Mizoram

Centre reimposes protected area permit in Manipur amid security concerns

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has reimposed the Protected Area Permit in Manipur in view of security concerns arising out of influx from neighbouring countries, a state government statement said. The statement issued late on Wednesday night said, "With this reimposition, the movement of foreigners visiting Manipur will be closely monitored, and they are required to obtain the necessary Protected Area Permit (PAP) in accordance with the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order, 1958. It said the Centre has reimposed the Protected Area Permit in Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram. The statement also said that the state government has taken notice of the warning issued by an organisation which asked Chief Minister N Biren Singh not to travel to Senapati district to attend a cultural programme by passing through Kangpokpi district by road. It stated "Upon investigation, it has been found that no such organization (Kuki Zo Council) exists in Manipur. The origin and authenticity of this group

DRI seizes 123 kg Methamphetamine in H1FY25; max cases in Assam, Mizoram

Seizures of the narcotic drug Methamphetamine have increased in the northeastern states of Assam and Mizoram in the current year, with the DRI confiscating 123 kg of the contraband during April-September. Methamphetamine, also known as 'ice' or 'crystal meth', has become a significant challenge for law enforcement agencies in India, particularly through the porous northeastern borders. According to a report by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the smuggling trend indicates that Methamphetamine is being illegally brought into India through sea routes in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal. For smuggling, the drug is brought to coastal hamlets like Rameswaram, Tuticorin and Nagapattinam, concealed within specially designed compartments in buses, trains, or cars. From these locations, it is smuggled across the maritime border to Sri Lanka through mid-sea transfers involving Indian fishing boats. In the first half of FY 2024-25, DRI seized 123 kg of methamphetamine in 11 cas

Manipur not like Mizoram, we joined India with defined boundaries: CM Biren

A day after the Manipur government urged Mizoram CM Lalduhoma to demonstrate "better statesmanship" by being a "good neighbour" rather than fueling hatred through "unwarranted comments", Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday said Manipur is not like Mizoram, "which was once just a district in Assam". Speaking at a function for construction of infrastructure to relocate the Assam Rifles from the premises of the historic Langthabal Old Palace, Singh said, "Manipur is not like Mizoram. We have a written history of 2,000 years. Manipur merged with the Union of India as a single entity in 1949. Our boundaries were not newly created but we joined with the Union with intact boundaries." The Manipur CM's reaction came in the backdrop of a recent interview given by Lalduhoma to a national daily in which he said Singh was a liability for the state, its people and the BJP, and even President's Rule is preferable compared to his administration. "Assam Rifles is here to serve the nation. They

Be good neighbour, don't spread hatred: Manipur govt attacks Mizoram CM

The Manipur government on Friday night hit out at Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, asking him to show "better statesmanship" by being a "good neighbour" rather than stoking the fire of "hatred and division" through "unwarranted comments". In a statement, the state government said that India must be wary of the "greater agenda of carving a Kuki-Chin Christian nation" out of contiguous areas of Myanmar, India and Bangladesh, played out over decades of meticulous planning. It said it will not allow fragmentation of Northeast India at the behest of foreign vested interests, or "secessionist interests as openly espoused by the Mizoram CM". "Mizoram CM reveals his democratic credentials by espousing imposition of President's Rule in Manipur while opposing boundary fencing of the Indo-Myanmar international border. He also calls for reunification of the Zo people. He also talks about possibility of armed militias in Manipur pointing their guns at Delhi and need for disarming, and sincere .

Mizoram govt to get rid of non-performing employees: CM Lalduhoma

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma said his government has decided to remove non-performing employees from service. During a meeting to review the initiatives of the Education department held in Aizawl, Lalduhoma on Tuesday said that committees are being formed in departments to review the services of employees under the state government. He said that initiatives were taken to ensure a qualified and efficient workforce. "We feel that it is better we relieve all unqualified employees, who are no longer worth to be employed, to exit from their services as per norms. We are committed to having efficient employees, who maintain good quality of services," the chief minister told the meeting. Lalduhoma said that his government is taking steps to ensure that all projects are executed properly and effectively. "Projects are being closely monitored by the state project monitoring committee, which has inspected about 40 ongoing projects so far. We will be stringent in implementing and monitor

