessed to the crime and said that he murdered all his family members as they objected to his marrying his lover.

Judge Marli Vankung convicted and sentenced him on Friday.

READ MORE - Man gets life imprisonment for murdering family members

Economy of Mizoram to grow at 8.46 per cent during 2014-2015

The economy of Mizoram was poised to growth at an impressive rate of 8.46 per cent during 2014-15 financial year with base year 2004-05 which was significantly higher than projected national growth at 7.4 per cent, according to the Mizoram Economic Survey 2014-15 presented in the state assembly by Finance Minister Lalsawta today.

The State Economic Survey said that the provisional per capita income of Mizoram during 2012-2013 was Rs 63,413 as against previous year's estimate of Rs 53,624.

Per capita income at the national level was Rs 71,593 against the previous year's estimate of Rs 64,316, the Survey said.

Services of Tertiary Sector continued to dominate the state economy in terms of contribution to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) at 57.68 per cent of the total GSDP in 2013-14, the Economic Survey said.

"Services sector has been growth drivers of the economy of the state for the past years with contribution to the GSDP hovering between 57 per cent to 63 per cent," the Survey said.

The Primary Sector comprising agriculture and allied activities contributed 16.26 per cent to the GSDP during the same period, the Economic Survey said, adding that with the livelihood of about 60 per cent of the population depending on agriculture and allied activities, faster growth in agriculture was both a necessary and sufficient condition for stronger, sustainable and inclusive growth in the state.

The industries sector contributed 26.05 per cent of GSDP during the same period with the main driving force of the sector being construction sector with a contribution of 21.91 per cent to the GSDP.

READ MORE - Economy of Mizoram to grow at 8.46 per cent during 2014-2015

President to visit Mizoram

Aizawl:President Pranab Mukherjee would be visiting Mizoram on April 9 and would leave the next day, an official statement said. Mukherjee, who will be on his maiden visit to the state, would be the Chief Guest at the ninth annual convocation of the Mizoram University, it said.

A meeting of top officials chaired by state Chief Secretary Lalmalsawma chalked out the programme for the President.

READ MORE - President to visit Mizoram

Mizoram HSSLC Class 12th results – MBSE

MBSE is also known as Mizoram Board of Secondary education. The North Indian state Mizoram released the notification for the class 12^th results. It is having different education boards in the Mizoram state. It is one of the famous education boards in the Mizoram state. It is established in the year 1975. It is one of the famous boards in the Mizoram state. The Mizoram Board will provide complete facilities to all the students. There is lot of expectations in students this year. The Mizoram Board will conduct the
MBSE is also known as Mizoram Board of Secondary education. The North Indian state Mizoram released the notification for the class 12^th results. It is having different education boards in the Mizoram state. It is one of the famous education boards in the Mizoram state. It is established in the year 1975. It is one of the famous boards in the Mizoram state. The Mizoram Board will provide complete facilities to all the students. There is lot of expectations in students this year. The Mizoram Board will conduct the Mizoram HSSLC class 12^th exams every year. Good news to the students who are eagerly looking forward for the results of class 12^th.

READ MORE - Mizoram HSSLC Class 12th results – MBSE

NLUP to continue in Mizoram : Governor

Mizoram Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi today said the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the ruling Congress in the state, would continue despite demand from some quarters to stop it.

In his customary address in the state assembly on the first day of the session, Qureshi said all commitments made by the government would be fulfilled and that funds should not be constraints.

"Instead of stopping, the role of NLUP will be expanded to make it more comprehensive," he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla alleged that the opposition party leaders met leaders of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to stop the NLUP as the beneficiaries were selected on the basis of political affiliations.

The governor said of the 1,35,000 families to be covered, 62,567 beneficiaries were disbursed the full amount while the state government would continue to support and make payment for the remaining 72,433 beneficiaries as per the revised action plan.

Implementation of NLUP has resulted in a 13.8 per cent increase in production of milk, 25 per cent increase in eggs, 35.2 per cent in meat, he said.

'Jhum area' is also at a decreasing trend as many farmers have opted for permanent system of cultivation through the introduction of improved system of farming and the State Flagship Programme, he claimed.

The motion of thanks moved by Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu of the ruling Congress would be discussed in the Assembly tomorrow.

READ MORE - NLUP to continue in Mizoram : Governor

NLUP to continue in Mizoram : Governor

Mizoram Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi today said the New Land Use Policy (NLUP), the flagship programme of the ruling Congress in the state, would continue despite demand from some quarters to stop it.

