Page 23 - Northeast India

Kukis accuse Meitei of ethnic violence in Manipur, demands separate state

The Kuki tribals in Manipur have again reiterated their demand to create a separate administration, equivalent to a separate state for them

Manipur situation peaceful, govt clears Rs 101 cr for displaced people

The Centre has approved a Rs 101.75 crore relief package for the displaced people in violence-hit Manipur following a directive of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, security advisor to the state government Kuldiep Singh said on Thursday. He also said the situation in Manipur remained peaceful and under control and there has been no incident of violence in the state in the last 48 hours. "To provide relief to the displaced people in Manipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs has approved Rs 101.75 crore relief package. During his recent Manipur visit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had directed the state government to send a request to MHA for a relief package for displaced people," Singh said. In the last 24 hours, 27 arms, 245 ammunition and 41 bombs were recovered from the Porompat police station jurisdiction of Manipur's Imphal East district while one weapon and two bombs were seized in the state's Bishnupur district. A total of 896 arms, 11,763 ammunition and 200 bombs of different kind

Govt to build 25 km highway in Nagaland to improve northeast connectivity

The government is building a 25-km two-lane highway project in Nagaland to improve connectivity to northeastern states, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday. "We are currently undertaking the development of a 25 km two-lane highway with hard shoulders, spanning from Chakabama to Zunheboto, as part of package-3," the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said. The main aim of this project is to bolster connectivity with neighbouring states in the northeast region, offering efficient, sustainable and economical transportation options for all commuters. In a separate statement, the minister said the government is engaged in the four-laning of the Sinnar-Shirdi section of NH-160, including the construction of the Sinnar Bypass, in Maharashtra. The work is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojna, he said. "This transformative project holds immense social significance, as it will serve as a dedicated route, or 'Marg,' for Sai Baba devotees making their pilgrimage to Shirdi on

Manipur govt extends ban on internet, including broadband till June 10

The Manipur government on Tuesday extended its ban on internet services till June 10. The suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm of June 10, an order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said. The ban was imposed on May 3. Nearly 98 people lost their lives and 310 others were injured in the ethnic violence in Manipur that broke out a month ago. A total of 37,450 people are currently sheltered in 272 relief camps Clashes first broke out in the northeastern state on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals Nagas and Kukis constitute another 40 per cent of the population and reside in the hill districts. Around 10,000 Army and Assam Rifles personnel have been deployed in the state to bring back peace.

Mizoram, Assam provide asylum to 10,700 people from violence-hit Manipur

Since the violent ethnic strife broke out in Manipur on May 3, more than 10,700 people, mostly tribals, have taken shelter in Mizoram and southern Assam after being displaced from their state.

Mizoram forms panel to take care of issues of displaced people from Manipur

The Mizoram government has instituted a high-level committee headed by Home Minister Lalchamliana to deal with issues of internally displaced people (IDP) from strife-torn Manipur, an official said on Monday. A total of 9,501 IDPs from Manipur have taken shelter in different parts of Mizoram since the eruption of ethnic violence in the neighbouring state early last month, according to the Home Department. The official said the committee was formed on Sunday as per the instruction of Chief Minister Zoramthanga. Education Minister Lalchhandam Ralte has been appointed as the vice chairman of the committee, while Home Department Commissioner and Secretary H Lalengmawia is the member secretary, he said. The committee will also have Information and Public Relations Minister Lalruatkima, Supply Minister K Lalrinliana, Tourism Minister Robert Romawia Royte, officials of various departments and representatives of the Central Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizoram Journalists' Association (MJ

