REGIONAL

IMPHAL : Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Saturday said his government was taking all steps to ensure that all those involved in the killing of six Naga people in Kangpokpi district are arrested. His comments came a day after a team of security officials led by the National Investigation Agency arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in the killings. Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event in Imphal West district, the chief minister said he had visited Makhan village in Kangpokpi district along with MLAs of two communities to meet the bereaved families who identified five individuals allegedly involved in the incident. Based on their information, two suspects have been apprehended, he said and added that necessary instructions have been issued to law enforcement agencies to ensure the arrest of the rest of the accused. The bodies of six Naga civilians were recovered from the vicinity of Leilon Vaiphei village on June 10, triggering protests by Naga and Meitei communities demanding the arrest of the perpetrators. The recovery was made a day after 14 Kuki individuals, who were abducted by armed groups in Manipur’s Senapati district nearly a month ago, were released. 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.     Earlier in the day, the chief minister launched a tree plantation programme at the SEEDS Complex, Olympian Park in Imphal West District. “The initiative aims to promote environmental conservation through the plantation of Uningthou, the state tree of Manipur,” an official release said. About the possibility of reopening Olympian Park, the chief minister said that while people are still hesitant about visiting places perceived as risky, the situation is gradually improving and expressed hope the park would be reopened to the public soon. (Source: PTI)    

IMPHAL : Security forces have launched search operations in residential areas, vulnerable routes and forests in Manipur’s Ukhrul district to arrest those involved in the killing of two Assam Rifles personnel in an ambush earlier this week, an official statement said on Saturday. Assam Rifles said the paramilitary force, in coordination with the Border Security Force and Manipur Police, commenced a large-scale search operation in the Nungshang area on Friday. “The joint force is conducting intensive combing operations in residential areas, vulnerable routes and surrounding forests to trace the perpetrators, recover hidden caches and ensure the safety of local residents,” the paramilitary force said. Assam Rifles Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar CM Singh were killed when suspected militants fired at a convoy of the force in Nungshong Khong area under the Ukhrul Police Station limits on July 6. “Assam Rifles, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Manipur Police, launched a large-scale search operation in the Nungshang area of Ukhrul District, Manipur on 10 July 2026 following the tragic ambush of 06 July 2026 in which two Assam Rifles personnel made the supreme sacrifice,” it said in a post on X. The operation is underway, reaffirming the security forces’ unwavering commitment to restoring peace, maintaining law and order and bringing those responsible to justice”, it said. Meanwhile, NSCN IM, a Naga organisation, had denied any role in the attack in the district. In a statement, the organisation said it had no connection with the attack and reiterated its commitment to the ceasefire agreement with the Centre. The organisation said it remains dedicated to the ongoing peace talks and condemned actions that could undermine the peace process. It urged all stakeholders to act responsibly to preserve dialogue and stability. Security forces have been conducting search operations and area domination in the fringe and vulnerable localities across Manipur since ethnic violence broke out three years ago. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups. (Source: PTI)    

SHILLONG : Five people died of suffocation inside a well in Lapalang area of Shillong, police said on Saturday. Among the deceased are two brothers who tried to rescue workers trapped inside the well at a private construction site in Rynjah police station area. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said the incident took place around 7.30 pm on Friday when four labourers working inside the well to pump out water got suffocated by the fumes of the generator used for the purpose. One of the labourers managed to get out and sought help when two brothers from the neighbourhood entered the well to rescue those trapped. However, they were also overcome by the fumes and got trapped, he said. Later, the State Rescue Team (SRT) retrieved five persons from the well and took them to North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), where doctors declared them brought dead. Police have registered a case at Rynjah police station. The exact cause of the deaths can be confirmed after the post-mortem examination report is received, he said, adding that further investigation is underway. (Source: PTI)    

