The Oldest Surviving Heart Patient in India From Mizoram

Aizawl, Nov 25 : VL Bela, who cut his 100th birthday cake on October 11, claims to be the oldest surviving heart patient in India. The retired schoolteacher, who now lives at Tuikual locality here, had created history by undergoing “stent angioplasty” in Kolkata at the age of 95 and became the oldest man in the world to survive the operation.

Dr Tarun Praharaj, director of Cardiac Catherisation Laboratory and senior interventional cardiologist at the BM Birla Heart Research Centre, successfully performed the angioplasty on Bela on April 23, 2005.

When his doctor visited him on his becoming a centenarian, he found him to be in good health. Stent angioplasty of coronary arteries at above 80 years of age is known to be causing acute cardiac and non-cardiac complications like renal failure and bleeding and eventually, resulting in death.

A team, led by Praharaj, went ahead with the angioplasty and cleared the blockade. The patient survived.

Bela had a history of chest pain and heart attack before he underwent the operation. Doctors in Aizawl said the pain was a result of age-related complications and an earlier heart attack.

“I would have died five years ago had I accepted what the doctors here told me and not insisted on going to Kolkata,” Bela recollected. After arriving in Kolkata, Bela enquired about the treatment available.

On being informed about angioplasty, he wanted to go for it. The spirit shown by him at such an advanced age amazed the doctors.

“He was stubborn and desperately wanted us to perform the procedure on him. We held a meeting and decided that nobody is too old not to enjoy life for a few more years.

There was a case reported from London aged 91 and one from Brazil.

To the best of my knowledge, no case has been reported in this country earlier,” Dr Prahajar said.

Bela is stated to be the longest surviving heart patient not only in India but also in South East Asia.

Meghalaya Produces World’s Best Carnation Flowers

Shillong, Nov 25 : West Khasi Hills District Horticulture Development Officer S Kharlukhi today said Meghalaya is known as the carnation belt in the country. The carnation flowers of the State are famous not only in the country, but also all over the world.

Talking to newsmen today, S Kharlukhi said that though  West Khasi Hills District was lagging behind in many aspects, the district was blessed with the world’s best carnation flowers.

“In the recent International Flower Show at Sikkim, carnation flowers from Meghalaya were considered the best in quality when compared with such flowers from abroad,” Kharlukhi said, and added: “In India, only four States — Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Khasi Hills in Meghalaya — plant carnation flower, and among them Meghalaya has been graded as one of the States that can produce best quality of carnation flowers.”

“The carnation flowers in West Khasi Hills have been planted by the District Horticulture Department. The department is also trying to  bring awareness among the people on carnation plantation that can be one of the best ways to earn their livelihood and to increase economy of the State,” Kharlukhi said.

Last year, Nongstoin had produced about 2,50,000 pots of carnation flowers. The flowers were exported to countries like UAE, Holland, Belgium, Brazil, and China, said Kharlukhi, adding that the department was also trying to send flowers to other countries as well.

“At Nongstoin, in each square metre of land 20 carnation flower plants can be planted. The Horticulture Department planted carnation flowers over 2,000 square metres of land,” he said, and added that the main uses of carnation flowers were decorations and gifts. Besides carnation flowers, Nongstoin Horticulture also planted strawberry, and the yearly yield is two tonnes, said Kharlukhi.

Besides ZOPAR Marketing Company, the department has also signed an agreement with the North Bengal Floritech Company for marketing carnation flowers.

Manipur Girl Gang Raped in Delhi

After 40 mins, rape victim dumped at Mongolpuri

By Rahul Tripathi

New Delhi, Nov 25 : A 30-year-old BPO employee, from Manipur, was picked up by four drunken men near Dhaula Kuan and gangraped for over 40 minutes in a moving vehicle early on Wednesday morning. The woman was forced into the vehicle near Nanakpura gurdwara at 1.21am and found in a semi-conscious state in Mongolpuri Industrial Estate at 2am.

According to the police, the woman has been staying in the area for the past four years. She and her colleague, also from the northeast, had told the cab driver to drop them outside the gate of their colony at 1.15am.

They were walking towards the gate and were barely 100 metres from it when four men, who were sitting inside a tempo goods carrier, grabbed one of them. The other woman managed to escape.

The four then took the woman to the rear of the tempo, which was open at the top, and sped off on Ring Road around 1.21am. Her hands were tied and mouth gagged by three of the accused.

The other woman had, meanwhile, managed to run into the colony. She informed the PCR at 1.25am after which a manhunt was launched but the cops failed to trace the vehicle. Due to thin police presence and virtually no patrolling, the accused had a free run.

