Diyun (Arunachal Pradesh), May 5: Chakmas and Hajongs today scripted a new chapter in the electoral history of Arunachal Pradesh by voting for the first time, defying a bandh and poll boycott call by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU). The estimated voter turnout in the state was around 50 per cent, said additional chief electoral officer D.J. Bhattacharjee from Itanagar. Polling in the state was by and large peaceful, barring two incidents of EVM-damage at Pating in Kurumkame district and Tagampu polling station under East Kameng district, he added.

The AAPSU, which called a...

BILASIPARA, May 5 – The Minister of Forests, Assam, Pradyut Bordoloi has declared the Hakama Beel near here in the district of Dhubri as a bird sanctuary and community conserved reserve. Sri Bordoloi, who visited the beel on the occasion of celebration of ‘Gachh Bihu’ Asom, and Hakama Beel Bird Sanctuary Demand Committee on May 2 praised the two NGOs for rendering conservation services towards the beel to which every winter several thousands of migratory birds like pelicans, sarali hanh and other birds come and make the beel their temporary abode.

The NGOs had to take the initiative for...

KOHIMA, May 5 – Barring stray incidents of proxy voting, minor scuffles among supporters of political parties and damage to electronic voting machines, the election to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland remained by and large peaceful today, officials said, reports PTI.

The state’s Chief Electoral Officer, Lalthara, and Returning Officer, T N Mannen, in a joint briefing told newsmen that the exercise remained by and large peaceful with Mokokchung and Longleng districts recording over 90 per cent turnout.

In one polling station in Tuensang district, miscreants snatched away the EVM while...

Imphal, May 5: The superintendent of Chandel district police, T. Samte, who was accused of raping a minor girl who worked at his quarters as domestic help, has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. Sources said the SP was arrested on Sunday from a ward of Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, where he had been admitted for treatment.

The next day the police produced the officer before the chief judicial magistrate of Chandel, S. Sohadev, who ordered a 15-day judicial remand, till May 17.

The accused had applied for bail but the chief judicial magistrate rejected the plea as he thought...

GUWAHATI, May 5 – How many of us know that one of the earliest rock inscriptions of Assam lies close to the foothills of Kamakhya? Even if one is in the vicinity of the site, one might probably never know, because there are no pointers to show the way from the nearest motorable road. Ten minutes walk away from Kalipur bus stop, the signboard next to the inscription also wears a vacant look.

“We don’t know what the inscription means, and although curious we don’t know whom to approach to know about it,” said Ashok Sinha, who has seen the inscription. “If this is how we maintain our heritage...