KOHIMA : The Rising People’s Party (RPP) formally merged with the ruling Naga People’s Front (NPF) at a programme held here on Saturday, with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio using the occasion to reiterate that the Naga political issue remains the party’s highest priority while calling for greater unity among Nagas across all regions. The RPP was formed on October 2, 2020, and was registered with the Election Commission of India in June 2021. Led by Joel Naga, the party positioned itself as a regional alternative and campaigned on issues of clean governance and electoral reforms. However, it did not win any seat in the 2023 Nagaland Assembly election and currently has no representation in the 60-member state Assembly or in any of the state’s urban local bodies. Addressing the gathering after welcoming the RPP leadership into the NPF, Rio, also the NPF president, said the merger was more than the coming together of two political organisations, describing it as the convergence of “people, ideas, experiences and aspirations” in the larger interest of the Naga people. He said Nagaland’s opposition-less government reflected the collective resolve of all elected legislators to work together for the greater cause of the Naga political issue, stressing that the issue remained at the top of the agenda of both the NPF and the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government. “The Naga political issue remains at the very top of the agenda of the Naga People’s Front and the PDA government,” Rio said, adding that the party would continue to play the role of an active facilitator to help create a conducive environment for an early resolution of the decades-old Naga political conflict. Stating that the Naga people had waited for generations for a settlement, Rio said they desired an “inclusive, honourable and acceptable” political solution and assured that the NPF would continue to make every effort towards achieving the collective aspirations of the people. Highlighting the need for greater unity, the chief minister said Nagas had long been divided by geographical and administrative boundaries across Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Myanmar, but stressed that such “man-made boundaries” could neither erase their shared history nor weaken their common identity. While acknowledging that physical integration of Naga-inhabited areas might not be immediately achievable under the prevailing circumstances, Rio said the people must continue working towards “emotional integration” by strengthening bonds among Naga communities, promoting greater interaction and building a common sense of belonging. “It has always been the aspiration of the Naga people to come together as one family under one administrative umbrella,” he said, adding that although immediate physical integration may not be possible, the aspiration should not be abandoned. Rio said the NPF had a historic responsibility to serve as a democratic political platform for Nagas across the contiguous Naga homeland and expressed the party’s commitment to expanding its presence wherever Naga people reside. He also made a special appeal to Nagas in Manipur, where Assembly elections are due, to strengthen the NPF and work towards a common political platform representing Naga aspirations. Describing the merger as another significant step towards unity, Rio said every effort to overcome divisions strengthened the collective voice of the Naga people. “Politics must not always be about differences and divisions. Politics must also be about building bridges, reconciliation and creating hope for future generations,” he said, urging all sections of Naga society to put the interests of the people above individual and political differences. The chief minister also reiterated that peace and development must go hand in hand, outlining the government’s focus on improving infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, employment opportunities, investment, entrepreneurship and rural livelihoods while ensuring greater participation of women and youth in the state’s development. Referring to the NPF’s alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rio said the partnership was aimed at securing an early political solution and accelerating Nagaland’s development, while reaffirming the party’s commitment to safeguarding Naga identity, traditions and Christian values. NPF president emeritus and Advisor to the Chief Minister Chingwang Konyak addressed the gathering before RPP President Joel Naga formally announced the merger of his party with the NPF. The merger was officially declared by NPF secretary general and Advisor Achumbemo Kikon, who also felicitated the incoming leaders and members. An oath-taking ceremony for the new members was administered by NPF working president Pusazo Luruo. Following the merger, some RPP leaders, led by its president Joel Naga, were assigned to different positions as the NPF Central office bearers. (Source: PTI)      

