Terror funding case: Supreme Court denies bail to NSCN-IM leader Alemla Jamir
The National Investigation Agency lodged a case against Alemla Jamir after she was intercepted at the Delhi airport on December 17, 2019, before she could fly to Dimapur with about 72 in cash
Nagaland NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah to make rare visit to Somdal, Ukhrul in Manipur
Thuingaleng Muivah, NSCN-IM general secretary, will visit his native village in Manipur next month. He will travel from Dimapur to Ukhrul and Somdal on October 22. He will return on October 29. The Council of Nagalim Churches will hold a special prayer. Earlier, the Manipur government blocked Muivah's entry in 2010.
'The extra mile': Bad weather leads PM Modi to visit Churchandpur by road from Imphal
IMPHAL: When a rainy struck Manipur on Saturday, the odds were that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not make it to the Kuki heartland of Churachandpur, but he did. PM Modi, perhaps, unwittingly did what Vajpayee had resorted to on a rainy October afternoon in 2003 in Nagaland. When Vajpayees helicopter could not take off from Nagalands commercial hub Dimapur to the state capital Kohima due to inclement weather, he took the bumpy ride to Kohima by highway. Ditto. PM Modi faced bad weather and hence, took the road from Imphal to Churachandpur, located about 60 km from the Imphal airport, in southern Manipur. Vajpayee had travelled a little more -- 75 km. In his first visit to ethnic conflict-hit Manipur, PM Modi appeals to all organisations to choose 'path of peace' We thought he might not come now that the weather was bad, said Daniel Haokip, a Churachandpur resident who was in the audience. It has been nearly four decades since a PM visited Churachandpur. The excitement among the locals was palpable. As he arrived, hundreds of people stood by the roadside with the Indian tri-colour to welcome him. Modiji, shouted a bystander while children were almost hysterical, shouting the PMs name. The festooning that was arranged and a new slick road -- from the helipad to the Peace Ground in Churachandpur did not have much use then. As PM made his way to the secure stage decked up for him and state governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, the attendance surprised many. In Imphal too, only two were seated on the dais. There was no politician. 'Face-saving farce, grave insult to people': Congress slams PM Modi's '3-hour pit stop' to violence-hit Manipur A school boy presented PM Modi with a straw hat with feathers on it that the PM donned as he chatted with the kids. A girl presented him with another gift, but the namastes from the children seemed more heart-warming. Northeasts tribals usually shake hands in greetings. PM Modi took the same road back to Imphal, and during the speech, he expressed how overwhelmed he was with the reception on the way. People who went to listen to him had a harrowing time navigating a 50-metre muddy and slippery stretch inside the Kangla Fort. Water had seeped into the place where the crowd was seated. Despite protests from the Opposition and a womens group, the atmosphere at the Kangla Fort was of anticipation and earnestness. After the PM left, the members of the womens group took out a protest march but were stopped on the way by security personnel.