Manipur violence: Centre sets up three-member panel to probe cause

The Centre on Sunday set up a Commission of Inquiry, headed by former chief justice of the Gauhati High Court Ajai Lamba, to probe the recent series of violence in Manipur that claimed more than 80 lives. According to a notification issued by the Union Home Ministry, the commission will make inquiry with respect of the causes and spread of the violence and riots targeting members of different communities, which took place in Manipur on May 3 and thereafter. It will probe the sequence of events leading to, and all the facts relating to such violence; whether there were any lapses or dereliction of duty in this regard on the part of any of the responsible authorities/individuals and adequacy of the administrative measures taken to prevent, and to deal with the violence and riots. The inquiry by the commission shall look into the complaints or allegations that may be made before it by any individual or association. The commission shall submit its report to the central government as so

Manipur, Northeast, New Delhi

There are three things you never do in a small NE state: Undermine local leaders, divide and rule, push homogenisation

Two-thirds of funds lie unutilised by North-East ministry in FY23: CGA

Of the budgeted amount, Rs 4,093 crore is to be spent on capital expenditure, nearly 15 times the money spent on capital expenditure (Rs 336 crore) in FY23

Manipur govt appoints Rajiv Singh as new DGP in bid to control violence

Amidst the month-long ethnic violence in Manipur, the state government on Thursday appointed senior IPS officer Rajiv Singh, belonging to the neighbouring Tripura cadre, as Director General of Police

Meghalaya inks MoU with NIOS to facilitate return of dropouts to schools

Concerned with the high dropout rate in Meghalaya, the state government on Tuesday signed an MoU with the National Institute of Open Schooling to facilitate the return of dropouts to educational institutions. While Assam recorded the highest dropout rate in the country with 31 per cent of out-of-school students at the secondary level, Tripura with 29.8 per cent is ranked number 2, an official of the education department said. Meghalaya with 27.9 per cent drop out rate in secondary level is ranked third followed closely by Madhya Pradesh (26.1 per cent) and Nagaland (24.4 per cent), he said. An MoU for identification of Out of School Children (OoSC) and enrolling them into the NIOS Study Centres was signed between the Samagra Shiksha authorities and the National Institute of Open Schooling, a statement said. Samagra Shiksha' state project director Swapnil Tembe and NIOS chairperson Saroj Sharma were present on the occasion. At present Meghalaya has only 25 NIOS study centres in 5

People crowd stations to get glimpse of northeast's first Vande Bharat

People in large numbers gathered at railway stations and crossings to catch a glimpse of the Guwahati-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express as the semi-high speed train hurtled through the green fields of the northeast on its inaugural run. The region's first Vande Bharat Express aims to boost tourism, connectivity, trade and by cutting down the travel time between the two cities by more than an hour. College-goers in traditional dresses danced to Bihu tunes, schoolchildren waved the tricolour and people threw flowers to welcome the train at its five stoppages -- Kamakhya, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar and New Coochbehar -- between Guwahati in Assam and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. "This is a proud moment not only for Assam but the entire northeast. One of the most premium trains of the country is now operating in our region and it is a proud feeling," Majuni Begum, a college student, said at the Kokrajhar station. People clicked selfies with the train in the background

Tripura benefitted most in north east from Act East policy: CM Saha

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday asserted that his state has benefitted the most in the Northeast from the Centre's Act East policy. He said the Maitri Setu, which connects Tripura with Chittagong Port and was inaugurated two years ago, will soon be fully operationalised, and the Agartala-Akhaura rail link will be opened by year-end. "Be it connectivity boom or infrastructure building or welfare activities, Tripura benefitted the most among the northeastern states since 2014," he said at a programme marking the nine years of BJP government at the Centre. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended broad gauge railway services to the frontier state, Today, 12 express trains and four local trains run from Agartala," he said. Stating that the survey for constructing another railway line in Tripura is underway, he said that of the target of constructing 888 km of national highway, 374.04 km have already been built. "At least 12-13 flights are operating from the Maharaja Bir Bikr

Sittwe Port in Myanmar, B'desh rail link highlight govt's NE growth push

The port has been built under grant assistance from India as part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP)