IMPHAL : A team of security officials led by the National Investigation Agency arrested two persons from Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Friday morning for their alleged involvement in the killing of six Naga civilians, police said. According to them, the operation was carried out by a joint team of Manipur Police, NIA and CRPF based on credible inputs. They launched the operation at Leilon Vaiphei in the early hours of Friday to apprehend two accused who were allegedly involved in the killing of six Naga persons on May 13 in the same village. Police said that a woman, Ayingbi, and another person, Pradip, were apprehended from the Kuki-Zo village. The bodies of six Naga civilians were recovered from the vicinity of Leilon Vaiphei village on June 10, triggering protests by Naga and Meitei communities demanding the arrest of the perpetrators. Naga groups had also blocked all routes to Kangpokpi district, leading to a massive surge in the prices of essential commodities in the Kuki-Zo majority district. Days after the bodies were found, Kuki Zo Council (KZC) chairman Henlienthang Thanglet apologised for the incident and called for an impartial investigation into all acts of violence linked to the ongoing ethnic strife in Manipur. “I admit the Kuki-Zo people made a grave mistake in killing the six Naga civilians. It was done out of emotion. I strongly condemn it. I am very sorry and apologise on behalf of my people,” he had told a press conference. However, a day later, KZC stated that certain portions of Thanglet’s remarks had been “misconstrued as an admission of responsibility by the Kuki-Zo community”. It stated that the chairperson’s expression of sorrow was made purely in the spirit of humanity, compassion, and moral responsibility and “was not intended to assign collective guilt”. The clarification came as an influential Naga students’ organisation expressed anger at the apology issued by the KZC chief over the killing of six Naga hostages in the state. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Friday proposed increasing the tax exemption limit for small tea growers fourfold to Rs 10 lakh and raising the subsidy on orthodox and specialty tea by 50 per cent. Presenting his maiden Budget, state Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah also announced a subsidy for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea for the first time. “To provide relief to small tea growers, I propose to enhance the agricultural income tax exemption threshold from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh of annual agricultural income,” he added. At the same time, the tax will be restored for larger assessees with effect from April 1, 2026, and the additional revenue generated shall be dedicated exclusively to the welfare of tea garden communities, Baruah said. He said orthodox tea production has increased from 4.39 crore kg in 2021-22 to nearly 8 crore kg in 2025-26, recording a strong growth of over 80 per cent in four years. “Assam has taken a significant step towards value addition in the tea sector with the successful production of premium Matcha tea. The first lot was sold through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre at nearly Rs 3,000 per kg,” the minister said.   To further incentivise value addition and boost Assam Tea exports, Matcha tea shall be included within the eligible category of orthodox and specialty tea, he added. “The production subsidy for orthodox and specialty tea will be enhanced from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 15 per kg,” he added. “Further, a new subsidy of Rs 3 per kg will be introduced for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea that is exported directly through recognised export channels, contributing to the foreign exchange earnings,” Baruah said. The finance minister said that the government will strengthen support to tea growers through Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS). “Further, we will strengthen healthcare delivery in tea garden areas by supporting Tea Garden Hospitals through infrastructure upgrade, diagnostics, medicines, equipment and deployment of dedicated doctors and human resources. The respective tea gardens will continue to support these hospitals as earlier,” he added. Baruah said nearly 30,000 tea garden families across the state had received land pattas, ending years of uncertainty over land ownership. “Survey has already begun in another 250 tea gardens and within this financial year, our government will ensure land rights for 1.14 lakh more families,” he added. Baruah also informed the House that the government of India has taken an in-principle decision to provide benefits of PMAY houses to eligible tea garden workers. “Over the next five years, we will ensure that each of Assam’s 3.5 lakh tea garden families secures legal title to their land,” he added. On tea tourism, Baruah said Assam has three 18-hole championship golf courses and 10 nine-hole courses, many located within beautiful tea estates. “Our government proposes to launch the Assam Tea and Golf Trail, a unique tourism initiative that brings together the state’s globally renowned tea heritage and distinctive golf courses into a world-class experiential tourism circuit,” he added. Developed in partnership with tea estates, the tourism and hospitality sectors and local communities, this initiative will strengthen Assam’s position as a premier destination for high-value domestic and international travellers, the minister said. (Source: PTI)    

