Page 2 - Northeast

BRO to complete strategically important road in Arunachal by March 2026

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Project Brahmank Chief Engineer S C Looniya has said that the double-laning of the 32-km Pene-Tato stretch of the strategically important Aalo-Mechuka road in Arunachal Pradesh's Shi-Yomi district will be completed by March 2026. Admitting that the project has been delayed, Looniya attributed the delay to land acquisition on a stretch of the road. He said, "We want to complete the formation-cutting immediately, to ensure that commuters don't face problems like road closure due to formation cutting and equipment movement. The stretch with all parameters will be completed, so that people get a safe, secure, satisfactory-level road connectivity." Looniya said our aim is to at least provide all-weather connectivity from Kaying in Siang district to Tato soon. "We are committed and are working vigorously to extend NH-13 to far-flung areas of Tato," he said. The chief engineer, however, maintained that black-topping of the road will take some time. On the

Large cache of arms, ammunition seized in Manipur's Kangpokpi

A large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from Manipur's Kangpokpi district, police said on Thursday. In an operation conducted in the forest between Maohing and Changoubung village on Wednesday, an American M16 rifle along with its magazine having 10 rounds, a .303 rifle, two Colt Machine Guns or CMGs, three pistols, a .22 rifle, six bolt action rifles, two short-barreled rifles, three improvised projectile launchers, two hand grenades, and four radio sets were among the items recovered. In another operation in the vicinity of Kotzim village, security forces recovered a carbine, a single-barrel rifle, three improvised mortars, two hand grenades, and three pull-mechanism rifles, police said. Meanwhile, a man was arrested from the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district for his involvement in extortion of truckers and commercial establishments, smuggling, and supplying arms to militants. The accused, identified as V Shiva alias Ishwar Pandey (36), was arrested from ward

Earthquake of magnitude 3.6 strikes Arunachal's East Kameng district

The earthquake occurred at 8.05 am with a depth of 10 kilometres

Assam Rifles recovers weapons, ammunition from Mizoram's Champhai

According to officials, the operation was launched in the early hours of August 20 based on specific intelligence inputs

Meghalaya CM eyes $16 billion economy by 2032, unveils roadmap for 2047

Meghalaya is on track to achieve its goal of becoming a USD 16 billion economy by 2032 when the state will turn 60, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Friday. Addressing the Independence Day event here, he also said that by 2047, the year marking India's 100th year of independence, Meghalaya aims to be a USD 100 billion economy and among the country's top 10 states in per capita income state and Sustainable Development Goals. The CM also highlighted progress in law and order, including advancement in the Assam-Meghalaya border settlement, adoption of e-Sakshya, e-FIR, and expansion of forensic capabilities. "By 2047, when we celebrate 75 years of statehood, we aspire for a viksit (developed) Meghalaya', a USD 100 billion economy among India's top 10 states in per capita income and Sustainable Development Goals," he said. The state has provided over 5.39 lakh rural households with tap water connections, up from fewer than 4,500 in 2019, covering 82.84 per cent of village homes,

IHCL puts spotlight on Northeast for development of new properties

Tata Group hospitality firm Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) is putting the spotlight on the North East for new properties in line with India's ambition of developing the region, according to its Managing Director and CEO Puneet Chhatwal. The company has a portfolio of 15 hotels with 1,348 rooms in the North East, and six hotels with 634 rooms in the pipeline. Developing properties in the East and North East has been a part of a strategic initiative, Chhatwal told PTI. "Like 50 years ago it was Goa, 30 years ago it was Kerala. More recently, you heard about Lakshadweep. Now it is the North East -- which is also in line with India's ambition of developing the North East -- our contribution as a Tata Group company," he noted. Elaborating on some of the new projects that the company is undertaking in the North East, he said,"IHCL has committed to projects like Jagiroad in Assam, opposite the Tata Electronics factory that is coming up." Moreover, he said,"There are also the conversion

Shah to move resolution in RS for extension of President's rule in Manipur

The President's rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, days after N Biren Singh resigned from the Chief Minister's position

Four militants held in Manipur, 26 firearms recovered in separate ops

Security forces arrested five people, including four militants belonging to three banned outfits, from several districts of Manipur for their alleged involvement in extortion activities, police said on Thursday. All the arrests were made on Wednesday. During a frisking and checking exercise at Ngaikhong Khunou check point in Bishnupur district, an active cadre of the proscribed Peoples' Liberation Army and his associate, who is not a member of the organisation, were apprehended for allegedly being involved in extortion activities, an officer said. They were accused of demanding money from contractors, businessmen and the general public in Imphal and Bishnupur districts, he said. One member of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG) was arrested from Heirol Part 2 in Thoubal district for his alleged role in extortion, threatening people and recruiting cadres for the outfit, the officer said. One active cadre of the outlawed Prepak (Pro) was apprehended from his residential loca

