September 11, 2026 9:50 pm
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ONLINE AGE

(Online version of the Arunachal Age newspaper)

Author name: OnlineAge

REGIONAL

‘Today belongs to Bhupen Da’: Assam CM defers his book’s release

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GUWAHATI, SEPT 7: The release of a book based on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s doctoral thesis, which was to be launched by Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan at Gauhati University, has been deferred. The chief minister said he requested the university authorities to defer the release after he came to know that a book on the life and legacy of eminent Assamese singer Bhupen Hazarika was also scheduled to be released at the same event. ”Today, my book, based on my PhD thesis, ‘Integrated Development – The Role of the North Eastern Region’, was scheduled to be released at Gauhati University”, Sarma posted on ‘X’. ”However, when I learnt that a book on the life and legacy of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika would also be released at the same function, I requested the University authorities to defer the release of my book to another occasion,” he said. ”Today belongs to Bhupen Da. My book can wait for another day,” he added. The VP, who laid the foundation stone of the Rs 110 crore Infrastructure Development Project for Gauhati University, also released two books — Dr Bhupen Hazarika: 100 years of a Wandering Song, and the expanded fifth edition of Chandrakanta Abhidan, published by the university. (Source: PTI)  

National, REGIONAL

SC suspends sentence of Naga militant in triple murder case, directs him to stay in Delhi

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NEW DELHI, SEP 7: The Supreme Court on Monday suspended the sentence of self-styled NSCN(M) “lieutenant” Hopeson Nignshen, convicted in connection with the abduction and killing of three Manipur government officials in the state’s Ukhrul district in February 2009. A bench comprising Justice M M Sundresh and Justice P B Varale noted that Nignshen has been in jail for more than 17 years. “We are dealing with a case where the appellant has been incarcerated for more than 17 years and therefore, he is relying only on the ground of suspension of sentence, particularly when his appeal is pending. We grant suspension of sentence on the following conditions: the applicant shall stay within the boundaries of Delhi and not leave until the appeal is disposed of,” the bench said. The counsel appearing for the Manipur government opposed the plea. The Delhi High Court on November 20, 2019 had upheld trial court’s order convicting Nignshen for kidnapping and killing three government officials in Manipur in 2009 and handed him life imprisonment. The trial court in 2014 had awarded the jail term to Hopeson Nignshen, holding him guilty of abducting Dr Thingnam Kishan Singh and two others, and killing them after conspiring with other National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak Muivah (NSCN-IM) militants. Nignshen, who was also held guilty of looting the deceased’s belonging, was asked to pay a fine of Rs 35,000. The case was transferred to Delhi from Manipur on the Supreme Court’s direction in May 2010 after CBI had apprehended a threat to Nignshen’s life and chances of unrest in the state if he was presented in a Manipur court. According to CBI, on February 13, 2009, Nignshen and other NSCN-IM militants had abducted Kishan Singh, SDO-cum-BDO of Kasom Khullen in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, and five members of his personal staff. The agency had said that on the next day, the militants allegedly let off three of the abducted people — Ram Singh Siro, Ramthing Singlai and Kapangkhui Jajo, who belonged to the Naga community — while killing Kishan Singh, Y Token Singh and A Rajen Sharma. The bodies were recovered from the banks of Taphao Kuki river near Senapati in Manipur, CBI had said. The killings had resulted in ethnic tension between the Meities and Nagas and led to a series of bandhs in Manipur. In view of the sensitivity of the killing, the state government transferred the case to CBI which subsequently arrested Nignshen on May 29, 2009. (Source: PTI)    

REGIONAL

8 suspected Kuki Liberation Army members held in Manipur’s Kangpokpi

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IMPHAL, SEP 7: At least eight cadres suspected to be members of the Kuki Liberation Army were apprehended by security forces during a raid in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, police said on Monday. Arms and ammunition were also seized from their possession, they said. “A joint operation was conducted by Manipur Police, CoBRA, CRPF, Mahila personnel and RAF teams at Gampum village under Saikul Police Station in Kangpokpi district on Monday during which the security forces raided an unauthorised/ illegal camp belonging to suspected Kuki Liberation Army (KLA)” a police statement said. The camp has been sealed by the security forces, it said. The Kuki Liberation Army is a signatory to the Suspension of Operations pact inked between the Union government, the Manipur government and dozens of Kuki and Zomi militant outfits. (Source: PTI)    