In his customary address in the state assembly on the first day of the session, Qureshi said all commitments made by the government would be fulfilled and that funds should not be constraints.

"Instead of stopping, the role of NLUP will be expanded to make it more comprehensive," he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla alleged that the opposition party leaders met leaders of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to stop the NLUP as the beneficiaries were selected on the basis of political affiliations.

The governor said of the 1,35,000 families to be covered, 62,567 beneficiaries were disbursed the full amount while the state government would continue to support and make payment for the remaining 72,433 beneficiaries as per the revised action plan.

Implementation of NLUP has resulted in a 13.8 per cent increase in production of milk, 25 per cent increase in eggs, 35.2 per cent in meat, he said.

'Jhum area' is also at a decreasing trend as many farmers have opted for permanent system of cultivation through the introduction of improved system of farming and the State Flagship Programme, he claimed.

The motion of thanks moved by Vanlalawmpuii Chawngthu of the ruling Congress would be discussed in the Assembly tomorrow.

READ MORE - NLUP to continue in Mizoram : Governor

Sitharaman to open Mizoram Customs station

AIZAWL, Mar 18 – Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industries Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the Land Customs Station at Zokhawthar in Champhai district on March 25.
As announced in a meeting, held in preparation of the programme under the leadership of Lalmalsawma, IAS, Chief Secretary, Sitharaman will arrive in Aizawl on March 24 and will proceed by a Pawan Hans helicopter to Zokhawthar the next day to inaugurate the Land Customs Station there.

The meeting discussed in detail the reception of Sitharaman and the inauguration of the Land Customs Station.

On the day of her arrival, the Chief Minister will host a dinner for the Union Minister of State after her visit to the Industrial Estate at Zuangtui in Aizawl.

The Union Minister of State will be accompanied by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla during the inauguration of the Land Customs Station.

READ MORE - Sitharaman to open Mizoram Customs station

Two arrested for killing co-worker

Chennai, Mar 18 : Two persons, hailing from Mizoram and Manipur, have been arrested in connection with the murder of a co-worker, also from Mizoram, police said today.

Tanginpa alias Benjamin, a native of Mizoram and Chinlamtang alias Henry, from Manipur were arrested last evening, police said.

The case pertains to the killing of their co-worker identified as Cheva by the duo last week.

READ MORE - Two arrested for killing co-worker

Mizoram misses liquor date

Aizawl: Mizoram government is to start sale of liquor in the state from Monday after a 17-year total prohibition, but only one wine shop could be opened instead of the intended six, because of protests spearheaded by the powerful Presbyterian Church and some NGOs.
State Excise ad Narcotics department officials said that one state PSU, the Mizoram Food and Allied Industries Corporation (MIFCO) opened its wine shop at the Millennium Centre where liquor was sold and purchased.
The MIFCO was given three wine shop licenses in Aizawl but it could not open the other two on Monday.
While a demonstration by local Joint Action Committee of Chaltlang locality obstructed people to buy from the shop, the request made by the local Presbyterian Church in Dawrpui locality to the owner of a building which housed the shop not to allow his building for selling liquor forced the PSU not to open the shop on Monday, the officials said.
PSUs like Mizoram Agriculture Marketing Corporation, Zoram Industrial Development Corporation and also the Ex-Soldiers Multipurpose Cooperative Society also could not open their shops due to protests from the local churches and some NGOs in the localities where they intended to open their shops.
The state government last year enacted a new liquor law replacing the stringent Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995 in force in the state since February 20, 1997.

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Roadmap ready for repatriation of Brus

AIZAWL, Mar 16  – Mizoram Government has chalked out a roadmap for resumption of repatriation of Brus lodged in the six relief camps in neighbouring North Tripura district and submitted a proposal for expenses of over Rs 68 lakh for the purpose, a senior official said.

State additional secretary for Home Lalbiakzama said that Mizoram Government was ready to resume the repatriation process and was only waiting for the release of the fund from the Centre for the purpose.

“The remaining fund for the repatriation, earlier released by the Union Home Ministry was being used for providing free ration to the repatriated Bru families, now resettled in their original villages in the Mizoram-Tripura-Bangladesh border Mamit district,” he said.

He said that the Centre has extended the time for providing free ration to the repatriated Brus from one year to two years.

In regard to the increase of the rehabilitation and resettlement package from Rs 85,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh as demanded by the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum (MBDPF), Lalbiakzama said they should submit the demand to the Centre, not to the State Government.

