Golden Mahseer State Fish of Arunachal

Itanagar, Sep 21 : The National Bureau of Fish Genetic Research Institute (NBFGRI), Lucknow has declared and recognised Tor Putitora as the State fish of Arunachal Pradesh. The freshwater fish, with its trade name Golden Mahseer, was approved as the State fish by the State Government on November, 2007. Locally known as ‘Jungapithia’, the fish is known for its food value worldwide. Seven species...

Nagaland Govt Says Sorry, AASU Road Blockade Enters 3rd Day

Guwahati, Sep 21 : The indefinite road blockade called by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) against Nagaland entered the third day on Monday with the student body saying it wanted “exemplary” punishment against a group of Nagaland Police personnel who assaulted AASU demonstrators inside Assam territory on September 15. This came even as the Nagaland government expressed regret over the incident...

India's Child Coal Miners

Children as young as 7 mine coal under deplorable conditions in northeastern India, where local authority overrules national laws against such practices. Podum, age 12, rides in a box used to transport coal. He’s Nepalese. He, his father, and one of his three brothers work in the mines. He says he earns $30 a week. Note the flashlight strapped to his head. (Pics Daniel Etter) By Daneil Etter Jaintia...

Burmese Army Soldiers Trespass Into Mizoram For Rations

Aizawl, Sep 21 : Soldiers of the Burmese Army belonging to LIB 304 from Sebawngte camp in Matupi Township, Chin state crossed the international boundary and trespassed into Mizoram, a northeast state of India to buy rations earlier this month. The Burmese military personnel went up to Chapui village, Saiha district in Mizoram state and forced 10 villagers to purchase and carry rations for...

Why a ‘Black Act’ Needs To Go

By Patricia Mukhim The debate on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has always been trapped in a binary of “for and against”. Army generals are pitted against those who live under the shadow of the Act in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir. Other Indians do not seem to want to engage in this problematic discourse. Those who believe the Act should be repealed and make their views public...

Delhi Meet Backs Repeal of a ‘Holy Book’

By Yambem Laba Organised under the banner of the North East India Women’s Initiative for Peace, it was slated as a “high profile meet on the AF(SP)A” and it took place on 8 September 2010 at the India International Centre, New Delhi. According to Binalakshmi Nepram, conference organiser, “the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has entered its 52nd year of implementation. Government panels,...

Hams & Scams And Dubious Deals

By JB Lama A recent report says corrupt Indian politicians and corporate officers have siphoned off public money worth $12.3 billion between 2000-08. According to Kordy Cuscio, a junior economist with Global Financial Integrity (Washington), “corruption is rampant in India as in almost all developing countries... as the economy grows so do illicit flows. This positive correlation...

Manipur Govt Announces Rs10 lakh For 'Magnificent Mary'

Imphal, Sep 20 : Manipur government today announced a cash prize of Rs10 lakh for star women boxer MC Mary Kom, who achieved a rare feat of five consecutive world titles in Bridgetown last week. Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh announced the prize "in recognition of her (Mary Kom's) historic achievement," an official release said. "A daughter of Manipur and sportsperson par excellence, Mary...