Author Archives: TARIQ ABDULLAH

From Our Special CorrespondentGUWAHATI, May 22: A flyover named after Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, connecting Cycle Factory junction to Lal Ganesh Bazar here, was inaugurated by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday evening.

“This flyover will reduce the travel time from Pragjyotishpur Medical College to NH 27 drastically and decongest one of Guwahati’s densely populated areas,” the chief minister said. “Built at a cost of over Rs 376 crore, the 2.8 km-long, three-lane flyover was completed in just 26 months against a 30-month deadline. The project is equipped with a modern “BUG” structure, service roads, drainage systems, connecting roads and parking facilities,” Sarma said.

PTI

IMPHAL, May 22: Manipur Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh on Friday appealed to the people of the state to come forward for talks and not to resort to bandhs or blockades.

Singh was speaking at the inauguration of a bridge at Akham Makha Leikai in Imphal West district.

Addressing a gather-ing, Singh said, “Enforcing bandhs and blockades out of anger toward the government only leads to hardship, par-ticularly for the daily wage earners.”

He also said, “I have been to Jiribam twice. First, I visited the district by heli-copter and second by road, during which members of Kuki, Paite, Hmar and Meit-eis gathered together at the grassroots level and inter-acted. All are having cordial relations.”

“The day after I returned from Jiribam, a bomb attack at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur district killed two small chil-dren in April cauing much grief to all of us. The inci-dent caused disruptions to the economy of the state due to shutdowns and bandhs,” he said.

Singh appealed, “To the people to come forward for talks to reach a mutual un-derstanding whenever there is any frustration or anger towards the government, as bandhs cause hardships, particularly to families of daily wage earners.”

Later, in a social me-dia post, Singh said “I am pleased to inaugurate the RCC Bridge over the Nam-bul River at Akham Mayai Leikai in Lamsang Assem-bly Constituency today, in the esteemed presence of MLA Lamsang AC S Rajen Singh.”

He also said, this vital infrastructure project will strengthen connectivity be-tween key areas, facilitate the movement of people and goods, support local markets, and contribute to economic growth and inclusive devel-opment.

“The government remains steadfast in its commitment to enhancing road connec-tivity and building quality infrastructure for the welfare and progress of the people of Manipur”, he added.

(IANS)

IMPHAL, May 22: Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM), one of the apex bodies of the Kuki tribal community, on Thursday extended the ongoing shutdown across Kuki-Zo inhabited areas by another 48 hours to protest the continued detention of 14 members of their community by rival groups since May 13.

KIM Information and Publicity Secretary Janghaolun Haokip said that the extension of the shutdown became necessary due to the continued detention and hostage-taking of Kuki-Zo individuals in Naga-dominated Senapati district.

“The unconditional and immediate release of all hostages remains of utmost importance and continues to be our primary concern. Despite the disturbing developments and rising tensions since the barbaric killings of three Kuki-Zo church leaders on May 13, the Kuki-Zo community has continued to exercise maximum restraint and responsibility in the interest of peace and coexistence,” Haokip said in a statement.

He stated that even after reports emerged regarding the abduction and detention of Kuki-Zo civilians, the community ensured free and safe passage to more than 200 Naga individuals as a humanitarian gesture and in the spirit of maintaining communal harmony.

The statement further said that the President of the Maralui Karalimei Swijoikang (Maram Students’ Union) was also released on humanitarian grounds as a goodwill gesture, reflecting the Kuki-Zo community’s commitment to de-escalation and peaceful understanding between the two communities.

Haokip also recalled that during the Litan imbroglio in Ukhrul district on March 11-12, 2026, the Kuki-Zo community facilitated the safe release of 21 Tangkhul Naga hostages, even though two Kuki-Zo individuals were killed and two others were brutally assaulted during the incident.

He added that on May 14, five Naga individuals were released by the Kuki-Zo side along the IT Road as another gesture aimed at preserving peace and preventing further escalation of tensions.

From Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, May 22: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI)’s Guwahati zonal unit seized around 60,000-kg smuggled foreign-origin areca nuts during two major operations in Assam and Mizoram. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI conducted operations in Mizoram and Assam after preliminary investigations revealed that the foreign-origin dried areca nuts were smuggled into India from Myanmar through the Myanmar-Mizoram border. In one of the operations, DRI was assisted by 38 Battalion of Assam Rifles. So far, five persons have been arrested during the operations, official sources said on Friday. Notably, smuggling of areca nuts from the neighbouring country is causing severe economic damage to the domestic areca nut growers.

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From Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, May 22: The All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) has sought a permanent solution regarding the shortage of Bodo medium textbooks in schools across 12 districts of the state.

In a memorandum submitted to the Kokrajhar district commissioner, the students’ union sought immediate intervention of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in addressing the issue of shortage of Bodo medium textbooks in schools across the state.

The ABSU delegation, led by president Kwrwmdao Wary, had met the Kokrajhar District Commissioner to submit the memorandum at the latter’s office in Kokrajhar on Thursday.

Notably, education through Bodo medium had received official recognition on May 18, 1963.

According to ABSU, students were continuing to face difficulties owing to the non-availability of Bodo medium textbooks even over a month after the start of the current academic session.

(Agencies)

BOKO (ASSAM), May 22: In a poignant ceremony that drew thousands, Garima Saikia Garg, wife of the late cultural icon Zubeen Garg, unveiled a 10-foot bronze statue of the ‘Son of God’ at Boko. The initiative, undertaken by the Bogai Cultural Organisation, was realised at a cost of nearly Rs 15 lakh, with the statue being sculpted by local artiste Pulak Rabha. The event turned deeply emotional as young boys and girls of Boko performed Mukuta Mukuta, the song from Zubeen’s final film Roi Roi Binale.

