Kidnapped youth released after road blockade

Agartala, 20/07/2012
The law and order situation in Dhanpur assembly segment represented by the chief minister who also holds the home portfolio is deteriorating with every passing day. Today at around 10 AM one youth named Madhu Das was kidnapped in broad daylight from Baranarayan area under Jatrapur assembly segment. What followed was high drama. The kidnappers roamed freely in the area from 8 AM. Soon, after he was kidnapped hundreds of locals blocked the Sonamura – Belonia road. From then onwards the entire administration and police force seemed to have converged to the area. At around 2 PM the road blockade was withdrawn following an assurance by the SDPO that the kidnappers will be booked within the next 24 hours. The three kidnappers were identified as Kabir Hussain, Fazlur Rahman and Habibur Rahman. Kabir is relative of panchayat samiti vice chairman Abdul Karim whose role is also suspected to be behind the kidnapping. Madhu is stated to have landed in trouble in terms of a land grab issue with Karim. Latest reports said Madhu was rushed to Kathalia hospital in a critical condition.

Ratan targets Manik on Rs 2 rice supply

Agartala, 19/07/2012
Opposition leader Ratan Nath today targeted chief minister on the recent decision taken by the state government and announced by Mr Manik Sarkar himself that will pave the way for supply of rice at Rs 2 per KG to the members of the BPL ration card holders. Addressing a press meet at Congress bhvan within 24 hours of another press meet in which he exposed the recruitment scam for recruiting agri assistants, Mr Nath claimed that rice that is being siphoned off from August last year is now being doled out. The chief minister is trying to create divide among the poor as everybody knows that large section of poor outside the BPL category is also there in the state. This is nothing but petty politics, he claimed. The state government opposes the Food Security Bill and is not even providing the food security allowance and hence doubts are bound to be raised in terms of the sudden decision announced by Mr Sarkar. There is ambiguity in terms of several matter like how long will this scheme run, where the siphoned off rice is going, he went on to add. Dr Ashok Sinha and Harekrishna Bhowmik were also present at the press meet.

Govt to provide air connectivity to remote areas

New Delhi, 18/07/2012
In the midst of reports that some airlines are planning to withdraw their services from Agartala there is some good news. Ajit Singh, Minister of Civil Aviation, Govt. of India has said that the government is in the process of providing air connectivity to remote and interior areas of the country including the North Eastern Region and Tier-II and Tier-III cities. He said this while addressing the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Bengaluru yesterday. Singh said that a new policy - Route Dispersal Guidelines is under consideration. It includes creation of Essential Air Services Fund (EASF) for providing direct subsidy to encourage domestic airlines to fly on these routes. He informed that the Ministry is also in the process of enhancing the present operations of helicopters and construction of heliports at various places to improve the connectivity of smaller places, including places of religious and tourist importance with bigger cities. He added that the Ministry would soon modify guidelines for acquisition of aircraft so that Indian carriers become bound to acquire smaller aircraft needed for providing connectivity to these smaller cities. Singh underlined the need to develop India as an international hub for the passengers. He said that the Ministry has initiated action in this regard, which includes revisiting the policy regarding bilateral air service agreements with different countries and also rationalisation of all bilateral and traffic entitlements on international routes to Indian carriers. The Ministry is also working on rationalisation of air traffic on domestic routes, he added.

Dateline Ranirbazar : high tension prevails

Ranirbazar, 18/07/2012
Having failed to take adequate security measures in the aftermath of the Rabi – Litan killing state police failed to contain the violent clashes that took place between Congress and CPI(M) supporters during the last 24 hours in Ranirbazar. An eerie silence is prevailing across villages in Majlishpur assembly segment. The transport minister Manik De is to be blamed for the present situation if neutral locals are to be believed. For the past few days he has been attacking Congress in one rally after another. Any comrade is bound to instigated by his rhetoric, the locals alleged. Today there was no dearth of police officials from IGP (Law & order) R Singh to SP (West) G K Rao and the likes of Abhijit Saptarshi, Additional SP. But their adequate intervention yesterday could have prevented the situation that had arisen last night. Today both parties gave the bandh call and there was unprecedented security. If only such security was to be found on the day when Youth Congress and NSUI had given the bandh call there would not have been such trouble. On the day of that fateful bandh everything was forcibly opened by the cadres led by Nagar Panchayat chairman Chandan Das, who behaved like a local don. There was a dictate that close your shop today and for the next seven days your shop will remain closed. The locals now want transport minister himself to bring back peace in this highly tensed area. But this will depend on the local leadership like Madhu Das and Tapan Das, more than anybody else. The musclemen and those having power to create trouble are the ones who are calling the shots in ruling CPI(M) in the area. The fact that the likes of Nepal Nath and his wife Amita Nath stand sidelined is open testimony of this fact. So even as CPI(M) and Congress legislators are all set to join hands and vote united for Pranab Mukherjee here in Ranirbazar more than 30 supporters of both the political parties have been injured in the clashes of the two parties.

Still no arrest

Agartala, 17/07/2012
Police, BSF and customs have failed to arrest a single person even after making a huge recovery from Gandhigram on Sunday. It may be mentioned here that On Sunday in between 5 PM to 11 PM acting on a secret information SDPO Sadar, OC Airport PS and staff along with Custom officials and the 6th BN BSF personnel, Bhagalpur conducted raid and search in the house of one Nirmal Shil(42), at Gandhigram, Pashchim Para. During search they recovered and seized 475 bottles phensidyal[100 ml each bottle], Indian Currency Rs.59,60,000/- and Bangladeshi Currency 2,39,200 taka from the house of Nirmal Shil. Accused Nirmal Shil was found absconding. He has not been arrested. The basic question is how Nirmal could have been running his illegal business located within few kilometers of the BSF headquarters at Salbagan. What took BSF so long to act against Nirmal. Will he be nabbed ?

