Page 17 - Northeast India

Assam mulls providing subsidised tea to ration card holders from 2024

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters on Saturday that his government was mulling providing tea to ration card holders at Rs 100-150 per kg from 2024 onwards

Vietnamese airlines should explore direct flights to NE states: Minister

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Saturday urged airlines from Vietnam to explore launching direct flights to cities in north-eastern states of India to provide increased investment and tourism opportunities to both countries. Guwahati, considered the Gateway to Southeast Asia, has an international airport with direct flights connecting Bangkok and Singapore, Singh said while addressing a session on investment and trade at the North East India Festival here. "All eight North East states are well connected by air, land and rail with other parts of India. I invite airlines from Vietnam to explore possibilities of connecting NE states with cities by air," he said. Singh said that India and Vietnam are long-standing friends with their bilateral relations and friendship rooted in shared history. He said the relation has been further strengthened by India's Act East Policy. "It has further fostered its strategic relationship promoting economic cooperat

3,000 police, 5,000 central forces to be deployed for Mizoram elections

At least 3,000 police personnel and 450 sections of central armed police forces (CAPFs) will be deployed for the November 7 Mizoram assembly polls, a senior election official said on Wednesday. Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Madhup Vyas said the poll panel is making massive efforts to ensure a smooth, free, fair and peaceful election. "Ten companies of Border Security Force BSF) personnel and five companies each of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) have already reached Mizoram and are in their places of deployment," Vyas told reporters here. A section comprises 12 personnel. So, 450 sections will amount to 5,400 personnel of CAPFs. Vyas said arrangements have also been made to keep a helicopter on standby in Aizawl on the polling day. According to the official, cash, drugs, liquor and other contraband items worth Rs 36.32 crore were seized so far since the election was announced. Elections to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly will be held in a

Airtel logs 1.7 mn unique 5G customers in Northeast, covers 110 districts

In October, Bharti Airtel said it has over 50 million unique 5G customers on its network

Rs 6.13 cr disbursed to provide aid to 61,000 people: Manipur CM

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Wednesday said his government has disbursed more than Rs 6.13 crore to deputy commissioners to provide assistance to over 61,000 people currently living in relief camps in the violence-hit northeastern state. The financial aid was provided to them to purchase clothes and personal belongings ahead of the winter season, he said. Each person living in the relief camps will get Rs 1,000 as part of the assistance, the chief minister said. "Financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per head has been disbursed for all the displaced persons residing at the relief camps on October 24, 2023 through the DCs. These payments are aimed at providing the displaced people some assistance to purchase clothing and personal belongings as winter approaches in the state," Singh said. "A total of Rs 6.138 crore has been released to DCs which will be utilised for providing assistance to 61,387 people" currently living in relief camps in the state, he said. The state governm

Will never accept illegal immigrants in Manipur, says CM Biren Singh

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday asserted that his government will never accept illegal immigrants in the state and said indigenous communities must continue to maintain their historical ties. Singh also said that the arrest of two cadres of Myanmar-based outfit Chin Kuki Liberation Army (CKLA) in Churachandpur district on Monday revealed the involvement of outside groups in the ethnic strife in the state which began in early May leaving more than 180 people dead. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for three projects at Andro in Imphal East district, he said, "I seek your support to maintain the old bond that exists among the traditional and government-recognised 34 communities. However, I will never allow and accept illegal immigrants." The ethnic park at Moirang where traditional houses of 34 indigenous communities of the state are on display bears testimony to the emotional bonds that exist within people, Singh said. "Our issue has been taken up by t

174 candidates in fray for Mizoram assembly polls scheduled on November 7

A total of 174 candidates are in the fray for the Mizoram assembly polls scheduled on November 7, a senior official said on Monday. The nominees represent five political parties, and the number includes 27 independents, he said. Mizoram Additional Chief Electoral Officer H Lianzela said that none of the 174 candidates, including 16 women, who cleared scrutiny earlier, had withdrawn their candidature on the last day of the process on Monday. The number of contesting candidates this time is 35 less than the figure in 2018. Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly will be held in a single phase on November 7 and counting of votes will take place on December 3. A total of 8,56,868 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections. Earlier on Saturday, scrutiny of nominations was conducted and 173 candidates cleared the process. The nomination paper of Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) candidate Lorrain Lalpeklian Chinzah from Lawngtlai East assembly was accepted after be

