Manipur Outfit ‘Bans' Mobile Service Providers

By Iboyaima Laithagbam

Sets Wednesday deadline for dismantling all towers

Imphal, Feb 20 : The outlawed underground organization, the Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council) has banned all mobile service providers in Manipur.

A press release jointly signed by the KCP(MC) ‘commander-in-chief' Taibang Nganba and publicity secretary Washington Meitei said all towers should be dismantled by February 23.

The security guards and the family members of the houses where the towers had been erected would be given drastic punishment if structures were found after the deadline.

The release also asked all those associated with the mobile service providers to distance themselves from them. No ground was given for the ‘ban.'

Employee kidnapped

Some days back an employee of the Aircel mobile service provider was kidnapped and shot dead by an armed group for being present in the office despite a ‘ban order' imposed on the company.

A few days later another employee was kidnapped and his whereabouts are not known.

The angry villagers of Kumbi from where the kidnapped employee hails tried to burn down the Aircel towers pointing out that the officials did not try to secure his release.

Reports say that a whopping amount was demanded as ransom.

Out of about 28 lakh people in the State, it is reported that at least 15 lakh people depend on mobile service.

From the day the Aircel employee was killed the offices had been closed down and the service has been off air.

Meanwhile the Manipur government has allocated Rs. 2.70 crore for installing jammers at the Central Jail at Sajiwa.

According to reports, most of the prisoners there had mobile hand sets and were continuing their illegal activities giving instructions to associates over phone.

Police recently recovered several hand sets and SIM cards during raids.

Dozens of Teachers in Manipur Arrested

Imphal, Feb 20 : Manipur teachers have come together to protest against Manipur government even as close to 150 teachers are reportedly in prisons for demanding implementation of the 6th Pay Commission.

Sources informed that some of them were picked up yesterday while they were undergoing a hunger strike in Imphal. These women group, including senior teachers spent the night in lockups. They were shifted to the Central Jail today.

Ironically, a section of the teachers were bailed out today by relatives and friends while the majority of them continue to remain in prisons.

Sources say these arrests are bailout processes involve huge amounts of money transactions as they involve lawyers and policemen. "You have to go to Charabacot Court," informed the husband of the women who was bailed out today.

Apparently, some of the arrested teachers had no way to communicate as their mobile phones were confiscated by the police.

Some of these teachers are unaware of legal implications of these arrests as they can affect their service record. Efforts are on to ensure that their services are safeguarded despite the arrest, sources informed. 

The teachers strike continues even as the high school and higher secondary students agitation has already witnessed some violence in the Imphal valley.

Antony Lauds Defence Role in Manipur Security

Imphal, Feb 20 : Defence minister AK Antony has expressed happiness over the progress in establishing defence infrastructure in insurgency-hit Manipur.

As part of his two-day visit to the northeast to review the security scenario, Antony landed at Imphal airport in an Indian Air Force aircraft on Saturday morning before flying straight to the headquarters of 57 Mountain division at Leimakhing here by a helicopter.

He was accompanied by Army chief Gen. V K Singh, defence secretary Pradeep Kumar, Eastern Army Commander Lt-Gen Bikram Singh and 3 Corps Commander Lt-Gen. N K Singh.

At Leimakhong, the minister was briefed by Maj-Gen. D S Hooda, GOC of 57 Mountain Division which is also known as the Red Shield Division.

He appreciated the progress in various defence infrastructure and security arrangements achieved by the division in the state and lauded the efforts of all troops "in maintaining the lowest state of violence in the last few decades", said a defence statement.

He also expressed happiness with the projects initiated by the Red Shield Division for the people in the remote areas of Manipur. The statement issued by defence PRO Col Ajay Chowdhry said the minister visited Disha', a boys' hostel set up by the division for under-privileged children.

Antony, who presented a television set to the hostel, complimented Gen V K Singh for his vision and the GOC of the division for constructing and running the hostel efficiently.

Besides having a lunch with troops of the division, the minister interacted with the soldiers and enquired about their well being and what he could do for them in his capacity as a defence minister. Before wrapping up his two day northeast tour, the minister expressed his appreciation by complementing all ranks for their efforts in making the visit a success, added the statement.

In the meantime, 16 Maratha Light infantry troops of the division apprehended a drug peddler on Wednesday from Terakhongsangbi village in Bishnupur district, said another defence statement.

Meghalaya Sounds Bird Flu Alert

Shillong, Feb 20 : Meghalaya has sounded an alert following an outbreak of avian flu in Tripura and Bangladesh, deputy chief minister, who is also the Animal Husbandry minister, Bindo M Lanong said on Friday.

"All veterinary officials, especially those posted on the Bangladesh border, have been asked to keep a close watch and take all possible preventive measures," he added.

Lanong said there has been no confirmation of any unusual mortality of birds in the state, especially in areas bordering Bangladesh.

At least 3,000 poultry, including chicken and ducks, were culled on Friday in a state-owned poultry and within its three km radius here following outbreak of bird flu in Tripura.

In Bangladesh, more than 50,000 poultry birds have been culled since last month.

No Gun-Running in Mizoram: Lal Thanhawla

Aizawl, Feb 19 : Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla today dismissed reports that his state was being used by gun-runners as a transit to supply arms and explosives to the Northeast militants.

"The state is no longer used by gun-runners. Whosoever is indulging in this has been arrested. Many of them were brought to book," Lal Thanhawla told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

"Earlier, of course it was the free state for gun-running and counterfeit currency business," he admitted.

"Before I took over all these things were happening; culprits were never brought to book. But no militants are there now, and we do not allow them to use our territory - neither from Bangladesh nor from Myanmar," the chief minister said.