Aitorma Agartala sentrum, Dec launch possible?

Agartala, 17/07/2012
Aitorma Agartala sentrum, was all set to be the first state of the art commercial complex in the state capital and was scheduled to get opened long time back will at long last get launched in December. Reports said, this joint venture project of TSCCF and Shristi was slated to be launched by this date. But today at a press meet Rahul Verma, Director TSSCF stated that they expect a December launch even as he confused everybody by stating that by Durga puja the ground and second floor will get operational. This created confusion among the scribes present at a press meet held in a posh hotel. The project cost is Rs 50 crores, he stated. It may be mentioned here that from day one when Shristi came to Agartala there was air of confusion why this company came to this city. The project hit lots of roadblocks and the state government also had to face lots of flak for going for such a joint venture. The confusions will only get cleared when the complex gets launched. Even today when scribes asked about the possibility of the company coming for future projects there was lack of confidence showing all over. Avrajit Kar, V.P (Marketing) was also present at the press meet which could not clear the air of puzzlement regarding Shristi.

Wife arrested for murder of husband

Agartala, 16/07/2012
In a tragic incident police arrested wife of a NBCC engineer for orchestrating the murder of her husband. About 5 years back one Chandan Das (30) of Master Para, PS-Khowai married one Puspa Gour (Das) (26), of Lengvabill, PS-Champahower as per social custom. On Saturday night at any time Chandan Das committed suicide by hanging in his house at Master Para, Ward No.15 (about 3 Km South – West from Khowai). In this regard an UD Case was registered on 15-07-2012 vide Khowai PS UD Case No.26/12 u/s 174 CrPC. Subsequently, Rajendra Das, father of the deceased alleged that Ms Puspa Gour (Das) along with 2 unknown others who stayed in the house on Saturday killed his son Chandan Das and thereafter hanged his dead body. Police visited the place of occurrence and arrested accused Puspa Gour.

Tripura road link snapped

Shillong, 16/07/2012
Road links to the Northeastern states including Tripura has got cut off. Reports said the states of Mizoram, Tripura and parts of Manipur and southern Assam remained cut off from the rest of India from yesterday following massive landslides at a major highway in Meghalaya, an official said Sunday.The National Highway No 44 at Sonapur and Tongseng in Jaintia Hills district in eastern Meghalaya, bordering Assam, has been blocked after heavy rains triggered landslides with huge boulders covering the road. Sonapur and Tongseng, about 150 km from Shillong, is a landslide prone area and is linked with NH-40 connecting Shillong and Guwahati.Hundreds of passenger’s vehicles and trucks carrying essentials have been stranded on both ends of the landslide-hit road. Passenger vehicles were also stranded on the national highway, which is the lifeline for landlocked Tripura and Mizoram. The Geological Survey of India has identified Sonapur as a landslide prone area. (file pix)

Successful raids carried out

Agartala, 15/07/2012
In yet another successful raid on Saturday between 2 PM to 2.30 PM acting on a secret information Officer in Charge of Bishalgarh police station accompanied by SDPO, Bishalgarh and Dy. Commandant, G. Branch, BSF, Gakulnagar, Anil Kumar recovered approx. 10000 bottles of phensidyle, 3000 Rexcuff, 1000 recodex and 906 bottles of foreign liquor from Bishalgarh South market. All these articles have been seized under section 102 CrPC. In another incident on Friday at 1,40 PM Nobalochan Debbarma, Forester, I/C State Forest Patrolling Unit, Kanchanpur, Kanchanpur and staff during their patrolling at Dupattacherra, Ujan Machmara R.F area detained one Sriram Chakma(30), of Dupattacherra, Kanchanpur at Ujan Machmara(about 10km North-East from Kanchanpur) who was illegally carrying a country made gun along with gun powder approx-200 gram, Fire Caps-25 nos, Torch Light(6 battery)- 2 nos, Dao-1 and handed over him to Police. Accused Sriram Chakma has been arrested and the recovered articles have been seized. In the same subdivision Bornojoy Tripura, listed as a hardcore militant in police records, yesterday deposited a knife and Bangladeshi Taka 500 to the Army.

Merit list to be released soon

Agartala, 15/07/2012
Altogether 1204 applications have been received from students seeking admission in diploma engineering institutions of the state. Addressing a press meet here today Sekhar Dutta on behalf of the central selection committee of diploma engineering programs hinted that they may also go for common admission test from next year. In TIT, Women’s polytechnic and Ambassa polytechnic there are 515 seats available. From this 25 are reserved for physically challenged candidates. The merit list in all probability will be published by Saturday or Sunday. The marks obtained in Madhyamik will be the criterion for selection.

NIT to be knowledge hub of NE region

Agartala, Jul 20, 2012 : The National Institute of Technology, Agartala will introduce more specialized course including disciplines like hydro-informatics, aeronautics and automobile and soon it will be the knowledge hub in entire Northeast region, said Dr PK Bose Director, NIT-Agartala.

NIT Agartala, which has bagged an award from 1st World Education Congress in the category of engineering colleges and also been ranked in National B-School award by ABP News, is now providing courses on civil, mechanical, electrical and computer science engineering at the post graduate level.

Briefing media at NIT campus, Jirania on Thursday, he added that the symposium had also felicitated the director for his contribution in the education sector.

Highlighting on the ongoing projects and their status, Dr Bose informed that several construction works are underway.

He said that for upgradation of NIT, Agartala as world-class educational institute, the Union Human Resources Development Ministry has taken several initiatives to improve the infrastructure development.

“All these infrastructural development activities are being carried out in an effective and time-saving formula”, stated the Director.

He said, NIT Agartala is looking for an expansion of its campus for the purpose.

