Mizoram to pay ex-gratia to kin of slain cop

AIZAWL, Oct 29 - Mizoram Government has approved ex-gratia payment amounting to Rs 10 lakh each to kin of policemen killed in an ambush by Hmar People’s Convention (Democrats) militants on March 28, Home Minister R Lalzirliana informed the Assembly recently.

The Minister was replying to a query from Lalruatkima and Dr K Beichhua of Mizo National Front (MNF).

Three policemen were killed when the team of State Assembly’s Committee on Government Assurances were ambushed by Hmar militants near Mizoram-Manipur border Zokhawthiang hamlet.

Two relatives of the slain policemen were given jobs on compassionate ground while a relative of Constable Hmangaihmawia was yet to be appointed, the Home Minister said.

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Mizoram Govt sending 16 youths to Japan

AIZAWL, Oct 27 - Mizoram Government is sending youths from the State to Japan to learn Japanese language there and later work at an ‘Aged Care Home’. In this connection, a Japanese team comprising leaders from Kokoro College Nagasaki, Japan led by its chairman Joji Iwanaga met Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla at his residence here recently.

They came to give visa to the selected Mizo youths. Japan is in need of foreign students to work at its ‘Aged Care Home, Iwanaga told the CM during their interaction. At present, 16 Mizo youths have been selected who would be the first from India for the Japan Government’s programme. Iwanaga also asked the Chief Minister to send more Mizo youths to help meet the high demand for foreign students by Japan Government to work at its ‘Aged Care Home’.

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Mizo National Front to go it alone in AMC, LADC polls

Aizawl, Oct 27 : Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) today announced that the party would go it alone in the coming Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) polls likely to be held in November.

MNF president Zoramthanga told party workers at a meeting MNF office that contesting the coming polls alone would ensure formation of stable self-governments in AMC and LADC. The party, he said, would nominate untainted candidates having excellent track records.

Meanwhile, ruling Congress has said that it would form alliance with Mizoram People's Conference(MPC) in the coming by-poll in Aizawl North III assembly seat and the elections to AMC.

Mizoram PCC Vice-president and state home minister R Lalzirliana told PTI that Congress has already announced its intention to forge electoral alliance with MPC, founded by the late former chief minister Brig Thenphunga Sailo in the coming AMC elections.

MPCC and MPC had formed a coalition in AMC after Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) withdrew support to the Congress-led AMC executive body and formed alliance with MNF.

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104-year-old woman passes away in Mizoram

Rangchhingpuii, a 104-year-old woman, died of old age at Vaivakawn in Aizawl on Wednesday, family members said.

Rangchhingpuii and her husband late R. Zobela had ten children, 42 grandchildren, 102 great-grandchildren and 45 great-great grandchildren.

She breathed her last early on Wednesday morning, family members added.

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Bengaluru: Nigerian arrested for raping friend's wife

A 28-year-old Nigerian has been arrested by the Bengaluru Police for allegedly raping his friend's wife in the city. Incidentally, the accused was overstaying in India after his visa had expired.

According to the police, Christian Chidiebere Chukwu, a native of Lagos, in Nigeria, was staying at his friend's place in Bengaluru, as he was hiding from the police, who had issued a red corner notice against him. Recently, when his friend was away, taking advantage of the situation, he raped his wife, also a Nigerian. However, the victim decided to file a complaint recently.

The police, who arrested Christian, was shocked to learn that his visa had expired in 2013, and he continued to stay in the country. They also found out that the Mizoram police had issued a red corner notice against his name. Christian entered India on a medical attendant visa with his cousin. He stayed in Mizoram for three months and didn't return to Nigeria. From Mizoram, he traveled to Bengaluru with the help of his friends.

It is said that Christian was also involved in a few phishing and cheating cases. The Bengaluru police have written to their Mizoram counterparts on his arrest.

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Mizoram to pay compensation to kin of slain policemen

The Mizoram government has approved the ex-gratia payment amounting to Rs 10 lakh each to kin of the policemen killed in an ambush by the Hmar People's Convention (Democrats) militants on March 28, State Home Minister R Lalzirliana informed the Assembly today.

Replying to a query from Lalruatkima and Dr. K Beichhua of the Mizo National Front (MNF), Lalzirliana said that the sanction order for payment of the ex-gratia was being pursued by the Director of the Disaster Management and Rehabilitation.

Three policemen were killed when the team of state assembly's committee on government assurances headed by its chairman R L Pianmawia and two other members (legislators) were ambushed by the Hmar militants near Mizoram-Manipur border Zokhawthiang hamlet.

Two relatives of the slain policemen were given jobs on compassionate ground while a relative of Constable Hmangaihmawia was yet to be appointed, the home minister said.

He added that there were security lapses and that departmental enquiry was initiated against two policemen who went ahead as scouts and did not come to the aid of the ambushed policemen even after hearing gunshots.

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Rs 25 lakh sanctioned for development of Vangchhia

AIZAWL: Director general of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has sanctioned Rs 25 lakh for development of Vangchhia heritage site in eastern Mizoram.
INTACH Mizoram chapter president P Rohmingliana met the DG Dr Rakesh Tewari in New Delhi last week and informed him that no steps have been taken to develop the heritage site. “He immediately instructed SA Guwahati (Dr M K Chauley) over phone and asked him to start work with Rs 25 lakhs within his power to sanction, and to make proposals for other development plans beyond his financial powers,” Rohmingthanga said today.
The ASI had declared Vangchhia which is home to nearly 200 ancient menhirs a heritage site of national importance in 2014.
The exact site located near Vangchhia village in Champhai district near the Myanmar border is known as Kawtchhuah Ropui (the great passageway).

The DG also fulfilled the Mizoram INTACH’s proposal to bifurcate the Guwahati circle ASI by instructing one of his officers to immediately make a proposal for the creation of a new circle for Mizoram, Tripura and Manipur with Aizawl as the headquarter.
Rohmingthanga also prayed the DG to pursue the pending proposals for declaration of Lungphunlian, Lianpui, Dungtlang and Farkawn, situated in the vicinity of Vangchhia as heritage sites.
He was also apprised of the pending release of funds for museum improvement even though all papers had already been furnished by director A&C, Mizoram already. Uma Kant, OSD of Mizoram House, New Delhi, who accompanied Rohmingthanga, will further pursue this case.
The declaration of Vangchhia heritage site as “national importance” owes credit to long and arduous efforts of Mizoram chapter INTACH. The menhirs have puzzled both common people and experts alike.
Even though the embossed figures in the menhirs depicted some Mizo cultures, cross cultural dating suggested that they belong to the period of 1200-1400 AD, which was long before Mizo forefathers arrived from Burma.
Archaeologists said that the menhirs are unique to India’s North-eastern region. “We see similar carvings from the historic period in Central and South India, and hope to study these (in Mizoram) further, once they are protected,” said an archaeologist.
No one is certain what these carvings are supposed to represent, but Gupta said they may be akin to the “heroic stones” found elsewhere in the sub-continent—commemoration stones that carry images of game or warriors hunted or killed by chiefs or warriors of a particular clan, tribe or community.

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