Two months back a key accused in 2008 Assam serial blasts, B Jwangkhang alias George Boro of NDFB, was arrested from Mizoram capital town Aizawl along with his PSO.

The National Investigation Agency, probing terror-related cases, involving an Assam militant outfit Black Widow, had arrested a key arms dealer from Mizoram who had confessed to having supplied several consignments of arms to the outfit.

Security agencies have often been stating that Mizoram was being used by anti-national elements as a transit to supply arms brought from China and Myanmar to militants in Northeast.

Sofia Vergara's Secrets To Happiness in New Shape Magazine

Sofia Vergara in Shape. (Shape)

"Modern Family" bombshell Sofia Vergara offers up her favorite ways to put a little va into your voom in the March issue of Shape magazine.

Vergara, 39, talks about how she hates working out, how men can turn into "little babies" when they get hurt, and why chocolate-covered strawberries are health food.

Check out FOX411's advance quotes from the interview, plus both sexy covers.

Trade sit-ups for salsa...

Want to see Sofia make the “ugh” face? Ask her what she does to work out.

“Oh, I hate it!” she says. “But I also know that at my age—I’m almost 40!—I have to do it to maintain my figure. When I can, I try to do Latin dancing for exercise because it’s so much fun and I just love the music.”

The hard part for her is actually getting to the gym. “Two hours before I go, I’m already wishing it was over,” she admits.

Her motivational trick? “I psychologically fool myself into believing it’s part of my job. And then, of course, once I’m done, I’m really glad I did it because I feel so good.”

Sofia Vergara in Shape. (Shape)

Laugh away stress...

About a year ago, Sofia started dating Florida politician, Nick Loeb, and six months later, they had their first big test as a couple. Nick was in a terrible car accident that left him temporarily unable to walk.

“It was hard for us because it happened in the middle of the most fun, sexy time,” says Sofia. “And then he was in the hospital, and you know men, they become such little babies!”

But throughout the whole ordeal, Nick never once got depressed, in fact, quite the opposite. “He kept his sense of humor despite the situation,” says Sofia. “I don’t know if I could have stuck it out with him if he hadn’t been able to laugh at himself and be happy even under the worst conditions. When you see people in difficult times, that’s when their true nature comes out.”

Eat what you crave...

Because Sofia considers food one of life’s greatest pleasures, she finds a way to indulge every day.

“If I could, I would have foie gras and éclairs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!” she says laughing. But her splurge—and honestly, she can’t call it that because she eats it almost every day—is cake.

“I love it,” she says. “Vanilla cake, angel food cake, chocolate cake. For me and my son, buying cake at the grocery store is like buying milk. We always have it in the house.” Chocolate-covered strawberries are another favorite.

“I insist to all of my friends that they’re healthy,” she says. “What? It’s fruit with a little chocolate. It’s hardly anything. The problem is when I eat half a dozen!”

America, Here's Your New Wonder Woman!

Adrianne Palicki in 'Lone Star.' (USA)

Bad guys better get out of town!

A new Wonder Woman has finally been cast for the remake of the classic ‘70s super hero TV series.

The gorgeous Adrianne Palicki, who wowed viewers and Hollywood honchos alike during her brief turn on Fox’s cancelled "Lone Star," will put on her bullet-proof bracelets to play the role made iconic by Lynda Carter.

Palicki was thought to be perfect for the role, and she was the only actress invited to do a screen test. Perhaps Palicki’s statuesque beauty had something to do with it—standing at 5’11”, she’s the ideal height to portray an Amazon crime-fighter.

Prolific producer David E. Kelley teamed with Warner Bros. to bring the series back to television, but not without some hiccups.

The concept was initially shot down by all the major networks. NBC finally gave the green light for Kelley and Warner Bros. to produce a pilot in late January.

In the remake of the classic D. C. Comics character, Wonder Woman/Diana Prince is not just a vigilante crime fighter in modern Los Angeles, but also a successful corporate executive. The series will follow the character trying to balance being a super hero, a businesswoman and a singleton.

Kind of like Ally McBeal , one of Kelley's former creations, with a cape.

Naga Chilli No Longer Hottest Chilli

World's Hottest Chilli Grown in Grantham

Its previous claim to fame was as the birthplace of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

The Infinity chilli measures 1.17 million on the Scoville Scale - an official measure of spicy heat Photo: NEWSTEAM

By Martin Evans

But now the market town of Grantham in Lincolnshire has produced an even fierier export after a local producer grew the world’s hottest chilli.

Measuring 1.17 million on the Scoville Scale - an official measure of spicy heat - the Infinity chilli is so hot that it carries a health warning.

Grown by Nick Woods, 39, the chilli - which was grown in a greenhouse - made it to the Guinness Book of Records after out-spicing the previous title holder, the Bhut Jolokia, from India.

Mr Woods, who runs his own business Fire Foods from his home in Grantham, said he grew the record breaking chilli by accident.

He explained: "I didn't set out to grow it, it's really easy for chillies to crossbreed in a greenhouse, one day I just saw this new chilli plant growing.

“When I tried it tasted nice at first, like an odd fruity taste, the effect is delayed. Then it hit me. All of a sudden I felt it burning in the back of my throat, so hot that I couldn't speak.

“I began to shake uncontrollably, I had to sit down, I felt physically sick. I really wouldn't recommend anybody eat it raw like that.”

Former RAF worker Mr Woods started his chilli business five years ago after being given a plant by a friend.

He said: “We do feel quite honoured to get it because everyone in the world has heard of the Guinness Book of World Records.

“Even if someone else comes along and beats it, they can never take it away from us that we once held the world record.”

Source: Telegraph.co.uk