M'laya assembly to quiz cop for booking MLA
Guwahati, December 19 (HT): A traffic constable in Shillong will have to answer before the Meghalaya assembly for the "offence" of booking an MLA who had allegedly violated road rules. Earlier this month, traffic police constable S Thapa booked legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh, a Congress member, for allegedly parking his car in a no-parking zone in Meghalaya capital Shillong. Thapa and his superior have now been asked to appear before an assembly panel for an explanation. Lyngdoh had told the traffic policeman who he was, but the latter said he had no option but to go by the law. On Friday, Thapa and his superior, inspector Cherry Shadap, received notice from the Committee of Privileges and Ethics of the Meghalaya legislative assembly. Lyngdoh heads this panel. The notice directed Thapa and Shadap to appear before the panel on Tuesday on charges of breach of a legislator's privileges. "The summoning is not to take punitive action or to get even with them," Lyngdoh told HT from Shillong. "The idea is to have a discussion with them to eliminate high-handedness. I was driving the car, and had sought 10 minutes for my wife to see her doctor. It was difficult for her to walk in an area where the no-parking zone was endless." According to Lyngdoh, the traffic police should also have been equally strict with temporary stalls selling Christmas wares on pavements, causing inconvenience to pedestrians.
Assam govt serious about tackling insurgency
Guwahati, December 19 (PTI): The Assam government is serious about maintaining law and order and tackling insurgency, including extortion demands from militant outfits. Replying to a question by Monilal Gowala in the state assembly here today, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the government was aware of the extortion demands made by various militant outfits, including pro-talk factions. In South Assam's Karimganj district, the minister said some splinter extremist groups of Riang community and the United Democratic Liberation Army of Barak Valley (UBLABV) were found to have indulged in activities like killing and kidnapping in remote areas bordering Mizoram and Tripura. In order to contain and monitor insurgent activities, the government was planning to raise a Border Out Post (BOP) at Balitipla bordering Tripura very soon, he said.
Bill for ST status to Arunachal Pradesh tribes passed in LS
New Delhi, December 19 (PTI): A bill seeking to give Scheduled Tribe status to Inpui, Rongmei, Liangmai, Zeme, Thangal and Mate communities of Manipur and substitute Galong with Galo -the right name of the tribe - in the list of Arunachal Pradesh was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid a din. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2011 to amend the original Act of 1950 was passed within a few minutes while opposition members were shouting slogans against a move by a Siberian court to ban the Bhagwad Gita. At present there are 33 communities appearing in the list of the Schedule Tribe in Manipur and the amendment will meet a long standing demand for considering grant of ST status to these communities. In the Arunachal Pradesh list, Galong community was mentioned. The state government has been recommending for long that the name Galo be substituted in place of Galong. "Galong is a distorted version of the original world Galo. A change is, therefore, required in the list of ST in Arunachal Pradesh," the Bill said.
Assam governmebt to probe ‘irregularities’ in Central road project
Guwahati, December 19 (PTI): The Assam government today said it will probe into "each and every case of irregularity" in the construction of roads under the centrally-funded Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Replying to a question by former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the state Assembly here, Assam PWD minister Ajanta Neog said some specific complaints have been received and the government is looking into them. Stating that it was humanly impossible to monitor road construction under PMGSY in every nook and corner of the state, the minister urged legislators to cooperate with the government and personally monitor work in their respective constituencies. "The MLAs have a responsibility towards the people and each one of you should monitor road construction work and its proper maintenance," Neog said. "Sufficient funds are provided under the scheme not only for road construction but their future maintenance and thus the local people should ensure that the concerned contractor does not fool them," she said.
Bomb explodes in Congress office in Manipur
Imphal, December 19 (PTI): A bomb exploded in the office of the Congress Youth Forum in interior Thoubal district of Manipur late last night, damaging office property. Officials said that hundreds of local residents including women launched a sit-in protest against the incident this morning. Assailants have been attacking the houses of politicians - both ruling and opposition - in the past few weeks by hurling grenades or bombs at their houses. Sources said security and police forces have been alerted by the state government to prevent any untoward incident during the coming Manipur Assembly elections in February next.
