REGIONAL

GUWAHATI : Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati have uncovered how blue-green algae can remove lead from contaminated water, it said in a release. “In a first-of-its-kind study, the IIT-Guwahati research team has identified cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, that can be used to absorb lead from contaminated water,” the institute said. The research team was led by Debasish Das, a Professor in the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering. “A key feature of this approach is the vast availability of these algae in village ponds, lakes, reservoirs, paddy fields and slow-moving freshwater bodies,” the release said. Based on the research, the team found that the sticky, sugar-rich material found in algae, called exopolysaccharides (EPS), absorbed the highest amount of lead from water. In controlled laboratory experiments, the EPS, produced by blue-green algae, successfully removed up to 66.2 per cent of toxic lead from contaminated water, it said. The findings are subject to further validation and should not be interpreted as final or ready for commercial application, IIT-Guwahati said. “In our recent study, we found that EPS organism can remove lead, one of the most toxic heavy metals, from polluted water. EPS can form associations with fungi to form cyanolichens, enrich soil by fixing nitrogen, and act as a natural biofertiliser to boost agricultural productivity,” Das said. To understand how the EPS absorbs lead from water, the researchers used different techniques to examine the material’s composition and its interaction with lead. “They found that naturally occurring chemical groups in the material bind lead particles, making it effective at removing lead from contaminated water. The research team also found that blue-green algae naturally changes its chemical composition to capture lead,” the release said. The findings have been published in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. The research team now plans to evaluate the performance of EPS using real industrial wastewater containing mixtures of toxic metals, as well as work upon recyclability of the biosorbent, and develop a scalable system that can be used for continuous water treatment. (Source: PTI)

GUWAHATI : The Assam government on Monday said that no fencing could be erected along 4.35 kilometres of the state’s boundary with Bangladesh due to objections by the border guards of the neighbouring nation. There is also no fencing in 34.609 km as that part falls in rivers, Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora said. In a written reply to a query by AGP MLA Diptimayee Choudhury, Bora said that barbed wire fencing in 228.541 km has been completed out of a total 267.5 km of the India-Bangladesh border spread across Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Cachar and Sribhumi districts. “Fencing work for 4.35 km of border could not be carried out due to objections by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Indian citizens live there on the bank of the Kushiyara river in Sribhumi district,” he added. Besides, there is no fencing in 34.609 km as this portion falls in rivers, of which 30.37 km is in Dhubri and 4.239 km is in South Salmara-Mankachar, Bora said. “In the open areas of rivers, Border Security Force (BSF) monitors the border through the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) by established boat observation outposts,” he added. (Source: PTI)  

SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government is likely to take a final decision on the proposed relocation of residents of the Punjabi Lane area in Shillong before the end of this month, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday. “We intend to take a decision before the end of this month. We have one more meeting to hold after which we will receive the final report,” Dhar told reporters. He said one of the options under consideration is to seek land from the defence authorities for the relocation of the residents. The government is awaiting the outcome of its discussions with the Army before taking a final call, he said. “We are waiting for the final discussions between the government and the Army. Hopefully, before the end of this month, I will be able to share the latest position on the Them Metor (Punjabi Lane) issue,” he said. Asked about the extent of land required, Dhar said discussions with the defence authorities were still underway. “We have identified two to three locations, but we have not received any response from the Army so far. Even the chief minister has held two to three meetings with the Defence minister on the matter,” he said. The relocation of residents of the Punjabi Lane area, popularly known as Them Metor, has remained a contentious issue since 2018. The settlement, located adjacent to the historic Iewduh market, is predominantly inhabited by Sikh families employed as sanitation workers. The issue has also been the subject of prolonged litigation before the Meghalaya High Court, with the state government keen on relocating the settlers. The high court has, on several occasions, issued directions on maintaining law and order besides protecting the rights of all stakeholders. The state government constituted a high-level committee that examined the matter and offered relocation options to the stakeholders. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : Hindi will be introduced as an official language in the Assam Legislative Assembly, alongside Assamese, English and Bodo from the Budget Session starting Monday, Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass said. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Dass said the decision was taken at the general purpose committee meeting held a day ago. “The meeting was held on Saturday. It was decided that along with Assamese, English and Bodo, Hindi will be introduced as an official language in the Assembly,” he said. “Since Hindi is a ‘Rashtra Bhasa’, as a sign of respect for it we have decided to introduce it in the House,” the Speaker added. Dass also said the committee had decided to rename ALA TV, which streams the proceedings of the Assembly, as ‘Assam Bidhan Sabha TV’. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed speculation that Bodo would be withdrawn as an official language in the Assembly. In a post on X, Sarma said he had been informed by the Speaker that there was no proposal to discontinue the use of Bodo in the Assembly. He said Bodo language is an inseparable part of Assam’s rich cultural heritage and identity, adding, “It carries the history, traditions, and aspirations of the Bodo community and enriches the vibrant diversity that defines our state.” “The government of Assam is fully committed to preserving and promoting the Bodo language. We will continue to make every possible effort to support its growth and ensure that it continues to flourish for generations to come,” the chief minister added. Bodo is among the official languages included in Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. It was notified as an Associate Official Language of the Assembly through the Assam Official Language (Amendment) Act, 2020. (Source: DH)    

