IMPHAL: Manipur human rights activist Babloo Loitongbam on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure over “threatening and attempting to arrest” EEVFAM members seeking justice for “victims” of fake encounters. Participating in a one-day discussion on “Justice for mass extrajudicial execution in Manipur” here, Babloo Loitongbam pointed out that one Ranjita, an EEVFAM activist from Bishnupur got threatened after security personnel, including army men, searched her house on March 27 last. Representatives of several civil society organisations attended the programme organised by the Extra Judicial Execution Victims Families Association, Manipur (EEVFAM) at Kuki Inn, Imphal. The Executive Director of Human Rights Alert (HRA) criticised the security forces and their agencies and cited several instances where EEVFAM members were being threatened by the security agencies. “The security personnel later left the house of Ranjita telling that they came to a wrong place,” Babloo said. He also mentioned a recent incident wherein security personnel who possessed arrest warrant came to arrest another member named Menjor but the police later clarified the incident saying “sorry.” EEVFAM had in February alleged that its member Sagolsem Menjor Singh was repeatedly harassed and threatened by police on false charges. Babloo said, “Such incidents are testimonies to the fact that the state of Manipur has been witnessing weak rule of law and lack of good governance for a long time, a threat to human rights.” He referred to the current arms missing case facing the state government and said it cannot be ruled out that the weapons might have used in eliminating many youths of the state in encounters which were "stage-managed." On March 31 last, Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh announced that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe into the missing of arms case in which 56 pistols disappeared from the police headquarters over a period of four years. The human rights activist Babloo urged the state government and NIA to find out whether the missing weapons were used in “fake encounters” by security forces in Manipur.
6 Jun 2011 - 2:46pm | Ranjan K Baruah
The Bodo medium was introduced on 18th May 1963 in Assam. It was in 1976 the Bodo medium Students were lucky to appear for the Secondary Examination. A good number of students have passed out since...
6 Apr 2011 - 2:34am | Pankaj Sharma
Rahul Gandhi in his election rally in Raha LAC under Nagaon District said that when there was AGP Government there was no peace and development but terrorism existed. He further said that when the...
8 May 2016 - 8:17am | Ranjan K Baruah
All Bodo Students Union has organised a national seminar on Challenges and measures in ensuring quality education in vernacular medium (Elementary and Secondary) at Rabindra Bhawan , Guwahati on 7th...
6 Jul 2012 - 2:14am | editor
At least 70 persons have taken ill after they consumed prasad at a religious function in Kamrup Rural district on Wednesday night. According to police, the ailing people complained of vomiting and...
The prestigious Golok Samman for 2023 has been announced, honoring four distinguished young individuals for their exceptional contributions in the fields of art, translation, research, and environmental activism. The award, instituted by the UD Foundation in memory of the noted translator and social worker Golok Chandra Datta, celebrates those who have made significant cultural and social impacts in Assam.
This year’s recipients are Dr. Sanjeev Bora, a renowned artist; Avantika Parashar, a noted translator; Rajesh Dattabaruah, an environmental activist; and Dr. Baburam Saikia, a Sattriya dancer and researcher.
Recognizing Talent in Art and Visual Media
Dr. Sanjeev Bora has been...
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Guwahati, September 18: Aaranyak, in partnership with the Namdapha Tiger Reserve Authority and supported by the Arcus Foundation, has initiated a groundbreaking Hoolock gibbon conservation education program in the fringe areas of Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
This initiative, which commenced on August 22, is the first of its kind in the state and aims to create a community of young conservationists who can actively contribute to the protection of this endangered primate. The program has reached 17 schools in the Miao subdivision, covering students from upper primary to higher secondary levels.
The sessions, conducted by the Primate Research and...
Diets rich in ultra-processed foods have long been associated with a myriad of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and even premature death. However, the vast category of ultra-processed foods encompasses a wide range of products, from seemingly benign options like whole-grain bread and plant-based milk to more obvious culprits like hot dogs and sugary sodas.
A recent groundbreaking study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has shed new light on the specific types of ultra-processed foods that pose the greatest risk to heart health. This comprehensive study, published in The Lancet Regional Health-Americas, analyzed data...
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its one-horned rhinoceros and diverse ecosystems, is at a critical crossroads. Known for its rich biodiversity and the harmonious coexistence of local communities with nature, Kaziranga's landscape and social fabric are under threat. The Assam government's push to boost tourism by transferring land adjacent to the park to private hospitality industries has sparked significant controversy, raising concerns over the rights of indigenous communities and the ecological future of the region.
The Push for Luxury Tourism
Today marks a significant step in the Assam government's tourism agenda, with the signing of another...
The mid-20th century in America was a time when smoking was as normal and ubiquitous as eating. Picture this: in 1956, the average American smoked about 4,000 cigarettes a year. That’s a half-pack a day, for everyone—men, women, and even some children were all puffing away, encouraged by a relentless media, celebrities, and even health professionals. Fast forward to 2019, and while smoking rates have plummeted, a new health crisis has taken its place—our diet.
Today, the leading cause of death and disability in the United States is not smoking; it's what we eat. The Global Burden of Disease Study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, identifies poor diet as the #1 cause of...
A day after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that he "will take sides" and "will not let Miya Muslims take over all of Assam," opposition leaders filed a police complaint on August 27 accusing him of promoting enmity between different religious and ethnic groups. The complaint was lodged at the Dispur police station by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupen Borah and Assam Jatiya Parishad's Lurinjyoti Gogoi, representing the United Opposition Forum, a coalition of groups opposed to the BJP and its allies.
The complaint, supported by Independent Rajya Sabha MP Ajit Bhuyan, Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia, and Congress...
During our school days, when the historic Assam agitation broke out, we used to go to Tihu town in western Assam for joining various protest demonstrations against the outsiders (read non-Assamese Indians) and the movement was initially known as ‘Bohiragata Kheda Andolan’ (literary meaning agitation to deport outsiders) to create a prosperous Assam for the indigenous population. Later it was redefined as the agitation against illegal migrants (read Bangladeshi/East Pakistani nationals) by the intellectuals and media barons in Guwahati, the virtual capital of northeast India. Simultaneously an armed movement also surfaced with an initial trigger from the economic domination of Hindi...
The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), a prominent national social organization representing Gorkhas across India, has expressed its gratitude towards the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for issuing a notification that resolves the longstanding NRC Biometrics-Aadhaar linkage issue. This development is expected to bring relief to nearly 9.35 lakh individuals in Assam, including over one lakh Gorkhas who have been affected by the issue.
Nanda Kirati Dewan, the General Secretary of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, Assam State Committee, expressed appreciation for the MHA’s intervention. He noted that the BGP has been actively engaging with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)...
Guwahati: The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing Meitei-Kuki-Zo ethnic conflict, which began on May 3, 2023. Despite maintaining a stance of neutrality, the NSCN has been closely monitoring developments and is alarmed by the increasing violence, particularly against Christians.
In a press statement released today, the NSCN highlighted a disturbing trend of harassment and physical assaults against Christians by the militant group Arambai Tengol. The NSCN identified the group's strong convictions and extreme principles as the driving forces behind its radical socio-political reforms.
"The violent extremism followed by Arambai...
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