Page 9 - Northeast India

3 persons who went missing in Manipur while collecting firewood found dead

Three persons, who went missing while collecting firewood in a forest, were found dead in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Thursday, police said. Four people from Akasoi in Bishnupur district went missing on Wednesday afternoon when they had gone to the nearby hills in Churachandpur to collect firewood. The bodies of Ibomcha Singh, 51, and his son Anand Singh, 20, and 38-year-old Romen Singh were found near Haotak Phailen, police said. A search is on for the other missing person, identified as Dara Singh, they said. The three persons were suspected to be killed by militants, a police officer said.

Centre allocates Rs 1,782 cr for strategic road project in Arunachal

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,782 crore for construction of a strategic road project in Arunachal Pradesh, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. The ministry sanctioned the project for the construction of the 82-kilometre-long greenfield road from Pango to Jorging in Upper Siang district of the northeastern state. The project would encompass package-1 and II, Gadkari said on X. "The proposed project aims to ensure seamless and secure traffic flow, establishing year-round connectivity to the villages in the region, thereby catalyzing socio-economic development in the hilly areas of the district", the minister said. The strategically crucial road will substantially reduce travel time for security forces, enhancing their efficiency in reaching border areas, Gadkari added. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed his delight over the development. Khandu said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there is

Sikkim achieved extensive financial inclusion covering remote villages: FM

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday lauded the Sikkim government for helping the Himalayan state achieve extensive financial inclusion, covering remote villages and habitats. She also congratulated banks and other financial institutions for the success story in Sikkim. "Sikkim has done extremely well to set up bank branches and ATM kiosks in all six districts, covering remote villages and habitats to make the mission of financial inclusion a great success," Sitharaman said at a credit outreach programme here. The minister said there are 32 bank branches and 36 ATMs in Sikkim per one lakh population in comparison to the national average of 14. "The state capital Gangtok alone has 43 bank branches and 58 ATMs per one lakh population," she said, adding that women and youth are the biggest beneficiaries of financial inclusion in Sikkim. Sitharaman also handed certificate of loans worth Rs 402 crore to 3,828 beneficiaries under various central schemes, noting that the

Arunachal's Adi Kekir, handmade carpets & Wancho wooden craft get GI tag

Arunachal Pradesh's ginger, locally known as Adi Kekir, handmade carpets and Wancho wooden craft have secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, Chief Minister Pema Khandu has announced. A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. "Delighted to share that Adi Kekir (Ginger), Handmade Carpet and Wancho Wooden Craft have been granted Geographical Indication (GI) tags. Truly an acknowledgement of the rich cultural heritage and skilled craftsmanship of our state. Let's celebrate and promote our unique traditions," he said here on Thursday. Adi kekir is a variety of ginger produced in East Siang, Siang and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.It is known for its taste and size. The handmade carpets made by Tibetan refugees, who live in various parts of the state, are known for their typical designs, motifs and textures. Wancho wooden craft items are unique

Those engaged in violence to be responsible if AFSPA reimposed : Manipur CM

Chief Minister N Biren Singh Tuesday said that he is "highly upset" with the ongoing violence in Manipur and elements who engage in it will be held responsible for any stringent government action, including the reimposition of AFSPA. "Whatever is going on in the society now is too much. The government will find it really hard to tolerate if anyone or any group keeps on taking the law into their own hands. The central government will not keep on looking. If AFSPA is again reimposed, they will be held responsible," he said after visiting those injured in a firing incident at Lilong Chingjao area in Manipur's Thoubal district. "Elements who continuously engage in violence should be held accountable if the government takes any stringent action, including reimposition of the unwanted AFSPA ... I am highly upset (sic). The government cannot watch all these forever," he said. AFSPA was extended for six months in the hill areas of the north eastern state for six months since October last .

Manipur CM N Biren Singh expresses concern over attacks on state forces

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has expressed concern over the attacks on state forces and said that a delegation will soon go to Delhi to meet central leaders and apprise them of the situation. Singh's statement came in the wake of five state police commandos injured in a attack at the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district on Saturday. They have been airlifted to Imphal and admitted to hospital. Taking to X, Singh said "The unprecedented attacks against the state forces in the recent times have become a serious national security threat. While the state and central security forces are actively engaged in maintaining control over the situation, it is also imperative for the combined security forces to adopt a robust and comprehensive approach to deal with these elements, who are relentlessly attempting to destabilise the state of Manipur." The CM held a meeting with BJP state president A Sharda Devi, ministers, MLAs and party leaders on Sunday and discussed the situation .