NIT Agartala is working on strengthening research in modern sciences and along with the Indian Institute of Technologies; it has received financial assistance from the concerned ministry to set up a centre of excellence in this campus, said Dr Bose.

Polling for Prez election held smoothly in Tripura

Agartala, Jul 19, 2012 : Amidst tight security the polling for electing the President of India has begun in Tripura legislative assembly along with other state assemblies of the country on Thursday morning.

Altogether 57 MLAs of 60 members Tripura Legislative assembly voted for UPA’s Presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee from Thursday morning even as three members of parliament cast their votes in parliament house in New Delhi.

In the 60-member Assembly, the opposition Congress has 10 members and its ally INPT has 1 member while the ruling Left Front has 49 members.

Mukherjee will get the support of 57 MLAs and 3 MPs as two Left parties- CPI and RSP have not pledged their support to his candidature.

Meanwhile, 1 CPI MLA and 2 RSP members abstained from polling in accordance with the decision of their central leadership.

Earlier, six ballot boxes were sent to the state assembly by Election Commission. Massive security measures were made in and around the Assembly to ensure fairness.

Election had begun at the Assembly House at 10-00 hrs and within three hours, all the voters exercised their franchises in the presence of election observer Devindar Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power and Assistant Returning Officer S. Bhattacharjee. Friday morning, the vote boxes will be flown to New Delhi for counting under tight security cover.

Another Presidential candidate P. A. Sangma belonging to northeast did not get any vote from Tripura because he was supported by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA alliance.

According to election commission, vote value of Tripura for the presidential election is 3189 that comprises the value of each MLA at 26 and each MP at 708.

Indo-German Development Cooperation reviews implementation in Tripura

Agartala, Jul 19, 2012 : A visiting delegation of Indo-German Development Cooperation (IGDC) project started a review visit in the state today. The two-day long visit is scheduled to account for the implementation of IGDC project in Tripura for the last one year. The delegates visited several projects operational in Dhalai district and parts of North Tripura district throughout the day.

A courtesy meeting was held with Forest Minister Jitendra Chaudhury later today. Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat here this evening, the minister said that the inspection team had expressed huge satisfaction at implementation of IGDC projects in the state. “They have lauded the wide expanse of FRA implementation in Tripura, which on the other hand, paves the way for better implementation of forest-based projects’, said he. IGDC is expected to submit a report on progress of its project in Tripura tomorrow.

Delhi asks Tripura to increase power tariff to match loss

Agartala, Jul 19, 2012 : New Delhi has asked Tripura along with all other states to increase power tariff to match with growing loss in the sector, said Power Minister Manik Dey this evening. A meeting of the 12th Five Year Plan was held at New Delhi on Tuesday on power sector. Principal Resident Commissioner of New Delhi Tripura Bhawan, RK Vaish represented Tripura at the meeting.

Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat here today, Dey said that the central government has asked all the states to initiate outsourcing in distribution sector of power to keep at par with the loss incurred. While all the states asked for continuing government subsidy in power, Delhi has asked to initiate outsourcing by selecting franchisee in power billing, collection and maintenance. Montek Singh Ahluwahliah, vice chairperson of the Planning Commission of India, who was present at the meeting, reportedly scoffed at most of the states for failing to meet the stipulated targets of generation. Tripura, on the other hand, spoke against further outsourcing in power sector. “Tariff hike is not the way out of the crisis. The government should allow power at reasonable cost to agriculture and industrial sectors for facilitating growth”, RK Vaish said at the meeting.

The state government has also demanded facilitation of immediate rejuvenation of hydel projects operational in the state, expediting of work in Palatana-Silchar-Bongaigaon 400 KV transmission line, accepting 90:10 ratio for the proposed National Electricity Fund etc.

Jiten opposes tea board initiative in Assam

Agartala, Jul 18, 2012 : Tripura government has firmly opposed the recent initiative of Tea Board to shift its zonal office in northeast from Guwahati to Jorhat in upper Assam and opening of a new directorate for small tea growers at Dibrugarh. The industry minister of state Jiten Chowdhury has sought urgent intervention of union commerce minister Anand Sharma to abort the move . In a recent letter to the union minister, Jiten has pointed out the difficulties which tea growing zones of northeast including Tripura will face. 'What I have demanded in my letter to the union minister for commerce is that the zonal headquarter of Tea Board in northeast be retained in Guwahati and consultations held among all tea growing states regarding location of the directorate for small tea growers' said Jiten , adding that the Tea Board has arrived at this decision unilaterally with seeking opinion of other tea-growing states.

He said that Dibrugarh and Jorhat in Assam were not as well connected with other parts of northeast as Guwahati and shifting of Tea Board's regional headquarter at Jorhat and directorate for small tea growers in Jorhat and Dibrugarh will create lot of problems for Tripura and other tea-producing areas of the region. Resenting the aribitrary decision taken by the Tea Board Jiten said tea sector in Tripura comprising 57 functional tea gardens spread over West, South, Dhalai and North Tripura districts of the state and over four thousand small tea growers were reeling under many problems and the shifting of the headquarter from Guwahati to Jorhat and setting up of the directorate for small tea growers in Dibrugarh will only worsen the situation by putting further stress on the tea industry in Tripura.

'It seems the Tea Board has taken this decision keeping in view the interests of the tea industry in Assam, no objection to Assam's interests being protected but why should we suffer? The decision has been taken keeping all other tea-producing states in the dark' said Jiten. Citing Tripura's contribution to the tea sector, he said that the cumulative production of tea in Tripura in 2011 had reached 4.7 million KG. He specially lashed out at the decision to set up a separate directorate for small tea growers at Dibrugarh , asserting that such a directorate should be located , keeping in view the overall interest of all small tea growers in the country. 'What the Tea Board should bear in mind is that besides northeast, the states south India, West Bengal and even Himachal Pradesh have lot of small tea growers and the Board should ensure that interests of all are equally protected when a separate directorate is launched; the location of the directorate in Dibrugarh will create more problems for the small tea growers in the country than it will solve' said Jiten. 

