Festival Dedicated to Insect Held in Meghalaya

Shillong, May 14 : A one-of-its-kind festival was organized in Meghalaya, dedicated to a peculiar insect called 'Niangtaser', with local football enthusiasts naming it 'Niang World Cup' as it surfaces every four years in Ri Bhoi district coinciding with the football world cup.

The day-long Niangtser festival was held for the first time by the Saiden Socio Cultural and Sport Club at Saiden, about 55 km from here, on Tuesday night.

Hundreds of people carrying lamps thronged the Lewsir forest and searched for the insect, which is of the Cicada family.

"People pick them and push them using a stick inside a mature hollow bamboo having one node. This prevents them from becoming fully mature. The insects are then cleaned, cooked and served as a delicacy," the club’s president R W Shylla said.

The insect comes out of the ground in large numbers and particularly at night time.

No Sign of a Breakthrough, Manipur Starts Rationing Fuel, Airlifting Drugs

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Guwahati, May 14 : With the two highways linking it to the rest of the country still closed, Manipur is scrambling to stay on its feet. Rationing of fuel has started from yesterday while consignments of medicines were airlifted for hospitals on Thursday.

While the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has prevented Manipur-bound vehicles from taking NH-39 through Nagaland, multiple blockades on NH-53 have cut off the state’s alternative highway link to the outside world.

The All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO) and some other groups have been enforcing a counter-blockade on roads connecting Imphal with the state’s hill districts.

Manipur has lost count of how many days the two highways have remained closed. “The state is being held hostage... While there is little chance of NH-39 reopening in the near future, NH-53 too is yet to be made functional.

We have started airlifting medicine for hospitals from today, while the stock of food grains is reducing at a fast pace,” Manipur Sports Minister N Biren, who is also official spokesperson of the Congress-led SPF government in the state, told The Indian Express over the telephone from Imphal.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Thursday convened a meeting of the Unified Command Structure and asked security forces, including the Army, to help reopen NH-53 so that food grains and other essential commodities could be transported via Shillong (Meghalaya) and Silchar (south Assam).

In Nagaland, the NSCN (IM) stood firm on its decision of Thuingaleng Muivah proceeding to Ukhrul in Manipur. “There is no question of going back to Hebron from here,” V S Atem, a senior NSCN (IM) functionary had said after Union Home Secretary G K Pillai held a 90-minute discussion with Muivah on Wednesday. Muivah is camping at Viswema, 10 km short of the border with Manipur, since May 5.

The Manipur government has resorted rationing of petrol and diesel, with 14 petrol pumps in five districts instructed to sell fuel in limited quantities. Prices of essential commodities have sky-rocketed, while hospitals and nursing homes are facing severe crisis due to the shortage of diesel. Most Imphal hospitals and nursing homes depend on diesel gen-sets to run OTs and emergency services.

Several civil society groups staged dharnas in Imphal to press the Manipur government not to permit Muivah to enter the state. In Ukhrul and other hill districts of the state on the other hand, groups belonging to Naga tribes staged demonstrations demanding permission for Muivah to visit his ancestral village.

NEEPCO to Plans Thermal, Hydro Projects in Meghalaya

By Rining Lyngdoh

Shillong, May 14 : The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) will soon ink a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Meghalaya government for setting up of thermal and hydro electric projects in the State.

Interestingly, though NEEPCO whose headquarters is in Shillong since 1976, but the said projects, however will be its first ventures to be implemented in Meghalaya.

The decision to allow NEEPCO to develop the 500 mega watt coal-based thermal project in Garo Hills and 85 mega watt Mawphu hydro electric project stage-II at Umiew basin in East Khasi Hills was approved by the Cabinet today.

According to an official in NEEPCO, the government-owned company would use the best international technology to make the thermal project environment friendly.

“The Cabinet has approved to hand over the two project to NEEPCO and the government will be soon signing the MoA with the company,” Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

Sangma said the clauses incorporated in the MoA are in conformity with the the State Power Policy and Indian Electricity Act, 2003 giving priority to the local bonafide residents of the State in terms of employment.

“We will implement the clauses of the MoA in letter and spirit and the government will constitute a Project Monitoring Committee to look into the the employment issue as well as to ensure that the projects are implemented on time,” Sangma stated.

The Chief Minister informed that the government will also ask NEEPCO to provide the list of all categories of jobs and qualification for respective jobs so that the government will train local youths in various job-oriented courses accordingly so that by the time the projects are ready for commissioning, the State will have enough qualified local youths.

According to Sangma, NEEPCO has already agreed to adopt at least two Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the State for providing job-oriented courses to local youths of the State, while the erstwhile Meghalaya State Electricity Board now renamed as Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) in collaboration with the Labour Department will adopt two existing ITIs at Shillong and Tura.

Besides, the Cabinet has also decided to implement holograms in all the liquor bottles being sold in the state, to check  revenue leakage.

“With the introduction of holograms, the Excise department will raise an additional revenue of Rs 3.15 crore annually,”  Sangma said.