Sikkim flood: Part of NH-10 highway restored for 4-wheeler movement

Over two weeks after parts of Sikkim were devastated by a flash flood, the authorities have opened the damaged National Highway 10 for one-way movement for four-wheelers, according to a government notification on Saturday. People now can use NH-10, considered the lifeline for the state, to drive between Sikkim's capital Gangtok and Siliguri in West Bengal for 12 hours from 6 am. The transport department notification also provided two routes for heavy vehicles to move between these two places, avoiding the NH-10. The government has taken several measures so that prices of essential commodities such as food items and medicines do not escalate, as the suggested routes are longer than the ones used to be taken earlier, the notification said. The flash flood in the Teesta river that hit the Himalayan state in the wee hours of October 4 left at least 78 people dead in Sikkim and northern West Bengal. In its 7 pm bulletin on Saturday, the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA

65% fall in incidents of terrorism, LWE, insurgency in Northeast: Amit Shah

There has been a 65 per cent fall in incidents of terrorism, Left Wing Extremism and insurgency in the Northeast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday. He also asserted that the country's "three hotspots -- LWE (Left Wing Extremism-hit states), the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir -- are becoming peaceful." The Narendra Modi government has made strict laws while maintaining a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, the home minister told a gathering after paying homage to martyrs on Police Commemoration Day at the National Police Memorial here. The government has also worked towards making the best anti-terrorism force in the world by setting up the "Police Technology Mission" for modernisation of the police force, he said. Shah said the Modi government has introduced three Bills in Parliament for a comprehensive overhaul of the criminal justice system. The three legislations will replace 150-year-old laws and guarantee all due Constitutional rights to every citizen, the

Sikkim CM Tamang gives Rs 20,000 cheque to drivers of tourist vehicles

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang handed over Rs 20,000 cheque to drivers of tourist vehicles who were stranded in North Sikkim during the flash flood which hit the Himalayan state. Over 223 tourist vehicle drivers were stranded in Lachen, Lachung and Chungthang as the road connectivity to Mangan district in the northern part of the state was cut off due to the Testa river flash flood on October 4. Distributing the cheques to the drivers of tourist vehicles on Friday, the CM hoped that the relief provided by the state government would help mitigate the hardships faced by the drivers during this difficult time. Tamang said a donation of Rs 2 crore has been received by the Sikkim Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) from Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu. He thanked Khandu and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma for their support during this challenging time. The Sikkim CM thanked several individuals and organisations which came forward and contributed to the Chief Minister's

Security forces seize huge cache of arms in Manipur's East Imphal district

Security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur's Imphal East district, a police statement said. The arms and ammunition were seized from Shantipur, Khamenlok and Wakan areas under Sagolmang police station jurisdiction in Imphal East district on Thursday, it said. The number of seized weapons included 36 arms including three numbers of Ak 47/56, four carbine machine guns, seven SLRs and 1,615 number of ammunition and explosives including 82 numbers of hand grenades, police said. Security forces also recovered 132 war-like stores including bulletproof jackets, walkie talkie sets. The recovered weapons include three AK-47/56 rifles and carbine machine guns, the statement said. The seized items have been handed over to Sagolmang police station for further legal procedures, it said. Police also said "During the last 24 hours, the situation in the state was under control". Chief Minister N Biren Singh at the 132nd Raising Day of Manipur P