He has urged upon the union minister for commerce to prevail upon the Tea Board to reverse its decision by retaining the regional headquarter in Guwahati and by selecting a place for locating the new directorate for small tea growers. 'We should have the new directorate in a place which is well connected with all tea growing states by rail, road and air ; the town of Dibrugarh in Assam cannot provide such connectivity and the decision should be revised immediately in the interest of small tea growers across the country' Jiten told Anand Sharma in his letter.

Political clashes: 20 injured in Ranirbazar, bandh peaceful on Wednesday

Agartala, Jul 18, 2012 : Political clashes once again erupted at Dhan Chowmuhani area under Ranirbazar Police Station on Tuesday evening. The situation turned worse in the area with two political rivals- ruling CPM and opposition Congress -resorting to fierce pitched battles and stone pelting.



However, both the parties called 12-hours bandh on Wednesday in Ranirbazar Nagar Panchayat area.

Police sources said, all necessary arrangements have been made to maintain law and order. Several companies of para military forces and riot controlling vehicles have been also positioned in Ranirbazar. So far no untoward incident has been reported on Wednesday.

Police added that at least 20 supporters of both Congress and CPM were injured in the Tuesday evening clash. Two of them were shifted in GB hospital. They were Nepal Das and Raideep Saha.

Sources said skirmishes had actually begun on Tuesday evening when opposition Congress brought out a protest rally in Ranirbazar area. When the rally reached Dhan Chowmuhani area near Ranirbazar police station, some miscreants hurled stones targeting the rally.

In the meantime, Congress activists went wild alleging that they had been attacked by ruling party supporters and blockaded the National Highway-44 demanding arrest of local CPM leaders who had attacked the rally.

After a few minutes situation turned volatile once again as hundreds of the Congress and CPM supporters engaged in street fights that left 20 persons injured.

As many as 15 Congress supporters were injured in the fight, said PCC spokesman Ratan Chakraborty who was also present in the rally. Altogether two separate complaints have been lodged in the Police Station accusing each others, Police said.

After the incident senior police officials rushed to the spot with additional forces to ease the tension.

Tripura to submit report on second phase of PMGSY by August

Agartala, Jul 18, 2012 : Tripura is expected to submit around 50 percent of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the new phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) by August, said a high official of the Rural Development department here today. State government had raised voice with the centre for allowing PMGSY benefits for habitations having a population of 250 or below instead of the erstwhile formula of 500 population benchmark. While the central government approved the proposal long back, DPR preparation work for construction of rural roads under the new structure was set afoot recently. Around 50 percent of the work is expected to be completed by August. The report is supposed to be submitted to the National Rural Road Development Agency monitored by Ministry for Rural Development by the next month. 

Tripura was allocated a total sanction of 2981 Km road length to be constructed under the scheme with a financial involvement of Rs. 1894 crores till May, 2012. The state government could complete 2274 Km in the stipulated timeframe.

Words like ‘remote’ and ‘distant’ shall wither away, CM

Agartala, Jul 17, 2012 : Words such as 'distant' or 'remote' in the context of Tripura shall soon cease to exist as the Left Front is determined to erase such expressions by giving the state the best possible road connectivity. Asserting this after inaugurating the newly built ‘Chintamoni bridge’ across Gomati river, connecting tribal hamlet Tuibandal with Melaghar block headquarter, at Mohanbhog yesterday, the chief minister said within next two years words like ‘distant’ or ‘remote’ will no longer be used to designate locations in Tripura. ‘There was a time when we used to hear that no bridge can be built across the Gomati, there would be too many problems but we have proved that success can be achieved in all ventures provided one works with honesty and commitment ; lack of resources does not pose any problem’ said Sarkar .

The ‘Chintamoni bridge’, inaugurated yesterday by the chief minister at Mohanbhog under Melaghar block was the second bridge dedicated to the people within a fortnight as on July 2 the chief minister had unveiled another pucca bridge across the Gomati, known as Pocharmarghat bridge . ‘These bridges are not merely pucca constructions, they embody the hopes and aspirations of the common people and dedicated efforts of the Left Front government for overall development of the state’ said the chief minister. 

Sarkar who is known for his fluent on-stage articulation on the occasions of inaugural programmes of completed development projects referred to the by-election to the Nalchhar assembly constituency held last month. ‘The best address of democracy is Nalchhar where 96% of the voters cast ballots to put on record their choice; this is perhaps a national record because I know of no other election since 1952 where so many people have cast votes’ said Sarkar. He described this as incontrovertible proof of the ‘mature democratic consciousnesses of the people of Tripura. ‘With peoples co-operation the state can make rapid progress but we must be on guard against planned efforts to disrupt peace and ethnic harmony in Tripura ;nobody should , however, take law into own hands’ said the chief minister.

Open enclosure for caged animals of Sipahijala, soon

Agartala, Jul 17, 2012 : The caged animals belonging to various species in the Sipahijala Zoological Park under Sipahijala district of Tripura would get open air enclosures along with other modern facilities to improve the living conditions of the zoo animals.

The zoo authorities had submitted a ‘master layout plan’ before the Union Zoo authorities. This layout plan has already been sanctioned by the authorities for modernisation drive in zoo, said director of zoological park Ajit Kumar Bhowmik on Tuesday.

Giving details of the layout plan, Bhowmik said an amount of Rs 32 crore would be utilised for open air enclosures for animals, underground electricity lines, iron removal plant for supply of iron free water, most sophisticated infrastructures for animals, modern hospital inside the zoo and research facilities along with other developmental initiatives.

He added that soon the zoo authorities will send the ‘Master plan’ to central zoo authority hoped that from next year the facilities would be installed.