AGARTALA : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said he urged Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah to operationalise connectivity projects in which India has made significant investments. The two key projects — the Agartala-Akhaura railway link and the Maitri Setu (Friendship Bridge) over the Feni river in South Tripura’s Sabroom — are yet to become operational despite completion of construction and formal inauguration of the bridge in March 2021. “I have requested the Bangladesh envoy to curb anti-India activities in his country as such incidents will not help improve bilateral relations. If we want to strengthen ties, connectivity projects should be operationalised because people want business,” Saha told reporters. Hamidullah, who arrived here to attend the ‘Destination Tripura: Business Conclave’, met the chief minister on Thursday and held a one-on-one meeting. Saha said the Bangladesh envoy conveyed that the present government in his country was “soft” on bilateral issues. “Hamidullah noted that people from his country who wish to visit India for medical treatment feel comfortable entering through Tripura,” Saha said. Hamidullah proposed screening award-winning Bangladeshi films in Tripura as part of efforts to strengthen people-to-people contacts and cultural cooperation between the two sides. He said the initiative aims to promote cultural exchanges through cinema and foster stronger social and artistic ties between Bangladesh and Tripura. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Friday proposed increasing the tax exemption limit for small tea growers fourfold to Rs 10 lakh and raising the subsidy on orthodox and specialty tea by 50 per cent. Presenting his maiden Budget, state Finance Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah also announced a subsidy for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea for the first time. “To provide relief to small tea growers, I propose to enhance the agricultural income tax exemption threshold from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh of annual agricultural income,” he added. At the same time, the tax will be restored for larger assessees with effect from April 1, 2026, and the additional revenue generated shall be dedicated exclusively to the welfare of tea garden communities, Baruah said. He said orthodox tea production has increased from 4.39 crore kg in 2021-22 to nearly 8 crore kg in 2025-26, recording a strong growth of over 80 per cent in four years. “Assam has taken a significant step towards value addition in the tea sector with the successful production of premium Matcha tea. The first lot was sold through the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre at nearly Rs 3,000 per kg,” the minister said. To further incentivise value addition and boost Assam Tea exports, Matcha tea shall be included within the eligible category of orthodox and specialty tea, he added. “The production subsidy for orthodox and specialty tea will be enhanced from Rs 10 per kg to Rs 15 per kg,” he added. “Further, a new subsidy of Rs 3 per kg will be introduced for export-oriented and premium-quality Assam CTC tea that is exported directly through recognised export channels, contributing to the foreign exchange earnings,” Baruah said. The finance minister said that the government will strengthen support to tea growers through Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme (ATISIS). “Further, we will strengthen healthcare delivery in tea garden areas by supporting Tea Garden Hospitals through infrastructure upgrade, diagnostics, medicines, equipment and deployment of dedicated doctors and human resources. The respective tea gardens will continue to support these hospitals as earlier,” he added. Baruah said nearly 30,000 tea garden families across the state had received land pattas, ending years of uncertainty over land ownership. “Survey has already begun in another 250 tea gardens and within this financial year, our government will ensure land rights for 1.14 lakh more families,” he added. Baruah also informed the House that the government of India has taken an in-principle decision to provide benefits of PMAY houses to eligible tea garden workers. “Over the next five years, we will ensure that each of Assam’s 3.5 lakh tea garden families secures legal title to their land,” he added. On tea tourism, Baruah said Assam has three 18-hole championship golf courses and 10 nine-hole courses, many located within beautiful tea estates. “Our government proposes to launch the Assam Tea and Golf Trail, a unique tourism initiative that brings together the state’s globally renowned tea heritage and distinctive golf courses into a world-class experiential tourism circuit,” he added. Developed in partnership with tea estates, the tourism and hospitality sectors and local communities, this initiative will strengthen Assam’s position as a premier destination for high-value domestic and international travellers, the minister said. (Source: PTI)            

