REGIONAL

AGARTALA : Two organisations of surrendered militants in Tripura withdrew their call for an indefinite rail and road blockade on Wednesday after being assured by the government that their demands, including that for proper rehabilitation, would be looked into, police said. “Traffic movement on the national highway and railway service is normal since the morning after the withdrawal of the blockade. No untoward incident is reported so far,” police spokesperson Rajdeep Deb said. The Joint Action Rehabilitation Committee (JARC) and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) had announced the agitation after alleging that a large number of surrendered militants were yet to receive rehabilitation benefits despite laying down arms decades ago. They have been pressing for a nine-point charter of demands, including proper rehabilitation and withdrawal of pending cases against them. JARC working president Pasaram Reang said, “We had a detailed discussion with the senior government officials last night over our demands, and those were duly acknowledged. Therefore, both organisations have decided to withdraw the rail and road blockade.” Earlier this month, former militants belonging to the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) had withdrawn a similar rail and highway blockade call after receiving assurances from the chief minister. (Source: PTI)

GANGTOK : Torrential overnight rains triggered a series of landslides that blocked the Gyalshing–Legship road at multiple places on Wednesday and cut off the battered West Sikkim district headquarters from the rest of the state. Gyalshing recorded a staggering 95.2 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours. Under the impact of the rains, tonnes of sludge and massive boulders came crashing onto the road, bringing traffic to a standstill. District Magistrate Tenzing Denzongpa said they received reports of the landslides around 9 pm on Tuesday. The most severely affected landslide occurred near Omchung, about two kilometres from Gyalshing town, he said. With the Gyalshing–Legship road blocked, excavators were pressed into service through the night as teams battled challenging conditions to clear the debris. Zilla Panchayat member Sagar Sharma said at least three landslides have struck the highway corridor, including a major slide near Omchung, another below the main slide zone and a third near Legship. “This road witnesses landslides every monsoon. The issue is repeatedly raised during DISHA Monitoring Committee meetings, but permanent restoration and mitigation measures are yet to materialise,” he said. The Gyalshing-Legship road serves as the district’s primary lifeline, carrying passengers, essential commodities and emergency services. With no viable alternative route available, the blockade has disrupted movement and heightened concerns among residents. (Source: PTI)

LIKABALI : The Lower Siang district administration has announced the temporary closure of the Garu–Likabali road stretch, including the ALB Road, from June 24 to 26 in view of restoration and maintenance works. According to an advisory issued by Lower Siang Deputy Commissioner Gobi Nyicyor, the road will remain closed to all vehicular traffic during the three-day period to facilitate the smooth execution of the works and ensure public safety. The administration has urged commuters, transport operators and the general public to take note of the closure and make alternative travel arrangements accordingly. However, vehicles engaged in medical emergencies and other essential services may be allowed to pass through the work zone in exceptional cases, subject to regulation and clearance by the on-duty traffic and field personnel. The advisory has come into immediate effect and will remain in force until June 26 unless modified by the competent authority. (DIPR)

NARI : A one-day awareness programme on non-farm livelihoods, focusing on UDYAM and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) registration, was organised at Lumpo Community Hall on Tuesday under the aegis of the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM), Department of Rural Development. The programme was conducted by the Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU), Ramle Banggo Block, with the objective of creating awareness among Self-Help Group (SHG) members and aspiring entrepreneurs about enterprise registration, food safety compliance and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Lower Siang Deputy Director of Industries Tarik Nyitan, who served as the resource person, delivered an informative session on the significance of UDYAM registration for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He explained the registration process and highlighted the benefits of formalisation, including access to government schemes, credit facilities, market linkages and other incentives available to registered enterprises. Participants were also sensitised on FSSAI registration, with emphasis on food safety standards, legal compliance and quality assurance for food-related businesses. The session encouraged entrepreneurs and SHG members to adopt best practices and take advantage of opportunities available under various government programmes. The programme was attended by Block Mission Manager B Boje, Block Coordinator (Non-Farm) Marjum Basar and Food Safety Assistant Nyape Dini. The awareness programme witnessed active participation from SHG members and community representatives, who interacted with the resource persons and sought clarifications on registration procedures and entrepreneurship opportunities. Organisers expressed confidence that the initiative would strengthen non-farm livelihood activities, promote self-employment and encourage entrepreneurship in the region. (DIPR)

