State News

ITANAGAR, OCT 14: Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) has extended greetings to the people of the state, particularly the Sajolang community, on the occasion of Chindang festival, expressing hope that the celebration would strengthen cultural identity and reinforce commitment to preserving the state’s rich heritage. In his message, the Governor said that Arunachal Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage is reflected in its diverse indigenous traditions, festivals, rituals and customary practices, each expressing our deep bond with nature, community and ancestral wisdom. “Chindang magnificently embodies the Sajolang people’s reverence for nature, with prayers and traditional observances seeking blessings for a bountiful harvest, family well-being and protection of people and domestic animals. Such traditions are a precious inheritance that strengthens our cultural identity and community spirit. I appeal to all, particularly our youth, to understand, respect and carry forward our indigenous heritage while protecting the forests, rivers, mountains and natural resources that have sustained our communities for generations”, he said. On this joyous occasion, I join my Sajolang brethren in offering prayers to the Almighty for peace, harmony, good health and prosperity for all, Parnaik added.

PASIGHAT, OCT 14: The Placement Cell of Jawaharlal Nehru College (JNC), Pasighat, in collaboration with ICICI Bank and with the support of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), organised a webinar on career opportunities in the banking sector on Tuesday under the theme “Learn – Grow – Build Your Future”. The webinar aimed to familiarise students with career prospects in banking, particularly recruitment opportunities, training and professional growth avenues at ICICI Bank. The resource persons — ICICI Bank HR Manager Loknath Mondal, HR team member Arijit Chatterjee and Regional Head Projeet Haldar — briefed participants on the role of Relationship Manager (Sales), eligibility criteria, recruitment procedures, training programmes and career progression in the sector. An interactive session followed, during which students raised queries on recruitment and employment opportunities. The resource persons addressed their concerns and offered guidance on the qualifications, skills and requirements for pursuing a career in banking. The webinar provided a platform for students to explore banking careers and gain a better understanding of the recruitment process and professional opportunities in the sector.    

KOLORIANG, OCT 14: The Kurung Kumey district administration, in coordination with the Public Works Department’s Koloriang Division, conducted a joint eviction drive to remove illegal structures and encroachments from the right of way (RoW) of the proposed Ring Road in Koloriang. The drive was carried out after due notices were issued to the occupants and in accordance with prescribed legal procedures. Boundary walls, houses and other structures falling within the designated road alignment were removed despite some operational challenges. The exercise marks a step towards the planned development of Koloriang township. Once completed, the Ring Road is expected to improve connectivity, ease movement within the town and strengthen public infrastructure. The district administration has appealed to residents to cooperate with the township’s development initiatives and refrain from fresh encroachments on government land and public road corridors.

SHERGAON, OCT 14: The State Horticulture Farm (SHF) at Shergaon in West Kameng district, established in 1977–78, has emerged as an important centre for temperate fruit cultivation, scientific horticultural practices and agricultural innovation in Arunachal Pradesh. Taking advantage of the region’s favourable climatic conditions, the farm cultivates more than 40 varieties of apples, along with other temperate fruits such as plum, peach, pear, cherry, walnut and persimmon. It also produces fresh fruits and planting materials while generating revenue through the sale of fruits, vegetables and other farm produce. The farm received special attention during the visit of Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik (Retd) on July 25, 2026. During the visit, the Governor highlighted horticulture’s potential to enhance farmers’ incomes, strengthen food security and contribute to the state’s sustainable development. He encouraged farmers, entrepreneurs and youth to explore opportunities in horticulture and called for the adoption of natural farming practices to improve soil health, protect the environment and enhance agricultural sustainability. He also stressed the need to extend scientific methods, modern technologies and innovative farming practices from research farms to villages. During the visit, the Governor was briefed on orchard management practices, including recommended cultivation methods, plant protection schedules, fruit management and the use of anti-hail nets. A notable demonstration involved top-working, in which a mature Red Delicious apple tree was grafted with eight different apple varieties to showcase varietal diversification and improved orchard management. Drone technology was also demonstrated to highlight its potential for crop monitoring, precision spraying and efficient farm management. Such technologies can help optimise resource use, reduce labour-intensive field inspections and improve worker safety, particularly in difficult terrain. The farm has also undertaken landscaping initiatives, including plantations of plum and peach trees, along with seasonal intercropping of sunflower and cosmos to enhance the premises’ aesthetic appeal. To strengthen its scientific infrastructure, a tissue culture laboratory was constructed under the RE 2021–22 programme. However, it remains non-operational due to a shortage of technical manpower. During 2025–26, tissue-cultured blueberry and apple plants for mother stock, along with apple varieties for rootstocks, were procured from Himachal Pradesh to strengthen the farm’s planting material resources. The farm generated revenue of ₹22,02,900 during the financial year 2025–26, an increase of ₹6,03,090 over the previous financial year. With its diverse collection of temperate fruits and emphasis on scientific cultivation, the Shergaon farm continues to support horticultural development in the state. Addressing technical manpower shortages and strengthening infrastructure could further enhance its role in crop diversification, farmer income generation and youth entrepreneurship.  