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Thursday proposed to create a new authority to promote and develop notified townships and satellite cities in the state. The government introduced the ‘Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill, 2026’ in the Assam assembly in this regard. In the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the Bill, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai said it is proposed to set up a new body – Guwahati Satellite Cities Development Authority (GSCDA). “The objects of the authority shall be to promote and secure the development of notified township and/or satellite city(ies). The areas under the purview of the authority shall be as notified by the State Government from time to time,” he said. The GSCDA shall be entrusted with the responsibilities of preparing the development plans for such notified areas, Rai said. The minister said Assam has witnessed unprecedented rapid urbanisation and population growth, thereby increasing exponential pressure on existing urban centres, particularly in and around the municipal limits of Guwahati. The rising demand for healthcare and other state services in these urban centres has resulted in pressure on existing civic infrastructure, environmental stress on natural resources and regulatory issues, he said. “Concurrently, there is a need to explore, strategise and establish new avenues of economic growth capable of attracting fresh investments, generating employment in a sustained and scalable way,” Rai said. At present, township development, planning and its execution is fragmented across multiple government agencies and inevitably cause overlap in decision-making, he said. “Therefore, to be able to efficiently address the need and challenges as identified, it is proposed to establish a dedicated centralised institution responsible for identifying future urban growth corridors,” the minister said. The proposed body will also consolidate contiguous land, particularly earmarked for planning, developing satellite cities, integrating transport, housing and economic infrastructure with existing civil infrastructure, and raising and deploying funds together with encouraging private investment to be able to realise the goal, he said. “The concerned institution so established will be a specialised institution empowered to provide strategic direction, integrated planning and efficient execution,” Rai added. (Source: PTI)    

AIZAWL : Around 210 kg of suspected manta ray gill plates worth an estimated Rs 2.3 crore were seized in Mizoram’s Champhai district, in one of the state’s biggest wildlife-related hauls, police said on Thursday. A pick-up truck was intercepted by the Special Task Force (STF) of the district police on the night of July 7, and dehydrated manta ray or mobula gill plates concealed in nine bags were recovered, they said. The occupants of the vehicle, Rajiv Hussein Laskar (26) and Jinuk Uddin Laskar (30), both residents of Silchar in Assam, were arrested, they added. The consignment was estimated to be worth around Rs 2.30 crore in the international black market and is believed to be among the largest wildlife contraband seizures ever made in Mizoram, police said in a statement. Gill plates are cartilaginous filtering structures found in the mouths of manta ray fish. Prized in parts of Asia for use in traditional medicine, they have become a lucrative wildlife product, contributing to increased exploitation. As the recovered items belong to species protected under wildlife laws, the seized consignment, vehicle and the two accused have been handed over to the Divisional Forest Officer of Champhai, which shares a border with Myanmar, for scientific examination and legal action, police said. In another major operation, a joint team of the Aizawl District Special Branch (DSB) and the Assam Rifles seized 1.95 kg of methamphetamine valued at Rs 1.60 crore from Lawipu in Aizawl on Monday. One person, identified as Marcus Lalvenpuia (19) — a resident of Luimawi village in Mamit district, was arrested in connection with the seizure, police said. Meanwhile, a team of the Saitual district police intercepted a truck at the Kualmawi check gate on Wednesday after its driver allegedly attempted to flee during routine checking. The driver, identified as Fulchand Ali Mondal (35) of Assam’s Dhubri district, was arrested and 102 grams of heroin worth about Rs 20.4 lakh concealed in nine soap cases inside the vehicle was recovered, the statement said. In separate operations, two Myanmar nationals were arrested with heroin in the state, police said. An SUV heading to Aizawl from Zokhawthar in Champhai district was intercepted on July 7, and 26 grams of heroin concealed inside a pot kept beneath the rear seat was recovered. Lalrinchhana (20), a resident of Khawmawi in Myanmar’s Chin state, was arrested from the vehicle, they said. A day earlier, a maxi-cab was intercepted in Zokhawthar and 48 grams of heroin hidden in a sling bag carried by a Myanmar national, identified as Thuanmawia (42) of Tshambhari village in Falam district, was recovered, they added. In another operation on July 5, personnel at the Champhai Khankawn police check gate intercepted a lorry and seized 2,960 kg of dry areca nuts worth Rs 10.36 lakh, suspected to have been illegally imported from Myanmar. (Source: PTI)