REGIONAL

IMPHAL : Singh on Saturday said the state can progress only when all 36 communities living in the hills and valley develop together, stressing the need for inclusive and balanced growth. Speaking at a special interactive session with beneficiaries of the post-matric scholarship (ST) scheme organised by the department of tribal affairs and hills under Janjatiya Garima Utsav 2026 in Imphal, Singh said the scholarship programme aims to promote equality and uplift all communities. Expressing concern over reports that some students had not received scholarship payments for the past four months, the chief minister said the funds had already been released and that delays in certain cases were due to issues related to Aadhaar and bank account linkage. The CM said education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of young people and reiterated that the government remains committed to addressing genuine difficulties faced by students and ensuring that welfare schemes reach the intended beneficiaries. Singh also emphasised that Manipur can progress only when all 36 communities living in the hills and valley develop together and stressed the need for inclusive and balanced development across the state. Highlighting the importance of peace, Singh said development can take place only in a peaceful and conducive environment. He noted that students and daily wage earners are among those most affected during periods of unrest and emphasised that peace through dialogue is the only solution. He also appealed to students to contribute towards strengthening harmony and understanding among different communities. Speaking on the occasion via video conferencing, Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen said the programme highlighted the importance of education in empowering tribal youth and shaping a better future. She also said the government of Manipur remains committed to supporting students in their educational journey. Students from Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts also participated in the interaction via video conferencing and shared their concerns and challenges. (Source: PTI)  

KOHIMA : Nagaland’s lone Lok Sabha MP, S Supongmeren Jamir, on Saturday said strict monitoring would be undertaken over the next four months to ensure the timely completion of national highway projects in the state, warning that contractors failing to meet deadlines would face action. Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan here, Jamir, also the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president, said he inspected work on national highway stretches from Dimapur to Kohima, and Kohima to Jesami on May 28 and 29, to assess implementation, maintenance and safety standards of road projects executed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). He said that while Nagaland’s difficult terrain and unpredictable monsoon posed natural challenges, contractors and executing agencies must be adequately prepared to deliver projects on schedule. Jamir said the inspection, conducted along with district administrations, NHIDCL officials and contractors, focused particularly on road safety measures, drainage maintenance and construction quality. He pointed out that road safety infrastructure from the Assam border to Kohima, including signage and dividers, was found to be below NHIDCL standards. He said NHIDCL had been asked to strictly enforce its guidelines and ensure that contractors maintain the same standards as seen in other states. On maintenance issues, he said blocked drainage systems and neglect after road construction had contributed to road damage, and contractors had been directed to clear such areas within stipulated timelines. Referring to the Dimapur-Kohima stretch, Jamir expressed concern over poorly planned road dividers, saying some had been constructed without proper approval and adequate safety assessment, contributing to accidents. He said any road divider or access opening must be approved by competent NHIDCL authorities with proper signage. Jamir said that most highway stretches under NHIDCL are expected to be completed this year, except the Kohima bypass road, which may take another two years due to bridge construction requirements and land disputes. The MP raised concern over theft of aluminium crash barriers and road signage, terming it a serious threat to public safety. He also noted that illegal mining activities had blocked roads at over 35 locations. During his visit to Phek district on Friday, Jamir inspected the BSF Camp to Chakhabama stretch and said repair and maintenance works had been assured within 20 days. Jamir said weekly monitoring would be undertaken over the next four months in coordination with district administrations to ensure that contractors fulfil their commitments. (Source: PTI)    