Advisory for people from Nagaland stranded in Nepal
HT Correspondent DIMAPUR, Sept 11: The Nagaland government said the Union ministry of external affairs has issued an advisory for emergency and other support for any person from Nagaland stranded in Nepal in view of the developing situation in the country. According to Nagaland principal secretary Abhijit Sinha on Thursday, the stranded people from the []
Wokha dist ranks 4thin PMMVY campaign in country
HT Correspondent DIMAPUR, Sept 11: Wokha district ranked 4th nationally and led Nagaland in the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) campaign. The Wokha division of the state social welfare department organised a programme to mark the successful completion of the PMMVY campaign drive in the district at the DCs conference hall on Thursday. Addressing []
Community, agencies come together for conservation of endangered Asian giant tortoises in Nagaland
Guwahati: Ten critically endangered Asian giant tortoises, reintroduced in a community forest in Nagalands Peren district, would be protected by a group of Tortoise Guardians who are local youth from the community. Chisayi, divisional forest officer of Peren, said they had been engaged by the conservation project to ensure the protection of the released tortoises and assist in data collection. The tortoises were reintroduced in Peren through a community event by the Nagaland State Forest Department and India Turtle Conservation Program (ITCP). These were bred at the Nagaland Zoological Park which has Indias largest captive population of the species. The Asian giant tortoise is the largest tortoise in mainland Asia, listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Nagaland State Forest Department and ITCP are working to save this species from extinction through conservation breeding and reintroduction, backed by efforts to heighten the awareness of local communities to protect them in their native habitats. Asian giant tortoises, also known as the small elephants of the forests, help in seed dispersal and forest regeneration apart from scavenging to keep the forest floor clean, said Shailendra Singh from ITCP. The site of release was selected after a thorough habitat suitability assessment across several potential areas of Nagaland. According to Tokaho Kinimi, who is the wildlife warden of Dimapur, other than national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, protected areas such as community and conservation reserves in Nagaland have been performing quite well to preserve the forests and wildlife under the joint leadership of the communities and the forest department. The tortoises were released in a pre-constructed soft-release enclosure to help them develop site fidelity before actual dispersal. The released tortoises are marked and tagged with very high frequency-based telemetry system to study their dispersal and survival in deep rainforests. Once the pilot release is successful, more individuals will be released in this landscape to recover the decimated wild populations, said Sushmita Kar, project coordinator, ITCP. Prior to transportation, the tortoises underwent comprehensive health checks and quarantine for over six months. A turtle and tortoise corner at the community hall was inaugurated during the event, which displays important awareness signages and efforts made by the locals to assist this project. Officials said such community-based and participatory initiatives marked an important milestone in the Naga culture and posed as an important conservation model across the region. Authorities said the district administration would take special measures for the long-term protection of the released tortoises in and around the site. With communities staunchly protecting such endangered wildlife, the conservation message echoed louder than everhow wildlife conservation can be intertwined with the daily lives.
Three dead, flight operation suspended as heavy rain wreaks havoc across Nagaland
JULY: Three people died, flight operations were suspended and vehicular movement was disrupted on National Highway 29 as incessant rain for the past few days caused flooding across Nagaland, officials said on Monday. Three persons, including a woman, were electrocuted to death in their homes in Dimapur, where floodwaters entered residential areas, while people were seen wading through chest-deep water, they said. The tragic incidents occurred over the weekend in Burma Camp and Kuda Village, the officials said. Flight operations at Dimapur Airport were completely suspended on Sunday after heavy rain inundated the runway and parking areas, an Airport Authority of India official said here. Multiple flights, including those of IndiGo and Air India Express, were cancelled, and passengers were advised to seek updates directly from airlines, he said. The crucial National Highway 29, connecting Dimapur with Kohima, also bore the brunt of the deluge. Landslides triggered by heavy rain have blocked sections of the four-lane highway, severely affecting vehicular movement and posing risks to commuters, the officials said. Dimapur, Kohima and Niuland were the most affected districts with reports of submerged bridges, extensive damage to homes, fisheries, and paddy fields, raising fears of food insecurity, they said. In Niuland district, as many as 70 villages have been affected by the deluge. Floodwaters rose as high as three feet in Half-Nagarjan in Dimapur, forcing residents to use boats and even swim. The district authorities said 52 people were rescued from severely inundated areas as part of ongoing evacuation operations. No fresh rainfall since last night has allowed water levels to gradually recede. However, officials remain on alert as more rain is expected in the coming days, Dimapur Deputy Commissioner Dr Tinojongshi Chang told PTI. The DC also stated that the local administration and the District Disaster Management Authority will hold a coordination meeting during the day to assess the situation as the IMD has forecast heavy rain for the week. As monsoon rain continues to batter the region, state authorities and disaster management agencies are on high alert, with citizens urged to avoid flood-prone zones and remain vigilant.
