REGIONAL

IMPHAL : Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Wednesday said his government remains firmly committed to eliminating the drug menace. Singh’s remarks came after he held a meeting with top officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau at the state secretariat here. In a post on X, Singh said, “Called on by R. Sudhakar, IPS, Deputy Director General (NER), NCB, and P K Mishra, Additional Director, NCB, at the Secretariat.” He also said, “The government remains firmly committed to eliminating the drug menace through coordinated and sustained efforts.” During the meeting, they focused on “strengthening intelligence gathering, enhancing coordination with the state and international agencies, and ensuring effective enforcement of the NDPS Act, 1985, to combat drug trafficking”, Singh said. (Source: PTI)  

GANGTOK : Sikkim on Wednesday kicked off its annual environmental festival, as officials emphasised on collective action to protect the state’s rich natural heritage and tackle the growing challenges of climate change. The fortnight-long ‘Sikkim Paryavaran Parva 2026’ was inaugurated at Chintan Bhawan here by Forest and Environment Minister Pintso Namgyal Lepcha in the presence of senior officials, students, environmentalists and representatives from various organisations. Addressing the inaugural programme, Lepcha stressed that environmental conservation must become a people’s movement, with every citizen taking responsibility for safeguarding forests, water sources and biodiversity. “Sikkim’s greatest strength is its pristine environment. Protecting it is not only the responsibility of the government, but of every individual. Through ‘Paryavaran Parva’, we aim to inspire citizens, especially the younger generation, to become champions of sustainable living and environmental stewardship,” he said. The inaugural session featured the launch of a series of awareness campaigns, exhibitions, sporting and educational activities that will be conducted across the state over the next two weeks. The Forest and Environment Department said the annual festival is aimed at fostering greater public involvement in protecting Sikkim’s ecosystem, while reinforcing the state’s commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience. (Source: PTI)                      

JORHAT : Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday criticised the state and Central governments for “failing” to resolve the decades-old border row with Nagaland. He questioned the Assam government whether it has conceded land to the neighbouring state even before the dispute could be settled by the Supreme Court. Speaking to reporters after visiting the inter-state border in Mariani in Jorhat district, which comes under his Lok Sabha constituency, Gogoi alleged that the boundary is being altered and encroachment is happening on Assam land. Citing his interactions with the locals, the MP said that they have claimed to be facing aggression from residents of the Nagaland side for years. “But sadly, the role of the Assam and Central governments has been very dissatisfactory,” Gogoi said. “The Nagaland administration has itself admitted that they have constructed a bridge within Assam’s territory back in 2020. Yet, about a week ago, when local residents of Assam went to clear the roads near that bridge under the Job Card scheme, they were obstructed by the Nagaland side,” he said. Demanding the Assam government to clarify its stand in this regard, the state Congress president also questioned whether the BJP-led regime has conceded territory to Nagaland already. Gogoi affirmed the Congress party’s commitment to safeguard the interests of the people and cooperation to the government to secure the state’s borders. Assam shares a 512.1-km border with Nagaland, with dispute over the boundary since the creation of the neighbouring state in 1963. The matter is now pending before the Supreme Court for a resolution. The government had said in the state Assembly that 59,490.21 hectares of land have been captured by Nagaland, the highest encroachment by any state on Assam territory. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said a young gharial has been spotted in the Kekaidong river in West Karbi Anglong, and projected it as proof of a steady revival of Assam’s natural ecosystems. The sighting comes less than two months after another Gharial, a species that was believed to have disappeared from the state, was seen in the Kaziranga National Park.   “Healthy rivers tell their own story. The sighting of a juvenile Gharial in the Kekaidong River, West Karbi Anglong, reflects the steady revival of Assam’s natural ecosystems,” Sarma said in a post on X. “It encourages us to remain steadfast in protecting the rich biodiversity that defines our state,” he added. Gharials are critically endangered, large South Asian crocodiles known for their exceptionally long, thin snout and a diet that is largely fish. (Source: PTI)    

AIZAWL : A woman from Manipur was arrested in Mizoram’s Aizawl district after heroin worth Rs 1.13 crore was seized from her possession, Assam Rifles said in a statement on Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police launched an operation at Seling checkpost on Monday and seized 150.97 grams of heroin from a woman, a resident of Chandel district of neighbouring Manipur, it said. She was apprehended for allegedly transporting narcotic substances illegally, the statement said. One mobile phone was also seized from the accused, it said. The seized heroin and mobile phone, and the accused person have been handed over to the state police for further investigation and legal proceedings on the same day, it said. The Assam Rifles said the successful operation underscores its continued commitment and close coordination with the Mizoram Police and other law enforcement agencies in curbing narcotics trafficking in the state. The paramilitary force also reiterated its resolve to strengthen security along the India-Myanmar border and prevent the movement of illegal drugs, contributing to peace and stability in the region. (Source: PTI)  

