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BOMDILA : An awareness programme on drug abuse and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, was organised at Sera village near Bomdila on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Friday. The programme was jointly organised by the Brahma Kumaris RajYoga Meditation and De-addiction Centre, Bomdila, the West Kameng District Panchayati Raj Department and the West Kameng Police. It witnessed the participation of drug recovery youths, villagers, local youths, Panchayati Raj representatives, Gaon Burahs, women and community leaders, who reaffirmed their commitment to building a drug-free society. Welcoming the gathering, Phuntso Tashi highlighted the need for collective responsibility, community vigilance and compassionate rehabilitation in tackling substance abuse, while appreciating the collaborative efforts of the organisers. West Kameng Police Sub-Inspector and Reserve Officer Passang Dorjee delivered a presentation on the legal consequences of drug abuse and illicit trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. He urged citizens, particularly the youth, to remain vigilant and support law enforcement agencies in combating the drug menace. Bomdila Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sub-Inspector Nima Tsering sensitised participants on the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. He explained children’s legal rights, mandatory reporting obligations and the collective responsibility of parents, teachers and community members in ensuring a safe environment for children. Delivering the keynote address, Brahma Kumaris RajYoga Meditation and De-addiction Centre Bomdila and Tawang Manager BK Mina highlighted the adverse impact of drug addiction on physical and mental health, family life and society. She stressed that lasting freedom from addiction requires inner transformation through RajYoga meditation, positive thinking, self-awareness and value-based living. Participants also took part in a guided RajYoga meditation session led by BK Mina, while several drug recovery youths shared their personal journeys of addiction, rehabilitation and recovery, inspiring the gathering with messages of hope and resilience. The programme also featured a de-addiction-themed dance performance by Brahma Kumaris Dirang Manager BK Lexmita and a “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” street play presented by Brahma Kumaris volunteers, highlighting the harmful effects of substance abuse and the importance of prevention, family support and moral values. As part of the programme, participants took an anti-drug pledge, committing themselves to abstain from drugs, discourage substance abuse, support rehabilitation efforts and work towards an addiction-free society. Several Panchayati Raj leaders and community representatives also emphasised the importance of community participation, value-based education, strong family support and close cooperation with government agencies in eliminating drug abuse. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by a Gaon Burah, who urged participants to translate the day’s resolutions into sustained community action for a healthier and addiction-free society.

ITANAGAR : Search and rescue operations for four persons missing in the devastating flash flood that struck Poosa village in Keyi Panyor district entered the third day on Friday, with rescue teams intensifying efforts despite difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions. State Disaster Management Secretary Dani Salu said the day’s operation was suspended at 6:35 pm and will resume at 6 am on Saturday. As of Friday evening, four persons were still untraced. Multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), district administration and police, are jointly carrying out search and rescue operations, while authorities have mobilised all available resources to locate the missing persons at the earliest. To strengthen relief efforts, two medical teams were dispatched to the affected areas on Friday to provide healthcare services to stranded residents and those injured in the disaster. One team from the NDRF, comprising a doctor, dresser, nursing assistants and support staff, and another from the District Medical Department, Yupia, left Lal Mitt near Hoj accompanied by local guides to reach the affected villages.   Meanwhile, preliminary assessments have revealed extensive damage to residential properties and public infrastructure. At the NEEPCO colony, 54 houses comprising 108 residential units were affected, of which 30 houses were completely washed away or destroyed. The disaster has impacted 108 families involving around 350 people. A relief camp set up within the colony is presently accommodating around 60 displaced persons. In Poosa and Pitapool villages, 10 houses were completely destroyed, while another 14 sustained partial damage, affecting nearly 20 households. Authorities are also working to restore road connectivity and ensure the uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the affected areas, even as detailed assessments of the overall damage continue. The district administration, along with the SDRF, NDRF, police, health department and other line agencies, remains engaged in coordinated rescue, relief and restoration efforts, while closely monitoring the evolving situation.  

RONO HILLS : An anti-drug awareness programme was organised at the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) campus on Friday to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan of the Union Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment and Tribal Affairs. The programme was organised by the Papum Pare District Administration and the District Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Cell under the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department in collaboration with the Education Department, Police Department and Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR). Earlier in the day, the district police, led by Papum Pare Superintendent of Police Taru Gusar, conducted a foot march around the RGU campus. Participants carried placards and raised slogans highlighting the ill effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking while spreading awareness among the public. Addressing the gathering, Gusar underscored the vital role of parents and teachers in shaping the lives of children. He said proper guidance, emotional support and moral values imparted at home and educational institutions are essential to keeping the younger generation away from substance abuse and other harmful activities. He observed that anti-social elements seek to weaken the youth, who form the backbone of society, and called upon parents, teachers, students, government officials, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and social activists to unite in the fight against drug abuse. RGU Registrar Dr NT Rikam stressed the importance of discipline and urged students to remain focused and responsible while pursuing their passions alongside academics for their overall development. He also advised students to minimise mobile phone usage and choose their friends wisely, noting that positive company and healthy habits play a crucial role in shaping one’s future. Dr Rikam further informed that RGU is collaborating with the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women to undertake an in-depth study on drug addiction in the state and its social and economic impact. Doimukh Sub-Divisional Police Officer Nabam Rikam highlighted the growing concern over illicit drug trafficking and stressed the need for coordinated efforts by the administration, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions and society to curb the menace. He said eliminating drug demand is essential to breaking the supply chain and emphasised that awareness and collective social responsibility are key to achieving a drug-free society. Counsellors from Kripa Foundation, Nisso Mekap and Yura Chumna spoke on the harmful effects of drug abuse and highlighted the importance of awareness, counselling and rehabilitation. District Surveillance-cum-Programme Officer Dr Lobsang Chuki also explained various de-addiction measures and encouraged individuals struggling with substance abuse to seek timely professional help. As part of the programme, the Department of Information and Public Relations screened the Prime Minister’s message on the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan along with short films highlighting the adverse effects of drug abuse and illicit trafficking. Among those present were Deputy Director ICDS Jaya Taba, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), police officials, teachers and students of Government Secondary School, Rono Hills, RGU faculty members, parents and members of the public. Helpline numbers for de-addiction assistance were also shared during the programme, including Tele MANAS (14416) and Sudhar Ghar (0360-2291046).