Three groups join for talks with Centre to Naga Political Issue's solution

Three Naga groups have come together and decided to pursue negotiations for a solution to the decades-old Naga Political Issue with the Centre jointly. The decision was taken on Saturday during a meeting attended by leaders of the three groups -- National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) led by Akato Chophy, NSCN led by Khango and Naga National Council (NNC) led by Z Royim. All three are splinter groups. "The three groups have come together to have a joint political venture in 2024," said Akato, while addressing journalists after the meeting here in the presence of leaders of the other two groups. Asked if they have already approached the Centre with their decision to hold a dialogue, he said, "We have made separate approaches in the past but now we will make a joint effort on the Naga issue." Akato also affirmed that they would be holding a dialogue separate from the negotiations being held by the Working Committee of Naga National Political Groups (WC-NNPGs) with the Centre.

Mizoram grants general consent to CBI for probing offences in the state

The Mizoram government has granted general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe offences in the state. In a gazette notification on Thursday, the state government said, "In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the Government of Mizoram hereby accords consent to exercise powers and jurisdiction of the members of the Delhi Special Police Establishment for investigation of offences in the state of Mizoram." "The Government of Mizoram grants consent for a CBI investigation of offences in the state of Mizoram. Our government is resolute in eliminating corruption for the welfare of our citizens," CM Lalduhoma posted on X on Friday. Soon after the swearing-in ceremony on December 8, Lalduhoma had announced that his Zoram People's Movement government will accord priority to anti-corruption measures and will invite the CBI to probe graft cases in the state. According to the Delhi Special Police Establishm

Earthquake of magnitude 3.4 jolts Assam's Tezpur, no casualties reported

An earthquake of 3.4 magnitude hit Assam's Tezpur in the early hours on Wednesday, said National Center for Seismology.The earthquake occured at 5:55 am IST (Indian Standard Time) at a depth of 20km. The epicentre of the quake was located at 42km east of Tezpur."Earthquake of Magnitude:3.4, Occurred on 27-12-2023, 05:55:35 IST, Lat: 26.70 & Long: 93.22, Depth: 20 Km ,Location: 42km E of Tezpur, Assam, India", the National Center for Seismology posted on X.No casualties were reported in the earthquake.Earlier this month, an earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hit Assam's Guwahati.

Manipur returning to normalcy after enduring over 7 months of ethnic strife

Manipur made headlines for much of 2023 as it witnessed one of the worst ethnic conflicts between the Kuki and Meitei communities, resulting in over 200 deaths and leaving nearly 60,000 people homeless. Though violence broke out on May 3, tension had been building in the hill districts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi since February due to the state government's efforts to remove encroachers from reserved forest areas. In late February, the state government demolished few Kuki houses in Churachandpur district for encroaching on reserved forest land, triggering condemnation by Kuki-Zo community members. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police in Kangpokpi district in March when they tried to hold a rally against "encroachment of tribal land in the name of reserved forests, protected forests and wildlife sanctuary. Following the clashes, the state cabinet withdrew from the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks with two Kuki-based outfits Kuki National Army and Zom

Termination of govt servants, China's visa denial to Wushu players rock AP

The termination of service of 256 government employees for producing forged documents, China's decision to deny visa to wushu players from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games and protests against the state public service commission exam paper leak took centre stage in the frontier state in the year 2023. The abduction of village officials and construction workers by militants, killing of a former MLA and anomalies over the recruitment of junior engineers found a place in the headlines in the northeastern state during the year. India strongly protested China's decision to deny visa to three women athletes from Arunachal Pradesh for the Asian Games with Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur cancelling his visit to Hangzhou where the event took place. Women players Nyeman Wangsu, Onilu Tega and Mepung Lamgu were denied accreditation, which also worked as visa for the games held in September-October this year. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu dubbed the denial of visa to th

RailTel to implement integrated communication system in NFR's new line

PSU RailTel has been tasked with implementing an integrated tunnel communication system along the new single line Bhairabi-Sairang section of the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), an official statement said on Saturday. The public sector undertaking will also undertake emergency call arrangements in tunnels and integrated passenger information systems at railway stations along the section. The total project will cost Rs 66.83 crore and will cover 32 tunnels with a total length of about 12,643 metres (12.6 km), it said. The Bhairabi-Sairang line in Mizoram is one of the toughest sections where problems of road approach, non-availability of materials, higher cost of transportation and tough terrain make it a very challenging work to execute, the statement said. The project also includes provision of supply and installation of IT data networking infrastructure, PA and emergency/SOS call points system and IP-based CCTV surveillance system. This state-of-the-art

NE to create entrepreneurship development centres in 100 govt institutes

Entrepreneurship development centres (EDCs) will be established in over 100 government-run skill training institutes in the Northeast to provide the youth with mentoring and handholding support, and assist them in developing financial linkages, a release said on Saturday. The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) has been assigned the responsibility of establishing these centres in all 104 government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and three National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in the eight states of the region. The project is under the flagship central scheme 'Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement' (STRIVE), being implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The project is aimed at creating a pool of 107 trained mentors who shall operate from the ITIs and NSTIs and act as 'change agents' to drive the entrepreneurial movement among the youth, the release said. It is targeting 29,500 enrolled students of ITIs and NSTIs from .