The state's lone zoological park is a home to 547 animals of 51 species, of which 33 species are identified as rare and endangered animals, said Bhowmik adding that within next ten years 31 more species of animals would be stationed in the zoo after being brought from other zoos of the country as per animal exchange process.

As per the master plan, the number of species would go up from 51 to 81 within next ten years, he said.

Bhowmik said animal exchange programme was initiated with the other zoos or the zoological parks for matching of pairs and introducing new animals.

‘We would like to make the open enclosures after formal approval of master plan up to the national standard so that the animals could live in healthier condition’, he added.

A female Sambar deer has got her partner on July 12, that came from Patna Zoological Park as part of exchange of one pair of clouded leopard cats, said Bhowmik.

He said process to bring animals like lions, giraffe and zebra is on and soon tourists will see such animals.

The Union authorities have recently given nod for breeding of lions, Bhowmik said, adding there is only one pair of female lions which are suffering from old age problems.

He hoped that soon the union authorities would approve the ‘pure Asiatic lion’ collection process.

Bhowmik also said that after approval of master plan, the Sipahijala zoo also have facilities for research works for biologists and animal researchers.

Only recently the zoo authorities have brought three Emu, largest giant bird of Australia to add another feather to its tourist attraction along with other exotic species of animals.

Alternative medical college proposal in cabinet by next month

Agartala, Jul 17, 2012 : Tripura’s ruling Left Front is likely to raise detailed proposal for setting up Ayurvedic College, homeopathic college and dental college in the cabinet by next month, said Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty here today. Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat, the minister said that the government has received tremendous response in the Expression of Interest (EOI) called by the department for finalizing private partners in the institutions scheduled to be set in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The state has already been allotted Rs. 18 crores for setting up ayurvedic and homeopathic college, said Chakraborty.



While a large number of inexperienced private investors were reported to have expressed interest for becoming partners in the alternative medicinal education institutions, JIS Group was known to have been selected for consideration in dental college. A Kolkata-based group was known to have been considered for the Ayurvedic College. However, the government wasn’t satisfied with candidates who expressed interest for the homeopathic college. A separate EOI would be invited for the homeopathic college, said the Health Minister. The department has called all selected prospective entrepreneurs for discussion; the issue is likely to be raised at the cabinet by next month, added he.

Tripura may support nationwide uniform entrance for engg

Agartala, Jul 17, 2012 : While the Tripura Board of Joint Entrance Examination (TBJE) result controversy continues to haunt the state government, Tripura is on the way of washing hands of the entire stuff of entrance exams. After giving nod to the proposal of centrally conducted medical entrance examination earlier this year, Tripura was found to be actively considering possibilities of supporting proposal for nationwide uniform entrance exam in engineering education also.

Speaking to reporters at the civil secretariat here this evening, School Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty said, “the state government is actively considering the proposal for supporting centrally monitored uniform joint entrance examination for engineering education in the lines of medical education. We shall not object to the proposal if the interests of Tripura aren’t hampered”. The minister, however, declined to give any statements on the current controversy of TBJEE result scam.

CM's note of caution against extortion

Agartala, Jul 16, 2012 : Sounding a note of caution against rampant annual extortion in the name of community 'Durga Puja', chief minister Manik Sarkar has called upon clubs and organizers to ensure that common people bear no grude or grievance while giving subscription to 'Puja' organizers. 'The clubs must keep their 'Puja' budget within reasonable limits so that no pressure is brought to bear on common people who actually pay for the expenses' the chief minister said while addressing people in a blood donation camp organized yesterday by the 'Kunjaban Sevak Sangha', a club close to Circuit House in northern Agartala.

Sarkar also referred to growing allegations of high-handedness and corruption against a section of people who act as middlemen to settle land deals in lieu of hefty sums of money. 'We are aware of allegations against land-sharks who use clubs for fleecing people while settling transactions over land ; this can not go on and all clubs must be on guard against such malpractices that work against the interests of common people' said the chief minister.

Besides organizing a blood donation camp, the office-bearers of 'Kunjaban Sevak Sangha' held a felicitation programme for five meritorious students of the locality who have performed creditably in the exams conducted by secondary education boards. 'It is a matter of pride and happiness that all five students being felicitated are girls but still they are neglected; the girls must come forward to claim their rights' Sarkar said. He also referred to the men-women ratio in Tripura which is better than national average, according to the enumeration of the census conducted last year. 'But it is a matter of concern that sex ratio in the age group of 1-6 is against girls in our state , specially in West Tripura; we must reverse this trend' said Sarkar.

BSF recovers huge cash, banned cough syrup

Agartala, Jul 16, 2012 : Huge amount of Indian and Bangladeshi currency notes along with banned cough syrup were recovered in a successful joint operation by a team of BSF, Customs and police personnel from Gandhigram area under Sadar subdivision on Sunday evening.

Police sources said, security forces had specific information of huge amount of illegal storage of cough syrup meant for smuggling and currencies in the house of one Nirmal Shil in West Para village of Gandhigram.

“Based on the information, a joint contingent of BSF, Customs and police raided the house of Nirmal Shil on Sunday evening and recovered the currency notes and banned cough syrup bottles,” said B S Rawat, DIG-BSF.

Feeling the presence of security forces the smuggler Nirmal along with two of his accomplice brothers had, however, escaped from the spot.

During the search operation security forces recovered a total amount of Indian currency of Rs 59.6 lakh and Bangladeshi currencies of 2.39 lakh (Taka) from the house of Nirmal.

Along with the notes security forces also seized 449 bottles of contraband cough syrup Phensidyl and Recodex.

Police added money recovered was a part of the consignment of cough syrup that had already been smuggled across the border. 

Meanwhile, a massive manhunt has also been initiated to nab the main accused Nirmal Shil and his two brothers.

