REGIONAL

AGARTALA : Members of the two militant organisations, which had signed a peace agreement two years ago, launched a 72-hour rail-road blockade in West Tripura district on Friday, demanding the implementation of a Rs 250 crore rehabilitation package announced by the Centre. The blockade by the National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and the All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) disrupted vehicular movement on national highways and train services, an official said. “We had a meeting with Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma yesterday where we reached some positive outcomes, but two important demands were not fulfilled, prompting us to launch the rail-road blockade”, NLFT leader Prasenjit Debbarma told reporters at Hatai Katar in West Tripura district. The government has engaged an agency to implement the rehabilitation package for the surrendered militants, which “violates the main spirit of the peace accord,” he claimed. A Memorandum of Settlement was signed, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, among the Centre, the Tripura government and the two organisations in September 2024. “The process of screening our members to extend benefits under the rehabilitation package is very slow. We demanded that the process be expedited at the earliest”, the NLFT leader said. He appealed to the Centre and the state government to consider the demands of the organisations because the blockade causes inconvenience to the people. “We are waiting for a call from the Centre and the state government for an amicable solution to our long-standing problem”, he said. The train services were badly affected, while vehicular movement came to a standstill on the Assam-Agartala and Agartala-Kamalpur national highways. (Source: PTI)

KOHIMA : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has strongly condemned the killing of six Nagas in Manipur, describing it as a “horrific and inhuman” act and demanding immediate action against those responsible, while urging people across Nagaland, Manipur and Naga-inhabited areas to maintain peace and restraint. In a statement on X, Rio said the incident was particularly painful because it came after Naga organisations had facilitated the safe release of 14 hostages who were in their custody, ensuring their well-being, safety and dignity throughout their captivity. The Manipur Police on Wednesday said they found the mortal remains of six people, suspected to be of missing Naga men, who had been held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi district. The chief minister said the release of the 14 hostages was carried out in response to appeals from church organisations led by the Baptist World Alliance and following consultations with Naga civil society groups. Rio said he had personally participated in deliberations aimed at securing their release in keeping with the humanitarian and Christian values of the Naga people. Rio credited the United Naga Council (UNC) and other apex Naga organisations for exercising restraint and choosing the path of compassion and peace despite what he described as an “extremely volatile situation”. He said the safe release of all 14 hostages reflected the Naga people’s commitment to human dignity even under difficult circumstances. However, he said appeals for the reciprocal release of six Naga hostages allegedly held by members of the Kuki community ended in tragedy, with the six individuals reportedly killed instead. The chief minister termed the incident shocking and beyond comprehension, saying it had deeply wounded the conscience of the Naga people. Rio urged the Government of India and Manipur government to take urgent measures to ensure justice, calling for those responsible to be identified, apprehended and prosecuted under the law. “Accountability is essential. Only through a fair, transparent and credible process can a measure of confidence be restored among the people,” he said. The chief minister further called on authorities to take impartial steps to ensure the safety and security of all communities, warning that any erosion of public trust in government institutions would further aggravate the already fragile situation in Manipur. Appealing for calm, Rio urged citizens, particularly Naga communities in Manipur, Nagaland, the wider Northeast and Myanmar, not to allow grief and anger to fuel further violence. He called for unity, vigilance and adherence to the principles of peace, justice and human dignity. Rio also conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and expressed solidarity with the victims, saying the entire Naga community stood with them during the difficult period. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday urged for a swift, impartial and transparent investigation into the killing of six Naga civilians in Manipur and said those responsible must be identified and brought to justice without delay. Manipur continues to endure the effects of prolonged conflict, with peace and normalcy still remaining elusive more than three years later, Gogoi said in a post on X. ”The brutal killing of six Naga civilians in Manipur is a deeply distressing tragedy. My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims as they cope with this immense loss”, Gogoi, also the Assam state Congress president, said. “Innocent lives continue to be lost, while communities across the state remain burdened by fear and uncertainty,” he said. This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for lasting peace and accountability, he added. ”There must be a swift, impartial and transparent investigation into this heinous crime, and those responsible must be identified and brought to justice without delay.” Gogoi asserted. The Manipur Police on Wednesday said they found the mortal remains of six people, suspected to be of missing Naga men, who had been held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi district. The recovery took place a day after 14 Kuki individuals who were abducted by armed groups in Manipur’s Senapati district nearly a month ago were released. (Source: PTI)      