Air passenger traffic across India soars by 6.6% in opening months of fiscal 2025-26
NEW DELHI: The total passenger traffic across airports in India has grown by 6.6% in the first two months of this financial year, compared to the corresponding period last year, reveals the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Srinagar and Amritsar airports, which were closed for some weeks due to the India-Pakistan conflict following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 this year, have reported a steep decline on the patronage front. AAI data reveals that 71.14 million passengers travelled during April-May of 2025 as compared to 66.73 million in the period in 2024. International traffic soared by 8.8% in the period compared with 13.4 million travellers compared to 12.31 million earlier. Domestic traffic has recorded a 6.1% growth with 57.74 million against the previous 66.73 million. A total of 5.54 crore Air Traffic Movement Movements (Arrivals and Departures) have been recorded in April-May 2025, up by 6.5% over the same period last year, the data shows. The freight traffic too has boomed with an 8.1% increase in April and May of 2025 over the previous year by transporting 643.47 metric tonnes. Airports which have been severely impacted due to Indo-Pak tensions were on expected lines - Srinagar and Amritsar. Passenger traffic in Srinagar dipped by a whopping 67.1% in the two months. Srinagar International Airport had a patronage of just 1,61,214 flyers as compared to 4,89,561 earlier. The Sri Guru Ramdas Ji airport in Amritsar too followed suit with 1,56,288 passengers in the first two months of this fiscal as compared to 2,75,837 last year. The top three airports in passenger traffic in the country continue to be Delhi (93,89,191 flyers), Mumbai (65,68,271) and Bengaluru (64,43,050). The KIA airport in Bengaluru continues its non-stop growth trajectory by recording a 6.7% growth over its performance in April-May 2024. However, Delhi has dipped by 1.2% and Mumbai by 0.5% during the compared period. Airports which have done significantly well over their past performance in the two-month period compared in succeeding years are Bhubaneshwar (25.5% over previous period), Tirupati (49.2%), Varanasi (25.8%) Kannur (33.2%), Patna (32.1%), Agra (77.8) and Agati (42.5%), Durgapur (37%), Bhuj (48.6), Cudappah (58.8%), Dharbanga (52.2%), Dehradun (29.1%), Cooch Behar (38.4%), Dimapur (27.4%), Gorakhpur (995) and Hubballi (37.1%), Jabalpur (92.2%), Jaisalmer (86.4%), Kanpur (57%) and Kishangarh (38.9%), Rajahmundry (46.3%) Nanded (28.3%) Kurnool (34.3%) and Shivamogga (85.5%)
Ahmedabad plane crash: Crew member's mortal remains reach Manipur, thousands pay tributes
IMPHAL: Thousands of people lined up on both sides of the roads to pay tributes to Ahmedabad crash victim Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, whose mortal remains were brought to Manipur on Sunday. Sharma was an air crew member of the London-bound Air India flight AI 171 which crashed into a hostel complex in Ahmedabad's Meghaninagar moments after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1.39 pm on June 12, killing 270 people, including 241 on board. One passenger survived. The moment was profoundly moving ... She was received with deep dignity, solemn respect, and heartfelt sorrow by Team Imphal Airport, not merely as colleagues in uniform but as family in mourning -- united in silence and reverence. With bowed heads and heavy hearts, she was tenderly handed over to her family, friends, and loved ones, whose presence spoke volumes of the love they carry and the void her absence leaves behind, Imphal airport said in a post on Facebook. A cousin of Nganthoi Sharma said that airport officials, family members and others paid floral tributes to her mortal remains after it was brought to Imphal airport aboard an IndiGo flight. Her mortal remains were accompanied by her father and elder sister, who had gone to Ahmedabad for DNA testing, she added. The mortal remains were later taken to her residence in Thoubal on an open truck as thousands lined up on both sides of the road to pay their tributes. Her last rites would be conducted later in the evening, another family member said. The mortal remains of another crew member from Manipur, Lamnunthem Singson, were brought to the state on June 19 . The remains were brought to Kangpokpi district via road from Dimapur airport aboard an IndiGo flight from Ahmedabad. Her final rites were conducted the next day.
Pics: Air India Cabin Crew Member's Funeral In Manipur, Thousands Mourn
The body of Air India cabin crew Lamnunthem Singson reached her hometown in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Thursday night, after being flown to Dimapur airport in Nagaland.
