REGIONAL

IMPHAL, AUG 25: Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Tuesday said the collective efforts of all communities are needed to safeguard Manipur’s integrity, and dialogue among them was key to ensure peace in the state. Speaking at the 45th Hawkers’ Day celebrations here, Singh said the cooperation and understanding shown by Naga and Kuki communities were important steps towards restoring normalcy and ensuring smooth movement of people in the state. He also thanked the Naga and Kuki communities for ensuring free movement of public transport vehicles along National Highway-2. “Dialogue among communities is the solution for bringing peace and development in the state,” the CM said. On Monday’s incident at Taphou village in Senapati district in which some houses were burnt by unknown miscreants, Singh said the MLAs and district authorities persuaded both the communities to refrain from any activities that disturb free movement of people and vehicles. “It is not the sole responsibility of the government to safeguard the state, but a collective effort of all communities,” the CM said. Meanwhile, during the 79th Manipur Excise Raising Day at the Excise Headquarters here, Singh lauded the department for collecting a total revenue of Rs 28.98 crore during the financial year 2025-26. “I am confident that its revenue collection will continue to grow and play a vital role in strengthening the financial health of the state in the coming months,” the chief minister said. (Source: PTI)  

GUWAHATI, AUG 25: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday called on Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan who handed him the approval document for 3.1 lakh new homes under PM Awas Yojana with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore. The Union Minister also assured Sarma that additional PMAY houses will be sanctioned for flood-affected areas, helping them rebuild at the earliest. ”Deeply grateful to Hon’ble Union Minister Shri @ChouhanShivraj Ji for the priority and support he continues to extend to Assam,” the CM said in a post on X. ”In today’s meeting, he formally handed over the approval for 3.8 lakh new homes under PM Awas Yojana, involving an investment of nearly Rs 5,000 crore”, he said. The central government will also extend further support for housing in Assam’s tea garden areas, Sarma said. ”I also received the sanction letter from him for Rs 139 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to boost agricultural investment and promote sustainable farming”, he said. The chief minister expressed his “sincere gratitude,” on behalf of the people of Assam, to the Union minister for his swift decisions and, above all, for standing firmly with the people of the state during the recent devastating floods. (Source: PTI)            

SHILLONG, AUG 24: The Meghalaya government has constituted a special investigation team to identify and prosecute those involved in the recent violence during a students’ organisation rally here, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the assembly on Monday. Outside the House, Sangma said the government has also invited the Khasi Students’ Union for a discussion on their demands. Making a statement on the first day of the assembly’s autumn session, the chief minister said the SIT, headed by the inspector general of police (law and order), has been tasked with “identifying and investigating all those involved in the violence, particularly those responsible for attacks on Assam-registered vehicles, and ensuring their prosecution in accordance with law”. The KSU bike rally on August 19 had turned violent, with stone-pelting, vandalism and assaults reported from several parts of Shillong. At least 31 vehicles were damaged, 18 people injured and two vehicles set ablaze, according to East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem. Three senior KSU leaders – president Raymond Kharjana, vice president Pynkmenlang Sanmiet and general secretary Reuben Najiar – were arrested and subsequently remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody. Sangma said no stone will be left unturned to bring the perpetrators to justice. The CM said the rally had been permitted by the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner after the KSU gave an undertaking that it would remain peaceful. “However, during the rally, some miscreants indulged in violent acts, including the hurling of stones at 31 vehicles and attacking innocent bystanders,” he said, adding that eight of the damaged vehicles were registered in Assam. All the injured were taken to Shillong Civil Hospital for medical treatment, the chief minister said. “Fifteen FIRs have been filed so far in connection with the incident on August 19. Five masked people have so far been identified as being involved in the incident, particularly in the attacks on Assam-registered vehicles. One has already been arrested,” he said. Later, Sangma told reporters that the government formally invited the KSU for talks and was expecting a response by Monday evening or Tuesday. “We have written to KSU today and asked them to come for discussion. We may get some response by this evening or tomorrow, and we will discuss all five agendas,” he said. The rally was part of the KSU’s ongoing agitation over a five-point charter of demands, including implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act, reforms in recruitment through the Meghalaya Public Service Commission and District Selection Committees (DSCs), and stricter regulation of migrant workers. The chief minister said the government could discuss the KSU’s demands but would not interfere with the ongoing investigation. (Source: PTI)  

SHILLONG, AUG 24: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said inter-state vehicular movement between Meghalaya and Assam has resumed following joint efforts by the two governments to defuse tensions triggered by recent violence in Shillong and a subsequent road blockade at Jorabat, near the inter-state border. He said the two states have also agreed to establish a dedicated hotline and a permanent district-level mechanism to address day-to-day issues along the inter-state border. A joint meeting between delegations from both the states was held on August 22, with Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and Assam minister Atul Bora leading the respective delegations. The two states’ chief secretaries and other senior officials also attended the meeting. Following the meeting, the road blockade at Jorabat by Assam-based associations was called off, allowing normal movement of essential commodities between the two states, Sangma said while informing the Assembly about steps taken to restore normalcy. He said a permanent district-level committee comprising the deputy commissioners of Nongpoh and Kamrup Metropolitan and police officers of corresponding rank would address day-to-day issues along the inter-state border. The government will also constitute a joint committee comprising commissioner- and secretary-level transport officials from both states and representatives of tourist taxi associations to facilitate and regulate tourist transport movement and protect the shared tourism interests of Assam and Meghalaya, he said. Sangma further said a meeting chaired by Dhar, who is in charge of transport, was held with Meghalaya transport associations, following which they agreed to withdraw their agitation and restore normal movement of vehicles. The next meeting with the associations is expected to be held in the second week of September to discuss the remaining issues, he said. “I would like to assure the members of this august House as well as the citizens of our state that the unfortunate incident that took place is something which the government has taken strong note of,” Sangma said. He said the government had acted swiftly and would take all necessary steps to ensure that those involved in violent activities were brought to justice. “We want to ensure and assure the House and citizens of the state that the government will take all steps and leave no stone unturned to ensure the miscreants who were involved and indulged in violent activities will be brought to justice,” he said. (Source: PTI)        