AGARTALA : The Tipra Motha Party (TMP), an ally of the ruling BJP in Tripura, on Thursday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised ending all pending issues in the Northeast region. TMP founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma also claimed that Delhi understood that the Tiprasa, or indigenous, people in the state have genuine issues following his party’s recent victory in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) elections. The TMP registered a massive win in the April polls in tribal council elections by bagging 24 out of 28 seats, while the BJP, which fought separately, secured four seats. “The Prime Minister has talked to me (during the celebration of 12th years of Narendra Modi in office at Bharat Mandapam) and enquired about the health of my mother (Maharani Bibhu Kumari Devi). He emphasised making attempts to resolve all the pending issues in the Northeast,” Debbarma said in a video. “I, along with MLA Ranjit Debbarma, met the Director of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the new interlocutor at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi today. There will be advancement in the Tiprasa Accord,” he said without throwing much light on the outcome of the meeting. The TMP signed an agreement with the Centre and the state government in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in March 2024 for the overall development of the Tiprasa people. Asserting that he is on the ‘right track’ in negotiating the accord with the Centre, Debbarma claimed that the Tiprasa people who voted for various political parties such as the Congress, CPI(M), BJP, Tripura Upajati Yuba Samity (TUJS) have gained nothing in the past 75 years. “We must focus on the rights of indigenous people rather than politics. Too much politics weakens us. If the PM and Union home minister could bring solutions to problems like those of the Naga, Mizo, Bodoland and Dimasa, why do our issues remain unresolved? We will continue to engage in discussions with those in power in Delhi,” he said. The TMP, which used to be the main opposition party of Tripura, joined the BJP-led government ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. (Source: PTI)      

