Northeast India

PM Modi to visit Sikkim on May 16 for golden jubilee celebrations: CM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Sikkim on May 16 for the state's golden jubilee celebrations, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang informed the Assembly on Wednesday. "The PM's visit will be a historic moment in the political journey of Sikkim which celebrates its golden jubilee since it became the 22nd state of India on May 16, 1975," he said while presenting the state budget on the second day of the four-day session. According to the CM, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate several development projects. "These include the 500-bed Namchi District Hospital, Atal Bihari Vajpayee statue to honour the legacy of the former PMa ropeway at Sangachoeling, among others" Tamang added. He said the PM will lay foundation stones for various projects such as the Golden Jubilee Convention Centre at Namli, a premier venue for national and international events; Bhaleydhunga Skywalk, an innovative eco-tourism project providing a unique experience for visitors; Nathula Border Tourism Developm

Security forces arrest 3 cadres of proscribed insurgent group in Manipur

Authorities suspect the arrested cadres were involved in subversive activities and are investigating their links to recent insurgent operations in the region

Highlights: CBI files closure report in actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case

Latest news updates: Catch all the live news updates from around the world here

'12 peace accords signed, 10.9K youth gave up arms in Northeast': Amit Shah

Compared to 2014, there has been a 71 per cent reduction in insurgency incidents, 60 per cent in Security Forces casualties and 82 per cent in Civilian deaths in 2023, according to a press release

Situation remains tense in Manipur's Churachandpur; schools, shops closed

The situation in Manipur's curfew-bound Churachandpur district remained tense on Thursday, two days after clashes between the Hmar and Zomi communities left one dead and several injured, police said. Schools and shops remained shut, while church leaders and civil society groups worked to restore peace, an official told PTI. Security personnel conducted flag marches on Wednesday night to prevent further violence. At least one person, 51-year-old Lalropui Pakhuangte from the Hmar community, was killed in Tuesday night's clashes. He suffered bullet injuries and was taken to Sielmat Christian Hospital, where he was declared dead. The clashes between the two tribes started after Hmar Inpui general secretary Richard Hmar was attacked by some Zomi people on Sunday, leading to violence and imposition of curfew in the district the next day. Meanwhile, several displaced people from the Kuki community in relief camps were moved to safer locations. Churachandpur town is mainly home to Zomi

Fresh clashes in Manipur's Churachandpur, several injured in stone pelting

Several persons were injured as fresh clashes broke out between people belonging to Zomi and Hmar tribes in Manipur's Churachandpur district, an official said on Wednesday. The clashes took place in Churachandpur town late on Tuesday, just hours after a peace settlement was reached between the apex bodies of the two communities. The fresh clashes erupted after a group of men tried to take down a flag of a Zomi militant outfit in the town. Soon, mobs of men armed with batons engaged in stone pelting, prompting security personnel to fire tear gas shells and several rounds in the air to disperse the crowds, he said. Security forces had a trying time in controlling the mobs that vandalised several properties even as shots were also fired by some people in the crowds at their rivals, the official said. "It is not yet clear who fired the shots," he added. Security forces conducted flag marches in the town and were keeping a strict vigil on the situation, urging people to remain indoors

Ashtalakshmi vision: Centre cites gains, Oppn points to Manipur unrest

The Centre highlights a decade of development under PM Modi, while the Opposition criticises its handling of Manipur unrest and the PM's continued absence from the state

SC gives 3 months to Centre for delimitation exercise in Northeast

The Supreme Court on Monday granted three months to the Centre for carrying out the delimitation exercise in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Assam. A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna noted the request of Centre's solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who sought some more time. The bench then deferred the hearing to July 21 and asked the Centre to do the needful within three months. The top court had previously raised concerns over the delay in carrying out the delimitation exercise in these states despite a 2020 presidential order rescinding the deferment of the process. "Once the president rescinds the notification, that is enough to proceed with the delimitation exercise. Where does the government come in?" the bench asked as it told the Centre's counsel to seek instructions. The Centre said while consultations were underway for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, the ongoing violence in Manipur made the situation unconducive. The bench was hearing a plea filed by ..

Police of NE states should focus more on people's rights, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday reviewed the progress in the implementation of three new criminal laws in the northeast (NE) and said the police forces in the region should focus more on ensuring the rights of people. Shah took stock of the implementation and the present status of various new provisions related to police, prisons, courts, prosecution and forensics in the northeastern states. "For a long time, the police in the northeast primarily focused on fighting insurgency. However, with insurgency now nearly eradicated in the region, the police should shift their focus towards protecting people's lives, property and dignity," Shah said in the meeting. In a post on X, Shah said that he had directed the states to monitor the progress and instructed the police forces to focus more on securing the rights of the citizens. According to an official release, he said that the stronger the director of prosecution is made, the easier it will be to ensure justice for the people.

