The Hindu : National : Eight killed as bus plunges into gorge near Dimapur; driver among victims

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Eight killed as bus plunges into gorge near Dimapur; driver among victims

Special Correspondent

IMPHAL: At least eight passengers were killed and 10 others seriously wounded when a Guwahati-bound inter-State bus proceeding from Imphal plunged into a 150-metre deep gorge near Dimapur in Nagaland on Thursday night. The bus had 36 passengers. The driver and the cleaner were killed on the spot. Mechanical defect is believed to be the cause of the accident.

The injured persons were admitted to an hospital at Dimapur. Hospital sources said that their conditions were serious and the death toll was likely to increase.

Women arrested

Police have beefed up security measures around the residences of the Ministers in Manipur to ensure that women agitating against the July 23 “fake encounter” do not raid their houses and throw shoes. This follows raiding of the house of the Irrigation and Sports Minister, Nongthongbam Biren, on Wednesday by some women protesters. The Minister was elsewhere when the incident occurred. The security guards had locked the gate. The women had thrown shoes inside the compound.

Police have arrested four activists in this connection. Their prayer for bail was turned down by the court. Police said that more women activists were likely to be arrested.

Meanwhile, women activists have also been taking out torchlight rallies at night. They shouted slogans against Mr. Ibobi Singh and burnt his effigies. They have also refused to extend cooperation to the judicial inquiry commission headed by Justice (Retd) G.P. Agarwal looking into the killings on July 23 saying that the photographs had established that the encounter was fake .

Ban on NGOs lifted

The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union has lifted the ban on the NGOs of the Thoubal Assembly constituency from where Mr. Ibobi Singh was elected.

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