IMPHAL : The Manipur government will not remain as a mute spectator to atrocities, Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh said on Thursday, after police found the mortal remains of six people suspected to be of missing Naga men, who had been held hostage by armed groups in Kangpokpi district. Six persons of the Naga community were abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village in Kangpokpi district on May 13. In an official statement, the CM said the state government won’t tolerate such violence, and “will not remain a mute spectator to these atrocities”. “Culprits responsible for the murder will be arrested and punished as per law,” Singh said. The bodies were recovered a day after 14 Kuki individuals who were abducted by armed groups in Manipur’s Senapati district nearly a month ago, were released on June 9. “After nearly 24 hours of sustained search operations involving around 450 personnel of the Manipur Police, CRPF, and Assam Rifles, assisted by sniffer dogs and forensic expert teams, the mortal remains of six persons were recovered this afternoon. The deceased are believed to be among those taken hostage from Leilon Vaiphei on May 13, 2026,” the police said in a post on X on Wednesday. These 14 Kuki people and the six Nagas were among others who were abducted following the killing of three church leaders in Kangpokpi district on May 13. In a post on X, the chief minister later said: “Deeply anguished by the brutal murder of six innocent Naga villagers abducted from Leilon Vaiphei village, Kangpokpi district. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.” “The Government of Manipur strongly condemns this heinous act and is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice. The case is being investigated by the NIA. Violence has no place in our society. We remain steadfast in our commitment to peace, security, and the rule of law in Manipur,” Singh said. An NIA team visited the JNIMS mortuary in Imphal, after the bodies of the six men were brought to the hospital around 2 am, as part of its investigation into the killing. Meanwhile, protesters allegedly vandalised the Naga Peoples’ Front Manipur unit office at Liangmai Taphou in Senapati district late on Wednesday, after the bodies were recovered by the police. Furniture and other office property were set afire by the agitators, officials said. Miscreants also torched two trucks near a school in Karong area on Wednesday evening, they said. The United Naga Council, the apex body of Nagas in Manipur, has imposed a 24-hour shutdown in parts of the state from 6 am on Thursday to protest againt the killing. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Legendary musician Zubeen Garg mesmerised his innumerable fans for decades with his signature humming, but the real science behind it was acoustic properties carrying warmth and expressivity, according to a study by two researchers of Handique Girls’ College. Kishore Dutta and Jyotshna Saikia, both Assistant Professors of Physics, in their research paper ‘Quantitative Acoustic Profiling of Zubeen Garg’s Humming: Temporal Patterning and Spectral Balance’ tried to look at the uniqueness of Garg’s voice. “Zubeen Garg’s vocal style is known for its distinctive use of humming. His humming often functions as a musical signature that transcends linguistic boundaries and has been described in journalistic and listener accounts as ‘soothing, soulful or magnetic’,” the study said. Its appeal arises not from linguistic meaning but from its underlying acoustic organisation and timbral expressivity, it added. The article, published in ‘Journal of Voice’ — the peer-reviewed official medical journal of the Voice Foundation and the International Association of Phonosurgery, said that vocal humming occupies a distinctive position in Indian popular music as an emotive bridge linking melody, memory and mood. “Zubeen Garg’s characteristic humming style, noted for its fluidity and expressive warmth, invites systematic investigation of what acoustically defines its appeal,” the researchers said in the paper. The study presented a quantitative acoustic profiling of Garg’s humming, focusing on how measurable voice parameters contribute to its distinct sonic character, they added. Explaining the methodology, the duo said: “A detailed set of temporal, spectral and timbral features was extracted, including jitter, shimmer, harmonic-to-noise ratio, spectral centroid, rolloff, tilt, roughness and Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs).” The analyses revealed characteristic temporal patterns and the statistical comparisons showed highly significant differences in fundamental frequency between Garg’s humming and singing, and in jitter between his and other singers’ humming. “Multiple MFCCs also showed significant distinctions, indicating limited timbral differentiation in harmonic structure. Spectral features showed non-significant trends toward lower centroid and elevated roughness,” it added. These results indicated that a subset of temporal and timbral features contributes to an acoustic profile associated with Garg’s humming, the paper said. “While no perceptual testing was undertaken, interpretations are grounded in established psychoacoustic literature linking acoustic measures to perceived attributes such as tonal warmth and vocal steadiness,” it added. Within this interpretive framework, the findings suggested that Garg’s humming exhibits an acoustically measurable combination of selected temporal and spectral characteristics that may be associated with its perceived resonant quality. The celebrated singer died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on September 19 last year while swimming in the sea. He had gone to the South Asian nation to attend the 4th edition of the North East India Festival (NEIF). The research paper stated that Garg’s humming exemplified how micro-acoustic precision and spectral balance may contribute to a listener’s impression of tonal warmth and vocal presence. “The present analyses show that this perceived quality is associated with a tendency toward distinct temporal patterning combined with spectral balance and harmonic cohesion,” it added. These acoustic properties together may contribute to the perceived warmth and expressivity of his humming. Its appeal arises not from linguistic meaning but from its underlying acoustic organisation and timbral expressivity, it added. “Despite its artistic and cultural significance, the acoustic structure of such humming has rarely been examined through a quantitative lens,” the researchers said. The study investigated the acoustic expressibility of humming, examining how measurable voice parameters jointly shape its perpetual distinctiveness, they added. Dutta and Saikia in their research found that Garg’s humming combines precise pitch centering with smooth spectral shaping and balanced harmonic richness, producing perceptually warm and resonant timbre. “The study thereby establishes a reproducible, data-driven framework for interpreting artistic humming through measurable acoustic evidence. By profiling a singular voice, it connects acoustic analysis with broader musical context, showing how controlled temporal variability and spectral balance contribute to the expressive identity of humming in Indian popular music,” they added. The duo, however, acknowledged that the dataset in the research was limited in size and focused on a single artiste’s humming style. “As a case study, these findings are not intended for population generalisation but rather to demonstrate a replicable analytical framework for quantifying stylistic individuality in expressive humming. Future studies with larger, controlled corpora are needed to validate and extend those observations,” they added. (Source: PTI)      