GUWAHATI, AUG 24: At least 36 suspected cattle smugglers were arrested and over 100 livestock were rescued during a major operation in Assam’s Biswanath district while the animals were being transported, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday. “Strict action continues against cow smugglers. @BiswanathPol has conducted a major operation, safely rescuing 106 livestock from 10 vehicles transporting them in inhumane conditions, and arresting 36 accused individuals,” he said in a post on X. This action is a testament to the Assam government’s resolve toward cow protection and safeguarding the interests of farmers, Sarma asserted. (Source: PTI)

SHILLONG, AUG 23: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar on Sunday met representatives of protesting tourist taxi drivers and said his government would make efforts to address their concerns with a lasting solution. The drivers’ association raised concerns over the absence of designated parking facilities for Meghalaya-registered tourist vehicles at Guwahati airport and alleged harassment of drivers from the state by Assam Police during their trips. The association also alleged that several of their vehicles were damaged during protests at Jorabat during the recent tensions, and sought compensation from Assam on a par with that provided by Meghalaya. Dhar assured the drivers that their concerns would be taken up with the Assam government and other relevant authorities to find a lasting solution. He said the government had decided to allow inter-state movement between Meghalaya and Assam to continue as before, with a further decision to be taken after a proposed meeting on September 10. “From this moment, we have decided that we will move freely as we were moving before. After September 10, we will take a call,” Dhar told reporters in Shillong. He said the meeting would be held at his level and attended by the transport commissioners of Assam and Meghalaya as well as representatives of transport associations from both states. “The concerns of our drivers are very genuine. Hopefully, by meeting both the states, the problem should be solved in future,” Dhar said. The date and venue of the meeting are yet to be finalised, he said, adding that the government would make efforts to resolve the problems faced by Meghalaya drivers travelling to Guwahati and other parts of Assam. His remarks came after tourist taxi drivers from Meghalaya staged protests at Umiam Lake on Sunday morning, briefly preventing Assam-registered vehicles from entering Shillong. The protests and disruptions continued for three days, affecting the movement of tourist vehicles between the two states. Several petrol outlets in Meghalaya also ran out of fuel amid the disruption, officials said. Dhar said the immediate priority was to ensure that transporters could travel without disruption while broader concerns were addressed through discussions between the two state governments. (Source: PTI)  

IMPHAL, AUG 23: Security forces have arrested a militant belonging to a proscribed outfit from Manipur’s Thoubal district for his alleged involvement in an ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy in 2021, police said on Sunday. The 28-year-old accused is a self-styled ‘captain’ in the Peoples’ Liberation Army, they said. He was arrested on Saturday from Lilong Ushoipokpi in Thoubal district based on a tip-off. “Through further questioning, it was revealed that he was part of the team that ambushed the CO of 46 AR (Assam Rifles) and 6 others in Behiang, Churachandpur on 13/11/2021,” a police statement said. In a post on X, the Army’s Eastern Command said: “The apprehended individual is a key accused in the 2021 #Churachandpur ambush case of Colonel Viplav Tripathi, his family members and security forces. The successful operation reaffirms the resolve of security forces to disrupt insurgent networks and safeguard peace and stability in #Manipur.” On November 13, 2021, militants ambushed a security convoy carrying Tripathi, the commanding officer of the 46 Assam Rifles, near Sehken village in Churachandpur district. Tripathi, his wife, their young son, and four paramilitary personnel were killed in the attack. (Source: PTI)          

GUWAHATI, AUG 22: Assam cab operators on Saturday suspended their blockade against Meghalaya-registered vehicles following assurances on safety after a ministerial-level meeting between the two states. The decision was announced following a meeting between Assam Border Protection Minister Atul Bora and Meghalaya Deputy CM S Dhar. “We have decided to suspend the blockade for the time being. The Meghalaya government has formed a Special Investigation Team to enquire into the violence of August 19. We will wait for its findings,” a cab operator said at the blockade site at Jorabat, after a meeting with Bora. “Our minister has said that Meghalaya will compensate for the damage caused to our drivers and vehicles,” he added. Bora visited the protesters after meeting Dhar. A delegation of the protesters will meet representatives of the Assam government on Sunday to take forward their demands. Violence had erupted during a bike rally organised by the Khasi Students’ Union in Shillong on August 19. At least 31 vehicles, including those from Assam, were damaged, and 16 people were injured, according to the police. Following the incident, commercial vehicle operators in Assam blocked traffic to Meghalaya at Jorabat and Khanapara, the main entry points to the neighbouring state, from Thursday. The blockade was extended to other entry points to Meghalaya from Guwahati on Saturday. (Source: PTI)