The four then took turns in raping the woman at the rear of the vehicle and stopped a number of times to swap positions. One of them was driving while the other three were at the back.
Around 2 pm, they dumped the woman at Mongolpuri Industrial Estate after which the traumatised victim somehow managed to call up her friend from her own mobile.

A police team rushed to the spot and took her to the hospital. Joint CP (southern range) Amulya Patnaik told TOI: ``We have registered a case and are investigating the matter. The four will be arrested soon. From the description given by the victim about the assailants, they appear to be workers or labourers.

The cops have launched a verification drive of goods carriers in the area with the focus on all the places where goods were delivered in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the victim who has been under trauma is being counselled by an NGO.The cops said they have also informed the family members and an organization that caters to Manipuri women.

A case under section 365 (kidnapping) and 376 (g) (gangrape) has been registered at Dhaula Kuan police station.

No Takers For 'Mr India', Film On HIV Positive Body Builder

Panaji, Nov 24 : 'Mr India', a documentary film depicting the struggles and triumphs of HIV positive body builder Pradeep Kumar may have won several international awards, but is finding no takers for a theatrical release in India.

Filmmaker Haobam Pabankumar is disappointed that the film will go to DVDs directly despite winning more than 12 national and international awards.

The documentary film from Manipur was screened in the Indian Panorama section of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

"Getting a theatrical release in India is very difficult but we have found a distributor and some theatre owners in Manipur are interested in screening the film but otherwise it will go to DVDs," Paban told reporters here.

Documentary films find it hard to get a theatrical release in India but Paban said that the film had a message which should reach people.

The director seemed disappointed that not many people saw the movie, which he made to help Pradeep in his struggle. The money earned from different awards and DVD sales go to Pradeep, who needs nutrition supplements to continue his effort even as he fights the deadly disease.

Paban said that his friends from the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute pitched in with the money and even the cameraman did not charge for the two year long work.

"It took two years to make the film but my friends were very helpful. They all wanted Pradeep's story to be told to the world and it is an effort to help Pradeep because he needs about Rs 40,000 every month to spend on his supplements," the director said.

Pradeep was detected with HIV in 2000 but decided to go public with his disease in 2007 after winning a medal in the Mr India competition.

"My family has supported me throughout, that is why I am standing here. But when my closest of friends came to know about it they left me and that's when I decided to do something that even they could not do. I wanted to prove that a person living with HIV AIDS can lead a normal life. I will be happy if my story helps fight the stigma. All we need is moral support from society," said Pradeep.

Paban continues to travel with his film and even though he seemed disappointed with the poor turnout at the screening, he is confident that the film will help take the message forward.
IFFI this year has two stories about AIDS. Apart from 'Mr India', the festival is also screening 'Going the Distance', a 24-minute documentary by Tiainla Jamir, which shows a woman's journey right from the day when she discovers her HIV positive status.

Mizoram Cracks Down Against Non Locals

By Laishram Shamungou

Imphal, Nov 25 : Mizoram is no place for those who have no Inner Line Permit (ILP) and the implementation of ILP system there is such that non-Mizos who do not possess the document are transported beyond the boundary of the State in terms of truck loads every day.

A team of 13 journalists who recently conducted a tour of Mizoram witnessed strict implementation of ILP system by the State administration.

In the interest of protecting the indigenous people, Mizoram Government does not allow settlement of any outsider who do not have Inner Line Permit in any part of the State.

Mizoram Chief Secy and DGP interact with scribes from Manipur

Every day Mizoram police round up non-Mizos who do not possess ILP and transported them in trucks beyond the State boundary.

In fact, the touring journalists saw a large number of non-locals being transported in trucks for not possessing Inner Line Permit.

Most of the shops in Mizoram are also run by the local people and it is rare to see non-locals engaging in such enterprises.

Interacting with media-persons in connection with implementation of ILP system, Chief Secretary of Mizoram Van Hela Pachou, however, maintained that Mizoram has been rather flexible with regard to implementation of ILP system.

He also pointed out that out of the total population of 8.8 lakh in Mizoram, non-Mizos constitute around 1 lakh.

In response to a question on reported handcuffing of non-Mizos and more particularly Manipuri Meiteis and keeping them in custody, although they are not criminal, last month, the officer clarified that there is no such report.

DGP of Mizoram Lalrokhuma Pachou, who was also present during the meeting with the Chief Secretary, explained that the drive against non-Mizos who do not possess ILP had been conducted under the supervision of ADC and SP of Aizawl.

All the Manipuris should have ILP if they are staying in Mizoram, the DGP said.

When asked why only the Manipuri Meiteis have been targeted and the Manipuri tribals settling in Mizoram have not been arrested, the Chief Secretary and the DGP failed to give any comment.

It may be noted here that apart from a large number of Manipuri Engineer, Policemen and teachers, there are many labourers working in Mizoram.