AGARTALA : A special CBI court in Tripura on Saturday sentenced three executives of a chit fund company to six years of rigorous imprisonment each for swindling Rs 5.5 crore from over 800 depositors, a lawyer said. The special CBI judge, Debasish Kar, also asked the Unakoti district magistrate to attach the properties of Pragatishil Infra Project Services Private Ltd to pay the duped depositors. The Pragatishil Infra Project Services Private Ltd, a chit fund company, started its operations in Tripura’s Unakoti district in 2009 and collected a huge amount from people, assuring “good returns” after maturity, the lawyer said. “However, the company stopped paying the depositors concerned even after maturity (in 2012). Angry depositors then lodged an FIR against the company at Kailashar police station. “After conducting a probe, the CBI submitted a charge sheet against three company executives — Arindam Das (CMD), Dwipsikha Das (Administrative Director) and Paritosh Das (MD) — in a court at Kailashahar, Unakoti district,” Special CBI public prosecutor, Prasenjit Saha, told reporters. He said that during the trial, the court found the three executives of the firm guilty of misappropriating Rs 5.5 crore from around 800 depositors. “The special CBI court in Agartala today pronounced the verdict, sentencing the three company executives to six years of rigorous imprisonment each under the Tripura Protection of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 2000,” he said. Saha said the court has also asked the Unakoti district magistrate to attach the chit fund company’s properties and return the money to the duped depositors. (Source: PTI)    

IMPHAL : A truck driver was killed when suspected militants fired at a convoy of vehicles in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on Friday, police said. “A joint team of security forces, including BSF, CRPF and police were escorting some 15 to 20 commercial trucks towards Ukhrul district when they came under attack near TM Kasom from suspected militants, killing a truck driver at the spot”, an officer said. Security forces also fired back, leading to a brief exchange of fire. The identity of the deceased is yet to be determined, the officer said. The incident happened some 6 km from Shangkai village, where protesters blocked roads, forcing security forces to fire several tear gas shells to disperse the agitators on Friday morning. Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Wednesday had met representatives of the Manipur Truck Owners’ Welfare Association, to discuss the law and order situation on the National Highways and the movement of goods transport. The CM had said that “The government is committed to ensuring the safe and smooth movement of transport vehicles and keeping the National Highways free from all hindrances. Two civilians, including a retired Army soldier, were shot dead by suspected militants on April 18 last in an ambush near TM Kasom village. (Source: PTI)    