NE festival kicks off: Region safe, its infra tourism-ready, says minister

Lekhi said this while inaugurating the three-day North East Festival at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Friday evening, promising the visitors a memorable outing with varied artefacts

Govt, ADB sign $100 mn loan agreement for development projects in Tripura

The Union government on Friday signed an agreement with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to avail of a USD 100 million loan to improve urban services and tourism facilities in the northeastern state of Tripura. The signatories of the loan agreement for the Tripura Urban and Tourism Development Project were Juhi Mukherjee, Joint Secretary Department of Economic Affairs for the Government of India, and Nilaya Mitash, Officer-in-Charge of ADB's India Resident Mission, an official statement said. After signing the loan agreement, Mukherjee said the project will improve the municipal infrastructure and public services in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), along the main national highways in Tripura, besides upgrading key tourism sites. "The project will support the state as a gateway to the northeast region by developing tourist destinations along highways and by improving urban governance and financial sustainability through improved resource mobilisation and credit worthiness," said Mitash. He ..

India, Bangladesh agree to extend crucial Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route

India and Bangladesh have agreed to extend Indo-Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) route and declare Safardighi in West Bengal as the new port of call under Protocol on Inland Water Transit & Trade (PIWT&T), an official statement said on Friday. According to the statement, three high-level talks between India and Bangladesh, including shipping secretary-level talks, 22nd meeting of standing committee under PIWT&T and the 3rd meeting of inter-governmental committee on use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for to-and-fro movement of goods, successfully concluded in Dhaka. "Bangladesh agreed to extend IBP route and declare Safardighi as new port of call under PIWT&T. Both sides agreed to form a technical team immediately to study inclusion of Chandpur-Chittagong stretch as IBP route under PIWT&T," the statements said. Issues like easing visa issuance, shore-leave facility and repatriation for seafarers were deliberated upon, it added. According to the statement, Bangladesh agreed

Assam cabinet approves township policy to ensure planned urban development

The Assam cabinet has approved the state township policy for ensuring systematic and planned urban development in the state. The policy will regulate and guide the growth of urban areas in an organised manner, thereby cutting down exploitation of resources, Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta said at a media briefing after the cabinet meeting on Thursday. The council of ministers gave its nod to the notification of the Assam State Township Policy, 2023 for "implementation across the state for ensuring systematic and planned urban development", he said. The policy will ensure that essential services such as roads, healthcare facilities and others are adequately planned and implemented through private capital investment. It will also address the need for affordable housing within the townships with provisions for regulation and incentivisation of such projects, he said. The cabinet also green-lighted the draft Guwahati Central Area Local Area Plan (LAP) within the ...

Bhutan unveils Gelephu City project extending from India to SouthEast Asia

"We are in a unique position to reap great benefits if we seize the opportunity, make good plans, and work together diligently," said the Bhutanese King in his address

Socio-economic study of indigenous Assam Muslims to be conducted: Himanta

The Assam government said it will conduct a socio-economic assessment of indigenous Assamese Muslims of the state. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma here on Friday. "A socio-economic assessment of indigenous Assamese Muslims will be conducted through the Directorate of Minority Affairs and Char Areas," Sarma posted on X. The meeting decided that the Directorate of Char Areas Development, Assam, will be renamed as the Directorate of Minority Affairs and Char Areas, Assam. The cabinet also gave in-principle approval to the issue of detailed procedure/standard operating procedure (SOP) for permitting traditional buffalo and bullfights that are organised during Magh Bihu. The SOP aims to ensure that no deliberate torture or cruelty is carried out on the animals and their well-being is provided for by the organisers during the annual buffalo fights, an integral part of the centuries-old Assamese cultural tradition. The council of

Centre allocates Rs 81 cr for education, health infrastructure in Tripura

This financial sanction will pave way for crucial infrastructure projects, including the construction of a science building at MBB College and a women's hostel at Gandatwisa Government Degree College