Page 2 - Northeast India

Voter turnout 73.65% recorded till 3 pm in Nagaland Assembly polls: ECI

A largely peaceful voting in the assembly polls with a turnout of over 73.65 per cent was reported from Nagaland, which was earlier a hotbed for militants, till 3 pm on Monday, an official said. However, stone pelting and blank firing caused tension in the Bhandari assembly constituency in Wokha district. A tenuous ceasefire prevails in the state for more than a decade now as peace talks are continuing with NSCN (IM) and other groups and the central government. Voting began at 7 am with over 13 lakh electors set to decide the electoral fate of 183 candidates. Long queues were seen in front of polling stations since 7 am when voting began. Polling percentage is 73.65 till 3 pm. Voting is peaceful as of now, barring a few incidents, the Election Commission official said. The nominees are contesting in 59 out of 60 assembly seats, as the Akuluto seat in Zunheboto district was won uncontested by BJP candidate and sitting MLA Kazheto Kinimi. Voting is scheduled to end at 4 pm, while .

Naga political talk will soon end with positive solution: Nagaland CM

The Union government has been holding separate talks with the NSCN-IM and the Working Committee of NNPGs since 1997 and 2017 respectively

Election officials reach polling booths crossing rivers in Meghalaya

Election officials made their way to the polling booths across Meghalaya, trekking steep mountainous paths, crossing muddy rivers and walking for hours, as the northeastern state gears up for the assembly polls on Monday. Over 19,000 polling officials have been deployed at 3,419 booths set up for the elections to the 59 assembly seats, Chief Electoral Officer F R Kharkongor told PTI. "All the teams that left for their respective polling booths since Saturday have now arrived," he said. The polling teams had to trek steep mountain paths, cross muddy rivers while travelling through difficult terrains -- in some areas through ropeways, to reach their destinations, Kharkongor said. A team headed to Nongriat polling station of Shella assembly constituency in East Khasi Hills district trekked 6,000 steps to reach its destination located near the scenic root bridge, he said. Election officials had to row a boat to reach the Amlarem constituency's Kamsing polling station, which has only 3

Northeast region strong pillar of Act East Policy, trade, tourism, says PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the northeast is a strong pillar of the Act East Policy and Meghalaya along with the entire region has a strong prospect of trade and tourism

Nagaland election: Kharge claims BJP cheated people on Naga political issue

Accusing the BJP-led central government of cheating the people of Nagaland on the Naga political problem, the Congress on Tuesday asserted that given a chance, it will fulfil the aspirations of the citizens of the northeastern state. Solving the decades-old Naga issue is one of the top-most commitments in the Congress' manifesto, party president Mallikarjun Kharge said at an election rally here. The Narendra Modi government does not have the political will to put into effect the agreed solutions to the Naga political issue and has cheated the people of Nagaland and the country as well, he said. Stating that civil society organisations have been demanding the implementation of political solutions, Kharge claimed that the state government is indulging in delaying tactics on the pretext that more talks are needed. Prime Minister Modi announced on August 3, 2015, that the Naga issue has been resolved with the signing of the Naga Accord which was later renamed as Framework Agreement wit

Women's participation must grow in all state Assemblies: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said that the participation of women must increase in all state assemblies, including that of Arunachal Pradesh, for inclusive development of the country. Addressing a special session of the assembly in the northeastern state, she asserted that Arunachal Pradesh plays an important role in the social and economic development of the country and that the "sun of development" is shining over the state. "For overall and inclusive development of our country, there should be more participation of women in every field of work. Participation of women must increase in all the state assemblies including that of Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in other institutions of people's representation," she said. Murmu asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an important part of India and a major stakeholder in the Act East Policy. "The Northeast was for long deprived of economic development due to lack of road, railway and air connectivity. But the Centre is giving top ...

Drugs, liquor, cash valued at Rs 147 cr seized in 3 poll-bound NE states

The Commission said that a special inter-agency team has been constituted to control illegal drugs

Election day declared paid holiday in three Northeastern states: Official

This applies to all categories of employees, including the daily wage and casual workers, and also those electors working outside the constituency concerned

PM ended 'mann ki doori' of Northeast, visited 51 times in 8 yrs: Shah

Highlighting the Centre's development push for the Northeast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the region 51 times during the last eight years.

NDA govt successful in controlling terror in J&K, insurgency in NE: Shah

After eight years, the BJP-led government at the Centre has been substantially successful in controlling terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the North-East and Left wing extremism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Saturday. Speaking at the passing out parade of the 74th batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS) probationers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) here, Shah said under the leadership of Indian government agencies, police forces in the entire country carried out a successful operation in a single day against an organisation like the Popular Front of India (PFI). After eight years, the government was, to a large extent, successful in controlling terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the North-East and Left wing extremism," he said. "Recently by banning the Popular Front of India we have presented a successful example for the world to see," he further said. "This shows how much our commitment towards ...

