REGIONAL

DIBRUGARH, Three youths were arrested for allegedly extorting money in the name of ULFA(I) from Dibrugarh district of Assam, police said on Sunday. Acting on information regarding extortion calls and SMS received by a doctor, Dibrugarh Police immediately launched an operation led by DSP (HQ) Nayan Moni Barua, a senior officer said. “During the investigation, police identified three accused involved in the extortion attempt. The trio sent extortion SMS messages to the victim and also delivered an extortion letter in the name of ULFA(I), demanding Rs 60 lakh,” he added. Preliminary probe revealed that the accused were allegedly involved in similar extortion demands targeting multiple victims across Upper Assam, particularly in Dibrugarh and Sivasagar districts. “All three accused are currently in the custody of Moran Police Station for further interrogation and necessary legal action,” the official said. (Source: PTI)    

TEZPUR, Three suspected poachers were apprehended from Assam’s Lakhimpur district on Sunday, officials said. The accused were allegedly planning to poach rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), they said. KNP director Sonali Ghosh said the arrests were made from Narayanpur, in a joint operation by forest officials of the Eastern Range, Gamiri, and the Crime Investigation Range of the Biswanath Wildlife Division of the park, based on intelligence inputs. “The operation was conducted in connection with a wildlife offence case registered in March. The accused were planning rhino poaching in the sixth addition area of the national park,” she said. During the operation, forest teams also recovered parts of a country-made firearm, including a rifle bolt and butt without a magazine, from Ukhal Chuk in Majuli district, she added. The three accused are residents of Majuli, Lakhimpur and Biswanath districts. Ghosh said that in the earlier wildlife offence case, forest officials had recovered a .303 rifle along with 13 rounds of ammunition from the Gopaljarani area near Kaziranga. Forest authorities suspect the involvement of a larger poaching network. (Source: PTI)  

NAGAON, A woman who was critically injured in an armed dacoity at her residence in Assam’s Nagaon district last month succumbed to her injuries on Sunday, while six suspected robbers have been arrested in the case so far, police said. The victim, Ruprekha Bhuyan Saikia, had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Guwahati in a critical condition since the incident on April 24. She died in the early hours on Sunday, family sources said. The body was taken to her Nagaon residence after post-mortem examination. A gang of eight robbers had carried out the dacoity at the residence of a local doctor, Ranjit Saikia, in Nagaon town’s Morikolong area. The robbers had attacked Saikia and his wife with sharp weapons and looted cash and jewellery. The doctor was also injured in the incident, though their nine-year-old son was unharmed by the dacoits. Talking to reporters here, Nagaon senior superintendent of police (SSP) Partha Pratim Das said six persons have been arrested in the case, with police on the lookout for two more. He said some of the accused, who were recruited by the local mastermind to carry out the dacoity, are from other districts. “They looted about Rs 1.5 lakh in cash, some jewellery and other valuables. We have so far recovered Rs 45,000 cash,” Das said. One blood-stained iron rod was recovered from the bedroom of Saikia’s house, and two ‘daos’ (machete) with blood stains were found in a nearby dump site during investigation, the SSP said. A special investigation team of Nagaon police, led by the additional superintendent of police (crime), is conducing the probe. (Source: PTI)      

GUWAHATI, The first-ever consignment of honey from Assam’s Baksa district to the United States was flagged off from Guwahati on Saturday, an official statement said. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the export from the aspirational district under the Centre’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. The consignment was undertaken by APEDA-registered exporter Salt Range Foods Pvt Ltd. Commissioner and secretary of the agriculture department and agriculture production commissioner Aruna Rajoria flagged off the consignment. “The landmark consignment, comprising around 20 metric tonnes of honey, was flagged off from Guwahati. The honey has been processed and packed at the facility of Salt Range Foods Private Limited in Guwahati,” the statement said. Sourced from an eco-friendly and pesticide-free environment, the honey from Baksa district is known for its high quality and near-organic characteristics, reflecting the region’s rich biodiversity and sustainable agricultural practices, it said. Honey from Baksa has also been identified under the ODOP initiative, recognising its potential for livelihood generation, value addition and export growth. Assam has immense potential for honey production owing to its rich biodiversity, abundant forest resources and long-standing tradition of beekeeping, the statement said. The state produced approximately 1,650 metric tonnes of honey during 2023-24, according to the National Horticulture Board’s latest data. Major honey-producing districts in the state include Baksa, Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri and Tamulpur in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The APEDA, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, facilitated the export by supporting infrastructure development, including the provision of testing and laboratory equipment at the processing facility to ensure adherence to international quality standards and food safety requirements. The initiative is expected to significantly benefit local beekeepers and farmers, with farmers receiving around 43 per cent higher price realisation compared to prevailing local farm gate prices, thereby enhancing income opportunities and strengthening rural livelihoods in the region, the statement said. (Source: PTI)  