GUWAHATI : A 39-year-old man was arrested with a cache of arms and ammunition in Guwahati during an investigation into an extortion case, police said on Sunday. The arrest was made by a team of the Pragjyotishpur police station after an FIR was lodged on July 2, Guwahati Police said in a series of social media posts. The 39-year-old accused allegedly threatened, assaulted and wrongfully confined the victim before extorting Rs 3 lakh and detaining his car, police said. During a raid at the accused’s residence at Chapaidong in the Bonda area, police arrested him, recovered the victim’s car and found an empty cartridge, corroborating the allegation that a warning shot had been fired during the incident, they said. The search also led to the seizure of a large cache of arms and ammunition, including a pistol, three rifles, over 360 live rounds of ammunition, 80 empty cartridges, three mobile phones and an arms licence. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused and the victim were former business associates, police said. The victim was allegedly threatened, assaulted, forced to sign documents and coerced into transferring Rs 3 lakh online, they said. Police said the accused is a history-sheeter with four criminal cases registered against him in Assam. The authenticity of the arms licence is being verified, while investigators are also probing possible links to illegal procurement of firearms, they said. (Source: PTI)    

GUWAHATI : A forest department official in Assam has been suspended after an audio clip of him purportedly demanding money from a dumper truck owner to operate illegally surfaced on social media, an official said. According to an office order, Divisional Forest Officer of Jorhat, Montu Hazarika, has been suspended with immediate effect for allegedly indulging in corrupt practices. He has been asked to report to Mariani Range headquarters. The action was initiated after a telephonic conversation, purportedly of the officer seeking money from a dumper owner to allow unauthorised activities, went viral on social media. The authenticity of the clip was not verified by PTI. “Sources said the audio clip came to the notice of Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, who directed the department to take immediate action,” a forest department spokesperson said. (Source: PTI)    

IMPHAL : Two Assam residents who had been illegally confined as debt collateral have been rescued from Manipur’s Ukhrul district, police said on Sunday. Manipur Police rescued the two persons after receiving a complaint report from Titabar police station in Assam. “The complaint was filed by Munin Kachari of Assam’s Jorhat at Titabar police station, stating that on June 12, one Dibyajyoti Saikia of Jorhat left the former’s brother at Khamsom in Manipur’s Senapati district with an unidentified person as security against the outstanding debt from some financial dealings with the said unidentified person for inability to repay the due amount,” the police statement said. Accordingly, police launched follow-up operations and traced two victims and rescued them on Friday from Changta village in Lungchon Maiphai police station area in Ukhrul district, an officer said. The rescued persons have been identified as Kasob Kachari (29), and Ajay Gogoi (33). They have been safely brought to Senapati police station on Saturday, the police officer said. No arrests have been made in connection with the case and further investigation is underway, he added. (Source: PTI)

CHURACHANDPUR : Ahead of Manipur BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte’s last rites, hundreds of Kukis took to the streets of Churachandpur district on Saturday morning protesting Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh’s visit, officials said. At least six Kuki organisations boycotted the visit of Singh to the Kuki-Zo majority district, demanding a permanent resolution to the simmering ethnic conflict in the state. Markets remained closed, and vehicles remained off the streets in the district headquarters, following a shutdown call given by an armed group. Dozens of protesters also gathered at the Tedim road near the Kaprang area to block the route from Imphal to Churachandpur. Around 11 pm on Friday, armed people fired several rounds in the air near the Jalengphai area in Churachandpur district bordering the valley district of Bishnupur. In a statement, Kuki organisations, including Kuki Students Organisation, Kuki Inpi Churachandpur and Kuki Women Union, under the banner of Kuki Civil Society Organisation, said, “The KCSOs Churachandpur would like to make it clear that until and unless there is a solution to the ongoing ‘Kuki-zo-Meitei Conflict’, we would not allow any Meitei individual, officials or group in our district.” The protests and shutdown came in the wake of Singh’s visit to attend the final rites of former BJP MLA Vungzagin Valte, who passed away in February this year. Valte, a three-time legislator from Thanlon constituency, will be buried at a cemetery in Dorcas Veng village in Churachandpur district at around 1.30 pm, according to a Zomi Council statement issued on Friday. The body of the 61-year-old BJP leader belonging to the Zomi community has been kept in Churachandpur District Hospital since it was brought from Delhi in February. Valte had been battling serious injuries he had sustained during a mob attack in Imphal’s Nagamapal area when ethnic violence broke out in May 2023, and went to Delhi for medical treatment. After nearly two years of treatment there, Valte returned home to Churachandpur, accompanied by his wife, in April last year. On February 7, his health condition suddenly worsened, and he was taken to the national capital the next day via an air ambulance. He died at a private hospital in Gurugram on February 20. Following his death, Zomi frontal organisations formed the Zomi Coordination Committee (ZCC) to oversee matters related to the late legislator, including engagement with the Centre, the state government, and other authorities on issues of justice and accountability, causing the delay in the burial, sources in the community said. The ZCC recently resolved to hand over Valte’s mortal remains to his family to enable them to perform his final rites, they said. The ZCC’s demands included a time-bound investigation by the NIA or CBI into the attack on the MLA leading to his death, and the grant of Union Territory status with a legislature for the Kuki-Zo majority areas of Manipur, which he perceived as the only way towards the development of the community on par with others, sources said. Valte had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi explaining the importance and the need for a separate administration. At least 260 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless since May 2023 due to ethnic violence in Manipur between the valley-based Meiteis and the Kukis who live in the hill districts. Following continued ethic clashes and the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, the state was placed under President’s Rule on February 13, 2025. It was lifted nearly a year later, on February 4. (Source: PTI)