Death toll rises to 40 in Sikkim flash flood, 76 people still missing

The toll in the flash flood in Sikkim rose to 40 on Tuesday with two more bodies being found in the state, while 76 people are still missing about two weeks after the disaster, officials said. The flash flood in the Teesta river, triggered by a cloudburst in the early hours of October 4, devastated the state, affecting about 88,000 people. Sikkim has a population of about 6.10 lakh people, the lowest for any state in India, according to the 2011 census. Most of the bodies were found in Pakyong. Among the 26 bodies found in the district, 15 were of civilians while 11 were of Armymen, according to the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA). Four bodies were found in Mangan, eight bodies in Gangtok and two in Namchi, it said in a bulletin. Several bodies have been found in neighbouring West Bengal as well, carried by the Teesta to the downstream areas, officials said. Of the 76 people missing, 28 were from Pakyong, 23 from Gangtok, 20 from Mangan and five from Namchi. A

Central ministers to visit Northeast every 15 days, says MoS Som Parkash

Union Minister Som Parkash on Monday said central ministers will visit the northeastern states every 15 days and need to submit reports on various developmental activities in the region to the Prime Minister's Office. Parkash, the union minister of state for commerce and industry, visited Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh during the day and conducted a review meeting of all ongoing central schemes with the heads of offices, an official communiqu said here. The minister expressed his appreciation for the dedicated efforts of officers in achieving the goals of all flagship programmes in the district. He stressed on the importance of initiatives in promoting economic growth and development in the region. Parkash also provided valuable guidance and advice to the officers and encouraged them to keep up the good work. District planning officer Choiki Dondup, through a presentation, gave a comprehensive report on various ongoing flagship programmes in the district, providing a detailed overvie

CBI files chargesheet against six accused in Manipur viral video case

CBI had registered a case on request of Manipur Government and further notification from the Government of India and taken over investigation of Case of NSK Police Station in District Thoubal

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Union govt committed to improving health infra in Northeast: Mandaviya

He said this after inaugurating the new Regional Cancer Centre at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) in Shillong

Sikkim floods: 1700 evacuated, rescue operations to continue, says IAF

As per the officials, Indian Air Force's Chinook and Mi-17 V5 helicopters continue operations in the flood-affected areas of Sikkim, with the induction of over 200 personnel to boost the relief effort

Special joyrides on Darjeeling toy trains during upcoming festive season

Special joyrides will be organised on Darjeeling toy trains during the festive season beginning with Durga Puja, the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said on Saturday. The joyrides will be organised between Darjeeling and Ghum railway stations of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), NFR spokesperson Sabyasachi De said. He said that four diesel joyride services will operate daily between the two stations from October 13 to January 5 next year, during which heavy tourist inflows to the hill station are witnessed. The first train of the day will depart Darjeeling at 9.20 am and reach Ghum at 10.05 am. The final train of the day will leave Darjeeling at 3.30 am and reach Ghum at 4.15 pm, commencing its return journey at 4.35 pm to reach Darjeeling at 5.05 pm. The toy trains will have three first class chair car coaches, with a total of 89 seats.

Mizoram's ruling MNF forms alliance with HPC(R) ahead of assembly polls

The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram and the Hmar People's Convention (Reformation), a faction of the HPC party, on Saturday formed an alliance ahead of the November 7 assembly polls in the state. An agreement for the alliance was signed by MNF general secretary Lalmuanthanga Fanai and HPC(R) general secretary HT Vunga. According to the agreement, the two parties will work together in the upcoming assembly polls and the HPC(R) will extend full support and make efforts to ensure that MNF candidates in the three Hmar people-dominated constituencies -Tuivawl, Chalfilh and Serlui- in the Sinlung Hills Council area are elected. The MNF, if it retains power, will take steps to implement the 2018 Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) between the then Mizoram government and the erstwhile underground outfit Hmar People's Convention (Democratic), functionaries of both parties said. If the MNF returns to power, the government will "provide rehabilitation and other welfare benefits, includ

Govt launches 12th round of bidding for city gas distribution in NE states

Natural gas is used for cooking by households as piped natural gas (PNG), and as an auto fuel as compressed natural gas (CNG)