Newmai News Network Shillong | April 8 Despite the COVID-19 pandemic which has severely affected economic activities, Commissioner of Tax, Arunkumar Kembhavi informed that Meghalaya has achieved positive revenue growth. “Tax collections in the year 2020-21 stood at Rs 1526.50 crore (provisional, expected to go up) compared to Rs 1488.37 crore in 2019-20 when GST compensation is not taken into account,” Kembhavi said. He said, if GST compensation is considered, the

New Delhi, April 8 (PTI): The Centre has sanctioned over Rs 250 crore to the northeastern states for an effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday. Chairing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) here, Singh said the fund has greatly helped in developing infrastructure for the management of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. A total amount of over

Guwahati, April 8 (PTI): The proscribed ULFA(I) on Thursday served a notice to a leading tea company demanding immediate relocation of all its administrative offices to Assam and recruitment of indigenous people of the state, failing which it will be "prevented from doing business in Assam". The United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) gave the notice to Amalgamated Plantations Pvt Ltd through an emailed statement sent to PTI and other media houses. The notice sign

Guwahati, April 8 (IANS) With the completion of the three-phase Assembly elections in Assam, various quarters, including the principal opposition party Congress, have raised questions and doubts over the poll management and the prevailing law and order situation in the BJP ruled state. The Congress has alleged that the election authorities in Assam have been working under pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. During the three-phase elections in Assam on March 27, April

Guwahati, April 8 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday took his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). After the jab, Sonowal,59, tweeted: "Took my first shot of Covid-19 vaccine at GMCH. Vaccines are safe and will help us defeat this pandemic. I urge all eligible persons of the state to get vaccinated and continue following safety precautions." Most Governors and Chief Ministers of northeastern state

GUWAHATI, APRIL 8 (IANS): With the completion of the three-phase Assembly elections in Assam, various quarters, including the principal opposition party Congress, have raised questions and doubts over the poll management and the prevailing law and order situation in the BJP ruled state. The Congress has alleged that the election authorities in Assam have been working under pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. During the three-phase elections in Assam on March 27, Apri

Newmai News Network Imphal | April 7 Agitating employees of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), Imphal have deferred their plan to tender mass resignation from their jobs following a talk with the government on Wednesday. The employees of the only state run medical college in the state are on strike demanding implementation of the 7th Revision of Pay. Earlier on Tuesday, the employees under the banner of Teachers Association, the Association for All Non-T

Aizawl, April 7 (PTI): A preliminary test indicated African Swine Fever (ASF) as the main cause behind the unusual pig deaths in a Mizoram village, an official said on Wednesday. Since March 21, at least 125 pigs have died at Lungsen village, about 39 km from Lunglei town, in the southern part of the state near the Bangladesh border. Samples from the dead pigs were tested at the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry in Selesih near Aizawl on Monday as a part of the p

Aizawl, April 7 (PTI): Assam Rifles and Mizoram Excise and Narcotics department in a joint operation seized heroin worth Rs 33.75 lakh and apprehended five persons from the outskirts of the state capital, an official said on Wednesday. Acting on specific information, Assam Rifles and Mizoram Excise and Narcotics department carried out an operation at Hunthar veng area on Tuesday and seized 75 gm of heroin, an Assam Rifles official said on Wednesday. The five apprehended persons w

GUWAHATI, APRIL 7 (IANS): The Assam police have arrested Guwahati based writer Sikha Sarma for allegedly making controversial comments against Martyrs on social media, police said on Wednesday. Guwahati Police Commissioner Munna Prasad Gupta said that the 48-year-old Assamese writer was arrested on Tuesday on various charges including sedition for her alleged Facebook post on security forces after 22 security personnel were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh on Sunday. "

Itanagar, April 7 (PTI): Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday flagged off the Trans Arunachal Drive 2021 which will cover a distance of 2,500 km in the state. Intending to promote and create awareness around the state, the road trip started from Namsai in the eastern part of the state and will end in Tawang in the west. "We are glad to commence the Trans Arunachal Drive an initiative to bring the tourism industry back to its foot after the unprecedented

Guwahati, April 7 (PTI): A day after the assembly elections in Assam came to an end, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday exuded confidence that the BJP-led alliance will return to power in the state with an enhanced mandate. He said the three-phase polling was by and large peaceful and it reflected that his government was successful in restoring peace in Assam after decades of insurgency and violence. "We will return to power with more seats. This has happene

GUWAHATI/AGARTALA, APRIL 7 (IANS): Hundreds of people from Assam and Tripura on Tuesday bid farewell three of their bravehearts -- Inspector Dilip Kumar Das, Constables Bablu Rabha and Sambhu Roy, who among the 22 security personnel martyred in Sunday's Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh. Das hailed from Sarupeta in Barpeta district, Rabha from Damra Patpara near Dudhnoi in Goalpara district while Roy was a resident of north Tripura district. All three martyrs belong to Central Re

AGARTALA, APRIL 7 (IANS): Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday tested positive for Covid-19 and went in home isolation. Deb tweeted: "I have tested positive for Covid-19. I have isolated myself at home as per the advice of doctors. I request everyone to please follow all the Covid appropriate behaviour and stay safe." The Chief Minister during the last few weeks attended a large number of election rallies and events in connection with the April 6 polling to

Newmai News Network Imphal | April 6 The arrest of three leaders of agitating All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) by police triggered a lightning shutdown in the hill districts of Manipur on Tuesday. The “emergency shutdown” imposed by ATSUM, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) and the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) commenced at 10:00 am. The bandh is still underway. The student bodies demanded immediate release of the three

GUWAHATI, APRIL 6 (IANS): More than 82 per cent of the total 79,19,641 voters exercised their franchise in the third and final phase of the Assam Assembly polls, held in 40 constituencies amid tight security on Tuesday, according to election officials. Election officials said that till 6 p.m., when voting officially ended, 82.28 per cent turnout was recorded but the percentage would increase a little bit after the reports of all the returning officers were compiled. The final pha

Aizawl, April 6 (PTI): The Mizoram government on Tuesday decided that next of kin of local volunteers drafted into COVID-19 duty who succumbs to the infection would be given an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 20 lakh. A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga gave its approval for payment of ex-gratia to the family of a village-level task force (VLTF) or local level task force (LLTF) member, who dies of coronavirus on line of duty, a statement issued by the state government

GUWAHATI, APRIL 6 (IANS): Over 61 per cent voters have exercised their franchise till 2 p.m. in the third and final phase of the Assam Assembly polls, conducted in 40 constituencies amid tight security, according to election officials. Tuesday's balloting would decide the fate of 337 candidates, including 25 women aspirants. All Covid-19 protocols for the voters including social distancing and thermal screening are being maintained. Election officials said that no untoward

Aizawl, April 5 (PTI): Three days after Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the Centre would give food and medicines to the Myanmar nationals who have taken refuge in India, a senior official here said on Monday that the Mizoram government was yet to receive any "clear-cut direction" in the matter. The official, who did not wish to be named, told PTI that the Mizoram government was still waiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to a letter sent by Chief Ministe

Newmai News Network Imphal | April 5 The functioning of government offices in the hill districts of Manipur was severely affected due to the picketing on Monday by All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM). ATSUM, the apex tribal students’ body of Manipur has been protesting against the delay in conducting elections to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs). Amid office picketing, ATSUM leaders stated that they held a meeting with the state government representa