Earlier, in a meeting convened by the Union Home Ministry in Delhi on January 30 and attended by officials from Mizoram and Tripura, it was decided that all the Brus should be repatriated within six months and those who refuse to return to Mizoram should be allowed to remain in Tripura.

READ MORE - Roadmap ready for repatriation of Brus

Film screening in Aizawl

AIZAWL, Mar 16  – A two-day Documentary Film Screening, focussed solely on art & culture came to a close here on Friday.

Members of the Mizoram Film Development Society, Mizoram Art Development Society, film enthusiasts and college students attended the event organised by Film and Cultural Society of North East India in collaboration with the State I & PR department and the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts.

Rahul Jain, Secretary, Film & Cultural Society of North East India said that the youth of NE need to be exposed to such films to open their eyes beyond commercial cinema and inspire them to think about making documentaries and short films.

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One More Tests Positive For H1N1 Virus in Mizoram

With a non-tribal from Delhi found to be infected with swine flu, Mizoram now has two cases of the H1N1 virus, Nodal Officer of the state Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma said.

Lalmalsawma said the samples of the suspected H1N1 patient, sent on Tuesday and again on Wednesday to the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED), Kolkata were found to be positive.

He said the patient, first treated in a private hospital in Aizawl, was shifted to the ICU of Aizawl Civil Hospital and was being treated there.

Earlier, one Mizo woman who was in Delhi for a brief period, was found infected with swine flu in mid-February, but was completely cured after treatment in Aizawl.

Lalmalsawma said screening of possible H1N1 patients was undertaken at the Lengpui Airport near Aizawl and at the Mizoram-Assam border Vairengte town since February 23.

Screening would also be conducted at other places including border check points along the international border with neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar, he added.

READ MORE - One More Tests Positive For H1N1 Virus in Mizoram

Bru outfit member sentenced to life term

AIZAWL:  Bru Democratic Front of Mizoram (BDFM) member Lochiram Reang has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for abducting five persons in 2013.

Additional district and sessions judge, Aizawl district, in his order yesterday said the convict deserved harsh punishment for his act against fellow human beings and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for life and a fine of Rs 10,000. 38-year-old Reang and other members of the (BDFM), backed by the NLFT militants, had abducted five persons working under the Mizoram Environment and Forests department within Dampa Tiger Reserve near Bangladesh border on February 19, 2013. Reang was arrested by the Mizoram Police on April 16, 2013 from the Asapara relief camp, the second largest of the six Bru relief camps in North Tripura district.

Eight others involved in the abduction were still at large. The court held Reang guilty under section 364 (A) of the IPC (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder) on March 4 and announced the sentence on Tuesday. There had been ten incidents of abduction in Mizoram since 2011 till date in which a total number of 38 people were kidnapped, and except for a single case of kidnapping at Mizoram-Assam border Kolasib district, all the abductions occurred in Mizoram-Bangladesh-Tripura border Mamit district by the BDFM and NLFT combine who held their hostages inside the Bangladesh jungles.

READ MORE - Bru outfit member sentenced to life term

Saiha district in Mizoram selected for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme

The Government of Indias Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (Save Girl-child, Educate Girl-child) programme, which was announced by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has been formally launched in Northeast and the Saiha District in Mizoram has been selected among 100 districts from across India for this unique initiative.

Disclosing this, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said here today, there could have been no better Womens Day gift than this for the underdeveloped region of Northeast. He said, this is also an indication of the high priority and concern that the Shri Narendra Modi Government has for peripheral States of Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir. In addition, the decision is also motivated by a progressive decline in the number of girls in the region, he observed. However, he added that unlike in other parts of the country, the decreasing number of girls in Northeast is not only the result of female foeticide but also due to high incidence of infant mortality rate.

Complimenting the Maraland Autonomous District Council and its Chief Executive Member Shri R.T. Zachono for having formally flagged off medical teams to cover rural areas of the region under the scheme, Dr. Jitendra Singh hoped that the example will be followed by others as well and soon, people across the country will begin to Look East for inspiration in matters of women empowerment.

Dr. Jitendra Singh said Northeast is endowed with rich cultural and vocational heritage, and women folk in the region have always worked shoulder to shoulder with their men peers in every sphere of life. Therefore, grooming the girl child and empowering women can, in fact, prove a great asset for overall development of the region, he added.