REGIONAL

One person held, 11 cows rescued in Assam: CM

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GUWAHATI, SEP 7: One suspected cattle smuggler has been arrested, and 11 livestock were rescued in two separate operations by Kokrajhar police, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday. He asserted that strong action against cattle smuggling will continue in the state. “Major blow to cattle smuggle! In two major operations, @KokrajharPolice rescued 11 livestock and apprehended one person,” Sarma said in a post on X. He, however, did not specify when the operations were carried out. Sarma said investigations are on to identify those associated with the network. “Action against cattle smuggling will continue,” he added. (Source: PTI)  

Editorial

India must fix its own classrooms

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Every September 5, India honours Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan – philosopher, Oxford scholar, and the Republic’s first Vice-President and second President. When students proposed celebrating his birthday after he became President in 1962, he asked instead that the date be observed as Teachers’ Day, insisting teachers deserved to rank among the nation’s finest minds. It is a fitting origin story for a country that has long seen itself as a wellspring of learning for the world. That reverence is not sentimental excess. Teachers do more than deliver a syllabus; they build the cognitive and moral scaffolding on which every other profession stands. The doctor who saves a life, the engineer who builds a bridge, the officer who frames policy – all once sat before a teacher who taught them to reason, question and persist. In a country of 1.4 billion, no institution shapes the future more directly than the classroom, nor any individual more than the teacher standing in it. India’s claim to Vishwa Guru status – teacher to the world – rests on genuine civilisational memory. Nalanda and Takshashila once drew scholars from Persia to China; the guru-shishya tradition treated teaching as a sacred trust, not a fallback career. Reviving that stature is now stated national ambition, invoked from foreign-policy platforms to soft-power strategy. Ground reality is more sobering. A Parliamentary Standing Committee last year counted close to ten lakh vacant teaching posts under the Centre’s Samagra Shiksha scheme – over seven lakh of them at the primary and elementary level. Vacancies for secondary and senior-secondary teachers, precisely where subject expertise matters most, nearly doubled within a single year. Regulators have simultaneously derecognised scores of teacher-training colleges that had reduced the B.Ed degree to a paper formality. Even the good news carries a warning: the most recent ASER survey, in 2024, found barely a quarter of Class 3 government-school children could read a Class 2-level text – a real improvement on 2022, but still a low bar for an aspiring Vishwa Guru. Add chronically underpaid contract teachers, overcrowded classrooms and patchy in-service training, and the gap between rhetoric and classroom is hard to ignore. Vishwa Guru cannot be built on borrowed civilisational glory alone. It has to be built teacher by teacher – through fair pay, rigorous training, manageable classrooms, and recruitment drives that fill vacancies before ministries announce new schemes. Teachers’ Day should not be a 24-hour ritual that gives way, on September 6, to indifference about who is actually at the blackboard. The country would do well to remember that the surest way to teach the world is to first take proper care of those who teach it at home. (Source: The Pioneer)  

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Namsai Police crack human trafficking case, rescue 38 people

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ITANAGAR, SEP 6: Arunachal Pradesh Police have rescued 38 people, including 34 children, from various locations and arrested four persons who were allegedly involved in human trafficking, officials said on Sunday. The children were rescued from Aalo, Mechuka, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding area of Arunachal Pradesh and from Assam, they said. A trafficking case was registered at Namsai Police Station last month. It is being investigated by Namsai Deputy Superintendent of Police Kengo Dirchi under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Sangey Thinley, in close coordination with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Namsai. In a press statement, Thinley said police have arrested four facilitators so far, with the latest arrest being identified as Rupali Padung. Her alleged role in the transportation and illegal placement of the victims is currently under legal scrutiny. Officials said the probe aims to unearth the complete trafficking network, financial transactions, electronic evidence, and secondary links. Parents, guardians, and individuals where the victims were allegedly placed are also being thoroughly examined, with appropriate legal action to follow based on evidence. The CWC and DCPU are providing necessary care, protection, counselling, and rehabilitation support to the rescued children, the SP said. Meanwhile, the SP said the identities of the minors are being strictly protected in compliance with the law, as further investigations continue. (Source: PTI)    

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Solung celebrated with traditional fervour in Namsai