Mizoram govt plans to relocate displaced refugees to single location

The Mizoram government is planning to relocate all refugees taking shelter in different parts of the state and to bring them in one place, according to Lalmuanpuia Punte, political adviser to the chief minister. Punte on Thursday convened a meeting with officials of south Mizoram's Lawngtlai district to discuss issues concerning over 2,000 Bangladeshi refugees taking shelter in the district. He told the meeting that proper guidelines should be formulated to prevent the refugees from settling and shifting anywhere they want. Punte said that the government is taking steps to relocate and bring the refugees together in one place rather than be scattered in different villages for administrative convenience. The plan will also help the government in providing humanitarian assistance in a more convenient way, he said. Punte further said that plans are afoot to relocate 2,014 refugees from Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) currently taking shelter in different villages in Lawngtl

Life in Mizoram partially affected by 12-hr commercial vehicles' strike

Normal life was partly affected in Mizoram on Wednesday as commercial vehicles, including private buses and maxi-cabs, stayed off the roads because of their 12-hour strike, demanding a reduction in fuel prices. Ten organisations of vehicle owners and drivers called the strike from 6 am to 6 pm under the banner of the Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union (MCVU), demanding a reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel, which were hiked on September 1 in the state. Normal life was partly affected in state capital Aizawl and some other towns as people faced inconvenience with buses and maxi-cabs staying off the road. However, state-run buses operated as usual, an official said, adding that services of two-wheeler taxis were also normal. No untoward incident was reported during the strike, he said. The state government hiked VAT on petrol from 5.23 per cent to 10 per cent and on diesel from 16.36 per cent to 18 per cent with effect from September 1. Besides, the government also imposed a

Commercial vehicle owners in Mizoram to go on strike over fuel price hike

Commercial vehicle owners in Mizoram have decided to go on an indefinite strike from October 23 demanding reduction in prices of fuel. The price of petrol has been hiked from Rs 93.93 to Rs 99.24 per litre, while the diesel rate has been increased to Rs 88.02 from Rs 82.62 for a litre from September 1. The Mizoram government, after a cabinet meeting, on October 17 announced it would not roll back the hike in fuel prices. Protesting the decision, 11 commercial vehicle owners' associations on Saturday called for the indefinite strike. Initially, the commercial vehicle owners had decided to go on an indefinite strike from October 14 but withdrew their plan after Chief Minister Lalduhoma requested them to be patient and wait till the cabinet meeting on October 16. A statement issued by Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union (MCVU) said that the meeting of the union held on Saturday decided that all commercial vehicles will remain off the roads for an indefinite period from October 23 as the

Mizoram commercial vehicle union (MCVU) withdraws plan for strike

Mizoram Commercial Vehicle Union (MCVU) said it has withdrawn its decision to observe an indefinite strike from Monday demanding a reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel. Leaders of MCVU last week met Chief Minister Lalduhoma who asked them to wait for the cabinet meeting to be held on October 16. MCVU president PC Malsawma on Sunday said they have withdrawn the plan to observe the indefinite strike after the chief minister requested them to wait till the cabinet meeting. During the meeting between MCVU and Lalduhoma last week, it was agreed that the chief minister would inform the state PWD and construction companies to expedite repairing work of the most dilapidated sections of national highways and intrastate highways which fall under their jurisdictions, Malsawma said. The Mizoram government has hiked the price of fuels by Rs 4 per litre each from September 1. It imposed a new levy of Rs 2 per litre on both diesel and petrol for social infrastructure and services cess, an

State 'single litigant', should come with unified stand: Supreme Court

The State is a "single litigant" for the courts and it should come with a unified stand after taking on board all the departments concerned, the Supreme Court has said. The observation by a bench headed by Justice BR Gavai came while noting that there appeared to be some inter-se disputes between the forest and revenue departments of the Mizoram government in a matter pertaining to a May 1965 notification. The apex court noted a single judge of the Gauhati High Court's Aizawl bench, in January 2021, held the notification issued in the Assam Gazette dated May 19, 1965, "notifying the order passed by the chief executive officer, Mizo District Council, declaring forests located within half a mile on either side of the river Tuirial and 15 other rivers to be the Council Reserved Forest, is not sustainable in law". It said the state had preferred an appeal before a division bench of the high court but on November 9, 2022, it sought liberty to withdraw the appeal with the liberty to file