JORHAT, Two minor sisters were allegedly raped by their grandfather in Assam’s Jorhat district, with one girl dying by suicide the next day, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred under Teok police station area on Thursday evening. Police said the two girls, aged 10 and 12 years, had gone to pick mangoes in the backyard of their house when their grandfather accosted them and raped them. “The elder sister died by suicide on Friday, following which the incident came to light. It was then that the 10-year-old victim narrated the previous day’s incident,” they said. The 65-year-old accused, the victim’s grandfather from the paternal side, has been arrested based on the girl’s statement, the police added. (Source: PTI)    

  Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday expressed hope that the new BJP government in West Bengal would rebuild ‘Shonar Bangla’ under the leadership of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Speaking to PTI Videos on the sidelines of Adhikari’s swearing-in ceremony at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, Sarma said ‘Anga, Banga, Kalinga and Pragjyotishpur’ are now governed by a party deeply rooted in preserving ‘Sanatani’ values.   He was referring to the ancient kingdoms that once ruled the region. Having come to power in Odisha (Kalinga) in 2024, the BJP unseated the 15-year-old TMC government in West Bengal (Banga) and returned to power for a third consecutive term in Assam, whose largest city is Guwahati (Pragjyotishpur). The BJP also installed its first government in Bihar (Anga) last month, with Samrat Choudhary leading it as the chief minister. Sarma said, “Hope the new government in West Bengal will reclaim ‘Shonar Bangla’.” Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who was also present at the ceremony, said the new BJP government would help accelerate the state’s development. “India is on a trajectory of development. Under PM Narendra Modi, every state will progress,” she told reporters. (Source: PTI)    

NONGPOH, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Saturday stressed the need for convergence of legal aid and welfare schemes to ensure last-mile delivery of justice. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating an awareness camp in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district, Justice Surya Kant, who is also the Patron-in-Chief of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), said healthcare access, educational support, livelihood opportunities and rehabilitation assistance were being brought together through such camps to ensure that benefits reached the grassroots. The mega camp-cum-awareness programme on NALSA schemes and government welfare schemes was organised at Marngar in Ri Bhoi district under the theme “Bridging the Gap” by the High Court of Meghalaya and the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) in partnership with the state government. “It is very essential that under one roof all these welfare schemes implemented by government departments, organisations and legal institutions are made available to all,” he said, urging all stakeholders to work in tandem to strengthen access to justice. The CJI also acknowledged the role of para-legal volunteers in delivering legal services at the grassroots level and called for strengthening their recruitment. Speaking on the occasion, Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted the importance of aligning traditional justice systems with the constitutional framework while appreciating Meghalaya’s unique customary practices. He also referred to Ri Bhoi’s famed pineapple cultivation, remarking in a lighter vein that the people of Meghalaya were “as sweet as the pineapples grown there”. Meghalaya Law Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said the MSLSA had devised a comprehensive state action plan tailored to local conditions to effectively address issues faced by the people while remaining in consonance with national laws and policies. Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya Justice Revati Mohite Dere said the mega camp was aimed at ensuring legal help reached the people at their doorstep. “In our democracy, justice has no distance,” she said, adding that 14 such mega camps had been organised across nine districts in the past five years, benefitting thousands of people. During the programme, dignitaries distributed assistive devices to persons with disabilities, financial assistance and work orders to self-help groups and village organisations, and certificates to legal aid lawyers and para-legal volunteers for their performance during 2025. Later, High Court judges Justice H S Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh flagged off multi-utility vehicles under the NALSA Grant-in-Aid Scheme. (Source: PTI)                        