Election Commission reviews preparedness for assembly elections in Mizoram

With Mizoram slated to go to polls later this year, the Election Commission (EC) held a meeting with officials in Aizawl on Friday to review the preparedness, a statement said. Various heads and nodal officers of central agencies were present at the meeting, which was chaired by Deputy Election Commissioner Dharmendra Sharma. In the meeting, Sharma emphasised the EC mandate for ensuring free and fair elections, the statement said. He pointed out that checking money and muscle power in the election will be the responsibility of central agencies working in the state. Sharma asked the agencies to work in a co-ordinated manner and maintain vigil at all times. He also directed them to take any perception of threat very seriously and to ensure a level playing field for all. The agencies apprised the EC of their present state of preparedness for the election, the statement said. They informed the EC that they are strictly following the rules and standard operating procedure (SOP) as pe

Assam actively working towards eliminating crime against children: NCPCR

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) on Wednesday said Assam was pro-actively working towards eliminating crime against children. Addressing a press conference here, NCPCR member Divya Gupta said crimes by juveniles in Assam were also "very less" compared to some other states. "The Assam government is very proactive in preventing crimes against children. It is taking serious actions against criminals of child abuse," she said. Without sharing data, Gupta claimed that crimes against children were going down in the state. Talking about minors involved in crimes, she said that Assam is a "good state" with very few juvenile criminals lodged in correctional homes. "I visited one such home, which houses juveniles from 13 districts. The total number of children staying there is only 50," Gupta said. Referring to the two children allegedly abused physically and sexually by a doctor couple, the NCPCR member said she met them and they were recovering. "They are i

Meghalaya has more schools, teachers than other NE states: CM Conrad Sangma

Meghalaya has close to 14,000 schools and over 55,000 teachers, significantly higher than other small states in the Northeast region, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Tuesday. The state incurs an annual expenditure of almost Rs 2,200 crore for these institutions, the chief minister said while addressing the centenary celebration of Jaiaw Presbyterian Higher Secondary School here. According to Sangma, the expenditure is not enough and Meghalaya needs to strive harder to be among the top-performing states in the country's education sector. He announced that an Education Commission will be set up soon to look into all aspects of improving the education sector in the state. During the function, the chief minister also announced a grant of Rs 20 lakh from the Chief Minister's Special Development Fund for expansion of the school building.

Meghalaya district imposes restrictions to tackle African Swine Fever

District administration has imposed restrictions and prohibited various activities under 144 CrPC in Meghalaya's Eastern West Khasi Hills following outbreak of ASF, officials said

321 people receive appointment letters at Rozgar Mela for 6 NE states

As many as 321 people from six of the eight Northeastern states on Tuesday received appointment letters, during a Rozgar Mela' held in Nagaland, for jobs in six ministries and Assam Rifles. Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Pratima Bhowmik distributed the appointment letters to the new recruits at the common Rozgar Mela' held in Imliyanger Memorial Centre (IMC) here. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives priority to empowerment of women, 67 women were among the 321 newly inducted employees, Bhowmik said. The Union minister said that the Prime Minister had said last year that the government will provide jobs to youths in a systematic manner. It is the promise of the Prime Minister to provide jobs to youths and make India atmanirbhar' and vishwaguru' by 2047, she said, urging the youngsters to work hard and contribute towards nation-building to achieve this feat. Of the new appointees, over 50 people were from Nagaland. The common Rozgar Mela' was held for Arunach

Manipur CM rejects demand of 10 MLAs for separate administration for Kuki

Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday rejected demands made by 10 MLAs including 7 from his own party, for a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts of the northeastern state, stating, "the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected". The chief minister, who had made an air-dash to Delhi on Sunday to confer with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said measures are being taken to ensure that militants, who had signed a peace pact dubbed suspension of operations', return to their designated camps. Singh also appealed to people not to hold dharnas or rallies in view of the sensitive phase the state has been witnessing since race riots between the majority Meiteis and the Kukis earlier this month. He also said no force would be used to break the blockades imposed by some groups on highways in the state in the wake of the rioting, and instead efforts would be made to reason with these demonstrators. The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters at a press ...