Arunachal Pradesh

Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command, Air Marshal S. Varthaman along with the aircrew during the inauguration of the Advance Landing Ground (ALG), at Vijaynagar, Arunachal Pradesh on November 18, 2011.

An AN-32 flight landed at Vijaynagar to mark the inauguration of the Advance Landing Ground (ALG) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Arunachal Pradesh today.

The facility was formally inaugurated by Arunachal Pradesh Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh accompanied by Air Marshal S Varthaman, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command.

Lieutenant General Rameshwar Roy, Director General Assam Rifles, Air Vice Marshal K S Gill, Senior Officer-in-Charge Administration, Eastern Air Command, senior officials from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Rifles and Indian Air Force were also present on the occasion.

An earthquake of slight intensity, measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale, was recorded in the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border region yesterday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

An IMD bulletin said the quake, which had its epicentre at latitude 26.9 degrees North and longitude 92.3 degrees East, occurred at 1908 hours yesterday at a depth of 5 km.

NNN

Dipika Pallikal

India's top squash player Dipika Pallikal won the 9,000 dollar WISPA Orange County Open after beating Tathreb Adel of Egypt in Irvine, California.

According to the information received here, Pallikal edged past 15-year-old Adel 11-6, 12-10, 11-9 to secure her first title of the year.

The Indian showed good form throughout the tournament and won it without conceding a set.

NNN

A CBI court in Ahmedabad has convicted Ravjibhai Manubhai Pawar of the murder of his Indian employer and four other members of his family in Dubai in 1992 and sentenced him to death.

A press release from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that its investigations had shown that Pawar, while working as a domestic servant in Dubai, had kileld Mr Ramesh K Sagar and four others of Mr Sagar's family on January 4, 1992.

He was also accused of rape and of stealing household articles, including clothes, ornaments and cash.

Pawar feld from Dubai on January 5 and came to India. On the basis of an Interpol alert, he was nabbed on January 10 by the Gujarat police and a first information report (FIR)was registered.

Since the accused was an Indian national and the offence took place outside India, the case was entrusted to the CBI. The Dubai Police had also registered an FIR and collected evidence, which was used by the CBI during investigation and trial of the case, the release said.

The chargesheet was filed on January 23, 1992 in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Chikhli. The trial court found him guilty and convicted him.

The case was registered by the CBI, Ahmedabad (now Gandhinagar) Branch on April 27, 1992 on the basis of the request and consent of the Government of Gujarat for futher investigation of the case filed at the Chikhli Police Station, the release added.

NNN

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met External Affairs Minister S M Krishna here today convey his concern over reports about China building dams on the Brahmaputra, the lifeline of his state.

Mr Krishna assured Mr Gogoi that there was no cause for alarm in this regard.

Mr Gogoi expressed fears that the reported diversion of water from the river by China might adversely affect the interests of his state, which depended so much on the Brahmaputra waters.

However, Mr Krishna told Mr Gogoi that the Chinese had assured India that they were constructing only a small run-of-the river hydro project which would not affect the flow of water in the river in Assam and other lower riparian states.

He said that, besides the Chinese assurance, the government had ascertained from its sources the factual position in the matter.

The External Affairs Minister said the Government was in constant touch with Chinese authorities over the issue and it would never overlook any development that would harm the interests of the state or any other part of the country.

Mr Krishna urged both Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Governments to plan projects to properly utilise the Brahmaputra waters.

Asked about the meeting, Mr Gogoi said Mr Krishna told him the project will not have any impact on Assam.

NNN

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) has given its approval for the implementation of the project for the development of four-laning of the Panikoli-Rimuli section on National Highway (NH) 215 in Orissa.

The project will be implemented under Phase III of the National Highway Development Programme (NHDP) on DBFOT basis in BOT (toll) mode of delivery, an official press release said.

The four-laning of the 163 km-stretch will cost Rs 1648.92 crore, an official press release added.

At its meeting here yesterday, the CCI also approved widening of the existing road from Nechipu to Hoj in Arunachal Pradesh to two-lane National Highway standards.

The CCI gave its approval for updating the civil cost of the project to Rs 1255 crore. It will be taken up on BOT (annuity) basis under the Arunachal Pradesh Package of Roads and Highways.

The cost of the project including civil cost, land acquisition and preconstruction activities and supervision and management is Rs.1524 core.