Unlike in some of the more developed states of the country, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, Northeastern States suffer from a dearth of appropriate avenues for higher education. As a result, while the boys travel to other parts of the country for higher education, the number of girls travelling out is lesser which adds to lower rate of higher education among women, he said. To that extent, the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme will help to create awareness regarding literacy among women in the region, he added.

READ MORE - Saiha district in Mizoram selected for Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme

3 die, 11 injured in mishap

Three persons were killed and 11 others injured as a cab overturned near Kawnpui town in Mizoram-Assam border Kolasib district today.

Police said that Sushendra Roy (48) of Karimganj district in Assam and Juresh Yadav (45), head constable of the BSF posted in south Mizoram's Lunglei died at the spot.

Biresh Ch. Das (59) of Karimganj succumbed to his injuries at the Kawnpui Primary Health Centre.


The passenger vehicle was coming from Lunglei towards Guwahati.

Police suspected that the driver, absconding after the mishap, dozed off at the wheels.

All the injured people were discharged after administered first aid at the Kawnpui PHC.

READ MORE - 3 die, 11 injured in mishap

Korean envoy arrives in Mizoram

AIZAWL, Mar 5  – Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee Joongyu, accompanied by representatives of six big corporations, arrived here today on a two-day visit.

Official sources said Lee will meet Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla this evening at the latter’s residence.

The visiting Ambassador will tomorrow meet Mizoram Speaker, State Chief Secretary and NLUP Implementing Board (NIB) officials. In the evening, he will hold a meeting with Mizoram Chamber of Commerce officials.

After a meeting with Central YMA leaders, Lee will leave Mizoram at 10 am on Thursday.

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Send back tribal refugees to Mizoram: Tripura urges centre

Agartala, Mar 4 :  The Tripura government on Tuesday again urged the central government to take steps to send over 31,000 tribal refugees back to Mizoram to maintain ethnic harmony in the northeastern region.

The Tripura assembly on Tuesday discussed the 17-year-old issue.

After replying to a series of questions of the legislators, Revenue and Relief Minister Badal Choudhury told the assembly: "We urge upon the central government to ask the Mizoram government to take back the refugees."

"The central and Mizoram governments recently took a fresh initiative to repatriate the refugees in view of the Supreme Court directions Jan 16. Union home minister Rajnath Singh and his deputy Kiren Rijiju recently visited Tripura and persuaded the refugee leaders to go back to their homes in Mizoram," he said.

Choudhury said: "Union home minister tried to hold a meeting with the chief ministers of Tripura and Mizoram to finalise a road map to repatriate the refugees to Mizoram. However, Mizoram chief minister did not attend the meeting nor did he send his representative."

"It is very unfortunate that the tribals despite being Indians nationals and permanent inhabitant of a state, are unable to live in their homeland. This is dangerous for the ethnic amity, stability and peace," the minister said.

He said: "A serious socio-economic problem has cropped up due to the long stay of the refugees in Tripura. The refugees have damaged vast areas in forests in Kanchanpur causing serious environmental problems."

"Some refugees are involved in terrorist activities. The refugees also work for cheap wages, creating an awkward situation for local labourers," the minister stated.

The Reang tribals, who call themselves "Bru", have lived in seven camps in Tripura since October 1997 when they fled western Mizoram after the killing of a Mizo forest officer triggered ethnic troubles.

Refugee leaders told Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his deputy Kiren Rijiju that they were willing to return to their homes in Mizoram if their 10 demands, including security and rehabilitation, were met.

The Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum submitted a six-page memorandum to the central ministers accusing the Mizoram government of discriminating against them.

The Mizoram government remains ambiguous on the refugees' demands, which also included free supply of foodgrain for two years, and alloting land to them. Mizo organisations have opposed the demands.

READ MORE - Send back tribal refugees to Mizoram: Tripura urges centre

Students rally demanding scholarship

Students took out a rally in Aizawl today in protest against the failure of Mizoram government to contribute its matching share of ten per cent for the post-matric scholarship.

The rally, organised by Mizo Students' Union (MSU), came even after the state government yesterday issued a press note saying that it would make efforts to ensure that the scholarship is disbursed to all the applicants during the current fiscal.

An emergency meeting convened by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Sunday, attended by Home Minister R Lalzirliana, Finance Minister Lalsawta and top officials decided to pull together enough fund for payment of the matching share.

The students accused the state government of negligence and apathy towards the welfare of the students.

READ MORE - Students rally demanding scholarship