Page 15 - Northeast India

Polls in outer Manipur to be in 2 phases; voting from relief camps allowed

Voting in the Outer Manipur constituency will be held in two phases, and those living in camps in violence-hit state will be allowed to vote from their camps, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday. As the Election Commission announced the dates for Lok Sabha polls, queries were raised over the number of seats totalling up to 544, instead of 543. Kumar said the increase was due to Outer Manipur being counted twice, since polls will be held there in two phases. The elections for two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held in two phases on April 19 and 26. While Inner Manipur and some segments of Outer Manipur will vote in the first phase on April 19, the remaining segments of Outer Manipur will vote in Phase 2 on April 26. Asked about the situation in Manipur, the Chief Election Commissioner said, "we will make all arrangements." "We have drawn a scheme, which we have notified... to allow the voters in the camp to vote from the camp. Like there is a scheme for J

More than 1,000 arrested in Mizoram for not possessing Inner Line Permit

More than 1,000 people have been arrested in Mizoram for entering the state illegally without possessing the Inner Line Permit (ILP), police said. The arrests were made during a special drive conducted jointly by the police and volunteers of influential civil society organisation Young Mizo Association on Tuesday night. According to the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, people from other states need to possess ILP to enter and stay in Mizoram for a specified period. A total of 1,187 people, including six minors, from other states were found not possessing ILP, a police officer said. The highest number of arrests at 1,065 was made in Aizawl, while 122 people were arrested in other districts, including Lunglei, Champhai, Saitual and Serchhip, he said. The violators were handed over to respective police stations for further action, the officer said.

CAA not to be implemented in most tribal areas in Northeastern states

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, which came into effect on Monday, will not be implemented in most tribal areas in Northeastern states, including those granted special status under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. According to the law, it is not going to be implemented in all Northeastern states where Inner Line Permit (ILP) is required for a visit by people of other parts of the country. The ILP is in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. The tribal areas, where autonomous councils were created under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, were also exempted from the purview of the CAA, officials said quoting from the rues of the law that were notified on Monday. Such autonomous councils are in existence in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. These include Karbi Anglong, Dila Hasao and Bodoland Territorial Council areas in Assam, Garo Hills in Meghalaya and tribal areas in Tripura. The CAA seeks to grant citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, ..

3,483 violence-hit farmers to get compensation in 1st phase: Manipur CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday said 3,483 violence-hit farmers in the state have been selected for the "first phase of compensatory crop package". During the launch of the programme, Singh said, "In all, 3,483 have been selected as beneficiaries after verification by deputy commissioners. Another 2,399 have issues related with documents including Aadhar authentication and bank documents and have been sent for reverification by the DCs concerned." "The Centre has also allotted Rs 38.60 crore for the affected farmers out of which Rs 18.37 crore has been released for the first phase" Singh said. Churachandpur district has 1,137 affected farmers followed by Bishnupur (1,031), Imphal East (360) and Kangpokpi (272), he added.

3 Myanmar nationals among 7 held for possessing unaccounted cash in Mizoram

A total of seven people, including three Myanmar nationals, were arrested in Mizoram's Lawngtlai district for possessing unaccounted cash, Assam Rifles said in a statement. Acting on a tip-off, the seven people travelling in a pickup truck were nabbed near RDS Bungtlang Junction on Sunday. A total of Rs 2.86 lakh in Indian Rupees and Myanmarese Kyat 47 million (4.7 crore) were seized from their possession, it said. The pickup truck used for transporting the currency notes was also seized, it added.

PM inaugurates, lays foundation of projects worth Rs 8,500 cr in Tripura

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation of projects worth Rs 8,534 crore in Tripura, including an integrated check-post at Sabroom along the India-Bangladesh border. The projects inaugurated by the PM include the Rs 250-cr ICP and tap water connection to 1.46 lakh people of the state at Rs 732.98 crore. Modi also inaugurated Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Rupaichari and Karbook in South Tripura district at Rs 48 crore and four new schools at Rs 10 crore. Several road projects were also inaugurated by him, including the upgradation of various stretches of national highways passing through the state. He also laid the foundation of Western Bypass for Agartala at Rs 2,026 crore, 200-bed maternal and child health wing of Agartala Government Medical College at Rs 192 crore, among other projects. On the occasion, Chief Minister Manik Saha, while addressing a programme at Sabroom in South Tripura district, said that Northeast is witness

PM Modi spends time at tea estate in Assam, promotes tourism around it

Taking to his X handle, he urged tourists to visit Assam's tea gardens during their visits to the state

PM Modi accuses Congress of ignoring development of Northeast for decades

Asserting that the Northeast's development is crucial to fulfil the objective of 'Viksit Bharat', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the Congress of ignoring the region for decades. Addressing a public meeting at Meleng Meteli Pothar here, after unveiling projects worth Rs 17, 500 crore in Assam, he said heritage and development was the "mantra of double-engine government". He also alleged that the Congress government's "insensitive and unplanned conservation strategy" led to poaching in the Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around 27 rhinos were killed in 2013 but the number of such poaching incidents came down to zero in 2022 due to the NDA government's policies, he said.