IMPHAL, Heavily armed militants attacked villages in Manipur’s Kamjong district near the India-Myanmar border on Thursday morning, torching houses and forcing residents to flee, officials said. According to police, the militants attacked the Tangkhul Naga villages of Namlee, Wanglee and Choro within Kasom Khullen police station area around 4 am, prompting residents of the border settlements to take shelter in nearby forests. The villages are located less than a kilometre from the international border. At least one elderly woman sustained injuries while attempting to flee during the attack, officials said. According to villagers, two houses in Namlee, three to four houses in Wanglee and several houses in Choro, except for a church, were reduced to ashes. Security forces, including the Assam Rifles, later reached the area to assess the situation. Phungyar MLA L Keishing alleged that the attack was carried out from across the border by Myanmar-based militant groups Kuki National Army (Burma) and the People’s Defence Force (PDF). “So far, the state had been seeing internal conflicts, but today there has been external aggression. A combined force of Kuki National Army-B and People’s Defence Force attacked four to five border villages at 3.30 am,” Keishing told reporters. “Several houses have been reduced to ashes, though there have been no fatalities. Two persons, including a woman, remain untraceable. Eyewitnesses said they were taken away by the armed militants,” the Naga People’s Front legislator claimed. Calling it an “external aggression”, the MLA said both the state and central governments should not remain silent. “There is no presence of Manipur Police in the area,” he alleged. Keishing accused the Assam Rifles of failing to protect the villages. “Assam Rifles troops visited the villages yesterday, and the attack happened today. Villagers have expressed frustration over the developments,” he said. Meanwhile, the Tangkhul Aze Katamnao Long (TAKL), also known as the Southern Tangkhul Students’ Union, expressed “extreme urgency and outrage” over the attacks on Tangkhul Naga border villages by alleged Kuki militants operating under the Kuki National Army-Burma. The student body alleged that around 100 armed KNA-B militants crossed the Indo-Myanmar border into Kamjong district and attacked villages including Namlee, Wanglee, Ashang Khullen and Choro. It demanded that the state government immediately deploy Manipur Police commandos in the affected villages and demanded an immediate explanation regarding the alleged security lapse that allowed around 100 armed militants to cross the international boundary undetected. (Source: PTI)      

GUWAHATI, The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected BJP-led NDA government in Assam will be held on May 12, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, chief ministers and deputy CMs of BJP-ruled states, and representatives from industries are expected to attend the function. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Veterinary Field, Khanapara, he said. “Chaired a comprehensive review meeting with the DGP, Assam today to assess preparedness for the forthcoming visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Council of Ministers”, Kota posted on X on Wednesday night. Arrangements related to security, traffic management, venue readiness, protocol, and inter-departmental coordination were discussed in detail, he said. ”Emphasised the need for seamless execution, strict adherence to established protocols, and close coordination among all stakeholders,” Kota said. All departments concerned have been directed to maintain the highest level of preparedness to ensure the ceremony is conducted smoothly, securely, and in a manner befitting the significance of the occasion, he said. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tendered his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who asked him to continue as the head of the caretaker government. Union minister J P Nadda and Naib Singh Saini have been appointed as the observer and co-observer, respectively, for the election of the BJP Legislature party leader, which is likely to be held on May 10. The ruling NDA returned to power for the third successive term, securing 102 of the 126 assembly seats in the state with the BJP winning 82 constituencies and its allies – the Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) – bagging 10 each. (Source: PTI)

KOHIMA, The Nagaland Indigenous Tribes Cultural Resource Centre was inaugurated here on Thursday to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the state’s indigenous tribes. At the event, the state government’s advisor for art and culture, K Konngam Konyak, said the centre reflected a “thoughtful and forward-looking vision” aimed not only at preserving traditions but also at creating a space where the cultural traditions could be practised and passed on to future generations. He said Nagaland’s cultural strength lies in the diversity of its indigenous communities, and noted that all 16 recognised tribes of the state have been represented in the centre through dedicated spaces for showcasing their heritage. The facility would also promote mutual respect, understanding and unity among the tribes while serving as a hub for exhibitions, learning, research, documentation and cultural activities, he said. Commissioner and Secretary of the Department of Art and Culture, Bodeno S Colo, termed the inauguration a significant milestone in the collective effort to preserve, celebrate and promote the rich cultural heritage of Nagaland’s indigenous tribes. She said the centre stands as “a living testament” to the identity of the people of Nagaland, rooted in tradition and strengthened by community values. Stressing the need to safeguard cultural traditions in a rapidly changing world, she expressed hope that the centre would become a beacon of knowledge and a hub of cultural exchange where tradition and innovation could coexist. Executive Engineer of the Department of Art and Culture, Kakheli Swu, said the Rs 1,283.08 lakh spent for the project was funded jointly by the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) and the state government. (Source: PTI)