iMizoram : i Mizoram

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

AIDS patients died due to TB

Majority of full-blown AIDS patients died due to tuberculosis (TB) in Mizoram, state Health department officials said today.

The officials said that while 91 per cent of the TB patients were cured, 46 people died due to TB since January till June out of which 15 were HIV positives.

"Out of those 1,021 people found to be infected with TB, 104 were HIV/AIDS patients," they said, adding that the percentage of people cured of TB increased to 91 per cent this year compared to 88 per cent in 2012-2013.

BSF constable from UP shoots self at base near Lunglei, Mizoram

A BSF constable shot himself with his Insas rifle while on duty. Did not leave behind a suicide note.

A Border Security Force constable attached with the 63rd battalion, currently posted near Lunglei in southern Mizoram, shot himself to death with his gun, police said Monday.

The deceased has been identified as Sachin K Sharma (25) from Bhatola village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhulansar district.

Police said Sharma was on duty when he shot himself with his Insas rifle around 12.20 am on Monday.

“Sharma had gone home on leave a month and a half ago. He came back and was currently waiting for another 60-days leave he applied for on grounds that there were domestic problems back home,” said a police officer, adding a case of unnatrual death has been registered.

Sharma’s body has been sent for post-mortem and police have also collected his gun, the bullet and blood samples and sent them to the forensics laboratory in Aizawl.

He did not leave a suicide note, but police have seized his cellphone to look for clues.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Mizoram Church demands SC status for Christians

Aizawl: Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) on Sunday joined National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) in observing 'Black Day' demanding acceptance of Christians as Schedule Caste. Members of the Baptist Church pinned a piece of black cloth on their shirts and held mass prayers in all the local churches in the morning services.

In a message distributed to the local churches, BCM General Secretary Rev H Lianngaia said that Indian Constitution in 1950 allowed only Hindus to become Scheduled Caste while the amendment in 1956 allowed Sikhs and Buddhists. "Christians and Muslims were not allowed to be given Scheduled Caste status," he said.

The Constitutional provision hindered missionaries in their missions to convert Scheduled Caste people like the Dalits as they ceased to enjoy the status once they converted to Christianity, he added. The BCM described the provision as biased and against the spirit of secularism.

Baptist Church demands Schedule Caste status for Christians

Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) today joined National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) in observing 'Black Day' demanding acceptance of Christians as Schedule Caste.

Members of the Baptist Church pinned a piece of black cloth on their shirts and held mass prayers in all the local churches in the morning services.

In a message distributed to the local churches, BCM General Secretary Rev H Lianngaia said that Indian Constitution in 1950 allowed only Hindus to become Scheduled Caste while the amendment in 1956 allowed Sikhs and Buddhists.

"Christians and Muslims were not allowed to be given Scheduled Caste status," he said.

The Constitutional provision hindered missionaries in their missions to convert Scheduled Caste people like the Dalits as they ceased to enjoy the status once they converted to Christianity, he added.

The BCM described the provision as biased and against the spirit of secularism.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Opp decries sacking of Mizoram Governor

NEW DELHI, Aug 8 – The NDA government came under attack today over the sacking of Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal with the Opposition calling it “political vendetta”, a charge it rejected by saying the action followed “serious allegations” against her and insisted there was no politics, reports PTI.

Eighty-seven-year-old Beniwal, the former Gujarat Governor who had a running battle with Narendra Modi when he was the state’s chief minister, was removed last night, just two months before her tenure as Governor of Mizoram was due to end.

Virendra Kataria, also a former Congress leader who was sacked as Puducherry Governor last month, called the action as “political vendetta” and said it was unjustified and an assault on the constitutional office.

“If Governor Kamla Beniwal was to be removed, why was she transferred to Mizoram only a few days back? Vendetta Politics,” Congress general secretary and communication department chairman Ajay Maken said in a tweet.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Visitors banned from Lengpui airport

Aizawl, Aug 6 : The terminal building of Lengpui airport in Mizoram was closed for visitors from today till August 20, airport officials said.

Only passengers would be allowed to enter the terminal building of Mizoram's lone airport, the sources said.

The restrictions were imposed in view of Independence Day next week, on the orders of additional commissioner of security, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security.

Monday, August 4, 2014

YMA to push for removal of B D Chakma

Young Mizo Association (YMA) would put more pressure on Mizoram chief minister Lal Thanhawla to sack Minister of State for Fisheries Dr B. D. Chakma due to his 'divisive' actions.

General Secretary of the central committee of the YMA Vanlalruata told PTI that they would seek appointment with Lal Thanhawla after the latter returns from Delhi.

"Chakma was involved in the boycott of election to the Chakma autonomous district council (CADC) and also attended the meeting of Chakma NGOs in Silchar on July 26 and 27 when the delegates resolved to carve out CADC areas from Mizoram," Vanlalruata said.

He also said that Rs five each would be collected from every YMA member for expenses of head count of Chakma community in Mizoram.