TAWANG, OCT 14: Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo on Wednesday chaired a coordination meeting with power-related agencies and public representatives to review winter preparedness and discuss measures to minimise power disruptions across the district. The meeting was attended by officials of the Departments of Power and Hydro Power Development, representatives of private hydropower projects, Tawang Zilla Parishad Chairperson Leki Gombu, Zilla Parishad Members (ZPMs), Bazar Secretaries, Additional Deputy Commissioners of Jang and Lumla, and other district officials. Executive Engineer (Electrical), Department of Power, Tawang, Sange Phuntso, presented an assessment of electricity demand and availability, with and without the 33 kV Dukumpani–Tawang power supply. He also outlined possible load-shedding measures to manage shortages during peak winter months. Hydropower project representatives highlighted inadequate grid infrastructure as a major challenge, noting that sudden power disruptions often require synchronisation of hydropower units. The Executive Engineer urged public representatives and Bazar Secretaries to sensitise residents, particularly owners of commercial buildings and hotels, to limit the use of high-power-consuming equipment during shortages. The meeting also discussed the phased installation of smart meters under the Centre’s flagship programmes. ZPMs raised concerns expressed by villagers over higher electricity bills following installation and called for awareness meetings to explain the system’s functioning, benefits and billing mechanism. Bazar Secretaries, meanwhile, reported that shops and commercial establishments in their areas had installed smart meters and were cooperating with the department. Gombu called for stronger coordination among hydropower developers and government departments to ensure a dependable winter power supply. He urged authorities to expedite commissioning of the Shyaro Hydropower Project and develop a stronger transmission grid between Dirang and Tawang. He also highlighted frequent winter damage to power lines due to heavy snowfall and stressed timely clearance of tree branches obstructing transmission lines. Angmo called for proactive planning and timely action to address winter power shortages. She directed the department to issue advance notices about anticipated power cuts and load-shedding schedules to keep the public informed. The DC said recurring disruptions were largely linked to grid constraints, while right-of-way issues and other infrastructure-related challenges had delayed solutions. She urged public representatives to sensitise villagers about the difficulties and encourage cooperation with the department. Highlighting Tawang’s importance as a tourist destination, Angmo said frequent power cuts during winter and the tourist season remained a concern. She called on all stakeholders to work together towards a sustainable solution and minimise disruptions. The meeting concluded with a renewed emphasis on coordination among power-generating agencies, distribution authorities, public representatives and the district administration to improve winter preparedness and ensure a more reliable electricity supply.  

