State News

Mingkeng Osik PASIGHAT, OCT 18: Ziro Royal Enfielders emerged champions of the 4th Federation of Arunachal Riders (FAR) Rolling Trophy 2026, defeating Arunachal Bullet Club in the final of the football tournament held as part of the annual gathering of motorcycle riding clubs from across Arunachal Pradesh. The event also highlighted the riding community’s commitment to social service, with members visiting Aayii Shelter Home on the occasion of its first anniversary and donating essential supplies for its residents. Jobom Mengu, founding member of Royal Siang Riders and organising chairman of the tournament, said FAR brings together around 30 motorcycle riding clubs from across the state, with members from regions stretching from Longding to Tawang. “Football is just an excuse for us to meet once a year,” Mengu said, emphasising that the annual gathering aims to strengthen friendship, unity and mutual understanding among riders. The fourth edition saw 12 clubs compete in the tournament, while members of other riding groups also attended the gathering. The event also serves as a platform for participating clubs to coordinate activities and review the federation’s rules and bylaws. The 5th FAR Rolling Trophy will be hosted in Aalo by the 30 Degree North Riders Club. As part of its charitable initiative, FAR members and representatives of other riding groups visited Aayii Shelter Home, which provides free shelter and basic facilities to people in difficult circumstances, including those without accommodation or employment opportunities. The visit was led by Rohit Jomoh, Moderator-in-Charge of FAR, and Tasing Panyang, chief of Royal Siang Riders. Members of 11 riding groups contributed rice, vegetables, soap and other household necessities for the residents. Jomoh said the charitable ride was organised to support the shelter home and acknowledge its efforts to assist destitute people. He said six inmates were currently staying at the facility and urged more individuals and organisations to extend support to similar initiatives. Kaling Tabing, who runs Aayii Shelter Home under the Ane Siang Welfare Society, thanked the riders for their contributions, saying the supplies would help meet residents’ needs and that the gesture offered them encouragement and a sense of belonging. He also acknowledged Jobomchang Mwengwu for helping make the initiative possible. The participating groups included 30 Degree North, Arunachal Bullet Club, Royal Arunachal Riders, The Gliding Piranhas, Ziro Royal Enfielders, Ziro Riders Club, Buffaloes Trails, Mountain Folks, Dibang Riders, Golden Masheer and Tribal Thumpers. The event combined sporting competition with community service, reflecting FAR’s efforts to promote camaraderie among riders while encouraging collective action to support vulnerable people.    

YINGKIONG, OCT 18: Upper Siang district has achieved 100 per cent of its target in the six-day Measles-Rubella (MR) mop-up vaccination programme conducted from October 12 to 17. The campaign was carried out under the supervision of the District Medical Officer and District Immunization Officer, covering health facilities in Yingkiong, Tuting, Jengging, Geku, Mariyang, Jeying and Katan. Medical officers, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), accredited social health activists (ASHAs) and other health staff visited villages and schools across their respective jurisdictions to ensure that all eligible children were covered. All blocks achieved their assigned targets, according to the Health Department. The MR vaccine protects children against measles and rubella, which can cause serious complications, including blindness, deafness and birth defects. The Health Department thanked block medical officers, healthcare workers, the Education Department and panchayati raj institution members for their efforts in making the campaign successful.  

RIGA, OCT 17: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ojing Tasing visited the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) drilling site at Ugeng in Riga, Siang district, on Saturday to assess ground realities, review the progress of ongoing works, examine operational coordination and ascertain the extent of damage sustained by the site during earlier incidents. In a social media post following the visit, Tasing described the proposed Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) as a project of national interest, linking it to India’s long-term water security, energy resilience and strategic interests. “As we navigate the complexities surrounding this ambitious endeavour, our resolve remains unwavering: to pursue progress with prudence, uphold the rights and legitimate aspirations of our people, and foster an atmosphere of mutual trust, constructive dialogue and collective responsibility,” he said. The proposed SUMP, with an envisaged hydropower capacity of around 11,000 megawatts, is being pursued as a major multipurpose project on the Siang River. The project has also been linked to India’s strategic concerns over China’s hydropower plans on the Yarlung Tsangpo, the river that enters India as the Siang. However, the proposed project continues to face opposition from sections of the indigenous population in Siang and Upper Siang districts. The Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum (SIFF) and other community groups have raised concerns over the potential impact on ancestral land, livelihoods, the environment and cultural identity. They have also questioned the conduct of PFR surveys and drilling amid the deployment of security personnel, calling for meaningful consultation and the consent of affected communities. Protests against PFR activities were reported in and around Ugeng in September, with residents of several villages opposing drilling work. The project has also become the subject of wider debate over public consent, rehabilitation, environmental safety and the extent of its strategic benefits. The state government has maintained that the project is of national importance while stating that local communities must be taken into confidence. The debate over SUMP continues to centre on balancing its proposed strategic and energy benefits with the concerns and aspirations of people in the affected areas.    

ITANAGAR, OCT 17: Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) on Saturday urged the youth to embrace public service, uphold integrity and preserve Arunachal Pradesh’s traditional sports and cultural heritage while participating in the Seva Sankalp Utsav at Dera Natung Government College Ground in Itanagar. Organised by the State Department of Youth Affairs, the event marked the culmination of a month-long programme featuring state-level traditional sports competitions and the street play ‘Namoh Seva – Ankahi Kahaniya’. Addressing the gathering, the Governor said the festival brought together the spirit of service, sports, cultural heritage and responsible citizenship. He noted that the event commemorated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25-year journey in public service and urged young people to draw inspiration from his journey by upholding dedication, perseverance and integrity. Parnaik called upon the youth to contribute to the vision of Viksit Arunachal and Viksit Bharat by 2047 through collective effort and service to society. He also highlighted the role of sports in promoting fitness, discipline, teamwork and mutual respect. Describing traditional sports as a living expression of the state’s cultural heritage, the Governor called for the preservation of indigenous games such as bamboo archery, bamboo pole climbing and traditional running through competitions at village, district and state levels. He stressed that modern sports science, nutrition, physiotherapy, injury prevention and mental conditioning should complement traditional sporting activities to help athletes achieve their full potential. The Governor also commended the street play for depicting the Prime Minister’s life and encouraged artists to use the medium to raise awareness against drug abuse, alcoholism and corruption through local languages, indigenous stories, music and theatre. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein highlighted activities organised across the state during the month-long celebration and spoke about Modi’s contributions to Arunachal Pradesh and the country. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kento Jini briefed the gathering on the competitions and the government’s youth empowerment initiatives. The programme featured traditional sports demonstrations and the felicitation of achievers, including Padma Shri awardee Techi Gubin, retired Inspector General of Police Take Ringu and social worker Deepak Nabam. The Governor presented the Overall Team Champion Trophy to Keyi Panyor district, while Shi Yomi district secured the runners-up trophy. Director of Youth Affairs Ramesh Linggi announced the results of the individual events. Thakngam Wangsu of Longding won bamboo pole climbing, Bacemso Pul of Anjaw won the Dali competition, Tachung Samnam of Shi Yomi won traditional bamboo archery, Chow Piyaseng Manlai of Namsai won bamboo stick running, and Dorjee Goiba of Shi Yomi won Gilli Danda. In the team events, Kra Daadi won the women’s tug-of-war, while Keyi Panyor emerged victorious in the men’s event. The event was attended by Namsai MLA and Sports and Youth Affairs adviser Zingnu Namchoom, Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso, Itanagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Likha Nari Tadar, State BJP president Kaling Moyong and Arunachal Olympic Association president Taba Tedir, among others.