IMPHAL, February 22: The Manipur Human Rights Commission has sought a detailed report from the DGP, Manipur police over the reported conduct of the IG (law and order), in connection with the rape of a minor girl by her uncle, a case pertaining to which is currently before the commission. According to commission sources, the IG is reported to have summoned the mother of the victim, T Pishakmacha, to his Office yesterday and told her to inform the commission that nothing had happened to her daughter so that the case could be closed. He is also said to have questioned the jurisdiction of the...

AGARTALA, February 22: Altogether 17 militants of the Tripura National Security Force, a subsidiary of the outlawed National Liberation Front of Twipra, formally laid down arms this morning. The surrender ceremony was held in front of CRPF inspector-general Vageesh Misra at the CRPF second battalion's headquarters at Narsingarh in Sadar subdivision. The 17 militants, led by Kiranjay Reang, used to work as NLFT collaborators by collecting "tax" and abducting people on a commission basis. They had got in touch with CRPF units in different parts of the state. The CRPF authorities finally rounded...

AGARTALA, February 22: The outlawed National Liberation Front of Twipra has admitted that its policy of forced conversion of Hindu tribals to Christianity had backfired. The outfit also blamed a former advisor for its religious policy. The admission came in the form of a statement faxed to a local daily, which said religious insurgency had created rumblings of dissent among NLFT cadre. This also resulted in "senior commander" Nayanbasi Jamatya deserting the outfit along with a few followers. In the statement issued yesterday, NLFT's "information secretary" M.R. Tuijang blamed its political...

AGARTALA, February 22: Life was crippled in Tripura today following a 48-hour bandh called by the Congress protesting against the killing of party MLA, Madhu Sudhan Saha, here on February 20, report agencies. The Congress also demanded the resignation of the Left Front ministry and a CBI inquiry into the murder. Shops, business establishments, schools, educational institutions, government offices and banks remained closed, while vehicles went off the roads. Security measures had been tightened in view of the bandh. According to the latest reports reaching the police headquarters, no untoward...

IMPHAL, February 22: The principal bench of the Gauhati High Court on Tuesday allowed a petition filed by Ex-Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha and 31 other MLAs of Manipur State Congress Party challenging the order of the Speaker which rejected the resolution moved by a notice on November 18 last year by these MLAs for the removal of the Speaker. According to a leal source available here, quashing the Speaker's said rejection order dated December 5, 2000 Justice AK Patnaik of the High Court directed the placing of the November 18 last year's notice moved by MLAs again before the Manipur...