Author name: OnlineAge

IMPHAL : A team of security officials led by the National Investigation Agency arrested two persons from Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Friday morning for their alleged involvement in the killing of six Naga civilians, police said. According to them, the operation was carried out by a joint team of Manipur Police, NIA and CRPF based on credible inputs. They launched the operation at Leilon Vaiphei in the early hours of Friday to apprehend two accused who were allegedly involved in the killing of six Naga persons on May 13 in the same village. Police said that a woman, Ayingbi, and another person, Pradip, were apprehended from the Kuki-Zo village. The bodies of six Naga civilians were recovered from the vicinity of Leilon Vaiphei village on June 10, triggering protests by Naga and Meitei communities demanding the arrest of the perpetrators. Naga groups had also blocked all routes to Kangpokpi district, leading to a massive surge in the prices of essential commodities in the Kuki-Zo majority district. Days after the bodies were found, Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet apologised for the incident and called for an impartial investigation into all acts of violence linked to the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur. “I admit the Kuki-Zo people made a grave mistake in killing the six Naga civilians. It was done out of emotion. I strongly condemn it. I am very sorry and apologise on behalf of my people,” he had told a press conference. However, a day later, KZC stated that certain portions of Thanglet’s remarks had been “misconstrued as an admission of responsibility by the Kuki-Zo community”. It stated that the chairperson’s expression of sorrow was made purely in the spirit of humanity, compassion, and moral responsibility and “was not intended to assign collective guilt”. The clarification came as an influential Naga students’ organisation expressed anger at the apology issued by the KZC chief over the killing of six Naga hostages in the state. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Friday proposed increasing the tax exemption limit for small tea growers fourfold to Rs 10 lakh and raising the subsidy on orthodox and specialty tea by 50 per cent. Presenting his maiden Budget, state Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah also announced a subsidy for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea for the first time. “To provide relief to small tea growers, I propose to enhance the agricultural income tax exemption threshold from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh of annual agricultural income,” he added. At the same time, the tax will be restored for larger assessees with effect from April 1, 2026, and the additional revenue generated shall be dedicated exclusively to the welfare of tea garden communities, Baruah said. He said orthodox tea production has increased from 4.39 crore kg in 2021-22 to nearly 8 crore kg in 2025-26, recording a strong growth of over 80 per cent in four years. “Assam has taken a significant step towards value addition in the tea sector with the successful production of premium Matcha tea. The first lot was sold through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre at nearly Rs 3,000 per kg,” the minister said.   To further incentivise value addition and boost Assam Tea exports, Matcha tea shall be included within the eligible category of orthodox and specialty tea, he added. “The production subsidy for orthodox and specialty tea will be enhanced from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 15 per kg,” he added. “Further, a new subsidy of Rs 3 per kg will be introduced for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea that is exported directly through recognised export channels, contributing to the foreign exchange earnings,” Baruah said. The finance minister said that the government will strengthen support to tea growers through Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS). “Further, we will strengthen healthcare delivery in tea garden areas by supporting Tea Garden Hospitals through infrastructure upgrade, diagnostics, medicines, equipment and deployment of dedicated doctors and human resources. The respective tea gardens will continue to support these hospitals as earlier,” he added. Baruah said nearly 30,000 tea garden families across the state had received land pattas, ending years of uncertainty over land ownership. “Survey has already begun in another 250 tea gardens and within this financial year, our government will ensure land rights for 1.14 lakh more families,” he added. Baruah also informed the House that the government of India has taken an in-principle decision to provide benefits of PMAY houses to eligible tea garden workers. “Over the next five years, we will ensure that each of Assam’s 3.5 lakh tea garden families secures legal title to their land,” he added. On tea tourism, Baruah said Assam has three 18-hole championship golf courses and 10 nine-hole courses, many located within beautiful tea estates. “Our government proposes to launch the Assam Tea and Golf Trail, a unique tourism initiative that brings together the state’s globally renowned tea heritage and distinctive golf courses into a world-class experiential tourism circuit,” he added. Developed in partnership with tea estates, the tourism and hospitality sectors and local communities, this initiative will strengthen Assam’s position as a premier destination for high-value domestic and international travellers, the minister said. (Source: PTI)    