NEW DELHI: Officials of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a meeting with insurgent Kuki-Zo groups and persuaded them to relocate and shut down seven designated camps under the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement that are located near Meitei-dominated areas, sources said. They added that the MHA officials also stressed the recovery of looted weapons and the reopening of National Highways. Notably, security agencies on the ground in Manipur had earlier proposed the closure of seven out of 14 existing camps situated close to Meitei-inhabited areas in the Valley, the sources said. A source familiar with the talks said, The second round of talks was held earlier this week, where the two sides reached an understanding on the closure and relocation of at least seven SoO camps located close to Meitei-populated zones. He, however, clarified that there was no discussion on the extension of the SoO agreement, as the talks primarily focused on revising the ground rules, which is seen as a more immediate priority. FIR registered after Kuki student leader allegedly threatened Meiteis attending Shirui Festival The locations for the new camps would be discussed in a third meeting, which is yet to be scheduled. It has also been agreed in principle that any relocated camps should be in tribal areas, the source added. Rajya Sabha MP and ceremonial King of Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba, wrote in a Facebook post: The SoO Pact was signed in 2008 during the then State Congress Government with two Kuki-Zo umbrella insurgent groups UPF and KNO, comprising 25 groups with around 2,200 cadres. Earlier, their demand was autonomy, but after May 2023, they demanded a Union Territory or separate administration with a Legislative Assembly for the Kuki-Zo people. Such grave missteps of the previous government led to the chaotic situations in the state. The UPF and KNO had signed the tripartite SoO agreement in 2008 with the Centre and the state as parties to the pact, and since then, around 2,200 cadres from these 25 constituent groups have been residing in 14 designated camps across the hill districts of Manipur. As there was no discussion on the extension of the SoO agreement, representatives of the insurgent groups reportedly presented new proposals involving security arrangements. The MHA emphasised two key concerns the recovery of looted weapons and restoring full operation of National Highway-37 (ImphalJiribamSilchar) and National Highway-2 (DimapurImphalMoreh), both of which have remained blocked since ethnic violence erupted on May 3, 2023.
Body of Manipur crew member killed in Ahmedabad air crash brought home via Nagaland
Lamnunthem Singsons mortal remains received in Dimapur amid security concerns; final rites to be held in Kangpokpi
GUWAHATI: The mortal remains of Lamnunthem Singson (26), a cabin crew member from Manipur who lost her life in the Ahmedabad plane crash , will reach her home in Manipurs Kuki-majority Kangpokpi district late Thursday evening. The remains were brought to Nagalands commercial hub Dimapur from Ahmedabad by a flight in the afternoon. After a condolence service, a convoy of vehicles carrying the remains left for Kangpokpi. Family members, relatives, leaders from Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Sadar Hills and community organisations were among those who were present at the airport. KSO Sadar Hills general secretary K Shongreng told this newspaper that the last rites would be performed on Friday afternoon. Lamnunthem was from the Kuki-Zo community. Her family lived in the Old Lambulane area of Imphal Valley before moving to Kangpokpi following the outbreak of the ethnic violence in 2023. Another woman cabin crew member from Manipur, Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma (22), had lost her life in the plane crash. She hailed from Thoubal district in the Imphal Valley. Her family is waiting for the arrival of her mortal remains. Earlier, Meitei organisation Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) had appealed to all sections of the society to extend full cooperation and support in receiving the mortal remains of the two victims at the Imphal Airport and ensure their dignified return to their families for the final rites. If willing, the families may come forward to receive their daughters at the airport without hesitation. COCOMI is ready to extend any coordination or assistance required during this process, the organisation had stated in a statement. Ahmedabad plane crash: DNA of 211 victims matched; 189 bodies handed over to families
Body of Kuki flight attendant from Manipur to land in Nagaland, take detour around Meitei areas
Air India flight attendant Lamnunthem Singson, a Kuki woman, will be buried in Kangpokpi, Manipur, her body rerouted via Dimapur due to ethnic tensions. Imphal was avoided despite being closer. Meanwhile, Kongbrailatpam Nganth8oi Sharma, a Meitei colleague, remains unidentified, her sister awaiting DNA confirmation in Ahmedabad. The Meitei Heritage Society has condemned attempts to politicize the tragic plane crash.