At least 1 killed as evicted people clash with security forces in Assam

At least one person was killed and several others were injured, including policemen, in a clash between evicted people and security personnel in Paikan reserve forest in Assam's Goalpara district on Thursday, officials said. He said forest guards and police personnel were attacked by alleged encroachers with sticks when they had gone to cordon off a part of the Paikan reserve forest, where an eviction drive was carried out on Saturday. The evicted people also hurled stones at the forest guards and police personnel there, the official said. The forest department wanted to dig a channel to ensure that no attempt is made for future encroachment. It was carried out peacefully yesterday. But when the team reached this morning, people in the area attacked them with stones and sticks, he said. In a retaliatory action, the police had to fire to control the situation, in which one person was killed and two others were injured, he said. Several policemen and forest personnel were injured in

Meghalaya CM seeks more funds for smaller NE states from finance commission

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma advocated for enhanced financial support to the smaller Northeastern states, citing their unique geographical, economic, and developmental challenges. Sangma took up the issue during his meeting with members of the 16th Finance Commission in New Delhi on Monday. "Our states face distinct issues related to terrain, infrastructure gaps, and limited revenue-generating capacities. We need special financial consideration to address these structural disadvantages," Sangma said at the meeting. He urged the finance commission to recommend higher fund devolution and more flexible schemes to help smaller states address critical sectors such as roads, healthcare, education, and tourism. Sangma also called for greater autonomy in the utilisation of centrally allocated funds, allowing states to design projects suited to their needs. The commission assured him that the submissions would be carefully examined. "North East States, while having their own u

Modi govt plans to invest ₹5,000 cr to develop Northeast waterways: Sonowal

He said that, over the past 11 years, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has transformed India's maritime sector with record growth in cargo handling, capacity and coastal shipping

Northeast has more young population than rest of country: Meghalaya CM

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that the northeast region has more young population than the rest of the country. Addressing the 5th Regional Catholic Youth Convention here on Friday he said, "The northeast is not just young it is younger than the rest of India". "This makes our youth not only our greatest strength but also our greatest challenge. How we nurture them will determine the destiny of Nagaland, Meghalaya, and the entire northeast," Sangma said. Emphasising the importance of purpose, goal-setting, and entrepreneurship among youth, he said that "without a goal, you could be working endlessly and achieving nothing." He said, "Reservation has made our youth complacent. We must compete not because we are guaranteed a seat, but because we can win it on merit." Calling for a cultural shift, Sangma urged the youth to believe in themselves and embrace entrepreneurship. "Why do we wait for others to start businesses in our states? Our youth should become the j

Two militants from banned outfits held in Manipur, firearms recovered

Security forces have arrested two members of proscribed outfits in Manipur and recovered firearms from their possession, police said on Thursday. One active cadre of the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (PWG) was apprehended on Tuesday from one of the floating huts in the Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district, a senior officer said. One 9 mm pistol and ammunition were recovered from his possession, he said. "The floating huts on the lake were used as a makeshift transit camp and hideout by militants", the officer said, adding that several household items which were used by cadres of outlawed organisations were recovered and the huts were dismantled. In a follow-up action, arms and ammunition were recovered from the Nachou Awang Leikai area in the district, the police said. One active cadre of the banned United National Liberation Front (P) was also arrested from his Soibam Leikai residence in Imphal East district, the officer said. Two 9 mm pistols and ammunition were also recovered

Manipur Police arrests four members of inter-state gang of arms dealers

Manipur Police arrested four members of an inter-state gang of arms dealers and seized arms and ammunition from their possession, an officer said on Wednesday. Police cracked down on an inter-state organised gang of arms smugglers and middlemen who were smuggling unauthorised arms across different states, operating clandestinely in greater Imphal area and arrested four persons including a member of UNLF (Pambei) on Tuesday, the officer said. Two 9 mm Smith & Wesson pistols, one 9 mm Sig Sauer pistol, one Glock 19 pistol with 2 magazines, one 7.65 mm JD Taurus pistol with magazine, one Falcon Cal 7.62 mm along with magazine, one M-20 Falcon pistol, one Keltec pistol .32 mm with 2 magazines, one Beretta pistol, one ?Glock pistol .32, 159 number of .32 mm live ammunition and four wireless sets were seized from their possession, he said. Meanwhile, in a separate operation, the police on Tuesday arrested three active cadres of UNLF(Pambei) from Babupara in Imphal West district. They ...