AICC seeks help from Tripura for DUSU election

Agartala, Jul 16, 2012 : Tripura has come to face the limelight of attention centering upcoming Delhi University Studens Union (DUSU) election. The last left bastion has been chosen as epicenter of focus for DUSU polls after SFI central committee dismantled the SFI unit committee of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after it opposed the support of CPI (M) towards Pranab Mukherjee, congress nominated candidate for the presidential elections.

All India Congress Committee general secretary for Tripura Luizinho Faleiro asked Tripura along with few others NE states to play a decisive role in the upcoming Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election. The election scheduled to be held in September, 2012 is expected to stage a decisive fight between the Congress students brigade and left and saffron student wings.

Tripura was asked for organizing support for DUSU polls at the last moment in 2011-2012. Tripura Pradesh Youth Congress president Sushanta Choudhury managed to arrange around 70 votes of Tripura-based students studying in different institutions under Delhi University. AICC general secretary in-charge of Tripura Luizinho Faleiro has asked Tripura Pradesh Congress president Sudip Roy Barman well in advance this year to arrange for the support. “Our PCC president has been asked by the AICC to organize support and launch campaign among Tripura-based students. We are going to try to arrange support for NSUI candidates in the upcoming DUSU polls”, Pradesh Youth Congress president Choudhury said.

Tremor jolts Northeast

Agartala, Jul 16, 2012 : A moderate range of earthquake once again rocked the Northeastern states in the mid night of Sunday. However, there were no casualties or damage to property.

According to IMD, the quake measured 5.5 on the Richter scale and took place around 1.25 am. The tremor felt in Itanagar, Guwahati and Agartala, besides Kohima in Nagaland.

The tremor epicenter was latitude 25.5 degrees north and longitude 94.2 degrees east in Kohima, Nagaland. It originated 35 km below the surface, the IMD added. 

The state is located in seismic Zone -5 and considered highly vulnerable.

Enthusiastic response for setting up dental, ayurvedic, homeopathic colleges

Agartala, Jul 15, 2012 : After government’s decision to set up three more professional colleges - dental, ayurvedic and homeopathic in public-private partnership (PPP) model, the Tripura government has received good response from various organizations proposing to set up three medical institutions.

The government had invited Expression of Interest (EoI) for establishing three medical colleges early this year. “A number of organizations expressed their interest to set up the institutions in response to the EoIs. Now, the government is looking into the bids”, said an official of health department.

As per the decision, the Homeopathic College will come up at Kailashahar, Ayurvedic College and Dental College are to be established at Udaipur and Agartala.

The government received EoI from one organization from Kerala which has expertise in running Ayurvedic hospital. However, other organizations don’t have expertise in running either Dental Hospital or Homeopathic Hospital which was precondition of the EoI”, said Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty.

The minister said "for the ayurvedic and homeopathic colleges, the central government has sanctioned Rs.8.10 crore. The state has allotted land for setting up of the three 50-seated medical colleges."

The government is working on the proposals, he said adding that if the situation requires, the government will remodel the plan. 

Altogether eight PHCs will come up during the month to boost the rural healthcare facilities. 

Earlier, this the cabinet has already decided to appoint 150 doctors in order to address the shortage of physicians. As per the guideline, the state needs 127 PHCs while it has only 81 PHCs. The state requires 1460 doctors to run the government hospitals but currently the number of doctors stands at 740. The shortage of doctors will be mitigated after appointment of new doctors in the state.

Youth Congress election in August

Agartala, Jul 15, 2012 : The all India Youth Congress Committee has started scrutiny of its membership drive in Tripura in preparation for the upcoming organizational elections of Youth Congress.

Briefing media here at Congress Bhavan, Kunal Banerjee, central election observer, said that organizational poll will take place in the first week of August . An Indian Youth Congress (IYC) central team will stay here for the scrutiny process, Banerjee said.

They will scrutinize and also accept corrections in the member list including wrong placement of names, booths or assembly segments and all other mandatory fields for membership.

Banerjee said, there are more than 1 lakh registered members in Pradesh Youth Congress including women. The poll process had formally begun with its membership drive a month back and after publication of final voter list, the poll will be announced, said Banerjee adding that a new body of state Youth Congress will come up after elections.

TMC go for civil disobedience movement

Agartala, Jul 14, 2012 : Tripura Pradesh Trinamool Congress today organized a mass ‘civil disobedience movement’ here at Agartala against the ‘misrule’ of Left Front government in Tripura.

Thousands of TMC workers from across the state participated in a mass procession through various thoroughfares of Agartala before their mass arrest at Joynagar bus stand area on Saturday noon.

TMC raised their slogans against the recent Tripura Board of joint Entrance Examination (TBJEE) scam, atrocities on women, rampant corruption including 21-point charter of demand.

Police said, altogether 2015 activists of TMC including state leaders were arrested during their civil disobedience movement.

Joint Entrance: CM, HEM to accept court verdict

Agartala, Jul 13, 2012 : The storm and dust sparked by exposure of alleged irregularities in the joint entrance examination-2012 conducted by the Tripura Board of Joint Entrance Examination (TBJEE) continues unabated with the opposition targeting the state government for the alleged scam without any proof . The matter is now in the Agartala bench of Guwahati high court with altogether eleven allegedly deprived candidates and their guardians having moved the court for redressal of their various grievances. But even though the high court which has seized all the answer scripts from the custody of the TBJEE authority is looking into the issue, the opposition Congress has resorted to their traditional confusion peddling programme by calling a statewide bandh on Friday.

However the state government has not yet taken a position on the issue on the legitimate ground that the issue is sub judice. The chief minister Manik Sarkar who spoke to media last night to announce a package benefit programme for the poorer sections of people refused to make any comment on the issue when asked for reaction. 'The matter is in court and the court's opinion will have to be our opinion; but the TBJEE has made a statement clarifying its position on the matter and I have nothing more to say' said the chief minister.