YUPIA, OCT 14: A special court under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Arunachal Pradesh has sentenced a 34-year-old man to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life for raping his eight-year-old niece, observing that the crime was a grave betrayal of familial trust and did not warrant leniency. Special Judge (POCSO), Yupia, Dr Hirendra Kashyap, pronounced the sentence on October 13, after convicting Komli Taba, a resident of Everest village in Lepa Rada district, on October 8. The court sentenced Taba under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000. According to the judgment, the incident occurred in November 2024 at the convict’s residence in Nirjuli, where the child had stayed after returning from a picnic with her paternal aunt, Taba’s wife. The court found that Taba lured the child into a separate room on the pretext of dropping her home and sexually assaulted her. He subsequently threatened to kill the child if she disclosed the incident and concealed her bloodstained clothes in an attempt to destroy evidence, the judgment stated. The crime came to light after the child’s father noticed that she was bleeding. Following medical consultation, he persuaded her to disclose what had happened. An FIR was registered at Itanagar Women Police Station on November 18, 2024. Sub-inspector D Pakam investigated the case. Taba surrendered before the police on November 21 and was subsequently arrested. During the trial, the prosecution examined eight witnesses, including the victim, her father, medical professionals and the investigating officer. Special Public Prosecutor Kagam Bagra argued that the convict had exploited the trust placed in him by the child and her family, causing physical injuries and psychological trauma. The prosecution sought stringent punishment, citing the gravity of the offence and the subsequent attempt to suppress evidence. During the sentencing hearing, the defence sought leniency, stating that Taba was the only son of his elderly parents and had minor children to support. The court rejected the plea that he was the family’s sole breadwinner, noting that his wife was a government employee and his parents were retired employees. Observing that Taba had violated the trust placed in him as a close relative, the court said his actions had caused a serious dent in society’s sense of humanity. It held that the severity of the crime did not justify leniency, although the case did not fall within the “rarest of rare” category warranting the death penalty. The court also directed that the case be referred to the District Legal Services Authority, Papum Pare, for adequate compensation to the victim under the Arunachal Pradesh Victim Compensation Scheme, 2011. Taba was informed of his right to appeal against the conviction and sentence before the Gauhati High Court. (Source: NewsFY)  

NAHARLAGUN, OCT 14: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) organised a one-day workshop on credit appraisal and non-performing asset (NPA) management for officers and staff of Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank (APRB) and Arunachal Pradesh State Cooperative Apex Bank (APSCAB) at the APSCAB Conference Hall in Naharlagun on Wednesday. NABARD General Manager SV Ranga Rao, in his welcome address, highlighted the importance of sound credit assessment, effective loan monitoring and timely recovery measures in maintaining financial stability and ensuring the quality of banks’ loan portfolios. APSCAB Managing Director Bittu Kri, delivering the keynote address, emphasised systematic borrower assessment, careful evaluation of credit proposals and prudent lending practices to minimise risks and improve loan performance. The workshop featured technical sessions by resource persons from NABARD, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the State Bank of India (SBI). NABARD Deputy General Manager Vivek Anand spoke on credit appraisal, recovery, supervision, monitoring, review and reporting. RBI Manager Soumyadip Chatterjee explained prudential accounting norms, including income recognition, asset classification, provisioning and the Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR). SBI Manager Gautam Chintey addressed NPA recovery and management, focusing on early identification of stressed assets and effective recovery measures. The sessions aimed to strengthen participants’ practical understanding of credit management, regulatory compliance, loan monitoring and NPA resolution, with emphasis on sound lending practices and timely corrective action to improve asset quality in rural and cooperative banks.  

KHONSA, OCT 14: The Commandant of 44 Assam Rifles Col Ankit Harjai chaired a coordination meeting with Khonsa Additional Deputy Commissioner Namneet Singh, senior officials and Chasan Dada, wife of late Havildar Hangpan Dada, Ashoka Chakra awardee, to review preparations for the inaugural edition of the Havildar Hangpan Dada Memorial Football Cup 2026. The meeting discussed key arrangements, including event management, security, logistics, interdepartmental coordination and player participation to ensure the smooth conduct of the tournament. The tournament aims to honour the valour and supreme sacrifice of Hangpan Dada while inspiring youth to uphold patriotism, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship. It is also expected to provide a platform for emerging football talent and promote a positive sporting culture in the region. The initiative reflects 44 Assam Rifles’ commitment to youth empowerment, community engagement and nation-building. The participation of the civil administration and other stakeholders underscores their collective efforts to ensure the tournament’s success. Assam Rifles, known as the “Sentinels of the North East”, reiterated its commitment to its motto, “Security with Humanity”, and to strengthening ties with local communities while encouraging youth to contribute to a peaceful, progressive and united India.