REGIONAL

SHILLONG : The Meghalaya government on Tuesday signed an agreement with Oxford Policy Management India to undertake a yearly health survey that will generate detailed public health data for policy planning and monitoring of healthcare schemes, officials said. The agreement was signed between the State Health Systems Resource Centre (SHSRC) Meghalaya and Oxford Policy Management India in the presence of National Health Mission Meghalaya Mission Director Ramakrishna Chitturi, they said. D Valerie Laloo signed the agreement on behalf of the state health department, while Prabal Vikram Singh represented the organisation. Officials said the initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based healthcare delivery and improve planning of medical services across the state through regular and detailed collection of health-related data. They said the survey would go beyond conventional data collection exercises by establishing a system capable of generating periodic public health statistics to support policymaking and improve implementation of healthcare programmes. According to officials, the exercise is expected to help the state identify emerging health challenges, assess disparities across districts, track the progress of welfare schemes and strengthen accountability in healthcare service delivery. Authorities also said the availability of timely and location-specific health data would enable better allocation of resources and more informed decision-making in Meghalaya’s public healthcare sector. The collaboration reflects the state government’s broader push towards data-driven governance and institutional mechanisms for continuous monitoring and evaluation of healthcare services, the official added. (Source: PTI)          

GUWAHATI : US Ambassador Sergio Gor on Tuesday said his country will explore more opportunities with Assam that will be commercially beneficial to both sides. Gor was in Guwahati to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who created history by becoming the only non-Congress and the first BJP CM to assume power for two successive terms in the state. “Honored to have been invited to Guwahati today to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma,” Gor said in a post on social media. “The United States and Assam have many commercial ties, and with the CM’s leadership we will identify many more win-win scenarios for both of our nations!” he added. Along with Sarma, four MLAs — the BJP’s Rameswar Teli and Ajanta Neog, AGP’s Atul Bora, Charan Boro of BPF — also took oath as ministers. The oath taking function was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, among others. Several diplomates and leading industrialists also witnessed the grand ceremony at the Veterinary College Field in Khanapara. (Source: PTI)

GUWAHATI : BJP president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday said the ‘double-engine’ government in Assam will accelerate development activities, investment and public welfare programmes. He attended the swearing-in ceremony of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and congratulated him on taking charge for the second time. “This occasion marks a renewed momentum for Assam’s ongoing journey toward good governance, stability, and development. As the ‘Double Engine’ NDA government, this coordination between the Centre and the state will infuse new energy and pace in areas such as foundational infrastructure, investment, connectivity, and public welfare,” Nabin said on X. The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state. Nabin exuded confidence that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sarma’s administration will take the state to new heights of progress and prosperity. “Under the guidance of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji, Assam is today emerging as the ‘development engine of the Northeast,’ leading the progress and prosperity of the entire region,” the BJP chief said. The unprecedented efforts toward connectivity, peace and preservation of cultural identity have given the state a new identity of development, he added. “This resounding mandate is a testament to the unwavering trust of the people of Assam and their clear support for the politics of development,” Nabin said, referring to the massive victory of the NDA in the Assembly elections. Earlier during the day, Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Himanta Biswa Sarma as Chief Minister, along with a new council of ministers. Along with Sarma, four MLAs — the BJP’s Rameswar Teli and Ajanta Neog, AGP’s Atul Bora and Charan Boro of BPF — also took the oath as ministers. “Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Shri Rameswar Teli Ji, Shri Atul Bora Ji, Shri Charan Boruah Ji, and Smt. Ajanta Neog Ji on taking oath in Assam’s newly formed cabinet,” Nabin said. Reacting to the series of social media posts, Sarma thanked his well-wishers. “Under your guidance, the BJP Assam will further accelerate its public welfare initiatives and continue to steadfastly advance toward realizing the resolve of the esteemed @narendramodi ji for a developed Assam,” he added. (Source: PTI)  

BENGALURU A 23-year-old woman from Manipur has alleged that she was subjected to harassment and physical assault on several occasions by her employers at the IIM campus here, police said on Monday. The alleged offences took place between June 1, 2021, and May 4, 2026, they said. According to the police, in her complaint, the woman alleged that she had been working for nearly six years as a caretaker for the children of her employers, identified as Amar and Anshu, and had been residing with them on the IIM-B campus. Since 2021, the employers had allegedly not been providing her with adequate food. She also alleged that whenever she fell ill, they physically assaulted her and snatched away her mobile phone. In her complaint, the woman stated that she did not remember the exact dates and times of the incidents, but alleged that the couple had physically assaulted her on several occasions. She further alleged that the last incident of physical assault took place on April 15 at around 2.30 am, when her employer, Anshu, allegedly pulled her hair and assaulted her. According to the FIR, the employers allegedly assaulted her several times whenever she spoke to others, but she did not inform anyone out of fear. The woman also alleged that her employers used to check the messages on her mobile phone and prevented her from going outside, police said. She further alleged that on May 4, she was not given food from the morning onwards, following which she sought help from neighbours, who gave her food. Using a neighbour’s phone, she informed her aunt, who lives in Bengaluru and is the president of the Kuki Students Organisation Bangalore. Following her complaint, a case was registered at the Mico Layout Police Station on May 6 under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 127(4) (wrongful confinement) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. “All allegations are being looked into, and the matter is currently under investigation,” a senior police officer said. (Source: PTI)  

GUWAHATI, Himanta Biswa Sarma was elected as the leader of the BJP-led NDA in the Assam Assembly on Sunday, paving the way for him to become the chief minister for the second consecutive term in the state, Union minister J P Nadda said. Eight BJP legislators proposed the name of Sarma as its legislature party leader, Nadda said. Earlier, the Assam BJP’s legislature party met here in the morning to elect its leader, who will also head the new government in the northeastern state. Nadda and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were present at the meeting as central observers and co-observers. The BJP partners in the alliance, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), also supported Sarma’s nomination, leading to his unanimous election as the NDA leader, Nadda said. Sarma and other NDA leaders are scheduled to call on Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at the Lok Bhawan later on Sunday to discuss matters pertaining to government formation, officials said. They are expected to stake claim to form the next government during the meeting with the Governor. The BJP-led NDA swept to a third successive term in the state with a two-thirds majority in the assembly polls. The BJP secured 82 seats, while its allies AGP and BPF won 10 each, in the 126-member House. (Source: PTI)  

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)