At least 4 PREPAK (PRO) militants arrested in Manipur, firearms seized

Four militants belonging to the proscribed outfit PREPAK (PRO) were arrested in Manipur's Imphal East district and a cache of arms and ammunition was seized from their possession, police said on Monday. The arrested militants were identified as Thingbaijam Philip Singh, Lourembam Kumar Meitei, Laishram Haridas and Yumnam Akash Singh. They were arrested from different places in the district on Sunday, a police statement said. Based on inputs provided by the arrested militants, a search operation was launched in the foothills of Kalika in the district and a cache of arms and ammunition was seized, it said. The cache contained four self-loading rifles and 10 magazines, one light machine gun, one .303 modified sniper and two magazines, 82 cartridges, five hand grenades and nine detonators, the statement added.

5 Meitei members held in Manipur for attacking policemen, kidnapping man

Five members of the Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol were arrested in connection with the alleged assault on two Manipur Police personnel in Bishnupur district and the kidnapping of a man in Imphal West, a senior officer said on Monday. Three members of the organisation were arrested on Sunday in connection with the kidnapping of Chesam Abdul Kadar of Paobitek Mayai Leikai area in Imphal West district, he said. The accused were produced before a court in the district and remanded to seven days of police custody, the officer said. A search operation is underway to arrest others involved in the kidnapping of the person, he said. Another member of the Meitei outfit was arrested on June 12 in connection with "the assault on a senior police officer and a police personnel". The two policemen were injured on June 9 while they were trying to disperse protesters who had come out to support the bandh called by Arambai Tenggol at Nambol Bazar in Bishnupur district. One more member of the ...

Meghalaya murder: Police to recreate crime scene with arrested wife, aides

A special investigation team of the Meghalaya Police brought here around midnight arrested Sonam Raghuvanshi, one of the five accused in the murder of her Indore-based businessman husband Raja Raghuvanshi, and would reconstruct the crime scene in Sohra, a senior officer said on Wednesday. The four others, who were also arrested from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in connection with the murder, are expected to arrive here shortly, and they will be produced before a local court, he said. Sonam was taken to a hospital here for a medical examination and will be produced before a court during the day as the SIT will seek her police custody to complete the investigation, he said. "The SIT team that brought Sonam arrived shortly before midnight. She was taken to a hospital here to ascertain whether she was pregnant or not. She will be produced before a court here," a senior police officer told PTI. The SIT will seek "police custody of all the arrested persons, and will reconstruct the .

Arunachal to close 386 govt schools with zero enrolment this year

The Arunachal Pradesh government has ordered the closure of 386 government schools across the state that have recorded zero student enrolment in the current academic year. The order, issued by the state's Education department on Monday, follows a detailed analysis of data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), which identified a significant number of schools that have remained non-functional, in some cases for several years. The decision is aimed at rationalising educational infrastructure and making better use of teaching staff and facilities. The closure affect schools in almost every district, including remote and border regions such as Kurung Kumey, Tawang, Anjaw, Changlang, and Upper Subansiri. The list includes primary, upper primary, middle, and secondary government schools that have had no student enrolment this year and, in some instances, for multiple academic sessions. According to the official notification, West Kameng district reported the

Northeast floods worsen; 36 dead, over 550,000 affected across states

Three army personnel killed, nine missing after a landslide swept away a military camp in Mangan district of Sikkim; over 1,600 tourists stranded in Lachung and Chungthang evacuated

Union Home secy, Manipur Guv discuss border fencing, law & order situation

Union Home secretary Govind Mohan called on Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and discussed with him border fencing, relief measures for internally displaced persons and the overall law and order situation in the state, an official statement said. The meeting between the Union Home secretary and the Manipur governor took place on Monday in which Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka, Manipur chief secretary, Security Advisor to Manipur government and senior officials were present, it said. "The meetings focused on key issues concerning the state including relief and rehabilitation efforts for internally displaced persons (IDPs), border fencing and the overall law and order situation" it said. During the meeting, the ongoing relief measures for IDPs in both the hills and the valley were reviewed and a detailed assessment was made of the current facilities being provided to displaced persons, the status of rehabilitation efforts, and the long-term plan for their permanent ...