'Cockroach Janata Party' launches campaign seeking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

PTI

NEW DELHI, May 22: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the government had to take “tough decisions” after irregularities were detected in the conduct of the NEET-UG, asserting that authorities did not want even a single deserving student to lose their rightful seat because of the “examination mafia”.

“We did not want even a single student to be deprived of their rightful seat because of the conspiracy of those involved in irregularities in the education system and the examination mafia,” he said.

He also asserted that the government is committed to ensuring that the re-test scheduled to be held on June 21 remains “100 per cent error-free”.

The minister acknowledged the criticism over the handling of the issue but said the government is prepared to face the challenge.

Addressing the Jagran Bharat Education Conclave 2026, Pradhan said around 22 lakh students have suffered “mental anguish” due to the controversy surrounding the medical-entrance exam and the government is committed to fixing the system.

“We are facing criticism and challenges, and I accept that. But it is our responsibility to set the system right. It is not our duty to shut our eyes and turn away from the problem,” he said.

“Twenty-two lakh children have gone through immense mental anguish. Understanding that anguish and taking responsibility, I am saying this today, we had to take some tough decisions,” he said.

The education minister further said the government is committed to ensuring a smoother conduct of the re-examination scheduled on June 21.

The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) for admissions in medical courses held on May 3 was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) recently amid allegations of paper leak. The matter is being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and a re-test is scheduled to be held on June 21.

“For the examination scheduled on June 21, it is our responsibility to ensure that it is 100 per cent error-free,” he said.

Pradhan said the government decided to cancel the examination after finding that “some assessments had been compromised”.

COCKROACH JANATA PARTY SEEKS PRADHAN’S OUSTER

Back with the tagline “Cockroaches Never Die” after its original X handle was withheld in India, the “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), a satirical social-media account, launched a campaign on Friday demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The campaign, spearheaded through CJP’s new X handle — “Cockroach Is Back” — and its Instagram platform, centres on alleged systemic failures in the education sector, particularly concerns surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 “paper-leak” controversy.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke urged followers to support an online petition demanding Pradhan’s resignation.

“How are you cockroaches? Everyone is saying you are doing great on the internet, but I think now it is time to do some real work. Today, we are starting a petition demanding the resignation of the education minister,” Dipke said in a video message.

Calling for accountability, he said failures in the education system have adversely affected students.

“It is time now to make the system accountable. It was the fault of the system that over 22 lakh students’ future was impacted, it was the fault of the system that NEET students committed suicide. Whatever happens, Dharmendra Pradhan will have to resign,” he said.

Dipke also claimed to have received threats amid the campaign against Pradhan, posting on social media: “Receiving death threats now.” The resignation campaign comes a day after the original CJP handle was withheld in India by X, prompting Dipke to launch a new handle — “Cockroach is Back” — with the tagline — “Cockroaches Never Die”.

From Our Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI, May 22: Assam has recorded a 15 per cent reduction in road accidents and nearly 30 per cent reduction in fatalities during the period from April 28 to May 21, 2026, as compared to the corresponding period last year.

In regard to enforcement activities undertaken between January and April 2026, more than 1.92 lakh motor vehicle offence cases were registered across the state, with compensation amounting to Rs 18.48 crore realised during the period.

The data was revealed during a state-level meeting on road safety, enforcement and accident prevention measures, chaired by Assam chief secretary Ravi Kota in the presence of Assam DGP Harmeet Singh, with virtual participation of all district commissioners, superintendents of police and officials of the concerned departments.

Kota directed all districts to treat reduction in road fatalities as a key governance priority by undertaking swift administrative action, intensifying enforcement in accident-prone corridors and preparing district-specific intervention plans based on accident data and local risk assessment.

Observing that the National Highways (NH) account for the largest share of accidents in the state, the chief secretary directed the districts to analyse accident-prone NH stretches, identify black spots and strengthen enforcement, engineering correction and emergency response systems.

Strict penal action was directed against unauthorised roadside parking, illegal truck halting and encroachment along highways and major roads.

Emphasising effective implementation of the PM RAHAT initiative, in line with the directions of the chief minister, the districts were instructed to strengthen trauma care response, public awareness and coordination for accident victims, while expanding first responder training programmes across all districts to reinforce the “golden hour” response mechanism.

The state transport department apprised the meeting regarding three major initiatives – the “Zero Fatality District” initiative, the “Chota COP” road safety awareness programme and expansion of automated driving testing tracks for improving transparency in driving licence issuance.

The department was directed to expedite formulation of a comprehensive regulatory framework for e-rickshaw operations in Assam.

Districts were also instructed to verify whether toll plazas were complying with the mandatory emergency and ambulance movement provisions.

Special emphasis was also laid on monsoon preparedness, with Nagaon and Golaghat directed to maintain heightened vigilance during the rainy season, while border districts were instructed to strengthen precautionary and enforcement measures.

(PTI) AGARTALA, May 22: The Tripura government has cancelled the 26-day summer vacation in all the state-run colleges, including technical and professional institutions, an official said on Friday. The vacation was scheduled to commence on May 25. “In the interest of the students, summer vacation for 26 days for all colleges, technical and professional institutions under the department’s control, scheduled from May 26, is hereby withdrawn,” Higher Education Director Animesh Debbarma said in a notification. According to Debbarma, the state government has already implemented the National Education Policy, which leaves little scope for summer vacation because the courses are now based on the semester system.