KOHIMA : Nagaland Minister for Power and Parliamentary Affairs K G Kenye on Tuesday cautioned that Naga society is gradually losing its collective voice and leadership, urging all sections of the people to build consensus on the Naga political issue before divisions deepen further. Addressing the first Annual General Session of the Tenyimi Union Nagaland (TUN) held under the theme “Progressive society through Unity,” here, Kenye said the Nagas were passing through a “very sensitive junction” in their history and cautioned that prolonged delays in resolving the political issue were weakening the fabric of society. “We are very, very close to a critical stage. Things have been dragging on for too long. The political aspect is not looking good,” he said. Kenye observed that no single organisation today commands the respect or obedience of all Nagas, resulting in a fragmented society. “We are losing grip on our society. There is no centre of control upon our people anymore. Be it Naga political groups, public organisations or even elected governments, we are losing control over what is happening around us,” he said, describing the situation as “frightening” and “alarming.” Stressing the need for consensus, he warned that a society without a common identity, leadership or guiding institution risked an uncertain future. The minister said the Tenyimi Union was created not on territorial lines but on shared ancestry, history and customary practices of the five Tenyimi tribes – Angami, Chakhesang, Pochury, Rengma and Zeliang, making it distinct from organisations formed on geographical considerations. “Our group is not born out of geography or territorial blocks. Ours is of ethnicity, ancestry and a shared common history,” he said. According to Kenye, the creation of the union was necessitated by the unique issues faced by the five Tenyimi tribes living within Nagaland’s administrative boundaries, which may not always be relevant to Tenyimi communities residing in neighbouring states. He clarified that the TUN was neither a cultural nor a political organisation but a platform to deliberate on issues affecting the Tenyimi people in Nagaland while maintaining cordial relations with other Naga communities. Kenye also urged the union’s leadership to exercise restraint and sensitivity in its functioning, cautioning against actions that could hurt sentiments or create misunderstandings among other Naga tribes. “Let us not overshadow or try to become too dominant over our other Naga communities. Let good sense, logic and balanced leadership guide our decisions,” he said. Also addressing the gathering, Minister for Women Resource Development and Horticulture Salhoutuonuo Kruse called on the Tenyimi community to strengthen unity, brotherhood and shared cultural values. She urged the younger generation to uphold the principles of character, compassion and service, while encouraging collaboration with other tribal and civil society organisations for the progress of all Nagas. (Source: PTI)    

SHILLONG : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday directed government departments to intensify preparedness and roll out coordinated action plans to mitigate the possible impact of an anticipated El Nino event. Chairing a meeting of the Meghalaya Climate Council at the State Guest House in Taraghar, Sangma said the state must plan proactively to limit the fallout of extreme weather conditions linked to El Nino-related climatic variations. “The state must prepare in advance rather than respond after adverse conditions emerge,” he said. The CM asked departments to translate preparedness plans into time-bound, actionable measures with clearly defined responsibilities. He stressed the need to prioritise water conservation, catchment protection, groundwater recharge and community participation, while also calling for wider dissemination of weather advisories and early-warning information. El Nino conditions are often linked to altered monsoon patterns, prolonged dry spells and below-normal rainfall. Sangma directed departments to strengthen support systems for farmers and vulnerable communities. The meeting reviewed sector-specific contingency plans covering drinking water supply, agriculture, food security and disaster management. Representatives of India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, Public Health Engineering Department, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, and other agencies briefed the council on vulnerability assessments and preparedness measures. (Source: PTI)  

IMPHAL : The Congress Legislature Party leader in Manipur, Keisham Meghachandra, has demanded that the state government provide a timeline for the restoration of normalcy in the northeastern state and steps being taken to ensure justice, security, and reconciliation. In a post on X, Meghachandra said that since May 3, 2023, the people of Manipur have endured prolonged hardship, displacement, uncertainty, and disruption of normal life. Manipur witnessed the killing of at least 260 people and the displacement of thousands in violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities since May 2023. The Congress leader said the nearly five-month-old BJP government should be able to present a clear and practical roadmap for restoring peace and normalcy in the state. “While the situation remains complex, people deserve clarity and concrete action. The government must explain the steps being taken to restore public confidence, ensure rehabilitation, facilitate the safe return of displaced persons, and create conditions for lasting peace,” Meghachandra said. Keisham demanded to know the roadmap for restoring peace and normalcy and the concrete measures being taken for rehabilitation and resettlement. He also asked for a timeline for the restoration of normal life and the steps being taken to ensure justice, security, and reconciliation. “Peace cannot remain an open-ended promise. There must be a transparent, time-bound, and inclusive plan that addresses the concerns of all affected communities, and the people of Manipur expect accountability, decisive action, and visible progress towards a peaceful and secure future,” the Congress leader said. (Source: PTI)  

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Tuesday rolled out the ‘e-Zero FIR’ initiative, under which cyber fraud complaints registered through the NCRP or helpline number 1930 will be automatically converted into FIRs. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said Assam was among the first states to implement the initiative, which is aimed at ensuring jurisdiction-free and hassle-free registration of FIRs in cybercrime cases. “Furthering Adarniya Narendra Modi ji’s vision of a Cyber Secure Bharat, Assam has today officially rolled out the e-Zero FIR initiative — a system which will automatically convert cyber financial crimes lodged at NCRP or 1930 to FIRs,” he said in a social media post. He said the system would facilitate faster police action and improve the chances of recovering money lost in cyber frauds. Financial cybercrime complaints involving more than Rs 10 lakh will be automatically converted into zero FIRs, enabling prompt action by law enforcement agencies, Sarma said. “This quick rollout has been possible due to the guidance of Adarniya Amit Shah ji and the efforts of team Assam Police. Now, your hard-earned money will not go in vain with this prompt system,” he added. (Source: PTI)

GUWAHATI : Drone-powered postal services will soon be introduced in Assam, official sources said on Monday. It will help in connecting rural and remote areas with eco-friendly operations, they added. “A new era of logistics is taking flight in Assam. Drone-powered postal services will connect remote regions faster than ever, reducing delivery times from hours to minutes,” the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a post on X. “With real-time tracking and eco-friendly operations,” it added. The post further said that delivery time will shrink from two hours to seven minutes, connecting the rural parts of the state. The CMO, however, did not mention when the service will be launched or who will be operating it. (Source: PTI)