Similarly, the CCI approved widening of the existing road from Potin to Pangin in Arunachal Pradesh (407 km) to two-lane National Highway standards.

The estimated civil cost of the project is Rs.1676 crore as on March, 2010 prices. The cost of the project including civil cost, land acquisition and preconstruction activities and supervision and management is Rs.2032 crore.

NNN

The Ministry has decided to increase the flights of Alliance Air, a subsidiary of national carrier Air India, to Lilabari and Tezpur due to non-operation of Pawan Hans Helicopter services to Arunachal Pradesh.

Apart from the existing Kolkata-Silchar-Tezpur-Silchar-Kolkata service thrice a week, Alliance Air will now operate the following additional services:

Kolkata-Guwahati-Lilabari-Guwahati-Kolkata--- five frequencies per week).

Guwahati- Tezpur-Jorhat- Guwahati--- (two frequencies per week).

Guwahati-Lilabari-Tezpur-Guwahati--- (one frequency per week).

With these frequencies, the services to Tezpur and Lilabari will increase to six flights per week, an official press release added.

NNN

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Dorjee Khandu.

A pall of gloom descended over Arunachal Pradesh as the mortal remains of late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu were laid to rest at Shebdung (Phamla) near his native village Gyangkhar in Tawang district this morning, ten days after he was killed in a helicopter crash on April 30.

The final journey of late Khandu began from his residence as smoke from Tsang rose into the sky and people waited to bid adieu to the "Laughing Buddha", as he was known.

The body was taken to the cremation ground from his residence after tributes were paid by his relatives besides new Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin and his cabinet colleagues, Speaker Wanglin Lowangdong, Congress leaders Dhaniram Shandil and Sanjoy Bapna, legislators and other senior government, police and Army officials.

Khandu’s funeral was performed as per Monpa traditions and with state honours which included funeral march by various contingents of state police and firing of several rounds into the air as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

More than 7,000 people thronged the cremation ground to pay their last respects to the late leader.

"It is the saddest day of our state and the nation as we gather here today to pay our respectful adieu to our beloved leader," Gamlin said.

"It's hard to believe that the man of his stature, who had been widely loved by the people in the state as well as the entire nation, is no more amongst us today," he said.

"In his death, the country has lost an eminent leader, an able administrator and a compassionate human being, who was committed to all round development.

"We are aware that the vacuum that has been created by his death will never be filled,'' he said, while promising to live up to the people’s aspirations by following the footsteps of late Khandu and carrying forward the dream and vision he had framed for Arunachal Pradesh.

NNN

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Dorjee Khandu.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi were among the thousands of people who paid their last respects today to late Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday with four others.

Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi touched down at the helipad in the Raj Bhawan campus here at about 1030 hours, accompanied by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

They drove down to the chief minister's official residence and paid their last respects to the departed leader.

The Central leaders also met the family of late Khandu and extended their condolences to them before flying back.

Khandu's body is now being flown to Tawang by an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter, where his last rites will be performed at his native village as per Buddhist rituals. A state funeral will be accorded to the late chief minister.

The state government has announced a three-day mourning, starting yesterday, during which the tricolour will be flown half-mast and no government entertainment programme will be organised.

All Central government offices in Arunachal Pradesh remained closed today. The national flag was flown at half-mast yesterday and today in the the capitals of all States and Union Territories.

Hundreds of admirers of Khandu have paid their last respects to their beloved leader here since yesterday. The people lined up the route from the CM's residence to the helipad in Raj Bhawan as the mortal remains of Khandu were transferred in a flower-decked vehicle.

A Pawan Hans chopper, coming from Tawang to Itanagar with Mr Khandu on board, had gone missing minutes after take-off at 0950 hours on Saturday.

Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Chairperson, National Advisory Council, Sonia Gandhi offering condolence to the family members on the demise of the former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Dorjee Khandu, in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on May 06, 2011.

Besides Khandu, on board were two pilots J S Babbar and T S Mammik, the chief minister’s security officer Yashi Chadook and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup.

The wreckage and bodies were recovered by locals near Luguthang in Tawang district four days later on Wednesday after a massive search operation in which more than 3500 personnel of the Army, Air Force and para-military forces as well as the State police were involved.