GUWAHATI : The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Tuesday with one person killed in the deluge and more than 46,000 people affected in six districts, an official bulletin said. Two major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were flowing above the danger level, with damage to infrastructure also caused in different parts. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), in its flood bulletin, said one woman died in flood waters in Sissiborgaon in Dhemaji district, the first casualty in the deluge in the state this year. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured of all assistance to the affected areas, with ministers touring the flood-hit districts. “We are leaving no stone unturned in our flood response. While I continue to monitor the situation closely, my Cabinet colleagues are on the ground overseeing relief efforts, protection measures & ensuring timely assistance,” Sarma said in a post on X. Water Resources Minister Susanta Borgohain and Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta visited several affected areas and interacted with the people to ensure timely relief. “As part of the Assam government’s ongoing flood response, I visited the flood-affected areas along the Chakrang River in Gohpur today, following the directions of Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr @himantabiswa Dangoriya,” Borgohain, who was accompanied by Mahanta, said in a post on the social media site. “Necessary instructions were issued to the concerned authorities to take immediate flood protection measures,” he added. The ASDMA bulletin said 46,938 people in 10 revenue circles and 221 villages of six districts of Dhemaji, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Lakhimpur and Biswanath are reeling under flood waters. Dhemaji is the worst-hit with 45,841 people affected by the deluge. The number of affected people was 45,500 in five districts on Monday. The Brahmaputra was flowing over the danger level at Neamatighat and the Disang at Nanglamuraghat. More than 450 displaced people were taking shelter in four relief camps, while another six relief distribution centres were also operational. Crop land of 3809.0243 hectares also remained under flood waters. More than 88,000 animals, including 50,000 big ones, have been affected by the deluge. Infrastructure, including several roads, have been damaged in the current wave of floods, as per the ASDMA bulletin. (Source: PTI)  

IMPHAL : Manipur DGP Rajiv Singh on Monday asked police officers and security forces to ensure effective investigation, speedy disposal of cases, sustained operations against anti-national elements and drug traffickers, and intensified efforts to seize illegal arms and ammunition. The director general of police (DGP) issued the directions during visits to Kakching and Chandel districts to review security preparedness, policing and departmental welfare, according to a police statement. At Kakching, Singh reviewed the preparedness of the district police to prevent any untoward incidents in vulnerable areas during the ongoing farming season. He interacted with officers of the district police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and central agencies, and stressed the need for effective investigation, speedy disposal of cases and sustained operations against anti-national elements and drug traffickers. He also called for intensified efforts to seize illegal arms and ammunition. Singh said that officers and personnel displaying exemplary professionalism would be suitably rewarded. At the headquarters of the 8th Manipur Rifles at Leikun in Chandel district, the DGP chaired a review meeting on deployment at various posts and outposts, static guards, and law and order duties. He emphasised professionalism, discipline and healthy work practices, while encouraging officers and personnel to maintain a harmonious environment within the unit. The DGP also urged officers to explore innovative ways for the optimum utilisation of the unit’s land and other resources for departmental welfare. Singh held interaction sessions with officers of the district police, representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the Assam Rifles in Chandel district. During the meetings, he reviewed policing issues, emphasised professional and people-centric policing, appreciated the coordination between the district police and CSOs in maintaining peace and harmony, and underscored the importance of continued inter-agency cooperation. He also encouraged the youth of Chandel to participate in the forthcoming Manipur Police recruitment rally. (Source: PTI)    

SHILLONG : The house-to-house verification of voters under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will commence across Meghalaya from Tuesday, officials said. Booth-level officers (BLOs) will visit households in all constituencies from June 30 to July 29 to distribute self-enumeration forms to voters whose names appeared in the 2005 electoral rolls, which the Election Commission has adopted as the baseline, they said. East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal appealed to voters to participate in the exercise, asserting that the objective of the revision is “to include, not exclude”. “The message and the request to all the electors is to take this exercise very seriously,” he told reporters. The door-to-door survey will conclude on July 29, and the draft electoral roll will be published on August 5. After that, claims and objections can be filed by the voters and political parties from August 5 to September 4. The district administration has also enabled online submission of self-enumeration forms through the EC website, and set up helplines to assist voters, Baranwal said. He said eligible voters who have attained the age of 18 can apply for enrolment by submitting Form 6 during the verification process. The district has 1,021 polling stations and an equal number of BLOs deployed for the exercise, the officials said. Commenting on reported voter exclusions in some other states, the deputy commissioner said the administration is working with headmen and community representatives to build confidence among electors. (Source: PTI)              

KANGPOKPI : A Kuki-Zo organisation in Manipur’s Kangpokpi urged the central and state governments to remove all blockades, allegedly by Naga groups, along the national and state highways passing through the district. In a statement, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) said that following joint deliberation with all civil society organisations (CSOs) of Kangpokpi, it unanimously resolved to “serve a 48-hour ultimatum”, effective from Sunday midnight, for removing all blockades. The development came in the wake of price rise and depleting stocks of essential commodities in the Kuki-Zo majority district, caused by the blockades on NH-2 and NH-37, sources said. CoTU said road transportation, the “lifeline of the people and backbone of economic activities”, has remained severely disrupted for over a month due to blockades and unauthorised checkpoints allegedly manned by Naga groups. “This has caused immense hardship in the transport of essential commodities, medicines, medical supplies, and the free movement of the public,” it said. CoTU and participating CSOs demanded that the Manipur government, in coordination with the Centre and security agencies, immediately remove all unauthorised checkpoints and gates along national and state highways and restore unrestricted public access within 48 hours. CoTU warned that failure to comply will compel the Kuki-Zo community to undertake “appropriate and pre-emptive democratic measures” to safeguard the interests, rights, and security of the general public. Manipur, where more than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic conflict between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis, is currently witnessing strife between Kukis and Nagas, both hill communities, since February this year. The latest phase of the conflict saw several killings and abductions. (Source: PTI)