State News

IMPHAL : Nearly a month after 14 Kuki individuals were abducted by armed groups in Manipur’s Senapati district, all the hostages were released on Tuesday, an official said. The release of the 14, who were abducted on May 13 following the killing of three church leaders in an ambush in Kangpokpi district, was facilitated by the United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Naga community in Manipur, and other Senapati district-based civil society organisations. “All of them were released safe and sound at the Senapati district headquarters in the presence of police and security forces,” the official said. UNC president Ng Lorho said the hostages were set free following appeals by the central and state governments, church bodies and apex tribal organisation. (Source: PTI)            

NEW DELHI : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday visited the National Testing Agency (NRA) headquarters to review preparations for the NEET-UG 2026 retest on June 21 and reiterated the commitment to conduct an error-free exam and declare results on time. “I would like to request the students and their parents. As we said earlier, we assure you that this time NEET will be conducted without any errors. Once again, I would like to assure you that this time the results of the examination will be declared on time so that students’ learning is not affected and there is not much loss of time,” he said. “NTA is going to conduct the re-NEET exam on June 21. In this regard, we have reviewed the process several times. Today, I myself came to the NTA headquarters to review how the preparations for the re-NEET are going,” he said. Highlighting the preparations for maintaining confidentiality of the re-test, he said, “Along with this, strict confidentiality must be maintained, from question paper setting to ensuring that the examination process is properly managed and the papers reach the exam centres safely. Whatever departments are assigned for this purpose, this time we have taken greater precautions.” Pradhan said, “The Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, and other senior leadership of the government are involved, and the Prime Minister himself is taking responsibility and is concerned. The Prime Minister wants to ensure that the children of the country are reassured through this entire administrative system…We will not repeat the mistakes that have happened.” Shedding light on the ongoing investigation into the paper leak, Pradhan said, “The investigation into this matter is currently underway. The CBI is looking into it in detail-what irregularities happened and where they occurred in the past few days.” “I have full trust in the CBI, and we have also requested the CBI. The two accused arrested this time should be given the strictest possible punishment, said the Minister. “Their criminality should be examined, cases should be filed against them, and they should be given a speedy trial in a fast-track court. They should also be given exemplary punishment,” said Pradhan. (Source: IANS)

DOIMUKH :  The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FoAS), Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), has distributed foxtail millet seeds to farmers in Namsai district under a millet promotion project for the North Eastern Region funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Institute of Millet Research (ICAR-IIMR), Hyderabad, for the 2026-27 financial year. The initiative aims to promote millet cultivation and strengthen farmers’ livelihoods through value addition and capacity-building interventions. Under the project, farmers in Namsai, Lower Dibang Valley (Roing) and Papum Pare districts will be covered during the current financial year. In addition to seed distribution, a series of millet processing training programmes will be organised to enhance farmers’ technical skills and entrepreneurial opportunities. The project also envisages support for establishing millet-processing, bakery and noodle-making units to improve value addition, generate income and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for farming communities. The project is being implemented under the principal investigatorship of Faculty of Agricultural Sciences Dean Dr Sandeep Janghu.

ITANAGAR : Fresh concerns over weather-related hazards have emerged in Arunachal Pradesh, with the authorities in Tawang district stepping up preparedness measures amid fears of a possible Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in the Mago Chu basin. Incessant rainfall in the past couple of days also left the area near the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) complex at Lekhi waterlogged, disrupting normal movement. The Tawang district disaster management department has issued an alert after receiving inputs from the Centre for Earth Science and Himalayan Studies (CESHS) on Sunday, which flagged the possibility of a GLOF triggered by rapid glacier retreat and unstable terrain around the Khangri Glacier, officials said on Monday. The advisory was shared with the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to ensure preparedness among all stakeholders. Tawang deputy commissioner and District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) chairman Namgyal Angmo has urged residents to remain vigilant and closely follow official updates. Superintendent of Police Tasi Darang advised people residing along the Mago Chu and Tawang Chu river systems, particularly in low-lying areas, to keep emergency supplies ready and stay prepared for any eventuality. As part of efforts to assess the situation, Thingbu Assistant Commissioner Thutan Wangchu, accompanied by residents of Mago village, conducted an inspection of the Khangri Glacier, locally known as Neh-Goh Gangri, recently. The assessment found that the glacier, located at an altitude of over 17,000 feet on the western fringe of the Gorichen range, has witnessed noticeable snow and ice loss over the years. Villagers informed the inspection team that the mountain range, once heavily snow-covered, has undergone significant melting, which they attributed to rising temperatures and changing climatic conditions. Officials also inspected Neh-Goh Tso, a glacial lake situated at around 15,000 feet below the glacier and identified by CESHS as a potential GLOF source. Observations indicated that the lake’s water level remained well below the moraine dam and that water was flowing normally through its outlet into the Mago Chu. According to the assessment report, the volume of water flowing out of the lake appeared greater than the inflow from glacial melt, suggesting limited water accumulation and reducing the likelihood of an immediate outburst. The outlet was also found to rest on a stable rocky bed, making erosion under existing conditions unlikely. The report further noted that the broad valleys above Merathang, Jethang and Mago could help absorb and dissipate the force of any sudden water surge before it reaches downstream settlements. However, officials cautioned that geological changes around the lake could quickly alter the risk scenario. The report recommended a detailed scientific study covering glacier retreat, lake depth, water volume, inflow and outflow patterns, and the stability of the moraine dam to strengthen future hazard assessments. GLOFs are considered among the most serious climate-related hazards in the Himalayan region. Such events occur when natural barriers holding glacial lakes fail, releasing large volumes of water downstream within a short span. Meanwhile, continuous rainfall triggered extensive waterlogging near the ISBT complex in Lekhi, causing inconvenience to commuters and disrupting vehicular movement in the area. Residents blamed the recurring flooding on inadequate drainage infrastructure, alleging that rainwater frequently accumulates on roads and adjoining areas during heavy showers. Locals said the problem has worsened over the years and called for urgent intervention by the authorities. (Source: PTI)      

ITANAGAR : Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) PhD scholar Likha Rido represented India at the 65th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnobotany (SEB) 2026, held in Montpellier, France, from May 31 to June 4. Rido, a research scholar in the Department of Botany, presented a paper titled “Ethnobotanical Study of the Plants Traditionally Used by the Nyishi Tribe in Arunachal Pradesh, India,” highlighting the rich indigenous knowledge, traditional ecological practices and ethnobotanical heritage of the Nyishi community. His study underscored the importance of preserving traditional plant knowledge and promoting biodiversity conservation through community-based approaches. The conference brought together more than 230 researchers and experts from 42 countries. Notably, Rido was the sole participant from India invited to present his research, marking a significant achievement for both Arunachal Pradesh and Rajiv Gandhi University. His presentation received appreciation from international delegates for its contribution to documenting and preserving indigenous knowledge systems. Society for Ethnobotany President-Elect Robbie Hart commended the study and expressed interest in future collaboration to advance research on indigenous plant knowledge and biocultural conservation. Founded in 1959, the Society for Ethnobotany is the world’s largest professional organisation dedicated to the study of relationships between plants, people and cultures. With members from more than 64 countries, it serves as a leading global platform for ethnobotanical research and the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge. A native of Neelam village in Keyi Panyor district, Rido is pursuing his doctoral research under the supervision of Botany Department Assistant Professor Dr Tonlong Wangpan. He also serves as a guest lecturer in the Department of Botany at Indira Gandhi Government College, Tezu. The achievement has brought international recognition to the traditional knowledge systems and biodiversity heritage of Arunachal Pradesh while highlighting the growing global relevance of research emerging from the state.