More than 720 children, women rescues by RPF of NF Railway: Official

Over 720 children and women have been rescued by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) from April to December last year, a senior official said here. Ten human traffickers have also been arrested by the RPF during the period, he said. "During the period from April to December 2022, RPF of NF Railway rescued 686 minor children and 39 women, besides arrest of 10 human traffickers," NFR chief spokesperson Sabyasachi De said. He said that the rescued victims were handed over to volunteers of Childline, NGOs and Government Railway Police or parents, as mandated by law for their safe custody and further course of action. De said four minors were rescued by the RPF from different stations in separate drives on Friday. One runaway minor girl was rescued from Kamakhya Railway Station during a routine joint check by RPF and Crime Intelligence Branch team of Guwahati. She was later handed over to Railway Childline, Guwahati, he said. In another incident, RPF

Poll official suspended for 'defacing' PM Modi's photo in Tripura

A sector officer of Sabroom assembly constituency in poll-bound Tripura has been suspended for allegedly "defacing" a poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a drive to remove hoardings and banners from public places, an official said. The action was taken a day after the ruling BJP had urged the Election Commission to take steps against poll officials who defaced PM Modi's photograph in banners and hoardings put up in public places in the state, instead of removing them. It appears that the sector officer went beyond the model code of conduct and applied black colour on a poster inside a private shop. Therefore, it is decided that the officer shall be put under suspension and disciplinary proceedings shall be initiated against him as per the relevant rules, Additional Chief Electoral Officer UJ Mog said in a letter to the district magistrate of South Tripura on Tuesday. State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the Election Commission has taken the acti

PM Modi always prioritised energy sector of Northeast: Hardeep Singh Puri

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always prioritised the energy sector of the North East, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said here on Monday. The prime minister's priority is to put the region in the high growth trajectory and as such he is putting great emphasis on the energy sector, Puri said while participating at the run-up to the India Energy Week event here tonight. Without giving any detail, the Union minister said several big projects in the sector are also in the pipeline in the region. The Petroleum and Natural Gas minister was also present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and the Assam government to set up three bamboo nurseries that were signed on the occasion. Each nursery will cover an area of five hectares to accomplish secondary hardening of tissue-cultured bamboo saplings and will be set up in Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur. The three bamboo nurseries will generate saplings that

Manik Saha holds campaign in Agartala, says people have faith in BJP

'A lot of development has taken place in Tripura which includes new highways, internet, waterways, and infrastructure'

EC reminds parties of law, provisions barring use of religious institutions

Ahead of assembly polls in three northeastern states and various byelections, the Election Commission has reminded its field machinery and political parties of a law and provisions of the model code

Poll-bound Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya depend on Centre for development

In line with other states, inflation remains a worry in Tripura and Nagaland, though Meghalaya has controlled it a bit more efficiently

Northeast getting transformed through mega transportation projects: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that Northeast is witnessing "transformation through transportation" and mega projects regularly inaugurated in the region bear testimony to it. He said that had development work in the Northeast taken place at the current pace since Independence, the region would have already been on the growth trajectory. Sarma was speaking at a programme at Pandu terminal in Guwahati, which was attended virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from New Delhi. During the function, Modi inaugurated a Maritime Skill Development Centre in Guwahati, which will offer better job opportunities to local youths. He also laid the foundation stone for a ship-repairing facility in Guwahati, which will serve as an alternative to a similar facility in Kolkata, saving fuel and manpower costs for vessel owners and boosting local ancillary industries, besides generating employment. The foundation stone for an elevated road connecting Pandu terminal to Nati

Meghalaya launches shared school bus system, prime tourism vehicles schemes

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma launched the shared school bus system, prime tourism vehicles and agriculture response vehicle scheme. The chief minister on Wednesday flagged off shared school buses and hoped that it will help to minimise traffic congestion in Shillong. "A bus ride today with our students in the launch of the Shared School Bus System which we are hopeful to minimize traffic congestion & create a mode shift in school travel from private four-wheelers to school buses in Shillong city," Sangma tweeted on Wednesday. The buses are part of Sustainable Transport and Efficient Mobility Society (STEMS) programme focussed on mobility and overall transportation to decongest the city. The chief minister said the prime tourist vehicles are a step to improve the overall tourism sector and to provide good transportation services to tourists and at the same time provide job opportunities to our entrepreneurs. The Meghalaya government is providing financial assistance to ..

Congress says confident of forming govt in Nagaland over anti-incumbency

The Congress is confident of forming the next government in Nagaland as there is an anti-incumbency in the state, a senior leader said on Saturday. The ruling BJP-NDPP combine is exposed through their deliberate non-implementation of the Naga political solution, said Congress's in-charge of Nagaland Ranajit Mukherjee. "There is an anti-incumbency across the state and we are confident that Congress will form the next government," he said. Asserting that the Congress stands for an immediate solution to the Naga political issue, he claimed, "Being the only party opposing the BJP and NDPP in the state, we are sure that the electorate will grant their votes to us." Asked if the Congress will contest all the 60 seats, Mukherjee said his party has floated the vision of a secular alliance to all other like-minded parties to contest all the seats. He said the party's leadership will hold a crucial meeting with state Congress office-bearers on January 10 in Dimapur to formulate an electoral

Centre, states working together for development of Northeast: NS Tomer

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that agriculture is the country's fastest growing sector and there will be no constraint of central funding for its development. Referring to the northeast, he said the Centre and the northeast states governments are working together to develop the agriculture sector given its potential for organic farming. Agriculture is the fastest growing sector in the country and the Center is making continuous efforts to make farming profitable. There will be no constraint of central funding for development of agriculture sector, the union minister said inaugurating the newly constructed administrative and academic buildings of Pasighat Agriculture College in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday. The Centre has endeavoured to establish a link between research and farming and provide scientific advice to farmers at the ground level. The setting up of the institute as visualised by Prime Minister Narendra