IMPHAL : Suspected militants attacked a village in Manipur’s Kamjong district on Thursday, gunning down two persons and burning several houses, police said. The incident took place a day after the bodies of six Naga civilians were recovered in Kangpokpi district. It is suspected that the mortal remains belonged to those held hostage by armed groups. Kultuh Kuki, a small village, was attacked by suspected militants at around 4.55 am, during which two persons were killed, police said. Some 30 households near the border area with Myanmar were also burnt, the official said. Security forces have reached the remote village, but the identity of the perpetrators is yet to be known. Kuki Baptist Convention condemned the killings and urged the authorities to take “decisive and comprehensive measures” to ensure protection of civilians. On the killing, Congress leader Dr Lamtinthang Haokip claimed that “the Head Deacon of the Kultuh Church and Chairman of the Youth Dept were brutally murdered.” He alleged that the government’s failure to control the situation is “beyond tolerance”. (Source: PTI)          

TIRUPATI : TTD has officially taken possession of over 10 acres of land in Assam for the construction of a Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Guwahati. TTD chairman BR Naidu said the Assam government has allotted 10.3 acres of land, located in Sonapur Circle of Kamrup district, for the temple. “TTD has officially taken possession of 10.33 acres of land allotted by the Assam Government for the construction of a Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Guwahati,” said an official press release from the temple body on Tuesday. The land allotment is in line with TTD’s initiative to establish Srivari temples in state capitals across the country. BR Naidu and senior officials had held discussions with the Assam government representatives regarding the project. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, and the TTD Trust Board also extended their support through official communications. On Tuesday, the Assam Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner handed over the land possession certificate to TTD. BR Naidu said Bhoomi Puja for the temple construction will be performed shortly. (Source: PTI)    

SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government on Wednesday put on hold all state-funded foreign visits by ministers, MLAs and officials for six months as part of an austerity drive aimed at rationalising expenditure and prioritising development spending, a notification stated. The decision, taken in the larger public interest, comes amid growing global economic uncertainties, including rising geopolitical tensions and pressure on foreign exchange resources, they said.   According to the notification by the general administration department, the governor has ordered that all official foreign visits of ministers, MLAs and officials of the state government, whether permanent or contractual, shall be on hold for six months. The notification said the measure has been imposed “in public interest and for complying with austerity measures”. As a result of the decision, eight proposed foreign study visits and exposure programmes involving around 63 to 68 officials and representatives from various departments have been deferred. The postponed programmes were related to governance, livestock development, climate-resilient water management, healthcare systems, project implementation, environmental management and electoral administration. The proposed visits were to destinations including the United Kingdom, Denmark, the United States, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Argentina. Officials said the temporary suspension should not be viewed as a withdrawal from international engagement or knowledge exchange. “Rather, it reflects a temporary pause in expenditure-bearing overseas travel while ensuring continued focus on governance priorities within the state,” an official said. The government said many of the intended learnings and collaborations would continue to be pursued through virtual engagements, technical partnerships and other avenues during the restriction period. The notification stated that the order would apply to all foreign visits funded by the Meghalaya government and would cover both permanent and contractual employees. However, it clarified that the restriction would not apply to visits fully funded by the government of India or entirely sponsored by multilateral development banks, subject to obtaining the necessary political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs. Officials said the move is aimed at curbing non-essential expenditure and ensuring that public resources remain available for development programmes and other priority commitments of the state government. (Source: PTI)