Similarly, the minister for higher education, veteran Anil Sarkar said that the state government would abide by the order passed by the high court on the Joint Entrance issue.’The state government is not involved in this and we have nothing to lose or gain, so we will abide by the court order' said Sarkar. He added that the state government still believes in the transparency of the TBJEE and the high court is yet to accuse it of any wrong-doing.

YC, NSUI called Tripura Bandh total

Agartala, Jul 13, 2012 : Normal life came to a standstill in Tripura following the state wide 12-hours Bandh on Friday called by the Youth Congress and NSUI, the student wing of opposition Congress to protest the result scam of Tripura Board of Joint Entrance Examination (TBJEE). Since morning, capital Agartala took a deserted look. There were no vehicular movements on roads including NH 44. The city shops kept their shutters down and the markets remained closed. There was no market in the sub urban areas.

In order to make the 12-hour Tripura bandh a total success, the youth and student wings of opposition Congress organized picketing across the state.

Meanwhile, the ruling CPM’s youth wing DYFI and student wing SFI along with other frontal organizations of the left front strongly opposed the bandh called by the NSUI-Youth Congress.

Sources said, large scale violence was reported in East Pratapgarh area of Agartala as NSUI and SFI activists fought pitched battles.

Pitched battle started, when NSUI activists tried to close East Pratapgarh H S School, but school headmaster had refused to close the school. After a hot altercation, SFI and NSUI supporters started fighting and stone pelting.

As a result, NSUI leader Amit Kumar Saha along with other activists sustained injuries. However, massive number of police and TSR personnel were deployed to ease the tension.

After the incident was reported, PCC chief Sudip Roy Barman along with senior Congress leaders rushed to the spot.

Some YC activists also halted an ambulance in Madhavbari area of NH-44 under Jirania police station . But, after immediate intervention of police , the road was cleared for ambulance, said Jirania police station.

About 200 picketers were arrested under Kalyanpur police station in Khowai district on Friday morning, when picketers gheraoed BDO office and halted the ways of block officials.

Police added that hundreds of Congress picketers were arrested across the state.

Barring some stray incidents, there was no report of any major untoward incident in any part of the state.

The passenger trains in Agartala-Dharmanagar-Agartala route were cancelled. Banks and financial organizations were closed; attendances in government offices and Civil Secretariats were virtually nil. All the educational institutions remained closed even as Tripura central University and large number of schools examinations were cancelled.

"India-Bangladesh trade was also partially hit due to Friday as Bangladesh observe their weekly holiday on Friday . Only few numbers of trucks were stranded on the other sides of the Akhaura check post near here due to the shutdown," a customs official here said.

All necessary arrangements were made to maintain law and order. Several companies of para military forces and riot controlling vehicles were also positioned all over the state including capital city of Agartala.

However, air services on the Agartala-Kolkata, Agartala-Guwahati and Agartala-New Delhi routes operates normally . Passengers flying to Kolkata and other destinations from Agartala have been transported to airport from West Agartala police station with police escort. Massive security arrangements were made at every nook and corner of the capital and its outskirts areas.

Bishnupriya group launches Talent Search

Agartala, Jul 12, 2012 : Meingal, a Guwahati based registered NGO announced to introduce the "MEINGAL EXEMPLARY TALENT AWARD" to identify and give recognition to the hidden talents in the society who are successful in various fields of life through their own efforts, extra-ordinary talents and dedications.

The NGO has decided to search such talents from the Bishnupriya Manipuri society and bring forward to know their success story and set an example for others. It will bring a ray of hope among the mass to walk through the stairs of success inspite of various struggles in life. Under this scheme in the current year-2012, the award will be given to the talented Bishnupriya Manipuri women(“Beyapa”) group from the community. All women of 18 years age & above are eligible for the award irrespective of unmarried or married or widow and unemployed or employed who are original residents of Assam and Tripura states. The nomination can be sent by self or recommended by others supported with documentary proof of their outstanding performance & achievements in their respective fields/areas of excellence. The awards will involve a trophy, certificate and cash award.

Further, the NGO announced to conduct an Essay Writing Competition on the topic in English - “Exemplary Role of Women in my life and in the Bishnupriya Manipuri Society”. The same essay can be written in Bishnupriya Manipuri language on the topic - “Mor Jivone baro Bishnupriya Manipuri Somaje Beyapar Dristantomulok Bhumika”. The essay should be written either in English or Bishnupriya Manipuri within 1200 words, neatly written or typed in double space in A-4 size paper duly signed in by the writer himself at the end of the essay. The competition is open for all Bishnupriya Manipuri people of India and abroad and should be 18 years of age and above. The participants who will secure 1st, 2nd and 3rd position will be awarded with cash amount of Rs 3000, Rs.2000 and Rs.1000 along with certificate respectively. All other participants will also be honoured with Consolation prizes and certificates. In this regard, a magazine will also be published compiling all the essays and the success story of selected women for the Meingal Exemplary Talent Award-2012. Last date to submit the applications is 15 August, 2012.

Detail information can be downloaded from the website www.meingal.com or contact at 9435105340 & 9613576287, the release added.

CM announces package benefit programme for the poor

Agartala, Jul 12, 2012 : The chief minister Manik Sarkar this evening announced a package benefit programme for the poorer sections of people belonging to BPL, 'Antyoday' categories in terms of ration card holding. Briefing media persons in the conference hall of state secretariat on the decisions taken by today's cabinet meeting Sarkar said that from now on altogether 1,81,876 BPL card holders will get 35 kg rice each per month at the rate of only Rs 2 per kg . Apart from this, altogether 1, 13,124 'Antyoday' card holders who draw 35 kg of rice each per month at the rate of Rs 3.00 a kg will also be given rice at the reduced rate of Rs 2.00 per kg. 'There are altogether 2,95,000 BPL and 'Antyoday' ration card holders in the state and in consequence of our decision between 14.5 and 15 lakh people will directly benefit' said the chief minister . Regarding the additional financial burden that the decision will entail, Sarkar said that the state government will have to spend an additional Rs 36 crores a year to make this benefit available to the people and the scheme will become operational from August 1.

