north east

Shillong: An unusual but respectful exchange between the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad K. Sangma, and his wife, Dr. Mehtab Chandi A. Sangma, took center stage during the ongoing budget session of the state assembly on Tuesday. Dr. Mehtab Sangma, a legislator from the Gambegre constituency in West Garo Hills representing the National People's Party (NPP), raised questions regarding delays in the establishment of livestock education institutions. Her queries focused on the progress of a veterinary college, two fisheries colleges, and a dairy college, all of which had received cabinet approval in 2022 and were included in the Governor’s address. The Chief Minister, who has been serving since 2018 and also holds the finance portfolio, responded formally to his wife’s questions. He ...

Imphal, February 10, 2026: Hopes for peace in Manipur after the formation of a new government on February 4 were short-lived, as tensions quickly resurfaced in the hill districts. The focus of the latest unrest is Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen. The Kuki organizations insist that no Kuki leader should join the government, while the Thadou tribe has expressed support for her. Ethnic Tensions Trigger ClashesThe renewed anger stems from long-standing tribal and ethnic disputes in the state. After Yumnam Khemchand Singh, from the Meitei community, took oath as Chief Minister, the cabinet included Deputy CMs Losi Dikho from the Naga community and Nemcha Kipgen from the Kuki community. While Nemcha Kipgen’s appointment was intended to maintain ethnic balance, it sparked outrage among the...

Imphal, February 10, 2026: Tense situations continue in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, where members of the Kuki-Zo and Naga communities set fire to each other’s homes for the second consecutive day. The district administration has suspended internet services for five days to curb the spread of unrest. Violence Leaves Several InjuredThe violence erupted in the Litan Sarekhong area, located between Imphal and Ukhrul headquarters, leaving several people injured. Authorities confirmed that the injured were admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. Following a visit to the hospital, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to citizens to maintain peace and restraint. Villagers were forced to flee their homes to reach safer locations. The clashes came hours after th...

Imphal, Manipur: Violence erupted again in Ukhrul district of Manipur, with arson and firing reported in villages around Litan. Multiple homes were set on fire overnight by armed mobs, while residents fled in fear. Although security forces are trying to contain the situation, tensions remain high. The state government has suspended internet services for five days as a precautionary measure and imposed a curfew. Background of the Violence The clashes were triggered after an alleged attack on a member of the Tangkhul Naga community. On Monday, armed militants set fire to several houses, prompting mass evacuations. On Tuesday morning, additional arson incidents occurred in some of the already abandoned homes, along with sporadic firing. Police reported that the violence follows restr...

Imphal, Feb 9, 2026: Violence once again flared up in Ukhrul district, Manipur, after an attack on a member of the Tangkhul Naga community triggered communal tensions. Armed militants reportedly set fire to several houses, escalating unrest in the area. Officials reported that in Litan Sarei Khong village, clashes between two tribal groups involved intense stone-pelting, further aggravating the situation. Around midnight, militants from the Kuki community allegedly torched several homes belonging to Tangkhul Nagas. Homes of some Kuki families in nearby areas were also reportedly set ablaze. The Tangkhul Nagas are the largest Naga tribe in Manipur, while Litan Sarei Khong is predominantly inhabited by the Kuki community. Authorities are currently assessing the damage, and the situatio...

Shillong, Meghalaya: A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, where a blast at a coal mine claimed the lives of 10 workers and left several others injured. The injured have been referred to hospitals in Shillong for treatment. The explosion occurred at an illegal coal mining site in the Mynsinghat-Thangskoh area. East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police, Vikas Kumar, confirmed the incident, though the identities of the deceased are yet to be officially established. Rescue operations are ongoing, and authorities have indicated that it may take time to recover all victims. This is not the first such incident in the region. A similar dynamite explosion took place in the same area on December 23, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of two miner...

Kangpokpi, Manipur: Tension has escalated in Kangpokpi district following a serious arson incident. In K. Songalung Part-II village, unidentified assailants set fire to three permanent houses and four temporary huts during broad daylight on Monday, spreading fear among local residents. According to police officials, preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of suspected cadres linked to the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF–Kamsan), though a detailed inquiry is ongoing. Vehicles and Property DestroyedThe arson also destroyed one vehicle completely, while a jeep and several other vehicles suffered partial damage. Stored paddy, food supplies, gas cylinders, and household items in the affected homes were also reduced to ashes, causing significant losses for the families. In resp...

Imphal: A 38-year-old Meitei man was abducted and shot dead in Manipur’s Churachandpur district late Wednesday night, allegedly by members of a banned Kuki militant group. The killing has once again disrupted the fragile calm in the state, which has witnessed prolonged ethnic violence since May 2023. The victim has been identified as Meiyanglambam Rishi Kanta, a resident of Kakching district. He was living in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur with his wife Chingnu Haokip, who belongs to the Kuki community. Officials said armed cadres of the United Kuki National Army (UKNA) kidnapped the couple from Tuibuong area and took them to Natzang. According to the wife’s statement, she was forcibly pushed out of a vehicle before her husband was shot dead, despite his repeated pleas for mercy. Polic...