Clashes broke out in Churachandpur district on Thursday evening, barely two days before the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Manipur, throwing the administration into a state of heightened alert. The incident occurred near Peasonmun village, situated about five kilometres from the Churachandpur police station, when a group of unidentified persons allegedly attempted to damage decorations and arrangements being put up for the Prime Minister’s public engagement.
Police personnel who rushed to the spot were confronted by the miscreants, following which a scuffle ensued. Reports indicate that several properties suffered damage during the course of the incident. While unconfirmed accounts suggest that some individuals may have been injured, the authorities have not released any official statement regarding casualties or the extent of the losses.
In view of the developments, the State Government has ordered the deployment of additional security forces in and around Churachandpur town. The district administration has also declared the area a “no drone zone” to prevent unauthorised aerial surveillance and has prohibited the use and carrying of air guns under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Manipur on September 13, where he will address a public rally in Churachandpur and participate in programmes at Kangla Fort in Imphal. He is also scheduled to lay the foundation stones for developmental projects amounting to approximately ₹8,500 crore.
Churachandpur, a district with a predominantly Kuki tribal population, has remained a sensitive flashpoint since the outbreak of ethnic clashes on May 3, 2023, which have claimed more than 250 lives and displaced tens of thousands. Against this backdrop, the forthcoming visit is being seen as a significant political event, though civil society organisations have continued to express dissatisfaction over the pace of relief and reconciliation efforts.
The identity of the miscreants involved in Thursday’s disturbances has not yet been ascertained. Senior police officials have maintained that it is too early to make conclusive statements, though investigations are said to be underway.
DIMAPUR, September 13: Zigzak Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a rising technology start-up founded by filmmaker and tech enthusiast Mr. Lorence Kachari, is preparing to launch its flagship lifestyle application, Zigzak, next week. The company has described the initiative as a step towards transforming digital convenience in Nagaland, the North East and beyond.
The application is designed to function as an all-in-one service platform, bringing together facilities such as food delivery, grocery shopping, rides, medicines, parcel services and home services on a single interface.
The development of the app has been undertaken by a team of fifteen engineers and developers based in Hyderabad, under...
Indigenous leaders of Assam have strongly condemned what they described as "barbaric atrocities" by Assam Police on members of the Koch-Rajbanshi community at Golokganj in Dhubri district on September 10. They demanded an impartial judicial inquiry and strict action against the culprits, urging the state to ensure that such incidents are not repeated when communities raise their democratic rights.
At the same press conference, the leaders also expressed outrage over the detention of Bhanu Tatak — a young activist and legal advisor of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum — at Delhi’s international airport on September 7. Tatak, who had been invited to Dublin City University in Ireland for...
Mumbai: The never-say-die soul of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika enjoyed yet another acme of glory when millions of people across the globe remembered him on his birth centenary on 8th September. From Assam and Kolkata to the capital Delhi, from India’s downtown Mumbai to Bengaluru, the Bard of Brahmaputra came alive with his songs and rhymes.
On 8th September, renowned music therapist and performer Anubhuti Goswami, along with her husband and multi-instrumentalist Emon Goswami, presented a soulful tribute to the legend Dr. Bhupen Hazarika as part of the birth centenary celebrations in Kolkata.
The duo performed at the Assam Bhawan, organized by the Kolkata Assamese Cultural Association,...
A heartfelt felicitation ceremony was held in Lumding to honor Naga woman Mrs. T. Machapakla Ao, the visionary founder of the Assamese medium school in the town. The event, organized by the fortnightly publication Matir Manuh, celebrated her pivotal role in establishing the school in 1956—a milestone in Lumding’s educational history.
Prominent speakers at the event included Rajkumar Baishya (Chief Editor, Matir Manuh), Deepak Mena (Executive President), Minati Sharma (Director Member), Prashant Hatimota (General Secretary), Sujata Sharma (Social Media Secretary), Anup Arandhara (Secretary, Mung-Dun-Chung Kham, Assam, NE India), Dr. T. Lima Jamir (President, Nagaland Indigenous People’s...
In recent years, Assam has witnessed a series of eviction drives that have displaced thousands, predominantly targeting Muslims of East Bengali origin. These individuals, often referred to as 'Miyas', have faced allegations of being 'illegal immigrants' despite possessing valid Indian documentation. The state's actions have raised concerns about the underlying motives and the implications for democracy and human rights.
Political Motive Behind Evictions
Experts argue that these eviction drives are strategically timed ahead of elections to create a divisive narrative. The ruling BJP is accused of attempting to foster a Hindu-Muslim divide, with some local organizations already holding...
In a move that has sparked anger and unease, police in Diphu have detained Karbi youth leader and social activist Lichong Rongphar for spearheading protests demanding eviction of alleged illegal settlers from VGR (Village Grazing Reserve) and PGR (Professional Grazing Reserve) lands in Karbi Anglong.
The irony is stark: while Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s government is carrying out aggressive eviction drives in the plains—Lakhimpur, Dhubri, Goalpara and Uriamghat—similar demands raised in Karbi Anglong are being met with police crackdowns instead of action.
Rongphar had been leading a series of mass protests, insisting that Bengali and Bihari settlers occupying VGR and PGR...
On the auspicious occasion of the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the Assam government has handed over the legendary singer’s neglected residence at Kuthori, Kaziranga, to local residents for preservation.
For the past five years, the house—once vibrant with the maestro’s harmonium, tabla, and compositions—had fallen into disrepair, leaving fans and admirers disheartened. Although the government had acquired the property at a cost of ₹2.51 crore from Fatik Nyog five years ago, no concrete conservation efforts had been initiated since.
Responding to repeated demands from villagers, the government announced today that the residence will be developed into a cultural...
The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika with a vibrant cultural programme at its Central Auditorium.
Themed “Voice of Bhupen Hazarika: Voice of the People; Leading to a Harmonious Society,” the event featured visual presentations, floral tributes, and lively performances by students and faculty.
Prasanta Rajguru, Editor-in-Chief of Prag News, delivered the keynote, highlighting five iconic songs of the maestro and their historical relevance. Actor Kamal Singh presented a special tribute performance, while dignitaries including Dr. Aparna Buzarbaruah graced the occasion.
The celebration...
In a landmark wildlife discovery, the elusive Pallas’s Cat has been documented for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh during an extensive high-altitude survey jointly conducted by the Department of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of Arunachal Pradesh and WWF-India.
The survey, carried out between July and September 2024, involved 136 camera traps across 2,000 sq km of rugged terrain in Tawang and West Kameng districts. It not only produced the first photographic record of Pallas’s Cat in the state, but also revealed the presence of five other wild cats — snow leopard, common leopard, clouded leopard, leopard cat, and marbled cat — at elevations above 4,200 metres...
In a historic gathering that marks a new chapter in Moran political mobilization, the Moran community today formally launched its new political platform, Jatiya Gan Mancha (National People’s Forum), at a mass assembly held at Kakopathar public ground. The event was convened under the aegis of leading Moran organizations, including the Assam Moran Sabha, All Moran Students’ Union, Moran Mahila Parishad, Moran Sahitya Sabha, Moran Art & Culture Development Centre, and the Moran National Educational Development Forum.
The assembly commenced with ceremonial tributes to the community’s forebears, accompanied by devotional songs and cultural performances, setting a solemn and festive tone...
Add new comment