The chief minister also announced a marginal benefit for the 6,63,066 APL ration card holders as their quota of rice per card will rise to 20 kg a month from the present 18 kg though the rate of Rs 10.35 per kg has remained the same . He asserted that many among APL card holders do not draw their quota of rice from ration shops and the surplus this creates will be utilized for covering the gap of additional 2 kg meant for the APL card holders. Sarkar said that because of faulty survey conducted by Centre many poor people who deserved to be enlisted as BPL have been categorized as APL. 'Even in our Dhalai district there are more than nine thousand such people and in accordance with a decision communicated by Centre this section of people is being treated on ad hoc basis as BPL with reduced rate of rice' said the chief minister.

Sarkar also said that the state government has communicated its views on the proposed food security bill a copy of which had been sent to the state government for reaction. 'We have stated our position that the dividing line between APL and BPL should be done away with in the present context of hyper-inflation and price-rise; we have also demanded change in the yardstick of identifying BPL and other depressed categories because the present yardstick being followed by the planning commission leaves large sections of poor people in the lurch' said Sarkar.

The chief minister also announced the state government's plan to recruit 150 doctors for state's hospitals and health centres. 'We currently have 740 doctors but the number is inadequate because health service is being expanded , last year also we recruited 82 doctors but this time most of the new recruits will be posted in the interior areas' said Sarkar . Apart from this, the chief minister announced a scheme of giving award to girl students from minority community in order to encourage them to perform well in academic studies. 'The prize will be named 'Begum Rokeya award' as part of which we will give Rs 5 thousand in cash, a citation and a gold medal each to the most successful girl student from the minority community who will achieve the best results in Madhyamik and higher secondary examinations' said Sarkar.

Youth drowned to death

Agartala, Jul 12, 2012 : A youth of Ramnagar area of Agartala drowned to death in the Laxmi Narayan Bari temple lake on Thursday noon.

After the incident was reported police and fire service personnel rushed to the spot with professional swimmers.

Immediately, drowned youth was brought to the bank of the lake and shifted to G B hospital, where doctors declared him ‘brought dead’.

Later, drowned youth was identified as Swaroop Saha, a 19 year old youth from Ramnagar-4 area.

Police said that body of the deceased has been sent to GB hospital morgue for autopsy.

Tripura asks for better power transmission in NE

Agartala, Jul 12, 2012 : Tripura asked Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) to attend pressing requirement of repair in Jiribam-Aizwal and Jiribam-Loktak phase II transmission lines. The lines are affecting power supplies to a large extent in Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur for quite some time, said Manik Dey, power minister of the state at meeting of NERPC in Faridabad.

“Northeast is expected to have a bunch of new power projects by the next five years. Kameing hydel project is expected to become operational by June, 2016, Bongaigaon thermal power plant is expected to get operational by August, 2013. Palatana power project would start functioning by August, 2012 and Tuirial hydel project is expected to get functional within 2015”, said Dey speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

Stating that the region is experiencing huge growth in energy demand, Dey said at the meeting that upcoming 726.6 power project at Palatana would serve a great deal in supporting the supplies. A 400 KV Associated Transmission System (ATS) of the project which was extended till Silchar is expected to get operational matching the commissioning schedule of the power project, he said. However, Tripura power minister observed that transmission of the entire shared power from Palatana for other states through single 400 KV line upto Bongaigaon wouldn’t be reliable. A proposal was placed to the centre for examining possibilities of linkage with National Grid through Bangladesh using a second 400 KV transmission line from North Bengal to Bangladesh.

Tripura also sought to withdraw 116 percent price hike of natural gas which came into effect from June, 2010. “The impact of price hike was further compounded by making domestic gas price linked to dollar-based exchange rates, Gas purchased by state power utilities from GAIL, ONGC is exclusively from local gas reserves. There is no rationale for linking purchase cost of such gas with dollar exchange rates”, said the minister. He batted hard for immediate rollback of gas price hike and its linkage with dollar-based exchange rates.

Conflicting position on Tripura bandh tomorrow

Agartala, Jul 12, 2012 : In order to make the 12-hour Tripura bandh a total success, the youth and student wings of opposition Congress started massive campaign across the state.

Meanwhile, the ruling CPM’s youth wing DYFI and student wing SFI along with other frontal organizations of the left front strongly opposed the bandh called by the NSUI-Youth Congress.

NSUI activists organized campaign in different degree colleges including MBB College in support of the strike to be observed on July 13. The NSUI supporters also intensified their campaign on Thursday in every college of state in support of the bandh called in protest against the alleged Joint Entrance Result scam.

Pradesh Congress on Wednesday supported the bandh called by YC and NSUI.

In a press release, it called upon people to observe the strike to safeguard the interest of students. INPT and its frontal organization Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) have already supported the bandh.

INPT in statement expressed their concern over the scam in joint entrance results. They also demanded judicial probe into the entire procedure of JEE and appealed to the state government to take appropriate step to punish guilty persons .

The Leftist student-youth organizations on Wednesday hit the streets opposing the Friday’s bandh.

CPM’s state secretariat in a statement said the bandh is politically motivated to confuse people. Terming the decision of NSUI and YC as condemnable. The ruling party supported the decision of the Leftist youth-student organizations.

CPM also criticized the role of Congress for bringing a sub-judice matter to the streets. CPM also appealed to the people of the state to oppose the Bandh.