IMPHAL, July 25: The CRPF authorities have instituted a court of inquiry to investigate the alleged rape and molestation incidents of July 19 at Lamdan Rongmei village in Bishnupur district involving the personnel of the 112 Bn CRPF posted at Lamdan. A press statement issued by the Commandant (Admn) M&N Sector, CRPF said that the Director General of Police, Manipur DS Grewal had already been requested to make arrangements to get the blood, DNA and semen tests of the alleged rapists, the victim and the husband of the victim conducted. They have also requested the state Police department to come...

BANGKOK, July 25: If India tries to extend the ceasefire in Nagaland unilaterally, it will be only "to deceive the world," Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) -- NSCN(IM), tells me. "This is treacherous hypocrisy. India first violates the ceasefire agreement, kills our cadre and then there is talk of unilateral extension of the ceasefire. This is ridiculous," he says. We are talking to each other across two iron grills, separated by a one-foot corridor, in Visitors' Room Number Two of the Bangkok Remand Prison. There are nine such...

SHILLONG, July 25: In a major breakthrough, the Meghalaya Police arrested a hardcore National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) ultra at Jingkieng Nongshiliang here on Monday, reports UNI. The arrested militant, identified as Momba Moa, claimed to be a sergeant major in the NSCN(IM) and the commander-in-charge of operations in Shillong, police said on Tuesday. A .32 Chinese-made pistol with two magazines, 7 live bullets, two Chinese-made hand-grenades and several incriminating documents were seized from his possession. According to police, Moa, who was wanted in connection with several...

GUWAHATI, July 25: The council of "kilonsers" (ministers) of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim has recommended extension of the ongoing ceasefire with the Centre. The ceasefire expires on 31 July. A Union Home Ministry official told The statesman over the telephone from Delhi this evening that the recommendation was made to the "Tatar Ho Ho" (NSCN parliament) following a meeting of the "kilonsers" at Dimapur yesterday. The government is willing to extend the ceasefire. "If the NSCN agrees, then it can be done," the official said. The government and the NSCN had entered into a ceasefire...

IMPHAL, July 24: State authorities are still in the dark about whereabouts of four persons from Manipur, who had been allegedly convicted to 70 years imprisonment by Myanmar authorities on smuggling charges. The Myanmar security forces arrested the four persons on April 24, 1995 near Tamu. 12 gallons of illegal acid-like substances were seized from them. A Myanmarese court after finding them guilty under the provisions of the Myanmar Narcotic Act had sentenced them to 70 years of imprisonment. However, the term was reduced to 10 years after they filed a petition challenging the conviction...