Many Mizos including former Chief Minister of Mizoram Zoramthanga and those who went on to become IAS and IPS officers have been educated from Manipur and there are a large number of Mizos living in Manipur.

via The Sangai Express

After 'Iron Lady', Manipur Produces a 'Mr India'

Panaji, Nov 24 : If Irom Sharmila, who is on a fast for the past 10 years to protest human rights violations by security forces in Manipur, is the state's 'Iron Lady', then Khundrakpam Pradip Kumar Singh is its 'Mr India'.

Pradip was infected by the deadly HIV/AIDS virus in 2000, when he injected himself with an infected syringe in a drug-induced stupor. But instead of collapsing in defeat and despair, he chose to take hold of his fate. He trained for years and became a bodybuilding champion, not only winning the 'Mr. Manipur' title in 2007, but also the runners-up trophy in a national bodybuilding championship the following year.

And now, a film on his life - titled "Mr India" - is being screened at the 41st International Film festival of India (IFFI) here.

For Pradip, the film is a message of hope.

"A person with HIV/AIDS can do anything. Anything at all. All we need is moral support," Pradip told reporters at a press conference here.

"I am here on behalf of all those who are suffering from HIV. In fact, it is not AIDS which kills you, but the response of the society that does you in," he added.

Pradip has already been the subject of five films in Manipur.

According to the film's director Haobam Paban Kumar, the 47-minute film has also won a national award.

Part of the proceeds from the film, for which Paban's friends provided technical assistance free of cost, would go towards sponsoring Pradip.

"Pradip needs Rs.40,000 a month for his nutritional supplements. We are getting a good response from distributors," Kumar said, adding that while commercial release of such a film was tough, screening it in some Manipur theatres was an option.

Pradip, meanwhile, vividly remembers his struggle.

"I was lying in bed, and that time everyone, barring my family, deserted me. My best friend also turned away. That was the time I decided that I was going to show to the world that this was not the end of me. I was going to rise up from my bed and do it alone. Then I joined a gym," he said.

He defied doctors, who advised him against heavy weights training, and worked steadily towards his goal.

"I am standing in front of you. If I can do what I did, despite of HIV/AIDS, I am sure anyone else can," Pradip said.

Tripura Overjoyed With Somdev

Agartala, Nov 24 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today congratulated Somdev Devvarman for winning gold medal for India in the Asian Games, while Somdev's father Prava Ranjan Deb Barman narrated how tense he was when the match was in progress.

In a message, the Chief Minister said, "Somdev made our country as well as the state proud by winning gold in both the doubles and in singles in Asiad. The people of Tripura are looking forward for his visit to the state."

Somdev's father, a resident of Agartala said, "I was tense while following his performance on the television, wondering if he would be able to fetch the yellow metal. I was beyond myself when he finally made it."

Secretary of Tripura Tennis Association, Sujit Roy said his organisation would give India's tennis sensation a hero's welcome when he returned home.

Businesses Would Have to Pay Us First: Assam Student Body

Guwahati, Nov 24 : The influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU) Wednesday admitted to accepting donations from business houses, and said it is not doing 'anything wrong'.

'Yes, we have to depend on donations and we shall continue to take donations to run AASU. Whoever does business in Assam and reaps profits shall have to donate money for running AASU,' the student union's adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya told journalists here.

AASU held a press conference here Wednesday a day after a newly floated students' forum released phone conversations between a businessman and an AASU leader regarding monetary transaction.

'Yes, I was the person who spoke in that audio tape and there is nothing wrong in accepting voluntary donations from business houses operating in Assam,' Bhattacharya said.

The Forum of Ex General Secretary Post Graduate Students' Union of Guwahati University Tuesday released an audio tape where Bhattacharya was heard talking about receiving Rs.2 lakh from an official of Vishal Mega Mart shopping chain.

The AASU leader, however, accused Assam power minister Pradyut Bordoloi and former chief minister and leader of opposition party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) Prafulla Kumar Mahanta of orchestrating the leak.

'The persons who held the press conference against me were close to both the power minister and Mahanta,' he said.

AASU supporters Wednesday forced the closure of all five Vishal Mega Mart malls in the state. The malls are located in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Tezpur, and Guwahati.

'It was unethical on the part of Vishal Mega Mart to have tapped the phone in the first place.

We had an understanding with Vishal for Rs.2 lakh donations annually,' the AASU leader said.
'We believe -- and have no hesitation in saying -- we had not done anything wrong by accepting donations to run a big organisation like AASU,' he added.

AASU commands the support of an estimated 5 lakh students in the state. It spearheaded a violent six-year anti-outsider agitation in 1979.
It is active in raising issues of Bangladeshi migrants, mega dam projects, and corruption.