Sangma also informed that the Cabinet has approved the proposed implementation of the Centrally-funded Integrated Child Protection Scheme in the State adding a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be soon signed between the Social Welfare department and Union Ministry of Women and Child Development to implement the scheme.

The funding pattern for the scheme would be 90 per cent by the Centre and 10 per cent by the State government in which the State is expected to receive Rs 29 crore within the current 11th Plan.

Manipur Tankers to Take NH-150 Route

Sinlung Says: There is no National Highway 150 know as Guite Road. Indian National Highway 150 map as below. Now Mr. News correspondent from The Sangai Express - Where is Guite road and where is National Highway 150?



Imphal, May 14 : Instead of the earlier arrangements made by the State Government to bring petroleum products from Jiribam to Imphal through National Highway 53, DGP Y Joykumar has instructed the transporters to use National Highway 150, popularly known as Guite Road, for the purpose.

The DGP reportedly gave this instruction during a joint will head to Mizoram to meet the Chief Minister and work out the finer details.

An official from State Government will also be stationed at Aizawl to over see the new arrangements, said a source.

Apart from coming up with idea of opting for Guite road, the high level security meeting also discussed at length the tense situation arising out of the stand off over the proposed visit of NSCN (IM) leader Th Muivah.

The ongoing economic blockade imposed by ANSAM on the two National Highways against the election to the ADC under the 3rd Amendment of 2008 was also discussed minutely.

[ via The Sangai Express ]

Lajong’s I- League Feat Leads to Spurt in Trialists

By Somshuvra Laha

Shillong, May 14 : Football in Shillong meant a leisurely Sunday afternoon kickabout at the Polo ground until Lajong FC became the first team from the Northeast to play in the I-League. Largely untouched by cricket and with limited employment opportunities, boys in this part of India are beginning to consider football as career option.

There has been nearly a four-fold jump in trialists for Lajong FC’s junior team. “Earlier, we would get around 150 boys every season. Last time, it was 500,” said Bobby Nongbet, coach of Lajong’s young ones, here for the junior I League qualifiers.

Meghalaya though has a lot of catching up to do. Anoop Abraham, co-ordinator of sports management at the IIM, Shillong, said football as a profession is still a new idea here.

But what works for Lajong FC is the security it provides.  “Eight out of 10 boys here would not want to move out of the Northeast if they are given a choice because most of them can’t adjust to the culture and diverse conditions in football academies. Lajong FC has given them that choice,” said Abraham.

Vindicating Abraham’s point is Pynshongdor Shadap, an 18-year old talented central defender, who said he left the Tata Football Academy (TFA) because he felt homesick.

Corporate support is available as well. Not only is Lajong FC sponsored by a number of international brands like Nokia and Adidas, even local first division clubs have corporate backing, indicating the popularity of the game in a state.

Also doing its part is the Meghalaya Football Players Association (MFPA), an autonomous body consisting of ex-Santosh Trophy players. It has been arranging youth festivals in various age-groups. Some players from those festivals made to the India U-14 squad. But, Abraham said, the enthusiasm could seriously wane if Lajong FC fail to beat the drop. “It maybe sometime before any other club takes up Lajong’s place.”

He also said the All India Football Federation (AIFF) could do more. “The AIFF could have televised the I- League final between Dempo and Lajong FC ,” said Abraham.

Butterfly Enthusiast Kidnapped in Arunachal

Itanagar, May 14 : A visiting forest official who ventured into an Arunachal Pradesh village to photograph butterflies has been abducted by suspected militants belonging to the National Democratic Front of Boroland.

V.S. Bardekar, an Indian Forest Service officer based in Pune, was on a private visit to Daimara village in West Kameng district of Arunachal when he was kidnapped last night.

The area is close to the Assam-Arunachal border, which is known for its large species of butterflies. Bardekar wanted to take pictures and spend the night in the village. “Maybe, he hoped to see some new species,” a forest official of Arunachal Pradesh said.

Bardekar, a cadre of the 1984 batch, is posted at Pune as the joint director (administration), directorate of social forestry, Maharashtra.

Security forces have launched an operation to trace him.

Sources said over 10 youths, armed with automatic rifles and grenades, arrived at the residence of Lam Norvu, where Bardekar was putting up, around 8pm. They beat up a casual worker of the Arunachal Pradesh forest department and a guide who were accompanying Bardekar and took the official away.

Bardekar, Magaji and Tsering had gone to the village on two motorcycles, including one belonging to the Kelong forest beat office. The sources said Bardekar had visited the Eagle’s Nest wildlife sanctuary in the district before arriving at the village.

Prakash Thosre, director, directorate of social forestry, Maharashtra, told The Telegraph over phone from Pune that he had learnt of the abduction this morning. “He was on leave and on a private visit. He had told me he was going to the Northeast. He was supposed to join duty on May 24,” Thosre said.

A senior police officer in Assam said the NDFB was using the hilly and forested terrain on the inter-state boundary to hide and strike.