Over 900 people died, including 154 women, by suicide in 10 yrs in Mizoram

Over 900 people, including 154 women, died by suicide in Mizoram during the past 10 years, a police officer said. Altogether 49 people have killed themselves this year, Aizawl Superintendent of Police Rahool Alwal said. During the observation of World Suicide Prevention Day in Aizawl on Tuesday, Alwal said that as many 948 people killed themselves between 2014 and July 2024. Of those 948 people, men accounted 84 per cent and women 16 per cent. The SP said that the highest number of suicide was recorded among people in the age group of 20-39 years (584 people), followed thouse in the age bracket of 40-59 years (201 people). While 117 people who died by suicide belonged to the age group of 1-19 years, 40 were above 60 years, he said. World Suicide Prevention Day is organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention on September 10. World Health Organisation has been co-sponsor of the day. The purpose of observing this day is to raise awareness around the globe that .

Two Mizoram teens held by Myanmar militants return with shaved head, burns

With their heads tonsured and cigarette burns on bodies, two teenage boys returned home in Mizoram after being held captive by militants in adjoining Myanmar's Chin state for nearly a week, an Assam Rifles officer said on Sunday. The two boys, aged 16 and 15, were allegedly abducted by the Hualngoram unit of Chin Defence Force (CDF), one of several militant organisations fighting the military junta in Myanmar, on September 1 from Rih Dil Lake, a tourist spot in the neighbouring country near the Indian border, the officer said. "A group of five boys from Zokhawthar village in Mizoram had gone to Rih Dil Lake on motorcycles on September 1. On reaching there, they were stopped by cadres of CDF, who thrashed them because of a previous scuffle they had with some other boys from Zokhawthar," she said. Three of the five boys managed to escape and return to India while the two were held hostage by the CDF, the Assam Rifles officer said. "The two boys were kept in Rih Dil area for two days

Mizoram govt asks people to take precautions in view of heavy rains

The Mizoram government on Monday asked people to take necessary precautions in view of the heavy rain that has been battering the state. In a public notice issued on Monday, the state Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Department requested every household to check their surroundings to ensure there is proper drainage of rainwater. Due to incessant rainfall during monsoon, several untoward incidents have occurred in the state resulting in loss of lives and properties, the notice said. It said that landslides at various places disrupted transportation routes while heavy downpour often interrupted normal activities. "The government has reminded all to take necessary precautions as the ground has become more vulnerable due to prolonged heavy rainfall," the notice said. It said that the government is watchful of the situation and is actively working towards relief and mitigation of problems caused by inclement weather. The notice asked people to inform officials about any place th

African swine fever causes Rs 800 cr worth loss to Mizoram pig farmers

The pig farmers of Mizoram suffered a loss of nearly Rs 800 crore following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in the state since 2021, the assembly was informed on Tuesday. In a written reply to a question, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister C Lalsawivunga said that 57,217 pigs died of ASF and 43,159 others were culled to prevent the spread of the disease between March 2021 and 15 August 2024. Pig farmers of the northeastern state incurred financial loss to the tune of Rs 799.68 crore during that period, he said. The minister said that 9,866 pigs have died and 17,977 others culled causing a loss of Rs 239.45 crore due to ASF between January to 15 August this year. Lalsawivunga said that the state government received financial assistance of varied amounts from the Centre from time to time to tackl the situation. The state government declared ASF as state of disaster or calamity on January 1 this year, he said adding that the administration is making massive efforts to

Connectivity boost: Mizoram's Bhairabi-Sairang rly project nears completion

Sabyasachi De, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northeast Frontier Railway, said that this project, once completed, will be a game-changer in terms of communication and commerce.