AGARTALA : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said he urged Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah to operationalise connectivity projects in which India has made significant investments. The two key projects — the Agartala-Akhaura railway link and the Maitri Setu (Friendship Bridge) over the Feni river in South Tripura’s Sabroom — are yet to become operational despite completion of construction and formal inauguration of the bridge in March 2021. “I have requested the Bangladesh envoy to curb anti-India activities in his country as such incidents will not help improve bilateral relations. If we want to strengthen ties, connectivity projects should be operationalised because people want business,” Saha told reporters. Hamidullah, who arrived here to attend the ‘Destination Tripura: Business Conclave’, met the chief minister on Thursday and held a one-on-one meeting. Saha said the Bangladesh envoy conveyed that the present government in his country was “soft” on bilateral issues. “Hamidullah noted that people from his country who wish to visit India for medical treatment feel comfortable entering through Tripura,” Saha said. Hamidullah proposed screening award-winning Bangladeshi films in Tripura as part of efforts to strengthen people-to-people contacts and cultural cooperation between the two sides. He said the initiative aims to promote cultural exchanges through cinema and foster stronger social and artistic ties between Bangladesh and Tripura. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Friday proposed increasing the tax exemption limit for small tea growers fourfold to Rs 10 lakh and raising the subsidy on orthodox and specialty tea by 50 per cent. Presenting his maiden Budget, state Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah also announced a subsidy for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea for the first time. “To provide relief to small tea growers, I propose to enhance the agricultural income tax exemption threshold from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh of annual agricultural income,” he added. At the same time, the tax will be restored for larger assessees with effect from April 1, 2026, and the additional revenue generated shall be dedicated exclusively to the welfare of tea garden communities, Baruah said. He said orthodox tea production has increased from 4.39 crore kg in 2021-22 to nearly 8 crore kg in 2025-26, recording a strong growth of over 80 per cent in four years. “Assam has taken a significant step towards value addition in the tea sector with the successful production of premium Matcha tea. The first lot was sold through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre at nearly Rs 3,000 per kg,” the minister said. To further incentivise value addition and boost Assam Tea exports, Matcha tea shall be included within the eligible category of orthodox and specialty tea, he added. “The production subsidy for orthodox and specialty tea will be enhanced from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 15 per kg,” he added. “Further, a new subsidy of Rs 3 per kg will be introduced for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea that is exported directly through recognised export channels, contributing to the foreign exchange earnings,” Baruah said. The finance minister said that the government will strengthen support to tea growers through Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS). “Further, we will strengthen healthcare delivery in tea garden areas by supporting Tea Garden Hospitals through infrastructure upgrade, diagnostics, medicines, equipment and deployment of dedicated doctors and human resources. The respective tea gardens will continue to support these hospitals as earlier,” he added. Baruah said nearly 30,000 tea garden families across the state had received land pattas, ending years of uncertainty over land ownership. “Survey has already begun in another 250 tea gardens and within this financial year, our government will ensure land rights for 1.14 lakh more families,” he added. Baruah also informed the House that the government of India has taken an in-principle decision to provide benefits of PMAY houses to eligible tea garden workers. “Over the next five years, we will ensure that each of Assam’s 3.5 lakh tea garden families secures legal title to their land,” he added. On tea tourism, Baruah said Assam has three 18-hole championship golf courses and 10 nine-hole courses, many located within beautiful tea estates. “Our government proposes to launch the Assam Tea and Golf Trail, a unique tourism initiative that brings together the state’s globally renowned tea heritage and distinctive golf courses into a world-class experiential tourism circuit,” he added. Developed in partnership with tea estates, the tourism and hospitality sectors and local communities, this initiative will strengthen Assam’s position as a premier destination for high-value domestic and international travellers, the minister said. (Source: PTI)