He admitted that it was difficult to launch counter-insurgency operations in areas where the rebels took shelter, given the terrain.

Sources said the NDFB was holding captive several persons they had abducted from Assam in these areas, including an 11-year-old ailing boy.

Uneasy Calm at Somdal, Ukhrul

Muivah’s native village still awaits the leader’s visit

By Nishit Dholabhai

The pandal built for Muivah’s visit at Somdal. Picture by Nishit Dholabhai

Somdal (Manipur), May 14  :  NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah missed the bus to church in his native village on May 7.

Any visit after this date will be all about anger and politics.

That day in 1923, an American missionary, Reverend William Pettigrew, proselytised the first Tangkhul (the community to which Muivah belongs), R. Raichumhao.

“He had to come here on the most important day for the village. Now, his visit is pending. We are waiting,” said village council secretary, Raripam Rungsung.

Portraits of Raichumhao alongside Muivah’s and a khadi-clad Suisa can be found in the village. A specially constructed hall with a blue polythene roof standing on bamboo at the flattened ground still gets soaked in the rain. On the hill a few metres above, sandbag bunkers which the NSCN cadres were to use as sniper positions, were no more manned. The 5000 people, who drove in slush to Somdal, about 115km from Imphal, have returned home. Muivah’s brothers James and Asui have left, only elder brother Shongreihan is staying back at the modest family home where he is expected to stay.

Hope is alive in Muivah’s native village but the enthusiasm has turned to tolerance among some. The wait here is with a mix of patience and anger.

His 84-year-old cousin M. Tuizar awaits the visit but said somehow he could not make it. “It is God’s will,” he said.

“It is 47 years since we sent him to Delhi to study law but he went missing — later he told us he joined the national workers. When leaders visit the Maharaja temple in Manipur or the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, why not him,” said Tuizar.

Muivah had been influenced by Naga rebels while studying at St Anthony’s College in Shillong. The religious grounding, however, never left him.

Posters and banners announcing “Welcome to Ava Kharar” (literally father-elder or godfathers) continue to stand at village gates on the way to Somdal where youths stand guard. Near the village church, a foundation stone to be unveiled by him has now stained curtains from the fresh paint and rain.

A mix of anxiety and anger against the Manipur government are highlights at Ukhrul.

Confrontation is, however, brewing in the air 30km away in Ukhrul. Tension is palpable here.

In Ukhrul town, the Assam Rifles today decided that the NSCN blue flags with the rainbow and the Star of David couldn’t be allowed to be displayed on cars and in the town.

The difference between Somdal and Ukhrul seemed similar to the distinction between religiosity and armed rebellion in Muivah himself. While in Somdal, most reactions were of patience, in Ukhrul, politics is in the air, especially as the state government wants a successful autonomous district council election, an exercise the NSCN may foil.

An altercation ensued in Ukhrul town as Assam Rifles jawans confiscated the flags. NSCN men and the paramilitary forces reached a compromise later, sources said. But the incident showed nerves were beginning to fray.

An NSCN member had called up an Assam Rifles officer, arguing that if the flags were allowed in Delhi and nothing was being said against the Centre, why were they being disallowed in Ukhrul.

At Hunphun, said to be the old Ukhrul village that is now part of the town lying on the way to Somdal, young people from the village stood guard the entire night. In other colonies too, the tension was apparent, as people remained indoors after 6pm, rare for a town, which is usually alive till at least 8pm.

The administration too is apprehensive. Asked about the situation and anxiety, deputy commissioner N. Ashok Kumar was crisp. “Please do not ask us anything about this, we do not know.

Tuizar felt that the Nagas were treated like slaves while Muivah’s 29-year-old nephew Notnang was even more radical. “I cannot say that this is not a communal problem. Would he be disallowed if he had been a Naga chief minister? You see there can be a civil war if he is not allowed in,” said Notnang, an NSCN activist.

Manipur Seeks Mizoram’s Help to Carry Goods

Aizawl, May 13 : The Manipur government Thursday sought the help of Mizoram to transport essential commodities through its territory following a blockade of a key highway by Naga students.

“The Manipur government will made arrangements to import goods and essential commodities from other parts of India using the Silchar-Aizawl-Sinzawl-Churachandpur-Imphal surface route until the current situation is contained,” a Mizoram government official told reporters.

The official said that senior officials of two states earlier talked over phone to finalize the arrangement.

Landlocked Manipur continues to reel under an acute shortage of food and other essentials following the indefinite economic blockade enforced by Naga tribal groups since May 6.

The Nagas are protesting against the Manipur government’s decision not to allow National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) leader T. Muivah to visit his birthplace in Manipur.

The Manipur government has banned the entry of Muivah, saying the visit could lead to ethnic unrest in the state.

The 75-year-old Muivah, a Tangkhul Naga from Manipur, was born in Somdal village in Ukhrul district, 100 km north of Imphal, and last visited his birthplace in 1960.

Hundreds of trucks carrying essentials and medicines have been stranded in Nagaland with protestors laying siege on National Highway 39, the lifeline of Manipur.