Tribals arrested with fake currency

Agartala, Aug 18 : Four tribals have been arrested by security forces from Naisinghpara in Kanchanpur sub-division of North Tripura district, bordering west Mizoram, with fake Indian currency.

The police today said that acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Assam Rifles and Tripura police raided the Naisinghpara camp of displaced Reangs, about 27 km from Kanchanpur police station, yesterday.

The joint team arrested four tribals with fake Indian currency of Rs 14,000 In denomination of Rs five hundred and a mobile set.

About 35,000 Reangs, who were displaced during several ethnic clashes with Mizos from western Mizoram since 1997, are now sheltered in six evacuee camps including the Naisinghpara.

The police said a racket on fake currency is active in the border areas of Tripura and Mizoram.

Assam to raise new battalions as 2nd line of defence on border

The Assam government would raise two new battalions of the state police to be used as the “second line of defence” with the Border Security Force (BSF) for deployment along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi announced this while hoisting the national flag here on Saturday.

“We have already got the go-ahead from the Centre for raising the two battalions as a second line of defence in addition to the BSF in order to increase vigil along the Indo-Bangla border,” Gogoi said.

He also said that while his government was duty-bound to implement the various provisions of the Assam Accord (signed way back in 1985), he was also contemplating a legislation to prevent foreigners from acquiring land in the state.

“The government has also taken a decision to set up two detention camps on the Indo-Bangladesh border for those persons identified as Bangladeshi infiltrators so that they can be deported back to Bangladesh,” the Chief Minister said.

“Our government has already strengthened 91 km of barbed wire fence along the Indo-Bangladesh border in the past eight years. Work is on to complete the remaining portion of the border fence,” Gogoi said. The state government is also updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in order to identify Bangladeshi infiltrators, he added.

Mizoram CM promises terror-free state

He said "militants and would leave no stone unturned to usher in a responsive and corruption-free administration.

In his Independence Day address after unfurling the tricolour at the Assam Rifles ground here, Thanhawla said: "There will be no leniency on anti-social elements such as armed militants, unlicensed arms holders and illicit arms dealers who pose threat to the peace and tranquility of our state".

He also said that besides the establishment of a Vigilance Commission, the state Anti-Corruption Bureau is being strengthened and would be headed by an Inspector General grade of police officer.

Poverty alleviation of the people living both in rural and urban areas would be given top priority, the chief minister said, adding that the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) would soon be launched throughout the state for the purpose.

The NLUP has in its package, more rural harvest and urban self-employments, marketing of products and rural and urban housing for the poor, he said.

He added that efforts were being made to establish a separate High Court in Mizoram.

The Union Ministry of Food Processing had sanctioned Rs 60 crore and Rs 15 crore for setting up of a Mega Food Park and an Abattoir respectively, he stated.

CRPF constable suspected of swine-flu quarantined

Aizawl, Aug 15 : A CRPF constable posted at Mizoram's lone Lengpui Airport near here was quarantined at a hospital on being suspected of swine-flu infection, officials said today.

Blood and swab tests have been sent to National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata, from where the results are expected to come by tomorrow, Dr Pachuau Lalmalsawma, nodal officer for prevention of swine flu, told PTI over phone from the airport.

"Awareness of the swine flu is very high in the state and samples taken from two Mizos, who volunteered, were also sent to Kolkata for tests," he said adding no swine flu case has been detected in the state so far.

The state government has prepared a ten-bedded room at the Falkawn Hospital where suspected swine flu patients are being quarantined.

A doctor and two nurses have been posted at Lengpui Airport to screen suspected swine flu passengers, he said.

Death of pigs in Mizoram prompts Cachar, Hailakandi to take steps

Aizawl, Aug 13 : In the backdrop of reports death of a number of pigs in neighbouring Mizoram, the district administrations of Cachar and Hailakandi have taken a slew of precautionary measures.

While Cachar district administration has imposed a ban on import of pigs from Mizoram, Hailakandi district administration has been contemplating on sealing its border with Mizoram. As a precautionary step, a quarantine ward has been opened at Silchar Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, a report of bodies of at least ten pigs being noticed at Dholeswari river at Katakhal in Hailakandi has panicked people in the district. Mehdi Hasan, Range officer of Kukicherra, has reportedly confirmed the report and brought the matter into the notice of Deputy Commissioner Tapan Chanda Goswami.

Dhaleswari flows from Mizoram. Goswami has asked Hasan to submit a written report on the matter. He said that he would take up the matter with his counterparts in the neighbouring State.

Cachar district Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Officer Bijan Bihari Chakraborty said there are at least 60,000 pigs in the district, mostly in piggeries in Lakhipur and Rajabazar. So far no abnormality has been detected, he said.