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NAMSАI, SEP 6: The Solung Festival was celebrated with traditional fervour and enthusiasm at N.R. Lotong Gi Notko, Jaipur, Namsai, showcasing the rich cultural traditions and artistic heritage of the Adi community. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein attended the celebration as chief guest, while Health and Family Welfare Minister Biyuram Wahge was the guest of honour. Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom was the Chief Patron and 42-Dambuk MLA Puinnyo Apum attended as Special Guest. Namsai Zilla Parishad Chairperson (ZPC) Chow Sujana Namchoom, Adi Bane Kebang (Apex) President Tanon Tatak, Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, heads of offices, representatives of community-based organisations of the Tai-Khamti and Singpho communities and other dignitaries also attended the programme. Addressing the gathering, Namsai MLA Chau Zingnu Namchoom underlined the importance of Solung in preserving the identity, customs and age-old practices of the Adi community. He called for collective efforts to ensure that these traditions are passed on to younger generations. Dambuk MLA Puinnyo Apum stressed the need to safeguard indigenous customs and encouraged the youth to remain connected with their roots and actively participate in preserving traditional knowledge and practices. Health and Family Welfare Minister Biyuram Wahge highlighted Solung’s role in bringing communities together and strengthening social bonds. He called for continued efforts to uphold indigenous practices and transmit them to future generations. Mein emphasised the need to preserve Arunachal Pradesh’s indigenous languages, traditional practices and cultural heritage amid changing times. He said festivals such as Solung provide an important platform for the younger generation to understand their roots and carry forward the values and traditions inherited from their forefathers. Mein also called for documentation and promotion of traditional knowledge and art forms, urging the youth to actively participate in such initiatives. He stressed that protecting indigenous identity is a collective responsibility requiring the involvement of both the community and younger generations. The celebration featured colourful traditional cultural performances, providing a vibrant platform for showcasing the rich artistic traditions and cultural heritage of the Adi community.    

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Nine-member media delegation from Arunachal begins Gujarat Tour

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ITANAGAR, SEP 6: The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Itanagar, is organising its first-ever press tour to Gujarat for journalists from Arunachal Pradesh from September 6 to 12, with the objective of strengthening media engagement and providing first-hand exposure to the State’s development initiatives and governance practices. A nine-member delegation of journalists from Arunachal Pradesh, led by PIB Itanagar Joint Director Utsav Parmar, will undertake the seven-day exposure tour. During the visit, the delegation will interact with government agencies, project authorities and other stakeholders to gain insights into the planning, implementation and outcomes of various development initiatives. The tour will cover areas including governance, infrastructure, technology, economy and public service delivery, offering the journalists a comparative perspective on development experiences in Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. The visit will also facilitate interaction and exchange of professional experiences between journalists and stakeholders, particularly in the context of the two states’ distinct geographical, cultural and socio-economic characteristics. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the relationship between PIB Itanagar and the media fraternity of Arunachal Pradesh through sustained interaction, field-based exposure and greater access to information. It is also expected to contribute to a broader understanding of the diverse development approaches adopted across different parts of the country.    

Latest News, Popular News, State News

DBC organizes red run marathon

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ITANAGAR, SEP 6: The Red Ribbon Club and National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell of Don Bosco College (DBC), Itanagar, in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (APSACS), Directorate of Health Services, Naharlagun, and under the aegis of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, organised a 5-km Red Run Marathon on Sunday to promote awareness about HIV/AIDS and mental health among youth. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students across various semesters. Chamu Kamchung of BA Vth Semester secured first position in the boys’ category, while Kensinam Gao of BPES 3rd Semester emerged winner in the girls’ category. Roshan Chokar of BPES 3rd Semester and Yarisa Batak of BCom 3rd Semester secured second positions in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively. DBC Red Ribbon Club Coordinator Dr Ravi Mihu addressed the participants on the importance of HIV/AIDS and mental health awareness. NSS Cell PO Samsom Mossang felicitated the winners and participants and congratulated them for their enthusiastic participation and sporting spirit.

Latest News, Popular News, State News

Namsai DH to get new blood bank

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NAMSAI, SEP 6: Health and Family Welfare Minister Biyuram Wahge laid the foundation stone for a new Blood Bank facility at District Hospital (DH), Namsai, on Sunday. In a post on X, Wahge said the hospital’s high patient footfall has increased the need for strengthened emergency and transfusion services. He said the new Blood Bank would improve timely access to blood for patients in need and strengthen emergency healthcare services. Wahge also toured the hospital and reviewed key facilities, including the CT Scan Room, Oxygen Plant and Mortuary. He took stock of the existing infrastructure and healthcare services being provided at the hospital.