ITANAGAR : The Nyishi Elite Society (NES) on Friday submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Pema Khandu seeking urgent intervention for rescue, relief, rehabilitation and restoration of road connectivity in flash flood-ravaged Poosa village under Yazali administrative circle in Keyi Panyor district. In the memorandum, NES president Prof Tana Showren expressed deep concern over the devastating flash flood that claimed one life, left several persons missing and injured, and caused extensive damage to homes, livestock and critical road infrastructure. Highlighting the plight of affected residents, the society appealed to the state government to intensify ongoing search and rescue operations through coordinated inter-agency efforts and deploy additional manpower, machinery and technical expertise to trace the missing persons at the earliest. NES also stressed the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, including food supplies, medical care, temporary shelter and other essential relief materials for families who have lost everything in the disaster including their homes. The society further called for immediate restoration of the damaged Hoj–Poosa road, which serves as a vital lifeline for the affected area. It also urged the government to expedite repairs on the alternative Kimin–Potin road to facilitate the movement of rescue personnel, relief materials and essential services. According to the memorandum, restoring road connectivity is crucial not only for strengthening ongoing rescue and relief operations but also for establishing interim relief centres equipped with trauma-care and support facilities for affected residents. Emphasising the need for seamless coordination among departments and agencies, NES advocated for a unified response mechanism to ensure that disaster victims receive timely assistance without having to approach multiple offices for relief and rehabilitation support. The society also urged the government to adopt a long-term disaster management strategy by leveraging modern geo-meteorological technologies, artificial intelligence-based hazard mapping systems and advanced early warning mechanisms to minimise future disaster risks and improve preparedness. Describing the calamity as one of immense magnitude, NES appealed to the Chief Minister to address the situation in a mission-mode manner and ensure close monitoring at the highest level for effective implementation of rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures on the ground. The memorandum expressed hope that prompt government intervention would help mitigate the suffering of affected families and accelerate the restoration of normalcy in the disaster-hit region. (Source: UNI)    

ITANAGAR : A sanitary supervisor at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS) here was arrested for allegedly filming women inside a hospital washroom using a mobile phone, police said on Friday. The accused, identified as Tamchi Nido (29), a resident of Kurung Kumey district, had been working as a multi-tasking staff member at the premier healthcare institute since 2021 before being promoted as sanitary supervisor in May this year, Itanagar Capital Region SP Nyelam Nega said. The matter came to light on Thursday morning when a woman using a general washroom near the Intensive Care Cardiac Unit (ICCU) block noticed a mobile phone placed through the ventilation gap to film her. The victim immediately raised an alarm, alerting her family members and bystanders, the SP said. The accused allegedly attempted to flee and tried to delete the video recordings from his mobile phone. He was, however, apprehended by a police team led by Naharlagun Police Station officer-in-charge Inspector Krishnendu Dev and formally arrested. “During interrogation, the accused confessed that he had been secretly recording women inside the hospital washrooms for the past three to four months. Based on his disclosure, investigators have recovered several voyeuristic videos from his mobile handset,” the SP said. Police have seized the mobile phone used in the commission of the offence. A case has been registered at the Naharlagun Police Station under Sections 74, 77, 78(1), and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertain to voyeurism, sexual harassment, and destruction of evidence. Assuring strict action, the SP said an investigation is underway under the supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police Rishi Longdo to ensure swift justice to the victims. Nido will be produced before a local court for appropriate legal proceedings, the SP added. (Source: PTI)  

ITANAGAR : Arunachal Pradesh Police have recovered 14 stolen two-wheelers and taken four minors into custody in this connection. Capital Superintendent of Police Jummar Basar said a coordinated operation was launched after a theft case was registered at Itanagar police station on Thursday. After a case was registered, police apprehended four children in conflict with the law, aged between 10 and 14 years, in accordance with legal protocols, the SP said. Based on disclosures made by the apprehended minors during the investigation, a police team recovered 14 stolen two-wheelers, including a gearless scooter involved in the primary case, from various locations across the Itanagar capital region and neighbouring Papum Pare district, Basar added. As the registration, engine, and chassis numbers of several recovered two-wheelers appear to have been tampered with by the offenders, specialised units are currently conducting field verifications to establish actual ownership details. The SP said the vehicles would be handed over to their rightful owners upon the completion of all due legal formalities. (Source: PTI)