Amit Shah to chair meet with CMs of Northeast states to review BNS rollout

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a meeting with chief ministers of the Northeastern states on Sunday to review the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), in the region, officials said. Shah spent the Saturday night in Mizoram where he attended a programme of the Assam Rifles. He will start the day with a visit to Kokrajhar where is scheduled to address the 57th annual conference of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU). ABSU was a signatory to the historic Bodo Peace Accord, which was signed five years ago. Shah will reach Guwahati in the afternoon to chair the meeting with the CMs of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Sikkim. It was not immediately known who would represent Manipur in the meeting with the state being under the President's rule following the resignation of CM N Biren Singh last month. A presentation by each state will be given at the meeting on the progress made in the

Security forces conduct operations in Manipur, recover arms and ammunition

Earlier, on March 10, security forces dismantled 5 illegal bunkers in Kukimun village and Lamdan Kuki village in Bishnupur district

Manipur police continue search operations in vulnerable areas of state

Manipur remained tense but under control in the past 24 hours as security forces conducted search operations in sensitive areas

MHA confirmed roadmap for peace in Manipur prepared, claims Meitei body

A civil society organisation of Meiteis on Thursday claimed that MHA Advisor for North East A K Mishra has told them that the Centre has prepared a roadmap for peace in ethnic strife-hit Manipur. Federation of Civil Society (FOCS) Spokesperson Ngangbam Chamchan Singh told reporters here on Thursday that Mishra told them on Wednesday that the first phase of the roadmap for peace in Manipur has already been implemented. Singh said, "A FOCS delegation met the MHA Advisor and other officials at the Old Secretariat (in Imphal) on Wednesday following an invitation during which Mishra informed them that the Centre has prepared a roadmap to end the ongoing conflict in the state and it will be implemented in phases." The FOCS spokesperson said, "Mishra informed us that the roadmap includes surrender of weapons, reopening of roads, and curbing activities of armed groups. In connection with this, on February 20, the governor had called for the surrender of all arms. Movement of all people on a

Assam Rifles, police recover arms, ammunition in Mizoram, 3 arrested

The apprehended individuals and recovered items have been handed over to Mizoram Police for further legal proceedings

Central Assam hit by 5.0 magnitude earthquake; no casualty reported

An earthquake of 5 magnitude jolted the central part of Assam on Thursday morning, an official bulletin said. There is no immediate report of any injury to anyone or damage to any property, officials said. A National Center for Seismology report said the quake was recorded at 2:25 am in Morigaon district on the southern bank of Brahmaputra, at a depth of 16 km. The exact location of the epicentre of the earthquake is around 52 km east from Guwahati in central Assam. People in the neighbouring Kamrup Metropolitan, Nagaon, East Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Hojai, Dima Hasao, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar and Goalpara districts also felt the jolt. Darrang, Tamulpur, Sonitpur, Kamrup, Biswanath, Udalguri, Nalbari, Bajali, Barpeta, Baksa, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon and Lakhimpur on the northern bank of Brahmaputra too felt the tremor. The earthquake could be felt in some areas of central-western Arunachal Pradesh,

Security forces recover 25 weapons, apprehend 8 cadres in Manipur

The operations were conducted in Kakching, Thoubal, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur, Imphal East, and Chandel districts

'Are you waiting for muhurat to deport foreigners': SC slams Assam govt

"Are you waiting for some muhurat", the Supreme Court remarked on Tuesday as it came down heavily on the Assam government for keeping people declared as foreigners in detention centres indefinitely rather than deporting them. A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said once the detained persons are held to be foreigners, they should be deported immediately. "You have refused to start deportation saying their addresses are not known. Why should it be our concern? You deport to their foreign country. Are you waiting for some muhurat (auspicious time)? "Once you declare a person foreigner, then you have to take the next logical step. You cannot detain them till eternity. Article 21 of the Constitution is there. There are many foreigner detention centres in Assam. How many have you deported?" the bench told the counsel appearing for the Assam government. The top court directed the Assam government to start within two weeks the deportation of 63 persons kept in detention cent

NE states lag behind even as India improves girls' toilet facilities

This comes even as the country has increased girls' toilet coverage in rural schools from 66.4 per cent in 2018 to 72 per cent in 2024

Explosives recovered in Assam amid preparations for R-Day celebrations

A cache of explosives buried in a jungle was recovered in Assam's Sonitpur district on Saturday, even as security was tightened across the state for 76th Republic Day celebrations, police said. The explosives, including 36 grenades and three detonators, were found wrapped in a polythene bag during a search operation, they said. On 25/1/2025, based on a reliable information regarding the secret storage of illegal arms and ammunitions buried underground in the jungle area near Khwbra village, Batashipur under Dhekiajuli Police Station, a search operation was conducted, the Sonitpur Police said in a post on X. One of the grenades had damaged pin/lever. So it has been kept in a secured area under guard, it police said, adding, the bomb disposal squad of the army is being contacted to dispose the explosives. Meanwhile, security arrangements have been heightened throughout Assam to ensure peaceful and smooth Republic Day celebrations, police said. Regular search of vehicles and patrolli

Assam to revamp infra of 252 rural govt schools for over Rs 1,800 crore

Aiming to revamp the infrastructure of prominent rural schools, the Assam government is developing new buildings for 252 such state-run educational facilities at an expenditure of over Rs 1,800 crore, officials said. Director of Secondary Education, Mamata Hojai, told PTI that the 252 government vernacular schools have been selected from each of the 126 assembly constituencies as per budget announcements last year. "We are upgrading the infrastructure of these schools as part of a project under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). The selection of the schools is done according to suggestions of the respective MLAs," she said. The construction work in most of the schools has begun and will be complete by next year, Hojai said. Asked about the expenditure, she said: "The construction cost for each school will be Rs 7 crore to Rs 8 crore. The total outlay is of Rs 1,827 crore." In the 2024-25 budget, Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog had announced an initiative to impro