Govt ups MSP for raw jute by Rs 285 to Rs 5,335 per quintal for FY25

The government on Thursday approved a Rs 10,037-crore new industrial development scheme, UNNATI, for northeast states. The Union Cabinet in a meeting approved the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme, 2024, here, an official release said . The central sector scheme has been announced for the development of industries and employment generation in the states of North East Region. The scheme's main objective is to generate gainful employment, which will lead to the area's overall socio-economic development. The scheme will create productive economic activity in the manufacturing and service sectors. Under the scheme, incentives would be provided to investors for setting up new units or undertaking significant expansion of the existing units. The scheme will be effective from the date of notification and up to March 31, 2034, along with eight years of committed liabilities.

Viksit Bharat 2047: Northeast India as logistics gateway to Southeast Asia

The govt's focus on developing logistics infrastructure in the Northeast region (NER) marks a significant step towards unlocking the region's economic potential and promoting inclusive growth

People displaced by Manipur violence to vote at special polling stations

Special polling stations will be set up at relief camps to enable people displaced due to the ethnic strife in Manipur to cast their votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, an official statement said. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directions in this regard, the statement issued by the state Chief Electoral Officer on Friday said. "A large number of electors registered in several parts of the state were displaced from their native places during the conflict that started on May 3, 2023. Presently, they are residing in relief camps in various districts. The displaced electors are still enrolled at the places where they were residents before the conflict started," it stated. "The ECI, after due consultation with the central and state governments, has directed that all such displaced persons who had to leave their native places during the conflict shall continue to be borne on the electoral rolls of the assembly and parliamentary constituencies concerned in the ...

Mizoram adopts resolution against Centre's move to fence Myanmar border

It urged the Union government to instead take steps to ensure that Zo ethnic people, "who have been divided in different countries, are unified under one administrative unit"

Assam to create blocks, belts to protect satra land from encroachment

Sarma added that land pattas (deeds) would be provided to religious institutions, educational institutions and Anganwadi centres under the state's Mission Basundhara 3.0

Manipur Police halts movement of transferred personnel 'in view of crisis'

The Manipur Police have halted the movement of transferred personnel "wherever applicable, in view of the current crisis". They stated that the transfer orders remain in effect but the personnel will be moved as and when required. The halt in the movement of transferred personnel came after a tribal body wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressing concern over the safety of Kuki policemen in Meitei-dominated areas. The police stated that the transfer orders were issued to streamline excess manpower but there was no need for immediate movement of the personnel at this stage in view of the current crisis. "Reference to Manipur Police Headquarter order dated 14.02.2024 regarding transfer and posting of 177 (One hundred and seventy-seven) personnel of all communities of MR/IR units to various units, it is informed that the transfer and posting has been done in order to streamline the excess manpower against the sanctioned post available in all MR/IR units and to facilitate the ..

IMD issues snowfall alerts until February 27 across northeastern states

IMD has indicated that light to moderate rainfall, snowfall are likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura on February 22 and 23

Govt invested Rs 5 trn in 10 years to transform North East: DoNER minister

Union minister B L Verma on Monday said the central government has invested Rs 5 lakh crore in the North East since 2014, while Rs 11 lakh crore more will be pumped into the region for its all-round development. This part of the country holds immense investment potential, said the Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). "Already Rs 5 lakh crore has been invested by the government since 2014. While another Rs 11 lakh crore is underway for the region on developmental projects to improve infrastructure," Verma told PTI on the sidelines of the North East Investors Summit. FICCI was the industry partner for the summit. "I had met business groups of this region in one-to-one meetings and they have given encouraging feedback about their interest in investing in the region in varied sectors and sought our support to expedite their projects. Both big and medium-sized corporations have interest," he said. The interactions by the businessmen in Kolkata were focused

Manipur tribal body urges govt employees to refrain from going to office

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) has urged government employees in Manipur's Churachandpur district to refrain from attending work from Monday over the suspension of a head constable who was allegedly seen with armed men in a video grab. The tribal outfit has made the call to press for its demand for the revocation of the suspension of head constable Siamlalpaul and "immediate replacement" of Superintendent of Police Shivanand Surve and Deputy Commissioner Dharun Kumar. At least two people were killed and 30 injured in firing by security forces after a mob barged into a government complex housing the SP and DC offices, torched vehicles and ransacked government property in Churachandpur, hours after the suspension of the head constable on February 15. "More than 24 hours have passed since the ITLF gave an ultimatum to cancel the suspension order of head constable Siamlalpaul and replace Churachandpur SP and DC but so far, no cancellation or replacement has been done," the .

Mizoram, Assam CMs agree to stop violence along disputed inter-state border

Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday said that he and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma have agreed not to allow any more violence along the disputed inter-state border. Lalduhoma also said that Assam Border Area Development Minister Atul Bora will visit Mizoram next month. Addressing a press conference in Aizawl, the chief minister said that he recently met Sarma in Guwahati and both discussed the border issue. He said that the two neighbouring states agreed to maintain peace along the border and resolve the long-standing dispute. "We agreed that no more violence will be allowed along the border. We have been making efforts to resolve the dispute," Lalduhoma said. The border dispute between Mizoram and Assam had taken an ugly turn in July 2021 when police forces of the two states exchanged fire at the inter-state boundary, leading to the death of six policemen and a civilian from Assam. More than 60 people were also injured in the violent clash that took place in

L&T wins contract for Assam bridge, to boost link to textile hub Sualkuchi

The foundation stone for the key infrastructure project was laid during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Assam during the festival of Bihu last year

Those in power after Independence were ashamed of their own culture: PM

'Due to political benefits, they started a trend of becoming ashamed of their own culture and past. No country can develop by forgetting and wiping out its past, and cutting its roots,' he stressed