Guwahati, December 19 (HT): A traffic constable in Shillong will have to answer before the Meghalaya assembly for the "offence" of booking an MLA who had allegedly violated road rules. Earlier this month, traffic police constable S Thapa booked legislator Ronnie V Lyngdoh, a Congress member, for allegedly parking his car in a no-parking zone in Meghalaya capital Shillong. Thapa and his superior have now been asked to appear before an assembly panel for an explanation. Lyngdoh had told the traffic policeman who he was, but the latter said he had no option but to go by the law. On Friday, Thapa and his superior, inspector Cherry Shadap, received notice from the Committee of Privileges and Ethics of the Meghalaya legislative assembly. Lyngdoh heads this panel. The notice directed Thapa and Shadap to appear before the panel on Tuesday on charges of breach of a legislator's privileges. "The summoning is not to take punitive action or to get even with them," Lyngdoh told HT from Shillong. "The idea is to have a discussion with them to eliminate high-handedness. I was driving the car, and had sought 10 minutes for my wife to see her doctor. It was difficult for her to walk in an area where the no-parking zone was endless." According to Lyngdoh, the traffic police should also have been equally strict with temporary stalls selling Christmas wares on pavements, causing inconvenience to pedestrians.
Assam govt serious about tackling insurgency
Guwahati, December 19 (PTI): The Assam government is serious about maintaining law and order and tackling insurgency, including extortion demands from militant outfits. Replying to a question by Monilal Gowala in the state assembly here today, Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, on behalf of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the government was aware of the extortion demands made by various militant outfits, including pro-talk factions. In South Assam's Karimganj district, the minister said some splinter extremist groups of Riang community and the United Democratic Liberation Army of Barak Valley (UBLABV) were found to have indulged in activities like killing and kidnapping in remote areas bordering Mizoram and Tripura. In order to contain and monitor insurgent activities, the government was planning to raise a Border Out Post (BOP) at Balitipla bordering Tripura very soon, he said.
Bill for ST status to Arunachal Pradesh tribes passed in LS
New Delhi, December 19 (PTI): A bill seeking to give Scheduled Tribe status to Inpui, Rongmei, Liangmai, Zeme, Thangal and Mate communities of Manipur and substitute Galong with Galo -the right name of the tribe - in the list of Arunachal Pradesh was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid a din. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2011 to amend the original Act of 1950 was passed within a few minutes while opposition members were shouting slogans against a move by a Siberian court to ban the Bhagwad Gita. At present there are 33 communities appearing in the list of the Schedule Tribe in Manipur and the amendment will meet a long standing demand for considering grant of ST status to these communities. In the Arunachal Pradesh list, Galong community was mentioned. The state government has been recommending for long that the name Galo be substituted in place of Galong. "Galong is a distorted version of the original world Galo. A change is, therefore, required in the list of ST in Arunachal Pradesh," the Bill said.
Assam governmebt to probe ‘irregularities’ in Central road project
Guwahati, December 19 (PTI): The Assam government today said it will probe into "each and every case of irregularity" in the construction of roads under the centrally-funded Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Replying to a question by former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta in the state Assembly here, Assam PWD minister Ajanta Neog said some specific complaints have been received and the government is looking into them. Stating that it was humanly impossible to monitor road construction under PMGSY in every nook and corner of the state, the minister urged legislators to cooperate with the government and personally monitor work in their respective constituencies. "The MLAs have a responsibility towards the people and each one of you should monitor road construction work and its proper maintenance," Neog said. "Sufficient funds are provided under the scheme not only for road construction but their future maintenance and thus the local people should ensure that the concerned contractor does not fool them," she said.
Bomb explodes in Congress office in Manipur
Imphal, December 19 (PTI): A bomb exploded in the office of the Congress Youth Forum in interior Thoubal district of Manipur late last night, damaging office property. Officials said that hundreds of local residents including women launched a sit-in protest against the incident this morning. Assailants have been attacking the houses of politicians - both ruling and opposition - in the past few weeks by hurling grenades or bombs at their houses. Sources said security and police forces have been alerted by the state government to prevent any untoward incident during the coming Manipur Assembly elections in February next.