Meanwhile, 50-year-old Congress leader Jarbom Gamlin was last night sworn in as the new chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh.

Mr Gamlin, the Power Minister in Khandu's Cabinet, was administered the oath of office by the Governor , General (Retd) J J Singh, in Raj Bhawan after a majority of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) members backed his candidature for the post.

NNN

Jarbom Gamlin

Mr Jarbom Gamlin, the Power Minister in the late Dorjee Khandu's cabinet, was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh here last night.

Mr Gamlin was administered the oath of office by Governor J J Singh at Raj Bhavan after the death of Mr Khandu in a helicopter crash on April 30.

Mr Khandu's body was recovered on Wednesday and his funeral is slated in Tawang tomorrow.

Mr Gamlin was chosen as the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), with a majority of the MLAs backing his candidature.

Mr Gamlin had served as Home Minister of the state in 2004-05 during the tenure of then Chief Minister Gegong Apang.

A graduate in history from St Stephen's College, Delhi and a law graduate from the Campus Law College, University of Delhi, Mr Gamlin was a member of the Lok Sabha from the state during 1999-2004.

(With inputs from United News of India)

NNN

The Government has appointed a Committee of Inquiry headed by Air Marshal (Retd.) P S Ahluwalia to inquire into the circumstances of the crash of the Pawan Hans helicopter carrying Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu near Labotang on April 30 while on a flight from Tawang to Itanagar.

Mr Khandu and four others, including the two pilots, were killed in the accident.

The other members of the committee are Mr P K Chattopadhyay and Group Captain (Retd) T V Unnikrishnan. Mr A X Joseph, Senior Air Safety Officer, has been appointed as the Secretary to the committee.

An official press release said the committee would also take assistance of other experts and agencies whenever required. Its headquarters will be in New Delhi.

The committee will subit its report to the Central Government within three months, the release said.

"Keeping in view the circumstances of the sad and tragic accident and fatalities involved, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has found it expedient to institute a Committee of Inquiry under Rule 74 of Aircraft Rules, 1937 to investigate and determine the cause and contributory factors leading to the accident and make recommendations to avoid recurrence of such accidents in future," it said.

NNN

Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Dorjee Khandu.

The mortal remains of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday, were today flown to state capital Itanagar as a pall of gloom descended on the entire state.

An Mi17 chopper of the Indian Air Force (IAF) flew the body of the 56-year-old late chief minister from Tawang to Itanagar and reached the capital city at about 1315 hours.

Khandu's family members and several top politicians of the state, including Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjay, arrived here with the body.

The IAF chopper landed at the helipad in the Raj Bhawan campus of the capital, where Governor JJ Singh paid his last respects to the late chief minister.

The body was taken to the chief minister's official residence in a flower-decked open vehicle as people lined up streets to catch a last glimpse of their beloved leader.

A complete spontaneous shutdown was observed across Itanagar, with all business establishments and educational institutions remaining closed and commercial vehicles staying off the roads.

The body will lie in state in the CM’s official residence till tomorrow, before it is flown back to Tawang for cremation at Khandu's native village there as per Buddhist rituals.

A state funeral will be accorded to the late chief minister.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi will fly to Itanagar tomorrow pay their last respects.

The state government has announced seven days mourning, during which the national flag will be flown half-mast and no government entertainment programme will be held.

All Central Government offices in Arunachal Pradesh will remain closed tomorrow. The national flag flew at half-mast today in the state and in the capitals of all States and Union Territories.

Meanwhile, state PWD minister and Pradesh Congress chief Nabam Tuki was named the caretaker chief minister after a meeting of the state Cabinet here.

Tuki will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by the Governor later in the evening.

Earlier, Khandu’s body was flown to Tawang early this morning by an IAF chopper after it was transferred to Luguthang helipad by ground search parties.

Earlier, a rescue team had transferred the mortal remains of Khandu and the four others who had died with him from the crash site to the nearest helipad at Luguthang, about 3 km away.

The body of Khandu was recovered yesterday near Luguthang, in Thimbu circle of Tawang district, along with those of the four others who were flying with him in the ill-fated Pawan Hans helicopter that had crashed on Saturday morning.

The chopper, coming from Tawang to Itanagar, with Khandu on board had gone missing over Sela Pass some 20 minuts after take-off at 0950 hours on Saturday.

NNN