Author name: OnlineAge

IMPHAL : Twenty-eight of the 38 people belonging to the Kuki and Naga communities, who were held hostage by armed groups in Manipur’s Kangpokpi and Senapati districts, were released, police said on Friday. These people were taken to unknown areas after suspected militants shot dead three church leaders and injured four others in Kangpokpi on Wednesday, while a civilian was gunned down and his wife was wounded in Noney district. “Twelve Naga women from Konsakhul village, who were held captive by armed militants, were released at Makhan village,” a senior officer said. Four men and ten women of the Kuki community, who were held in captivity in Senapati district, were handed over to security forces late Thursday night, he said. The officer also said, “Two Salesian brothers of Don Bosco, including one from Nagaland, were also released by armed groups at separate locations.” Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam had on Thursday said the government was actively holding discussions with civil society groups and political leaders to secure the release of these people. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : The country’s first satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle was released in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park on Friday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The release coincided with Endangered Species Day, Sarma said in a post on X. “A first for India at Kaziranga! Marking #EndangeredSpeciesDay, the country’s 1st satellite-tagged Ganges softshell turtle was released in @kaziranga_, a major step for wildlife conservation,” Sarma said. “A proud moment for Assam as we continue to protect every species that calls our forests home,” he added. The Ganges softshell turtle is a freshwater reptile whose distribution is largely restricted to the Ganga, Indus and Mahanadi river systems in northern and eastern India. The species is listed under Part II of Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and possession of the turtle is an offence under the law. (Source: PTI)    

DIMAPUR : The Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland and a Karnataka-based technology institute on Friday signed a pact to promote academic cooperation, skill development initiatives and scholarship opportunities for students of the northeastern state. The signing of the MoU between IDAN and Atria Institute of Technology took place as part of the 4th edition of ‘EduConnect: Connecting Education to Opportunities’ held at the Integrated Business Hub and Innovation Centre, Dimapur. Under the agreement, the Atria–IT Scholarship Programme will be offered through IDAN under the Future Achievers Scholarship Programme. Scholarships will be awarded to meritorious students based on their academic potential, while selected candidates will be monitored regularly for their academic performance and attendance after admission. Speaking at the event, IDAN chairman Abu Metha said education remains the foundation of success and a powerful instrument for change. He encouraged students to constantly pursue knowledge and adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape to remain empowered and competitive. He further urged students to use social media and modern technology positively to showcase their talents and capabilities to the world. Additional secretary (finance and IDAN) Vineet Kumar said the objective of EduConnect was to create a window of opportunities for students in shaping their future careers and urged them to make informed decisions. (Source: PTI)     had added. (Source: PTI)

GUWAHATI : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will ensure equal application of law for all citizens, with special emphasis on the rights of women and children. He asserted that tribal communities will be kept out of the purview of the UCC to protect their traditions and customs. “The Uniform Civil Code in Assam will ensure equal application of the rule of law for everyone and guarantee fair rights to all, especially women and children,” Sarma said in a post on X. “The Janjatiya Samaj of Assam will not be under the purview of #UCCAssam to protect their customs and traditions,” he added, referring to the tribal communities. The first cabinet meeting of the new government on Wednesday had approved the implementation of the UCC in the state, with tribals to be kept outside its purview, Sarma had said after the decision. Sharing two slides on social media on the proposed UCC’s objectives, the CM said it is about “one state, one law”, which will ensure a single legal system for marriage, divorce and succession. Legal marriageable age will be fixed at 18 years for women and 21 years for men, with mandatory reporting of all marriages and live-in relationships within 60 days. “ST and Adivasi communities fully exempted to preserve customs,” Sarma added. Maintaining that the UCC is to ensure “justice for every citizen”, Sarma said it will entail that spouses, children and parents share equal inheritance. The UCC will have explicit maintenance rights for women in marriages and live-in relationships, and guaranteed legitimacy for all children and mother-focussed custody for kids under the age of five years. There will be provision for strict penalties for false statements to ensure legal records integrity, Sarma added. The draft of the UCC Bill will be laid in the Assembly on May 26, Sarma said on Wednesday. The UCC will primarily cover the four subjects — minimum age of marriage, prohibition of polygamy, equal rights for daughters in parents’ property and matters relating to live-in relationships. It will also deal with succession, marriage, live-in relationships and compulsory registration of marriage and divorce, he