Northeast India

Manipur security forces seize weapons cache in Imphal West districts

These operations were carried out to maintain order and prevent any escalation in the region

Tripura remained backward during Left rule, BJP brought development: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday hit out at Left parties for turning Tripura into a "backward" state during their 35-year rule and said it could witness progress only after the BJP assumed power in 2018. Addressing a public meeting here after visiting a village where displaced Bru tribals were rehabilitated, Shah said that Tripura remained behind on all parameters of development during the communist rule but is now moving forward on the path of progress. "For 35 years, the communists ruled Tripura. The communists claimed that they worked for the welfare of the poor. The Congress also ruled Tripura for a considerable time. But the people of the state always remained poor. It was when the BJP came to power that Tripura could witness development," he said. Shah said when he visited Tripura in 2017 as BJP president and stayed for five days, only 11 people took party membership. "Gradually we started our work. We worked hard and could oust the communists from power" after toiling

Insurgency over, time for change in approach of police in NE: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the time has come for a change in approach of the police force with the end of insurgency in the northeast, in order to ensure that people get speedy justice. Shah, addressing the 72nd plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) here, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought peace in the region by inking 20 peace accords in 10 years, leading to the surrender of 9,000 armed militants. The police fought insurgency in the northeast for the past four decades. As insurgency has now ended, we need to change the approach of the force to ensure people get justice within three years of lodging FIRs, he said. The home minister also said connectivity is no longer a problem in the region, as the Centre has spent Rs 81,000 crore for rail connectivity and Rs 41,000 crore for road network in the northeastern states. Asserting that PM Modi expedited development activities in the northeast, Shah said Union ministers spent 700 nights in states of th

Arrested members of banned outfit planned 'Chicken's Neck' attack: Police

The eight suspected members of terrorist outfit Ansar-al-Islam Bangladesh, who were recently arrested, had been planning to target the Chicken's Neck' connecting West Bengal's Siliguri with the northeastern states, a top police officer said. They wanted to create large-scale instability in the corridor by carrying out synchronised attacks and fomenting instability, he said. The West Bengal Police recovered pen drives and documents from two suspected members of the terrorist outfit, who were arrested in Murshidabad district. ADG Supratim Sarkar told reporters on Friday that the duo was part of a group of eight people apprehended by Bengal, Kerala and Assam police. Inquiries revealed they had specific plans to target the Chicken's Neck', also known as the Siliguri Corridor the only connectivity with the seven states of the northeast. Sarkar said the state police had got a tip-off about a sleeper cell of the outfit, which was active since August. "We have recovered a 16 GB pen driv

Security forces in Manipur arrest 2 people, recover arms and ammunition

Violence has gripped the entire state since May now, and the central government had to deploy paramilitary forces to bring the situation under control

Misinformation spread to turn villagers against Siang project: Arunachal CM

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu claimed that misinformation was being circulated to brainwash villagers against the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP). People who have been allegedly instigating the protesters against the project are confused about the capacity of the hydropower facility, he said. Being the chief minister I am not aware of the exact wattage of power the project will generate. Even NHPC is not aware of that. How do you know the capacity of the project when the survey and investigation process has not even begun? Khandu asked at the Thanks Giving' programme of local legislator and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing on his electoral victory at Boleng in Siang district. If you don't want a dam, if you don't want a hydropower project, there won't be no project...Chapter closed, the chief minister said while addressing at the function, Khandu also asserted that the project is not all about generating hydropower. It is a multipurpose project

Security forces recover weapons and ammunition from Imphal East district

Several hand grenades, including No. 36 and WP hand grenades, were also found, along with two wireless radio sets

Home minister Amit Shah to chair NEC meet in Agartala on December 21

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to chair the plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) here on Saturday, an official said. DoNER minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with governors, chief ministers of all eight Northeastern states, and senior officials, will also attend the meet. "Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive here on Friday to chair the 72nd plenary session of the NEC to be held at Prajna Bhavan on Saturday," West Tripura district magistrate Vishal Kumar told PTI on Thursday. In addition to the NEC plenary, Shah will hold a bankers' meeting to review financial inclusion, credit delivery, priority sector lending, and digital inclusion, he added. Shah will also visit the Bru (Reang) settlement camp at Bruhapara and address a public meeting at Masuraipara in Dhalai district on Sunday, director of information and cultural affairs department, Bimbisar Bhattacharjee, said in a press communiqu on Wednesday. This will be the first time since the

Security forces bust camps of two banned militant organisations in Manipur

Security forces busted camps of two banned militant organisations while conducting search operations in Manipur's Imphal East district, police said on Thursday. A hideout of the banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) at Makou Pourabi in Imphal East district was busted on Wednesday during which one air gun, one mobile handset and one bulletproof helmet were seized, they said. Another training camp of the proscribed PREPAK also at Makou Pourabi was destroyed on Wednesday during which one INSAS LMG magazine, bayonet, five wooden dummy guns, two walkie-talkie sets, and cartridges were seized. Police also arrested nine cadres of the banned militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party (Peoples' War Group) during the last two days for their involvement in extortion activities. On Wednesday police arrested two members of KCP (PWG) who were involved in extortion activities from Mantripukhri bazar in Imphal East district and recovered demand letters and cash receipt notes of the outfit from the