'Cannot push back Bangladeshi refugees', Mizoram CM Lalduhoma tells PM Modi

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Saturday urged the Centre to understand the position of Mizoram in giving shelter to refugees from neighbouring Bangladesh, an official statement said. An official of the state home department said that nearly 2,000 Zo ethnic people from Bangladesh have taken refuge in Mizoram since 2022. During a brief meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Lalduhoma informed him that his government could not push back or deport Zo ethnic people from Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), the statement said. He informed the Prime Minister that many people belonging to the Bawm tribe, one of the ethnic Mizo tribes, from Bangladesh have been taking shelter in Mizoram since 2022, and many of them are still trying to enter the state. They started entering Mizoram in November 2022 following a military offensive by the Bangladeshi army against the Kuki-Chin National Army (KNA), an ethnic insurgent group fighting for a separate state. The two lead

Mizoram govt yet to initiate biometric enrollment for Myanmar refugees

The Mizoram government is waiting for instruction from the Centre to initiate biometric enrollment for over 33,000 Myanmar refugees in the northeastern state, a home department official said. The official said that a new biometric enrollment portal has already been prepared. "We are waiting for an instruction from the Centre. We will start the process of collecting biometric data of Myanmar nationals once we receive the instruction," the official told PTI. Earlier, Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had said that biometric enrollment portal has been in place for collection of the data and it will be utilised in near future. In April last year, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had directed Mizoram and Manipur, which share borders with Myanmar, to capture the biometric and biographic details of "illegal immigrants" in their states. In June last year, it directed the states that the campaign be completed by the end of September and directed both to prepare a plan and initiate the ...

Nearly 1,500 pigs died of African Swine Fever in Mizoram since January

The African Swine Fever (ASF) continued to wreak havoc in piggeries in Mizoram, killing nearly 1,500 pigs and piglets since January, an official of the state Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said. The outbreak has currently affected 80 villages or localities across seven districts, she said. She said 64 pigs died, while 235 were culled on Thursday."At least 1,488 pigs have died due to ASF, and 3,002 culled to prevent the dreaded swine fever since January," the official said. The outbreak was first reported at Lungsen village in south Mizoram's Lunglei district near the Bangladesh border in March 2021. Officials believed the outbreak was caused by pigs illegally imported from the neighbouring country. Mizoram shares a 318-km-long international border with Bangladesh. The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department said that 33,417 pigs died due to ASF in 2021, 12,795 in 2022 and 1,039 in 2023. It said that 12,568 pigs have been culled in 2021 to prevent the spread of Afr

LS polls: Over 2,000 personnel deployed for counting of votes in Mizoram

More than 2,000 personnel would be deployed for counting of votes for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram, a senior official said on Monday. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Madhup Vyas said a three-tier security arrangement has been made in all the 13 counting centres across the state. There would be three counting centres in state capital Aizawl and one each in the other district headquarters, he said. Altogether, there would be 40 counting halls with 379 counting tables. Each table would be supervised and monitored by a counting supervisor, counting agent and micro observer, he said. The counting of votes would begin at 8 am on Tuesday, and postal ballots would be counted first, followed by votes cast in the EVMs, Vyas said. There were five assembly segments where five rounds of counting would be held, four rounds of counting would be held in 15 assembly segments, three rounds in 18 assembly segments, and two rounds of counting would take place in two assembly segments, he said. M

Mizoram: 29 dead, several missing as rain, landslides wreak havoc

At least 25 people, including 14 in a stone quarry collapse, were killed in Mizoram on Tuesday due to landslides and incessant rain in the aftermath of cyclone 'Remal', state disaster management authority said. Several other people went missing in landslides, mostly in the state capital region, which was cut off from the rest of the country for several hours during the day and bore the brunt of the natural calamities. In a massive landslide, at least 14 people, including two minors, were killed and around eight others were missing as a stone quarry collapsed in Aizawl district, the Mizoram State Disaster Management Authority (MSDMA) said. Four persons were also killed and 18 others injured in separate incidents in Assam on Tuesday as heavy rain accompanied by strong wind lashed the state in the aftermath of the cyclone. In Nagaland, four deaths and damage to more than 40 houses were reported while two persons died and over 500 others were injured as downpours wreaked havoc in ...