AGARTALA : Tipra Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma on Friday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging him to detect, detain and deport illegal immigrants from Tripura. In a letter to Shah, he said the illegal immigrant issue is “highly vulnerable and dangerous” to the internal security and sovereignty of the country, and sought the Centre’s intervention for implementing the Inner Line Permit for those coming from outside the state. “Illegal foreigners have been entering the state, taking the opportunity of weak administration and the direct and indirect help of dishonest political leaders and officials,” he said. Debbarma claimed that most of the illegal migrants have been going to several states and creating disturbances there after they entered India through the international border in Tripura. “Some illegal migrants work for their livelihood, but some are involved in terror activities,” the TMP legislator alleged. Debbarma claimed that infiltrators are changing the demographic structure of the bordering state, creating unemployment and land-related problems, and indulging in cross-border crime. “It is a matter of great sorrow that no government machinery in the northeastern state has worked on such a sensitive issue of illegal migrants. I have written to the Centre and the state government to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the bordering state to check infiltration, but no action has been taken yet,” the legislator said. He lauded the Centre for forming a high-powered committee on the infiltration issue, and termed it as a “timely step to maintain law and order and internal security”. Debbarma also sought to meet the union home minister during his proposed visit to the state on June 5. “Kindly allow me a specific time in Agartala on June 5 for making a representation verbally with relevant documents on this severe issue of illegal immigrants so that National Register of Citizens, Inner Line Permit, Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 can be implemented in the state to secure the border,” he added. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI ; The Gauhati High Court on Friday rejected bail to Shyamkanu Mahanta, the prime accused in the Zubeen Garg death case, noting that there is a “risk of fleeing and tampering evidence”. After hearing arguments from both sides, a single-judge bench of Justice Mitali Thakuria denied bail to the accused. On April 30, a special fast-track court had rejected bail to Mahanta considering him as ‘flight risk’. “The accused had challenged the trial court order of bail denial. The high court today rejected bail to Shyamkanu Mahanta after considering some crucial points,” Assam Advocate General Devajit Saikia said at a press conference here. The high court noted that Mahanta is a ‘flight risk’ and there is a possibility of him absconding from the ongoing trial, he said. “He had earlier erased all his mobile data. The prosecution worked hard to retrieve those. So, the high court viewed that there is a chance of tampering the evidence by him,” Saikia said. Besides, Mahanta is accused of also influencing his co-accused in the case, and the high court thought there is a chance of influencing the witness, too, Saikia said. Shyamkanu is the younger brother of former DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, who was also the Chief Information Commissioner of the Assam State Information Commission. Gauhati University VC Nani Gopal Mahanta, who was the Education Advisor to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, is another elder brother of him. On May 26, Special Fast-track Court Judge Sharmila Bhuyan framed charges against seven arrested accused in connection with the untimely demise of Assamese musician Zubeen Garg. The celebrated singer died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on September 19 last year while swimming in the sea. He had gone to Singapore to attend the 4th edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF). NEIF chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, the singer’s manager Siddharth Sharma, his two band members Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amrit Prabha Mahanta, his cousin and Assam Police DSP Sandipan Garg, and his PSOs Nandeswar Bora and Prabin Baishya are in jail as accused in the case. Prime accused Shyamkanu Mahanta has been charged with eight different sections of the BNS, while seven charges were framed against Sharma. Goswami and Amrit Prabha will face six charges each, Bora and Baishya will face two charges each, and Garg will defend himself against one charge. They were booked under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, criminal conspiracy and causing death by negligence. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police probed Garg’s death case after more than 60 FIRs were lodged across the state. However, the Singapore Police Force, which carried out a separate probe, concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in the case. A Coroner’s Court in Singapore had also said that the popular Indian singer-songwriter was severely intoxicated, and had drowned off the Lazarus Island after declining a life jacket. Authorities in Assam asserted that it would not impact the case here in any manner. (Source: PTI)    

IMPHAL : Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said that actor Bruce Lee’s ‘Enter the Dragon’ movie inspired him to pursue Taekwondo. Speaking at a Manipuri film event on Thursday evening, Singh said, “I want to place that cinemas can motivate humans. A simple story is that in 1978/79, when Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon movie came out, it motivated me. I even went to Lucknow and learnt Taekwondo.” Singh also assured all possible assistance for the development of Manipuri films. The 63-year-old has been practising the martial arts form since the age of 16. Apart from politics, he has had a long association with Taekwondo. A black belt holder, he is a former vice-president of the Taekwondo Federation of India and has been involved in the promotion of the sport in the Northeast. He also founded the All Assam Taekwondo Association in 1982. (Source: PTI)              

IMPHAL : Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Thursday said security forces are carrying out search and combing operations to trace those held hostage by armed forces. During a visit to Makhan Naga village in Kangpokpi district, he told reporters that four persons, suspected to be involved in the kidnapping of the six Naga people, have been arrested. The government is taking the issue seriously, and search and combing operations by security forces are underway to trace the hostages, the chief minister said. More than 38 people were abducted and held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on May 13, hours after three church leaders were killed in an ambush in Kangpokpi district. Of them, 31 people have been released, including 12 Naga women and 16 Kukis. Six Naga men, however, continued to be held hostage, and their whereabouts are not yet known. Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex body of the Kuki tribes in the state, claimed that 14 people from the community continued to be held hostage by Naga groups. Singh said investigations were underway to nab the culprits and assured people that the hostages would be traced out soon. The Makhan Naga Village in Kangpokpi district also has a Relief Camp for Internally Displaced Persons. Singh met those taking shelter at the Makhen Baptist Church and distributed relief materials. The village chief told the chief minister that many Nagas in Kangpokpi district had left their villages out of fear. (Source: PTI)