Tripura CM Saha invites investors to tap into state's growth potential

Addressing Northeast Trade and Investment Roadshow in Mumbai's Colaba on Monday, CM Saha expressed his gratitude to the MDoNER for providing a platform to enhance investment and business opportunities

Rally taken out in Manipur against AFSPA, killings of women, children

Hundreds of people took part in a rally in Manipur's capital Imphal on Tuesday to protest against the reimposition of AFSPA and the killings of six people, including three children, in Jiribam district by suspected Kuki militants last month. The rally commenced from Thau ground area in Imphal West district and covered around 5 km before culminating at Khuman Lampak stadium. Protesters held placards and raised slogans such as 'Do not obliterate Manipur' and 'Save Manipur', demanding the withdrawal of AFSPA. The procession was jointly organised to mark Human Rights Day by All Manipur United Clubs Organisation, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur, All Manipur Women Voluntary Association, Committee on Human Rights and Manipur Students' Federation. Woman demonstrator S Nirupama said, "On the occasion of Human Rights Day, we want to affirm that the people of Manipur stand strongly against the continued imposition of AFSPA in the state as well as against the killings of innocent wo

Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pays tribute to martyrs of Assam movement

From 1979 to 1985, Assamese people fought against infiltrators... I pay my tributes to all those who sacrificed their lives for their country in the Assam movement, he said

Manipur violence: SC asks state for details on arson, encroachments

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to provide details in a sealed cover on the dwelling units and properties burnt either fully or partially, and encroached upon during the ethnic violence in the state. The top court asked the state government to spell out details of its actions taken against the culprits and the encroachers. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar fixed the plea for hearing in the week commencing January 20. In August last year, the top court had ordered the setting up of a committee of three former women high court judges to oversee relief and rehabilitation of victims and compensation to them besides asking former Maharashtra police chief Dattatray Padsalgikar to monitor the probe in criminal cases. More than 160 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence first broke out in the state on May 3, 2023 when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protes

Net shutdown, violence, curfew affecting students in Manipur: Academics

Prolonged violence in Manipur with frequent internet shutdowns, curfews and general strikes is affecting the academic and career pursuits of students pursuing higher education in the northeastern state, many educationists said. With frequent internet shutdowns, students are facing problems in having access to online resources and many recruiters are hesitant to visit campuses in Manipur for placement drive due to curfews and general strikes, they said. Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and also in charge of placement of National Institute of Technology (NIT) Manipur, K H Johnson Singh told PTI "We have witnessed a decline in recruitment drives after violence broke out in the state. At least 40 companies (online mode) came and 70 students have been selected this year. This is much less than what we were used to before the outbreak of violence. We had expected selection of some 100 students and some 50 companies." He said, "Recruiters who prefer offline mode o

Sonowal seeks apology from Congress for its 'total failure' in Northeast

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday sought an apology from the Congress for its "total failure" in bringing development in the Northeast. He also said that the Northeast has now become a place of peace and prosperity under 10-year rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a press conference here, Sonowal said during the long rule of Congress governments -- both at the Centre and in the eight state governments of the Northeast -- the region remained backward with little or no development. "It was a total failure of the Congress. The Congress should seek forgiveness from the people of the Northeast. I demand an apology from the Congress," he said. However, under the Narendra Modi government, the Northeast has seen all round development with construction of roads, highways, bridges, airports, railway lines, ports, AIIMS, higher education institutions among others. "Because of the initiatives taken by the prime minister and Home Minister Amit Shah, most of the insurgen

All-round development made in NE after formation of BJP govt: Nityanand Rai

Addressing a press conference at his residence in Delhi, MoS Home Nityanand Rai said that soon after PM Modi assumed office in 2014, the northeast was given priority under the Look East Policy

Pakistan ISI in North East? Bangladesh visa policy shift poses challenges

Northeast extremist groups have a history of launching hit-and-run attacks in India from bases in Bangladesh, allegedly with support from Pakistan's ISI and Bangladeshi intelligence agencies

Incidents in Manipur very unfortunate: Bhutia urges govt to restore peace

I hope the state and central government work together with the community and bring back peace because that is the most important thing, Bhaichung Bhutia added

Spear Corps commander Pendharkar reviews operational preparedness in Assam

GOC Pendharkar interacted with the troops and lauded them for their dedication to duty

Protest in Manipur against scrapping FMR, fencing India-Myanmar border

A demonstration was held in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Tuesday to protest the government's decision to scrap the India-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR). The demonstration, led by the United Zou Organisation (UZO), started at the 'Wall of Remembrance' around 11.30 am. Carrying posters and placards, the demonstrators raised slogans against the government's decision to scrap FMR and fence the international border. "No border fencing can our cultural ties," said a demonstrator. The demonstration was attended by Saikot MLA Paolienlal Haokip, Henglep MLA Letzamang Haokip and Singngat MLA Chinlunthang, besides leaders of various Kuki-Zo tribes. A one-minute silence was also observed in remembrance of those killed in the ongoing ethnic violence in the state that has claimed over 250 lives since May last year. Leaders of the Kuki Zo Council, Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi Manipur and Hmar Inpui addressed the gathering. At the end of the programme, a memorandum addressed to Union Home